by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2015 | Revelation
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
I just received an advertisement for a heated travel mug. For those frosty mornings (or evenings) when you are forced to spend time behind the wheel of your car, you can just plug the cup into your cigarette lighter and keep your coffee, tea, or soup nice and hot.
Keeping things this hot has long been a problem. This is true for beverages, but it is also true in other areas of humanity. My heart breaks when I am contacted by couples who have let the fervent flame of love flicker low.
Love is always a choice. Not only is it a choice, it is a commitment. It entails the giving of ourselves and receiving pleasure from the object of our affection. The first sign of danger is when we demand gratification rather than finding ways of giving selflessly. Examine your spiritual temperature. Have you become tepid? Fan the flame once again. Plug into the outlet of God’s grace and sizzle for Jesus!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2015 | John
John 16:12-13
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
I recently enjoyed lunch with a pastor and his wife that I have known for many years. We both served as pastors in Burns, Oregon. We were from different denominations, but we shared the same Savior and Lord.
As we reminisced about the way the Lord had worked in our lives, there seemed to be a common thread of awareness — our encounters with people who delight in playing the Holy Spirit for others.
This is a sensitive area because God directs us to live and teach according to His Word. When people become aware of those who are living contrary to the Word, they feel compelled to act on their own to correct and direct.
Listen! The Holy Spirit is far more able to convict and convince others of their sins than you or I. He may lead us to speak words of correction, but we should only do so after much prayer and fasting in order to insure that it is of the Holy Spirit and not simply our personal running ahead of God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
