What is your temperature?

Revelation 3: 15 – 16

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

I’m not convinced that I should follow the Gospel according to Francis Chan, necessarily, but one can’t really argue his sentiment.

·         Lukewarm people are moved by stories of people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act…

·         Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors…

·         Lukewarm people love God casually, but they do not love Him all their heart, soul, and strength…

I attend church with some of the greatest people I’ve ever come to know.

Some of them though, haven’t even been in church once this year, yet.

What does that say about their temperature?

What does that say about their devotion to the cause of Christ?

I’m not pointing fingers at anyone but me.

Some people though, just want a devotional and Bible verses to tell them how good they’re doing.

Honestly, I only see a fraction of the church, going to great lengths to glorify God.

Seriously, I’m not even sure I’m a part of that group.

So if Jesus came back this afternoon, would He say that you’re red hot—or ice cold?

He would prefer that we were one or the other—and not somewhere in between…

Luke warm?

Revelation 3: 15 – 16

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Luke-warmness is a battle that some people fight on a regular basis.

At times, I happen to be one of them.

Francis Chan wrote a book a few years ago, entitled… “Crazy Love”.

Being lukewarm as a follower of Jesus, is not a good thing. Actually, that would be a classic oxymoron.

Lukewarm is somewhere between hot on fire—and cold as ice.

This verse seems to suggest, that God requires us to be on fire for Him.

Why would Jesus be so hard on the lukewarm person?

Would He really prefer me to be cold as ice—as compared to lukewarm?

This is part of a list, that Francis Chan compiled, that should be considered on a regular basis:

You might be lukewarm, if…

·         Your life is really no different, than those who live in the world.

·         You know Jesus, just enough to save you from hell.

·         You compare yourself to others, rather than comparing yourself to Jesus.

That’s enough to think about for one day…

Forget it!

Isaiah 43: 18 – 19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

One of the best ways to keep the New Year fresh and light, is to make the Word of God a big part of it.

A daily dose of God’s Word, can give us New understanding—fresh insight—and a Renewed strength.

Why not start drinking in the Psalms this New Year?

Psalm 33: 3 says… “sing unto the Lord a New song.”

We can read in the book of Ezekiel, where God promises to give us all a New heart and a New spirit.

Who wouldn’t want that?

We can rejoice this year, as we recall the words of Paul… “If anyone is in Christ Jesus, he/she is a New creation; the old has gone and the New has come”

(2 Corinthians 5: 17)

If we need any motive to live like a New creation, God has provided every key we need in His Word.

Find comfort this New Year, when we consider a time when God is going to right every wrong—and heal every hurt.

Actually, the Bible says that God is going to give us a brand New name—and a brand New home.

Feel free to live each day, expecting the New.

One day, God is going to… “make everything New”, anyway. (Revelation 21: 5)

What not start living that New way, today?

Timeless!

Isaiah 43: 18 – 19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

God loves to do New things for His people, but are we always open to His ideas?

Too often we’re like the children of Israel, when they were traveling toward the promised land.

God provided everything they could ever need.

Bread from Heaven fell 6 days a week—and He said He would take care of them on day seven, if they obeyed and only gathered for 6 days.

When the people disobeyed, the bread turned moldy and got rotten.

At times, I’m a little like the children of Israel.

God wants to do something New and fresh in my life, but I for some reason, prefer holding onto yesterday stale bread.

I’m not always very good at letting go, of the comfortable and the familiar.

I still cling to some of my old ways of thinking, and God is pretty clear that I shouldn’t hold onto the past.

And as a result, I miss the New and exciting, when I don’t fully trust and obey.

One of the best ways to keep things New and fresh, are to be in God’s Word every day.

I spent some time yesterday, with some Godly friends, and I learned something new again, as they expounded on God’s Word.

God’s Word is timeless, and let’s be sure not to forget, that His compassions are New every morning

Forget the Former things!

Isaiah 43: 18 – 19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

In this New Year, God wants to do New things.

Someone said to me just the other day, that it’s harder for older people to get adjusted to New things.

The problem with that analogy, is that we underestimate the power of our God.

God can still teach more senior dogs, many New tricks.

Our Heavenly Father wants to do New things in the lives of His children.

He desires very much, to teach us all New truths about His very nature.

God is also the One, who wants to give us New assignments so as to minister to other folks.

God is also the One, who brings New people into our lives, so we can share the blessed Hope with them.

Did you know, that God would love to take us to New, and higher levels of worship and understanding of His will?

So what’s holding you back? Could it be the past? God says that we should forget about the past, and that we should focus on the bright future.

I’m not sure about you, but I want deeper and New levels of trust with my God this year.

I want a New sense of purpose in this New Year.

Let’s not forget, that those of us who are in Christ, that the old has gone, and the New has come…

New things!

Isaiah 43: 18 – 19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

As other New Years have come and went, we’ve always experienced New things.

A New calendar—new bills—new resolutions, and maybe even a New attitude.

There isn’t anyone I know of, who doesn’t like New things.

Even God likes New things.

He’s called… The Ancient of Days, and yet in His Word, He tells us to forget the former things.

He also commands us not to dwell in the past.

How much time do you spend dwelling on the things of the past?

Could it be, that they keep you from celebrating the New things to come?

God starts the Bible off with creating a brand New world.

The end of the Bible is filled with a promise, that God is going to make a brand New heaven, and brand New earth.

You might be thinking all ready… “What’s wrong with the earth we have??”

Just look around, and you should soon have your answer in no time.

Maybe it’s because God knows what He’s doing, and He alone, knows when a complete makeover is necessary

Fresh start!

Isaiah 43: 18 – 19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

This verse of scripture, is especially meaningful to me, and to a hand full of other Christian pilgrims.

We were about to take a huge step of faith, and start a small Bible believing church in the middle of nowhere.

We didn’t have an ounce of experience in planting a new church, but what we had, money could not buy.

We had a small ounce of faith, and we let God do the rest.

God gave us all a fresh new start, and a brand new heart.

I wonder, as we begin a brand New Year, do you need a fresh new start, and a brand new heart?

Yesterday was the first day of the church New Year, and yet many people opted to stay at home.

For those that came to worship though, yesterday was a powerful day.

Thanks to the season of Christmas, we all have new stuff—new toys—and a few new pounds.

But now that the calendar has turned another page, we all have a brand new chance.

Everybody I’ve ever talked to, loves brand new things.

It’s why they sell the… “new car smell”, in a bottle.

What new thing are you going to try this year for God?

Whatever effort you put forth, He’ll be right there, and you will not be able to perceive it’s power…