#118: Spiritual Lukewarmness

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Some say coffee is great when served hot and it is tasty when iced, but anything in between is disgusting. Lukewarm is the word for things that are barely warm. Most people get disappointed when served lukewarm food in restaurants.

Lukewarmness also refers to lack of excitement or being unenthusiastic. Spiritual lukewarmness can be seen as an act of not being interested or enthusiastic about spiritual issues.  This may manifest as coldness, indifference, insensitivity, reluctance to attending fellowship or spiritual gatherings, loss of hunger for the word of God or loss of interest in soul winning.

Being lukewarm displeases God; this is clearly seen in Revelation 3:16
So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].

Revelation 3:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)

This kind of life attracts rejection from God, punishment, plundering and demolition of acquired wealth, dissatisfaction with life as well as being cursed (Zeph 1:12-13, Haggai 1:2, 5-11)

12 
“It will come about at that time
That I will search Jerusalem with lamps
And I will punish the men
Who [like old wine] are stagnant in spirit,
Who say in their hearts,
‘The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.’
13 
“Furthermore, their wealth will become plunder
And their houses a desolation.
Yes, they will build houses but not live in them,
And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

Zephaniah 1:12-13 Amplified Bible (AMP)


Lukewarmness arises Pride (Rev 3:17), keeping bad company (1 Cor 15:33) and the desire for doctrines that befits the flesh (2 Tim 4:3). To overcome, this lifestyle, we need to hold firmly to the Word of God that we have heard, Spur one another in Christ and encourage one another. (Rev 3:2-3, Heb 3:12-15, Romans 12:9-13.

2 Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. 3 So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin].

Revelation 3 Amplified Bible (AMP)


Jesus admonishes us in Matthew 5:6 to hunger and thirst for the things of God; and by doing so we will overcome the tendency of being spiritually lukewarm.

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