Spiritual Hypothermia

Spiritual Hypothermia

Before I start this devotion, I want to give credit to my friend, Kathy, who sent me the interesting information on freezing to death.  As soon as she shared what happens in the natural world, I could see so many spiritual lessons that I just had to write a devotion on this topic.

When one begins to freeze, there are different stages. One of the last stages is when your body gets so cold that you actually believe you are hot. Days after being buried under an avalanche, rescuers have often found people without a shirt.  These victims didn’t realize they were freezing to death.  Their senses tricked them into feeling hot, so they stripped naked trying to get cool.  

I couldn’t help but think of the Laodicean church in this scenario.  Their spiritual senses had been dulled from compromising with the world.  They thought they were hot, and on fire for the Lord.   However, Jesus told them they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)  They had succumbed to spiritual hypothermia.

The apostate church is rising quickly around the world.  Sadly, many of these churches are filled to overflowing with people who have no spiritual discernment.  They think that because the building is full of people, they are alive and well.  There are all kinds of manifestations and emotional outbursts in their services, but none of these manifestations are from the Holy Spirit.  If you watch what is happening, flesh is glorified.  The people attending the services get an emotional high, and mistakenly call it the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit will only glorify Jesus.  (John 16:14)

Pastor Spencer Smith made a very accurate statement about many of the popular “Christian” groups.  “Music is the fruit; doctrine is the root.”  Many of these groups have very poor doctrine, thus, while their songs may mention God, most of their lyrics are not biblical.  

Hillsong introduced the Naked Cowboy a few years ago.  Sadly, many churches have allowed him to defile their pulpits.  This is a classic example of freezing to death spiritually, but thinking you are on fire.  I have watched some clips of these services.  The scene reminds me of what you would see at a bachelorette party where they have male dancers.  It was quite a disturbing scene.

Todd Bentley is another example of spiritual hypothermia.  He had “prophets” who spoke words over him, telling him how the Lord was going to use him mightily in the coming days.  However, just a few weeks later, he left his wife for another woman.  This tends to happen when false doctrine and false prophets are let loose.  First, the doctrine is off, then the lifestyle goes astray, into a pitfall of sin.

Many today are like the Laodicean church — buried under people’s opinions and materialistic things.  They can’t see they are spiritually dying from the cold.  They have gone from being lukewarm to freezing cold, yet in the deception, they continue to think they are rich, having need of nothing. (Revelation 3:17)  Yet Jesus would say they are naked.

It is interesting to note in verse 20 that Jesus stands at the door and knocks.  He is speaking to a church of people here — a church that has locked Him out!

Jesus counsels the Laodicean church with the same counsel He would give us if we have fallen prey to spiritual hypothermia.  Buy gold from Him that has been refined in the fire so that you can be spiritually rich.  He admonishes them to get white garments so they may be clothed with righteousness, and to anoint their eyes so they may see.  (Revelation 3:18)  

He proceeds to tell them that He will chasten and rebuke those whom He loves.  He wants them to be zealous and repent.  That call is still there for us today.  

How do we do that?  It starts with true repentance.  We must learn to treasure His Word more than silver and gold.  We must allow it to penetrate the deepest recesses of our hearts, purging that which is not pleasing to Him.  We must allow Him to clothe us with His righteousness.  For our eyes to be anointed, we must learn not to set wicked things before our eyes (Psalm 101:3), and seek to live a life of purity.  That is hard in our compromised culture, but it is not impossible because our God is the God of the impossible!

Have you fallen prey to spiritual hypothermia?

© 2021, Stacy R. Miller

Lessons from Daniel

Lessons from Daniel

Our Sunday school class just started a series on the book of Daniel.  Of all things, when our daughter came to visit later that day, she mentioned her church was also studying the book of Daniel.  We began to discuss some things from that book that we hadn’t noticed before.

Before class, I read a commentary on Daniel 1 and it made a connection I had overlooked many times.  Daniel purposed in his heart not to eat the king’s food.  He did so for a couple of reasons.  First, many items on that list were forbidden.  Secondly, some of the king’s delicacies had been offered to idols.  The root of sin goes all the way back to Eden, and it began with forbidden food!

Another thing that stands out to me is that Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with that food.  The implication is that Daniel was serious about his relationship with God, so he didn’t wait until the last minute to make these crucial decisions.  No matter what direction this captivity by the Babylonians took, he was firm in his conviction not to turn away from the statutes of the Lord.

What a lesson for us in these times of cancel culture and compromise!  We will never “purpose in our heart” to stand firm for the Lord without remaining faithful to feed upon the Word of God and being in constant communion with Him.

I tend to be hot-headed, often speaking before I think.  Seeing how Daniel approached the chief of the eunuchs with such grace and tact regarding their diet spoke volumes to me.  In our society, we will soon be facing (and possibly already are facing), scenarios where we will need such grace and tact in dealing with others.  I have already seen this regarding the myriad of views with Covid and the vaccines.  Sadly, it is only going to get worse until Jesus rescues us before the wrath of God is unleashed.

I have mentioned previously how I struggle with loving others whose views are different from mine.  When dealing with those who are caught in false religions, or the apostate church, I can come across as arrogant and harsh in my passion to share truth with them. .  While reading my Bible this week, I found a verse on which I have been meditating and praying.  I believe it will help me navigate these scenarios in the future.  James 3:17 tells us that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering and without hypocrisy.  Lord, I need Your wisdom when dealing with others.  I need wisdom that is pure, peaceable, and gentle.  I can come across harsh in my stand on truth.  Help me to be gentle and reasonable when discussing the critical issues of Truth with others.  Help me to be full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering, and without hypocrisy.  I cannot do this on my own.  I desperately need Your help!

Another connection I made in chapter one that I failed to notice previously is how Daniel asked the eunuch to test them for ten days.  After being granted his request, Daniel and his friends looked better than those who ate all of the delicacies of the king.  But here is what I never caught — in Daniel 1:20, it states when the king examined them, they were ten times better than all the other magicians and astrologers.  Ten represents a time of testing.  When the times of testing come our way, we need to remember this story, and ask the Lord to help us to be ten times better than the ungodly people around us.  God is able to make all grace abound to us so that we can rise above, even in times of testing and captivity.

When my daughter brought up the lion’s den, I had a burst of insight that I failed to detect in previous studies on the book of Daniel.  The whole reason Daniel was in the lion’s den was because his enemies wouldn’t shut their mouths about him.  They were jealous of him, resulting in a diabolical plan to trap Daniel and get him in trouble. But notice what happened to Daniel while in that den of lions.  In Daniel 6:22, Daniel told the king that God had shut the mouths of the lions and protected him.

While Daniel wasn’t safe from the mouths of his enemies, he was kept safe from the mouths of the lions.  Yet, in a interesting twist of fate, Daniel’s enemies, along with their families, were thrown into that den of lions — lions who were now very hungry. (Daniel 6:24)

This is a lesson for us that when we face the angry taunts, vicious lies, and diabolical schemes of our enemies, God is able to cause them to be “eaten” by the very words and schemes they planned against us. (Proverbs 11:8)

I beseech you, brethren, to purpose in your heart to be diligent to study the Word and pray continually so that you do not falter when you are called to stand for truth.

© 2021, Stacy R. Miller

Enemies of the Cross: Laodicea

Laodicea:

To refresh our memory, I want to start with a reminder of the verse I mentioned last time, along with the questions I ask myself as I read about these churches.

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:17-18, ESV). 

What good qualities from this church do I have?

What bad qualities do I have?

Where might I be prone to fail if I am not careful?

Where do I need to “shore up” my armor?

What warnings do I need to heed?

What insights can I gain that I missed previously?

Praise:  The only praise I can find for this church is when Jesus tells them those He loves, He reproves and disciplines.

Notice that along with declaring His love for them, Jesus speaks of reproving and disciplining them.  He doesn’t want them to become one of those enemies of the cross, thus why He will reprove and discipline them.  

Problem:  They were lukewarm, which made the Lord want to spew them from His mouth.  They thought they were rich, prosperous, and in need of nothing.  Yet Jesus said they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

They had need of nothing, so they thought.  I can’t help but think of the many prosperity preachers, who mistakenly teach that wealth is a sign of your spiritual growth.  As for their blindness, there are many false revivals today, where the speakers claim to have a deeper insight into spiritual things.  Yet, when compared to scripture, they fail to match anything in the Word.

I see a lot of pride in this church because they declare they “have need of nothing.”  Because of that mode of thinking, when others try to use the Word of God to appeal to the errors of their way, I suspect it won’t be well received – much like the Pharisees refused to hear the counsel of Jesus.

When I study these seven churches, I tend to spend the most time on this church for two reasons.  First, because Jesus had very little praise for them.  Next, because I have learned to pay attention to the firsts and lasts in the Bible.  This church is the last one on the list, so I wonder if it represents the overall state of the church just before the Lord’s return.  That makes me pause and ask myself, “Am I lukewarm?  Do I think I am rich and prosperous, in need of nothing?”  It makes me evaluate my spiritual condition and make any necessary changes.

Previously, I attended a church that fits this description well.  Thankfully, the Lord called me out of that scenario.  It is rare these days to find a church that is biblically sound.  I am grateful to be in one of those rare, priceless churches!

Prize:  Overcomers will sit with Jesus on His throne.

Lord, help us to be overcomers in the midst of this depraved world.  Help us to hold fast to what we have, and to make necessary changes to strengthen us for the days ahead.  Help us not to fear, but to remember Your words:  In this world, you will have tribulation, but take heart, for I have overcome the world! (John 16:33)

© 2021, Stacy R. Miller

Enemies of the Cross: Philadelphia

Philadelphia:

To refresh our memory, I want to start with a reminder of the verse I mentioned last time, along with the questions I ask myself as I read about these churches.

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:17-18, ESV). 

What good qualities from this church do I have?

What bad qualities do I have?

Where might I be prone to fail if I am not careful?

Where do I need to “shore up” my armor?

What warnings do I need to heed?

What insights can I gain that I missed previously?

Praise:  He knows their works.  He has set before them an open door, which no one can shut.  They had little power, but managed to keep His Word in spite of it.

When I was in school, I remember watching films that were on the big reel.  As it got closer to the end of the film, the reel would spin faster and faster.  I think that is an apt description of where we are on the timeline before Jesus returns.  Things are ramping up so fast!  There are times when it is a bit overwhelming.  Many people are seeking strength in prepping and stocking up on guns and ammo.  While there is some wisdom there, that shouldn’t be our main focus.  Our focus must always be on the Lord, and finding our strength in Him.

Problem:  Had many in their church who really belonged to the synagogue of Satan.  

We must remember what Paul said about those who are enemies of the cross.  Many of those enemies will actually be in the church.  They may appear to be saved, say the right things, and even use the Name of the Lord.  Yet, in Luke 21:16, Jesus warned us that a day is coming when our own family will betray us.  The church is often referred to as the family of God, so we must face the fact that some who sit in services with us may be one of those enemies of the cross:  Betraying us, and thinking they are actually doing a service to the Lord.

Prize:  Those who were of the synagogue of Satan will kneel before them, acknowledging that the Lord loves the believers.  They will be kept from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.  They will be pillars in the temple of God.  They will also have written on them the name of God, the name of the city of God, and the name of Jesus.  

While there are many tribulations we must face before we see the face of Jesus, we can rejoice in His promise that we will never face His wrath.  We will be safely with Him as His anger and wrath are poured out upon the whole earth.

© 2021, Stacy R. Miller