Wednesday, January 8, 2014

[burning heat].


i love that God loves words.
and that He knows the exact definition of them.
and that He chooses to speak to us so specifically through them.

with each new year,
I pray for a new word from Him.
to cling to, to expect, and to prophetically speak over the upcoming year.

in the middle of December,
feeling "bleh" from the hum drum of how the world, and even we, Christians, celebrate Christmas... and just wanting more of His presence and heart in that season, and less of the shopping and planning and busyness,
i randomly text a friend.
                                                   

                         
   
i immediately looked up the word "fervence." it simply said [[heat]]; fervency.


[Fervency].
>> great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion; ardor
"she spoke persuasively and with ardor" <<
>>intense devotion; eagerness or enthusiasm; zeal<<
>>burning heat<<

and i knew this was my word for the year.
i wrote it down.
and began to pray and seek His heart on it.

on December 31st,,
while praying with some friends.
He spoke so clearly [[radiant]].

a word i've heard many a time, and prayed many a time.

and so i looked it up.

>>emitting heat or light<<
>>filled with light; bright<<
>>characterized by intense joy<<

heat.
He just kept speaking heat.

the entire first week of January,
left and right,,
all I've been hearing is Revelation 3:1-6.


“‘I know your works.
You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"


 
and the fear of the Lord is heavy.
He sees.
He knows my works.
He sees past the reputation.
what i think of my pursuit of God, what others infer about my pursuit of God, how i compare with other Christians,,
means nothing.
because it's His opinion that matters.
and He sees not only the fruit.
but the roots.

and what may look lively to others, and even myself, cannot manipulate Him.

He knows the entirety of my prayer life.
He knows when I'm just singing to sing.
He knows when my motives are not pure.
He sees the areas of halfheartedness.
He knows when true hunger fades.
He sees when genuine passion and love becomes routine.
He knows when even walking in the Spirit becomes religious.

and He's not impressed even if others are.
because let's be honest.
we all know how to "look alive".

"because only God and the honest, see the heart bare."

and in His mercy,
He says [wake up].


"I know what's inside you. the desire for Me.
strengthen what remains.
stir up the giftings and the callings.
repent.
allow Me to breathe Spirit on the embers barely burning,, barely hot...
lukewarm. "

[[lukewarm]].

a word i've always applied to others.
to those who clearly just go to church on Sunday, and that's all.. if even that.

a word no born-again Christian wants to relate to themselves.
or admit applies.

it means
>> only moderately warm; tepid.<<
antonyms: hot, cold.
>>(of a person, attitude or action): unenthusiastic; indifferent, cool, halfhearted, apathetic.<<
>>lacking conviction<<
>>having or showing little ardor, zeal or enthusiasm<<


the same degeneration,, showing evidence of decline, in Isaiah (2:21).
what once was a choice vine, wholly of pure seed,, becoming a degenerate plant of an alien vine.
what once was fiery hot,, passionate and genuine,, being affected by the surrounding atmosphere and temperature,, slowing losing heat and fervor over time.

and because it's not drastic. its subtle and over time.
its a scary reality,,
that our reputation,, our former heat,,
can deceive us into thinking we still are what we were.
when He knows,
we're not.



[Fervency].

>> great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion; ardor
"she spoke persuasively and with ardor" <<
>>intense devotion; eagerness or enthusiasm; zeal<<
>>burning heat<<


fervency. the exact opposite of lukewarm.
His desire for me.
for us.

to burn for Him.
to truly be alive.

because its not about reputations. success. or impressions.
its about the God who sees.

and is an All-Consuming Fire. (hebrews 12:29).


"
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
   (Romans 12:10-12)




(a continuation from yesterday's post and walking in a tunnel)

 

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