Revelation 3:16 But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth. Jesus Christ warns the lukewarm and half-committed person: “I will spew you out of my mouth.” This is graphic language, but it is used for a purpose. The person who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ is claiming to be a part of His body, claiming to be nourishment for His body, a part of the growth of His body. But when the person is lukewarm, he is none of this. He is like lukewarm food, unappetizing and unwanted. Christ does not want the nourishment that such food provides. It is not fit to help in the nourishment and growth of His body. Therefore, He rejects all who are lukewarm and half-committed. This verse is part of a message to the church in Laodicea, one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. The imagery of “lukewarm” refers to spiritual apathy or complacency. In the context of Laodicea—a city known for its wealth but lacking a good water supply—this metaphor would’ve hit home. Their water arrived via aqueducts from hot springs and was tepid by the time it reached them, making it unpleasant to drink. Spiritually speaking, Jesus is warning against being indifferent or half-hearted in faith. “Hot” symbolizes passionate devotion, “cold” could represent openness to transformation, but “lukewarm” implies a smug, self-sufficient attitude that’s neither fully committed nor receptive. That’s what made the Laodicean church spiritually ineffective. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being engaged. This verse is a wake-up call to live with purpose and not settle into spiritual autopilot.
DON’T ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO CAUSE YOUR GODLY FIRE TO GO OUT. STAY ON FIRE FOR GOD!!! KEEP YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE HOT!!! DON’T BECOME WARM OR COLD, CAUSING GOD TO SPIT YOU OUT.
James 2:14-17 My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him? Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food and one of you tells that person, “God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough.” If you don’t provide for that person’s physical needs, what good does it do? In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn’t cause you to do any good things. James 2:24 You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.
ALLOW YOUR FAITH IN GOD TO CAUSE YOU TO DO GOOD THINGS.
The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God and should be treated with love, respect, and equality. It strongly opposes racism and discrimination, emphasizing unity and the value of every individual. Here are some key biblical teachings on racism: – All humans are created in God’s image – Genesis 1:27 states that God created mankind in His own image, meaning every person has inherent worth. – Unity in Christ – Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Love and respect for all – 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” Christians are called to love others without prejudice. – Judging by the heart, not appearance – 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – Condemnation of favoritism – James 2:9 warns, “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” – James 2:1 – “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” This verse condemns discrimination and partiality. The Bible consistently promotes justice, kindness, and unity among all people, rejecting racism and encouraging believers to treat others with fairness and compassion.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER. YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN AND A RACIST, YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE, ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN OR ARE YOU A RACIST?
Psalm 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” James 1:26 If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. James 3:10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!
LET US CONTROL WHAT COMES FROM OUR MOUTH. CONTROL YOUR SPEECH.
Luke 6:31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Romans 13:10 “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” 1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Galatians 5:14 “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
What are the biblical qualifications of a pastor? SHOULD A WOMAN PASTOR.
The biblical qualifications of pastor are outlined in two primary New Testament passages, 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9. There are three terms used interchangeably in the New Testament to refer the highest office in a church: elder, overseer, and pastor (which means “shepherd”) all refer to the same office. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV [1] The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. [2] Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3] not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. [4] He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [5] for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? [6] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Titus 1:5-9 GW [5] I left you in Crete to do what still needed to be done—appointing spiritual leaders in every city as I directed you. [6] A spiritual leader must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife and have children who are believers. His children shouldn’t be known for having wild lifestyles or being rebellious. [7] Because a bishop is a supervisor appointed by God, he must have a good reputation. He must not be a stubborn or irritable person. He must not drink too much or be a violent person. He must not use shameful ways to make money. [8] Instead, he must be hospitable, love what is good, use good judgment, be fair and moral, and have self-control. [9] He must be devoted to the trustworthy message we teach. Then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people and correct those who oppose the word. First Timothy 3:1–7 contains the biblical qualifications for a pastor: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” We also find the biblical qualifications for a pastor in Titus 1:5–9: “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Putting the two lists together, we get the following qualifications of a pastor: He must be a person of integrity and worthy of the respect of those both inside and outside the church (above reproach, respectable, blameless, upright, holy, loves what is good, have a good reputation with outsiders). He must have self-control (be temperate, disciplined). This encompasses many of the things that come later in the list. He must not misuse alcohol by getting drunk (not given to drunkenness). He must be hospitable. He must be able to welcome people into his home and his life. He is not “stand- offish.” He must be able to deal with people in a respectful way (not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not overbearing, not quick-tempered). He must be a good husband (faithful to his wife) and a good father (a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) In some circles this is interpreted to mean that a pastor must be married and have more than one child, but most interpret this to mean that, if a man is married or has children, then he must be a good husband and father. At the time Paul wrote, it would have been rare for an adult man to be single or childless. Elsewhere, Paul extolls the value of being single in serving the Lord, and he himself was single, so it is doubtful that being married with children is a qualification for church leadership (see 1 Corinthians 7). Likewise, does this mean that a pastor’s children must be believers and, if one of them does not profess faith in Christ, then the father is disqualified as a pastor? The focus seems to be on children in the home and on their outward actions. Most children will adopt the beliefs of their parents, although they may reject those beliefs later in life. If a child living in the home rejects the faith of his father, then his father must not have done a very good job of fathering. He would do well to give up church leadership and focus all of his leadership efforts on his home. God can raise someone else to lead the church, but the father is the only one who can lead his home. Furthermore, both passages assume that only men will be pastors. Paul addressed this directly in 1 Timothy 2:12, where women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men in the church. The pastor of a church, by definition, is called to teach men and exercise authority over them. A pastor must believe and be able to communicate God’s Word (able to teach, holding firmly to the trustworthy message to encourage others by sound doctrine). A pastor must not be “in it for the money” (not a lover of money, not pursuing dishonest gain). Money must not be the driving force behind a man’s desire to enter the ministry nor his guiding principle while in ministry. A pastor can use his position to unduly influence people to give him things and is often in a unique position to help himself to church funds and resources. Therefore, a pastor must be able to resist these urges. Finally, in 1 Timothy, Paul says that a pastor should not be a new convert or he may become conceited with his quick “rise to power.” This qualification is not specifically mentioned in Titus. Some have pointed out that Crete was a much newer church, so anyone elevated to the position of pastor would perforce have been a relatively new convert. However, in the vast majority of situations today, there are men with a proven track record to choose from. Elevating a person to leadership too quickly is a trap for the man and the church he serves. Other biblical qualifications for a pastor come from other passages of Scripture. Christ taught that leaders in the church must be servants (Luke 22:25–27). Peter highlights this in 1 Peter 5:3, mentioning that a shepherd must not “lord it over” the flock. A pastor who is power-hungry disqualifies himself. No one is perfect, and no pastor perfectly embodies all of these character traits, but a pastor should be a man with a consistent track record. If an honest evaluation reveals an obvious shortcoming, then the man in question is not qualified to be a pastor.
Galatians 5:16–26 Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants. What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do. If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws. Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God’s kingdom. But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. We can’t allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other.
CHECK YOURSELF: HOW ARE YOU LIVING, ARE YOU ALLOWING YOUR SPIRITUAL NATURE TO GUIDE YOU OR ARE YOU ALLOWING YOU CORRUPT NATURE TO GUIDE YOU? IF YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 in God’s Word Translation (GW) reads: “When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future.” This verse highlights the unpredictability of life and encourages gratitude in good times while fostering reflection during hardships, acknowledging that both are part of God’s plan. – “When times are good, be happy.” → Enjoy and appreciate the blessings in life. Happiness is meant to be embraced when things are going well. – “But when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one time as well as the other.” → Difficult moments are also part of life, just as good times are. God allows both joy and hardship, shaping our experiences and growth. – “So that mortals cannot predict their future.” → Life is unpredictable. No one can fully control or foresee what will happen next. This verse reminds us to trust in God rather than trying to control everything ourselves.
EVERY DAY IS NOT A GOOD DAY, AND GOD PLANNED IT THAT WAY. WE MUST DEPEND ON GOD AND TRUST GOD IN THE GOOD DAYS, AND IN THE BAD DAYS.
I challenge all readers of this post to go room by room in their houses, throwing out things, and then to go to work on their minds, getting rid of mind clutter. Good stewardship means we keep focused on what is really important, and it is not usually the things we clutter our lives and our homes with. What things are you storing that you can do without? What thoughts are you hanging onto that you would be better off without? Bitterness? Grudges? Negative thoughts? Throw them out. Here are some of the key things the Bible encourages us to get rid of: – Bitterness, anger, and malice – Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Deceit and hypocrisy – 1 Peter 2:1 urges us to lay aside “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – Filthy language and harmful speech – Colossians 3:8 calls us to rid ourselves of “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.” – Worldly thinking – Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to the world but to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Sinful desires – Galatians 5:24 says those who belong to Christ have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The common thread? God invites us to shed anything that distorts love, truth, and peace. It’s not just about avoiding bad behavior—it’s about making space for something better: kindness, forgiveness, humility, and joy.
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
