There is a command given in Romans 12:11 that we are to be “fervent in the Spirit”. The word fervent means showing great emotion or warmth, extremely hot, glowing, or boiling. Many times the heat gets turned up and folks get scared, they find themselves uncomfortable and turn down the heat. When you boil water, the temperature must reach 212°, at 211° you just have hot water. You get water boiling and you get steam and with steam you get power. I was on a ship in the Coast Guard that was powered by steam. The ship wouldn’t go anywhere on water power but when it got heated to steam the ship began to move. There are a lot of Christians that never get up to fervent and just never get things moving.

            Fervent in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit appears to be extinguished or at least watered down in much of the church. I use the term “church” referring to God’s church not the denominational church that is normally thought of. The Spirit gets quenched just before it reaches the boiling point. Acts 7:51 chastises the church for resisting the Holy Spirit. Everything that God does here on earth is through the Holy Spirit, yet the Spirit is ignored or denied. To resist the Holy Spirit would compare to resisting God.

            Revelation Chapter 2&3 describe 7 churches or periods of church history. The Church of Laodicea covers the time that we are presently living in. (Revelation 3:14-22) The beginning of this church is not certain however there is no question that we are currently living in the time of the last church that Jesus mentioned. This period of time identifies a time when the church is neither faithful nor true. John writes that the church is lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Here is a good example where the church does not reach a boiling point; they are not fervent in the Spirit. Many churches today are not hot nor are they cold, they haven’t rejected Christ, yet they are doing nothing to promote Him. The Church of Laodicea has been increased by goods and feels no real need for God. Like the Church of Laodicea the church of today has become very self-righteous and lacking the righteousness of Christ. Verse 22 sums it all up: “He who has an ear; let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.” In cowboy talk it says, “Come back to Christ and the Cross.”

            If your attitude has dropped, you are slacking, no ambition, and you see no purpose in life here is a verse for you. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does.” (Ephesians 6:7-8) At work, home, or church we should have an attitude that is fervent in the Spirit. Get out of lukewarm, turn the heat up, get that one more degree, let it boil and get fervent in the Spirit.

            In the Old Testament and in the New Testament reference is made to tithing. Malachi the last of the Old Testament prophets in Malachi 3:10 said, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…”. Originally storehouse referred to a storage facility, however after the New Covenant it is referred to as a place where souls are fed. To tithe means to give a tenth of one’s income, either in kind or money, contributed voluntarily for charitable purposes. Tithing to God is an expression of your love to God through your willingness to give back a portion of what God has already blessed you with.

            Many pastors are reluctant to preach about tithing while others seem to find the topic at the top of their list of potential sermons. Actually the topic of money was very important to Jesus; of the 36 parables that He used in His teaching, 16 dealt with money. One in every six verses found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke deal in some way with money. The New Testament itself contains some 2000 verses dealing with money. No wonder so many sermons are on money.

            God promises two things when we tithe: His blessings and His protection. God said that He will “Open for you the windows of heaven and pour out such a blessing that you would not be able to have enough room to receive them.” An old farmer was once asked the secret of his prosperity. He replied:” I just shovel it into God’s bin and He shovels it back in mine; but God’s got a bigger shovel”. Imagine being a partner with God, what an exciting enterprise. Malachi 3:11 says, “I will rebuke the devourer…he shall not destroy.” God will use your tithe to destroy the works of the enemy. No, God isn’t after your money; He is in the payback business, He just wants to bless you.

            Tithing should be done willingly & cheerfully, from a loving heart. Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” J D Rockefeller said, “I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.” Plain and simple; you can’t out give God.

            One of Jesus’ more famous parables comes from Matthew 25:14-30. Three servants are given 5 talents, 2 talents, and one talent each according to their ability. The first servant worked and doubled his talents, the second servant likewise doubled his through faithfulness. The servant who got the 1 talent dug a hole and hid his talent, in turn showing no blessing and resulting in the loss of that talent. God does not expect us to do not with what he has given us. Some are given more, while some receive less, and yet others lose what they have been given. God knows our ability and willingness to use what we have been given. Look around you; notice the ones who give generously to the lives of others around them, God always blesses them with more to give. “Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whosever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6) Ask any farmer, he will tell you that you can’t harvest the crop if you don’t plant the seed.

            A partnership does not work when one partner does all the giving and the other does all the taking. It works the same with God, if we don’t do our part, He will take away what He has given us. When you partner with God and give the tithe due Him, He responds in kind. The flood gates of heaven are opened and the blessing flow down to you. Are your talents being multiplied or are they being taken away?

            Would your church be open on Sunday if you had the only key? The Announcers, a Gospel music group from Clifton Forge, Virginia sing that song, “If You Had The Only Key.” It asked the question; would everyone be standing around asking where in the world could he be? Would the church only be open on Christmas and Easter? Truth is there are a lot of churches that would be standing around wondering where the key holder could be. Many folks just don’t seem to understand the importance of church or at least attending one. God created the church so that people could support each other in His name. Churches are just like people, they are each a little different from the other. There are certainly enough Bible believing churches, each different, one is bound to meet your needs.

A church is defined as, “the company of all Christians regarded as a spiritual

body” or “a building for public worship.” I like using the company of Christian believers to be the best definition of the church. The church is a place where the Spiritual believers can become a family. Romans 12:5 say, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” There is a unity within the body of Christ that prevails over the church. This verse speaks of a truth that does not fall to separation but rather being a member of the Body. I Corinthians 12:12 refers to the body as a unit, though it is made up of many parts. Church made up of many parts or people that form one body.

            Church is not just a place to be together with other Christians, it is a place to grow. It is not hard for us to understand when our physical bodies are hungry, our stomach growls. Sometimes I think that it is a little more difficult for us to understand that we need spiritual nourishment. Spiritual nourishment comes from praising God, reading his Word, the Bible, and being taught to live the way God expects us to live. Acts 2:42-47 describes the early church telling of the fellowship shared from house to house by the early church. These early church people praised God and were favorably impressed by the others in Jerusalem.  

            Attending church regularly gives you a place to find support and encouragement. Standing alone you become weak and fall victim to the failing world around you. I Corinthians 12:14-27 gives a great comparison of the human body to the church. Think how each part of the body work together as one; not one part works independent of the other. When we attempt standing alone we are like a part of the body is separated from the other; imagine a giant ear walking down the street, it is just not how God intended for things to work.

            Jesus gave a new Commandment in John 13:34, “…that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  God’s church is a place where you can get the caring love that you need. Sure there are churches to stay away from: I’ve been there and I’m certain that you have too. Some of the worst hurts have happened to me right in church by folks claiming to be Christians. Well none of us are perfect and Satan will find the weak spot in people and use it. There is an old saying, “don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.” The important thing is that you find a church that suits you, one where your spiritual needs are met, not just a feel good place. Listen to Jesus; He will guide you to the church where you belong.                                          

            Today, July 4^th, is more than the middle of summer vacation, a time for picnics, swimming, fireworks or just an extra day off from work. Our country seems to be losing the real reason for July 4^th; the founding of a country, founded on Christian principals. I am including quotes from several of our founding father’s regarding these Christian principals:

            “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or to often that this great nation was founded not but religionist but by Christians, not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”   Patrick Henry

            “Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.”   George Washington Farwell Address to the Nation.

           “The 1^st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.    President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptists.

            These fathers of our independence certainly would have indicated that there was to have been a freedom not to worship, but to worship Jesus Christ. What a concept; Christian principles in our government!

            The Patriots made a pretty bold declaration when on July 2^nd, 1776 at a meeting of the continental congress, the colonies voted to declare absolute freedom from England.  On July 4^th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men representing the 13 colonies. Patrick Henry, during a speech before the Virginia Provincial Convention said: “3 million people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destiny of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. Battle sir, is not to the strong alone, it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” Without the faith in God that men like Patrick Henry possessed and others like him, these patriots would have not taken on the most powerful army in the world and there would have been no freedom to celebrate.

            Sure they paid a high price; 7200 Americans were killed, 8200 were wounded, 10,000 died from disease and exposure, 6500 died in prison after being captured, and another 1400 were listed as missing in action. Of the 56 men that signed the Declaration of Independence: 5 were captured by the British and tortured before they died, 12 had their homes ransacked and burned, 2 lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, and another 2 sons were captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds of hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered George Washington to open fire on his home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields were destroyed. For over a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find that his wife had died and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion.

            Yes, those early Patriots paid a high price; they also reaped a great reward. Not only did they win their freedom and independence; the treaty of Paris that really ended the war in 1783 gave the new nation all the land east of the Mississippi River. And of the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence: 2 became Presidents, 10 US Congressman, 19 Judges, and 16 became Governors. Some became heroes that still encourage us to continue to endure the fight for this nation.

            We, like the early Patriots fight a real war. The war we fight is an invisible war, a very real war. It is a war between good and evil. Many of us have signed a Declaration of Our Independence with God. This battle between good and evil has already been fought by Jesus; it started on the cross when He took the burden of our sins, defeated in the grave when He arose a victor and waits with our reward in heaven. The apostle Paul declared victory in Galatians 20:20-21: “I am Crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Paul uses the crucifixion of Christ as the foundation for all Victory. Paul states that he has life not by his own strength but through Jesus who died on the cross.

            Paul says in verse 21 that he does not frustrate the Grace of God; meaning that by making the cross of Christ anything other than the center of our faith we will stop its action and the Holy Spirit will stop helping. If we are to place any other way of life other than faith in God then Jesus has suffered and died in vain. We must trust fully in Christ Jesus.

            The early patriots placed their faith in a God that they believed in, trusted, and were guide by. This nation was founded on a trust in God and the faith the He would carry them to independence. This nation has turned away from God looking for other ways to meet their needs. As this nation turns away from God ignoring the sacrifice of Jesus, it turns away from the Patriots that made the sacrifices that they made.

            This 4^th of July let us sign a new Declaration of Independence: one that sets us free and gets us back on track with God. Stand up America and be counted, let us not lose what a high price has already been paid for, “Our Freedom”. In God We Trust.