The Problem Of Spiritual Chill

The Problem of a Spiritual Chill

I love living in Ohio. I am a Buckeye through and through but there is one thing that I don’t like about Ohio, cold winter days. We either have it relatively mild and not overly cold or there have been times when Alaska is warmer than we are. This by the way is no joke, last winter there were days when it was warmer in Fairbanks Alaska than it was in Ohio. If you couldn’t tell, winter is not one of my favorite seasons.

There are times when people experience a different type of chill, a spiritual cool down that leaves them cold in spirit. What happens when people grow cold in their walk with Christ?

1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:1-7

1. In times of spiritual cold there is a Loss of Growth

We are meant to grow closer in our relationship with Jesus and it is absolutely impossible to grow in a relationship you choose to neglect. When we neglect our relationship with Christ, it grows cold. When we settle for a lower relationship with Christ we will never have the kind of relationship we are meant to have with Him. We lose the potential that we can only find in Jesus

2. In times of spiritual cold there is a Loss of Grace

When we live at a lower level we miss out on the higher blessings and benefits of a growing relationship with Christ. When our relationship grows cold, we do not experience the kind of spiritual blessings that we are meant to have. Grace is the undeserved favor of God in our lives. When we fail to live in Christ’s power we miss out on the grace moments of life. Grace moments are those times that you can look back and say God was with me in a real way.

3. In times of spiritual cold there is a Loss of Godliness

When we strive to become like Jesus, it shows in the spiritual disciplines we choose to live by. When we are not striving for more we tend to walk away from the essential spiritual disciplines.

• Daily time with God in prayer and seasons of fasting for greater spiritual growth

• Daily time in God’s Word and specific times of reflection

• Seeking genuine times of praise and worship

• Moving from talking about serving God to walking the talk with God

• Burdened with a deep concern for those who are lost

When we ignore these things and allow our prayer life and devotional life to grow cold we will lose our enjoyment of the Christian walk.

What Do We Do About getting Cold?

1. Recognize

You will never be able to embrace the change God has in store for your life until you recognize your personal need. The closer you grow to Christ the more he is able to empower your life. There will never be a greater movement of God in your life if you are satisfied with where you are right now. Let me ask you a very personal question: Do you need a closer walk with God?

2. Remember

We must remember the key to a deep relationship with Jesus is the issue of closeness not feeling. You may be close to Christ but not feel like you are or you may be getting colder and still feel as if you were close to Christ. Never base your relationship with Christ on the way you feel because feelings are fickle and they will betray you.

If you can remember a time in your life when you were closer to Christ than you are right now, you need to get back to that place. Remember where you were. Remember what Jesus has done for you. Remember when you knew His presence and knew His power