Heat
It has been oft been said, “If you cannot stand the Heat, then get out of the Kitchen.” Quote; “The minister of the gospel is never exhorted to strive to be a smart preacher, a popular speaker, but is commanded to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:15-16). Will every messenger of God give heed to these words? We are laborers together with God, and if those who accept the responsibility of holding forth the Word of life to others who do not daily yoke up with Christ, and lift His burdens, and learn of Jesus day by day; it were better for them to seek some other employment.” {TDG 119} The impact part is this, “We are laborers together with God, and if those who accept the responsibility of holding forth the Word of life to others who do not daily yoke up with Christ, and lift His burdens, and learn of Jesus day by day; it were better for them to seek some other employment,” or in Modern Terms, “If you cannot stand the Heat, then get out of the Kitchen.” If you cannot help, then do not hinder. Matthew 12:30 “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”
2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” James 1:8 “A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.” Back in The American Civil War, there was a term coined, “Turn-Coat” which referred to a soldier that had a Uniform for both sides in the conflict, so whatever side was winning, they proudly wore that Uniform for the winning team, and quickly hid the loosing Uniform, well until the sway of the battle turned the other way, then they happily switched Uniform once more. James 1:8 “A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.” Why do we so easily both run with the fox and still try to hunt with the hounds? James 1:8 “A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.”
Back in the Sailing Ship Days, Ship builders wanted New Zealand Kauri to build ships with, as it had a lovely straight grain, it was so easy to work with, the planks could be easily steamed and then flexed and bent around the ribs, they never split or twisted, and Kauri was very strong, durable and dependable. How dependable are you and I? Are we double-minded, stable as water, a turn-coat, and often switching sides? It has been oft been said, “If you cannot stand the Heat, then get out of the Kitchen.” Why are we Christians not always “Kauri” and forever remain; strong, dependable, durable and reliable? If anybody should excel in this, then the “Christians” should be far and above everything. Redeemed, Blessed, Forgiven, Strengthened, Sustained, led by the Spirit and washed in the blood, so why is it so hard to pick a Christian out in a crowd? This should not ought to be. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, when things get hot, true Christians will always press on with the task at hand, they do not flinch or become swayed, for they are as dependable as Kauri, you will find them happily still working at their post in “The Kitchen” happily singing as they work, though the sweat may freely flow, they are still at their post, singing as they go, dependable and reliable, led by the Spirit and washed in The Blood.
“If you cannot stand the Heat, then get out of the Kitchen.” If you cannot help, then do not hinder. Why do we so easily claim to be Christian Believers, and yet when we are sought out, we are often found contentedly dwelling in the camp of the Enemy, Mr. Satan, not there seeking to recruit and to redeem them, we are just happily living there, we show ourselves to be plain old “Turncoats.”
Quote; “Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “By His stripes we are healed.” {DA 25} Jesus was always “On Duty” and if there is any doubt, then out with your Bible and read the last chapters of any, or All of the Four Gospel’s, the Kitchen was extremely hot, oppression was on every side and in every possible circumstance, yet our Saviour unflinchingly went through way more than we will ever be asked to endure. Quote; “The greatest want of the world is the want of Adults,–Adults who will not be bought or sold; Adults who in their inmost souls are true and honest; Adults who do not fear to call sin by its right name; Adults whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; Adults who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” {ED 57} (Adapted)
How “Dependable” are we all? Can we withstand the Heat and Trials, or do we regularly just duck and “Turncoat?” 1 Peter 2:9-10 {MSG} But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, GOD’s Instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” If the going gets “Hot” then Praise God, and witness for the transformations in your life.
