Sluggishness and Habits

Sluggishness and Habits

“That you do not become sluggish, but follow those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb. 6:12.

We do not partake of the promises with sluggishness in our hearts. Sluggishness is the opposite of God’s nature, He “who gives to all liberally and without reproach.” Jas. 1:5.

By nature we all are sluggish when it comes to doing God’s will, and if we do not fight with all our might and in all seriousness in the power of the Holy Spirit against this sluggishness we will continue to be sluggish. If our spirit is not set free from money and possessions, we will be very slow to give any of it away. In addition, going to conferences and meetings, praying and testifying, saying good and thankful words, and serving the others in various ways will all be characterized by sluggishness.

The disciples were sluggish when it came to watching and praying together with Jesus. Jesus said, “The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We must partake of this willing and powerful Spirit that overcomes all the sluggishness of the flesh and be surrendered to Him. This was the Spirit the disciples received on the day of Pentecost and in which they lived and worked for the rest of their lives.

The spirit of wisdom is more agile than all agility; it is not locked in by habits and forms. Jesus says that everyone who is born of the Spirit is like the wind; you cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. John 3:8.

Some people work, eat, sleep, pray, and read the Bible at certain times of the day, thinking that this is a virtue. And if they should get up to testify, even this is planned. Such people are locked in, and God cannot use them according to how the Spirit works. Their whole body is adapted to a particular daily routine, but it takes faith, sacrifice, and love to come out of it.

Paul lived a most varied life. “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:12-13. His body was offered to do God’s will; therefore he rejoiced and was of good courage in all circumstances. 2 Cor. 6:4-10; 12:10.

James exhorts us with the following words: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Jas. 1:25.

It is not fitting to do God’s great and holy works in a sluggish spirit, but rather in a liberated and blessed spirit. We can find these works in everything we say and do, both great and small, from morning till evening.

The host on Mount Zion was set free from themselves and from the earth; they could praise God in the midst of their sufferings and tribulations.

May God perform a mighty, liberating work in all of us, because it is written, “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord sluggishly.” Jer. 48:10. He will spew the lukewarm out of His mouth. Rev. 3:16.