“12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13 Yet it came to pass, when the Children of Israel were waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.” Joshua 17:12-13
Instead of utterly driving out the enemy, the Children of Israel compromised with the enemy which caused tremendous problems for them. They did not trust God to supply all of their needs according to His riches in glory but preferred to trust in their intellect to ‘make peace’ with the enemy.
“15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.
16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:15-17
The Endtime Apostate Church has done the same thing. They failed to drive out the enemy and compromised with the world and it’s wicked ways. Psychology cloaked with much Scripture is the new gospel. Jesus is not the Source not His Cross the means by which they receive victory over the power of sin, therefore they do not have victory over sin. You will know them by their fruit. None of us are perfect and there will be times that we too will fail the Lord BUT when we do, the Holy Spirit convicts our heart and we repent. We are not lukewarm about our conviction but sincerely want to please the Lord and not bring reproach unto His Name. The problem with the lukewarm is that they claim to be Christians yet their hearts are far from God and it is evident by their fruit. Claiming to be Christians while doing this brings reproach to the work of God.
If you are the source and your intellect, education, talents, etc. is the means by which you are living, then you are perishing my friend. The Canaanites are still living in your land. You have not overcome them but psychology has taught you to make them comfortable.
Understand this, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified can be corrupted when we are taught to believe wrong and It will have no effect in our lives. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to perform the Work of God in our hearts but He is only commissioned to do so when we look to Jesus as the Source and His Cross the means by which we receive the power of God to break the power of sin. Looking unto ourselves and our abilities will not afford us the power of the Holy Spirit to work on our behalf. He will not circumcise our hearts and remove those things that are not pleasing to God if we are looking unto another way.
On the other hand, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will utterly expel the Canaanites. Righteousness expels wickedness BUT wickedness will corrupt righteousness if we so allow. Such is why we touch not the unclean thing. This is why we must come out from among them and be ye separate. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. What we hear should be the object of our faith is where our faith will be. The majority of gospels today point our faith toward self and works in order to obtain righteousness which leaves the unbelieving Believer spiritually defeated.
For too long, God’s people have been dwelling with the Canaanites and have no idea that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Yet there remain some whose hearts are truly perfect toward the Lord. They love God but have built their house among the Canaanites.
Jesus is knocking. He remains on the outside of the church wanting to sup with those who have ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches. Come out from among them. Come out from among the Laodiceans who have made their bed with the Canaanites. The Bridegroom is coming and your lamp needs some oil my friend.
“19 As many as I (JESUS) love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne.
22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.” Revelation 3:19-22
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 