War Zone- Week 7 Tactics of the Enemy vs. Strategies of the Believer (Spiritual Lethargy)

Today we will look at another tactic of the enemy: Spiritual Lethargy 

Merriam Webster online dictionary defines lethargy as: the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or indifferent. 

A. W. Tozer describes this condition well: “there is little communion and little joy in the Lord. To have a cold heart with little pity, little fire, little love and little worship is spiritual lethargy.”i 

The Bible uses another word for spiritual lethargy: Lukewarm. In Revelation 3:14-19 we read, “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: 

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” (NLT) 

“Laodicea is difficult to describe because no one thing stands out. It was a city with a people who had learned to compromise and accommodate themselves to the needs and wishes of others; they did not zealously stand for anything. For all its wealth, the city had poor water. A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the south. The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way.”ii 

Spiritual Lethargy/Lukewarmness has many causes.   

First, compromise with the world leads to spiritual lethargy.   

In Laodicea, the church had taken its cue from the culture around them, and they were no longer standing for truth and righteousness. They had compromised their beliefs to accommodate the culture. 

We see this same issue in our culture today. The things that were absolutes in past generations are now grey and blurry. One example is marriage. Merriam Webster 1828 dictionary defines marriage as: The act of uniting a man and woman for life.iii  

However, today the Merriam Webster online dictionary defines marriage as: the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. It has a long note following the definition. Here are a few lines/phrases from that note: “The definition of the word marriage—or, more accurately, the understanding of what the institution of marriage properly consists of—continues to be highly controversial.”  “The principal point of dispute has to do with marriage between two people of the same sex, often referred to as same-sex marriage or gay marriage.”  “The definition of marriage shown here is intentionally broad enough to encompass the different types of marriage that are currently recognized in varying cultures, places, religions, and systems of law.”iv 

As we see from the definition of marriage today, our culture has fallen away from God’s standard of marriage. Sadly, this attitude of accommodation/compromise has also crept into many churches in our nation today.  

Not all compromise is as easily identified as the issue of marriage, however. Some areas of compromise are more subtle. One example of a more subtle compromise is in media and entertainment. 

The culture has no problem with sin. You can find it in music, movies, tv shows... When we fill our minds with these types of entertainment, we are going against the Word. Psalm 101:3 says, “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” (ESV) 

Colossians 3:2, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (ESV) 

Romans 12:2, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT) 

Second, unconfessed sin will lead to spiritual lethargy.  

Psalm 32:3-4, When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me. My energy (vitality, strength) was drained away as with the burning heat of summer. (AMP)  

In this Psalm David acknowledges that when he failed to confess his sin before the Lord his strength drained away. The same holds true for a believer holding onto unconfessed sin. When we fail to confess our sin, we begin to grow stagnant in our Christian walk. Lukewarmness is the result.  

Galatians 6:7-8, Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (ESV) 

The law of sowing and reaping holds true in every area of our lives. If we sow sin, we will reap a lukewarm relationship with God. The opposite is true as well. If we sow righteousness, we will reap a hot, intimate relationship with our Father.  

Finally, neglecting the basic spiritual disciplines also leads to spiritual lethargy. 

Discipline is defined as: to train or develop by instruction and exercise, especially in self-control.v

There are spiritual disciplines that are crucial for keeping up our spiritual vitality. As believers we must train our flesh to maintain these spiritual disciplines. They do not come naturally because the enemy of our souls works overtime to bring distractions that will steal our time and leave us spiritually malnourished.  

Discipline one: Prayer  

Colossians 4:2, Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (ESV) 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV) (Italics mine) 

Matthew 26:41, Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (AMP) 

Prayer is simply: communion with God. Prayer is dialoguing with God.  

In Genesis we read that Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden in the cool of the evening. We have no record of what they talked about, however, when I walk with a friend, we talk about life. We share joys and dreams, as well as sorrows and pain.  

When we dialogue with God about our day, our joys, our pains, our gratitude, our praise, and our needs, we are praying. It is good to set aside specific time each day to talk with (not to) God. Allowing Him to speak to us as we share with Him. However, it is also important to remember that we can and should talk with Him as we go throughout our daily activities. He wants to be actively involved in every part of our lives.  

Discipline two: Bible reading, study, meditation 

Psalm 119:11, I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (ESV) 

Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV) 

Psalm 1:1-2, Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. (NLT) 

2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (NLT) 

Joshua 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (ESV) 

To keep our spiritual stamina we must ready, study, and meditate on the Word of God. The Word is food for our soul just as a steak is food for our flesh. If we are not feeding our souls on the Word, we will find ourselves growing lukewarm. We must discipline ourselves to keep the Word continually in front of us.  

Discipline three: Regular church attendance 

Hebrews 10:25, Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT) 

Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV) 

We need each other!  

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, 
two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV) 

As we talked about last week, isolation leads to our defeat. We need to be in continual fellowship with other believers.  

In conclusion, we must remember that compromise with the world, unconfessed sin, and neglecting the basic spiritual disciplines will lead to spiritual lethargy. To avoid lukewarmness we must pray, stay in the Word, and have fellowship with other believers.  

Works Cited:

i. https://seminary.grace.edu/addressing-spiritual-lethargy-pt-1/#:~:text=Spiritual%20lethargy%20may%20be%20defined,own%20spiritual%20growth%20and%20vitality. 

ii Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004. 

iii https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/marriage 

iv https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marriage 

v https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline