Revelation 3:15-22,
[15] “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. [19] Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [21] The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
I’ve been doing a little early Church research and in my research I found that the first theological sound use of the term Trinity was by a man named Tertullian. In c. 213 AD he wrote:
“The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and each is God. But there is one God, by unity of substance, not number of persons. They are **three**, not in status, but in relation; not in substance, but in form; not in power, but in manifestation. They are **one** in essence, but distinguished as **Trinity** by their roles.”
**”Trinitas unius Divinitatis”** — “a Trinity of one Divinity”
Tertullian was arguing against Praxeas, who taught modalism— the idea that God is one person who merely appears in different “modes” (Father, Son, Spirit). Tertullian strongly opposed this, emphasizing that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons, yet one in essence.
This word Trinity gave us a way to easier express our God. For our God is three, yet one. Three distinct persons yet one God. As I continued my research, I found that Tertullian came from North Africa, specifically, Carthage, modern-day Tunisia. This very much so caught my attention.
Out of Tunisia came the explanation of the foundational and fundamental belief for Christianity, The Trinity. Today, Tunisia is an Islamic nation. The national religion of Tunisia is Islam. The belief that is taught throughout the country is that there is no Trinity. That the teachings of the Trinity are either false teachings and that Allah is god and Allah has no son.
Imagine, the nation that gave us the word Trinity to explain the intrinsic identity of God recorded throughout Scripture, has now become a nation where you will be persecuted if you proclaim that you believe in the Trinity. In the 7th century Tunisia went from a Christian nation to a Islamic nation. How? The Islamic Conquests.
Throughout Scripture, we are told that under persecution we grow. In tribulation our endurance is strengthened. So, what happened? I believe that when we take our religion, our faith, and our freedoms for granted they are taken from us. Tunisia gave us great early Church leaders in the faith, and yet today, that history is often forgotten. When we allow the flame to die, it gives way to enemy to take control.
The enemy can conquer our physical bodies but our spirits, our souls, our eternal beings he cannot. We have to give it to him. We do that not by saying a spell, performing a ritual, or signing our name in blood, but by becoming lukewarm. By becoming comfortable in our walk with God.
When we stop fanning the flame, the fire dies and the coals begin to cool. And what’s left? A lukewarm pile of ash. We are called by God to be on fire for Him. His Word, His call on our lives should be like a fire shut up in our bones that we cannot do anything but follow Him. We should be clinging to our Bible that aren’t illegal. Excited for church in Sundays that we don’t have to fear being arrested for attending.
When we have an abundance of freedoms, we begin to take them for granted and when we do we begin to drift into a heavy slumber. It’s when we slumber that the enemy makes his move. He isn’t an impatient enemy. He’ll wait us out, just as he’s done for millennias. The question is, are you going to allow him the opportunity or are you going to fight for your soul, your faith, and your nation?
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fan The Flame.