dailywordofdestiny

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3: 14).

This church relates to the CHURCH AGE beginning in the 1900’s. It is most important we heed every kernel of truth found within these next verses. It is my personal feeling that many western churches are in great need for the balm of Gilead to soak their yes and give vision to each member and the corporate body; of their need to be accountable to God’s Truth and to look at where they are now positioned based on Christ’s warnings.

Traveling 45 miles southeast from Philadelphia, one would arrive at the fortified city of Laodicea where several major roads converge. Medicine, production of eye ointment, wool distribution, manufacturing, and banking brought fame to this city. It is interesting to note how Christ related His message to these qualities of the city in Revelation 3: 17-18. The people of Laodicea felt they needed nothing. They boasted of their riches, yet they were spiritually poor. Although they were famous for their eye salve, they were spiritually blind. They were known for their fine wool, but they were spiritually naked. How do you know if you are lukewarm? Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you committed to evangelism and missions?
• Are you committed to living a holy life?
• Are you committed to your local church fellowship?
• Are you committed to spending time in prayer, worship and the Word?
• Are you committed to other believers in the Body of Christ?
• Are you actively supporting God’s work with your finances?

The people at Laodicea were spiritually lukewarm and Christ said their condition must be remedied. He commanded them to do three things which we also must do if we want to eradicate our lukewarmness:

1. Buy of me Gold, Tried in the Fire
.  Gold is refined by the fire. Let the Word of God refine you spiritually and burn away the lukewarmness in your life: ‘The words of the Lord      are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times’ (Psalms 12: 6).

2. Buy of me White Raiment
.   Allow God to change you by making a renewed commitment to righteous living: ‘And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness’ (Ephesians 4: 24).

3. Anoint your Eyes so You Can See
.   Receive the powerful revelation of God through Jesus Christ which will open your blinded eyes and effect true change in your life: ‘For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4: 6).

The book of Colossians (4: 13-16), as well as this message here, was to the Laodiceans.   They too were in a very prominent area.   It seems that Paul as well as Jesus (in the book of Revelation) warned them about their lack of zeal in their church.

I find it interesting that in Revelation 3: 14, Jesus is called “Amen”. This is a very unusual name for Him. I believe that it means that when He has said something, it is final. There is no room for discussion. His statements are absolute. Jesus is spoken of as “faithful”. He is worthy of our faith in Him. Jesus is Truth. His witness is true because He Himself experienced it. It does not waver. It is fact. He created everything in the earth as we know it. We can easily see this in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:2 “The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:3 “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is the Creator of all things.= and in Revelation 3: 15 he tells us, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.”

The Laodicean church was self-satisfied.

They went through the formality of church. They felt if they attended church one or two hours a week, they had done their duty toward God. Self-satisfied worship is even worse than not being saved at all. If we are not saved, at least we should realize it. Someone could possibly lead us to God.

In the church at Laodicea, and in our apostate churches today, they felt no need for more than they had.

They were not even aware that salvation was not already theirs. Jesus had told the scribes and Pharisees that the publicans and harlots were more likely to inherit heaven (Matthew 21:31). Those who believe they do not need a physician may die of some dread disease before they even discover they have it. Those who know they have a bad disease can begin to try to get rid of it.

When someone has been introduced to Jesus and begins to take Him for granted, it is very sad. This is what I see in this church at Laodicea and in our formal churches of today. 2 Peter 2:21 is a scripture we need to take heed of: “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

A little knowledge is not good. We must be on fire for God to please a holy God.  Jesus must be Lord of our life. He will accept no less.