dailywordofdestiny

(Revelation 3: 16)

‘So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.’
Few ever want lukewarm coffee or tea? Jesus is saying, ‘If you do not stop being lackadaisical in your worship, I will spew you out.’ This is a strong warning that Jesus is displeased.  Jesus does not want just hearers of the Word, but doers. Don’t be a pew warmer, get involved.

(Revelation 3: 17)
‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…’

Wealth can sometimes give us a false sense of security. It is very difficult for a very wealthy person to be humble and realize their need for God. It is not impossible, just difficult. Some large churches can meet a fantastically large budget because of the people of great wealth who attend. However, it can be much harder to tithe on an income of 500,000.00 per year than it is on 5,000.00 per year; the person giving is more likely to balk at the huge amount he is giving as a tithe; not recognizing that all he has is God’s anyway!  God blesses a cheerful giver, not a reluctant giver. God promises over and over to meet our needs.

The Laodicean Church and its people have no physical need; they develop a spiritual blindness and come to believe that they can pay their way out of anything. One thing is certain, we came into the world naked, and that is the way we will leave. We leave behind all the big cars, big houses, and diamond rings, and bank accounts. God will not be impressed by how much you had; your little bit in comparison will not impress Him, even if you count it in the billions.  This church is blind to the reality of their condition and the needs of others. Their self-satisfied attitude keeps them from growing in the Lord and a Christian should never be standing still; if we are not growing, then we are falling away.

(Revelation 3: 18)

‘I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.’

 
Gold tried in the fire means pure gold.  Jesus is speaking of being rich in the sight of God.  We need to be rich in good works laying up our treasures in heaven ‘where moth nor rust doth not corrupt’  (Matthew 6:19-20).   Truly, the only riches worth having are the ones that we can collect on in heaven.  It has always proved to be a very serious mistake to trust in uncertain riches.  We can look at the Stock Market Crash of October 28, 29, 1929 and see how so many were plummeted into such a financial crises that led to such severe depression and fear, people committed suicide.
White raiment garments are only available if we are washed in the blood of the Lamb. Christians who are dressed in white robes standing around the throne of God are wearing garments Jesus has purchased with His own precious blood. We do not have enough money to buy them. They are a free gift to all believers in Jesus.

(Revelation 3: 19)
‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’ 
Jesus says here that He rebukes the Laodicean Church because He loves them.  Proverbs 19:18 tells us, ‘Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.’  Jesus tells this church to get excited about serving Jesus and repent of their being lukewarm. When Jesus returns, we must be found working. Work for the night is coming when man’s work is done (John 9:4). 

Just as a fruit tree produces much more fruit after it is pruned, Jesus here is pruning the church so it will produce much fruit. Tribulation comes to make us strong. Perhaps this church would be stronger if it faced a little tribulation. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
In the Lord’s  closing appeal of these messages to the churches, we see Christ Jesus our Lord standing by the door of our heart.

(Revelation 3: 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.’
Here we see a terrible scene; Jesus issues His final call to the church; He is outside trying to get in. Jesus will knock for a while, but there will come a time, if we do not allow Him to come in, that He will stop knocking.  Jesus wants to come and live inside of each of us.   Galatians 2:20 reminds us, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.’   Our flesh is nothing.   It will soon pass.   The Spirit which dwells in us is the important thing; it is eternal.