With all of the discussions lately about what is sin, what is not, etc. I thought maybe we could get back to more important and weightier matters for a second!
Laodicea is the 7th of 7 churches which we believe speaks to us in here in the endtimes. Here is the text:
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; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. Revelation 3:14-20
A couple thoughts:
1)There is no commendation
2)The rebuke does not deal with doctrine
3)They don't feel any need of spiritual things
4)Jesus is knocking on the door of their hearts hoping to come in.
Because there is no rebuke of doctrine this suggests that they have the KNOWLEDGE as set forth in the Bible. They are blessed with increased goods and thus have no desire to seek God for spiritual things, even though Jesus is knocking at the door of their hearts. Does this sound familiar to us? It should because this is a description of God's Church today which I hope all feel they are apart of.
What does this mean for us though? It means nothing to have the knowledge of correct doctrine if Jesus is on the outside looking in! God counsels us to buy gold tried in the fire. Are we embracing trials that come upon us? Are we praying for God to do whatever is necessary in our lives to prepare us to meet Him? Is Jesus in your heart? How do you know? How can anyone know?
John 15:1-10 Jesus speaks of His children being part of the vine and if they are a part of the vine they will produce fruit worthy of the vine. What is this fruit? Jesus, says if you love me keep my commandments. We know that this is impossible without the Holy Spirit within us, right. (See Romans 8:1-4) If the Holy Spirit is within us then we will also exhibit the fruits of the spirit in our lives.
In John 14:7,10 it says "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him...Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
These are very heavy words which speak volumes to the church of Laodicea. Jesus was our example to follow on this earth. He demonstrated to us how to live, which was in COMPLETE submission to the Father. Did you catch what Jesus said, all the words he spoke and all the works He did were by the Father working through Him. Jesus abided in the Father and the Father in Jesus. We are to abide in Jesus and He in us, thus all the words we speak and the things we do should be Jesus working through us. This is only possible if Jesus is inside shining out, not on the outside looking in!
If we are so busy bickering about doctrine, what sin is, EGW, and anything else... Are we just like the Laodiceans who had a hardened heart to Jesus. We know we have the truth and we rest in it just as the pharisees did with the law. Then we try to walk the fence to see how much we can get away with and still not break the law.
Shouldn't we instead, be seeking to soften our hearts and learn to listen to the Holy Spirits still small voice. Not every morning but every second of the day? What if in every thought and action you were connected with the Holy Spirit, Just think of how bright Jesus would shine out from your heart!
Just some thoughts for people to ponder. Feel free to discuss or give testimonies of how you have felt the Holy Spirit working in your life!
Laodicea is the 7th of 7 churches which we believe speaks to us in here in the endtimes. Here is the text:
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; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. Revelation 3:14-20
A couple thoughts:
1)There is no commendation
2)The rebuke does not deal with doctrine
3)They don't feel any need of spiritual things
4)Jesus is knocking on the door of their hearts hoping to come in.
Because there is no rebuke of doctrine this suggests that they have the KNOWLEDGE as set forth in the Bible. They are blessed with increased goods and thus have no desire to seek God for spiritual things, even though Jesus is knocking at the door of their hearts. Does this sound familiar to us? It should because this is a description of God's Church today which I hope all feel they are apart of.
What does this mean for us though? It means nothing to have the knowledge of correct doctrine if Jesus is on the outside looking in! God counsels us to buy gold tried in the fire. Are we embracing trials that come upon us? Are we praying for God to do whatever is necessary in our lives to prepare us to meet Him? Is Jesus in your heart? How do you know? How can anyone know?
John 15:1-10 Jesus speaks of His children being part of the vine and if they are a part of the vine they will produce fruit worthy of the vine. What is this fruit? Jesus, says if you love me keep my commandments. We know that this is impossible without the Holy Spirit within us, right. (See Romans 8:1-4) If the Holy Spirit is within us then we will also exhibit the fruits of the spirit in our lives.
In John 14:7,10 it says "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him...Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
These are very heavy words which speak volumes to the church of Laodicea. Jesus was our example to follow on this earth. He demonstrated to us how to live, which was in COMPLETE submission to the Father. Did you catch what Jesus said, all the words he spoke and all the works He did were by the Father working through Him. Jesus abided in the Father and the Father in Jesus. We are to abide in Jesus and He in us, thus all the words we speak and the things we do should be Jesus working through us. This is only possible if Jesus is inside shining out, not on the outside looking in!
If we are so busy bickering about doctrine, what sin is, EGW, and anything else... Are we just like the Laodiceans who had a hardened heart to Jesus. We know we have the truth and we rest in it just as the pharisees did with the law. Then we try to walk the fence to see how much we can get away with and still not break the law.
Shouldn't we instead, be seeking to soften our hearts and learn to listen to the Holy Spirits still small voice. Not every morning but every second of the day? What if in every thought and action you were connected with the Holy Spirit, Just think of how bright Jesus would shine out from your heart!
Just some thoughts for people to ponder. Feel free to discuss or give testimonies of how you have felt the Holy Spirit working in your life!
