“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:15-21)
No one wants to be the Laodiceans. We don’t want to be the luke warn ones that the Lord vomits out. But we need to check ourselves. Today’s church, in the West at least, are saying some of the same things that Laodicean church was saying. I am rich, wealthy, and need nothing. Doesn’t this sound like the prosperity message to you? I am not saying there is anything wrong with prospering. I believe that God wants to prosper His people. But how many churches and church members are chasing after the prosperity instead of the God who gives it?
How many of us think that because we are Christians that nothing bad is supposed to happen to us? How many of us as Christians are equating money, cars, houses, and whatever else that this world holds sacred with being spiritual. Just because you have a bunch of stuff that you believe God has blessed you with does not mean you are spiritual or spiritually mature. Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:33) He never preached the prosperity message. He did preach principals that would cause one to prosper and not get caught up into the things of this world.
Now listen to His counsel from the passage above. “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed..” If you really follow Him things may get a little tough. It is our faith that is refined by fire. I believe this is the gold that the Lord is speaking of. Our faith is what will carry us through. It is with faith that we have access to all God has for us. It is by faith that we make our garments white through the blood of Jesus. The only way we can cover our nakedness is with God’s righteousness which come through faith in Jesus Christ our Messiah. Our faith is refined in the fire. It is tested in the circumstances of life. He uses our situations to discipline us. The verse above even says..“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”
We need to stop with the prosperity jargon. We have become the Laodicean Church. We need to confess that we are just like He says we are…“wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Surly you don’t believe that this church with all it’s denominations, church splits, bickering and fighting is the pure church, the bride that the Lord is returning for. Think again!
Our money and our stuff wont save us in this day and hour. You’d better put your trust in the blood of Jesus and forget about your stuff! Get ready to have your faith tested. You will be either hot or cold before thing are done. The troubles that are coming will cause your faith to be refined and purified, and cause you to hold on to it or, they will cause you to let go of your faith and forsake the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That’s all I got to say about that.
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