What Did the Laodiceans Lack?

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WHY Did Jesus Say
He was Going to Reject (“spue”)
These People who Once Served Him?

Quality of life is not found in obtaining more money or material items. In fact, such a consumerism lifestyle guarantees, with no exception, misery, spiritual poverty, and a trip to hell (Luke 12, 16; Ephesians 5:5-7; 1 Timothy 6:4-11; Revelation 3:14-21, etc.). Do we not all know people, even people who were once saved, who are not now abiding in Christ and “have need of nothing” materially in this world, and yet are not happy? And what did Jesus say of their hell bound spiritual state?

“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:” Revelation 3:17

WHAT do modern Laodicean “Christians” say in their own hearts and minds?

“I am rich”
“I am … increased with goods”
I “have need of nothing”

Yet Jesus says that they “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:1-6

Is your mansion here or in eternal glory with Christ?

Like Laodicea
do we have
a false sense of
prosperity?

You are not prospering/prosperous because you drive an expensive vehicle. In fact, such reveals that you are shallow, care about what mere sinful men think in lieu of what God thinks, and are wasting God’s resources and will give account accordingly. You are not prosperous because you live in an excessively large, lavish earthly home. In fact, such may prevent you from a “mansion” in Heaven and will definitely downsize your “mansion”(rewards) in eternal glory (John 14:1-6).

Quite frankly, most people are not impressed with your little trinkets you use to prop up your insecurities based on your lack of a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

Anyone who relates material or financial wealth to one’s spiritual state is to be departed from (1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV).

Jesus is all you really have. The sum total of the richness of your life (or lack thereof) is what you have of Christ who is the “exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Prosperity is primarily spiritual, not material:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5

Jesus’ Message to Laodicea and Equally to Us

We are seeing, we are living in the prophesied days of Noah (Genesis 6:5, 12; Matthew 24:37-39).

And Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19; Ezekiel 16:49-58; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 17).

And Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).

“God’s people had strayed from the “old paths” that the Lord had given them (Jeremiah 6:16). This is no different than in these last days. How many today do we hear who preach and hold to the original gospel “once delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)? The Lord is telling them that if they would obey Him, they would “find rest for your souls.” Yet they refused to hearken unto His words. And this is why, in this late hour, we have a “famine in the land”, a famine of “hearing the words of the Lord:” (Amos 8:11-12) This is a severe judgment upon those who do no longer yearn for His truth!” Karen Cochran

The crass, hard hearted disposition of so many who claim to be saved, is penned here by the Holy Ghost via John the apostle:

“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:” Revelation 3:17

While addressing the last of the seven churches of Revelation 2-3, Jesus said that the people of the apostate church of Laodicea were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” What led to them becoming backslidden? Here’s the answer:

“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; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22

Firstly, let us acknowledge that when the Son of God says “thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” one thing’s for certain – you are not right with Him. Christ exposed their sins to them in order to get them to return to Him (to repent).

If you are “lukewarm” you no longer fear or truly serve God, but rather the false god of self.

WHY did Jesus say He was going to reject (“spue”) them? … Jesus is God and knows the hearts of all men. In their hearts these people were saying “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” They were serving the false god of self and mammon. These people were financially prosperous and yet “miserable.” Sounds like many in America today who claim to be “Christians” and yet whose lives consist in nothing more than searching out new ways to entertain themselves, further pampering the miserable god of self. Consumerism has consumed the vast majority. Those who claim to be saved are willing to go to a church building to be told they are okay and yet, they lift no finger to obey Christ’s Great Commission command. Why? – Because they have not truly repented and are therefore consumed with trying to pamper the already overstuffed, gorged god of self. They are “miserable” just as Jesus says they would be here in this letter to the Laodiceans (American “Christians”).

Open your Bible and look at what God said about Sodom. Her sins are paralleled with Laodicea. There is truly “NO new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We can also look at the days of Noah leading up to the flood judgment. Christ warned about the days of Noah where Genesis 6 cites the sins men were committing. Today is no different. So many in the western world have never really suffered a day in their life. They are shallow, substance-less, sin-sick, self-serving, boasters, evil hearted, cowardly, and judgmental lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:1-7). These would rather curse the darkness instead of shining Christ’s light into it. They sit back and hurl their stones of condemnation at others while lifting no finger to help them in their hardship or struggles (Galatians 6:1-2). Compare this to the Good Samaritan who asked no question, made no hesitation, and hastened to help the man he came upon who was in a hardship (Luke 10:25-37).

Like the Laodiceans who were previously saved and yet had since backslidden, so many today also have no fear of God in their hearts. Many ignore and don’t even search out what Christ warned about in light of His coming. They are not ready to meet Him (see Luke 21:33-36). This is evidence of a hardened heart – one hardened “through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-15).

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18

The reason some have “no fear of God” in their lives is due to the pervasive influence of the OSAS (once saved always saved) mythical, diabolical lie.

The people in the city of Laodicea were wealthy. The commerce of that area of the world at that time was flourishing and yet, many of the people who had gotten saved there didn’t continue steadfastly seeking the LORD. Jesus said they trusted in their earthly wealth and Jesus told them that as a result they were “naked.” This simply means that His robe of righteousness no longer covered them and they were pending to go to eternal damnation if they didn’t repent. Let’s look at it again:

“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:” Revelation 3:17

Though rich in material goods, the members of the Laodicean church – who were once saved and yet now backslidden, were:

“wretched”
“miserable”
“poor”
“blind”
“naked”

Hoarding instead of dispensing earthly wealth will always lead one to trust in those fleeting riches instead of God who requires us to trust Him. This always leads to a hardened heart and apostasy.

Jesus warned us of this late hour before His soon return. He said that men would be living in total disregard for Him and for their own souls which hang in the balance. He told us they would largely have forgotten the LORD.

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:38-39

Does the Bible speak of people forgetting God and the consequences of such?

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17

“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22

This citing of the sins of the Laodiceans clearly shows that they were hell bound and in need of returning to the LORD (Hosea 14:1-3). Because He loves them and is “not willing that any should perish (go to hell),” Jesus therefore instructs them to “repent”:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (turn back to the LORD). 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.” Revelation 3:19-20

There is a direct correlation (connection) between your true spiritual state and your giving or lack of giving.

The people who get upset when stewardship is spoken about reveal that they are serving mammon/self and not the LORD. They have an evil eye or an idolatrous focus for living. Listen to Jesus:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (purely focused on Christ), thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil (focused on self), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

The reason many who claim to be serving the One who gave all do not give of their temporal substance is due to the fact that they are not giving their lives to Christ daily (Matthew. 10:8). When we truly give over our lives (including our will) to the Savior, all else then belongs to Him. Jesus came and gave it all – that was His purpose when He came (John 15:13; 10:17-18, etc.). Just what are you giving? Have you begun by giving your life (the complete control of it) over to the One who came and gave His all for you?

The more of us we give over to Christ, the freer He blesses us to be. While working with another ministry on Wednesdays over the last few months, I’ve been blessed to begin many new friendships with older Christians. Many times they tell me about how they are getting rid of stuff, downsizing, and consolidating their lives and living quarters. You can see the joy in their eyes and the liberty as they are breaking free of the encumbrances of this life they allowed themselves to become entangled with. They were bogged down for years and are rejoicing to be getting free.

The more we give, the freer we become – free from the sins that cause us to stumble in sin and from the love of this sinful world.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

Think about this in light of what our LORD Jesus taught when speaking to those who had just initially repented and begun an abiding walk with Him:

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word (obeying Him via what He said in His Word), THEN are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

You see, it’s not those who simply hear the truth that are made freer and freer by Christ, but rather those who hear it and obey it.

Only as we continue to obey Him through His Word are we made free. Church attendance will never make any soul free. As we truly follow Jesus, we are divesting ourselves – giving ourselves over to Him more and more, holding on to nothing of self. We begin to learn that our existence is not about us but rather about the One who gave us life and came and gave His life to buy us back to Himself from a life of sin (Ephesians 2:1-13).

If you are not giving more and more of yourself to the LORD, you have backslidden, are apostate, and in need of true repentance (getting back to/with the LORD). Walking with Christ – continuing in His Word – always (without fail) produces a life of giving. We give our lives as a living sacrifice to Him who offered for His Father and us the ultimate sacrifice.

We owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Your life is no longer your own but rather Christ’s:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Who are You Living For?

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

WE ARE most miserable when we are hoarding instead of giving – our lives.

What’s the “more blessed” life look like?

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

RED FLAG: You attend a “church” and aren’t digging into, devouring, and memorizing God’s Word daily. Backslidden!

So you have time to read the news in the morning but no time or desire and discipline to seek God in His holy Word and prayer when you first awake in the mornings? Self-idolatry!

God’s Word cannot and will not get into you until you get into it!

If anything is more important to you than knowing the LORD through studying His Word, you are not ready to meet Jesus.

Prayer of Returning: Holy Father, You gave all when You gave Your only begotten Son who came and died for our sins. You’ve also called me to lay down my life, to lose my life in this fleeting world. I have not done well at giving over my life to You … You alone who are worthy of my full, unreserved worship. Right this moment I ask You to forgive my sin of having another god before You which is self idolatry and spiritual adultery. I have alienated the affections of my heart away from You and onto myself. For this I ask You to forgive me and I right here and now turn to You. Right this moment I lay my life in Your holy hands. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – my whole being. Not my will but Thine be done! I am no longer my own. I am Yours. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. I love You Jesus and am ceaselessly grateful that You bought me with the price of Your own blood! You must increase but I must decrease. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy holy name! Teach me daily to lay myself aside and to give the reins over to You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

A Workman Approved by God

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

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Do you desire to abound in the blessings of God?

Jesus our LORD taught that as we are faithful with what the LORD has already given us, then, and only then, will He multiply it.

ASK YOURSELF: Are you faithful to abide, to obey Him by obeying His Word? If so, Jesus and the Father are dwelling richly with you and will multiply you according to your proper, wise, faithful stewardship of what is already in your possession – which is from Him. See John 14:21-23.

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

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“For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

Every good gift and blessing is from God (James 1:17). We take from what He’s given us and we share it with others – whether that be supply, or spiritual blessings in Christ, or material blessings.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ⁹(as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. ¹⁰Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ¹¹being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

ARE GOD’S BLESSINGS CONDITIONAL? Yes they are. Here’s but one example of how God’s people forfeited His blessings due to living life on their own terms instead of complying with His.

“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Jeremiah 5:25

Jesus’ Parable of the Talents:
Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Prayer: Holy Father, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus. Please make my heart to long for more of You, to love and worship You as my supreme God, Supplier, and Provider. Please unite my heart to truly fear Thy holy Name and to be quickened by Your Word and Holy Spirit unto obedience. Please multiply Your grace to my life as You are working in me and Your body both to will and to do of Your good pleasure. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Proving Jesus Matters to You [podcast]

Kingdom Opportunity “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 May our LORD bless each of us to be cultivated in a heart filled with sincere and true worship and thanksgiving to Him. “…freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8 We should understand that we have freely received the salvation of our God in Christ and that those who don’t give out of the mercy, forgiveness, love, supply that He has given us, are not in God’s will. Out of what God gives us we give out and this clearly proves we […]

The Powerful Furtherance of the Gospel [podcast]

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; … 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;” Philippians 1:12, 25 Instead of being a hindrance, we can become a powerful helper, to “the furtherance of the gospel” of our LORD. As His “ambassadors” He is using us, His people, to propel His Gospel to the end of the Earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). Are YOU supporting the work of Christ, of […]

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS [podcast]

The Eternal Consequence of Obedience vs Neglect A parable is an earthy story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parable of the talents is a teaching and severe warning of stewardship and the eternal consequences of obeying or disobeying God in the matter of our handling of His resources in this fleeting life. “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31 It is said that of the 38 parables Jesus taught, 16 of them involve stewardship. To further underscore the divine importance placed on stewardship, we should note that […]