Year: 2017

Rev 3:14-19

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,  I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

As the Laodicean church is mentioned last among the seven churches in Revelation,  it can very well be the state of the church in the last period of the last days.  The Laodicean church does seem to portray the church in the First World cities today.  The city of Laodicea had vibrant economy sectors in banking, education and manufacturing.   There were banks,  medical schools developing the Phrygian eye powders and clothing factories.  They were wealthy and self sufficient.  It is ironic that the citizens and the church saw themselves as rich, smart and lacking nothing as a result, but on the contrary, our Lord saw them as poor, blind and naked instead.

Wealth is deceitful and attempts to choke the life of the believer.  Affluent cities today are defying God’s moral laws and most live in dissipation.  Are not the global cities today reveling in making merry and money?  Are we not living in such cities focusing on such economy sectors and trusting our security solely on such wealth ?  How easily such affluence can make us poor, blind and naked with pride, self satisfaction and complacency instead.  We cannot serve both God and Mammon or we will end up being lukewarm.

The only way to get right healing from Christ our Lord for our spiritual sickness is to obey His exhortation to repent and be zealous in whole hearted devotion to Him.

Whenever  some believers talk about knowing God’s Will, what they actually mean is to know the correct decision they are making for a particular area of their lives, such as,  finding the right partner or job, or buying the right apartment or car at the right time.

Search for the words “God’s will” or “the Lord’s will”, or what does God wants for us in the Bible, you can find the following verses :

1. 2 Pet 3:9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2. Eph 5:15-18. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
3. 1 Thess 4:3-5. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable,  not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.
4. 1 Pet 2:13-15. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
5. 1 Pet 4:12-19. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

It is God’s predestinating purpose for us to be saved in Christ Jesus and to be a people growing in Christlikeness and eventually be perfect in Christ.  Eph 1:4-14, Titus 2:11-12,  Rom 8:28-29, Eph 2:8-10.

So from the Word of God above,  we can see it is the same purpose that God wants us to be saved in Christ Jesus (2 Pet 3:9),  be Spirit-filled (Eph 5:15-18), be sanctified (1 Thess 4:3-5), be submissive (1 Pet 2:13-15), and be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and doing good (1 Pet 4:12-19).

If we are walking in these 5 areas according to God’s will, God is already controlling our wants and desires.  And when the Word of God dwells richly in you and the Spirit of Christ is filling you, you will prosper in whatever you do because you will make the right and wise decision for any area of your life.

Psalms 1:1-3

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

– Gleaned from the book, How To Get The Most From God’s Word, by Dr John MacArthur.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

From the above passage,  it is clear that branches which do and do not bear fruit are both grafted onto the True Vine.  God, being the Vinedresser,  will prune those that bear fruit to bear even more fruit while cutting away those that do not.  This clearly illustrates that there are false and true believers staying together in Christendom and it will be futile for those that do not bear fruit to insist and claim to be in Christ to their own peril.

It is also clear from the above passage that every true believer in Christ will bear fruit as evidence of truly abiding in Him and so prove to be His disciple.

What is the fruit that a true believer will bear ?

Search the Bible for the word “fruit” and these defining verses will come up.

1. Gal 5:22.   The fruit of the Spirit.
2. Heb 13:15.   The fruit of our lips that bless His Holy Name.
3. Col 1:10.   Fruit in every good work.
4. John 4:35-38.  Gathering fruit (souls) for eternal life.

The question to ponder seriously is how to be the branch that bear fruit and do not end up as one that does not !

Abide in Christ and obey His Word !   John 15:4,7.  John 14:23-24

John  15:4,7

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me... If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.