KHANDIE'S KORNER - July 11, 2004

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Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

ROSE.gif (9864 bytes)This Weeks Message- (scripture taken from King James Version)

-PART 7 OF 7-
 THE LUKEWARM CHURCH 

“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.  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.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  (Rev 3:14-22)

The seventh and final letter was written to the believers at Laodicea.  Laodicea was located 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia and approximately 90 miles east of Ephesus.  It was a city of great wealth and in the midst of it all was “The Lukewarm church”, the church of materialism, the church of great lack.

The believers of this church were self-absorbed and self-satisfied, whose focus was on their outward riches while the inward remained impoverished.   This church assumed having wealth meant they had need of nothing else.  They identified riches as being righteous, wealth as holiness, and having a great abundance of “material gain” as special favor from The Lord.  While outwardly they were possessors of much, inwardly where true wealth really mattered, they were spiritually poor.  This church received no commendation from the Lord, only criticism and instruction.  They were apparently more spiritually decayed than the others for they were they only church the Lord declared he would “spew” out of his mouth for they were neither a church that was hot, nor a church that was cold, but merely lukewarm and being lukewarm made the works of this church virtually worthless.  They lacked genuineness and a desire for SPIRITUAL growth believing their great wealth was sufficient.  Yet, despite their wickedness of heart, the Lord because of his unfailing love, still offers them opportunity to repent and become zealous for Him.  His desire for true intimacy and fellowship is noted in his words to them: “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.”  Most have thought this scripture passage referred to the Lord knocking on the heart of an UNBELIEVER, but it is clear that he is seeking entrance into the heart of one who has PROFESSED to BELIEVE but have yet to truly let him in.

The church at Laodicea, “The Lukewarm church” is the church of THIS DAY!  For there are many professing believers who seek MORE to be “Materially” blessed, than “Spiritually” blessed.  Seeking MORE of outward wealth, rather than inward and there are MORE sermons preached on how one can obtain material prosperity, and so very little preached on inward spiritual growth.  More on how one can received “tangible” gifts from The Lord, and so very little preached on intimate fellowship and genuine worship of the Lord.  More preaching done on the subject of “giving to get”, and so very little spoken about simple giving from the heart out OF LOVE!  So very little preached on the GREATEST commandment to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our soul and all our mind, AND to love our neighbor as ourselves.  There is more focus on the outward shell of a man, and little or NO focus at all on the inward.  There is condemnation against the poor, and commendation towards the outward rich.  Righteousness, and closeness to the Lord in this day is judged in the church by how much one possess and just as the world place such high esteem on the rich and forsake the poor, SO IT IS THE SAME in the church despite the fact the word of God tells us not to esteem one above the other.   For if a man possessed great wealth in the church, such a one is labeled by many within as being righteous, holy, highly favored of the Lord for they view material wealth as being greatly blessed of the Lord based upon one’s supposed righteous relationship with The Lord.  If he is outwardly wealthy, he must be doing the right things in the sight of the Lord for the Lord has poured much blessings upon him.  This man is treated with great respect by those of the church, and such hovers about him hoping they to would receive the “Favor from God” and tap into his well of wealth.  However, if one is poor, possessing no wealth that could be seen by the “natural eye”, such a person is labeled by many as being condemned of the Lord, having no favor from God, and must be doing evil in his eyesight.  He is treated more like an outcast, shunned by his own brothers and sisters as they foolishly believe, based upon his “lack of riches”, that he has nothing of VALUE to offer.  Yet, they cannot see that it is indeed this poor man that truly possess the greatest wealth for all of his riches are WITHIN and the wealth he possess is eternal, while the one who possess the tangible wealth will someday fade away! For a man/woman who has indeed found true intimacy and fellowship with The Lord, had obtained GREAT WEALTH!  “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth NOT in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)   

Beware that you do not become part of “The Lukewarm church”, for this is a church of materialism that values MORE things that are tangible, than the things that are Spiritual.  Our focus MUST be on that of spiritual growth, and drawing NIGH unto our Father in total surrender that we may become SONS and DAUGHTERS of the Most High, having the title of “children” no more!  Let not your heart seek diligently for the things of this world, but SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and ALL those things then shall be added unto you!  If you desire “great wealth”, desire it for the sake of distributing to the poor and blessing the saints abroad and those in your midst that NONE SUFFER LACK, but ALL should have sufficient.   Get into the habit of caring for one another, of LOVING one another, for if the Lord gives great wealth, it is given for the purpose of being in a position to BLESS another, and not for selfish purposes.  For if one misuse what is given, he will soon have it no more!   Pray to be a blessing to someone and not always to be blessed, this IS the heart of the Lord!   Remember always that one can be outwardly rich, and yet spiritually bankrupt!  

The lukewarm church is a church that is puffed up and consumed with arrogance and pride due to their abundance. They foolishly believe their great wealth places them in a position of needing nothing more, yet because of their spiritual blindness, they cannot see how poor and wretched they truly are.  This is the church the Lord will spew out of his mouth.  Because they are “self-satisfied” believers, they will be rejected from his presence.  Be not of “The Lukewarm Church”.

I Love you all so very much.  Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember:  Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)……..

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

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Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God
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Find true peace now.
Find True Peace Now

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