Knowing your Truth & Going on..

Hello 👋 😁 & Welcome!

The word in my spirit for today is knowing your Truth and going on as God will show up and meet you in the place where you stand. He’s the God of the Universe, touching hearts and minds everywhere as no two circumstances under the sound of my voice are exactly a like. He is shifting your situation right now and you don’t even know it! That’s how powerful God really is, as he is demonstrating his unconditional love for us. It’s about knowing what season you’re in and what God is producing out of that pain as he prepares and makes us a ready people for His Glorified, Kingdom Connections. 💫

This condition hasn’t been done to you but for you as God is in everything! Your life isn’t your own but is held in the palm of His hand under his direct and more often when we misstep, He restores and redirects our lives. So, rejoice in the Lord with exceeding gladness as it’s a new day, saith the Lord.

The Laodicean Church was a Christian community established in the ancient city of Laodicea (on the river Lycus, in the Roman province of Asia, and one of the early centers of Christianity). The church was established in the Apostolic Age, the earliest period of Christianity, and is best known for being one of the Seven churches of Asia addressed by name in the Book of Revelation.

In John's vision, recorded in the book of Book of Revelation, Christ instructs John to write a message to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The message to Laodicea is one of judgment with a call to repentance. The oracle contains a number of metaphors.

Revelations 3:14-22

“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 over cometh 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.”

The above passages is Jesus' final and most strident message, addressed to the church at Laodicea. We learn from this assessment that the Laodicean church was lukewarm, smug, and self-satisfied. It boasted about its wealth and need of nothing. But the church deceived itself. In terms of its spiritual condition, it was wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Jesus urged the church to turn to Him, as He was positioned outside the church, inviting whoever heard His voice to open the door and welcome Him. Laodicea is the only church of seven which receives criticism, and no positive remarks.

These final letters symbolize Church history from AD 1500 to the Rapture, the event that transports the Church from earth to be with Jesus. Sardis had a good reputation, but it was actually spiritually dead. Philadelphia had a good opportunity to spread the gospel, and it had kept Jesus' word and had remained loyal to Him. As such, Jesus promises to reward this church's conquerors. Laodicea was proud of its wealth, but was spiritually lukewarm, a characteristic that Jesus detests. He promises to fellowship with anyone in the church who would heed His voice and welcome Him. Laodicea is the only church given no praise by Christ.

Revelations 3:20 pictures Jesus standing outside the church at Laodicea and knocking at its door to be welcomed and admitted into the church. He does not force himself upon the church, but patiently waits to be invited in.

Luke 24:28-32

“And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”

This relates how Jesus and two of His followers were walking to Emmaus, where the two lived. When they reached Emmaus that evening, Jesus acted as if He were going further, but the two followers of Jesus urged Him to stay with them. Having received their invitation, Jesus entered their home. If the church at Laodicea had invited Jesus to enter, undoubtedly He would have entered the church, but the church did not invite Him in. So Jesus looked for an invitation from any responsive individual. He promised to fellowship with whoever would hear His voice and open the door. 🚪

Although this verse is often used as an invitation to every unbeliever to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it also applies directly to any church that is apathetic like the Laodicean church. Jesus is not unwilling to restore them to a better state, but they need to demonstrate their willingness to obey God.

Isaiah 1:19-20

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

In His Grip,

Pastor Wendy Schenkel