Church Message to Laodicea
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things
says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the
creation of God (1): “I know your works (2), that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm (3), and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth (4). Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing (5)’—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 (6); 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 (7). As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten (8). Therefore, be zealous and repent (9).
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
(10). To him who overcomes (11)
I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat
down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches (12).”’” Revelation 3:14-22
1) Jesus Christ began the creation of God.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things
were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and
in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:15-17
2) Your works are known by Jesus Christ.
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed,
nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have spoken
in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the
ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. Luke 12:2-3
3) Do not be moved away from the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His
sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away
from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to
every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:21-23
4) Hypocrites will not be in the kingdom of God.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say
to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And
then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
5) Material wealth can be a distraction.
Command those who are rich in
this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches
but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let
them do good that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to
share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to
come, that they may lay hold on to eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
6) Spiritual wealth is found in the Father and the Son or God.
For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those
in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and
attaining to all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of
God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3
7) Believers will see eternal life.
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36
8) God will prune bad things out of your life.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in
Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears
fruit He prunes that it may
bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have
spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless
you abide in Me. John 15:1-4
9) Believers will repent and not practice sin.
Therefore, put to death your members
which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire,
and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath
of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves
once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put
off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of
your mouth. Colossians 3:5-8
10) Believers will be focused on Jesus Christ.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on
things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ
in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear
with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
11) Open the door of your life to Jesus Christ and overcome the world.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone
who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this
we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His
commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is
born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5
12) There is no one true organized church.
Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. Colossians 4:16