A prayerful study of the church in Laodicea reveals to us the vanity of trusting in riches and man made structures. The increase of riches deceived the boastful church to believe that they were fine in the Lord. However the Lord gave rebuke to her. He set out to chasten the church so that she may be holy.
Revelation 3:14-22Today’s woes that are plaguing the world are confusing many Christian leaders who do not know how to counsel the’ tithing’ Christians. Ministries are being down sized, some collapsing and others begging for donations to survive. Is the Lord chastening those who are called by his name but have trusted in their riches and wisdom and might?
(14) 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 spew 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 eye salve, 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.
The word of God tells us that chastening is grievous and has no joy. In fact the book of Hebrews is full of exhortation because the church was fainting and tired in their labor of Love due to the afflictions they were facing. However we as they were, are encouraged not to despise chastening nor faint at rebuke. It may be harsh but it is good for us. The Lord chastens those he loves.
Israel in the wilderness despised the chastening and it was seen as unbelief. It cost them the Promised Land as many did not enter the promised rest. But Jesus Christ set the good example as The Son who endured the cross and chastisement for the joy set before him. There is joy set before us but we must first endure all the chastening of The Lord; we have to carry each one his/her cross and bear the reproach of Christ in these last days lest we fall away and end up in destruction.
Hebrews 12:1-11As the economic chastisement and many others to come like persecution affect Christians, let us be repentant and reminded to hold fast our profession. Chastisement is a sign that we are the sons of God When the church receives judgment we are being chastened of the Lord so that we are not condemned with the world
(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
(4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
(5) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
(6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
(7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
(8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
(9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
(10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
(11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
If judgments on the earth make us learn righteousness then let the Lord judge the church. And putting off the boastings of the Laodicean church, let us share from our abundance with God’s people who are in need; for when we share, we are not setting our hearts upon riches, but setting our hearts upon the Lord who commanded us to love him and love our neighbor; the brethren and the world.
