The Seed of the Alabaster Box 08-01-2001

8/9/2019 The Seed of the Alabaster Box 08-01-2001

1/6

Wednesday, August 1, 2001

Laodicea, who will weep and tremble.

LAODICEA, WHO WILL WEEP AND TREMBLE?

In this newsletter I am going to record things that I believewill cause you to deeply tremble if you have a true

relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I am going to sharewith you the very words I have heard Christians speak inmore recent times. And I am going to ask you to askyourself, is the American church, in a general way ofspeaking, dwelling in Laodicea? During my walk with the

Lord, which now covers thirty years, I have seen Christiansstruggle with sin. It has always been my heart to pour graceupon those who struggle with their carnal nature, as we alldo. But, I have noticed a terrible change that has taken place.

I have noticed that Christians have begun to acceptimmorality and lying, and a general state of unrepentancehas changed the character and fiber of the church from that

which worships God in spirit and in truth, to that whichlearns to dwell with heresy in our midst. 1 Corinthians 11:19says, For there must be also heresies among you, that theywhich are approved may be made manifest among you.Recently I was rebuked because I do not think that it is

proper for pastors to have subscriptions to Esquire Magazineand its pro-lesbian, lascivious, anti-Biblical morality. I wastold that I need to remove the speck from my own eye. Whatwas so incredibly blind and sad is that the man who spoke

the rebuke to me is a nationally known Christian leader whoconsiders himself an apostle in the modern church realm.How different is this apostle compared to the humble Lamb,Jesus, who hated iniquity and loved righteousness? Iniquity

means imbalance. Our entire society is out of balancebecause the morals of the Scripture, which is abstinenceuntil marriage, have not been upheld. What has replaced it isthe old morality that has destroyed every empire that it hasinfected. How sad that morality has now become legalism. IfI remember correctly, the Scripture states that thosepracticing immorality shall in no way enter into theKingdom of God. What is happening to the church inAmerica?

LAODICEA, PATHWAY TO THE GREAT FALLING

W


2/6

Many theologians believe that there were seven church ages,and that the last church age would be the Laodicean churchage. They refer to Revelation chapters 2 and 3 to establish

their position, and although I do not agree with theirassessment at all, for I think the seven churches were ofgeographical locations where God in His sovereignty hadraised these churches up, I do believe that they have a pointin stating that the church at this time is very Laodicean innature. Laodicea was a church that learned to live withlying, and grew accustomed to having a lying tongue replacethe theocratic government and headship of Jesus Christ.More recently, I know of a Christian who spent much timecovering up deceits and lies that had torn a church apart.When confronted with irrefutable evidence where they couldno longer deny what had become such obvious deceit, their

response was, he lies, I lie, you lie, even David in the Biblelied, somehow in their mind justifying unrepented sin. Thisis the classic example of Laodicea at work in the hearts ofGods people. The fact is, where there is lying, satan hasgained a seat, and sadly he has gained a seat in the church.

In a recent survey amongst church members, they wereasked what the greatest problem in the church was. Thelargest response that came back was that their pastor lies.How frightening, when men that callthemselves the church of Jesus Christ learn to live with lies.Satan is the father of all lies, and God does not allow lies togain a government in His church. Either repentance comesor the candlestick (the church) will be removed away toapostasy. While it is true that David was deceitful, what ourdeceit covering friend failed to realize is that God put Davidthrough one of the greatest breakings of the scriptures tobring him to repentance over that deceit. It was out of thatrepentance that God gained in David a servant who he couldwrite the pattern of His Heavenly Tabernacle upon.

THE LAODICEAN CONDITION MAKES JESUS

VOMITIf one carefully examines Revelation 3:14 you will realize

Jesus words to Laodicea were about His being the faithfuland true witness. Jesus then begins to identify their terribleproblem of lukewarmness. Remarkably He goes on to saythat he would emeo, (which is the Greek word for vomit),

the Laodicean church out of his mouth. Can you imaginebeing in attendance in a church that when Jesus looks at itmakes him want to vomit. Can you imagine that yourworship and preaching and teaching makes Jesus sick to hisstomach to the point where he personally addresses the wayhe feels about Laodicea to the Apostle John. If that does notscare you, you better ask yourself if you have anyrelationship with Jesus Christ at all.

W


3/6

YOUNG RULERSOne of the things that Jesus mentioned about the Laodiceanchurch was that they were rich and increased with goods.

One of the sad realities in our materialistic American societyis that the blessings of God has come to be acquainted withmaterial blessing to a religious structure. Do you realize thatwe are instructed by the Holy Spirit that if we fellowshipwith those who suppose gain is godliness, that we are towithdraw ourselves? The Laodicean church proclaimed Iam rich. One of the greatest deceptions of our times is thechurch running after material blessing instead of seekingafter Jesus. Recently a distressed sister told me that thechurch she had attended for years never even noticed whenthe poor people were not at church. But the wealthy peoplehad their vacations tracked and monitored. Is the rich young

ruler the one building the Laodicean church world? Anotherdistressed young man told me of his visiting a church wherethree offerings were taken and there was only time for a 5minute message. What did he remember about the message?That salvation was like getting a brand new cadillac. How

dare false teachers compare the everlasting precioussalvation that is to be worked out in fear and trembling witha status piece of metal destined for a junk yard. Has theAmerican church ever been poorer or more deeplydeceived?

THE LAODICEAN CHURCH DID NOT NEED JESUSPerhaps one ofthe most heartbreaking scriptures of theentire Bible is when the Laodicean church says, I haveneed of nothing. If you read this in the Spirit of Truth, youwill perhaps become dumbfounded. Can you imagine achurch saying we are rich, and we do not need Jesus? Iunderstand why John wept at the unfolding revelation of thechurch that once proclaimed, silver and gold have I none,but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christrise up and walk. We have gone from being helpless andcompletely dependent upon Jesus for our having a walk inGod to stating I have need of nothing. I do not think a

satanic mass would have more demonic pride than thestatement, I have need of nothing.

JESUS IDENTIFIES THE LAODICEAN BELIEVERCan you imagine the horror of thinking you are part of a

growing, abundantly provided for fellowship of believers tosuddenly facing the reality of Jesus saying to you personallythat you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Wretched: The Apostle Paul made the proclamation, Ohwretched man that I am concerning his carnal nature which

could not be submitted to the purposes of God. Have wecome so far from God that we now learn how toaccommodate the wretched carnal nature with its immorality

v v


4/6

me from this wretched man? I thank God Jesus Christ.Miserable: In the beloved book of Job, Jobs cry was Oh

miserable comforters. Who were the miserable comforters?They were those that spoke without having the mind of God.

They spoke things that added to Jobs misery in his deepbattle with the devil. Have you met rich young rulers thatreleased misery into your being? I certainly have. When menspeak things that are not coming out from Jesus Christ as he

comes out from eternity to reveal his glory, then men createa condition of misery. Undoubtedly, men in Laodicea spakethings that rallied men to riches, but closed their eyes totheir lukewarmness and lack of constant need to see Jesus.Poor: Is it not so interesting that a people who proclaimthemselves rich and yet had no need of Jesus were identified

by the Almighty God from His Throne as poor. Jesus said,Blessed are the poor in spirit, the poor in spirit are thosethat have been splintered by the wretched, miserable natureof men that think they run Gods program. The poor in spiritare shattered to splinters over the spiritual condition of thegolden candlestick. The poor in spirit know they could donothing without Jesus and that their need for Him is utterly

complete.Blind: When I think of the blind I think of Jesus words tothe Pharisees when he proclaimed, Oh ye blind guides.The 23rd chapter of Matthew is a chapter devoted to Jesus

words to the spiritually blind Pharisees. The Pharisees were

the Bible believing Christians of their day. They quotedscriptures, they endeavored to follow scriptures, but theirtrue spiritual condition was that they had no revelation ofJesus. Revelation is what gives us spiritual sight. When theApostle Paul was made blind, it was more than his naturaleyes that had to be opened. Indeed, Jesus opened his eyes,but the greatest vision he gained was when he was taught theGospel by revelation. And unlike the miserable of Laodicea,he communicated the Gospel by revelation.Naked: When one thinks of the term naked, one can not helpbut think of Adam and Eve who dwelt in nakedness withoutshame until they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good

and evil. When that became their diet, they made their owncovering taken from the cursed ground to cover themselvesand they hid from Gods presence. Laodicea hid from Godspresence in a church structure that Jesus stood on the outside

and knocked upon its door trying to gain entrance.THE CHURCHS TRUE CALL,

OVERCOMING LAODICEA BY REPENTANCEWe live in a day and age of false conversion where thechurch has accommodated backsliding and has learned toseparate itself from Jesus by covering its sin rather thanrepenting. Most Christians think of the message ofrepentance as being to the world, but the reality is the church


5/6


6/6

COMMITTEES AND GETTING ON OUR KNEES IN

TREMBLINGWhat is the great feature that makes us overcome? It is

coming under the eyes of Jesus and repentance. When thistruly happens, He will send the Seven Spirits of God. TheSpirit of Burning and Judgement, the Spirit of Truth, theSpirit of Adoption, the Spirit of Intercession, the Spirit ofLife, the Spirit of Prophesy, and the Spirit of Holiness.Unless the Seven Spirits of God burn brightly in the churchto illuminate His glory to our eyes, we will blindly dwell inLaodicea without an intimate fellowship with Him. Let theovercoming needy company proclaim, God forbid!

next >< revious

The Seed of the Alabaster Box 08-01-2001

Documents

Transcript of The Seed of the Alabaster Box 08-01-2001