Pastor's Blog

 

Once again, the Lord’s people possessed this same fervent “first love” for the Lord that had been lost at Ephesus.At this present time, there are those who are also experiencing the manifest presence and power of the Lord.These have contended for, and gained an open door into the operation of the supernatural in their meetings.Much will be accomplished through a present-day “Philadelphia Church” that will allow an open display of the Lord’s presence and power.

Seventh and last is the Church of the Laodiceans.The Word of the Lord to this Church is:

“Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”Revelation 3:17

This present-day Church has been blessed with more prosperity, gifts, and ministry than any previous Church.Though it is quick to testify about these blessings, this Church is exposed by the Lord as being spiritually immature (blind and naked).

However, this prosperity, both spiritual and natural, is not the primary cause of their spiritual blindness and nakedness.Their problem rests in the fact that they did not recognize their spiritual need - “and have need of nothing.”They were satisfied with the things that they possess and were not seeking after the One who gave all this.Therefore, the Lord is revealed as standing outside of this prosperous Laodicean Church, knocking upon its door, seeking to attract their attention:

“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.”Revelation 3:20

Because this Church had lost its sensitivity to His voice, the call of the Lord changed to seeking out individuals - those who would respond to His knocking on the “door” of their spirit (if any man).

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has caused this Church to become “dull of spirit.”The acceptance of, and adjustment to material prosperity has effectively hindered the visitation of the Lord within this end-time Church.This is one of the primary causes of the failure of the “Charismatic” visitation (their emphasis on prosperity).

Thus, the Nicolaitan spirit that sought to bring about compromise with the world system in the early Church is still present within the Church of our day.Jesus clearly said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).James told us that “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).