Not only did Paul focus on the church in Laodicea but so did Jesus Himself as He appeared to John on the Island of Patmos. We must heed the warnings Jesus gave John to write and not allow ourselves to be caught up in deception.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Colossians chapter 2:
1 I wish you could know how much I have struggled for you and for the church in Laodicea, and for the many other friends I’ve yet to meet. 2I am contending for you that your hearts will be wrapped in the comfort of Heaven and woven together into Love’s fabric. This will give you access to all the riches of God as you experience the revelation of God’s great mystery—Christ.
3 For our Spiritual wealth is in Him, like hidden treasure waiting to be discovered—Heaven’s wisdom and endless riches of revelation knowledge.
4 I want you to know this so that no one will come and lead you into error through their persuasive arguments and clever words. 5Even though I’m separated from you geographically, my spirit is present there with you. And I’m overjoyed to see how disciplined and deeply committed you are because you have such a solid faith in Christ, the Anointed One.
Paul’s concerned centered around teachings of persuasive arguments and clever words, especially of those who know and have memorized Scripture piecemealed together to fit their alternate doctrine (yes, it can be intimidating). Their doctrines are often created by some past hurt, error, or inability to see (aka blindness). I have been exposed to such teachings only to find their fruit lacking upon inspection. They were clouds without rain and their followers exhibited the same fruitlessness.
Years later, Jesus visited the Beloved Disciple John to write a letter to the church at Laodicea. The church was blinded by teaching Paul has warned of in the book of Colossians.
John recorded Jesus’ Words and by The Holy Spirit in the book of Revelation chapter 3:
14 Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea, for these are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Ruler of God’s creation:
Jesus described Himself as the faithful and true Witness and as the Ruler of God’s creation for He is “the beginning Originator or Source of God’s creation”!
15I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion. How I wish you were either one or the other! 16But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from My mouth.
When believers are deceived and think they are in the midst of GOD’S Will because they seem to be “blessed” based on the world’s standards, there is a notable probability they are lukewarm and will be judged accordingly. The ministers give them a “product” that looks good but has not Spiritual substance. They appeal to their souls rather than feeding their spirits.
Once you experience the Original, you then call anything else a fake. You now know the difference because the quality isn’t there and you are able to discern quality. My wife is extremely sensitive to those situations in churches thus she would have difficulty tolerating church services where the soulish was being subtly promoted. Often the message preached was complicated or complex and hard for most to understand. The message of Christ is simple and straightforward and even the children can embrace It.
17 For you claim, “I’m rich and getting richer—I don’t need a thing.” Yet you are clueless that you’re miserable, poor, blind, barren, and naked!
Isn’t this the goal of the spirit of deception? Isn’t this the result of the world’s various promotions through entertainment? How many times do you experience some form of temporary entertainment until you finally realize the empty “after-effects”?
18So I counsel you to purchase gold perfected by fire, so that you can be truly rich. Purchase a white garment to cover and clothe your shameful Adam-nakedness. Purchase eye salve to be placed over your eyes so that you can truly see. 19All those I dearly love I unmask and train. So repent and be eager to pursue what is right.
I believe that those who read these blogs are among those that Jesus truly Loves. Why? It is because I purpose to only write what The Holy Spirit directs me to write. There have been times where I started to veer off and then received correction… I deleted those words which were not to be included. I repented and was eager to pursue what was right for that particular blog. I too continue to go through correction as needed.
20Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear My Voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with Me. 21And to the one who conquers, I will give the privilege of sitting with Me on My throne, just as I conquered and sat down with My Father on His Throne.
22 The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to the churches.
Without the power of The Holy Spirit, the church is ineffective.
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Jude chapter 1:
10These people insult anything they don’t understand. They behave like irrational beasts by doing whatever they feel like doing. Because they live by their animal instincts, they corrupt themselves and bring about their own destruction. 11How terrible it is for them! For they have followed in the steps of Cain. They have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error because of their greedy pursuit of financial gain. And since they have rebelled like Korah rebelled, they will experience the same fate of Korah and likewise perish.
12These false teachers are like dangerous hidden reefs at your love feasts, lying in wait to shipwreck the immature. They feast among you without reverence, having no shepherd but themselves. They are clouds with no rain, swept along by the winds. Like fruitless late-autumn trees —twice dead, barren, and plucked up by the roots! 13They are wild waves of the sea (confusion), flinging out the foam of their shame and disgrace. They are misleading like wandering stars (giving misguidance), for whom the complete darkness of eternal gloom has been reserved.
Beware when The Holy Spirit is not in the midst.