The Church in Sardis had a reputation of being spiritually alive, but in reality they were dead. Do you know people like that? You would really have to know them well in order to know the reality of their spiritual well being. They are people who wear the "I'm doing good" mask. They participate in church events- possilbly even lead them, yet they are struggling in their relationship with Jesus. Nobody that sees them would ever question their walk with God. In fact, some people may see their energy and "holiness" and envy their passion for the Lord. The problem is, they ache deeply for Jesus. They may have lost their deep trust in Him, maybe they feel He is far away. Maybe they did something that they haven't told anyone about, and the evil one has got a foothold on their life. Maybe their pride has created a wall between them and Christ. But they wear a mask so that they don't burden others with their emptiness. They wear a mask so they don't have to deal with the problem. They wear a mask because they don't know anything else. They've worn it so long- that's all they know. Is the person you know to be like this...yourself? Do any of these sentences resonate deep in your soul? Jesus says, "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. "
Jesus told the Church of Philadelphia that He had set before them an open door, which no one is able to shut. Has He opened a door for you? Isn't it awesome that when God opens a door, no one can close it? Or if He closes a door, no one can open it? I think we, in our humanness open and close doors that God never intended to be opened or closed. We think we need to go down a certain path, so instead of waiting for God to open the right door- or close one- we go ahead and open a wrong one. We go down that path a while, until we realize that we went through the wrong door. Maybe it took God closing that door that made us realize we weren't following Him, but rather leading ourselves. I also believe that when God opens a door- we will know it's been opened by Him. I think part of our problem as humans is we aren't patient. We seek the Lord.... then we take a step ourselves. Instead, we should seek the Lord... seek the Lord... seek the Lord... (waiting patiently of course), listen, then take the step, often of faith. God is not a confusing God. When we are confused I think it's because we are following the thoughts of our mind that are wrestling with the spirit of our soul. But when we see that the door is opened by God, we know He opened it, and through faith, we walk through it. It goes the other way too- when a door is closed when we thought we were going the right way- we have peace because we know God closed it, and that He will open a different door. I have been experiencing this lately! With full time ministry in our family's future, excitement is hard to keep at bay. With my character, I just want to keep opening doors and walking through them, hoping that God will join me! Totally NOT the way to go. I would be prolonging God's plan and may even be steering us in the wrong direction! It's so hard to be patient sometimes isn't it? I know God has a plan. I know God has the perfect time to take us through His door. I just need to seek Him....seek Him....seek Him....(waiting patiently of course), listen, then take the step!
Aahhh... the lukewarm Christian. I think a majority of us have all been lukewarm. The people of the Church in Laodicea were, "Neither cold nor hot." And because they were lukewarm Jesus said, "I will spit you out of my mouth." I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a lovely experience. Jesus goes on to say, "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked." What does that mean- I thought they said they were rich?! They may have had material wealth- but thought because they could provide for themselves all the 'things' they needed, that they didn't need Jesus as their Savior. Money was their savior- at least until it was gone or they died. Then what? They were spiritually poor, blinded by the worlds' teaching to fend for yourself. Do you have the same attitude? I have what I need, why do I need Christ? You may have what the world says you need- but when you die, those things die with you. When you are judged at Judgment Day (and all will be judged), God won't say to you- "Oh- look at all you have! You earned your way here and yes- you can also buy your way into Heaven with the money you brought with you!" Instead He is going to say, "You worshipped money rather than me. You cannot buy a ticket in- your neighbor who had no material wealth, but worshipped me, will walk on streets of gold." Again, as I have shared many, many times, having money is not a sin- God provides incomes and wisdom to save and spend wisely. But He abhors the one who worships money and thinks they don't need Him because of their earthly prosper.
Matthew 6:19-21 & 24
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
May you, "Buy from Jesus gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen and salve to annoint your eyes, so that you may see."
Are you dead? Are you waiting for a door to open? Are you lukewarm? Are you worshipping money? Repent, for the time is near- when Jesus returns or you die your earthly death. Life on earth is short- life in heaven or hell is eternal. When Jesus knocks at your door and calls out to you, let Him in- don't ignore Him. Your deadness will turn to life. Your lukewarm heart will become on fire for Jesus. He will open and close doors that lead to His divine purpose for your life, and your worship will be directed at Him. Amen.
~Leanne~
Jesus told the Church of Philadelphia that He had set before them an open door, which no one is able to shut. Has He opened a door for you? Isn't it awesome that when God opens a door, no one can close it? Or if He closes a door, no one can open it? I think we, in our humanness open and close doors that God never intended to be opened or closed. We think we need to go down a certain path, so instead of waiting for God to open the right door- or close one- we go ahead and open a wrong one. We go down that path a while, until we realize that we went through the wrong door. Maybe it took God closing that door that made us realize we weren't following Him, but rather leading ourselves. I also believe that when God opens a door- we will know it's been opened by Him. I think part of our problem as humans is we aren't patient. We seek the Lord.... then we take a step ourselves. Instead, we should seek the Lord... seek the Lord... seek the Lord... (waiting patiently of course), listen, then take the step, often of faith. God is not a confusing God. When we are confused I think it's because we are following the thoughts of our mind that are wrestling with the spirit of our soul. But when we see that the door is opened by God, we know He opened it, and through faith, we walk through it. It goes the other way too- when a door is closed when we thought we were going the right way- we have peace because we know God closed it, and that He will open a different door. I have been experiencing this lately! With full time ministry in our family's future, excitement is hard to keep at bay. With my character, I just want to keep opening doors and walking through them, hoping that God will join me! Totally NOT the way to go. I would be prolonging God's plan and may even be steering us in the wrong direction! It's so hard to be patient sometimes isn't it? I know God has a plan. I know God has the perfect time to take us through His door. I just need to seek Him....seek Him....seek Him....(waiting patiently of course), listen, then take the step!
Aahhh... the lukewarm Christian. I think a majority of us have all been lukewarm. The people of the Church in Laodicea were, "Neither cold nor hot." And because they were lukewarm Jesus said, "I will spit you out of my mouth." I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a lovely experience. Jesus goes on to say, "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked." What does that mean- I thought they said they were rich?! They may have had material wealth- but thought because they could provide for themselves all the 'things' they needed, that they didn't need Jesus as their Savior. Money was their savior- at least until it was gone or they died. Then what? They were spiritually poor, blinded by the worlds' teaching to fend for yourself. Do you have the same attitude? I have what I need, why do I need Christ? You may have what the world says you need- but when you die, those things die with you. When you are judged at Judgment Day (and all will be judged), God won't say to you- "Oh- look at all you have! You earned your way here and yes- you can also buy your way into Heaven with the money you brought with you!" Instead He is going to say, "You worshipped money rather than me. You cannot buy a ticket in- your neighbor who had no material wealth, but worshipped me, will walk on streets of gold." Again, as I have shared many, many times, having money is not a sin- God provides incomes and wisdom to save and spend wisely. But He abhors the one who worships money and thinks they don't need Him because of their earthly prosper.
Matthew 6:19-21 & 24
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
May you, "Buy from Jesus gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen and salve to annoint your eyes, so that you may see."
Are you dead? Are you waiting for a door to open? Are you lukewarm? Are you worshipping money? Repent, for the time is near- when Jesus returns or you die your earthly death. Life on earth is short- life in heaven or hell is eternal. When Jesus knocks at your door and calls out to you, let Him in- don't ignore Him. Your deadness will turn to life. Your lukewarm heart will become on fire for Jesus. He will open and close doors that lead to His divine purpose for your life, and your worship will be directed at Him. Amen.
~Leanne~
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