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FOREWORD
Ambition and war, pleasure and money-making, absorb the
minds of men. Hungry souls are caught in between the hustle and
bustles of life. However, amidst this maddening rush, the voice of the
great I AM is speaking. The gospel must be preached. Satan may
have set all his agencies at work and the world seems deceived, “but
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto
prayer” (1 Peter 4:7). As professed Christians, it is our work to tell the
world the Savior’s soon coming.
The Lord has instructed us that camp-meetings are one of the
most important instrumentalities for the accomplishment of this work
(PH130 1.1). Moreover, it is also the chance to promote spiritual life
among the people of God that they may become the “light of this
world”. We must have the power of God with us in our camp-
meetings, or we shall not be able to prevail against the enemy of souls
(RH, June 30, 1891 par. 6). Christ says, "Without me ye can do nothing.”
Therefore, there must be an earnest preparation of the heart prior to
camp meetings.
As part of this “heart preparation”, a devotional based on the
inspired writings of Sister Ellen White has been compiled. We sincerely
invite you to read each week’s devotional prayerfully, hoping that as
you meditate on the passages you will become better acquainted
with our LORD and Saviour, and have a deeper appreciation of His
love towards us. May you be spiritually equipped and enriched as you
gear up for the coming NCMC MAS-AMiCUS Convention this May
2015.
INTRODUCTION
A Relentless Love
Compare Revelation 3:20 to Song of Solomon 5:2-5. What similarities do you find in
both instances? What do these passages reveal about God’s love?
The evening meal in the Middle East was and still is extremely important. When the work of the day was over and the men returned from the fields for the evening meal, the entire family gathered around the table. In most instances the extended family lived together. The number at the evening meal often would be quite large. Grandfather and grandmother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nephews and cousins, adults and children might be present. In this grand reunion after a hard day’s work, stories were told, experiences shared, and counsel given. It was a time of fellowship. It was a time of warmth and family intimacy. Jesus longs to have fellowship like this with us, as well. How does Christ’s promise in Revelation 3:21 reveal His heartfelt desire for each one
of us?
The book of Revelation mentions God’s throne more than 40 times. This is more than any other book of the Bible. At God’s throne, we join in with the heavenly chorus and joyously proclaim: “ ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing’ ” (Rev. 5:12, NKJV). He promises that we can participate in this grand festive scene of rejoicing once the long saga of sin ends. Christ uses His greatest motivation for His indifferent end-time people. The greatest motivation to wake us from spiritual slumber is Jesus’ endless love, for He longs to spend all eternity with us. If that is not enough to shake us out of our spiritual apathy, what is? If that is not enough to bring us to our knees, seeking revival, what will? His love has provided eternity for us. We have royal blood running through our veins. We are sons and daughters of the King of the universe. We can reign with Him, seated upon His throne forever.
Christ longs to be in fellowship with you. How much do you want to be in fellowship
with Him? The answer is simple. How much time do you spend in prayer and
fellowship with the Lord? What does your answer tell you about yourself and,
perhaps, just how lukewarm you might be?
WEEK 1 | MARCH 8-14, 2015
BECAUSE THOU SAYEST
Rev 3:17 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:
This gives reason for the counsel of Jesus to the church of Laodicea
in the following verse: “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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Rev 3:18
Before presenting the treatment, Jesus made it clear to Laodicea
that she had a problem. “It was because thou sayest – because you
are saying, because you are claiming to yourself, because you are
proclaiming to others that you are something – that you have not
known how you are actually nothing, that you have not realized your
real spiritual condition.”
This was the problem of Laodicea. What she says to herself about
herself has been so loud that she keeps on failing to hear what the
Lord Jesus is actually telling her about herself. In order to hear, she
must heed the following counsel:
Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he
that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine
and milk without money and without price.
“Ho!” means “pay attention.” The call was for the poor man to pay
no money, but to pay attention. In other words, he must hear, he
must pay attention. That was his only access to the solution. He must
pay attention to the Word in order to quench his thirst, in order to
gain from it what he actually lacked in himself.
This counsel is fitting for Laodicea, who claimed she was rich when
she was actually poor. She needs to stop listening to her own
comforting voice and start listening to the voice of the Lord. But one
more thing. She must accept the Word as it is, as what it is plainly
saying, rather than rationalize on what it doesn’t actually say. Thus to
Laodicea, Jesus is also saying:
2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
That Laodicea may be healed, she must not just take the Word but
also digest it. It is only by properly digesting the Word that the Word
would benefit her and give her spiritual nourishment to make her
grow in Christ daily. This was to be a task of a lifetime. Laodicea had
to continue hearing and digesting the Word:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Ultimately, the goal is for her to grow up into the likeness of Jesus.
Laodicea is to overcome her spiritual condition.
Now the church in the last days is Laodicea. We are in the last days.
We are Laodicea. The counsel is for us. And so we ask the question.
Will you, Laodicea, heed the counsel? Will you acknowledge your
spiritual poverty? Or, will you stay in your self-sufficiency, because
anyway you are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing—because thou sayest so?
WEEK 2 | MARCH 15-21, 2015
BTS – SDA Bible Commentary
17. I AM RICH.
This may be understood both literally and spiritually. Laodicea was a
prosperous town, and doubtless some of the Christians there were
well to do. Apparently this church had suffered no serious
persecution. Pride in its prosperity led naturally to spiritual
complacency. Of itself wealth is not wrong. However, the possession
of wealth subjects its possessor to temptations to pride and self-
complacency, and against these his only protection is spiritual
humility.
Christians who are poor in earthly possessions feel themselves rich
and increased with spiritual goods, yet are like the ancient
philosopher who proudly proclaimed his “humility” by wearing a torn
and threadbare robe. The pride they take in their assumed spirituality
shines forth through the holes in their garments. The possession of
important truths held only on the level of intellectual acceptance
but not allowed to permeate the soul, leads to spiritual pride and
religious bigotry. Even the church of God, strong in the structure of its
organization and rich with jewels of truth, can easily become a
doctrinal bigot and immorally proud of its riches of truth. “The sin that
is most nearly hopeless and incurable is pride of opinion, self-conceit.
This stands in the way of all growth” (7T 199, 200). Humility of mind is
fully as important in God’s sight as humility of heart.
INCREASED WITH GOODS
Literally, “have become rich,” “have prospered” (RSV). Not only
does the Laodicean church claim to be rich, but she also makes the
fatal mistake of considering that these riches are the result of her
own labors (Hosea 12:8)
NEED OF NOTHING
The climax of the Laodiceans’ boast is that their situation could not
be improved. Such self-satisfaction is fatal, for the Spirit of God never
enters where a need for His presence is not felt, yet without that
presence newness of life is impossible.
KNOWEST NOT
He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is well-nigh
hopeless. The ignorance of their true condition that characterizes
Laodicean Christians stands in sharp contrast with Christ’s certain
knowledge of the true condition of His churches, as reflected by His
repeated assurance to each, “I know thy works” (chs.2:2,9,13,19;
3:1,8,15)
THOU ART
The subject is emphatic in the Greek. The force of the sentence is,
“knowest not that it is thou who art the wretched one?
WRETCHED AND NAKED
The true picture, here presented, is exactly the opposite of the boast
made by the Laodicean church. Instead of being rich to the point of
needing nothing, this church is, in reality, so much a pauper that she
even lacks clothing.
BUY OF ME
Without this much effort the Laodicean “church” cannot attain the
standard Christ would have her reach. The things He offers her are
not without their price, yet salvation is ever free. She must give up her
old way of life to be truly rich, to be healed, and to be clothed. Even
she who is penniless may buy (see Isa. 55:1)
GOLD
This represents spiritual riches, offered as Christ’s remedy for the
Laodiceans’ spiritual poverty. This figurative “gold” may be
interpreted as referring to “faith which worketh by love” (Gal 5:6;
James 2:5; cf. COL 158), ), and the works that result from faith (see 1
Tim. 6:18)
TRIED IN THE FIRE
Literally, “fired out of fire,” that is, gold that has come forth from the
fire with its dross burned away. Doubtless the reference here is to
faith that has been tried and purified by the fires of affliction (see on
James 1:2-5; cf. Job 23:10)
WHITE RAINMENT
Offered in contrast with the Laodiceans’ nakedness, which stood out
so hideously in the face of their own boast that they had need of
nothing (v17). The white raiment may be understood as the
righteousness of Christ ( Gal. 3:27; see on Matt. 22:11; Rev. 3:4; cf. 4T
88). This figure must have had special significance for the Christians
of Laodicea, for their city was famous for its black woolen cloth.
SHAME OF THY NAKEDNESS
See Exodus 20:26, Lam. 1:8; Eze. 16:36; 23:29; Nahum 3:5
EYESALVE
Gr. Kollurion, “a little roll.” Ancient eyesalve came to be known by
the shape of the package in which it was wrapped. Near Laodicea
was a temple to the Phrygian god, Men Karou. A famous school of
medicine grew up in connection with this temple, and here an eye
powder might be secured. This fact may form the background of the
figure here used.
The figurative eyesalve here offered the Laodiceans is heaven’s
antidote for their spiritual blindness. Its purpose is to open their eyes
to their own true condition. This is the work of the Holy Spirit (see John
16: 8-11). Only through His convicting work on the heart can spiritual
blindness be removed. This eyesalve may also be thought of as
representing that spiritual grace which enables the Christian to
distinguish between truth and error, and between right and wrong.
See 4T 88.
MAYEST SEE.
That is, see sin as God sees it and realize their own real condition as a
prerequisite to repentance.
WEEK 3 | MARCH 22-28, 2015
Reformation Accompanies Revival
In many hearts there seems to be scarcely a breath of spiritual life.
This makes me very sad. I fear that aggressive warfare against the
world, the flesh, and the devil has not been maintained. Shall we
cheer on, by a half-dead Christianity, the selfish, covetous spirit of
the world, sharing its ungodliness and smiling on its falsehood?—Nay!
By the grace of God let us be steadfast to the principles of truth,
holding firm to the end the beginning of our confidence. We are to
be “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans
12:11). One is our Master, even Christ. To Him we are to look. From
Him we are to receive our wisdom. By His grace we are to preserve
our integrity, standing before God in meekness and contrition, and
representing Him to the world.{1SM 127.1}
Sermons have been in great demand in our churches. The members
have depended upon pulpit declamations instead of on the Holy
Spirit. Uncalled for and unused, the spiritual gifts bestowed on them
have dwindled into feebleness. If the ministers would go forth into
new fields, the members would be obliged to bear responsibilities,
and by use their capabilities would increase.{1SM 127.2}
God brings against ministers and people the heavy charge of
spiritual feebleness, saying, “I know thy works, that thou art neither
cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
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: 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 eyesalve, that thou
mayest see” (Revelation 3:15-18).God calls for a spiritual revival and
a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are
lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He
will refuse to acknowledge them as His children. {1SM 127.3}
A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration
of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things.
Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers
of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation
signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and
practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of
righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit.
Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in
doing this work they must blend.—The Review and Herald, February
25, 1902.{1SM 128.1}
WEEK 4 | MARCH 29-APRIL 4, 2015
Leave Mysteries Alone
Now there are in the lessons of Christ, subjects in abundance that
you can speak upon. And mysteries which neither you nor your
hearers can understand or explain might better be left alone. Give
the Lord Jesus Christ room Himself to teach; let Him by the influence
of His Spirit open to the understanding the wonderful plan of
salvation.{1SM 180.1}
There is a time of trouble coming to the people of God, but we are
not to keep that constantly before the people, and rein them up to
have a time of trouble beforehand. There is to be a shaking among
God’s people, but this is not the present truth to carry to the
churches{1SM 180.2}
The ministers should not feel that they have some wonderful
advanced ideas, and unless all receive these, they will be shaken
out and a people will arise to go forward and upward to the victory.
Some of those who are resisting the very principles of the message
God has sent for this time, present just such cases as yourself. They
point to your extreme views and teachings as an excuse for their
neglect of receiving the Lord’s messages.{1SM 180.3}
Satan’s object is accomplished just as surely when men run ahead
of Christ and do the work He has never entrusted to their hand, as
when they remain in the Laodicean state, lukewarm, feeling rich and
increased with goods, and in need of nothing. The two classes are
equally stumbling blocks.{1SM 180.4}
Some zealous ones who are aiming and straining every energy for
originality have made a grave mistake in trying to get something
startling, wonderful, entrancing before the people, something that
they think others do not comprehend; but they do not themselves
know what they are talking about. They speculate upon God’s
Word, advancing ideas that are not a whit of help to themselves or
to the churches. For the time being they may excite the imagination,
but there is a reaction, and these very ideas become a hindrance.
Faith is confounded with fancy, and their views may bias the mind in
a wrong direction.{1SM 180.5}
Let the plain, simple statements of the Word of God be food for
the mind; this speculating upon ideas that are not clearly presented
there is dangerous business.{1SM 181.1}
You are naturally combative. You do not care much whether you
harmonize with your brethren or not. You would like to enter into
controversy, would like to fight for your particular ideas; but you
should lay this aside, for this is not developing the Christian graces.
Work with all your power to answer the prayer of Christ, that His
disciples may be one, as He is one with the Father.{1SM 181.2}
Not a soul of us is safe unless we learn of Jesus daily, His meekness,
His lowliness of heart. When you go to any place to labor, do not be
dictatorial, do not be severe, do not be antagonistic. Preach the
love of Christ, and this will melt and subdue hearts. Seek to be of one
mind and of one judgment, coming close in harmony with your
brethren, and to speak the same things.{1SM 181.3}
WEEK 5 | APRIL 5-11, 2015
Grace Not Inherited & Pure Religion an Imitation of Christ
GRACE NOT INHERITED
17. (John 1:12, 13; 3:5-8)
—The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot
inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies,
the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The
new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new
tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy
Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their
habits and practices they will give evidence of their relationship to
Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural
defects of character and disposition, in what does their position
differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as
a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again (The Review
and Herald, April 12, 1892)
PURE RELIGION AN IMITATION OF CHRIST
Pure religion is an imitation of Christ. A religion that is built on self-
confidence and selfishness is worthless. The true Christian is a follower
of Christ. This following means walking in the light. The heart must be
opened to receive the heavenly guest. As long as the heart is closed
against His entrance, there can be in it no abiding peace. No
sunshine can flood the chambers of the soul temple, breaking
through the mist and cloud.{6BC 1101.2}
God makes no compromise with sin. A genuine conversion
changes hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. The religion
of God is a firm fabric, composed of innumerable threads, and
woven together with tact and skill. Only the wisdom which comes
from God can make this fabric complete. There are a great many
kinds of cloth which at first have a fine appearance, but they cannot
endure the test. They wash out. The colors are not fast. Under the
heat of summer they fade away and are lost. The cloth cannot
endure rough handling.{6BC 1101.3}
So it is with the religion of many. When the warp and woof of
character will not stand the test of trial, the material of which it is
composed is worthless. The efforts made to patch the old with a new
piece do not better the condition of things; for the old, flimsy
material breaks away from the new, leaving the rent much larger
than before. Patching will not do. The only way is to discard the old
garment altogether, and procure one entirely new.{6BC 1101.4}
Christ’s plan is the only safe one. He declares, “Behold, I make all
things new.” “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” Christ
gives man no encouragement to think that He will accept a
patchwork character, made up mostly of self, with a little of Christ.
This is the condition of the Laodicean church. At first there seems to
be some of self and some of Christ. But soon it is all of self and none
of Christ. The root of selfishness is revealed. It continues to grow,
striking its roots deeper and deeper, till its branches are covered with
objectionable fruit. Christ looks with pitying tenderness on all who
have combination characters. Those with such a character have a
connection with Christ so frail that it is utterly worthless (Letter 105,
1893).{6BC 1101.5}
WEEK 6 | APRIL 12-18, 2015
Patchwork Character Not Accepted
[2 Corinthians 5:17 quoted.] The patchwork religion is not of the least
value with God. He requires the whole heart. No part of it is to be
reserved for the development of hereditary or cultivated tendencies
to evil. To be harsh, to be severe, too self-important, selfish, to look
out for one’s own selfish interest and yet be zealous that others shall
deal unselfishly is a religion which is an abomination to God. Many
have just such an experience daily, but it is a misrepresentation of
the character of Christ (Letter 31a, 1894).{6BC 1101.6}
(John 1:18). Satan Sees in Christ a Manifestation of God’s
Character—There stood in the world One who was a perfect
representative of the Father, One whose character and practices
refuted Satan’s misrepresentation of God. Satan had charged upon
God the attribute he himself possessed. Now in Christ he saw God
revealed in His true character—a compassionate, merciful Father,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to Him in
repentance, and have eternal life (The Signs of the Times, June 9,
1898). {6BC 1101.7}
WEEK 7 | APRIL 19-25, 2015
Religion to be Supreme
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and
great commandment. Matthew 22:37, 38.{FLB 220.1}
The youth need to realize that they need a deep experience in
the things of God. A mere surface work will be of no benefit to them.
You need to bring the light of God’s Word into your heart, that you
may search it as with a lighted candle.{FLB 220.2}
Many profess to be on the Lord’s side, but they are not; the weight
of all their actions is on Satan’s side. By what means shall we
determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom
are our thoughts? Upon whom do we love to converse? Who has our
warmest affections and our best energies? If we are on the Lord’s
side, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of
Him. We have no friendship with the world; we have consecrated all
that we have and are to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe
His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.{FLB 220.3}
Bible religion is not one influence among many others, but its
influence is supreme, pervading and controlling every other
influence. Bible religion is to exercise control over life and conduct. It
is not to be like a dash of color, brushed here and there upon the
canvas, but its influence is to pervade the whole life, as though the
canvas were dipped into color until every thread of the fabric was
dyed in a deep, fast, unfading hue.{FLB 220.4}The religion of Christ is
a firm fabric, composed of innumerable threads, woven together
with tact and skill. Only by the wisdom that God gives can we
weave this fabric. Trusting to ourselves, we draw into it threads of
selfishness, and the pattern is spoiled.{FLB 220.5}
Let everyone inquire seriously, “Am I a genuine Christian? Am I
bearing the true marks of a Christian? Am I doing my best to perfect
a character after the divine model?”{FLB 220.6}
Pure Religion is an imitation of Christ.
WEEK 8 | APRIL 26-MAY 2, 2015
Laodicea: People of God Today
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are
ready to die.” This is our work. There are many ready to die spiritually,
and the Lord calls upon us to strengthen them. God’s people are to
be firmly united in the bonds of Christian fellowship, and are to be
strengthened in the faith by speaking often to one another about
the precious truths entrusted to them. Never are they to spend their
time in accusing and condemning one another (The Review and
Herald, August 10, 1905).
1-4 (Hebrews 4:13). Weighing the Character—[Revelation 3:1-
3 quoted.] The discrimination revealed by Christ in weighing the
characters of those who have taken to themselves His name, as
Christians, leads us to realize more fully that every individual is under
His supervision. He is acquainted with the thoughts and intents of the
heart, as well as with every word and act. He knows all about our
religious experience; He knows whom we love and serve (Manuscript
81, 1900).
1-5 (Matthew 22:14). A Few Faithful Ones in Sardis—The church of
Sardis is represented as having in it a few faithful ones among the
many who had become, as it were, careless and insensible of their
obligations to God. “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which
have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in
white: for they are worthy.” Who is so favored as to be numbered
among these few in Sardis? Are you? Am I? Who are among this
number? Is it not best for us to inquire into this matter, in order that
we may learn to whom the Lord refers when He says that a few have
not stained their white robes of character (Manuscript 81, 1900)?
(Revelation 3:14-18.) Read the Third Chapter of Revelation—In the
message to the church at Sardis two parties are presented—those
who have a name to live, but are dead; and those who are striving
to overcome. Study this message, found in the third chapter of
Revelation. [Revelation 3:1, 2 quoted.] Who are meant by those that
are ready to die? and what has made them thus? The explanation is
given, “I have not found thy works perfect before God.” [Revelation
3:3-5 quoted.]
To the church of the present day this message is sent. I call upon
our church members to read the whole of the third chapter of
Revelation, and to make an application of it. The message to the
church of the Laodiceans applies especially to the people of God
today. It is a message to professing Christians who have become so
much like the world that no difference can be seen [Revelation 3:14-
18 quoted] (RH August 20, 1903).
REVIVAL: OUR GREAT NEED
Read for This Study: Rev. 3:14-21, Heb. 12:7-11, Matt. 25:1-13, Zech.
3:1-5,Song of Sol. 5:2-5.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he
with Me’” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV).
Laodicea is the last church in Revelation’s sequence of seven
churches. The name means, “a people judged.” It is also a fitting
symbol for God’s last-day people.
Laodicea was located in an open valley in southwestern Turkey. It
was an important financial capital, a fashion mecca, and an
educational and medical center. Its inhabitants were independent,
self-confident, and rich.
The one vital natural resource that the city lacked, however, was
water. The water was piped in via Roman aqueducts from a spring
five miles south of the city. By the time the water reached Laodicea,
it was lukewarm. Jesus used that symbolism to represent the
lukewarm condition of His last-day church, described as self-
confident, complacent, apathetic, and spiritually indifferent. It is a
church that has lost its passion. It is a church that needs a spiritual
revival.
Nevertheless, the Laodicean message is filled with hope. Christ
speaks to His people in love, offering to meet their heart needs and
revive their deepest spiritual longings.
WEEK 9 | MAY 3-9, 2015
Hope for the Lukewarm Laodicean & A Loving Rebuke
HOPE FOR THE LUKEWARM LAODICEAN
Jesus addresses each of the seven churches in Revelation 2
and 3 with a title of Himself that is appropriate for their spiritual
condition. The titles He uses in His message to the church of
Laodicea ring with the assurance of spiritual renewal for all those
who will heed His call.
Read the following Bible passages (Rev. 3:14-15; 2 Cor. 1:20; John
3:10, 11; Col. 1:13-17). Why do you think that Jesus used the titles “the
Amen,” “the faithful and true witness,” and “the beginning of the
creation of God” to address the Laodicean church?
In Revelation 3:14, the Greek word for “beginning” is arche. It can
mean “beginning,” in the sense that the one to whom it refers is the
beginner of the event or action. In this context, arche refers to Jesus
as the Beginner, or the first cause of all creation. In other words, He is
the Creator (John 1:1-3; Eph. 3:8-9).
This is extremely significant. Jesus, the One who spoke and worlds
came into being, the One who created the earth, the One who
spoke life into existence-this same Jesus speaks hope to Laodicea.
The all-powerful Creator can create new life. He can recreate new
spiritual longings in our hearts. He can transform our spiritual lives.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:14-15. What do these texts
mean to you personally?
Why is the Laodicean message a message of hope? What is it about
the introduction to this message of strong rebuke that encourages
you? Which of the three titles of Jesus do you personally identify with
the most, and why?
LOVING REBUKE
Read Revelation 3:15-16. Why does Jesus give the Laodicean church
such a strong rebuke? What does it mean to be lukewarm? What
other words might Jesus have used in place of “lukewarm”?
Commenting on Revelation 3:15-16, Ellen G. White states: “The
message to the Laodicean church applies most decidedly to those
whose religious experience is insipid, who do not bear decided
witness in favor of the truth.”- The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p.
962. This is a fascinating statement. An insipid religious experience is
one that is lifeless. It has the outer husk of Christianity but lacks the
substance. It has the external form but lacks the living power. The
Laodiceans are not heretics or fiery fanatics; they are, simply,
spiritually indifferent. The Laodiceans appear to be good moral
people. They have what Paul calls, “a form of godliness but denying
its power” (2 Tim. 3:5, NKJV). Jesus speaks of religious people in His
day who “draw near to [Him] with their mouth and honor [Him] with
their lips, but their heart is far from [Him]” (Matt. 15:8, NKJV).
Read Hebrews 12:7-11; Job 5:17-19; Psalm 94:12; and Proverbs 29:15,
17, and describe God’s purpose in His rebukes.
Our Lord loves His people too much to let them go easily to
perdition. He will do whatever it takes to rekindle a spiritual flame in
their hearts. His strong rebuke is because of a stronger love. His
chastisement is only because of His longing to heal us. The prophet
Hosea echoes this sentiment with this call to repentance: “Come,
and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He
has stricken, but He will bind us up” (Hos. 6:1, NKJV).
Has God ever used painful, even embarrassing, experiences to
humble you and draw you closer to Him? What did you learn from
these experiences that, ideally, ensures you won’t have to go
through them again?
WEEK 10 | MAY 10-16, 2015
Perception and Reality / The Divine Remedy
PERCEPTION AND REALITY
There is a gap between what Laodicea says and does. There is an
even greater gap between the spiritual experience that Laodicea
thinks she has and what she actually does have .
Read Revelation 3:17. What is Laodicea’s evaluation of herself? What
is our Lord’s assessment of her? How do you think a people could be
so blinded to their true spiritual condition? In what ways might we be
blind regarding our own spiritual condition?
One of Satan’s fatal deceptions is to blind us to the reality of our
spiritual needs. Some of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were blind
to their own spiritual poverty. They were Bible-reading, Sabbath-
keeping, tithe-paying “church” members looking for the coming of
the Messiah. Yet, many were in darkness regarding the type of
spiritual kingdom that He would usher in. Jesus called them “blind
guides” (Matt. 23:24). Paul writes to the church at Corinth about
those “whose minds the god of this age has blinded” (2 Cor. 4:4,
NKJV). This is why Jesus said that He came for the “‘recovery of sight
to the blind’”(Luke 4:18, NKJV). Jesus will restore the spiritual eyesight
that we have lost if we allow Him. Every time that Jesus opened blind
eyes in the New Testament, He was revealing His desire to open the
eyes of our minds in order to enable us to see Him clearly.
Read Matthew 25:1-13. What are the similarities between the foolish
virgins and the members of the church at Laodicea?
What ways have you found to keep spiritually alert? Why do you
think it is so easy to become spiritually indifferent? What are some
ways to counteract religious apathy?
THE DIVINE REMEDY
There is hope for Laodicea, just as there is hope for all who are
afflicted with spiritual apathy and in-difference. Our Lord has the
divine remedy. The fact that the Lord speaks to this church shows
that hope for the church exists if His people accept and follow His
counsel .
Reflect on Jesus’ counsel in Revelation 3:18-19. What does Jesus
mean when He talks about “gold refined in the fire,” being clothed in
“white garments,” and our eyes being anointed with “eye salve”?
(See also 1 Pet. 1:7,Zech. 3:1-5, Rev. 19:7-9, Eph. 4:30.)
“Jesus is going from door to door, standing in front of every soul-
temple, proclaiming, ‘I stand at the door, and knock.’ As a heavenly
merchantman, he opens his treasures, and cries, ‘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.’ The gold he offers is without alloy, more precious than
that of Ophir; for it is faith and love.
“The white raiment he invites the soul to wear is his own robes of
righteousness, and the oil for anointing is the oil of his grace, which
will give spiritual eyesight to the soul in blindness and darkness, that
he may distinguish between the workings of the Spirit of God and the
spirit of the enemy. Open your doors, says the great Merchantman,
the possessor of spiritual riches, and transact your business with me. It
is I, your Redeemer, who counsels you to buy of me.”-Ellen G. White,
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Aug. 7, 1894.
Ellen G. White quotes Revelation 3:20, saying of Jesus, “‘I stand at the door, and
knock.’” Jesus knocks; He doesn’t break down the door and force His way in.
What this means is that, in the end, regardless of what God is willing to do for us,
we must make the choice to let Him in. Ask yourself, “How resistant am I to
opening the door to Him?” If you are resistant, ask yourself, “Why?” What is
holding you back? What sin, what indulgence, don’t you want to let go of, or
what is it that you find so hard to let go of?