(Rev 3:14-22 NRSV) “And to the angel (messenger) of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation: [15] “I know your works; . I wish that you were either cold or hot. {16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and [19] I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. [20 white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ] Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. [21] To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

The seventh church in Laodicea is the most deplorable of the seven, a church in the lowest spiritual condition. Its example of being lukewarm is part of the challenge to the overcoming elect and the final promise to the over-comer the greatest of all the promises.

The message to Laodicea tells of both the lowest and the highest realms of experience for the Lord’s people.

Much of the religious church world of today exudes the lukewarm spirit of the Laodicians and examples the lowest.. Nevertheless Jesus still builds His Ecclesia and the called and chosen elect of God are overcoming all these things and ascending to the throne of Christ to rule and reign in the Kingdom of God.

The City of Laodicea

The theatre today.

Laodicea was a notably wealthy city. It was the center of the banking interests of Asia Minor. Twice Laodicea suffered severely from the ravages of earthquakes. In AD 17 it was devastated by the same earthquake which laid waste Sardis and Philadelphia. At that time it received aid from Tiberius, the Roman Emperor. In AD 60 it was again laid waste, and this time, although all aid and assistance was offered, Laodicea preferred to rebuild its shattered city from its own resources. Laodicea was too rich to need help from anyone. Tacitus, the Roman historian comments, “Laodicea rose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us.” The Laodicians were people who were so well off that they needed help from man or from God. They were people who believed that money could buy anything and they had so much of it they could manage very well without God—It seemed everything this city did resulted in wealth

A great and prosperous commercial centre and a city of banking and exchange it lay in the centre of fertile valleys of the Lycus river. Chief products were made from black wool and it was also a source of medicinal powders and tablets. Laodicea had a famous medical school; and in particular it was well known for two special medicines. An ointment called Nard used to cure ear-aches and tephra phrygia, the eye-powder of Laodicea believed a sure cure for weak and ailing eyes. It was exported in tablet form; ground down and applied to the eyes.

The site was disadvantaged in the supply of water. All water was supplied from hot springs some way off and probably arrived lukewarm. In regard to this the city was not able to supply healing waters as did its neighbour Heirapolis and the waters of Laodicia were more like an emetic. (if you drink an emetic it makes you sick) They were rich and thought themselves supplied in all the necessary things for a happy life.

Luke 12:30-31 (NIV) For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

It is really a matter of priorities. This city sought after its own glory and had its own solutions to the problem of living. The church followed the ways of the city and became lukewarm.

They were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. This is a terrible indictment of the religious system. Lacking in spiritual wealth, blind to the truths of the Scriptures and having no garments of righteousness they are neither one thing nor the other. Church-ianity and denominationalism may well be a fitting description.

Power of the People

The name Laodicea is derived from lao and dika, meaning “the people’s judgment” or “consensus of opinion as to what is right.” Other variations are: “power of the laity,” “the voice of the people,” “the people’s rights,” or “justice of the people. A type of democratic oligarchy where everything is swayed and decided by popular opinion and voting, either within the church, or by adapting to the opinions, standards, and pressures of society without. Laodicea was a carnal , compromising, pusillanimous , self-righteous, and self-sufficient people.and the church itself was taken in by that spirit of materialism.

TO PARAPHRASE…..In present day terms they would have probably preached the “prosperity doctrine” A lot of very wealthy and influential people belonged to the church. Apparently these wealthy people gave liberally to the church and the church had everything. They had the most beautiful stained-glass windows, the plushest pews, the most exquisite draperies and carpet, the finest musical instruments, the most polished speakers, and a choir that attracted people from miles around. In this super-wealthy city everything was the greatest! When the church members came to the Sunday morning meeting they drove up in a Rolls Royce, or a Mercedes The pastors of these people could come to church and not even trust God! All they had to do was pull a little harder and all the rich people would give more. They were able to finance all kinds of pageants and programs and so-called ministries. They weren’t really trusting God at all, they were smug in their own ability and using the deceptive methods of the world.

The early church in Laodicea would have been filled with carnal believers, just as most of the church systems today living the Laodician condition are also filled with carnal believers. The Laodician activity is seemingly democratic and controlled by the will of the people but the real issue is one of authority not human politics. Is the authority from God, or from humankind?

If God is the sovereign authority over all things and through Christ the head over all things to the church which is His body, then His Spirit will direct all things.

If the ultimate authority is man, then all things must serve humankind and bow down to humanism. When the will of the people rules, humankind assumes the posture of sovereignty—that is the rule of the flesh.

For example, there is a church organization called the “Congregationalist Church” which accepts that it is ruled by the people; a modern day version of the Laodicean principle.

Godly authority

Ecclesia authority is the rule of God, by God, and for God. He is the Creator of all things, for out of Him, and for Him, and to Him are all things. His mind ordained the ages, and His wisdom and immutable purpose established the end from the beginning.

Humankind may have good government under democracy if all are good people. Saintly government under democracy is possible if all are saintly people. If the people were all ruled by God and for God and the voice an awakened, renewed, and transformed spirit within, then God would rule. But it is not so. It was not so in Laodicea, for the people were carnal, and the vast majority of Christians today are no less carnal. With carnal people you get carnal government and all democracies in the end are government of carnality , by carnality, and for carnality

The final answer is and will be Theocracy; the rule of God by the divine government of the Spirit. Not the rule by votes or by any contribution of the carnal mind, the rule of believers over other believers or the rule of apostles, bishops, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. God does not rule His sons through other people. God must rule the individual, out of His throne in the individual spirit, or one can never know the power of son-ship to God. All the ministries in the body of Christ are to be highly esteemed for their ministry to the Lord’s elect but all ministries in the body of Christ are servants , not lords. No servant seeks to gather persons around them or under them but will point all humankind to the omnipotent power of the Christ within. Democratic oligarchy cannot be the kingdom of God or even a simile of the kingdom of God, because those in the kingdom of God are born of God, led by God, and controlled by God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,, they are the sons of God. (Rom. 8:14).

God’s apprehended sons will be brought out of the church in Laodicea, for the conditions there refuse change and this system is to be overcome.

(Rev 3:16-18 NRSV) So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. [18] Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

The kingdom of God is the authority of His Christ. The God who sits upon the throne is Christ. Christ is in our spirit. The Theocracy has become a Christocracy. Christ Himself reigning.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ. (Rev. 12:10).

One may have a Christocracy today within the soul. We may acknowledge the Lordship of the Christ within so that He may reign in our life, in the heart, in the will, in the mind, in our nature, and then as He reigns through us, a member of the Christ-body, we become a part of that Christocracy. This is son-ship. This is a righteous form of government: God reigning in and through His chosen ones. His love, power, wisdom, righteousness, peace, and judgments all flow through this priesthood He calls and ordains. To know this within as an ongoing experience is forming the government of God for a new era and for the ages to come.

The calling of the sons of God is to establish the Theocracy—the rule of God in the midst of humankind. Only with the mind of the Spirit can such rule of God be discerned.

Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven.”

The Greek word here translated “conversation” is politeuma—Politics. “Our politics are in heaven.” Not out of the political party, or of church organization or the church board, or any other flesh system. God’s politics come out of the realm of the Spirit, by the mind of Christ and the power of God. Such is the rule of God by the Spirit. In all life and relationships the sons of God are to have no other agenda, no other authority, no other source of blessing for humanity.

The church as part of the kingdom of God was intended to function in the Theocratic Order. This was so in the beginning, in the book of Acts before man’s hand was put to it, Notice how things were done by the Holy Spirit, by theocratic principles.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them … they … being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed. (Acts 13:2-4).

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays, and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand upon him, that he might receive his sight. Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (Acts 9:10-20).

Divine appointment

All service in the house of God is by divine appointment, on whatever level it may be. Only the Holy Spirit can do these things. The ministers of a church in the Laodicean condition being called and appointed only by the votes of the people lack divine authority. Nor can there be self-constituted ministry for only God can make or appoint His messenger.

In Old Testament times Yahweh called Moses and appointed Aaron and his sons to the priesthood and if a stranger presumed to meddle with the functions of those so appointed he was put to death. Such was the consequence of moving outside of God’s theocratic order. All who move in service apart from the appointment of the Spirit are spiritually dead, for God does not anoint such ministry with His life.

Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God … and no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. (Heb. 5:1-4).

But now has God set the members every one of them in the body as it has pleased Him.” “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. (I Cor. 12:4-6).

The man made church

In what is often called “that harlot system which calls itself the church”, oligarchic principles have been used in what is intended to be a theocratic institution.

A flock of sheep may not vote to direct where the shepherd should lead them. Ministry does not preach to please the people. If they do not happen to season the doctrinal soup to the people’s satisfaction, can people say, “Go.” and they must go?

A church is not the church of God if it is ordered by the people and if those in authority are not born of God, called of God, led by God, positioned by God, nurtured by God, empowered by God, and controlled by God.

This kind of carnality is reason enough for God to call His elect out of such systems of man. To be in such systems—to live and walk and minister in a “church in Laodicea” will reveals its nature. Not the one in Asia long ago, but those in today’s world.

Self-pleasing, prideful, fleshly zeal, political manipulations, financial interests, those who have money control the purse-strings of the church, giant financial organizations as goals and many similar carnal considerations are always involved where the people or hierocracy call the preachers and the carnal-minded control the ministry. The ministers become hirelings, and the people and hierarchies the usurpers of the Holy Spirit.

The rule of humankind in church affairs is soul power; the ministers lose their ability to walk in the Spirit, lose the sense of being the messenger of God, lose capacity to function in the government of God, and become the mouthpiece of some committee or faction representing some party that has attained supremacy in the church. Democracy and man-made hierarchies will always produce, sooner or later, “man’s man” and “man’s plan” rather than “God’s man” and “God’s plan.”

Path to son-ship

All who receive the call to overcome and the kingdom will be taught of God by the Spirit and exchange the rule of themselves, by themselves, and for themselves, with the rule of by God and for God. This is the route of the Overcomer. All who will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests will sooner or later become undeceived by the carnal church system and flee from it, for it has the horns of a lamb, appearing harmless and good, but it has the voice of a dragon (Rev. 13:1).

It is the mind of Christ alone that governs the world in the kingdom of God. Every ovecomer is being imbued with the mind of Christ and from holy omniscient minds the life and light and love and authority and glory of the Lord will flow with a power that will encompass the earth with transforming grace and fill it with the glory of the Lord. The Lord says to the over-comer out of the church in Laodicea,

To him that overcomes (the Laodicean condition) will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame (the religion of the scribes and Pharisees), and am set down with my Father in His throne

No man can ever hope to reign in the kingdom of Christ until his will has become one with the will of the Father. Were it possible for one man to reign in the kingdom while still possessing his own will in opposition to the will of the Father, it would mean the destruction of the kingdom with confusion, strife, and rebellion.

The mark of the sons of God is that they are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14). Those who overcome the Laodician condition by the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit will reign with Christ in His kingdom. The sons are climbing the heights of mount Zion; scaling the heights in God. This can only be accomplished—(reach the top where is situated the throne zone)—as they are led by the appointed guide, the Spirit of Truth. He knows the way. He led the firstborn Son of God to the pinnacle of power and glory, to the heavenly throne of the universe. Now He is leading sons of God to sit with Christ in His throne..

Three spiritual conditions

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. (Rev. 3:15-16). ( Figurativly,”You make me sick”)

These do not refer to those outside His body, but to three spiritual conditions within. Two are more acceptable than the third. Heat and cold are preferable to lukewarm.

Hot” brings a picture of intense fervor, when all the affections, raised to a high pitch are expressed for God and His purposes and show themselves in corresponding fruitfulness.

Lukewarm” has traditionally meant a Christian that held one foot in the world and one foot in Christ. To be lukewarm, is to lack fervor, to be in a state in which love, commitment, and obedience are lacking, no self-denial, no pursuit of Christ, his will, and His kingdom. It implies satisfaction with that condition.

Cold relates to seasons of testing, trial, tribulation, pruning, and chastening under the hand of our Father. As the tree stands enduring the winter, so we stand enduring our winter times. In these cold or winter experiences we may feel as though God has forsaken us and joy and blessing flee the soul. This is what the mystics have referred to as “the dark night of the soul.”

A time of dryness, leanness and darkness and we learn what it means to walk by faith and not by sight. There is purpose in these distressing seasons, and lessons are learned that can be learned in no other way. The hand of God leads us through this valley of the shadow of death until there is raised up in us the understanding, wisdom, faith, power, and nature of the Lord.. This is the cold in which our father rejoices.

Cold or hot, stripped and tested or blessed and fruitful, He delights in our way. It is only the tepid lukewarm that He loathes.

The wilderness testing

God led Israel through a great and terrible wilderness on their journey to the land flowing with milk and honey. He brought them into the wilderness to test them and prove them in preparation for their entrance into the fruitful land. The drier and more barren the wilderness, the hotter the testing and the harder the path, the deeper was the work of God to bring forth His glory.

The Spirit “drove” the firstborn Son forth into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. For forty days He did not eat or drink amidst the desolation, the howling winds and blowing dust; the vipers and scorpions were His only companions as He endured the inner struggles and wrestling with the adversary sent to try Him, to prove the life of son-ship within Him. When the temptations were finished, Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee; and a name went out concerning Him throughout the entire region.

Every son will be so tried. God brings sons to a desert place where everybody and everything fails; where they must stand upon the air, as it were, with nothing under the feet. There is nowhere to look but up to God, and He leaves us hanging there upon the thread of faith, clinging and looking to Him, believing Him. He moves upon the clouds of the carnal mind, upon all that hides the truth from our vision, upon the fog of man’s theories and self-righteousness. He comes with conviction and purging power, showing us the vanity of all things of the flesh. He makes as nothing our self-esteem and self-confidence, and sweeps away every carnal ambition, all our own plans and desires, our religious activities and multiplied works, our religious pride and fleshly motives, and every secret sin. We are left stripped and bare, like the cold, bleak tree of winter; but in a better condition to bring forth blossoms and fruit to His glory than ever before. in the dust of humiliation and brokenness He may then clear the spiritual atmosphere about us, shining the splendor of the light of God into our lives, wooing us onward and revealing our destiny in Christ, raising up His life within us and bringing us out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit as mature fruit bearers.

As the Lord Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, for the joy that was set before Him, overcomers are to endure the individual cross set before them. The tree endures the winter and flourishes in summer. Overcomers endure the cold times, for they will be appointed of the Lord that they may flourish in the hot seasons that God sets to give fruit. The tree, Jesus, and all the trees—His many brethren, who are, or have been, in the cold times stand in faith trusting and waiting. Each trust that summer will come, and wait for it. They trust that the Lord will take them through the winter and also wait for it. He wishes sons to be either cold or hot. Those are two conditions acceptable to Him.

How long the waiting or the dark night of the soul continues will depend upon a number of things, some may later be identified, while others will remain with God, completely hidden. But there is a limit to a person’s ability to live without joy. Christ could endure the cross because of the joy set before Him. God knows exactly how much pressure a life can stand. He knows how long we can endure the night, so He gives the soul relief, first by welcome glimpses of the morning star and then by the fuller light that harbingers the morning.

Slowly you will discover God’s love in your suffering. Your heart will begin to approve the whole thing. You will learn for yourself what all the schools in the world cannot teach you—the healing action of faith without supporting pleasure. You will feel and understand the ministry of the night; its power to purify, to detach, to humble, to destroy the fear of death and, what is more important to you at the moment, the fear of life. And you will learn that sometimes rain can do what even joy cannot, such as exposing the vanity of earth’s trifles and filling your heart with the peace of heaven.

Being “comfortable”

Having a comfort zone requires the application of the three spiritual conditions of cold, hot, and lukewarm. “Because you are neither cold (Outer Court, feast of Passover) nor hot (Most Holy Place, feast of Tabernacles) you are stuck in the middle (Holy Place, feast of Pentecost), you’ve got enough of both realms to make you comfortable—lukewarm.” There is nothing wrong with being in the Holy Place and the feast of Pentecost, but when you have been there for twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty years and never move on, the Lord may well say, “I’m about ready to spit you out.” Pentecost is the feast of transition. The lampstand realm (Holy Place) is the compartment of transition. Each is a temporary stopping point on the way from one realm to another realm. Neither is designed to be a permanent arrangement or an ultimate experience.

I never knew you

There is a great lukewarmness in the church realm today. The saints therein often think they are rich. As little children, they “play” with the “gifts” of the Spirit and speak of having the full gospel and being full grown and accomplishing mighty things in the kingdom of God.

There is much information in the way of books, tapes, and seminars concerning the gifts of the Spirit, healing, miracles, prophecy, casting out devils, deliverance, dancing in the Spirit, and more. By reading these books, listening to the tapes, or attending a training school one can pick up the “how to’s” and quickly learn the techniques employed by those who are experienced in sensational ministries. From such sources one can supposedly learn in a relatively short period of time how to move in a dynamic prophetic ministry with signs, wonders, and miracles.

If, by reading a series of lessons, or sitting through a seminar, a person can “learn” to prophesy, “learn” to perform miracles, “learn” to dance in the Spirit, or be “taught” how to perform any other spiritual feat, then he is indeed the deceived and will be among the astonished of whom Jesus spoke when he said,

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you (intimately, as a husband knows his wife): depart from me, you that work iniquity (lawlessness, that which was not at my word). (Mat. 7:22-23).

The land is filled today with deceiving signs and wonders that are done in the name of Christ. Be aware of the showmanship of the “mixture” ministry and the wondrous “signs” that appear as a result.

The mighty acts and manifestations of the Spirit of God are not learned in seven easy lessons—they are supernaturally bestowed by the Christ as a result of intimacy of fellowship, personal association, and vital union with Him.

How to do the works of God is not contained in a formula or in any set of methods or techniques understood by the human mind. The understanding of high and holy things comes by revelation born of an inner work, in earnest seeking and holy brokenness and a deep relationship with the Lord Himself. The wonderful works of God are the result, not of repeating certain phrases, or stepping out in faith on mental impressions or imaginations, or the employment of certain techniques, but of the sovereign power of almighty God.

After years of a ministry of transcending greatness Paul wrote of the true source of all spiritual ministry,

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. But when it pleased God … to reveal His Son in me … immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia (a desert place), and returned again to Damascus. Then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter … . (Gal. 1:12-24).

Three years in Arabia waiting on God. Three years alone in the desert receiving the revelation of Jesus Christ. That was Paul’s”cold” experience. He came out from Arabia in the power of the spirit, just as Jesus came out of the wilderness in the power of the spirit and his “hot” experience began. If, like Paul, we take time to bow low in humility and wait upon the presence of God, listen intently for his voice, we will become acquainted with the secret of his will, not only for the ages to come, but for the present age and the high purposes of God. To live in the spirit is to walk in the spirit. To walk in the spirit is to be led by the spirit. Those who are led by the spirit are the sons of God.

You sicken me

So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out . (Rev. 3:16).

This warning does not mean they are lost and He is going to send them to perdition. It is not a word to unbelievers or unconverted, but to the people of God. This is His attitude toward a carnal church. Like lukewarm, tea, or coffee, a carnal Christian is not good for anything. God cannot stand the taste. Lukewarm is a sickening combination of hot and cold water. He just wants to get it out of His mouth.. The Greek brings out the idea of ad nauseam more realistically, for it says, “I will vomit you out of my mouth.”

God has a people for Himself and they are and will be a holy and separated remnant. This remnant people will walk in the light and enjoy great discernment. They see the modern Laodician church through the eyes of Jesus and they will not be deceived by the pomp, bigness, and outward grandeur of popular religion. The true church is invisible; it is repentant; it yearns for Christ, the beloved One.

The mouth of God

Rev 3:16 … out of my mouth.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. (I Pet. 4:11).
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Pet. 1:21). “

In hope of eternal life, which God, promised before the world began; but has in due times manifested His word through preaching. (Tit. 1:2-3).

The man who speaks the words of God is the Lord’s mouth upon earth. God also speaks mind to mind or spirit to spirit and that we may hear His voice within ourselves. When the Lord wishes to speak to humankind through a person He chooses a vessel to be His mouth, as a medium to conveys His word.

Mouthpiece saints who are in the Laodician condition are speaking words that the Lord has spoken but they are not the living words He is now speaking. Such is the condition of all who fail to move forward in God. They continue to live in yesterday’s revelation, in yesterday’s move of the Spirit, little realizing that God has moved on and is doing a new thing in the earth. He will reject such people as His prophetic voice, as His responsible light-bearers in the world. Much of the old order church systems today are no longer the mouthpiece of God. They are their own mouthpiece, speaking their own lukewarm traditional messages. God has already spewed them out of His mouth. That doesn’t mean they are no longer the Lord’s people, or that they cannot fulfill some function in His purposes on earth. But the true message of the hour is not coming out of their mouths. Whatever you hear from them is something other than the living rhema word of God for the kingdom day.

The Lord goes on to say, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. They are speaking. They are talking as the mouthpiece of God. But though they say it that does not make it the words of God for they say one thing, but the Spirit says another.

He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” God is speaking to His elect in this hour, and those who hear His voice are living in His sight. The sons of God are now arising to possess the kingdom. There is to be a fresh move of the Spirit, a new feast of His fullness, a new ministry from the Holiest of all, a new work of God in the earth that transcends by far anything that has ever been seen or known. We are nearing the hour of the full manifestation of the sons of God. The long awaited liberation of planet earth is near at hand. The greater works that Jesus told us of are ready to begin. We have not passed this way before. But God is speaking, and all that He speaks will come to pass.

Anoint your eyes with eyesalve

I counsel you to … anoint your eyes with eye-salve that you may see. (Rev. 3:18).

The Lord counsels to anoint the eyes with eye-salve that they may see. Paul prayed in like manner:

(May) the eyes of your understanding be enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Eph. 1:18).

Unable to comprehend the things of God with carnal mind through physical eyes the commanded to anoint the spiritual eyes with eye-salve is to enable seeing into and understand the high and holy things of the Spirit. To seek God’s knowledge and wisdom, asking Him to reveal to us His understanding.

The Lord is able to give the seven spirits of God, which are the seven eyes of perfect perception and the seven lamps of fire that burn before the throne, enlightening the seeker to the heavenly authority and dominion of the governmental realm of God.

. ‘To be spiritually blind is to have no vision of what the Father desires. The natural mind is spiritually very dark and without understanding. Only the Holy Spirit can awaken it. Human efforts to enlighten humankind to the deep spiritual things of God will always fail. There is a time when the Father speaks through men but only to Christ is power given to open the eyes of the blind. The Bible remains to a great degree a closed book to the most educated if they are unconverted and without the anointing of the Spirit. Without the enlightening of the spiritual eyes men are spiritually blind. It is impossible for the unquickened man to behold the wonders of the heavenly world.

Whenever Christ comes, whenever God bestows mercy, the light of His countenance is our light, His appearing is our vision, and His presence is our heaven. If we just touch Him, we see light. In the midst of any adversity as Job discovered.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall i see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. (Job 19:25-27).

Job believed deeply within his heart that in some future day he would see God, but what he failed to understand was that at that very moment God was working within him to bring that very reality to pass in his experience. It was only a short time until this same Job cried out in ecstatic wonder,

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. (Job 42:5).

God was unveiled to Job in his testing and proving. First he had declared that he would see God in the latter day, but his confession became changed to now.

Could it be that the “latter day” is not a day in the far future but a dimension of our own experiencing of Christ? The apostles referred again and again to “these last days” as they were moving from the old covenant to the new, from Moses to Christ, from law to grace, from a carnal understanding of the Word to a spiritual, and from shadow to reality. For them it was the last days of one order and the dawning of another within themselves. Our latter day is more appropriately the time of a transition in our own experience as we move out of one understanding and experience into another. In this sense there can be many “latter day” periods in the walk from glory to glory in the heavens of God. It is always in the last days that we begin to see God in a greater way and in a higher dimension of the His revelation.

Christ is the only Healer and we are instructed to buy the eye-salve of Him. Enlightening the eyes of our understanding does not depend on the self-effort of our striving and struggling, but on the purpose and power of God.

where there is no vision, the people perish. (Prov. 29:18).

When the vision has no renewal the light we have begins to burn out and turn to darkness. It is not enough to have a vision—progress onward is needed to become the fulfilment of the vision within ourselves.

The purpose of seeing looks toward becoming. Until experiencing transformation as the result of insight the work of God is incomplete. Becoming is not for our glory, but to fulfil the purposes of our Father in the earth. Eye-salve is from the hand of the Lord and our vision is increased daily As Christ is revealed within.

Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Cor. 3:18).

Beholding—we are changed.

We shall be changed … in the twinkling of an eye.”

We are changed by a beholding, by a looking, by a look, necessitating a turning.

Turn us, O Lord. Cause Your face to shine and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:3,7,19).

It is only as we turn in the direction of the present glory that we can know transformation. Transformation comes in the light of the present glory and revelation of Jesus Christ. Turn to behold Him as He is, to behold Him in what He is doing, not in what He has done. If you can only tell what God did two thousand years ago, or fifty years ago, or five years ago, or yesterday, it is time for change and turning.

To see Him is to be changed into His likeness. Change is in meeting Him as did Paul and John. That Christ to be revealed to us is an underlying truth of the book of Revelation. The promise of this vision assures us of the perfecting of the powers of our spiritual life. No human can stand in the full blaze of divine glory until they correspond in nature to that glory. In the higher world of the spirit to gaze upon the countenance of the Son of Righteousness is to be changed.

We enter this physical world with five senses: sight, hearing, smelling, taste, and touch. These are natural physiological senses and feed information to our natural mind. When we are born of the Spirit, we receive these same senses on the higher plane of spirit, in the inner-man body. No one has ever been able to see in this world unless they have been born. So it is in the spiritual realm.

Peter writes about new birth into the spiritual realm explaining that we are

being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. (I Pet. 1:23).

This new birth is by an incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, that Word which was from the beginning, which is also the true light and the life of men, and

lights every man coming into the world. (Jn. 1:1-4,9).

Jesus speaks of spiritual sight in His conversation with Nicodemus,

Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom (realm) of God. (Jn. 3:3).

Jesus tells us

that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Jn. 3:6).

Birth may not the beginning of human existence, but it does mark the beginning of human identity. Though we may already exist, we have no name, no birth certificate, no legal identity, no citizenship, no civil rights, and no ability to inherit—until we are born. The baby that is born existed in the womb, and before that its life existed in the sperm of the father and the egg of the mother.

It is said that human life begins at conception, but that may not be entirely true. Hebrews tells us that Levi (the son of Aaron, the high priest) existed in the loins of his father Abraham four hundred years before he was born and paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was in the loins of Abraham.

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father (Abraham), when Melchizedek met him. (Heb. 7:9-10).

This concept may well be figurative but there is a possible principle involved. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The flesh child is flesh before it is born, else it could not be said that that which is born of the flesh is flesh. Similarly the spirit child is spirit before it is born; so otherwise it could not be said that that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Spirit is born of Spirit, just as flesh is born of flesh. But flesh has to be flesh before it is born. Spirit has to be spirit before it is born. The birth is not its beginning.

The birth brings the babe, which already existed, flesh or spirit, into a new realm, into an awakened consciousness, into a new awareness, a new dimension, into a new standing, into new rights and privileges and inheritance—but the birth is not the beginning of its existence.

Does this mean If mankind were not already spirit beings in the womb of the Father they could not be born into the kingdom of God by the Spirit

God is the Father of spirits. A father does not father his offspring at the time of the offspring’s birth but at the time of conception, but in God’s understanding, as in the example of Levi, this extends back to the first father Adam.

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?. (Heb. 12:9).

God is the Father not only of every born again person who is now a child of God.” But all flesh .

O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh. (Num. 16:22).
But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding (Job. 32:8).

The word “inspiration” is the act of in-breathing so receiving internally a raised consciousness, understanding, and intelligence.

Bezaleel, when working on the tabernacle in the wilderness, was inspired as he was

filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and in understanding, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber. (Ex. 31:1-5).

The human spirit may also be spiritually in-spired and raised in consciousness, thought, feeling, understanding, perception, ability, or action by a divine movement within. It is God’s Spirit quickening our spirit, and bringing a change, a quickening, so that our spirit may function as it was designed to function. This is what Jesus described as “born again,” the spirit that already existed as the offspring of God being brought forth, just as a flesh baby is brought forth into the world, into a new realm, a new level of identity, a new consciousness, a new expression, a new ability, a new standing, new rights and privileges and inheritance. That which is thus “born” of the Spirit is spirit.

A diamond is irradiated by light that enables an obtaining and expressing of a glory it does not possess apart from that “inspiration”. In like manner it is the distinction of all humanity that it is penetrable by the Spirit of God, able to receive, retain and radiate the Holy Spirit; to be energized by Him and filled with His glory, in every faculty, feeling, and power.

the Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children (offspring) of God.. (Rom. 8:16). And “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts (spirit), crying, Abba, Father.. (Gal. 4:6). “

The seed of God is in every man, and that seed is the spirit of man. God in every man is as a seed. A seed doesn’t do anything. It just is. The spirit of man is the seed of God but it is buried in, encased by, the outer man of the flesh, the carnal understanding, and the natural consciousness. The spirit of man must be activated. Until it is activated it is not a living, pulsating, energizing, ruling, growing power in man. It must be germinated, quickened by the power of the invigorating rain of God’s Word and the warmth of God’s Spirit. When spirit is quickened by God’s Spirit, it springs forth into birth. The offspring of God are quickened into God-like-ness by the act of re-generation.

Birthed into the kingdom realm of God the human spirit becomes aware of the senses of the spiritual realm. The five senses in the world of the spirit are able to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell all spiritual and heavenly things which are invisible and incorruptible, as the apostle explains,

… eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him—but God has revealed them to us by the spirit; for the spirit searches (out) all things, yes the deep things of God. (i cor. 2:9-14).

When we born (quickened) from above the five senses of the spirit world are released and become operative in the inner-man body, which is Christ. Gradually, as this inner man grows and increases we discover and become more aware of these senses, the eyes of understanding being enlightened, becoming wider to the things not seen by the natural eye of understanding; by degrees the hearing of faith increases until every good promise of God is established as truth; we come into touch with the Lord and His invisible presence, glory, and powers; little by little we taste and see that the Lord is very gracious, finding our food and sustenance out of the spirit realm rather than the outer world; coming to appreciate those attributes of love, mercy, grace, and goodness and those sacrifices and incense-prayers and praises which are a sweet odour to the Lord, and a fragrance of life to humankind

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places … . (Eph. 1:18-20).

The power of man’s regenerated spirit is seeing what others cannot see. It sees, amid the thousand things natural men see and are guided by, something infinitely greater and more real—it sees God. The spiritual eyes of the new creation inner-man body can be trained to see God everywhere. Abide in His presence until the heart is filled with it. You will begin to recognize Him in everything that happens. Seek to walk in the light of His countenance. Seeing the invisible will make it easy to forsake this world and do the will of God. Then you will see all things as they really are. The heavenly world is shut up from the natural man. He cannot see eternal things. He sees only natural things of the lower world.

Anoint your eyes with eye-salve that you may see.”

Those I love I rebuke

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Rev. 3:19).

The trials are a experience are to develop a character worthy of one called to reign with Christ in His kingdom. Our Father rules and overrules in each of these for our good. Sometimes they take the form of chastening,

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chastens not?. (Heb. 12:7).

Ordinarily we think of the word “chastisement” as signifying correcting for wrongdoing. In the scriptures it is especially used to convey the idea of education or instruction in righteousness. The word in Greek translated chasten is paiedeia, from paideia, a child. Paiduo is “to train, educate, instruct, or to teach.”

God is chastening His Children, training them as a father trains his child. He is educating us and bringing us under discipline. He is not punishing us because we have done wrong, but He does correct us that we may learn His ways. Discipline is much more than punishment. Discipline is something done for the child, not to the child. Discipline builds character and a stable way of life. Parenting fails if children are not lovingly but firmly, corrected, restrained, and trained in right behaviour. Teaching, reasoning and knowledge grow the mind’s ability but training is needed to direct its action.

Our hearts and souls are the workshop of God. It is there that He is changing us and bringing us into union with Himself in the spirit. The change comes not by a wonderful spiritual experience with waves of joy and glory. It is the blow of His hammer that breaks our hard heart and the stroke of His axe that strikes at the root of our life. His pruning will cut away the natural, worldly, and religious things that sap our spiritual strength. The furnace heated seven times consumes our dross. Without ceasing God works—the everlasting God, He visits us in our dreams, He searches our reins and instructs us in the night seasons. We see, we hear, we taste, we feel Him and His work in us every day and night, and every hour and moment of the day and night. This is the experience of any son of God who walks with Christ in the spirit and is being changed into His image and likeness.

Growing in God is a walk not just a “message,” a “revelation,” a “doctrine,” or even a “truth” to be memorised and repeated. It is a life to be lived and walked out. The maturing in God requires training and discipline and all must pass through the disciplines, instructions, corrections, trials, testings, chastisements, and scourging of the Lord. Walk through this preparation with faith and confidence, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith, eyes on the goal set before us: to live in His life and partake of His holiness.

I Stand and Knock

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. (Rev. 3:20).

When Jesus sent the message to the church of Laodicea He portrayed Himself as One standing at door. Not within the life of the assembly as He should be. The doors were shut against Him and within a performance ministry preached, sang about Him, worked and built for Him but He was left outside.

The membership of the church of Laodicea was large and prestigious, its income assured, its organization perfected seemingly a success and there are many examples of Laodician success in the Christendom of today. No matter how much preaching and human effort, or how many multi-million dollar church buildings, Christian programs and concerts, or much church membership, if the living Christ is locked out such church systems are built on flesh-appeal ideas and promotions not the power and glory of the Holy Spirit.

The message of Christ to a Laodician church fails to penetrate such carnal busywork and to already occupied ears of the masses who assemble there. No one is listening.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if a-n-y m-a-n (singular) hear my voice,

Christ is outside the camp of all the systems of this world, including the political, economic, and religious systems of humankind. He is outside the camp of the denominations, churches, and fellowships; and the camp of those who continue in the old ways of the dead, church order of the past. No longer is He dealing with the apostate systems of man, but knocking, knocking, knocking at the heart’s door of individual men and women, saying to them, “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.” The spiritual presence of Christ will come to any individual, man or woman who will open their heart’s door to the intimacy of fellowship and vital union with Christ.

To sup with Christ is to commune vitally with Him and freely partake of all that is proffered by His Spirit. Deep within—in the inner union of soul and spirit, privately and alone, being spiritually edified and understanding and participating in heavenly things. To “hear His voice” is an individual experiencing of Christ within.

Continuing to sup with Him and walk with Him is making a significant transition. The Laodicean condition does not admit Him, eat and commune with Him, nor listen to His voice to learn His will and do it. In those who hear His voice, and sup with Him He is establishing His kingdom.

I will sup with him and he with me

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. (Rev. 3:20).

God desires to feast with His people—from the beginning He has shown us that His delight is not in showing authority, but in enjoying intimate and close fellowship with His creation. He set a feast of fruits before Adam and Eve, then walked with them in the garden and communed with them face to face. He ate with Abraham in his tent at noonday. He spread a table in the wilderness for the entire nation of His chosen people and gave them the bread from heaven. Jesus provided wine at a wedding feast. He fed five thousand on a hillside. He enjoyed feasts eating and drinking with men until He was called a glutton and a wine-bibber. The new covenant is established with a feast, the great spiritual feast of giving the redeemed His own body (word) for their meat and His own blood (spirit) for their drink. The greatest feast of all; the marriage supper of the Lamb, will usher a people into the most intimate relationship with their Lord.

We are commanded to feed upon Christ, to eat His flesh and drink His blood,

for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (Jn. 6:55).
As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me (Jn. 6:57).
I am the bread of life … (Jn. 6:35).

Paul teaches that we have been,

… raised up, and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6).

There is a table of the Lord spread for us in the heavenlies. Jesus said to His disciples,

I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me; that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. (Lk. 22:29-30).

Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and the elders of Israel ate at the Lord ‘s Table on mount Sinai.

And they saw the God of Israel: and there were under His feet as it were a paved work as a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And … the nobles of the children of Israel … saw God, and did eat and drink. (Ex. 24:9-11).

Seventy-four men of God, seated with Him in the height of a mountain peak, eating and drinking. It was so overwhelming that none but Moses could take it in. The Lord seeks that His chosen ones have communion at his table. Oneness is around His heavenly table in a continual abiding in Him as our food, our strength, our enjoyment, and our life.

In the fellowship and communion of His table His life, His mind, nature, will, ways, His self is communicated and imparted.

Hear a person’s teaching or reading their book and precious knowledge may pass to you and you are richer for it. He teaches; you have only to attend and understand. But if you come to know the teacher, to fellowship intimately, to love, to count their will better than your own their spirit is absorbed into your life. There is a passing from knowledge to a deeper state of communication, from listening and learning to loving and communing.

There are many today who have met Christ in the knowledge sense. In meetings, sermons, teachings, prophesying, scriptures, programs, activities, we listen as He told us things we never could have known without such ways. The teachers were Christ ordained saints called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The classroom the church resounds with the lessons of truths, precepts, and principles of the kingdom of God. But only in the secret place of the most high do we meet the Christ in the deeper chamber where as we sup with Him and He with us, He reveals to us His heart and the secret of His being where in the union of our life He makes us like Himself.

Put on white clothing

I counsel you to buy of me … white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. (Rev. 3:18).

As soon as man sinned, God made them garments. The sinning couple needed a covering because they were flesh. The skins used to cover Adam and Eve in Eden were the product of the life of God’s Lamb. When they received these garments they were given something born out of His life, the form and appearance of Himself generated by His life. In a similar manner we are to be clothed with the lamb’s skin, the Lamb’s own image, likeness, and identity.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, and all who become sons of God will “put on Christ.” On the spiritual mount Zion, standing with the Lamb are 144,000 lambs.(not termed men) (Rev. 14:1-5). They all are lambs. They all bear the mind and the nature of the Father and in their mouth (their words) is found no guile.

And they were both naked, the man and his wife … and the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. (Gen. 2:25; 3:7).

Among all the creatures which God caused to be made humankind (man) is particularly described as naked or made bare: having the flesh uncovered and exposed.

The flesh” is a term often used by the Holy Spirit to describe the outer life of soul and body ruled by the earthly and carnal human nature, a nature that is earthly minded, with lusts and self-centeredness, ego and the I-will, in rebellion to the spirit.

The flesh nature was in man from the beginning allowing temptation, disobedience and sin. This nature was in them from the time God lowered them out of their pure spirit existence, in the image and likeness of God, investing them with a body of earth so that man became a living soul. While man was caught up in God he was not aware of it—

for he was naked and was not ashamed (Gen. 2:25)

Then suddenly “they knew that they were naked”—becoming conscious that their flesh life lay bare and exposed. The discovery was immediately followed by an effort of their own to cover it .

they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons. (Gen. 3:7).

The first record of man’s attempt to remedy his condition by his own devices and humankind have been doing it ever since. Adam’s effort to cover his nakedness was not just a physical or moral act, it was a religious act. The nakedness in Eden considers a spiritual state of being, and the attempt to cover that nakedness an expression of man’s “religious” answer.

In an effort to appear other than what he is man sews together very wide leaves of the fig tree. Humankind still tries every device they can, including multiplied religious works and observances, to gloss over their true condition. All the garments which men devise to hide their nakedness become “filthy rags” Leaves quickly wither, turn brown and brittle, and fall off. Clothed in all the dead works of religion man’s flesh soon shows through and his manufactured covering is pitifully insufficient.

For Adam also and for his wife the Lord God made long coats (tunics) of skins, and clothed them. (Gen. 3:21, Amplified).

In the Garden of Eden story Adam and Eve watched as the Lord God selected a lamb and slew it. that a covering might be provided for the naked ones. This one act introduces the atonement and the Christ as man’s covering. The covering is so complete that no flesh will be seen—only Christ. Such clothing is not only a reference to initial salvation but of the final perfection of the sons of God. A prophecy is about the ultimate purpose for those who in the image and likeness of God; will be fully clothed in the life of the Lamb and bear His image, likeness, and identity.

God is calling a people from profession to possession. The scripture makes statements as,

put on the Lord Jesus Christ,”
put on the whole armour of God,”
put on the armour of light,”
put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem,”
be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven,”

To possess or put on in a spiritual way over the nature of the natural man. Those who have put on Christ bear the image, likeness, and identity of Christ. They living and doing the pure and perfect will of their Father in heaven, as did the firstborn Son of God.

in the day of kingdom when the sons of God step forth upon the balcony of kingdom authority and dominion, any who have clothed themselves in wishful thinking, presumptuousness, self-assurance, self-righteousness, overconfidence, or the withering fig-leaves of past moves of God and the obsolete and dying church orders will stand naked before all men and the day will declare who are sons of God.

To sit in my throne

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. (Rev. 3:21).

The phrase “to him that overcomes” is in the active voice in contrast to the passive voice. It is participatory, to be involved with the activity, rather than just permitting something to be done to self. Overcoming is an action verb implying “has succeeded, is succeeding and will succeed” . The mood is a participle in the Greek. The verb “overcome” has an i-n-g on the end of it. The present tense action is implying overcoming now; hence, “To him who is overcoming will I grant … now.

Not going back and undoing the past or speculation about the future. All overcoming is accomplished in the now. This time that God has given is an opportunity to conquer and gain the victory in all situations and circumstances.

The seventh stage of our progressive journey to perfection is where we hear Jesus say, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” The Lord says, “in my throne.” Jesus being raised up to sit at the right hand of God in the higher-than-all-heavens does not mean that Jesus has for the past two thousand years been sitting beside a physical God, or a God limited to some particular spot in the universe, on a physical throne. God does not exist in a physical form. He is omnipresent spirit filling the cosmos.

The expression, “raised up to sit at the right hand of God” is a figure of speech denoting Christ’s spiritual position. In His glorified humanity He is the revelation and expression to creation of all the authority and power of the invisible God, yet He is not in His glorified humanity the invisible God. His positional place is at the right hand of God.

When Jesus says, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne,” that is what He means. He did not say, “I’ll let him sit beside me.” But sit with me in.” To be raised up to the same state of glorification and exaltation and co-rulership as Jesus. Everything He is, the overcoming sons of God will be. Then He said, “Even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” So when we see Jesus sitting in the Father’s throne, we know that the Father’s throne is His throne, and the over-comer’s throne is likewise the Father’s throne. At the last stage of the overcoming journey is to be raised up as the full expression and revelation of the authority and power of God, our Father.

All who overcome have within themselves the revealed plan of God for His called and chosen elect. This is not something that might happen or might not.

He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love; having predestinated us to placement as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. (Eph. 1:4-5).

The seven messages to the seven churches close with these three allegories of eternal truth—the door, the table, and the throne. We are to open the door, sit at His table and sup with Him and Him with us, and be raised up to His throne.

The firstborn Son of God was made a priest after the order of Melchizedek, and as Christ the Son reigns as a priest upon His throne, so the sons will also be. It is the priest being given ruling authority that makes the king/priest.

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6).

It is the priests that reign. A king without a priestly nature is merely a despot. There is a dual role in the government of the kingdom; kingly function with authority, power, and dominion; priestly service with a heart of mercy, love, compassion, and reconciliation.

Marked by appetites and passions of the flesh.

It feels good,

Lacking in courage and resolution

Relating to the body and the flesh life.

Essentially bond slaves.

These are “huios” fully grown

Those who come to fully understand by God’s grace the nature of their calling.

There is no self in this complete commitment.

The world web reveals the extent to which this kind of “Buying and Selling” has usurped the place of the Ecclesia of God. Televangelism is big business and luxury living by its practitioners a shameful distortion of the Gospel.

The word eye-salve means a poultice, a plaster, placed upon the eyes to draw out infection or impurities that cause blurred vision. Christendom has had such a distorted vision blurred, distorted, confused—until the Holy Spirit cleanses and removes the debris. Our attitudes are changed, our priorities brought into balance, and we focus more clearly on the goal that is set before us.

You would not want a blind cook in a restaurant preparing the food for your body. He might accidentally dump rat poison into the pot instead of baking soda. He certainly would not be able to balance the ingredients properly. So much more should we avoid having a blind man feed us spiritual food. It is tragic how many blind cooks we have feeding the bread of God today. They can remember the size, shape, and feel of the products (moves of God) of yesteryear when they had their vision. But when a new product (move and revelation of God) comes along, they are in immediate confusion. Their only action is to throw out the new truth, because they are not familiar with it. The problem is that some poisons come in the same size and shape packages as old familiar truths. Saints whose sight is being restored are escaping from such ministries. If you cannot see the present truth God is unveiling today, then you are disqualified to feed the people of God. Go to the Healer and have your eyesight restored

A present realization and awareness

A spiritual vision given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Does every flesh man have a spirit? Is every man, saved or unsaved, composed of spirit, soul, and body, Do only believers have a spirit? If every man has a spirit, where did his spirit come from? Did it come from God? Did it come from his parents? Did it come from the devil? Was your spirit, when you were born, already “fallen”? When did your spirit originate? Did it originate at the moment of your physical birth? Did it originate at the moment of your conception in the womb? Did it originate before your conception? Was it already a “fallen” spirit before you were born? If not, when did it “fall”? Is God actively in the business of begetting “fallen” or “dead” spirits? Is God really the Father of the spirits of all flesh?

The process of showing signs of life

The first example of “performance Ministry”

An emperor was preparing to ascend the throne in a far distant country. He announced a search for the finest fabric (doctrine) and the finest tailor (ministry) to weave an inaugural gown unlike any other. The gown (religious robes) would demonstrate that his regime(church) was different than any other. The plea for help went out throughout the land. Finally, a tailor (theologian) convinced the emperor that he had obtained the finest fabric (teaching) ever woven. So fine that it is not seen except by those who understood its wondrous patterns.(dogma) He persuaded the emperor to hire him. (For a lot of money) For weeks he worked on this garment day and night until it was finished. Not wishing to appear ignorant the king and courtiers blindly admired the garments they could not see. (Or understand)

Word spread throughout the kingdom announcing that on the day of the inauguration the emperor would appear robed in the finest robes ever worn in human history. When the day came, throngs of people gathered at the palace. The emperor stepped out on his balcony. There was loud sustained comment on how beautiful the garments. But it took a little child to point out the truth. Once the applause waned, the child stood up and pointed. “Look,” he said, “the emperor has no clothes.” He was right. The emperor stood stark naked. All the claims were empty.

They were not true.

To foreordain by divine will