Podcasts about laodiceans

Pastor JD explains why it is that the lukewarm last days church today, perfectly, but sadly, places us in the last hour by connecting the eerily similar and chilling parallels to the last church “of the” Laodiceans in the book of Revelation.

Pastor JD explains why it is that the lukewarm last days church today, perfectly, but sadly, places us in the last hour by connecting the eerily similar and chilling parallels to the last church “of the” Laodiceans in the book of Revelation.Prophecy Update Links All referenced links are at http://jdfarag.orgSocial MediaApple App Store: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appGoogle Play: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appAmazon Appstore: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appRoku Channel Store: https://subsplash.com/calvarychapelkaneohe/appProphecy Website: http://jdfarag.orgChurch Website: http://www.calvarychapelkaneohe.com/X: https://x.com/JDFaragFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDFarag/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JDFarag/

(1) Israel Watch 8/16/26: We watch and pray as we see another possible "breaking point" as the ceasefire ends. We discuss the latest in Gaza with Hamas, Lebanon with Hezbullah and the examples of Jew-hate around the world including the disruption of a New York synagogue, the Islamo-fascist and Israel-hating Michigan Democrat Senate candidate, the "People Who Hate Jews", Geert Wilders of the Netherlands and Bikers Across America heading to Michigan. (2) End Time Laodicean Apostasy with treadmill walking Laodiceans at "Faith City Church" in Maryland singing a Self-Worship song saying, "It's The God In Me," which the emphasis on ME. And a Trans-thing female pretending to be a male pastor in a United Methodist Church. (3) Sorcery-Pharmakea WATCH: The Highwire reports on increased use of anti-depressants among Americans as HHS Secretary RFK Jr. exposes the fact that our fake "news media" and Sharyl Attkisson exposes the fact that our medical establishment are both OWNED by Big Pharma. And all this is connected with the Biblical warning of end time "sorcery" which is "pharmakea"... DRUGS, leading us into the Beast System. (4) Funny Things: How NOT to aks a girl out (for our young, single fellas), a reality check of Gen Z and a comparison between the temporary Covid lockdowns vs. the Lifetime Islamic lockdowns due to the devil "Allah". https://bbfohio.com

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Pastor Dom brings our series on Colossians to a close. He teaches us that it really is, all about Jesus. Colossians 4:2-182 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. 7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” 18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.Philippians 4:19 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Colossians 1:2626 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.Colossians 1:27 27 …which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.1 Peter 2:22-2422 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.1 Corinthians 11:23-2523 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

There are two races and two realities, linked to two mental states or intellectual fields. These are mutually exclusive, they cannot share the same intellectual space. One cannot entertain two contradictory beliefs at the same time. Christians cannot be full Christ-like in a world of the flesh. We needed to separate but we never did. We cannot think we are part of this godless system and believe we are all we can be as Christians and Christ followers.

The church in Laodicea was condemned for being “lukewarm.” They thought they were in “need of nothing,” but they were not spiritually healthy. They needed to “be zealous and repent.” At times, we may be like the Laodiceans – not what we should be, but not completely unfaithful either; not zealously serving God, but not willfully rejecting Him; instead, we are in a state of spiritual mediocrity. What does this look like? How can we change it?

A malevolent force is operating through every lever of power — government, media, finance, military — and for the first time in history, its reach is nearly global. Borders that once kept the damage in check are gone. Good has been inverted as evil. Most people feel it but can't name it.In this episode of Presbyter Chat, Darren Kelama names it — and traces it straight back to the Pre-Nicene Christians who fought the same enemy centuries ago. Drawing on scripture from the first Christian Bible of 144 AD, academic research from the Journal of Pre-Nicene Christian Studies, and the survival playbook of the most persecuted denomination in history — the Marcionites — this episode lays out:• Who the "sons of disobedience" are and how they operate through hijacked institutions • Why voting, politics, and the democratic path are now closed • The ancient Greek discipline of Apatheia — calm, detached clarity in the face of manufactured chaos • How persecuted Christians survived by becoming invisible to a system that feeds on fear • Practical steps to disconnect, go off-grid, and protect your family before the window closesScripture readings from the Evangelion and the Epistle to the Laodiceans. Referenced theologians include Thomas Römer, Walter Brueggemann, Peter Enns, and A.W. Mitchell's Theophanic Replacement Protocol.The enemy cannot crush an opponent it cannot see, cannot starve, and cannot terrorize. Your duty is to survive.Notes:Mitchell, A. W. "The Theophanic Replacement Protocol: A Forensic Reconstruction of Divine Identity Theft, Textual Erasure, and the Formation of Nicene Christianity." Journal of Pre-Nicene Christian Studies (2025). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17964659.Romer, Thomas. The Invention of God. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2015Sorabji, Richard. Emotion and Peace of Mind: From Stoic Agitation to Christian Temptation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.The Very First Bible: The Evangelion and Apostolikon (144 AD). 2020. Marcionite Church (marcionitechurch.org). ISBN: 978-0578641591. LinkMarcionite Church (MarcioniteChurch.org)Podcast based largely on this paper: https://www.journal.pre-nicene.org/JPCS-July-2026.htmlExternal media: https://www.youtube.com/@PreNiceneTVFree PreNicene Bible ebook version: https://www.theveryfirstbible.org/ebook.html

Today is Jesus' letter to the 7th church, Laodicea. This letter was a severe and urgent message. The Laodiceans were smug, self-sufficient and “lukewarm,” having locked Christ out of their lives while falsely believing they needed nothing. Jesus asked them to trade their material complacency for true, spiritual wealth, offering them fellowship and a place to reign with Him. Then came the warning in verse 22 because it functioned as a wake-up call and implored the listeners to heed the warning, abandon their self-reliance and respond to Christ's invitation to repent. Thanks for listening. God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Every Christian is called to ministry, not just pastors and church staff. God has given each believer a unique role in His kingdom, whether serving in children's ministry, greeting visitors, or working behind the scenes. The key to powerful ministry lies in developing a steadfast prayer life that creates spiritual awareness and influences how we interact with others. Our words should be gracious and life-giving, building up rather than tearing down. Through kingdom networking and discipleship, we connect with other believers to encourage and equip one another for service. Churches must prioritize developing young adults and interns who have the energy and time to impact the world for Christ. ----------------------- ' Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions— if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.' Colossians 4:2-18

Our spiritual needs and weaknesses aren't obstacles to overcome but currency to exchange for God's grace. When we recognize our desperate need for Jesus, we position ourselves to receive His transforming power. Satan tries to use our awareness of failure against us, but understanding that need is our currency turns his attacks into opportunities for deeper dependence on Christ. Jesus invites us into an easy yoke where our burdens become manageable because we're partnered with Him. True spiritual maturity involves holding two truths in tension: we are desperately needy and completely secure in Christ. This balance prevents both pride and despair while transforming our relationship with God from performance-based to grace-centered.

The Laodicean message in Revelation 3:14-22 reveals Christ's deep love and desire to prepare His people for eternity. When we think we have no spiritual needs, we become spiritually blind to our true condition. Jesus lovingly diagnoses our spiritual poverty and offers three precious gifts: gold tried in fire representing faith and love, white clothing representing His righteousness, and eye salve representing the Holy Spirit's wisdom. His discipline comes from love, not condemnation. Christ stands at the door of our hearts, waiting for us to invite Him in completely. True victory comes through humbling ourselves and recognizing our complete dependence on Him.

The Laodicean message in Revelation 3:14-22 represents Christ's loving preparation of His people for the final work of reaching the world. The word Laodiceans means people of judgment, identifying us as the generation living in the time of final judgment. Jesus introduces Himself as the Amen, the final authority in a time of confusion. The problem with being lukewarm isn't about salvation status, but about feeling no spiritual need. When we're cold we feel a need for warmth, when hot we need cooling, but lukewarm feels no need for anything. This mirrors the dangerous pride seen in Lucifer, Babylon, and Laodicea - all declaring their self-sufficiency. Christ reveals we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked not to discourage us, but to awaken us to our desperate need for Him. Acknowledging our spiritual poverty actually draws us closer to Jesus, as His power is made perfect in weakness.

Audio Recording Gospel People Rev. Scott Strickman Download Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Maturing in ChristColossians 4:7-18 (ESV)7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.Sermon OutlineThe good news draws you in to the life of Christ where ordinary people are transformed by the extraordinary grace of Christ.1. Gospel Messagev12 …struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 2. Gospel Workersv10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabasv14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 3. Gospel Peoplev16 … also read the letter from Laodicea.vv7-9 Tychicus… that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your heartsvv12 Epaphras… a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you…v9 …with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother; v18 remember my chainsPrayer of ConfessionAlmighty God, full of glory and abounding with grace: thank you that you are so patient and merciful with us. We continue to try to make you more like us, yet resist your work to make us more like you. We are slow to believe and understand. Forgive us for not treating others consistently with the grace we have received. Forgive us for when we have strayed from faithfulness because we dreaded hardship or have been lured by what seemed instantly rewarding. We have lacked the humility and wisdom to embrace the call to be servants of Christ. Forgive every sin. Please continue the work of sanctification by the grace of Jesus Christ until we are brought to maturity and completion. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat value could there be in a book of the Bible ending with greetings between people we know little about? Why is that part of the Bible?If part of the work of the early Christians was to show how God's will is made known in Jesus, what are we supposed to know? How does our understanding of life expand as we look to Jesus? What are some implications of our need to mature in Christ? What expectations or understandings follow from it?What value is there that the book of Colossians was written by someone who was in prison? What does it tell us about the one writing and the world in which he lives? How can we understand that Paul, John Mark and Barnabas had a strong disagreement even though they were leaders in the church? What are reasonable expectations for church leaders?What is the difference between the letters Paul wrote which became part of the New Testament and other letters he wrote (which we don't have access to)?What value is there in Paul referring to himself and Tychicus as servants (slaves) of Christ? Why does Paul call Tychicus a fellow servant, Aristarchus a fellow prisoner, and Onesimus a beloved brother?Why is it important to see that the story of Jesus is not just about a man born in poverty who faced hardship and yet attained to being a king, but that he was a prince who willingly gave up everything and became a servant before these things? What does this imply about the identity, attitude and expectations of those who answer the call to follow him?

Audio Recording Gospel People Rev. Scott Strickman Download Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Maturing in ChristColossians 4:7-18 (ESV)7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.Sermon OutlineThe good news draws you in to the life of Christ where ordinary people are transformed by the extraordinary grace of Christ.1. Gospel Messagev12 …struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 2. Gospel Workersv10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabasv14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 3. Gospel Peoplev16 … also read the letter from Laodicea.vv7-9 Tychicus… that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your heartsvv12 Epaphras… a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you…v9 …with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother; v18 remember my chainsPrayer of ConfessionAlmighty God, full of glory and abounding with grace: thank you that you are so patient and merciful with us. We continue to try to make you more like us, yet resist your work to make us more like you. We are slow to believe and understand. Forgive us for not treating others consistently with the grace we have received. Forgive us for when we have strayed from faithfulness because we dreaded hardship or have been lured by what seemed instantly rewarding. We have lacked the humility and wisdom to embrace the call to be servants of Christ. Forgive every sin. Please continue the work of sanctification by the grace of Jesus Christ until we are brought to maturity and completion. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat value could there be in a book of the Bible ending with greetings between people we know little about? Why is that part of the Bible?If part of the work of the early Christians was to show how God's will is made known in Jesus, what are we supposed to know? How does our understanding of life expand as we look to Jesus? What are some implications of our need to mature in Christ? What expectations or understandings follow from it?What value is there that the book of Colossians was written by someone who was in prison? What does it tell us about the one writing and the world in which he lives? How can we understand that Paul, John Mark and Barnabas had a strong disagreement even though they were leaders in the church? What are reasonable expectations for church leaders?What is the difference between the letters Paul wrote which became part of the New Testament and other letters he wrote (which we don't have access to)?What value is there in Paul referring to himself and Tychicus as servants (slaves) of Christ? Why does Paul call Tychicus a fellow servant, Aristarchus a fellow prisoner, and Onesimus a beloved brother?Why is it important to see that the story of Jesus is not just about a man born in poverty who faced hardship and yet attained to being a king, but that he was a prince who willingly gave up everything and became a servant before these things? What does this imply about the identity, attitude and expectations of those who answer the call to follow him?

This week the message is from May 3rd 2026 with Pastor Peter continuing in the series teaching from The Book of Colossians.These are Scriptures that were referenced during the Sermon: Colossians 4:2-17 (NKJV)2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. 7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here. 10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. 16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.Daniel 6:23 (NKJV)23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.Thank you for listening and join us next time for more great teachings from The Word. If you feel to give towards this podcast ministry you can do so through the same ways that you give your tithes & offerings by writing Podcast ministry.

The church of the Laodiceans were in the last stages of apostasy. They desired to follow the ways of man and the ways of God. In doing so, they brought about the ire of the Lord upon themselves. In Revelation 3, they are rebuked. If they fail to repent, they will be no longer.

James 1:9–11 presents a profound contrast between the lowly believer, who finds joy in being exalted through dependence on God, and the rich, who are reminded of their fleeting nature and spiritual danger due to self-reliance. The passage underscores that true wisdom is not found in worldly success or intellect, but in humility, faith, and the willingness to ask God for guidance during trials. Drawing from 1 Corinthians and Revelation, the sermon illustrates how God intentionally uses the humble, the weak, and the overlooked to confound worldly wisdom and reveal His power, while warning the self-sufficient—like the lukewarm Laodiceans—of their spiritual blindness and need for repentance. The central call is to live boldly for Christ now, investing in eternal matters through faith tested by trials, knowing that such faith, refined like gold in fire, will be rewarded with the crown of life. Ultimately, the message challenges believers to embrace suffering as a path to deeper dependence on God, to reject pride, and to act with urgency, knowing that only what is done for Christ endures beyond this life.

The Bible doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture of the body of Christ is an oft-ignored and much maligned subject here at the end of the falling awayThe blessed hope of every born again Bible believer living in the Church Age dispensation is the Pretribulation Rapture, or catching away, of the body of Christ. Paul says that we are to speak about it, teach it, preach it and to comfort one another with the words in the Bible showing us the rapture. But in our day, because we live in the time Paul calls the 'falling away', the doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture is not only not taught and not preached from the pulpit, it is maligned by lukewarm Laodiceans who cannot or will not 'rightly divide' the scripture. Today my message is 'Sunday Morning Rapture', everything you should know but don't because no one taught it to you about the soon-coming catching away of the body of Christ into the clouds. "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:17,18 (KJB)

In this series, we are focusing on the first three chapters of Revelation, looking at the seven letters to seven churches. In the messages Pastor Eric Robertson teaches from the letter to Laodicea. HistorySam Storms: "Laodicea was a wealthy city, perhaps the wealthiest in all of Phrygia... Tacitus wrote: 'Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources...' It was known not only for its wealth (a banking center), but also for its linen and wool industry (especially black sheep) and its medical school. Its most famous product was an eye ointment..."Rev 3:14In a church of unquestionable wealth and worldly success, Jesus reminds them that He is the source of all life.Rev 3:15–16"Hot" and "cold" don't mean "on fire" or spiritually dead—that wouldn't make sense.Laodicea was six miles from Hierapolis (hot springs) and eleven miles from Colossae (cold, fresh water).Hot = medicinal.Cold = refreshing.Lukewarm = worthless.Rev 3:17"No doubt part of her problem was the inability to distinguish between material and spiritual prosperity." — G. E. LaddRev 3:18–22Sitting beside Jesus is the real status symbol—not a car or a title.What Timeless Truths Can We Take from the Laodiceans1. Don't Confuse Comfort with CallingOur culture teaches that human flourishing is the removal of pain and discomfort. In pursuing comfort, many of us—including myself—miss spiritual growth and opportunity.Culture: Money / Security / Success = ComfortKingdom: Discomfort (pruning) = GrowthYou can be comfortable, or you can grow.Rev 3:19 — "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."John 15:2The more I have, the less I pray.The Kingdom doesn't call us to be comfortable—it calls us to be faithful.2. Don't Confuse Activity with TransformationEven the world knows busyness ≠ productivity. We assume spiritual growth comes with church attendance—but it doesn't.The Laodiceans likely had great facilities and busy schedules, yet Jesus calls them "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked."Transformation happens when we humble ourselves and rely on God's power.3. Don't Confuse Blessing with OwnershipThe Laodiceans were likely the most financially stable church in Asia Minor, but they tied success to their own ability. They hoarded instead of helping.Why was nearby Philadelphia the poorest church?We are stewards, not owners.A church doesn't rise to the level of its branding; it falls to the level of its generosity.Christians don't accumulate blessing—we circulate it.How Do We Respond?Invest in spiritual commodities, not just natural ones.Gold, white clothes, eye salve—the very things they thought they had. They were investing in the wrong economy.The Kingdom is an economy of generosity: feeding the poor, preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, and setting captives free.You can be rich in everything that fades and bankrupt in everything that lasts.Are we building our castle—or God's Kingdom?

In John 14, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure by affirming His exclusive role as the only way to the Father, declaring, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life,' a claim rooted in divine identity and the necessity of faith in Him alone for salvation. The sermon underscores the gospel's exclusivity, countering cultural notions of religious pluralism by demonstrating from Scripture that no other path, religion, or system can reconcile humanity to God, as Jesus' atoning death and resurrection are the sole means of redemption. Through vivid illustrations—from the blind man healed in John 9 to the self-deceived Laodiceans and the false teachers in Galatia—the message reveals how spiritual blindness, religious pride, and empty religiosity prevent true faith, while genuine discipleship involves repentance, personal surrender, and obedience born of love for Christ. The sermon calls believers to embrace this truth with boldness, recognizing that the gospel is not only the exclusive path to salvation but also a divine weapon capable of dismantling every false ideology and taking every thought captive to Christ, demanding both spiritual discernment and courageous proclamation in a pluralistic age.

Click on time markers to navigate this video. 1:55 - Message begins. 6:27 - Revelation 3:14-22 . 11:26 - Jesus is the Faithful & True Witness. 15:48 - What happens when a faithful witness testifies to the gospel & against a wicked world? They get mocked and/or killed. 18:26 - Jesus knows everyone's works. He knows what people did & why they did it. Lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, good to be spit out. 29:14 - The death knell to Christianity, saying you are rich & needing nothing. 35:07 - Jesus says the Laodiceans are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind & naked. 36:48 - The universal brotherhood of man & the Fatherhood of God is a lie. Does God love everyone? No. Hebrews 12:6-8, "6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." To all those people out there who think God hates the sin but not the sinner must come to understand that the Bible disagrees with them & they'll have to tell God He is wrong when they face Him on Judgment Day. God says in Hosea 9:15, "Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels." God hates sinners & their sin. Why do you think Hell is so terrible to the wicked? See our playlist called, "Dealing with Hell, Lake of Fire,

Noisy Doors, Leaky Roofs, and the Mark of the Beast Last week's newsletter was written to be very simple. This week...not simple. We're tying together our lessons on the Salt Covenant, The Scarlet Harlot, and the basic menorah pattern of Workbook One. So no, it's not simple, but it's not too difficult, either! Try printing it off and studying it over two Shabbats, referencing the suggested videos or workbooks as you go.   ***   So what do noisy doors, leaky roofs, and the mark of the beast have in common?    Excellent question! I'm glad you asked.   In order to see the connection, we have to know a little something about each of them. If you want a refresher on the Beast, consider signing up for the Creation Gospel Workbook Four class coming up with Kisha Gallagher (scroll down for info) or watching the Scarlet Harlot series on YouTube. You can also refresh your memory on the meaning of the mezuzah with our "More Than" YouTube videos. We'll cover a few basics here to tie it together.   “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me…”   Yeshua standing at the door knocking is a huge hint, especially on the heels of John's sobering prophecies of the mark of the beast in Revelation. If we can't see the link to the world commercial system as “Babylon” in Revelation, we're not trying very hard. Revelation begins with memos to the seven assemblies emphasizing their need to “overcome” the tribulations John is about to describe,   • “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Re 3:14-21)   We can conclude that how to overcome is described in Revelation, but we can also conclude that an ignorance of the Torah will make our understanding only partial. Revelation is written as an incredibly intricate re-telling of the Torah portions. Without an understanding of those Torah portions, it will be difficult to be identified as one of those who overcome when they “keep the testimony of Yeshua and the commandments of God.”   If Yeshua knocks on the door of one of these potential overcomers, he knocks on a door that is marked by a mezuzah, which contains summaries of the commandments. To pull in the themes of our Salt Covenant study over the last several weeks, a mezuzah is a sign that those inside the house know to be salty within, tenderly and joyfully salting their commandment-keeping. Because they are pliable to the work of the Ruach HaKodesh within the house, they are ready to meet the challenges of the Beast outside the house.   The mezuzah is their reminder that they've committed their coming and going, especially their work and business dealings, to preserving their covenant with the Father with salt, for savory salt is our faith, the tenderness we have toward His Word. It is our desire to draw close to Him through our sacrifices, not begrudgingly or to be admired by others, but to give glory to the Father. Yeshua reminds us that he also wants to draw near to our salty selves, so he stands at the door and knocks.   Just imagine that the mezuzah on your door was Yeshua standing there each day inquiring if he may accompany you in your coming and going.   Because he is. The custom is to touch one's fingers to the mezuzah and kiss the fingers. It demonstrates affection and tenderness toward the Shma and other scriptures in the mezuzah, which remind us in our coming and going Who the only Source of wealth is. The name Shaddai is inscribed on mezuzot, which is the name describing His attribute of nourishment and supply.   By touching the mezuzah, we also are reminded like the Israelites in Deuteronomy Eight: “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers...”   The mezuzah on the door marks the boundary between what happens when we go into the world and how we are inside our homes. If we are at war inside our homes, then how will we war against the principalities and powers outside our homes? The shin on the tefillin reminds the person Who opens the Heavenly windows to drip down zuzim, or coins, transactions, in our lives. Zuz is found in the word mezuzah, but the letter shin is found on both the mezuzah and the prayer tefillin.   Because they are worn in prayer, it helps one to adjust those trade prayers according to Yeshua's model…daily bread…forgiveness…holiness…His will and glory on earth…protection from temptation to sin. Ever notice how many famous actors, musicians, and sports stars end up unhappy, addicted, disconnected from the real world, and just plain weird? We are not spiritually wired to receive the glory of Heaven, only to reflect the glory of Heaven outward with salt. Of course they get weird and depressed!   Our labor and business dealings outside the home must be salted and lit from within first. We must extend ourselves from within, or it will eventually be evident to the world that we did not exert ourselves according to our wealth of salvation and light.nIt is thought that the marks of tzaraat (leprosy) that appeared in a home were a result of greed and stinginess. When the priests removed everything inside to the outside to quarantine and scrape the stones, everyone would see the wealth concealed inside, especially if they'd pretended not to have enough to help the needy brother. The “best third” is where the mezuzah is placed on a door, the upper third, like an upper room. The mezuzah marks the right hand frame of the door about 2/3 of the way up: “Mezuzah guards the Covenant, and so observing the mitzvah of mezuzah leads a person to truth and faith, the faith which is absolutely necessary when conducting business.”    “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,' And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'” (Zec 13:9)   Yeshua invokes this prophecy in Zechariah when he warns the Laodiceans in Revelation Three that he is standing at the door knocking: “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich…”   This is where we see another connection to the mezuzah. Zechariah prophesies of the “third part.” This is thought to be the remnant that will come through the tribulation refined by fire instead of destroyed by it. They have not succumbed to the Beast's commercial activity, buying and selling excessively or on Shabbat (see CG Workbook Four or Workbook Two). Traditionally, the mezuzah is affixed at a pointing on the right side of the door 2/3 of the way up the door. To relate the thirds, the mezuzah is like the principle of the “upper room” we've studied over the last several weeks.    Ancient Israelite houses typically had two levels, a ground level where beasts were stabled and practical household work such as cooking and weaving took place, but the family quarters were on the second floor. An extra upper room had to be built either on the second floor or atop the family quarters, making it an upper third. More simply, an upper room was where the family made space for visitors, a space that wasn't there, yet they created the space through hospitality.   Those upper rooms in Scripture were places associated with hospitality toward the righteous visitor as well as resurrection from the dead, like the stories of Elijah, Elisha, Dorcas, and Eutychus. A mezuzah reminds us not to neglect making those spaces of hospitality for the righteous visitor, who represents hospitality toward Yeshua and the Living Word. Yeshua's noisy knocking on the door is a daily reminder that when we make an “upper room” of hospitality, then we are actually tapping into the Garden of Eden. The resurrections in the upper rooms of Scripture show us this.    On the mezuzah is either the Name Shaddai, or it is in the shorthand of the first Hebrew letter shin. Not so coincidentally, the tefillin that are placed on an Israelite male's forehead and arm are also marked with a shin (see above). The mezuzah and tefillin remind each day:   • Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God, the LORD is one! And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Dt 6:4-9)    Deuteronomy 8:11-19 reminds Israel not to be deceived when they become comfortable and prosperous in the Land, for their wealth will deceive them into thinking they earned it with their own hand. Remember the gumballs?   The tefillin on the hand and arm are a reminder that it is YHVH alone who gives the power to acquire wealth. Likewise, the mezuzah is marked with a shin for Shaddai, the One who provides sustenance, nourishment to Israel. Strangely, the shin is made of three Hebrew letters vav joined at the bottom. The gematria value of vav is six. 666.    Whaaaaat? Yes, it's the mark of the beast. But that's not the whole story. The mezuzah and tefillin are NOT the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast is when you get very close to being a salt covenant household or person, yet you have something lacking. Salt. Your daily work is not to acquire the wealth of the Kingdom to the glory of the Father, which can only be done through the power of the Ruach HaKodesh moving through the Word in you. The mark of the beast is when our daily work is to acquire the object of desire for our own sake. We can hear the disingenuous, unsalty believer when he says, “If God will just let me win the lottery, I'll build orphanages and feed the poor all over the world.”   And he probably will. But he will do it only in order to feed his own desires first. He's not really seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He's pursuing his own kingdom, offering God a deal that the Kingdom of Heaven will benefit from the scraps. Such a person will not give commensurately with his newfound wealth, for he is stingy at heart. Unsavory salt. Tepid. Lukewarm. Blechhhh!   The secret of the 666 is that it is only the letter of the Torah without the Ruach. The shin is like a menorah when the backlight of the Ruach shines through it (again, see Workbooks 2 & 4). Remember last week's lesson on the gumball machine? It was what you couldn't see that had to occur before what you could see. The Ruach precedes the letter of the Torah. Together, with the spiritual backlight through the literal three vavs, it yields seven, the seven- branched menorah. One tefillin has three vavs, but its mate has four! 3 + 4 = 7. Compare to the above: To be unsalty is 666. To be salty is to shine the seven spirits of Adonai described in Isaiah and Revelation:     •  wisdom   •  understanding   •  counsel   •  Spirit of Adonai   •  power   •  knowledge   •  reverence    Yeshua, the Living Word, is the doorkeeper of the overcoming household. We never want to reduce him to someone there to reward us with wealth. The word mezuzah comes from a Hebrew word meaning movement, going back and forth. The historical zuz was a coin, about a day's sustenance for one adult:   • Weight: About 4.26 grams (0.137 troy ounces) of silver. • Value: Historically equivalent to a day's wage or a portion of food/clothing, (e.g., 200 zuz was a year's support).  • Modern value would be about $20.   "Give us today our daily bread." Not the lottery.   Not so coincidentally, a mezuzah means more than movement. It is rooted as well in the movement of a beast: What starts out as a beautiful creation of spirit (upper room), soul and body (lower rooms), can degenerate into the mark of the beast. Instead of letting the Ruach drip into our lower rooms of work and family, the upper room is sealed off because of our stinginess and greed. Esau and Jacob had very different motives in asking for blessings. We can become unsavory, relentless hunters like Esau, the Red One, nicknamed Edom because he was red and hairy all over like a beast, a man of the field who loved hunting. We don't want to become marked by the Red One, never satisfied, even on Shabbat.   “…and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” (Re 13:17)   Nehemiah's struggles with those returning to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, especially in their continued buying and selling on Shabbat, are the reference point. He eventually had to order the gates of Jerusalem shut and locked to prevent the vendors from coming in with their goods. How glorious will it be when the gates no longer need to be shut, for no one will even entertain the idea of disobeying the King of King's command to rest and be with Him in Jerusalem on Shabbat.   Knock, knock.   In short, the mark of the beast is on one who buys and sells on Shabbat. Because there is no trust in Adonai to provide the many things we crave, we continue to work on His holy day. Someone who believes in God may have salt, but it is not savory. One who believes in God enough to do what He says is savory salt. Salt allows us to draw near the upper room of the Garden. I'm sure Yeshua is having wonderful conversations with the righteous souls of those who just didn't understand Shabbat, but they were faithful in what they knew. They are learning while they wait, not rebelling.   Ezekiel describes what went wrong in the “upper room” of the Garden of Eden, a hospitable place for those who want to draw near to the voice of Elohim, but a place from which rebels are purged. The “trader” was cast out of the heavenly fiery stones and tossed into the lower realms of strange, profane fire, that is, fire used by those estranged from the upper room fires of the Ruach above:   You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, and you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones. (Eze 28:13-16; 18)   Ezekiel 28 drops a hint to where we should be vigilant: “By the abundance of your trading [H7404 rekula] you became filled with violence within, and you sinned...”   ????? rawkal' [H7402] to travel for trading   Our trade is part of work for our living, yet, the abundance is the danger zone. If our inner fire craves more wealth than we are willing to give back to Heaven commensurately, our going back and forth, zuzing about, to trade our time and effort for goods, power, and esteem becomes idolatry. In Hebrew, moving back and forth is zuz [zuz is also a coin], the root of mezuzah. The mezuzah marks the door where we travel back and forth each day to obtain our portion of wealth.   When our pursuit of wages and wealth pushes the testimony of Yeshua and the commandments of God beneath our feet instead of allowing them to drip daily from the upper room of the resurrection Ruach that raised Messiah from the dead, we sin. Our house's upper room should be designed to drip to lower floors of daily living, or we become unsavory salt.   We trade our precious lives, our time, our effort, to accumulate an abundance of things, not necessarily money, but what money will purchase: entertainment, security, comfort, esteem, power, knowledge, appeasement, etc. These things deceive us into believing they will bring joy and peace, but we know it's a lie because they never do. They are simply offered to the strange, consuming fire of the soul, but are not refinement of the spirit, which is everlasting peace and joy. It brings savory salt, light, and contentment from within.    The ancient investment advice is:   • Invest 1/3 of your income in tangible property such as real estate, durable goods, secure long-term investments  • Invest 1/3 in your daily labor, your paycheck, investments that provide a faster return, a little riskier, easily liquidated • Invest 1/3 above the mezuzah in the Kingdom of Heaven by lending to the poor, giving to needy, investing time in spiritual causes along with Torah study, prayer, service, discussing Scripture with others, etc. Even kindness is an investment!   We should not become “stingy” with Heavenly principles in the world of work, which would reflect a home's lower rooms sealed off from the upper room. The upper room should drip the testimony of Yeshua and the noisy commandments of God through the power of the resurrection Ruach. It leaks into the lower rooms of family and work!   The leaky roof is what we need to carry into the world of work and business as well as our relationships. An outwardly successful business producing wealth that can only be spent before the resurrection of the dead is not successful at all.    Preparation in the home under the disciplines of the Ruach HaKodesh will be evident in the place of business, not as a pile of 666 cash, but as peace in drawing near the Father, salt. The physical work is simply a means of building the Kingdom instead of demanding that the Father bless our work to build our own kingdoms of security, esteem, attention, comfort, intellectual stimulation, etc. Whether we have little or many zuzim, all we need to remember is that we must give commensurately with the wealth the Father drips down upon us.    If we can be responsible even with earthly money, which has no righteousness within itself, then we can be responsible with Heavenly riches.   If we can't be trusted to give commensurately with our wealth when there is no Temple service, and much freedom is granted in when and how much we give, then how can the Father trust us with His riches when the Temple on “the mountain of God” descends? The Temple services and the Land of Israel are places of extreme exactness in managing work and wealth.   Manage earthly zuzim faithfully, and we will inherit the Heavenly riches to manage.    One of my favorite movies is about a Quaker family, from the book Friendly Persuasion. One of the funniest lines is, “Friend, thee's got a squeaky door upstairs.”    Friend, thee's got a squeaky door downstairs, too. Yeshua is knocking, reminding, inquiring, requesting if we will open to his voice. It is the same voice of Elohim that walked and talked in the Garden, an upper room.   When we open our doors to him, we release the water of the Word from our upper rooms and let it fill our homes, workplaces, and relationships. If we move about, may we zuz for the glory of the Father.    Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

Welcome to the Grace Coach Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Colossians as they dive into Chapter 4.  Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a] in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. 10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” 18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.  

Title: The Church in LaodiceaSpeaker: Jacob RiggsDate: 28th September 2025Location: Adelaide, Australia This episode explores the message to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:14–22, drawing out the significance of the throne of God and the call to overcome. The study begins with vivid scriptural descriptions of God’s throne—holy, eternal, and surrounded by angels and spiritual hosts. It paints a picture of awe and majesty, reminding us of the promise that those who overcome will be welcomed into that throne room. The message then turns practical, reflecting on the Laodiceans’ misplaced confidence in wealth and comfort. Instead of relying on riches, Jesus urged them to seek true treasure—faith refined in trials, white garments washed in His blood, and spiritual vision through the Spirit. The challenge is clear: to overcome as Christ overcame, not compromising with the world, but keeping our treasure in heaven and enduring through tribulation with faith in God’s promises. 3 Key Takeaways The throne of God is eternal, holy, and filled with glory—yet Jesus invites His people to share in it. The Laodicean church serves as a warning against spiritual compromise and reliance on material wealth. True riches come from faith tested in trials, righteousness through Christ, and vision guided by the Holy Spirit. Listen to the entire Podcast Revival library by visiting https://podcastrevival.com The Revival Fellowship is a Bible-directed, Spirit-filled Church and we welcome visitors to our meetings at any of our locations worldwide. To find your nearest venue visit https://therevivalfellowship.com © 2025 The Revival Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear about the Laodiceans first in the book of Colossians! We all know the account so well about the lukewarmness of the Laodiceans, but let this message sink in, and ask the Lord to do a work in your heart as you listen.

Colossians 4:7-187 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Colossians 4:7-187 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

When our relationship with God shifts from love to obligation, we risk becoming like the Ephesian church - doing all the right things but abandoning our first love. Jesus addressed this in Revelation, warning both the Ephesians who maintained sound doctrine but lost their passion, and the Laodiceans who became self-sufficient and lukewarm. The danger is real - even churches founded by apostles could lose their fervor within a generation. To rekindle our first love, we must remember where we've fallen from, repent of lukewarm attitudes, and return Christ to the center of our lives rather than treating Him as merely a component of our existence.

This evening, Hunter Stanch brings us a message from Genesis 19 about Lot and his family not wanting to leave Sodom. We can see they were just like the Laodiceans. Please tune in to this much needed message.

Today's Passage: Colossians 4:15-18Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.Today's Prayer: Lord, as we conclude the book of Colossians, plant these truths deeply in our hearts as we go out to love and serve the world. Amen.NOTES & LINKS:Information about the Women's Summer StudyInformation about the Men's Summer StudyReach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation

n this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony dive into the final verses of Colossians 4, reflecting on Paul's closing words and the rich theological and practical insights they offer. The discussion begins by addressing the significance of these often-overlooked sections of scripture, emphasizing their God-breathed purpose and the enduring lessons they provide for the church today. Paul's ministry partners, including Tychicus, Onesimus, and Luke, take center stage as Jesse and Tony explore how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes in His kingdom. The conversation also highlights the theme of reconciliation, particularly through Onesimus' story, as Paul sends him back to Colossae, urging the church to embody the gospel by welcoming him with grace. This practical application of theology reminds listeners that the gospel transforms relationships and calls believers to live out Christlike love in their communities. Jesse and Tony also unpack the broader implications of Paul's instruction to share the letter with the Laodiceans, underscoring the importance of scripture's universal application across time and culture. As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the unity and encouragement found in Paul's words, reminding listeners of the value of every member of the body of Christ. They also prepare for their upcoming exploration of Philemon, which continues the story of Onesimus and offers further insight into living out faith in real-world situations. This episode is a rich blend of theology, practical wisdom, and encouragement for believers seeking to grow in their understanding of scripture and community. Key Points: The Significance of Paul's Final Words: Paul's closing remarks in Colossians 4, though seemingly mundane, reveal God's interest in the details of ministry and the importance of community within the church. God Uses Ordinary People: The episode highlights Paul's ministry partners, showing how God works through ordinary individuals like Tychicus, Onesimus, and Luke to advance His kingdom. Reconciliation in Action: The story of Onesimus demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel, as Paul encourages the Colossian church to welcome him back with grace and forgiveness. Universal Relevance of Scripture: Paul's instruction to share the letter with the Laodiceans emphasizes the broader application of scripture beyond its immediate audience, affirming its value for all believers. Practical Theology and Community: Jesse and Tony discuss the importance of living out theological truths in everyday life, particularly in fostering unity and encouragement within the church. Questions for Reflection: How does Paul's inclusion of specific names and details in his letters inspire you to see God's work in the “ordinary” aspects of ministry? What lessons can we learn from Onesimus' story about reconciliation and living out the gospel in challenging situations? How can we as believers ensure that our churches reflect the unity and diversity seen in Paul's ministry team? Why is it important to view scripture as universally applicable, and how does this perspective affect how we read and apply the Bible today? In what ways can you, like Paul's ministry partners, support and encourage others in your church or community?

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.  He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.  He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you everything that is happening here.  My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.  (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends his greetings.  These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they proved a comfort to me.  Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings.  He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.  Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.  After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.  Tell Archippus:  ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.'  I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.  Remember my chains, Grace be with you.”Colossians 4:7-18“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.  For we are all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the on Spirit to drink.  Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27Theme #1 It's ALL about PEOPLETheme #2  It's intensely PERSONAL

Send us a textIn the letter penned to the Laodiceans, as found in Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus urges the church in Laodicea to repent of their complacency. Despite their riches and wealth, they lacked true spiritual wealth. The Lord warns them of their spiritual temperature and warns them that if they do not repent, He will expel them from His mouth! The letter concludes with an encouraging invitation to turn and seek the Lord. The Lord promises that whoever looks will find Him knocking at the door, waiting to enter.We also would like to invite anyone who lives in the Philadelphia area to worship and study God's word with us at our in-person meeting that takes place every-other Monday night at 7:30pm. Visit phillyyoungadults.com for additional information about our ministry.Feel free to message us on instagram (@phillyyoungadultscc) with any feedback, questions, or topics you want to hear about on the podcast or you can shoot an email to ya@ccphilly.org

This week, Kristen taught from the letter Jesus wrote to the church in Laodicea. Jesus wants us to have effective faith full of passion, purpose and zeal. His challenge to the Laodiceans was that they compromised and diminished their faith while being self-reliant. They are spiritually sick and the only remedy for that is Jesus himself. He's waiting for us to let Him into every aspect of our lives.

Revelation 3:20 illustrates Jesus' patient desire for a personal relationship, standing outside and waiting to be invited in. The Laodiceans, complacent in their lukewarm faith, represent many who overlook this invitation. The call is timeless, urging individuals to open their hearts and share life's journey with Him daily.

In the closing verses of Luke 11, Jesus was dealing withthe hypocrisy of the religious leader, but now in opening verses of Luke 12, Hewarns His disciples of a greater danger, and that is the hypocrisy of His followers. Remember what a hypocrite is. The word hypocrite comes froma Greek word that means "an actor," "one who plays a part."There are hypocrites in every walk of life, people who try to impress others inorder to hide their real selves. In the Christian life, a hypocrite is somebodywho tries to appear more spiritual than he or she really is. These people knowthat they are pretending, and they hope they will not be found out. TheirChristian life is only a shallow masquerade.  Maybe one of the reasons that Jesus turned His attention toHis disciples in the midst of all this commotion, with an “innumerablemultitude of people” gathered around them, is that the Lord knew that theymight be tempted to either gain popularity by pleasing the crowds, or to avoidtrouble by pleasing the scribes and Pharisees. All of us want people to likeus, and it seems such an easy thing to "act the part" that otherswant to see. Jesus compared hypocrisy to leaven (yeast), something thatevery Jew would associate with evil. (See Ex. 12:15-20). Paul also used leavento symbolize sin. (See 1 Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9.) Like yeast, hypocrisy beginsvery small but grows quickly and quietly. As it grows, it infects the wholeperson. Hypocrisy does to the ego what yeast does to bread dough: it puffs itup (see 1 Cor. 4:6, 18-19; 5:2). Soon pride takes over and the person'scharacter deteriorates rapidly. Hypocrites are people who are trying to cover up something intheir life. I have found that most hypocrites are also bitter people or guiltypeople trying to cover up their sin. They are people who have “failed thegrace of God.” In other words, God gave them grace to deal with their hurtthat caused their bitterness. Or their sin that has caused their guilt.  We are instructed in Hebrews 12:14-15 to: “Pursue peacewith all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: lookingcarefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root ofbitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”. Hypocritesare trying to cover up their sin and bitterness and are troublemakers. And theadded tragedy is that it spreads and “defiles” those around them. The greatest obstacle between a sinner and the Savior is usuallya hypocrite, a Christian who has one foot in the church and one in the world.That is why Jesus gave this warning to the Laodicean church in Revelation3:15-17: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wishyou were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold norhot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have becomewealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched,miserable, poor, blind, and naked”.  Jesus would rather that we not even claim to be a Christian,“cold”, or be on fire as one, “hot”,  thanto be a “lukewarm” one, in the middle. Like the Laodiceans, hypocrites becomedeceived, thinking they are rich, wealthy, and have no needs. That is why lostpeople often say, “I would go to church, but there are too many hypocritesthere”. And the sad thing is that in most cases they are right. In verses 2-3, Jesus goes on to say that hypocrisy isfoolish and futile. Why? Because nothing can really be hidden. This is anotherway of saying, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Thesin of hypocrisy will one day be uncovered. Hypocrites with be exposed sooneror later. The real person will come to the surface. This is not good news forpoliticians, religious hypocrites, and others who prey on people by their pretending. May the Lord help us humble ourselves, confess our sins,find forgiveness, give forgiveness, and be real! God bless!

Welcome to Day 2556 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Paul's Lost Letters – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2556 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2556 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the 41st lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today's lesson is: “Paul's Lost Letters.” Unless you've been on an extended vacation from popular culture over the last couple of years, you know there's been a lot of recent discussion about how we got the New Testament. Dan Brown's blockbuster novel The Da Vinci Code based its conspiratorial plot in part on the notion that other gospels had been eradicated by spiteful church authorities and an emperor openly partial to orthodoxy. The success of the novel prompted many churchgoers to ask whether or not all the books that should be included in the New Testament actually were. To be sure, Dan Brown took a lot of liberties with facts in his story. But what if we're not dealing with fiction? The New Testament itself tells us that there were books written by apostles that didn't make it into in the Bible. Surprised? Let's take a look. 1 Corinthians 5:9 In 1 Corinthians, Paul himself mentions an earlier letter he wrote to this same church: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people” (1 Cor 5:9). While some interpreters have argued that Paul was referring to the letter he was currently writing (1 Corinthians), most acknowledge that this explanation is weak. Taken at face value, 1 Corinthians 5:9 tells us that Paul had written to this church before—but that letter has not survived and thus is not part of the New Testament. Colossians 4:16 In Paul's letter to the church at Collosae, he says, “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea” (Col 4:16). What was this letter from Laodicea? What happened to it? The phrase “letter from Laodicea” is a literal translation of the Greek and suggests that the letter came from Laodicea. This is a bit misleading, though. The phrase does not necessarily mean that this letter was written by someone in Laodicea to Paul or to the Colossians. Colossians 4:16 tells us that letters to churches were circulated, and so it may be that this Laodicean letter was written by Paul and sent to the Christians at Colossae—like the Colossian letter was to be sent to the believers in Laodicea. Some scholars have speculated that this letter isn't actually missing. The region of Laodicea was also identified with the city of Ephesus, indicating that the letter from Laodicea may actually be the epistle to the...

4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Have fun with the PowerPoint slides...You might as well thrown in 18th, 19th, & 20th Century Philosophers into the mix. Recognize it or not, these philosophies and their sub-groups have permeated us and helped make us the Laodiceans that we are today. Here, we look at how they grew to popularity.

The famous “Lukewarm Laodiceans” of the Book of Revelation. It's the last of the 7 letters of Jesus to the 7 churches — and the most powerful message for Catholics in the West.

What is the epistle/letter to the Laodiceans mentioned in Colossians 4:16? Why is the epistle to the church in Laodicea missing?

The famous “Lukewarm Laodiceans” of the Book of Revelation. It's the last of the 7 letters of Jesus to the 7 churches — and the most powerful message for Catholics in the West.

When Jesus addressed the church in Laodicea, He gave no commendation. Upon assessing their deeds He rendered them lukewarm and warned that they would be spit out of His mouth. Their earthly prosperity had inoculated them to a dire spiritual condition. While they were wealthy on the outside, they were bankrupt on the inside. Like many today, the Laodiceans were blind to the pending judgment upon them. By His grace, Jesus beckoned to them to answer His knocking at their door and be truly clothed and enriched by His power alone. Is Jesus knocking on your life now?

When Jesus addressed the church in Laodicea, He gave no commendation. Upon assessing their deeds He rendered them lukewarm and warned that they would be spit out of His mouth. Their earthly prosperity had inoculated them to a dire spiritual condition. While they were wealthy on the outside, they were bankrupt on the inside. Like many today, the Laodiceans were blind to the pending judgment upon them. By His grace, Jesus beckoned to them to answer His knocking at their door and be truly clothed and enriched by His power alone. Is Jesus knocking on your life now?

Across my last five or so episodes I've put enormous weight on human agency in understanding a biblical theology. This cast O' the pod, following Reformed vs. Arminian constructions and the priority of prevenient grace, emphasizes both the 'that' and the 'why' of God's revelation (the Gospel) being the premise of salvation. We cannot save ourselves; cannot be compassionate enough; cannot be intelligent enough; cannot make ourselves live forever; cannot resurrect ourselves. God—alone—is the premise, the life giver, the source of salvation. In the show's opening I work through Jesus' warning to the Laodiceans: the hot water they had piped-in from some 6 miles way was now tepid, just like them. They were pretending to be Christian. What is a possible contemporary parallel? Come laugh and think with me.