Tuesday, May 10, 2016

LAODICEA

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Evidences of settlements at Laodicea go back 5,000 years, according to the archeologists. Here they are reconstructing a temple from pieces of rubble found nearby. Laodicea was destroyed by earthquakes many times, the last being in the 7th century, after which it was abandoned. According to today’s reading, the people who lived here said, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (3:17a).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Revelation 3:20-21

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 

Today’s reading begins with Jesus giving three descriptive titles for Himself: (1) “The AMEN!” He is “Truth!” He is the “Absolute Certainty!” The Apostle Paul declares, “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen!” (read 2 Corinthians 1:19-22). Let us “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (2) “FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS!” In court the promise is made to tell “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Jesus takes the witness stand! (read John 3:30-33). He is totally and completely accurate. It is impossible for Him to say anything other than truth! (3) The “BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD!” This does not mean that He was created! It means that He began the creation. We must always compare Scripture with Scripture. This is why we must read all of it, so as not to come up with error as does the false religion which teaches Jesus was a created angel (read Colossians 1:16-18).

History records that this city had a very poor water supply which was contaminated by impurities and literally made many people sick to their stomachs. If their water was cold, it would mean that it was from an artesian well. If it was hot (boiling), the impurities would be destroyed. It was “lukewarm.” These people made Jesus feel sick. “I will spew you out of My mouth!” Hey everybody! Listen up!!!

Let’s take time to meditate on 3:17-19. Imagine that we were there with John. We see Jesus in all His glory. We look into “His eyes like a flame of fire!” We hear “His voice as the sound of many waters!” (Revelation 1:14-18). John fell at the feet of Jesus as if he were dead! Let’s judge the temperature and purity of our experience with God by our reaction to Jesus’ Words!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I find myself overcome by my emotions. All I can pray, as I heard on a recent 100 Huntley Street telecast, is, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!!!” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

John 6:37b is the verse of the Bible I’ve quoted more than any other throughout my life. That’s because Jesus said, “Then one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out!” That’s the verse an elderly man gave me as I stood at the front of the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. I had been angry at God since my mother’s death when I was 12. Now I was 16, and finally I had responded to an invitation to follow Jesus. A truly “hot” evangelist named Jack Wrytzen gave the invitation. One of my jobs for five months prior to that night was to deliver the audio tape of Jack preaching from Times Square, New York City, to CHOV radio each week. My boss for my part time job, Syd Healey, owner of the Chrysler dealership, paid the radio time and the tapes were mailed to him for radio coverage of the upper Ottawa Valley. Syd had always done this himself prior to this. No doubt he knew that by delivering these tapes, I would make it a point to listen to the preacher. I did! I was ready to get right with God the night that I heard the preacher from the Word of Life radio broadcast in person.

The other verse I think I’ve quoted often over the 64 years since that time is Revelation 3:20. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and dine with him and he with Me.” As one who has sought to lead people to Jesus through the years, I now say to everyone who reads this, “Come, come to Jesus now.” He’s knocking on your heart’s door. Please, please, don’t turn Him away. The key to unlock the door is in your hand. It’s a simple prayer that Jesus gave us. Please say with me right now, “Lord God, be merciful to me, for I’m a sinner. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come in to my heart Lord Jesus!” It’s really important that you tell someone that you have unlocked your heart’s door and invited Jesus in. A good way to do this is to call one of our Crossroads/100 Huntley Street prayer partners at 1-866-273-4444. A caring, non-judgmental person will answer the phone. If you get a busy signal, try again. You can also confess Jesus in an e-mail to ministry@crossroads.ca. One way or another, you must not keep the wonderful news of your decision to yourself.

Yours for making our decision for Jesus known. Jesus said, “If you confess Me before men, I will confess your name before My Father in Heaven” (read Luke 12:8-9),

David

The rebuilding of ancient Laodicia has been going on for years. Jesus promised the people of Laodicea, “To him (the person) that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne” (Revelation 3:21a).

 

13 thoughts on “Tuesday, May 10, 2016

  1. Thanks David for this spiritual food,thanks for being a overcomer and continuing to feed Gods people.God bless and keep you and family.

  2. Good to hear your testimony of salvation again David. This is twice I received the key verse today. Am going to post your blog to facebook. Thinking of you this morning Beverlee. Trust your toe is healing.

  3. Amen Pastor David, like you I am overwhelmed. Bless everone today. Beverlee hope your toe is getting better.

  4. Blessed assurance Jesus is mine!

    Thank you pastor David for sharing once again. I am blessed every day by our blog.

    Praying for Beverlee and others who need a touch from The Saviour.

    Blessings to all.

  5. YES, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, AMEN!!!

    What a powerful prayer, no other Name but JESUS, POWERFUL NAME, BEAUTIFUL NAME, WONDERFUL NAME, JESUS!!!

  6. Singing: “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Thro’ the storm, thro’ the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”
    “When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near, when my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”

    refer to Isa. 41:13 “I am the lord…who takes hold of your right hand saying ” fear not, I will help you.”

  7. Continued prayer for Fort McMuray for those suffering the after affect of smoke inhalation and Praising God for His intervention with cooler weather, and the safety for all who survived the onslaught of the fire that engulfed that City. Lord God, I pray for total restoration and emotional healing, as well as physical healing, In Your Mighty Name Jesus I pray. Thank you Father for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen!!!

    • Beverlee. Missing your comment’s and the links to Christians songs on YouTube .l hope your toe is getting better thankyou. God bless you.

  8. I remember seeing the picture of Jesus standing at the door! THE HANDLE WAS VERY VISABLE! The Bible teacher I had in the country school who came every Friday afternoon showed this picture on flannelgraph! That door is what caught my eye! The only way that door was going to open was if I pulled the handle towards me and opened the door!
    Thar door is still in the picture, the handle is very visable! I pray that you will open the door! God bless everyone

  9. Dreamt of war last night – WWI.
    “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled…” (2Corinthians 10:1-6)

    and a song not sung too much anymore:

    https://youtu.be/5bvZ76PgFgQ

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