A TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS (19) Revelation 3:14 – 22

Laodicea self-deceived.

Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Spirit so they could understand the Scriptures. He did so on the evening of the day of his resurrection. “And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22, NET. This was the ‘Early rain’ for the apostles. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit as a later rain, the power to proclaim the message they received from Jesus. Laodicea needs the same. This was the new birth for the apostles. This was their baptism from heaven. When we die to ourselves so that Jesus Christ can live in us, we receive the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Because Jesus Christ could not be with us in the body, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Therefore, Jesus Christ is with us always. He did not leave us as orphans.

Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Spirit as an early rain on the evening of the day of his resurrection. “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.” Luke 24:45, NET. On the day Jesus ascended to heaven, he said to those present. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NET. The apostles already had the Holy Spirit when they went to the room, and they had the message they were to proclaim. Ten days later, they received the power to proclaim the good news, the message they received as the early rain. They received the message when Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And at the Pentecost, they received the power to proclaim what they understood from the scriptures. When this happens, the latter rain will empower the members of the body of Christ to proclaim the message, the Good News, Jesus Christ.

The self-deceiving pride blinds the Laodicea-type Christians. It turns their attention to what they have achieved on their own. Therefore, they do not recognize their miserable condition. Accordingly, they do not understand that they must experience the power of the Cross of Christ. They vacillate between themselves and Jesus Christ. They do not understand that Jesus calls to him the disciples, not partners and companions. The yielded believers do not work in Christ; Christ works in them. Philippians 2:13. They have sacrificed themselves with Christ so he can live in them. Galatians 2:20. Jesus neither condemns nor commands the Church in Laodicea because he knows they are self-deceived. Therefore, he counsels the Laodicea, “Buy from me the message you are to proclaim.” Revelation 3:18. The good news, Jesus Christ, is of higher value than the best gold.

The open door. Next blog.