The World Stole the Church
“7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:
Chapter 12
The Church Walking in the Light
What will the church, walking in the Light, look like?
There will be Believers sharing God’s Scripture and Spiritual Gifts as they walk in the Light; comforting and encouraging one another in the midst of the trials and persecutions they experience from the world.
There will be persecutions from inside and outside the church.
| “12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12 | 1Pe 2:20-21, Act 14:22, 1Pe 4:12-16, 1Pe 3:14 |
Our enemy, the Devil, will make certain of that.
This fellowship will be of God! Not simply common pleasantries of “Hello and Goodbye”.
This is all dependent upon our Spiritual leaders giving encouragement and arranging a time and place for this to take place!
There will be a sharing of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, Doctrines, Tongues, Interpretations, Revelation, Teachings; the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, encouragement and praying for one another, and such will comfort Believers going though trials as they journey through the World!
All will have an opportunity to share!
There must be care taken to see that all sharing is based upon Scripture and no one person hogs the talking time!
“7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
– 1 John 1:7
There will be a likeness of this fellowship to that which is described by the Apostle Paul:
“26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” – 1 Corinthians 14:26
Those Believers walking in the Light of God’s LIFE and Truth will need such encouragement; coming from a world which is hostile to Christ and those belonging to Him!
| “27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. | 1Co 14:26 |
| 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. | No Cross-Refs |
| 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. | 1Co 12:10, 1Th 5:19-21, 1Jo 4:1-3, 1Co 14:39 |
| 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. | 1Th 5:19-20, Job 32:15-20, Job 33:31-33, 1Co 14:26 |
| 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. | 1Th 5:14, 1Co 14:35, Rom 1:12, 1Th 5:11 |
| 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | 1Jo 4:1, 1Sa 19:19-24, 2Ki 2:5, 1Sa 10:10-13 |
| 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14: |
We are living in a time when the Christ’s Return draws near!
“33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” – Matthew 24:
In Revelations 3, a description is given of seven churches. The Seventh and last church described is the Laodicean church. Is this a description of the last church in history; of our church today?
| “15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. |
| 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. |
| 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” – Revelations 3: |
| “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; | Rev 1:5, Col 1:15, Col 1:18, Rev 3:7 |
| 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. | Rom 12:11, Jam 1:8, Mat 6:24, Mat 24:12 |
| 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. | Rev 2:5, Zec 11:8-9, Jer 15:1-4, Jer 14:19 |
| 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: | Rom 12:3, Hos 12:8, Pro 13:7, Rev 2:9 |
| “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; | Rev 16:15, Mat 13:44, Rev 19:8, Isa 55:1 |
| 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. | Rev 2:5, 1Co 11:32, Heb 12:5-11, Pro 3:11-12 |
| 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. |
“22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
– Revelations 3:
We should take care that we invite Christ into our lives as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
| “14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.” | Act 7:51-52, Joh 1:11, Act 3:14-15, Isa 49:7 |
Lest we be like the lukewarm Laodiceans;
“18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.”
– Revelations 3:
| “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; |
| 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. |
| 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. |
| 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” – Revelations 3: |
Make all things after the pattern which was showed thee in the Mount!
“5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle:
for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” – Hebrews 8: