THE WORD SIROCCO
Monday, May 25, 2020
Month Theme: The Sons of Oil
Topic: Don’t Neglect Your Spiritual Needs
Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:1-18; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
Main Text:
Ephesians 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
In the Gospel according to Saint John, Jesus Christ reiterates the truth that He gives spiritual water, by promising that rivers of living water would flow out of those who believed in Him (John 7:37-39). Jesus Christ admonished the church of the Laodiceans to seek spiritual things instead of reposing their confidence in material wealth (Revelation 3:14-18). He bemoaned their state of spiritual wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness and nakedness, which they failed to recognise.
The world and the backslidden Church are in a state comparable to the Laodicean church. Worldliness dismisses the need for spirituality. Spirituality is mocked and carnality is celebrated. Wealthy and politically influential people are deceived into thinking God is pleased with them. Ancient Laodicea was a rich banking centre. The financial position of the city deceived the church there into thinking it was rich. The city was also noted for the manufacturing of black wool and special eye salve for curing eye diseases. These endowments deceived the Laodiceans further into thinking they were gorgeously clothed and had perfect vision.
The lukewarm church thought it was rich but Jesus Christ said it was wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. The church confused false riches with the true riches, which are spiritual in nature. The world considers big and financially rich institutions as being successful but God’s way of assessing people is different. The Laodicean spirit makes institutions including worldly churches deviate from the purposes of the Holy Ghost in an attempt to impress the world. Activities, ideologies and doctrines are directed at generating carnal things that people think make them look successful.
Prayer: Pray for the wisdom to not neglect your spiritual needs as you pursue physical needs.
Recommended Reading:
“The Sons of Oil” by Eastwood Anaba
( Find e-books at http://www.amazon.com)
http://www.eastwoodanaba.com