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The Only Guaranteed Way to Escape End-Time Catastrophes

CHAPTER 17

LAODICEANS COUNSELED TO ANOINT THEIR EYES WITH EYE SALVE

Jesus Christ in His admonition provided a cure for the blindness afflicting the Laodicean members of His Church. He stated in Revelation 3:18-19: “ 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Jesus admonishes the Laodiceans to buy of Him gold refined in the fire. God has given members of His Church, particularly the Laodicean era three fires to choose from.

A true Christian’s life itself is a life of trial by fire. Peter says so in 1 Peter 4:12, “12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you…” This is the first fire that a Christian can choose.

Paul tells Christians in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “5 Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?”

Paul uses two Greek words to describe the process of examining ourselves. The Greek word translated ‘examine’ is peirazo, which means to test or scrutinize. This is the starting point in the process of thoroughly examining ourselves whether we are in the faith. Then Paul says Christians are then to go on to prove themselves whether they are in the faith. The Greek word translated prove is dokimazo which means a more fiery level of intense examination to seek proof that the Christian is indeed converted, pure in doctrine, character and in the truth. A Christian is to thoroughly know himself that Jesus Christ is in him, and that he is not a reprobate, meaning unapproved by God.

How then does a Christian prove to himself whether he is approved by God or not? Paul again provides the answer in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself APPROVED unto God, a workman that needs not to be ASHAMED, rightly dividing the WORD OF TRUTH.”

The Greek word translated ‘approved’ is dokimos which has the same root word as dokimazo. It means to put (for example a metal such as gold or silver) to the test by trial to prove that one is PURE (without any impurity or alloy) and GENUINE in the TRUTH.

Paul is saying here that a Christian should examine himself through such an intense corrective Bible study to produce purity and truth (such as gold tried in the fire without impurity or alloy) in himself that it is like a trial by fire. Such members of God’s Church will be approved by God. This is the first fire that a member of God’s Church can choose.

However, if a member does not choose this level of trial by fire through intense Bible study, fasting and prayer, then God will be forced to try the member’s faith in the second fire of the soon-coming Great Tribulation. He will not escape the Great Tribulation by being taken to the place of safety. In this fire, the Laodicean member will have to prove his loyalty to God and His way of life by suffering persecution and martyrdom for it.

However, in order to avoid persecution, if the Laodicean member chooses to compromise with the leaders of the so-called ‘Holy Roman Empire’ and forsake God’s way of life by denying Jesus Christ, then he will have chosen the third fire of the Lake of Fire. Such Laodicean member will not survive the Great Tribulation either because he will die in the events of the Day of the Lord, which is the last one year of the three and a half year long Great Tribulation. He will be resurrected back to physical life when God’s plan for salvation of mankind has been completed and will be burnt up alive when the entire earth is set on fire to cleanse it of all sin and sinful people.

Jesus then tells the Laodiceans to buy of Him white raiment that they may be clothed. White raiment is a symbol of righteousness (Revelation 19:7-8), and righteousness is keeping God’s commandments (Psalm 119:172: “172…all Your commandments are righteousness.”)////Jesus is thus telling the Laodiceans that they need to repent and go through the fiery trial of intensive Bible study, and keep God’s commandments. They will then be clothed with white raiment so that their nakedness does not appear to their shame.

As part of His solution to the Laodiceans’ problems Jesus also admonishes them to ‘anoint their eyes with eye-salve;’ because spiritual blindness is the cause of their problems.

Ancient Laodiceans considered themselves to be educated and enlightened, especially perceptive, and had pride in their medical skills in healing problems with eye-sight and hearing. They produced a powder that was famous in its time as a cure for eye problems. Modern information age with free access to so much information (and vast amount of literature published by different Church of God organizations) mirrors the conditions in Laodicea which can lead to pride in their knowledge and a feeling of being enlightened and self-sufficient even in members of God’s Church. The feeling of enlightenment is the cause of their blindness because they don’t think they have a problem with spiritual eye sight. Remember, this is Jesus Christ’s diagnosis of the problem facing the Laodicean era.

So what did Jesus mean when He said “anoint your eyes with eye-salve?”

We must understand that before we were called into God’s Church, we were spiritually blind. After becoming members of the Church we received enlightenment. But how did we receive enlightenment. Paul provides the answer in Ephesians 1:17-18: “17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the [holy] spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”Our spiritual eyes were enlightened when we received God’s holy spirit. So if Jesus Christ diagnoses our problem as spiritual blindness, then we can be enlightened in the same way once again as we were originally enlightened from spiritual blindness when we began our Christian walk at baptism and receiving of God’s holy spirit.

Another scripture that sheds light on what Jesus meant when He said “anoint your eyes with eye salve” is 1 John 2:20-29: “20 But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth… 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”

The Greek word translated ‘unction’ in verse 20 and ‘anointing’ in verse 27 is charisma, (Strong’s Greek Dictionary no. 5545) which means ‘endowment of the holy spirit,’ anointing, unction. John is saying in verses 20-21 that members of God’s Church have an anointing of God’s holy spirit, which is the reason they know all things that are truth, and there is no [doctrinal or judgment] lie of the truth. This means that it is the anointing of the holy spirit that enables members to separate the lies from the truth, keeping them secure in the truth by preventing them from being deceived.

In verse 26 John explains that he was writing to the members concerning those who were trying to seduce them away from the truth. But in verses 24 and 25 he told them that they should abide in what they had heard from the beginning for which God the Father and Jesus Christ have promised us eternal life.

In verse 27 John makes it very clear that it is the anointing of the holy spirit that had taught them the truth, and no lie with it, and it is the holy spirit that can enable them to abide in the truth. So the TRUTH is learnt through the holy spirit and also retained through the holy spirit.

John wrote in John 15:26, “26 But when the Comforter [another name for the holy spirit] is come…even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father…” Then in 16:13: “13 Howbeit when it [‘it’ is the correct translation instead of ‘he’], the Spirit of truth, is come, it will guide you into all truth:”

Thus the holy spirit is also known as the Spirit of truth that guides us into all truth.

Then in verse 28 John exhorts the members to abide in Jesus Christ in the TRUTH that they learnt in the beginning so that they can be confident that they will not be found naked at His coming and be ashamed. Then in verse 29 John says that only those who are righteous, those that actually keep the commandments will be born of Him and receive eternal life.

When we put all these scriptures together, the picture that emerges is that originally our spiritual eyes were enlightened through God’s holy spirit that we received on baptism and laying on of hands. It is the holy spirit that guided us into all truth and also enables us to retain it. It keeps us from being deceived by giving us the ability to discern heresy or error from the truth. So if the Laodiceans have now been spiritually blinded, the reason is that they have diminished their supply of God’s Holy spirit or quenched it altogether due to neglect or sin. The only way we can restore our spiritual eye sight is by renewing God’s holy spirit again. Therefore the eye salve that Jesus counsels the Laodiceans to anoint their eyes with is nothing else but God’s holy spirit.

And how does one renew and obtain more of God’s holy spirit? The answer: By asking God for it in prayer and using the tools of spiritual growth.

Discerning whether one is a Philadelphian or Laodicean

Remember, we live in the predominantly Laodicean era. One must always have the very cautious attitude that the chances are that he or she could be a Laodicean. So each and every one must do a thorough self-examination to discern his or her true spiritual condition.

But whether one is a Philadelphian or Laodicean depends entirely on the individual’s efforts. How then does one discern whether he or she is a Philadelphian or Laodicean. Again we just need to look at the characteristics Jesus Christ gave of Philadelphians and Laodiceans in His messages to the two Churches in Revelation 3.

Here again is Jesus Christ’s message to the Philadelphian Church in its entirety:

Revelation 3:7-13: “7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts ; and shuts , and no man opens; 8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation [trial], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. 12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”

In summary form these are the characteristics of the Philadelphians:

1) The name of this era of God’s Church is Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love.” Therefore, genuine brotherly love should characterize dealings of Church members with one another. If one does not feel genuine love for the brethren and treat each one as brother or sister, then one is not a Philadelphian. Reference to the key of David simply means the key to one becoming a ruler or king in God’s kingdom, which is the potential of every member of God’s Church.

2) Jesus Christ has given the Church an open door to do God’s works, which is preaching the gospel or good news of the soon coming Kingdom of God. Philadelphians are consumed with fiery zeal to support and do God’s work.

3) Jesus’ words “you have a little strength” defined the physical strength [in terms of material resources] of the Philadelphian era that began with the beginning of Mr. Armstrong’s ministry and ended with his death. Members during the Philadelphian era were not rich, but accomplished a great deal by sacrificing much to do God’s work. That attitude of sacrifice should still characterize Philadelphians.

4) Philadelphians are commended for keeping God’s word and counseled to hold fast to what they have. Keeping God’s word simply means living according to every word of God in the Bible. They not only regularly read God’s word, but are also very diligent to live by it and in overcoming sin. The Philadelphian era also had something special that other eras except the very first Ephesian era did not have: knowledge of all the true doctrines of God. All that truth was restored to God’s Church through Mr. Armstrong who fulfilled the role of the end-time Elijah the prophet. The Philadelphians hold fast to [meaning preserve] and defend all the doctrines that God restored through Mr. Armstrong.

5) Philadelphians have also fixed it in their minds that they will never deny that they belong to the true Creator God, the God of the Sabbath, and that Jesus Christ is their Savior no matter what persecution they might be faced with. Denying or hiding their faith to avoid persecution is not an option for them. The Sabbath is the identifying sign that they belong to the true God and do not deny that they keep the Sabbath holy and also keep God’s seven annual holy days.

6) Finally, the Philadelphians patiently endure all trials and persecutions till the very end of their lives. Mr. Armstrong and other Church leaders had to patiently endure intense persecution from the parallel Synagogue [Church] of Satan that existed within the Church. And there were many Church ministers belonging to the Church of Satan who persecuted members. The author himself endured persecution from the hands of one such minister.

If all these characteristics abound in you, then you can know that you are a Philadelphian. If you are lacking in any of these characteristics, then chances are that you are a Laodicean and need to repent because there is very little time left. End of the end time catastrophic third World War can begin at any time.

Now Jesus’ message to the Laodicean Church:

Revelation 3:14-22: “14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”

Here in summary form are the characteristics of the Laodiceans:

1) The overall attitude of the Laodiceans towards their spiritual life, in doing God’s work and overcoming sin is one of lukewarmness rather than that of fiery zeal and enthusiasm. They are in serious danger of Jesus Christ considering them as not part of God’s Church any longer though they may be attending weekly services.

2) These members seem to have a feeling of self-sufficiency because of their relative material prosperity. They seem to equate material prosperity with blessings as a result of their righteousness.

3) Since they equate material blessings as a reward for their righteousness, they feel there is no need for deep self-examination. Jesus Christ describes this as blindness, which is the inability to discern their true spiritual condition which in reality is wretched, miserable and spiritual poverty.

4) They also feel that they are spiritually rich and are proud of their knowledge of God’s plan of salvation and understanding of the Bible. They feel they have need for nothing as there is not much more to learn. So they no longer hunger and thirst for knowledge of God’s word and His righteousness. And that is being lukewarm.

5) These members are also spiritually naked which means they have either lost knowledge of some truth or compromised with it. Their loins are no longer girded with truth (Ephesians 6:14). They no longer adhere to all the doctrines and truths restored to God’s Church by Mr. Armstrong. The reason is that they feel they have grown in grace and knowledge since the time of Mr. Armstrong. They are blind to the fact that you cannot grow out of truth. Growing out of truth means discarding the truth. Being spiritually naked also means not clothed with white raiment which is righteousness, or keeping of God’s commandments. This means they are also not keeping God’s commandments perfectly with diligence.

If a person sees any of these characteristics in himself, then that person is a Laodicean in need of deep repentance. But since Laodiceans are also blind, they need God’s help in seeing their true spiritual condition. They need more of God’s holy spirit, the eye salve that will heal their spiritual eyes to enable them to recognize that they are Laodiceans. Before discussing how Laodiceans may obtain more of God’s holy spirit to enable them to see, there is another way members can take their temperature to see whether they are spiritually hot, lukewarm of downright cold.

Taking your spiritual temperature

Use of daily and weekly time by a Church of God member generally indicates where his priorities lie.

David C. Pack, pastor general of the Restored Church of God in his book “Anoint Your Eyes” – Christ’s Warning to His People” describes his experience with his congregations as a minister in God’s Church for 43 years. He states in chapter 8:“Since entering the ministry, I have worked directly with well over 10,000 brethren. This has given me an enormous exposure to and understanding of the spiritual temperature of God’s people. Let me offer one case study for your consideration.

“In each of my pastorates, beginning in the 1970s, I asked brethren during a sermon to anonymously answer five very simple questions (on a 3 x 5 card) about how often they were praying, studying and fasting.

“The answers were always stunning—more like appalling! Invariably, about 20 percent would not even turn in the card, presumably because their answers were not good. (Some in this category were openly offended that they would even be asked to do this.) Astonishingly, another 20 percent admitted to being virtually zero in all categories. Yet, a third 20 percent prayed and studied only 5-10 minutes a day—on the days that were not zeros! A fourth 20 percent were generally praying enough, but not studying enough, and rarely fasting between Days of Atonement. The last 20 percent (interestingly, about the number surviving the apostasy) were generally praying and studying close to 30 minutes most days. But only about 2 or 3 percent of the total group were reaching or exceeding these numbers every day in both categories, and fasting on a regular basis.

“Is it any wonder that 80 percent of the WCG did not survive the apostasy? I knew as early as the late 70s and early 80s, following the liberal years, that most never fully recovered the zeal they may have once had, and that most in the Church were headed for big trouble! While I certainly did not envision just how big that trouble would be, I saw a disturbing lack of use of the most basic Christian tools—tools necessary for any amount of spiritual growth.”

This survey clearly indicates that members who devoted time to using the tools for spiritual growth remained loyal to the truth. Those who did not, lost knowledge of the truth, or compromised with it and fell away. So a member of God’s Church can also take his temperature by keeping track of the time he devotes daily to exercising the tools for spiritual growth.

TOOLS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The Bible mentions tools a Christian needs to use for spiritual growth. All tools must be used. None must be neglected. The tools are:

1) Prayer - Jesus Christ, even though He was God in the flesh prayed to God the Father regularly, sometimes praying all night (Luke 6:12), asking for His help. He knew that God the Father was the key to success in every endeavor we undertake. Prayer to God for His help is that important.

We are told in Matthew 7:7 9 (NKJV), “7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Therefore, we are to ask God in prayer for whatever we need, including help in overcoming sin, curing our spiritual blindness or other help we might need in spiritual development.

When we pray we communicate with God. We can share our deepest thoughts and concerns with Him and make our requests for His help. If you have had prayers answered, then you know that God can communicate with you while you pray by inspiring answers to your questions. Humanity now has direct access to God the Father after the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Creator. This was symbolized when “38…” the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38 and Ephesians 2:13-14).

Just as a guideline, a person working a regular 8 am to 5 pm job 5 days a week should spend at least 15-30 minutes in prayer daily, and more on the Sabbath and week ends.

The Bible is God’s Word to mankind in print. When we read the Bible, we are hearing God communicate His will and solutions to our problems through the pages of the Bible. So humanity is privileged to have a two-way communication with its Maker. Therefore Bible study is the second tool for spiritual growth. Prayer and Bible study go hand-in-hand for a perfect two-way communication with God.

2) Intensive Bible Study – The Bible is the Creator’s instruction manual for mankind. Every reputable manufacturer provides an instruction and maintenance manual with his product. God has provided mankind with the Bible. Paul was inspired to write to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Paul here guided Timothy on the absolute necessity for intensive Bible study for correction. The Bible study itself should be like a fiery trial with deep soul searching to see if any sin still remains as a part of our being. Bible reading should be like a mirror, enabling us to see our true inner self, recognize sins, provide solutions in overcoming them and teach us how God expects us to conduct ourselves in every life situation.

In confronting Satan in Luke 4:4, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” So to make an effective use of God’s instruction manual for mankind, both the Old and New Testaments must be read and diligently studied.

As a guideline, a person working a regular 8 am to 5 pm job should read his Bible at least 15 to 30 minutes daily with much more on the weekends.

3) Meditation – The third spiritual tool, meditation, is simply dedicating sufficient time to contemplating, reflecting, pondering a subject deeply. Besides meditating on issues related to our spiritual growth and overcoming sin, we can meditate on a variety of other subjects. These could include:
• How awesome God is as Creator and that He is our Father.
• How awe inspiring is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and what was at stake.
• God’s plan of salvation for mankind pictured in the seven annual holy days.
• God’s promises in the Bible in the past and how God kept them and promises in the future that God will keep.
• What will God’s kingdom be like for eternity and how we would play our part in it!
• How we can emulate Jesus Christ’s perfect example in every aspect of our life.
• How awesome is God’s Law and the wisdom contained in it.
• Contemplating on the lives of Biblical heroes, what challenges they faced and how they overcame them. What we can learn from their experiences.
• Recognizing our sins and developing strategies to overcome them.
• Read specific portions of the Bible and see what lessons we can learn from them.

4) Fasting – The reason why we need to fast (totally abstain from food, water or any other drink) was explained by Jesus’ answer to the disciples of John in Matthew 9:14-15 (NKJV) who asked Him why His disciples did not fast: “14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Jesus said that His disciples did not need to fast when He (the God of the Old Testament) was with them. He was near them. But when He is taken away from them, then THEY WILL FAST (not may fast) to stay close to Him. That is the purpose of fasting: to get close to God. With that purpose in mind, most of the time spent in fasting should be devoted to Bible study, prayer, reflecting and meditation.

Going without food and water humbles a person (Psalm 35:13, “I humbled myself with fasting.” So the basic purpose of fasting is to worship God, draw closer to Him, deny and humble ourselves in order to grow spiritually by using the time for prayer, Bible study and meditation. One may use fasting for asking God in prayer for some special need or help in time of trouble as well. There are many examples of this in the Bible which we should study.

As a guideline one should fast at least once a month.

5) Attending Church – Members of God’s Church are admonished to not forsake attending Church services in Hebrews 10:24 – 25 (NKJV), “24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

These verses reveal the necessity of attending Church services and the benefits of doing so.

First of all, we are told not to give up the assembling of ourselves in Church services because God knows that we need each other, and need to interact and communicate with each other. The reasons are stated in Proverbs 27:17, “17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend;” [meaning mere interacting with the brethren leads to spiritual growth] and in Galatians 6:1-2, 9-10 (NKJV), “1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ….9 And let us not grow weary in well doing [KJV], for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Secondly, we are told to be the right kind of friends who stir up the other brethren to “love and good works” by encouraging them. Many good works require collective efforts. On his own a person may not consider getting involved in good works. But many get involved if efforts are made collectively. Stirring up love and good works are essential for greater Christian growth.

Thirdly we are told to exhort, meaning encourage and support, one another. Such encouragement and support is often needed during times of severe trials and difficulties. It helps us to “endure to the end” and not get discouraged and give up.

The serious implication of this admonition is clear: attending Church services is crucial to our spiritual growth. Those who don’t put themselves in serious danger of falling away from the truth. And Satan often attacks loners by discouraging them and distracting them from putting the Kingdom of God first in their lives.

The true Church of God is called the mother of us all members the purpose of which is to nourish us so that we can grow spiritually. Galatians 4:26 states, “But JERUSALEM which is ABOVE is free, which is the mother of us all.” Then Hebrews 12:22-23 identifies what heavenly Jerusalem is: ““But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and CHURCH of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.”

Here Heavenly Jerusalem is identified as the Church of the firstborn. Members of God’s Church and all those called in the first 6,000 years of man’s history (before the birth of the Church in 31 A.D. the called ones were primarily the prophets) are called the firstfruits and will be the firstborn by resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ.As Jerusalem on earth was the capital of ancient physical Israel, Heavenly Jerusalem at present is the headquarters of the spiritual Israel, God’s Church. That’s where the Church’s ruler, Jesus Christ, is presently stationed at the right hand of God the Father.

As in a human family, the primary task of feeding and nourishing the children belongs to the mother. It’s the same with God’s Church. The primary responsibility of the Church of God is to spiritually feed and nourish its members. That’s why attending Church services every week and on God’s annual holy days is so important, and is a critical tool for spiritual growth.

The purpose of using these tools of spiritual growth is to be able to examine ourselves to see whether we are producing the fruits of God’s holy spirit, mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

If we don’t see these fruits of the spirit overflowing in us, then we may be able to detect whether we are quenching God’s holy spirit if we see these fruits of the flesh present in our lives: “19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before , as I have also told you in time past , that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

How can we obtain more of God’s Holy Spirit

Now we can answer the question: How do we obtain more of God’s holy spirit!

Jesus Christ provided the answer in Luke 11:9-13, “9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

We should ask God to replenish the supply of His holy spirit when we pray to Him daily. God wants to give us more of His holy spirit as a father wants to give good gifts to his children. God’s holy spirit must also be used by us and that is done when we use the tools of spiritual growth.

Steps in the Repentance Process

If after taking one’s temperature a person realizes that he is Laodicean in attitude, what steps can he take to change and overcome spiritual blindness to become a Philadelphian again? Jesus Christ provided the formula in His admonition to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:19, “19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

If one sees oneself experiencing troubles, it may be a sign of chastening by Jesus Christ to get the person’s attention. Or if the person through self-examination determines that he is in the danger zone of being a Laodicean, the formula to repent is: Be ZEALOUS and REPENT!

The process of changing from Laodicean to Philadelphian begins with ZEAL to change, and then also carry out the task of repentance with zeal. The steps in the process of repentance were described by Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, ““Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage from us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death. For behold this selfsame thing, that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what CAREFULNESS it wrought in you…what CLEARING OF YOURSELVES…what INDIGNATION…what FEAR…what VEHEMENT DESIRE…what ZEAL…what REVENGE! In all things you have approved [strengthened, exhibited] yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

The seven steps of repentance mentioned here are sequential in the process of repentance. It is literally a declaration of war against sin and to fight it with zeal and determination.

After one feels deep godly sorrow for having sinned and recognized the specific sin, the person first becomes very CAREFUL to guard against committing that sin, then he works on strategies to CLEAR himself of that sin. As one reflects and works on overcoming the sin, one becomes INDIGNANT at the damaging effects it had. It leads to FEAR to not commit that sin again. That generates a VEHEMENT DESIRE to overcome it. The vehement desire then translates into ZEAL to work to eliminate the sin. Once the person has overcome the sin, he has gotten REVENGE on the sin.

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