"I'm rich and I don't need a thing," bragged the early Christians in the big city of Laodicea. The Apostle John, however, saw their affluence and arrogance through a theological lens. He declared them to be bankrupt, "lukewarm Christians" whom God would gladly gargle and spit out. Today, the mainline church in the West finds itself in a dominant culture of Laodicean affluence, where even faith is a commodity to be consumed. While the gospel spreads and thrives in the global South and East, the Western mainline church looks longingly back at Christendom and forward in fear. As Christians living in a North American culture that highly prizes the unholy Trinity of individualism, consumerism, and secularism, we require a new kind of missional leadership to "pray" attention to what God is doing in the world around us. This book names the challenges and promises inherent in partnering with the Holy Spirit in order to offer missional leadership in a culture of affluence. It is about both living in Laodicea and leaving it behind. We are no longer in a Babylonian captivity but a Laodicean one. This work helps chart a course for Christians who long to let go of "country club religion" and instead belong to a community that helps equip missionary disciples, resistant to the dominant culture and resplendent in the love of our triune God.

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.

With a new foreword by David E. Aune, this modern classic by Colin J. Hemer explores the seven letters in the book of Revelation against the historical background of the churches to which they were addressed. Based on literary, epigraphical, and archaeological sources and informed by Hemer's firsthand knowledge of the biblical sites, this superb study presents in the clearest way possible a picture of the New Testament world in the later part of the first century and its significance for broader questions of church history.

We all admire humility when we see it. But how do we practice it? How does humility--the foundational virtue of the normal Christian life--become a normal part of our everyday lives? Jerry Bridges sees in the Beatitudes a series of blessings from Jesus, a pattern for humility in action. Starting with poverty in spirit--an acknowledgment that in and of ourselves we are incapable of living holy lives pleasing to God--and proceeding through our mourning over personal sin, our hunger and thirst for righteousness, our experience of persecutions large and small, and more, we discover that humility is itself a blessing: At every turn, God is present to us, giving grace to the humble and lifting us up to blessing.

—Protestant Reformation's Final Movement / God's End Time Church— In Revelation 3:14-21, God’s end time church is named Laodicea. In those verses, His remnant people are described as having the tendency to evaluate their spiritual condition, and work, at a much higher quality than is Christ’s judgment of it. He states that the Laodicean church, though entrusted with the knowledge of His last warning messages for the world are spiritually “wretched,” “miserable,” “poor,” “blind,” and “naked.” (verse 17). Matthew 25:1-13 is the parable of the ten virgins waiting to attend a wedding feast. In this account Jesus is also describing His remnant people. Christ’s story says that “while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (verse 5). This present volume is a Bible and Spirit of Prophecy study regarding the form of, and reasons why, Christ brought His end time people into a highly organized movement. It also describes how Christ’s ordained methods of operating His organization tend to be abused, and even ignored. It explains how His people tend to operate Christ’s publishing, educational, health, and even ministerial work more in harmony with the wisdom and wishes of man and the world than with the clear directives of the Lord whom we claim to be serving. But, all is not gloom and doom. There is counsel as to how to revive from the Laodicean condition. This present volume goes into detail as to what Christ will do to awaken His people. It presents the inspired explanations as to how His remnant will be “shaken” into the condition necessary for Him to be able to pour out upon them the Latter Rain to empower and equip them to give the Loud Cry and thus finish His work upon this earth. Entire chapters are dedicated to the divine instructions regarding the importance of not running ahead of, but cooperating with, Christ in these important dealings with His people. Table of Contents 1—The Church That Knowest Not 2—Messages to Laodicea 3—Lessons From the Apostolic Church 4—Lessons From Early Adventism 5—Purposes and Scope of Church Organization 6—Authority in God’s Church 7—God’s Plan Misused 8—God’s Plan Misused—Part 2 9—Supportive Ministries 10—Supportive Ministries—Part 2 11—Man’s Responses to Apostasy 12—The Remnant Church’s Response to Apostasy 13—The Role of Leadership in Revival and Reformation 14—The Shaking of Adventism—Phase One 15—The Shaking of Adventism—Phase Two 16—The Shaking of Adventism—Phase Three 17—When God’s Two Churches Become One 18—Running Ahead of the Lord 19—Holding Up the Hands of the Prophet 20—By Every Word 21—A Theocracy Still 22—When God Takes the Reins Appendix A—Should There Be a General Conference President? Appendix B—The Right Man in the Right Place Appendix C—Should There Be a World General Conference? Appendix D—The Laodicean Church Appendix E—Order and Organization Appendix F—How to Deal with Wrongs in the Church Appendix G—Apostasy Appendix H—Lessons From Josiah’s Reign Appendix I—Lessons From the Apostasy at Sinai Appendix J—Lessons From the Church in the Wilderness

Christ’s Message to Laodicea Has your fire for God waned or dwindled? If so, you can get it back again! In this series, with introductions filmed onsite in Laodicea, Rick Renner will show you how to become — or once again become — spiritually strong, vibrant, and healthy as a believer. Jesus is knocking at the...

What does the gift giver say about the gift He gave? This book will help you overcome the arguments, fears, and anxieties related to this gift. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Shares the author's personal testimony and spiritual journey with speaking in tongues Examines the history of this gift in the church for the past two thousand years Interacts with those who have denied that this gift is valid for today's church Speaks to the relationship between Spirit baptism, Spirit filling, and the gift of tongues Few other issues have separated the church more than the issue of tongues. Sam Storms focuses on this controversial subject with his signature insights to theology and the gifts of the spirit. What does the gift giver say about the gift He gave? Storms seeks to bring balance to this subject in The Language of Heaven as he wrestles with this sensitive issue experientially as well as theologically. He ultimately provides a platform to allow God to speak for Himself as he addresses every text of Scripture on the subject and engages with every theological issue that speaking in tongues provokes. As a pastor, Storms knows the questions that the typical churchgoer is asking and provides clear and accessible answers to them all, including: Is the gift of tongues for every Christian or only some? How does the gift of tongues operate in the life of the believer individually in private practice? How does the gift of tongues operate in the corporate assembly of God's church? How is the Christian edified and strengthened by praying in tongues? How do I pray for the gift and prepare my heart to receive it? You can overcome the arguments, fears, and anxieties related to this spiritual gift. Remember, God gives only good gifts, and it is His intention that His church utilize all that He has provided so that we might experience all that He is.