nakedness Archives – Heart of Grace Ministries

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Revelation 3:14-22

[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:
[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 eyesalve, that thou mayest 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 overcometh 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 hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Let us analyze some verses as we go through:

Verses 14-16

Laodecia had two different kinds of water in other nearby cities:

– Hierapolis was known for its hot waters that was often used for spa-like healing purposes.

– Colossae was known for pure and cold drinking water.

One point to take note of here is that the waters of Laodecia was known for their waters that would make one sick and was often undrinkable. The significance of this shows several things, but one above all: it shows that the church is not useful when the waters they keep are not for healing and refreshment. When water grows stale and still it is more susceptible for things to intermingle into it, which in turn proves it not able to be consumed. Another common way to say this is that the lack of power in the church was being identified as without and not pleasing.

Verse 17

The type of complacency being shown here caused the church to be blind to the true state of how worldly things were destroying them. Case and Point? Lukewarm people actually feel satisfied in their life but yet lack the power of God to really be the true church full of the substance of the spirit.

Verse 18

Buying Gold Tried In The Fire – this is to say that it will refine the faith that was lacking from a people that had been satisfied with its own worldly goods.

White Raiment – is washed by the blood of the lamb and used to cover the spiritual nakedness and shame. (read verses 15 to 16 again for clarity)

Eye Salve – anointing the eyes with salve would remedy the spiritual blindness and encourage people to be earnest and repent when they are aware of the magnitude of sin.

The solution as it was read here was to not be complacent but to repent of their sins , search out the joy of God’s will, and to take the true faith of God. This is what will cause us in today’s church to not be blind and continue the ever-raging battle for those in need of a relationship with Christ.

Verse 20

The analogy of the door represents being able to be alert enough to hear a knock. In other words, we are saying that we must not be asleep or idle in our walk with God just in case there is a call to do or change something! The great thing about it is that God will knock and give the chance for everyone to come and to change!

When it comes to overcoming your life faith and obedience are everything when done together! As we work through our trials to victory we must mix these together to be led by God to realize our real riches in life: the relationship and benefits of God!

Additional notes also provided by Brent Griffith

There was a time in my life when I was all alone. I was in darkness. I was cast out for dead. No one cared for my soul. I was cold, shivering, dying in my own iniquities. Have you ever had a natural experience like this? Perhaps you got wet in a thunderstorm or in the snow and your clothes become damp and clingy. You are so cold that you are shivering. You only want one thing and that is to be warm and snug. You are like a baby wanting someone to comfort it. Then all of a sudden someone spreads a warm, soft blanket over you. All of a sudden you are warm and dry. You feel comforted and at peace. This is what Christ does for you when he saves your soul. He spreads his skirt of love over you and covers your nakedness. All that misery and wretchedness is gone. It is like going from being naked, cold, wet, and shivering to being covered by the softest, warmest fur blanket that you could wish for. It happens in an instant. The change that salvation brings doesn’t take days or years, it happens the very moment that you accept Jesus as your Savior. “Whoosh”, just like spreading a blanket. Thank you, Jesus, for covering my nakedness, my sin, my iniquity.

Ezekiel 16:4-8

[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
[7] I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.

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