Prior to the love of Christ entering us we may be involved in the various aspects of the Christian religion. The Laodicean believers will be fairly well instructed in the gifts of the Spirit and in the other elements of spiritual life. But they always will seek to turn such blessings to their own advantage.

The Laodiceans seek spiritual power, not primarily because of a desire to promote the doing of God's will in the earth but because they have been taught that one can get what he wants by prayer, faith, the knowledge of God, and spiritual power.

Such an attempted misuse of Divine power is occurring already in Charismatic circles. People are being taught that wealth, political power, and other natural advantages will come to them if they accept Christ, use their faith to get what they want, and give liberally to the ministry. They are "commanding the stone to turn to bread."

The Charismatic move, in many instances, is becoming filled with the spirit of the False Prophet. It may be noticed that hatred of the Jews, a typical Antichrist attitude, is noticeable in some of the Charismatic leaders, particularly those who are espousing "reconstructionism." These leaders have fallen into deception because they are seeking a way around patient, cross-carrying obedience to God.

The spirit of religious delusion works hand in hand with the government of Antichrist. We believe that many of the Laodicean churches will be Christian in doctrine, having a name among Christian believers that they are alive. But in the sight of Jesus they will be dead because the Spirit of God will not be in them.

They will be active, growing congregations. Human talents will be in evidence. The cross of Christ will be extolled. But the need for the believer to bear his personal cross will not be preached with conviction. The outer Kingdom of God will be imitated as the Christian leaders attempt to influence their national governments with Christian principles. But the necessary inner Kingdom, the throne of God, will not be formed in the believers.

The Father and Christ will never enter any human being until he has forsaken his life in the world, has taken up his cross, and has begun to follow Christ. Antichrist teaches us that Christ came to enhance our life, to give us greater security, pleasure, and achievement. But Christ requires of us that we lose our life, becoming part of His death on the cross. We are to be "crucified with Christ."

It is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God, to experience the Life of the Father and the Son in us, until we are willing to forsake our entire first personality.

We enter the Kingdom of God, not by our religious life but by the death of the cross. It is the cross on which the believer is nailed that always divides between Laodicea and the true Church of Christ. Both Laodicea and the true saints will preach the cross of Christ. But Laodicea will never do more than talk about the cross of the believer, while the fervent saints, the true members of the Body of Christ, will experience deep, complete crucifixion. They will learn to glory in their cross, in their afflictions.

To be continued.