Head in the Sand?
“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3: 17
There was a myth thought to be true that an ostrich would hide its head in the sand when a predator was near, thinking if he could not see it, the predator could not see the ostrich. The phrase “having your head in the sand” is still used today to describe someone who ignores a potentially growing problem. We use phrases similar to that for those unwilling to face reality, like ‘turn a blind eye, live in denial, look the other way’. This is true in action as well when we consider the sinking of the Titanic. Many of those who drowned simply refused to believe the ship was sinking and didn’t evacuate immediately. Then it became too late.
When thinking about Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea, verse 17 seemed to be an ostrich moment for the believers there. The believers thought they were fine; thought they needed nothing, but the LORD saw their true souls mirrored the culture. They may have been wealthy according to Laodicea but the church was spiritually in poverty. The LORD wanted the believers to have the richness of His Presence in their lives, to walk in growing intimacy with Him. But they must have ignored the nudges of the Holy Spirit and the still small voice of God because they chose not to recognize what they truly were: “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
How does that happen? It happens a little bit at a time. Just a little ignoring of Scripture, a little disobedience, until it becomes a carnal lifestyle, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God…”
Remember this letter is to believers in the church. And all of a sudden, we find ourselves where we never thought we would be.
How can we correct this? How do we become spiritually rich? Of course, as is the recurring message it begins with repentance. Let us look at a great verse that points us in the rich direction, getting our heads out of the sand.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
And then because the Message presents an amplified version . . .
“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – Then guide me on the road to eternal life.”
Psalm 139:23-24 Message
Change/Transformation is a partnership and it must begin with surrender.
Will we pray those verses, hear Him, and follow His leading? Praying earnestly for our church to walk in spiritual richness.
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member
What’s in a Name?
I was born in Orange County, but moved to Denver when I was 11 years old, and I quickly became a Bronco fan. For years, Denver’s football home was known simply as Mile High Stadium. It wasn’t just a place, it was a landmark in Denver. So when it was renamed Invesco Field at Mile High in 2001, the backlash was immediate. In defiant opposition, the fans kept calling it Mile High. The signs changed, but the hearts of the people didn’t. Why? Because names aren’t just labels, they’re tied to identity. That’s sort of what happened in the ancient city of Philadelphia.
After a devastating earthquake in AD 17, Philadelphia was rebuilt with Roman help, and out of gratitude, they renamed the city “Neocaesarea,” which means “New Caesar.” But that name never stuck. The people eventually went back to calling it what they had always known: Philadelphia.
Imagine how much it would have meant to the church in Philadelphia to read,
I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Revelation 3:12)
They knew all about names and new names. Jesus is speaking their language; he’s inserting himself into their story. He’s not just making a promise, he’s making a personal connection. He’s saying, “You’ve been renamed before. This time, the name will stick. Because this time, it’s coming from me.”
We live in a world that’s always trying to name us. We get names based on our looks, our income, our resume, our worst moments, or our highlight reel. Some names are subtle: Impressive. Important. Invisible. Some are harsh: Failure. Unlovable. Not enough. And we spend so much of our lives trying to either live up to those names or outrun them. But then Jesus steps in and says, “You don’t have to achieve your name. I’ll give you mine.” What great news; what relief! It’s a name not built on performance, but on his grace. Not earned, but received. Not shaky, but secure.
Jesus knows that we live in a shaky world. The ground beneath us trembles… sometimes literally. But his promise is steady: “You are mine.” When the world tries to rename you, Jesus reclaims you. You may feel overwhelmed and overmatched today. Maybe like the church in Philadelphia, you have little strength. But in Jesus, you’re not overlooked. You’re named. Marked. Claimed.
Not “New Caesar.”
Not “Not Enough.”
But Beloved. Child. Pillar. Mine.
So take a moment and breathe that in today: You don’t have to achieve your identity. You get to receive it. And when life shakes, or people mislabel you, remember: the One who holds the key, who opens doors no one can shut, has already spoken your name. And he never gets it wrong.
Pastor Ryan Paulson
website mon
Avoiding Relational Lukewarmness
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16
I don’t know about you, but I’m a guy who likes his “hot food” to be hot, and his “cold food” to be cold. For instance, I prefer my coffee to be about one degree from where it will burn my tongue, and I like my milk so cold that I will chill a glass in the freezer for a few minutes before filling it up. What I don’t like is room temperature coffee or milk. But then, who does?
Since yesterday was Father’s Day, it might be helpful for those of us out there who have interactions with kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and even neighbors, to think a little about how we can continually take steps to be hot and/or cold, which is to say, to be a useful blessing from God in the lives of those with whom we interact. Here are a few that I submit for your consideration.
For any of us to be a useful presence in someone’s life, we might want to prayerfully consider how much we listen when we are around? How do we do with asking questions? With asking clarifying questions? With simply trying to understand? With sometimes keeping our opinions and advice to ourselves? (Proverbs 20:5)
Second, we might want to prayerfully consider how faithful and dependable we are? Do we keep our promises (to the best of our ability)? Are we someone our kids can count on? Someone they can rely on? Call in a pinch? That kind of thing. (Matthew 5:37)
Third, we might want to prayerfully consider whether we come across as judgmental? Would our kids say they feel safe telling us just about anything? (Ephesians 4:2)
Fourth, do we make an effort to spend time with them? I am reminded of some advice I once received - quality time always grows out of quantity time. Sometimes it takes awhile to build that relational equity, but once it’s there, good conversations can happen. (Ecclesiastes 11:6)
Well, I am sure you have your own thoughts on avoiding lukewarmness in your closest relationships. Thanks for reading mine.
To God be the glory,
Scott Smith
Care Pastor
Faithful When Power Fades
“I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” – Revelation 3:8
For most of modern history, the church in the West has held a position of cultural influence. Policies, traditions, and customs have often reflected Christian values… even the calendar that we reference every day is based on Jesus. But that age is fading. Increasingly, believers find themselves on the margins—misunderstood, opposed, or even ignored. The question we must ask is: “How do we relate to the world when we no longer have power?”
Revelation 3:8 gives us a wonderful answer. Jesus gives this little, seemingly unimpressive, powerless church in Philadelphia some advice that would be good for us to hear. He says, “You have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” This was not a rebuke—it was high praise. Jesus was not looking for worldly strength; He was looking for faithfulness. Did you hear that? This is just as true today as it was then. Today, Jesus is not looking for worldly strength; He is looking for faithfulness.
The Philadelphia church didn’t control policy. They weren’t building empires. They weren’t admired by the world. They were simply faithful to the name of Jesus and obedient to the Scriptures. That, Jesus says, is what opens doors no one can shut.
We need to prepare ourselves for a similar season. When the church is no longer at the center of culture, we must resist the temptation to grasp for political dominance or fight to “win” in worldly terms. Instead, like Philadelphia, we are called to remain faithful—deeply rooted in Scripture, unwavering in our allegiance to Jesus, and radically loving even when misunderstood.
Weakness, in God’s economy, does not disqualify—it qualifies. Powerlessness is not failure. In fact, all throughout the Bible, God delights to use those who the world counts out. As Paul reminds us, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
The open door Jesus promises is not tied to cultural authority—it is tied to gospel opportunity. Even in exile, even under pressure, even with “little power,” Christ opens doors for witness, for love, for courage. And no one can shut them.
So don’t fear the loss of power. Embrace the opportunity to live a compelling, countercultural faith. Speak the name of Jesus boldly. Obey His Word consistently. Love your neighbors sacrificially. Be faithful in little, and watch how He remains faithful in everything else.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor
Know He Loves You
“…behold, I will make them come and bow down before
your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
Revelation 3:9b
Imagine with me that you are at this event where the faithful though small group of believers in the Philadelphia church are having something amazing happen. “…those of the synagogue of Satan…” are bowing down at the church members' feet. This future scenario has a surprising purpose. The Lord Jesus in speaking to His family members tells them that some day their very enemies will finally know Jesus loved them. He didn’t want these liars to recant their unbelief or to cry out that the believers had been right all of the time. What Jesus said really surprised me and caused me to ponder this deeply. As this message was for the church, clearly it had a message for them and us. It was overwhelming to get just an inkling of how much God wants us to KNOW that He LOVES us completely, fully, all of the time, in every situation. Let us look at Romans 8:35, 38-39.
“Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Who but God loves like this, who died for us in our place while we didn’t even know Him! Who loves us even when we doubt Him, choose wrongly, are living without hope? Who has succumbed to the deceit of the evil one when he says we certainly aren’t worthy of God’s love? Who loves even though the circumstances of life make us question His love? God does, because He is love and as His children, nothing can separate us from His love. In the Romans passage, there are 17 things that cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. It is a comprehensive list.
If you begin to feel ‘unloved’, you are not listening to the right voice!
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
I John 4:10
Reflection:
Why do you think God wants you to know He loves you all of the time?
What has made you question His love in the past or even now?
How is God calling you to think differently?
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member
“Behold-I Will”
Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Revelations 3:8-9 (ESV)
The word behold is an old word that really isn’t used today, and isn’t even found in different Bible versions today. What does it even mean? In the Bible, the word "behold" is usually the translation of the Hebrew word הנה (hinneh,) in the Old Testament and the Greek word ιδου (idou) in the New Testament. Both the Hebrew and Greek words mean "look" or "see." Here we “see” by using "behold," Jesus highlights the significance of the specific event, miracle, or teaching that follows. It makes us aware that what is about to be presented is important and worthy of attention.
As a military wife, or as anyone familiar with military life, the command yelled “ten hut” (a shortened version of attention) refers to a specific posture and mental state: standing at attention means to stand with heels together, feet turned out 45 degrees, legs straight (but not stiff), arms down, chest lifted, and back arched. It also means to be alert and ready to hear and execute commands. This stern announcement usually precedes the entrance of a commanding officer or other senior officer. The point is, like “behold” it is saying “pay attention” something important is coming.
We see in Revelation 3, Jesus emphasizing what he has done, and what he will do. He is reminding and encouraging the church that no one can shut the open door he set before them. He also promises that the liars in the synagogue of Satan will bow down at the feet of the faithful, finally recognizing Jesus’ love for them. Encouragement, a promise and reminder of God’s faithful love, all given to the church and to us in these two verses.
Personally, I like the word behold! It catches my attention, it makes me take closer notice of what follows and the repetition also tells me that this is very important for me to know and understand.
What stands out to you in these verses? Why is the open door important? What is the importance of the promise?
Deb Hill
EFCC Member
Jesus - The ultimate doorman
In Revelation 3:7-8, Jesus claims to “hold the key of David,” which is a direct reference to Isaiah 22:22. It tells a story of God replacing a selfish steward, Shebna, with a godly one, Eliakim. God placed the “key to the house of David” on Eliakim’s shoulder giving him divine authority over the coming and goings of the king’s palace. Poetically stated: no one can close a door he opens and no one can open a door he closes. No one sees the king without going through the steward and his word is final.
Eliakim served King Hezekiah of Judah, while the Lord Jesus could only be steward to one, God the Father. If Jesus is the steward of heaven, then it follows he controls who enters and who doesn’t. This is essentially reinforcing the concept of the predestined elect! The door is open for this church in Philadelphia even though they are at some risk of losing their crowns. Even if their crowns were stolen, the door would still be open; no thief can cause a door to shut that Jesus opened!
This is the best news! The door is open for those of us who believe in Jesus. It doesn’t matter how we feel about it. It doesn’t matter how much stuff we got wrong. It doesn’t matter who we think we are. It doesn’t matter what we fear. No amount of guilt can shut the door Jesus has opened! We don’t need to walk under those burdens, there is freedom, victory, and confidence in Christ as well. Salvation is constant and firm and completely safe, it is simply not dependent on us. That’s enough reassurance for a lifetime!
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38, 39
Jonathan Duncan
EFCC Member
God’s Faithfulness
Psalm 37:1-7
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Revelations 3:5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
EFCC Writing Team
"God’s Protection”
Psalm 3:1-7
The church in Sardis is facing spiritual death, and Jesus' message calls them to wake up and strengthen what remains. This echoes the desperate cries for help and reliance on God's power found in Psalm 3.
O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!
Revelation 3:4, Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
EFCC Writing Team
"My Soul Thirsts”
Psalm 63:1-8
Psalm 63 describes a deep spiritual thirst, mirroring the need for spiritual nourishment that Jesus addresses in Revelation 3.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Revelation 3 addresses the church in Sardis, urging them to be watchful, remember what they received, and repent for their lackluster works. Both passages emphasize the need for a sincere relationship with God and the consequences of complacency.
EFCC Writing Team