Friday | 23 October 2026
The testimony of the leaders in Laodicea was, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’. Rev 3:17. This was their deception. The apostle Paul addressed the same religious arrogance in the Corinthian church. He said, ‘What do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us.’ 1Co 4:7‑8. Evidently, there were many leaders in Corinth who believed that they had graduated as messengers and no longer needed fellowship with Paul in a presbytery.
The Latter Rain movement produced many preachers and teachers who claimed to be messengers of Christ to the wider body of Christ. Some men did have ministry grace, and their ministry was accompanied by gifts of healing, but they needed to be relationally connected and submitted to the revelation of the word of Christ in the fellowship of a presbytery. Their unwillingness to humble themselves to join the fellowship of a presbytery contributed to the fall of many of those men into financial corruption and sexual immorality. In many cases, it also led to the exacerbation of personality disorders and family dysfunction.
In our own history, there have also been many leaders, from various denominational backgrounds, who have professed a willingness to join the fellowship of a presbytery, but they have related to the presbytery in a collegial mode, as if it is ‘a ministers fraternal’. Some leaders have sought to mix the revelation of the word of present truth with their own theological background and personal interpretation of the Scripture. This mixture has resulted in a lukewarm demeanour toward the word of present truth, and a lukewarm participation in the fellowship of the presbytery.
Further Study:
1Corinthians 4
References:
Rev 3:17
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
1Co 4:7-8
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us — and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!