The Laodicean Church
By Andrew D. Urshan-1924
This evening I want to speak to you what the Lord has spoken to me. Oh, sweet is the voice of God! It is not as man’s voice.
What is the normal Christian life? Jesus Christ is strictly commanding one kind of life, and that is the Normal Christian life-nothing else. I will read a few verses from Rev. 3: God is going to speak to us through His word; let us be honest and open our hearts and ears. It may cut, but, bless God, when God cuts He heals; He cuts for the sake of healing, so let Hirn cut.
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen”–that is the name of Jesus. Whenever you say “Amen” you mention the name of Jesus. The last word of this revelation is “Amen,” and the first word in the Bible is “God” (In the beginning God)-First and last, Alpha and Omega You will find Him in the beginning, you will find him in the end and, you will find him all the way thru. “The faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. “Oh, I like to have Jesus Christ to be my witness. How would you like Him to be your witness and acknowledge you before the angels of God, and say, “This is so-and-so”-God witnessed to Job. “And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Hallelujah! He is our witness, not only our witness to God as our representative, but He is God’s witness against us, don’t forget that also.
In the last day He will be a witness against you if you stand for Him.
“I know they works that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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. 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 the shame of they nakedness do not appear; and anoint shine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. 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. To him that overcometh (overcomes that lukewarmness) 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.”–Rev. 3:15-21.
The Church of God
I have heard people say that this church is the false church, but it is not so. They say this is the harlot church. Not so. It later became harlot because God spued them out, but it was not so before. It is a terrible thing when God throws you away.
At the time God gave this message, there was only one kind of church and that was the seven churches, and this is one of the seven churches of God in Asia. The stand of this church is just as good as the stand of the other churches. It is represented by a candle with the six other churches, and the angel of this church (the pastor) is just as much in the hands of Jesus Christ as the other stars in His hands. I will prove to you that this church was a real Apostolic Church, and had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost like the others. So this message is not only for the other churches, it is for us in this room also.
Now let me show you from the epistles that this church is an apostolic church. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you and for them at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh.–Col. 2:1. It was not established by the Apostle Paul, it was the church of Jesus Christ established by the other apostles, and Paul loves that church and prays for it all the time. That proves that this church was an apostolic church and not a false church. It was a church that was standing in the will of God, but not perfectly, there was something wrong, and Brother Epaphras is trying hard to see the whole church stand in the will of God.–Col. 4:12, 13th verse-For I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea. Do you see that Laodicea was the church of God and this dear brother Epaphras was praying for the Church. The 15th verse-Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea–do you see? More Laodicea than anything else. So beyond a doubt this church is the church of Jesus Christ; this church is the church that the Lord loves and he says so, too.
Elder A. D. Urshan was born May 17, 1884 of Persian and Iranian parentage. The specific place of his birth was Urmia, Persia, or modern day Rizayh, Iran. He was christened Andreous Bar David Urshan. Elder Urshan had his first personal experience with God at the age of 16 in March of 1900. Making his way to the United States at the beginning of the century, he came to know God through the Pentecostal experience, and soon aligned himself with the Assemblies of God. During the 1920’s he became an integral part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, serving faithfully as secretary of the Foreign Missionary Department, elected to that position in 1923. His organizational affiliation in later years was with the United Pentecostal Church where he established himself as one of its great evangelists, lecturers and pastors. Married in 1917, he fathered four children, all who eventually became great churchmen and women. His eldest son, Elder Nathaniel Urshan, presently serves as the General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Churches Worldwide. Elder A. D. Urshan’s distinguished ministry touched many souls from the Soviet Union to the United States. It can be safely said that thousands upon thousands came to know God through his preaching. He was a man of monumental abilities, but whose priorities dictated that he humble himself to the almighty disposition of God’s call. Elder Urshan departed this life on Octnber 16 1967 at the age of 83.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS TAKEN FROM EARNEST CONTENDERS FOR THE FAITH BY ELDER JAMES L. TYSON AND PUBLISHED BY PENTECOSTAL PUBLICATIONS, 1982, PAGES 21-21. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
