Recent Posts
- Set Colds on Fire
The Wrath of the Common Cold
One of the marks of the winter season is bouts of illness. Cough, runny nose, congestion, headache, sore throat, sinus pressure, and nausea. The symptoms are unpleasant enough to ruin your day and keep you in bed, but generally not serious enough to warrant a trip to the doctor or hospital. Many times, if you do visit the doctor for relief, you will leave with a prescription for rest, waiting it out, or over-the-counter decongestants and pain medicine.
We have generally accepted the inconvenience of the common cold and flu, but are we required to suffer from the symptoms?
Defining Colds
The common cold is caused by any one of several viruses that cause inflammation of the membranes that line the nose and throat.
Rhinoviruses are the most frequent cause of the common cold. Most rhinovirus infections are mild, but they can cause severe illness, especially in people with weakened immune systems, asthma, or other underlying medical conditions.Cold viruses are spread through respiratory droplets that are released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can enter another person’s body if they breathe them in; through close personal contact; or if they touch a surface contaminated with the virus and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth before washing their hands.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the common cold may include:
Cough
Sneeze
Runny Nose
Nasal congestion
Sore throat
Post-nasal drip
Watery eyes
Headache
Body Aches
Fever
general feeling of being unwellColds can produce similar symptoms to flu and other respiratory infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that most people with rhinovirus or common human coronavirus illness will recover on their own. You can relieve your symptoms by: taking pain and fever medications; using a room humidifier or taking a hot shower to help ease a sore throat and cough; drinking plenty of liquids; and staying home to rest.
Symptoms typically last about seven days but can persist up to two weeks.
A Biblical Perspective
When challenged with sickness, we should address the root of the problem. Our first approach should be to stand on God’s promises of health and healing.
The Bible says:
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].
3 John 2, AMPGod’s will is for us to be healthy in our bodies and to prosper in our souls. God is so passionate about our well-being that he sacrificed his son Jesus to receive judgment for the sins of mankind so that we would not be subject to the curse of sickness.
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
Isaiah 53:4-6, CSB
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for the iniquity of us all.Prayer Against Colds and Upper Respiratory Infection
Father God,
You breathed life into man, and our nostrils are the gateways for your life-giving spirit.
I loose myself from all sickness, disease, inflammation, and irritation affecting my nose and sinuses.
I reject this infection in Jesus’ name. Sickness and disease will not dwell in my body.
Spirits of infirmity, release your hold on me. I command any demon affecting my nose, sinuses, throat, chest, lungs, and eyes to leave me now in the name of Jesus. I am loosed.
I cancel all witchcraft against my body in Jesus’ name. The blood of Jesus covers me.
Father, as I inhale, fill me with your presence. Fill me with life, power, glory, and strength.
I command my immune system to be strengthened and function properly.
Father, I thank you for healing and restoring my respiratory system. I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.Pray against any specific symptoms that you have, as the Lord leads you.
The Lingering Symptoms
When we pray in faith according to the will of God, our healing is established in the spirit but it may take time to manifest in our physical bodies. After prayer, we treat the symptoms while staying in faith to allow God to heal our bodies.
In the book of Genesis, God tells mankind that he has provided us with plants and herbs for food. When we treat our bodies, we should use the herbs that God provided. God created our bodies. He is the divine physician.
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
Genesis 1:29, NKJVWhenever I feel unwell, I evaluate my nutrition, cutting processed and unnatural foods out of my diet and increasing my intake of whole foods and water. I tend to avoid medication, only taking it when symptoms become unbearable.
This winter season, I have suffered several bouts of cough, sore throat, congestion, mucus, and fatigue. When I start to feel cold-like symptoms, I use a home treatment plan of rest, citrus fruit, honey, ginger, and vitamins.
I have found that the most effective treatment for cold symptoms is cayenne pepper.
Cayenne Pepper: A Whole Food Treatment
What is Cayenne Pepper?
Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annum) is a medium-hot chili pepper in the nightshade family. It is a thin, long pepper (3 – 5 inches) and curved. As it ripens, the fruit color changes from green to red. Cayenne peppers originated in Cayenne, French Guiana. They can be eaten fresh or dried and are used to make chili powder and to flavor spicy sauces. The spice is produced by drying and grinding the ripe fruits.
Cayenne powder is sometimes labeled as red pepper. It is a culinary spice frequently used to add heat to foods without altering the flavor. You may already cook with cayenne and have some in your kitchen.
Cayenne has a pungent spicy flavor which is caused by capsaicin, a chemical compound common to hot peppers.
The pungency of hot peppers is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which is a subjective assessment that relies on the capsaicinoid sensitivity of people. SHU represents the number of times the concentration of capsaicinoids needs to be diluted before it’s no longer detectable by trained taste testers.
The SHU is a subjective measurement of the amount of capsaicin in a pepper. The SHU value of a particular pepper can vary depending on the temperature, the type of soil, and the location where the pepper is grown. For this reason, SHU is expressed in ranges.
Pure capsaicin is rated at 16,000,000 SHUs.
The table lists some pepper varieties and their SHUs.
Pepper Variety Average SHUs Simplified Scoville Scale Bell Pepper 0 Neutral Sweet Paprika 100 – 500 Mild Poblano 1,000 – 1,500 Warm Jalapeno 2,500 – 8,000 Strong Cayenne 30,000 – 50,000 Scorching Thai 50,000 – 100,000 Torrid Habanero 100,000 – 350,000 Volcanic Ghost Pepper 855,000 – 1,044,427 Explosive Trinidad Scorpion Butch T 1,200,000 – 2,000,000 Dangerous Table: Scoville Heat Units of Selected Pepper Varieties Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is used as a crisis herb for shock, heart attack, anesthesia reactions, and bleeding topically or internally. It’s also an excellent pain reliever, decongestant, and expectorant.
Cayenne pepper is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin K. It is also a source of antioxidants and other compounds that protect our cells against damage from harmful substances in the environment. Fresh peppers have a higher concentration of these nutrients than do the dried and powdered forms.
When used for health benefits, the entire pepper should be used, including the seeds.
Many benefits of cayenne pepper are due to its capsaicin content.Some frequently reported benefits of cayenne and capsaicin are below.
Health Benefit Details Pain Relief Cayenne pepper relieves headaches, sore throat
Cayenne pepper can be used topically for arthritis pain, toothaches, sore jointsRespiratory System Cayenne pepper improves respiration
Cayenne pepper clears sinuses
Cayenne pepper clears nasal or chest congestion
Cayenne pepper works as an expectorant for removing phlegm and mucus congestion from the lungsCirculatory System Cayenne pepper improves circulation
Cayenne pepper improves the elasticity of veins and arteries so that they can respond to increases or decreases in blood pressureImproves Digestion Cayenne pepper improves digestion generally by stimulating saliva and enzyme production.
Cayenne pepper has been used for centuries by natives of Central and South America for diarrhea and other digestive complaintsStops Bleeding Cayenne pepper stops external bleeding with topical application to minor cuts and scrapes
Cayenne pepper stops internal bleedingReduces Inflammation Suppresses Appetite Boosts Metabolism Prevents Stomach Ulcers Cayenne pepper prevents and accelerates the healing of gastric ulcers Lowers Cancer Risk How Cayenne works in the Body
Capsaicin is highly stimulating to the body. When you eat a hot pepper, capsaicinoids create a hot, burning feeling in your mouth. The capsaicin attaches to heat-sensing receptors in the mouth, releasing neurotransmitters that travel to the brain, triggering a false alarm that your mouth is on fire. This bodily response can produce sweating and watery eyes but it does not cause physical harm.
As a chemical irritant, capsaicin will produce a similar response whichever way it comes into contact with your body, whether through your skin, eyes, hands, or nasal passages. Despite the initial burning sensation, capsaicin reduces the sensation of pain by interacting with neurotransmitters and blocking their ability to send more pain signals to the brain.
An excerpt from Mechanisms and Clinical Uses of Capsaicin states:
“Capsaicin is unique among naturally occurring irritant compounds because the initial neuronal excitation evoked by it is followed by a long-lasting refractory period, during which the previously excited neurons are no longer responsive to a broad range of stimuli. This process known as defunctionalisation has been exploited for therapeutic use of capsaicin in various painful conditions.”
Cayenne can desensitize nerves by binding with pain receptors and inhibiting their ability to transmit pain signals to the brain. It also interferes with substance-P, a neurotransmitter that functions in pain signal transmission.
How to Treat Symptoms with Cayenne Pepper
Consult your physician before using cayenne pepper to treat any health condition.
In general, you should take herbs at the first sign of illness, take them frequently during the illness, and keep taking them for a couple of days after you think you’ve recovered.
The best method for taking cayenne pepper depends on your personal preferences. You can consume cayenne as a spice in your food, make cayenne tea, or blend it into a smoothie. You should not cook the cayenne, as heat can break down beneficial compounds and reduce its effectiveness.
For cold & flu symptoms, mix 1/2 – 1 tsp of cayenne powder into a cup of water or juice and consume. I have found cold beverages to be easier to tolerate than warm or hot beverages.
Cayenne is very potent, so start by taking a small amount (less than 1/2 tsp) to test your tolerance level. When taking cayenne orally, you will likely experience an immediate burning sensation which will subside over a short time.
When consumed orally, cayenne rapidly reduces nasal congestion and thins mucus in the throat. It also relieves sore throat pain.
I do not recommend using cayenne pepper to treat bacterial infections or viruses. If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve, then consult a physician.
Safety Considerations
People on blood thinners should talk to their doctor before using cayenne pepper.
Cross-reactions can occur in those allergic to members of the Solanaceae family of plants (e.g., potatoes, tomatoes, paprika, Jimson weed).
Cayenne shouldn’t be taken in large amounts during pregnancy. Do not use cayenne while nursing.
When chopping fresh cayenne peppers, you should wear kitchen gloves. Cayenne has a potent heat and you can easily burn yourself if you touch the chili’s interior membrane and then rub your skin or eyes.
I have had a few mishaps with cayenne powder in the kitchen. I can attest that cayenne powder can easily become airborne and burn your eyes and throat. Avoid using cayenne in a windy environment. Do not inhale cayenne by accident or on purpose, even to ‘test’ the hotness of it.
Wash your hands after handling cayenne.
Do not allow children to handle cayenne powder.
It is important to understand that capsaicin is not water-soluble. So, if you burn your mouth or skin, then rinsing with water will not provide relief. A better option is to use milk or citrus juices, which will help to break down the capsaicin compounds and relieve the burning sensation.
In Conclusion
For cold and flu symptoms such as congestion, mucus, and sore throat, cayenne pepper is an effective alternative to synthetic over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants. Cayenne and other hot peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that stimulates the body and provides numerous health and first-aid benefits.
We should take advantage of the whole foods that God has provided to care for our bodies. While we can treat individual symptoms of sickness and disease when they occur, a better approach is to consume immunity-boosting foods to strengthen our whole body.
Other immunity-boosting foods that you can research and add to your diet are:
Pineapple
Ginger
Lemon
Himalayan Pink Salt
Turmeric
Zinc
Vitamin D
Medical Disclaimer
The statements in this article are my opinion, based upon a review of recent research in nutrition and health trends. I am not a nutritionist or medical practitioner. If you have a health concern or existing medical condition, I advise you to consult a physician or nutritionist before making significant lifestyle or nutritional changes.
References
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Alimentarium. “The Scoville scale”. https://www.alimentarium.org/en/story/scoville-scale. Accessed 6 January 2024.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “capsaicin”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Dec. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/capsaicin. Accessed 6 January 2024.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “cayenne pepper”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/plant/cayenne-pepper. Accessed 6 January 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Common Cold”, 27 June 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/colds.html. Accessed 8 January 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Common Human Coronaviruses”. 13 February 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/general-information.html. Accessed 7 January 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Rhinoviruses”. 8 March 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/rhinoviruses-common-cold.html. Accessed 8 January 2024.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006–. Capsicum. 2021 May 17. PMID: 30000884.
HomeGrown Herbalist. “Cayenne Powder”. https://homegrownherbalist.net/product/cayenne-powder/. Accessed 6 January 2024.
Jones, P., Dr. “How To Be A Really Hot Herbalist…Use Cayenne Pepper!”. 23 August 2023, https://homegrownherbalist.net/how-to-be-a-really-hot-herbalist-use-cayenne-pepper/. Accessed 7 January 2024.
Jones, P, Dr. “Kitchen Medicine: Amazing Herbal Remedies In Your Spice Drawer!” 2019, https://homegrownherbalist.net/freestuff/. Accessed 6 January 2024.
McCarty MF, DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. “Capsaicin may have important potential for promoting vascular and metabolic health”. Open Heart 2015;2:e000262. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2015-000262
National Institute of Standards and Technology. “How Do You Measure the ‘Heat’ of a Pepper?”. 27 June 2022, https://www.nist.gov/how-do-you-measure-it/how-do-you-measure-heat-pepper. Accessed 6 January 2024.
Sharma SK, Vij AS, Sharma M. Mechanisms and clinical uses of capsaicin. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Nov 15;720(1-3):55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.10.053. Epub 2013 Nov 5. PMID: 24211679.
- This is the Season to Repent
God says,
Repentance is what I require in this season.
When you come to me with a pure heart, I see you.
I hear your cries. The sweet smell of incense as you repent.
You are forgiven and washed clean.
Through my son I have given you the door. Hear my knock and come.Tell this to the people: Repent while there is still time.
I am waiting. I receive you and you are mine.
Repent for the time is near. There is still work to do.
Be undistracted, uncompromising, and unhindered.
Repent and heal. Repent and build. Repent and prosper.Be a vessel of my light in this world.
I will not extinguish the lamp stand of a repentant heart.
Heed my word in James. There are many trials. How have you handled them?
Repent from your sins and pass the test.
Move forward. There is still time.
Scripture References
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV):
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.James 1:2-25 (NKJV):
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.James 4:1-10 (NKJV):
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.James 5:7-18 (NKJV):
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.1 Peter 1:6-9 (NKJV):
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 4:12-19 (NKJV):
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.1 Peter 5:5-11 (NKJV):
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.2 Peter 3:8-18 (NKJV):
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.1 John 1:5-10 (NKJV):
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.1 John 2:3-6 (NKJV):
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV):
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 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— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Fitness for Worship 