December 13, 2010, Revelations 9

Key Verse: 

But the people who did not die in the plagues did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood – idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts. 

(Revelation 9:20-21) 

Central truth:
Even when confronted with the destructive power of sin the people will not repent. 


Reading the revelation can be a daunting task. Finding an application for today can be a head-scratching, frustrating venture, but Truth is there. You should look for it and see how it can apply to your life today. 

This chapter discusses the first two terrors of the end times. These times are marred by mass idol worship, witchcraft, crime and sexual immorality. Can you make a parallel here? One of the attributes of today’s society is the love of money. Heard crime rates lately? And you don’t need to head to the red light district to be confronted be sexual immorality. If you have a TV, there is plenty of immorality on the prime-time schedule. I can definitely see similarities between today’s world and the world spoken of in the revelation. What is most striking is how our world today is not very repentant. Society today is quite permissive when dealing with immorality. We make excuses when someone is caught “with their hand in the cookie jar.” We expect our politicians to be at least a little corrupt. 

Now, what to do with this? Well, first pray for repentance. Not only do we need personal repentance, but we need collective repentance. Second, we can be salt and light. We should be the Christ followers that God calls us to be. Be the example of how to live for a world that is actively rejecting God. And finally, pray. Pray today that repentance will come. Pray that you accept the influence you have been given and leverage it for His glory. 

December 6, 2010, Revelation 4

Key Verse:

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Revelation 4:11

Central Truth:

The chief purpose of man is to praise God, who is the only worthy object of our praise.

Atta boy!

God finds pleasure in us when we praise him. This is our chief purpose, the one thing that we should do really, really often. It brings Him pleasure. The text says that we exist because He created what He pleased. This is after it says He created all things. He wanted to add something to the fact that He created all things. That is He wanted to make sure we knew that He took pleasure in us when we praised Him.

This year my son played flag football. His team was pretty good. Good enough in fact that he was lucky enough to play in the league championship game. He plays defense, and it was a tight game going deep into the second half. The “other” team was driving late in the game going for what would be a game winning touchdown with time winding down. They decided to throw a deep pass about ten yards away from the end zone. As the ball flew through the air my attention went from the quarterback to the kid who caught it. My nervousness turn to anxiety thinking that I (err we, err my son) was about to lose this game when I see my son pull the boys flag. I hear my wife yell, “That’s my boy!” I’m not quite that cliché. Can you imagine my smile? That feeling of utter joy... I reveled with my boy as he did what he was supposed to do. Coach sent him out there to pull the flag. That was his main job, and when he did it, that brought me (and the coach) joy.

Most people understand why we are supposed to praise God, but few think about what our praising Him does to Him. Would it change how you offer Him praise if you understand how it brings him joy? Will it make you more intentional about reducing distractions when you praise Him? When I pray I usually focus a lot of time at the beginning on praising Him. I pray a lot in my car when I drive. That’s not the best situation because I am a bit distracted (I do try to pay a little attention to the task of driving). I should find some time at home, when the kids are in bed, and my wife is reading a book to turn off the TV and be alone with God. I think being this intentional with my prayer time would be significant in God taking pleasure in our conversations.

December 3, 2010,Revelation 3

Key Verse: 

“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.”

(Revelation 3:20)

Central Truth: 

Jesus is always there knocking. He won’t open the door for you. It is up to us to open the door and let Him in.

THE DOOR WITHOUT A DOORKNOB

If you examine this famous picture closely, you will find Jesus knocking on a door that has nodoorknob on the outside.

In Revelation 3:14-22, the author of the book, John the Apostle (also to whom the Gospel of John is attributed), is writing about the church of the Laodiceans, and in verses 15 and 16 writes, “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.”

Pretty strong statement, beginning with “I know your WORKS . . . " (notice he didn’t say anything about “I know your FAITH.") “Works” is basically describing our obedience and service to God. We show our obedience and service to Him through our loyalty - by the way we talk, what we talk about, who we fellowship with, and what we do with our time, our knowledge, and energy. In short, we show our loyalty by our works—that is, by our conduct—and what we produce with what we have been given.

He goes on to describe “Lukewarm” Christians as neither hot nor cold and how he will vomit (pretty strong word) them out. Lukewarm Christians send confusing messages. I found a good synopsis of “lukewarm” – "that which gives no refreshment, or that which has neither the cleansing properties of hot water nor the refreshing properties of cold." Modern synonyms of the word "lukewarm" give illuminating insights into its use in this letter: "lacking ardor, enthusiasm or conviction; moderate; mild; unemotional; halfhearted; hesitant; indecisive; irresolute; uncertain; uncommitted; unresponsive; indifferent; impassive; languid; phlegmatic; apathetic; nonchalant; lackadaisical.” Obviously, Christ has little use for the lukewarm. Maybe it’s time we “caught fire.”

I also find verse 19 interesting: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” As a coach, this one is right up my alley. Give me players that are “on fire” for what we are doing. Or, give me those that obviously don’t care at all (I know exactly what to do with them). Either way … just so long as the water is clear (hot or cold). When the water is murky (lukewarm) … that’s when it gets complicated.

In verse 20 ("Behold, I stand at the door and knock …"), Christ is reporting that—in His own church—some know that He is at the door, but they will not rouse themselves from their spiritual lethargy to open it. By implication, they will not invite Him into their lives. As unbelievable as it sounds, there are those in His church who will keep Him on the outside looking in! Jesus willingly continues to knock at the door because He has an everlasting love for us (Jeremiah 31:3).

We must  turn up the heat in our spiritual lives.   We must get up and open the door.

December 2, 2010, Revelation 2

Key Verse: 

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

(Rev. 2:10)

Central Truth:

You will face trials and tribulations in your life, but the ultimate reward will be eternal life.

TOUGH LOVE

In this chapter, John is writing to the seven churches in Asia. In each letter, the angel of the church is either given approval or vindication of its actions. The one thing that is commonly found in all of the letters is the assurance of eternal life:

v7: To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat at the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

v11: He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

v17: To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.
v26: He who overcomes and he who keeps my deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.

God encourages these churches even though their actions may not have always been what God had intended for them. They have wandered off of God's path, and He is encouraging them to get back on it. Although God scolds the churches and threatens them, He also encourages and praises them.

Even though we try to live by God's standards, we often fail. Life may become overwhelming at times, and we forget our real purpose. God may have to scold and threaten us like He did the churches; but, God is then truly being our parent by showing us "tough love." For example, we all want what is best for our children. We try to guide but also know that they have free will to do as they please. While we encourage our children in all that they do, we must also scold them when they go astray. We must show tough love and get them back on the right path.

We don't have to give up when we fall short of what God may have planned for us. God doesn't forget us and move on just because we have messed up. We may fail time and time again, just like the churches addressed in this chapter, but God encourages us to stay on the right path and keep our focus on the end-goal, eternal life in Heaven with Him.

God is the only true path to eternal life. Which path are you on?

December 1, 2010, Revelation 1

Key Verse:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. Revelation 1:1


Central Truth:

The return of Jesus Christ is revealed.


ARE YOU ON THE WINNING SIDE?


Well, here we are starting the last book of the Bible. Great job on the Journey to all that took part. We just wrote devotions for every chapter in the New Testament. A shout out to Jennifer Roberts for her help with editing each one of these all year. War Eagle!!

The last book is clearly one of the most challenging books to understand in the New Testament. Written by John, Revelation is a book about the future and about the present. It offers the reality of eternal life to believers as it proclaims Jesus Christ's victory over the Evil One. We learn through symbols that Christ is coming again and that the dead will be raised to judgment, resulting ultimately in Heaven or Hell.

God gave the revelation of His plan to Jesus Christ, who then revealed it to John. This book shows God's full identity and His plan for the end of the world and explains the coming of Jesus, the establishment of His Kingdom, and His final victory over evil. As you read through this final book, don't get so confused by the symbols and details that you miss the power of Jesus Christ. John's recording of certain events through the vision from Jesus is meant to be encouraging to all believers. The Bible says that what John saw was often indescribable. So, in many cases, he used illustrations to show what it was like. It is all meant to show Christ's glory and power. Verses 2 and 3 explain that the book might appear scary, but there is nothing to be afraid of if you are on the winning side. "Blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Rev 1:3. 

As you read this Chapter think about your future, your eternity, but walk with confidence knowing that Jesus walks with you. If you believe in Him, you are on the winning side.

November 29, 2010, 3 John

Key Verse:

So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us.

(3 John: 10)

Central Truth:

Gossip is one of Satan’s schemes to hurt relationships and wreck our churches.

KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED

The book of 3 John is a short letter written by the Apostle John to a man names Gaius. Gaius was a leader in a local church and one of John’s friends. John’s letter encourages Gaius to show hospitality, continue to walk in the truth, and do what is right.

John also writes this book to deal with a very specific person and problem. His name was Diotrephes. He was a leader in this particular church and had used his position of power to gossip and gain more power. Diotrephes was a troublemaker. He also rejected the leadership of John. He refused to read the letter that John had written to the church. Then Diotrephes began to gossip and spread rumors about those who did not follow his ideas and leadership. His goal was to ruin people. He even kicked people out of the church who wanted to teach. There is no doubt that Diotrephes' gossip had spread throughout the church causing people to choose sides.

One time my Grandmother, Mama Minnie, told me something about gossip. She told me to think about a bag of feathers. Then she said, "Imagine releasing the feathers on a windy day. After that, try to imagine collecting them all." And, then she would say, "You can’t catch all those feathers. That is how it is with gossip. When you release your words, there is no taking them back, and you will never know where the wind will take them."

My Pastor, Jerry Dingmore, has also preached on gossip. He says that there are three questions we must ask ourselves when we hear gossip and are tempted to repeat the gossip. First, is it true? Second, is it beneficial? Third, is it necessary? I think most of us would stop, think, and keep our mouths shut.

We all have experienced someone talking about us. However, it is really hurtful when someone lies and adds details to our negative experience or story. I will never forget a friend calling me after I had made a serious mistake. She had heard the story (the true and not true) and instead of repeating it, she called me. She said, “Le, I know you. Yes, you messed up; ask forgiveness and move on.” She said that God will bring good from this, and you must learn from this experience. AND GOD DID!!!! I now have a walk with Jesus that I may not have had if it weren’t for my mistake. Did I have to suffer some consequences? Oh yes. But she was my friend through it all, and I love her all the more for it.

God used my friend, Katie Kemper, to help me so much! She was my angel that day and continues to help me walk in the light of Jesus. I believe Jesus wants us to be a friend or a person like that. So when you hear a negative story about someone, reach out to them. You may be the ONLY person that reaches out to them. The Bible is filled with people who really, really messed up!!! In some of those cases, God used them for mighty purposes. Ask God to open you heart and eyes to those who are hurting. He will. Ask God to help you control your tongue. It will take practice and self-control, but you can do it with His help.

November 22, 2010, 1John 2

Key Verse:

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

(1 John 2: 17)

Central Truth

We are not to love the world’s ways or love the world’s goods because it will take the place of our first love, Christ. We are to keep our eyes on the prize, which is to believe in Jesus and have eternal life.

The Journey has been such a wonderful experience for Wes and me. It has really kept us reading God’s word daily which is the key to keeping our eyes on the prize. It is so awesome how the Bible is timeless and relevant to our lives in 2010. We need it each and every day, or our focus will become worldly possessions and worldly desires instead of our lord and savior. We are all guilty of making choices based on what is going on in the world around us whether it is in our actions, a purchase, or even parenting decisions. We all fall short in this department, but because Jesus paid the price for our sins past, present and future, we still have hope.

Our sin problem has been solved for good because of Jesus Christ. As we grow in him allowing him to shine light into our darkness, he sets us free. We know we love him when we allow the Word to change us and we agree with what it says. The words of God, not only allow us to love our brothers and sisters, but also allow us overcome the stumbling blocks in our path. As we mature in HIM, our life matches His words and teachings which is the clear path to the prize.

Maturity can only come after hearing these same things John is telling us in chapter 2 over and over. We are all God’s kids, and He knew we would have to hear and read it over and over to get it, to feel it, to own it. Do you get it?