No one likes to be called out, right? But would it be kind to leave someone in sin? If we did not have the Law, we would not be aware of our sins. And if God did not rebuke us for our sins and then pay for our sin debt, we would remain in sin, enslaved to a corrupt reprobate mind. While our flesh desires to conform to this world, the blessing of reform is that we can start anew. God’s mercies are new each and every morning.
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 10-13
In today’s reading from the book of Nehemiah, we read about the settling of all the people and the dedication of the wall. And then specific instructions are given. The people had listened to the law of God (Nehemiah chapter 8) and they had remembered their history (Nehemiah chapter 9). Then a list of the people who made an agreement with God is in chapter 10.
The Blessing of Reform—Taking Care of God’s Temple and People
The people promised not to intermarry with people who served other gods. They promised to honor the Sabbath. The people also promised to tithe so the running of the Temple could be provided for – the paying of the Levites or priests and the musicians. Sometimes you hear about people complaining when churches ask for money, but it costs to do ministry. God did not want His Temple or His people to not be provided for and the worker is worthy of his wages (1 Timothy 5:18).
According to the Easy English Bible commentary, “Twelve years after the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to Persia. Some time later, he asked the king to allow him to return to Judah (Nehemiah 13:6). There, Nehemiah discovered that the people were doing many wrong things.”
The Blessing of Reform—Dealing with Sin
Nehemiah brought reform in chapter 13.
Notice that the reform began with reading the word of God publicly. We become aware of our sins when we read God’s word. Not to condemn us, but to change us as we are convicted and obey.
He found out that Eliashib was allowing an ammonite to shack up at an apartment in God’s house. According to the Jamieson-Faust Brown Commentary, Nehemiah had governed for 12 years and been gone perhaps about a year only to return and find corruption and liberties taken by the priest.
Then Nehemiah found that the compensation for the Levites and singers had been neglected.
Nehemiah 13:10-12
“I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field. 11 Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. 12 Then all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and fresh oil into the storehouses.”
Then Nehemiah called out another sin—the profaning of the Sabbath as well as
Their intermarrying with foreign women.
Nehemiah 13:25-27
“I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. I forced them to take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or yourselves! 26 Didn’t King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, yet foreign women drew him into sin. 27 Why then should we hear about you doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”
There can be pressure to fit into the culture around us and to compromise and become corrupt. We must be in God’s word daily and be accountable so we don’t stray.
The Blessing of Reform—Constant Need of It
This theme of reform is the constant need we have before a Holy God. We drift. We rebel. And in God’s kindness, He reveals where we fall short and meets our needs. In the end, we need reform in our life to keep us on track. We will be accountable for the choices we made while here on earth.
Scripture of the Day: Nehemiah 13:14
“14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.”
Application
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. It is a kindness to lovingly correct one another rather than let someone remain in sin because of fear that they won’t like you.
When we read God’s word daily we are better able to live it out and not stray.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #345-348: (Nehemiah 10-13)
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Nehemiah 13:14
“14 Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the deeds of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its services.”
Anyone weary today? Maybe feel like you are missing what God has for you? You might need a renewal in your relationship with God. Renewal and revival come as we admit our need of it. Finding renewal with God happens when we come and ask Him to take our brokenness and make us complete in Him. And renewal is not a once-and-done thing or a mountaintop experience. It is a moment by moment walk with God as He opens our eyes to understand His goodness and His word. It is recognizing our waywardness and abiding in His Spirit so we lie in a covenant relationship with the One Who made us.
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 29-30
Today’s reading is from Deuteronomy 29-30. It is a beautiful reminder from Moses to return to God.
Moses is reminding the people of God about what God has brought them through. He shares this so they can renew their covenant with God. Sometimes we need renewal in our relationship with God, right? We can grow complacent or just frankly take things for granted.
Yesterday I was overcome with the reality that I can breathe freely now and that I can walk almost normally, too. I thanked God that I can breathe and walk. And it hit me how that has been something I have taken for granted for most of my life.
How about you? We have an invitation today to renew an awareness of what God has done for us. We are so blessed. Just to be alive. Being blessed does not mean we have a perfect life. When we look to life to give us peace or happiness, we will be disappointed. But it is when we are renewed in our relationship with God that we have joy unending.
Finding Renewal with God—Look to the past
Deuteronomy 29:2-9
“2 Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen with your own eyes everything the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his entire land. 3 You saw with your own eyes the great trials and those great signs and wonders.
4 Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear. 5 I led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out; 6 you did not eat food or drink wine or beer—so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.
7 When you reached this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out against us in battle, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Therefore, observe the words of this covenant and follow them, so that you will succeed in everything you do.”
Finding Renewal with God—Look to the past
Moses first reminded God’s people where they had come from so they could freshly know where they want to go in the future. We get lost in the mire of life and need reminders, don’t we? Looking at the past and what God has done for and in us helps to bring us to a place of renewal.
Finding Renewal with God—Mindset Renewal
Notice that Moses said in verse 4 that these people just did not get it. “4 Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
Once we have reviewed our past, our minds need to be renewed in order for us to experience revival or renewal with God.
So how do we renew our minds?
Romans 12:2 ESV
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Finding Renewal with God—Knowing God
Moses also said that the journey was about knowing God—not just getting to the destination.
“5 I led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes and the sandals on your feet did not wear out; 6 you did not eat food or drink wine or beer—so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”
If we could just keep that perspective! We can be all about just getting there. But God invites us to fellowship with Him along the way each day.
Finding Renewal with God—Continually
This renewal with God is not a one-time mountaintop experience. We were not meant to live our lives apart from God. This covenant was meant to last.
Deuteronomy 29:10-15
“10 “All of you are standing today before the Lord your God—your leaders, tribes, elders, officials, all the men of Israel, 11 your dependents, your wives, and the resident aliens in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water— 12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your God, which he is making with you today, so that you may enter into his oath 13 and so that he may establish you today as his people and he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14 I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, 15 but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God and with those who are not here today.”
This means our home, our church, our culture, is to be infused with the LORD. I remember my Dad visiting me one time many years ago. When he walked into my home, tears filled his eyes. “The presence of God is here” he said. Over the years he would wonder why I centered my life around God – it seemed over the top – a little too zealous, perhaps. And yet in that moment and in many moments since, he now understands why.
Knowing God is not a religion. We think we are living to scratch an existence in this world, but that will never satisfy.
It is when we surround ourselves daily with God and His word that we have true peace and are continually renewed. Christ infused in every aspect of our lives. His precious word renewing our mind so we have understanding.
Finding Renewal with God—Root Out the Bitter Root
Bitterness can also cloud our relationship with God. We can become negative and jaded.
Deuteronomy 29:18(b)
“Be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous and bitter fruit.”
Finding Renewal with God—Be Faithful to God
Deuteronomy 29:24-27
“24 All the nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this intense outburst of anger?’ 25 Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, which he had made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. 26 They began to serve other gods, bowing in worship to gods they had not known—gods that the Lord had not permitted them to worship. 27 Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against this land, and he brought every curse written in this book on it.”
Deuteronomy 30:17-18
“17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan.”
We don’t have to let our hearts turn away. But we can become deceived and not recognize the slow fade. We must be faithful to God.
Ephesians 4:17-24 is a reminder of how this slow fade happens.
“17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Finding Renewal with God—Surender
Friends, it is not too hard to walk with God. It is too hard to not walk with God. We invite needless suffering in our lives and endure this life apart from the One Who made us.
Deuteronomy 30:11-15
“This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’
14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”
The reason it is not too difficult is because God has given His Holy Spirit and His Word. He reveals His truth to us so we can live it. He is enough.
Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 29:29
“The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.”
Friends, the truth is that we all need renewal daily in God. Let’s pray.
Application
God has revealed His word so we can know Him, not just know about Him.
Choose life, friends.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #344: Deuteronomy 29-30
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Deuteronomy 29:29
“The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.”
We live in confusing times, but truly confusion has been the norm since sin entered the world. God’s people need to know how to discern between truth and error in order to live righteous lives. We need to know how to find truth to be able to live it out. And when we know the truth, we are set free to love others and to obey God.
Bible Reading: 1 John 4-5
We are finishing up the book of 1 John and he has some amazing lessons for us about discerning truth, love and obedience. All of these words are defined not just by their meaning, but by their action. We can give lip service and say that we believe the truth, but are we living it out? Likewise, we can say that we love God or love His people, but are we demonstrating that?
1 John 4:1-6
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.”
How to Find Truth—Test the spirits
First, we need to test and see if what we are hearing or thinking lines up with the word of God. Then there is an obvious litmus test. If people deny Christ, they are not acquainted with the truth. Simply put, John says those from the world speak only from a worldly perspective. They do not speak the truth.
Sometimes people don’t like to talk in absolutes, but there is no middle ground. We are either for God and truth or not.
How to Find Truth—Know the Truth
Worldliness pulls us away with its lies. We have to be acquainted with the truth to know it. Bankers have to study and know what cash looks like to be able to recognize a counterfeit. And John says we know the truth because God is within us.
We get into trouble when we stop listening to that nudge or that check in our Spirit when something just isn’t right. But when we know the truth and walk in that truth, we are overcomers and free from deception.
How to Find Truth—Know and Love God
We cannot love others if we have not been regenerated.
1 John 4:7-8
“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
We who know God and know His truth have got to then testify to the world so the world can know the truth.
How to Find Truth—Live it out
We get deceived when we don’t live out what we say we believe. The world needs to see us living in truth. Our witness of the truth is how we love one another.
1 John 5
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not sin, but the one who is born of God keeps him,[f] and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
Scripture of the Day: 1 John 4:9
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”
1 John 5:10-13
10 The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. The one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Application
The Holy Spirit reveals truth to us so we can share it with others.
Live what you believe.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #343: 1 John 4-5
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: 1 John 4:9
“9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”
God has given us His Holy Spirit but we often neglect His presence. Stop and think about that for a minute. Neglect the presence of God that is within us once we have accepted Christ? God wants to lead His people but there can be a spiritual resistance that prevents us from being led by the Spirit. Listening to the Holy Spirit guides us through life’s challenges and gives us wisdom. But quenching the Holy Spirit keeps us from tremendous blessing from our lives.
Bible Reading: Acts 21-22
We learn about Paul’s conversion experience and persecution he endured and we also learn about how attentive he was to the Holy Spirit’s voice. But others were also speaking into his life. This is when it is hard to hear clearly.
Acts 21:4 “We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.”
Led By the Spirit—What is Already Revealed
Right near the beginning of chapter 21 we have the disciples being led by the Spirit, the mention of four daughters who prophesy, and a prophet named Agabus who warned Paul of coming persecution. But Paul followed what the Spirit spoke to him and he reminded the people to first listen to what has already been revealed.
Acts 21:25
25 With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
Led By the Spirit—Not By the Law
It was a tricky time in the life of the church. Adherents to Jewish Law (some called Judaizers) were trying to place laws on gentiles who were saved by grace, not by observing the Law.
Led By the Spirit—Not By Human Reasoning or Fear
Acts 21:13-14
“13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The Spirit speaks to His people and He spoke through prophets to warn Paul, but Paul went forward anyway. We must be led by the Holy Spirit, not by fear.
Led By the Spirit—How to Hear God Speak
Listen
God had Paul’s attention. Does He have ours? Sometimes it takes hard circumstances to get our attention. But will we listen when He does? Paul listened and he surrendered.
Acts 22:6-10
6 “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light,[b] but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
It’s one thing to listen and another thing to follow.
Being Led By the Spirit—Obeying God’s Voice
Surrender
10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’
Paul shared his testimony with the mob in Jerusalem, who were trying to kill him.
Scripture of the Day: Acts 22:14-15
“14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.”
Friends, these words that were spoken to Paul are also written for us. We have been appointed to know His will and He reveals His will through His word and through His Spirit. Are we listening? We might not have the radical salvation story of Paul, but we have our own unique salvation story. And it is so we will also be a witness of what we have seen and heard so others might know God, His all-encompassing love and forgiveness, and be saved.
Application
God deposited His Holy Spirit within us so we can hear directly from Him.
Don’t doubt the voice of God in your life. Confirm it with God’s word.
No one else is supposed to hear from God for you. Pray and listen. God is speaking.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #340: Acts 21-22
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Acts 22:14-15
“And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.”
This statement makes many try to figure out the details of the end times. Who is the antichrist? When will the end come? But no man knows the hour. How then should be live? In anticipation. In the fear of the LORD. And in the end, what matters is not what you know but Who you know. The end times are coming . . . ready or not. This is not a fear tactic, but a reality.
Bible Reading: Revelation 6-10, Psalms 139-141, Song of Solomon
God has provided a blueprint for believers so they do not have to be surprised by the end times. The book of Revelation and the book of Daniel are apocalyptic literature and are God’s blueprint for us. There are different positions as to when the tribulation will happen. I am a pre-tribber. Which means I believe the church will be raptured before the end times we read about today in the book of Revelation.
Last week we left off with the One worthy One who is able to open the scroll. After the Church has been raptured to safety in Heaven, and Jesus has been handed the title deed to the earth, His wrath begins to fall on the world that has rejected Him.
The End Times Are Coming—The Rapture
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
“15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Are you encouraged by those words, friends?
1 Corinthians 15:52
“In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
The End Times Are Coming—Fear of God
We can be scared of the end times, but those who have accepted Christ truly do not need to fear. And we need to not listen to lies about those times. We have God’s word.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
The End Times Are Coming—The Coming Judgment
Friends, there is a righteous wrath coming. Matthew attests to this as well:
Matthew 24:29-30
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
God has a right to be angry. The very people He created have rejected Him. As a parent, I have a glimpse of a righteous God who does not want His children hurt. God will judge all evil. And God sees all evil. The book of Revelation is the revelation of this coming judgment.
The End Times Are Coming—Hermeneutics
I cannot do justice to the book of Revelation in the few minutes I have here, but I will have some links for additional study and I want to share a summary from gotquestions.org that helps us in our approach of interpreting the book of Revelation and also provides an overarching summary.
“Question: “How can I understand the Book of Revelation?”
Answer: The key to Bible interpretation, especially for the book of Revelation, is to have a consistent hermeneutic. Hermeneutics is the study of the principles of interpretation. In other words, it is the way you interpret Scripture. A normal hermeneutic or normal interpretation of Scripture means that unless the verse or passage clearly indicates the author was using figurative language, it should be understood in its normal sense. We are not to look for other meanings if the natural meaning of the sentence makes sense. Also, we are not to spiritualize Scripture by assigning meanings to words or phrases when it is clear the author, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, meant it to be understood as it is written.
The End Times Are Coming—Literal versus Alllegorical
One example is Revelation 20. Many will assign various meanings to references to a thousand-year period. Yet, the language does not imply in any way that the references to the thousand years should be taken to mean anything other than a literal period of one thousand years.
A simple outline for the book of Revelation is found in Revelation 1:19. In the first chapter, the risen and exalted Christ is speaking to John. Christ tells John to “write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” The things John had already seen are recorded in chapter 1. The “things which are” (that were present in John’s day) are recorded in chapters 2–3 (the letters to the churches). And the “things that will take place” (future things) are recorded in chapters 4–22.
The End Times Are Coming—Judgements After the Rapture
Generally speaking, chapters 4–18 of Revelation deal with God’s judgments on the people of the earth. These judgments are not for the church (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 9). Before the judgments begin, the church will have been removed from the earth in an event called the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Chapters 4–18 describe a time of “Jacob’s trouble”—trouble for Israel (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:12, 12:1). It is also a time when God will judge unbelievers for their rebellion against Him.
Chapter 19 describes Christ’s return with the church, the bride of Christ. He defeats the beast and the false prophet and casts them into the lake of fire. In Chapter 20, Christ has Satan bound and cast in the Abyss. Then Christ sets up His kingdom on earth that will last 1,000 years. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is released and he leads a rebellion against God. He is quickly defeated and also cast into the lake of fire. Then the final judgment occurs, the judgment for all unbelievers, when they too are cast into the lake of fire.
The End Times Are Coming—The Eternal State
Chapters 21 and 22 describe what is referred to as the eternal state. In these chapters, God tells us what eternity with Him will be like. The book of Revelation is understandable. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. The key to understanding the book of Revelation is to interpret it as literally as possible—it says what it means and means what it says” (GotQuestions.org).
The End Times Are Coming—The Seven Seals
Revelation 6 opens up with a description of 7 seals. The seven seals are one of a series of end-times judgments from God. The seals are described in Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1–5. In John’s vision, the seven seals hold closed a scroll in heaven, and, as each seal is broken, a new judgment is unleashed on the earth. Following the seal judgments are the trumpet judgments and the bowl or vial judgments.
The End Times Are Coming—The First Seal
The first seal introduces the Antichrist (Revelation 6:1–2). From the biblical description, we gather several details: he rides a white horse, which speaks of peace; at the beginning of the tribulation, the Antichrist will come under the pretense of bringing peace to the world (cf. Daniel 9:27). He is given a crown, which indicates that the Antichrist will exercise great authority (cf. Daniel 7:24–25). He holds a bow, which shows his true intentions, and he advances “as a conqueror bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:2).
The End Times Are Coming—The Second Seal
This word Antichrist only appears in John’s epistles. It is a spirit that wants all of the praise that only God deserves.
The second seal. When the Lamb opens the second seal, great warfare breaks out on the earth (Revelation 6:3–4). This is symbolized by a rider with a large sword on a fiery red horse.
The End Times Are Coming—The Third Seal
The third seal. In the breaking of the third of the seven seals, it causes famine (Revelation 6:5–6). The rider that John sees is riding a black horse and “holding a pair of scales in his hand.” Then John hears a declaration that people will have to work all day to earn just a little food.
The End Times Are Coming—The First Seal
The fourth seal. When the fourth seal is opened, John sees a pale horse. “Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him” (Revelation 6:7–8). The result of this fourth seal is that one fourth of the earth’s population are killed “by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”
The End Times Are Coming—The Fifth Seal
The fifth seal reveals those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ during the tribulation (Revelation 6:9–11; cf. Matthew 24:9). The souls of these martyrs are pictured as dwelling under the altar in heaven. God hears their cries for justice, and He gives each of them a white robe. The martyrs are told to wait “until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” God promises to avenge them, but the time was not yet (cf. Romans 12:19).
The End Times Are Coming—The Sixth Seal
The sixth seal. When the Lamb of God opens the sixth seal, a devastating earthquake occurs, causing massive upheaval and terrible devastation—along with unusual astronomical phenomena: the sun turns black, and the moon turns blood-red, and “the heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place” (Revelation 6:12–14). Survivors of the sixth seal, regardless of their social position, take refuge in caves and cry out to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (verses 16–17).
After the opening of the sixth of the seven seals is an interlude in the book of Revelation. John describes the 144,000 Jews who will be protected during the tribulation (Revelation 7:1–8). Then, in heaven, he sees “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (verse 9). These people wear white robes, hold palm branches, and shout:
The End Times Are Coming—Salvation Belongs to Our God
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10). John is told who this white-clad multitude is: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (verse 14). They are given the promise that “‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. . . . ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (verses 16–17; cf. Isaiah 25:8; 49:10).”
The End Times Are Coming—The Seventh Seal
The seventh seal. When the Lamb opens the seventh seal, “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1). The judgments that lead up to the close of the tribulation are now visible in the scroll and are so severe that a solemn silence falls upon all of heaven.And the seventh seal obviously introduces the next series of judgments, for John immediately sees seven angels who are handed seven trumpets ready to sound (verse 2). An eighth angel takes a censer and burns “much incense” in it, representing the prayers of God’s people (verses 3–4). The angel then took the same censer, “filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (verse 5).
Demon locusts with human faces, long hair, lion’s teeth, and the power of a scorpion sting plague and sting nonbelievers for five months. Those who are stung will wish for death.
Another break from the plagues, and onto the seven bowls of judgment, 24 elders in heaven declare it’s time to destroy those who destroy the earth. The temple in heaven opens, featuring the Ark of the Covenant.
The End Times Are Coming—The Need for Salvation
These judgments will befall those who are on the earth after the rapture. Friends, right now we can know where we will be for eternity. Right now you can ask God to save you if you are not sure of your salvation.
Some people don’t like to teach on the end times because they don’t want people to be afraid. Friends, death is real. God’s judgment is real. It is not a scare tactic. It is a reality. And it is coming soon.
Repent and get right with God if you have not already. Our God is gracious. And He knows you completely.
The End Times Are Coming—God Sees Us
Psalm 139 is one of the most beautiful reminders of just how seen we are by our loving God.
“1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. 6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon, 10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me. 11 And if I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— 12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.”
The End Times Are Coming—Repent and Be Saved
I love the ending verses of this chapter in Psalms. It is a prayer we can pray right now:
Psalm 139:23-24
“23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”
When we ask God to search us and to know us and we repent, we do not have to fear judgment. In fact, we have His protection.
Psalm 140:12-13
“I know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor, justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous will praise your name; the upright will live in your presence.”
Friends, our God loves us! He does not love to punish us. But it is His love that exacts punishment to bring His children back to Him.
Speaking of love, let’s transition to Song of Solomon which you will read on Sunday.
The End Times Are Coming—God’s Love Story
We are starting a new book of the Bible on Sunday and since we are doing a weekend edition on Friday, I will give a brief introduction to this book of the Bible. We can look on the surface and assume this book is just about the marriage between a man and wife. But it is also a representation of God and His bride, the church.
The Easy English Bible Commentary has this to say about Songs of Solomon.
“The Song of Songs is, of course, a poem. It describes wonderful plants and beautiful animals. It describes special places. And it describes processions, dances and gardens. But the Song also has a more important meaning.
Parables and allegories are different types of stories. Both parables and allegories have a meaning. But there is a difference. Parables are very simple. And they are easy to understand. But allegories are very complex. Every detail in an allegory is important. And words have secret meanings.
Parables of Love
There are many parables in the Bible. Jesus often used parables to each the people. The meaning of these parables is never complex.
Allegories became popular many centuries after the time of the Bible. People used to read allegories for entertainment, like novels today. And many people thought that the Song of Songs was an allegory. They tried to find secret meanings in its words. They thought that its real meaning must be very complex. And they tried to find new meaning in every sentence.
We think that the Song of Songs is more like a parable. In other words, its meaning is simple to understand. Its meaning is:
God loves us. His love does not change.
But we are not always loyal to him. Perhaps we are selfish. So we do not always want to obey him.
God wants us to trust him more. Then, in the end, we shall be glad to obey him. And we shall be perfect for him.
Solomon’s Greatest Song
Solomon collected songs and proverbs (wise words). In the end, he had 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. We still have over 600 proverbs that he collected. They are in the Book of Proverbs. Perhaps the songs in his collection included some Psalms. Or perhaps only one song from this collection still exists. This song is sometimes called the Song of Songs, but sometimes the Song of Solomon. And it was Solomon’s greatest song because it is about the love of God” (Easy English Bible Commentary).
One thing our culture does is glorify romance and sex. It objectifies women. But love in Christ is very different from the lust of the flesh that the world offers. The love in Christ is agape – unconditional. Selfless. And others-focused. Christ demonstrated this love for us. It is when we understand and know Christ and His love that we are able to love people as God intended.
Scripture of the Day: Psalm 140:12-13
“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.”
Application
It is hard to wrap our brains around the end times, and the greatness of our God. But we know His character. He is good. All the time.
May we fear His name and live according to His word.
As sure as judgment is coming, so is forgiveness as we read in Psalm 140.
God knows us completely (Psalm 139), but He chooses to cover us, anyway.
Let’s help warn others of the coming judgment so they, too, can escape!
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #339: Revelation 6-10, Psalms 139-141, Song of Solomon
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Psalm 140:12-13
“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.”
I remember watching my children play when they were toddlers. One would be building with legos or some building tool and the other would get this mischievous look on their face, plotting to knock it down. It was all about power. But when those same kids learned to read for the first time, they unlocked something greater and more powerful—the joy of understanding. Truly understanding enables us to overcome battles in our mind as we put on right thinking from God’s word. And it was understanding God’s word that brought the greatest joy to the people Ezra read and taught God’s word to.
Bible Reading: Nehemiah 7-9
If you wonder if your life counts for God, today’s reading starts off with an answer to that question.
In Nehemiah 7, the exiles are returning and being numbered in a genealogy. What an incredible moment to see God’s people returning after the wall has been built. But this same list is also in Ezra 2. Sometimes we can tend to gloss or skip over the genealogies like they have no purpose. But God wanted to make sure we knew the names of these people.
According to bible.org commentary, “In Ezra, this list of names of those who returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. served to document who was a true Jew. In Nehemiah, nearly a century later (444 B.C.), the list answers the question, “Who is available to repopulate the city and to provide for temple worship?” Nehemiah uses the list to instill in the people a reminder of their personal and national identity as God’s people and to encourage them to fulfill their responsibilities in light of this identity.”
“To count for God, commit yourself to the things that matter to God.”
The Joy of Understanding—Positions
Understanding what matters to God helps us to position ourselves to live according to his word. We have joy and we have purpose. Our lives matter because they are invested for eternity in the work and purposes of God in our lives.
Nehemiah understood his calling and he was careful as he carried it out. Notice in Nehemiah 7 that he carefully picked who would serve alongside him.
Nehemiah 7:2, “2 Then I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, commander of the fortress, because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.”
Be careful who you place in a position to work with you. Choose people who understand God’s word and live by it.
The Joy of Understanding—Reading God’s Word Aloud
Nehemiah 8:2-3
“2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Joy of Understanding—Interpreting and Studying God’s Word
7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
The Joy of Understanding—The Joy of the LORD is Your Strength
10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.”
The Joy of Understanding—Responding to God’s Word
Friends, do we read God’s word out loud in our homes? In our churches? I am convicted by this. When my children were younger and I would try to have Bible time and read God’s word out loud and let’s just say it was challenging. Even now, we basically do our own devotional times, but reading this passage today reminds me of the importance of reading God’s word aloud.
But this scene in Nehemiah 8 was a scene of revival. People were attentive to God’s word. They sought to study and understand. They lifted their hands. And they wept. Then they cried out. And their joy was full. May God revive our hearts even now to treasure His word.
On the second day, Ezra took the heads of the families and studied the word of God. But notice that it was not just Ezra doing the studying and interpreting of God’s word. Many other Levites were doing so, as well.
The Joy of Understanding—Understanding Our History
In Nehemiah 9, the Levites give a lengthy history lesson of God’s people. When we understand where we have come from, we can understand what God has done for us. We need to remember what we came from to be able to appreciate where God has brought us.
We can get so caught up in the here and now that we lose perspective and lose understanding. But reading God’s word reminds us of what matters most so we can live with a right understanding and not waste this precious gift of life.
Scripture of the Day: Nehemiah 8:8
“They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.”
Application
Seek out understanding from God’s word – not from the culture.
Cry out for understanding.
Live by what you understand.
Revival happened because God’s people heard and obeyed God’s word.
May God bring revival in our land.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #338: Nehemiah 7-9
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Nehemiah 8:8
“They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.”
“If”. Such a small word with such big consequences. But make no mistake—we get to choose how we will handle the truth we have heard. Sometimes we will feel powerless to choose, but feelings are not fact. The choice is up to us—choose blessings or curses. Admittedly no one would likely want to choose curses, but oftentimes we are not aware that the daily choices we make are bearing consequences of blessings or curses that could impact our life or our eternity.
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 27-28
The overriding message of all of the book of Deuteronomy is to love and obey God. This is the way to the blessed life. But more than just seeking a blessed life, this is what we were made for. To know God and to treasure Him. But our pesky flesh can get in the way. Still, we do get to choose.
According to gotquestions.org, the blessings are listed in a chiastic structure, “a literary device in which a sequence of ideas is presented and then repeated in reverse order. The result is a “mirror” effect as the ideas are “reflected” back in a passage.”
Deuteronomy 28 lists the blessings and then the reverse – the curses. But praise God that Jesus reversed the curse! And we get to choose, friends!
How Do We Choose?—Fully
The first principle for obedience is that it is full-on obedience – not partial obedience.
Deuteronomy 27:1
“Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, “Keep every command I am giving you today.”
The Choice is Up To Us—Be in Agreement
Notice that God’s people were in agreement with God’s principles. The phrase, “And all the people will say, ‘Amen!'” was written 12 times in chapter 27 alone. Surround yourself with people who think and act biblically. Who will encourage you to obey God and His word.
The Choice is Up To Us—Faithfully and Carefully
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come and overtake you, because you obey the Lord your God.”
The two Hebrew words for faithfully and carefully are Shamah and Shamar. It is this sense of being on the watch. Being attentive, diligent to listen to God’s will.
The Choice is Up To Us—Full Cheerful Obedience
As a parent, when my children don’t want to do what I have asked, it is burdensome. How much more when our loving Father Who has blessed us abundantly, finds that His people are not joyful in their relationship with Him or in serving Him?
Deuteronomy 28:47-48
“Because you didn’t serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart, even though you had an abundance of everything, 48 you will serve your enemies that the Lord will send against you, in famine, thirst, nakedness, and a lack of everything. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.”
The Choice is Up To Us—Intentionally remembering
At the beginning of our reading today, God had His people put His word on stones to remind them. Sometimes we forget to obey because we are not grounded in God’s word. How can you place God’s word more faithfully in your path to help you remember? It might not be stones, but how can you get His word to be central in your life? We can’t obey what we don’t know or follow.
Deuteronomy 27:2-3
“2 When you cross the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up large stones and cover them with plaster. 3 Write all the words of this law on the stones after you cross to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.”
Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 27:26
“Cursed is anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice. And all the people will say, ‘Amen!'”
It is not just knowing God’s word, but doing it that blesses us. We all want to be blessed, but sometimes we need to remember the consequences of doing things our way instead of God’s way. Curses motivate us to not go astray. Blessings encourage us to persevere. It will be worth it.
Application
We can’t obey what we don’t know or follow.
No matter how tempted or discouraged we might feel, We always have a choice.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #337: Deuteronomy 27-28
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Deuteronomy 27:26
“Cursed is anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice. And all the people will say, ‘Amen!'”
Growing up I remember what it felt like to be in the “unpopular group”. The “popular peeps” wouldn’t so much as look at the “unpopulars”, other than to grimace at them or to mock them. But when the “unpopulars” were noticed by someone perceived to be greater than them, now that meant something. And if they wanted to hang out? Suddenly the status of the unpopular person changed. Or did it? Was their status truly lesser than, or was it something that they believed about themself? Well, friends, we have been seen. Noticed. By the greatest One in the whole world. And He wants to spend time with us. That’s right. Just you and Him, and just me and Him. He has time for everyone. Being on the Jesus team means we are chosen and accepted. Do we see the value in this incredible gift of fellowship with the God of this universe?
Sometimes we want what we can’t have. We want others to notice us who never will. But the precious people who love us and care for us we can take for granted. We hear that God loves us all the time, but perhaps we don’t prize that place that we have in the eyes of the God of this universe. He loves us so much!
Bible Reading: 1 John 1-3
Today we are reading one of the letters from the apostle John, the disciple Jesus loved. How does that phrase rub you? Do you wonder why he was called the disciple whom Jesus loved? Sometimes we can hear of a special relationship and feel on the outside. But that is never the case with Jesus. All are invited.
As it says in 1 John 1:3 “what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
But all do not accept that invitation. And sometimes we can get distracted by the burdens and lies of this world that we don’t see this incredible gift of salvation and fellowship with God.
John was writing to a church that was being attacked by false teaching. False teaching that minimized sin and a misunderstanding of who Christ was.
John reminded the church of what it means to belong to Christ. We no longer belong to the world and that belonging is going to look different.
Being on the Jesus Team—A New Identity
Being on the Jesus team will require some changes. Like being on any other team requires possibly a uniform and certain behavior, we do not accept the incredible gift of salvation without a serious heart change. And we would not want it any other way. God is our Redeemer. He loves us too much to leave us the same—in our sinful condition.
A New Culture—Sinless and Truthful
1 John 1:5-10
“5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirements of belonging to Jesus
1 John 2:1-2
“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
This new freedom is a freedom not to sin. We can rise above our old nature when we belong to Jesus. His Spirit lives within us to empower us.
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Keep His Commands
Those who belong to Jesus keep His commands and walk in truth.
1 John 2:3
“3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him.”
The moment we start to make excuses for our behavior, friends, we are deceived. Christ’s sacrifice was not so we would lead mediocre lives. His grace is enough!
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Walk and Talk like Jesus
Those who are on the Jesus team will walk and talk like Jesus
1 John 2:6
“The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Love people
Those who are on the Jesus team love people.
1 John 2:9-11
“9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Don’t Love the World
Those who are on the Jesus team will not love the world.
1 John 2:15-17
“15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Remain on the Team
Those who are on the Jesus team remain on the team.
1 John 2:19
“19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Don’t Deny Jesus
Those who are on the Jesus team never deny Jesus and confess Him as their Savior unashamedly.
1 John 2:23
“23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Do What is Right
Everyone on the Jesus team does what is right.
1 John 2:29
” If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”
Being on the Jesus Team—Requirement: Do not continue to sin
Everyone on the Jesus team does not continue to sin.
1 John 3:6-10
“6 Everyone who remains in him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen him or known him. “7 Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. 9 Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because his seed remains in him; he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister.”
Friends, this is a higher standard and I think we can tend to want to grade ourselves on the curve, right? God’s grace is enough for us. We are not supposed to continue in sin, but being in a relationship with Jesus, He will call out our sin so we can repent and be right with Him.
Scripture of the Day: 1 John 3:24
“24 The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.”
This is good news, friends. We belong and we can be certain that we are on the Jesus’ team. Being on the Jesus’ team is not about fulfilling all of these requirements as if it were a religion based on good works. These requirements are the fruit of those who have come to know Jesus Christ who walk in relationship with Him.
Application
Live like you belong. Because you do.
Act like you belong. The world needs to see you living what you say you believe.
Being on the Jesus team is not meant to be an exclusive club. Help others to see their need of salvation, too.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #336: 1 John 1-3
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: 1 John 3:24
“The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us.”
Anyone can have a strong start but finishing well is another matter. Likewise, anyone can come in and be a rescue for a moment, but it is the day-in, day-out faithfulness that changes lives more than a momentary act of service. Perseverance and staying on mission are required to see our calling through to the end. The Apostle Paul has some insights to help us see our calling through to the end. We can be faithful and finish well even and especially when the calling becomes hard.
Bible Reading: Acts 19-20
Paul was boldly sharing the whole counsel of the word of God. He did not shy back from things that were not politically correct. And sometimes this leads to persecution. But the word of God flourishes even during persecution. Still, don’t mess with idols or sacred cows, right? There might be riots.
Finishing Well—Despite Persecution
Acts 19:23-32
“23 About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way. 24 For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. 25 When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods. 27 Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. 31 Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater. 32 Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.”
Finishing Well—Causes for Persecution
Don’t mess with people’s prosperity.
Don’t mess with people’s idols.
And don’t mess with people’s views.
But we know that God messes with us, right? Thank God that He breaks through our religiosity, our idols, our comfort zone, and our wrong views to bring us the truth. And this is what we must do.
Finishing Well—Obstacles to Faithfulness
Spiritual resistance, compromise and the herd mentality are obstacles to finishing well. The herd mentality alone is difficult to deal with. Being faithful to God flies in the face of what our culture chases after. Many times people don’t even realize what they are following and the spiritual resistance they give is based on ignorance and selfish motivations.
Acts 19:32
“Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
Look at the riots we have today. Many do not even know why they are participating. Or they think they know why. They are fed propaganda and are willing to march for it.
Paul injects and speaks truth into that space and we are called to, as well. It will not be easy. Or popular. But we must prove faithful. Many times God will call us to a mission where we will meet with resistance. This does not mean stop. This means to persist with prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Paul sought counsel from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:21, “After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “It is necessary for me to see Rome as well.”
It will be easy to consider compromising. It is hard to proclaim truth to people who don’t want to hear it. But persevere, friends. Paul demonstrated how to walk faithfully and to keep our purpose at the forefront.
Finishing Well—Without Compromise
Acts 20:20-21
“20 You know that I did not avoid proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Scripture of the Day: Acts 20:24
“24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Application
What is the ministry or calling that you are called to? Don’t let problems or resistance prevent you from doing the work and finishing well.
Learn to see things from a spiritual perspective.
Remember like Paul did that this life is not about us. It is about testifying about Jesus.
Finish well, friends!
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #335: Acts 19-20
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Acts 20:24
“But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Do you hear what I hear? Jesus is speaking to the churches today to wake up. He who has an ear, let him hear. There is a difference between hearing and listening though. Isn’t there?
Today’s reading is covering some serious ground that I cannot give adequate justice to, but I want to hit on a few things that stood out. We are reading from the book of Revelation, as well as from Psalms and Ecclesiastes, the reading over the weekend.
The book of Revelation is apocalyptic (meaning containing visions and symbolism) as well as prophetic literature, a letter written by the apostle John, as inspired by Jesus Christ.
According to my study bible, “Revelation provides a virtually complete tour of systematic theology categories. There is much about Christ, mankind and sin, the people of God (both the church and Israel), holy angels, and Satan and the demons.”
Do You Hear What I Hear?—Blessed to Listen
Revelation begins with a blessing for those who read the word aloud and those who hear this book.
Revelation 1:1-3
“The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.”
The one who reads aloud, hears and keeps the words of this prophecy will be blessed. Why? Because the time is near. Friends, we need to stay awake and not get lulled into complacency or apathy by the surrounding culture.
Do You Hear What I Hear?—Listen and Hear
The church needs to wake up and not fight social issues. It needs to hold the word of God out for others to see lived out and to hear.
Revelation 2:7
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
This phrase, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches” is repeated seven times in today’s reading.
And what is the Spirit saying to the churches? Here are a few highlights:
To the 7 churches, there were encouragements and reminders to:
Remember their first love – Jesus
Do the works they did at first.
Be prepared to suffer.
Don’t be immoral or follow immoral influences
Repent
Don’t tolerate immorality
Do You Hear What I Hear?—Accountable to God
Revelation 2:23(b)
“Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”
Revelation 2:26
“The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations.”
The reading in Revelation ends with the reality that we have One Who is worthy to read the scroll, the One who laid down His life for us all.
Do You Hear What I Hear?—The Worthy One
Revelation 5:1-14
“Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.
4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
Do You Hear What I Hear?—Worthy is the Lamb
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people
for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
Do You Hear What I Hear?—Give Thanks
Psalm 136 is so fitting for the holiday we just celebrated.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. 4 He alone does great wonders. His faithful love endures forever.”
We cannot thank Him enough, friends! He is worthy!
Psalm 138
“I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love and truth. You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me. 4 All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Lord, when they hear what you have promised. 5 They will sing of the Lord’s ways, for the Lord’s glory is great. 6 Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance. 7 If I walk into the thick of danger,
you will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.”
Solomon ends our reading well today. After struggling with the seeming futility of life, Solomon finally realized the purpose of life. Fear and know God. Live for One.
Scripture of the Day: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”
Application
We are accountable and we have one who bore our sins not so we would continue in sin.
Let’s stop resisting God. May we fear Him and make Him known.
Let’s be hearers and doers of God’s word.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 12 𝗽𝗺 𝗘𝗧.
Day #332-334: Rev. 1-5, Psalms 136-138, Eccl. 11-12
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓎: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
“When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”
Seeing Deep Blog by Denise Pass 