Revelation 22: Worship God

Worship God

In having read through the entire New Testament there are chapters and verses I have had to read multiple times to understand parts to help me further understand the whole. I had to read through Revelation 22 a couple times and then a section of the chapter jumped out at me. Revelation 22:8-9 is significant as it clarifies the worship of the source and not the messenger. John, the writer and seer of the visions summarizes his experiences with the angel who showed him these things and he began to worship the angel. To me, this is a natural response to someone has helped you and revealed things to you that you now hold dear. For instance, you may praise the teacher aide for helping you understand math when you both have had the same teacher. Or you praise Jesus or angels and scoff at God. John, was not scoffing at God, but he did worship the angel and bow at its feet. The angel corrected John and told him that the angel is a fellow servant with (not above) John and the fellow prophets. We can do the same and focus on the messenger and not the message or even the source of the message. We need to remain focused on praising and worshiping God and not idolizing the messenger.

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Revelation 15: Victory Over the Beast

Victory Over the Beast

Revelation 15:2 shows the hope we have when facing the beast. I know many fear the book of Revelation due to the tribulation on the earth during the time of these visions, but there is victory. In verse 2 it says "And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands." Granted the victory is not for everyone, but for those that could conquer the beast and its image and its number. Those are the tribulation martyrs? Meaning those are willing to die for the name of the Lord.

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Revelation 10: The Seventh Angel

The Seventh Angel

The seventh angel swore by Him who lives forever and ever (God) that there would be no more delay and the mysteries of God would be revealed just as He announced to His servants the prophets (Revelation 10:5-7). This means that the inclusion of Jesus is a part of God's mystery.

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Revelation 8: The 4 Trumpets

The 4 Trumpets

There are more than 4 trumpets. there are actually 7, but this chapter only covers 4, so we will cover the others in the following chapters. More from this vision explains how there are 7 angels who stood before God and each of them had a trumpet. Each angel blew their trumpet which holds a special meaning for each one (Revelation 8:6-13). First, hail and fire mixed with blood hit the earth burning up all the grass and a 1/3 of the trees and 1/3 of the earth. The second trumpet being blown had a great mountain burning with fire (possibly a volcano) and it was thrown into the sea destroying 1/3 of the ships, 1/3 of the living creatures and 1/3 of the sea became blood. The third trumpet was blown and a star fell from Heaven and it fell on 1/3 of the rivers and on springs of water. The fourth trumpet created dark days as a third of the sun, moon and stars are blacked out and days were not as bright nor the nights. The end of times looks bleak with destruction of the earth's natural resources and dark for people, subsequently.

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Revelation 4: Four Living Creatures

Four Living Creatures

In the Book of Revelation, there is a lot of symbolism and deeper meaning within things said and written. It is not always a quick understanding of things, but when you look deeper and use a study aide, you can understand things better. For instance, I came across Revelation 4:7-8 which speaks of four creatures (lion, ox, man, and eagle) and each of them had 6 wings and eyes all around. That to me sounds like so0mething out of a sci-fi comic book from the mind of Stan Lee and the marvel Universe. But, knowing what I know and having read what I have read from scripture, what is on the surface is not always the answer. You MUST go deeper if you want to understand. The four creatures (according to Dave Guzik's studies @Studylight.org) could be "the cardinal virtues, the faculties and powers of the human soul, the patriarchal churches, the great apostles, the orders of churchmen, the principle angels, and so forth." Also possible are the head tribes of Israel or symbols of Jesus as he is represented in the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). No matter what they symbolize and mean, there is one thing that cannot be disputed and that is integral to growth as a church was them all "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" They spoke in unison and in agreement that the Lord God is Almighty, not maybe but is. They knew who the Lord is and was and knew that He was to come.

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Hebrews 13: What Pleases God?

What Pleases God?

In Hebrews 13:1-5 there are some issues pointed out that we as Christ followers will forever face as we are human and prone to mistakes and bad decisions no matter how much we follow Christ. We are told to continue loving like brothers, be hospitable to strangers, show love to prisoners (imprisoned for the sake of the gospel aka persecuted), honor marriages and be free from the love of money.When we love like brothers that means like someone is family and we treat them with the same love that we would family members. When we are hospitable to strangers (people we don't know including foreigners) we could even be entertaining angels. When we remember those fellow believers in prison by writing them letters and visiting them then we are showing them Christ like love as Jesus loved those imprisoned by their own sin or that of others, so we should do the same especially to those imprisoned for being Christ followers. Honoring marriages is another big one as we make commitments to God and our spouses in relation to what is scriptural. We are to keep our lives free from the love of money. We need to use money, but not love it as we cannot serve 2 masters. And through all of this we also must remember that God will never leave us or forsake us. We must stay true to His commands and direction.

 

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Hebrews 1: Radiance of God's Glory

Radiance of God's Glory

When the author (maybe Paul??) wrote that "the son is the radiance of God's glory (verse 3)" it sets up a picture painted with truth from scripture by understanding what has been written and what has not been. Jesus was not the same as an angel. Angels are not God's begotten son (verse 5). Angels were to worship God's son as referenced in verse 6. Lastly, angels did not sit at God's right hand (verse 13). Angels and Jesus are not the same. Only Jesus is God's only son, no one else.

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Wednesday Wake Up #33

No God or Know God

As I was reading through 2 Thessalonians the other night I came across a verse that was not your feel good fluffy and pretty scripture, but one that nails down what happens to those that do not know God and those who believe in no God. The verse was 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and in regard to Jesus and his angels coming back to earth it says "in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." Not so pretty is it? 

Why do we want to know God? Well, first we can know of something or someone. For instance I know of Michael Jordan, but do not know him personally (see where I am going). I can know that someone exists or intimately get to know someone on a deeper level, like a close friend or relative. We are to do the latter when it comes to God. We don't just know of him and kinda read and study. We need to stay focused on what He wants from us in all circumstances. Staying in 2 Thessalonians, in Chapter 3 verse 16 we see that God is referred to as the "Lord of Peace" and His peace can be with you all day when He is with you. You don't get that kind of peace by just kind of knowing someone.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tells those who are weary and burdened to come to him. That is key when Jesus says "come to" him. He does not say stay there and I will find you. If you want to be comforted, seek Jesus. Isn't a moniker of Jesus "the Prince of Peace"? That is so. Jesus's load is peaceful. He will not make you busy. People pleasing and living according to the world's standards will stress you the heck out. Jesus's yoke is light. Seek his peace.

 

There are a bunch of verses and retellings in scripture about knowing God. We can either pretend like God doesn't exist or we can seek His presence and read and know Him. Get into a deeper relationship with Him.

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1 Corinthians 6: Legality and Immorality

Legality and Immorality

Paul confronts the church on trivial lawsuits. Church members were suing other church members over trivial issues. Paul asks if there is no one wise enough among them that could handle the small stuff instead of going to the outsiders/unbelievers. His point is if we cannot handle the small stuff with each other (other believers) then how can we be entrusted to judge angels. Paul even suggests that let yourself be cheated in examples like this rather than going to the courts. This does not mean in all situations we should just let others cheat us and take advantage of us. That is not God honoring, but in trivial things do not go to the courts, just let it go. We need to change the focus from what is happening to us and remember what Jesus went through so that we could be reconciled to God. He was tortured on our behalf. He could have stopped it but knew that the prophecies would be invalid and God's will would not be done. God sacrificed HUGE for us. It is time for us to start sacrificing for His glory (Romans 6:1-8).

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul really breaks it down for us telling us/the Church in Corinth who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. He tells that neither the unrighteous (those not submitted to God's will) nor the sexually immoral, nor those who have false idols, nor those who practice adultery, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers (criticize in an insulting way) nor swindlers (scammers) will inherit the Kingdom of God. That is a long list? Why is it so long? I think it had to be because at the beginning of the section Paul says "do not be decived" which leads me to believe there were those who believed that they could do all those things and still get into Heaven. But I will take it a step further and say, if you do all of these things or even just one as a regular part of your life as an adopted practice, then is the Holy Spirit in you? The Holy Spirit will not lead you to scam people or cheat on your spouse or lead you to have homosexual relations. It is one thing to slip up, it is another to adopt it as part of your life and accept it and leave it for light (God) and dark (sin) cannot exist in the same place.

We are to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18) and treat our body as a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). That person you have been having sexual relations with, that isn't God honoring. Those drugs you have been doing are not doing anything good to your body. That is not God honoring. That food you have been eating and the exercise you have not had is not good for your body. That is not God honoring. One day we will leave this earth and we are not to ride our bodies into the ground full force but treat them well while we have them in order to show God we are thankful to him for what he gave us.

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Acts 12: Two Deaths and a Rescue

Two Deaths and a Rescue

King Herod was committing violent acts against members of the church including killing James (brother of John) with a sword. He saw that the Jews were happy about this and then went and arrested Peter as well. Herod is obviously not a man that was seeking God's will. (Acts 12:1-5).

The night before Herod was to have Peter killed, Peter was rescued by an angel of the Lord. The angel tapped him on the side, told him to get up and the chains came off. Peter got dressed and was led out by the angel. The gates to the city opened and the angel disappeared. Peter knew at that point that he was rescued by an angel of the Lord. Peter appeared to others and told them to be quiet about his rescue so that he would not be found. Then he went off to another place. When Herod found out that Peter was no longer in prison, he had the sentries (guards) killed (Acts 12:6-19).

Herod was upset with the people of Tyre and Sidon and they sought for peace with Herod because they got their food from Herod's country. They needed him. The day that he gave an oration (speech) them, the people shouted "The voice of God and not of a man." Herod took pride in that. They were saying that Herod was like a god and was not like a man. Herod took all the credit and God struck him down. The word of God continued to spread and Barnabas and Saul came back from serving and brought back Mark (Acts 12:20-25). 

What I learned in this chapter is that a person seeking to do God's will (like Peter) can be rescued. Also, just because you are doing God's will does not mean evil people won't hate you and come after (like James). Lastly, I learned that evil men will be struck down by God as Herod was. 
 
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Act 10: Cornelius, Peter and Partiality

Cornelius, Peter and Partiality

In Acts 10:1-8 we meet Cornelius who was a devout man who was a soldier in the Italian Army who gave alms to the poor, prayed to God continually and had a God fearing household. An angel of God appeared in a vision and told him that his prayers and alms have ascended and were seen as a memorial before God. The angel then instructed Cornelius to send men to Joppa and bring Simon Peter. After the angel departed, Cornelius followed through and sent three men to Joppa and even told them all what he had just encountered.

Cornelius was finally able to meet Peter,  who had a vision as well, but his vision was related to snakes, birds and reptiles and God saying "What God has made clean, do not call common" which was in relation to how Peter (a Jew) was interacting with Cornelius (a man from another nation) which was unlawful at the time. Cornelius knelt to worship Peter when he met him but Peter's humility reminded Cornelius that he too was a human and not God. Peter and
Cornelius being together was a part of God's plan and it tore down a human law that was not in God's will. It did not matter what their nationality was, it was only about God's will (Acts 10:34-35).

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Luke 1- God's Promises

God's Promises

I have seen in my own life how God's promises do hold true. I was reflecting yesterday on how one thing that seems horrible at one point can be an absolute blessing years letter in retrospect.

In treading through Luke 1, I kept seeing something pop up. It was God's word holding firm and being true. God said something and it became true. In verse 13 an angel of the Lord came to Zechariah (father to be of John the Baptist) and told him his prayers had been answered and he and his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son. Zechariah did not believe the angel (Gabriel) and for that was made mute (verses 18-20) until the birth of John.

Gabriel is the same angel that also told Mary (mother of Jesus) that she would give birth to a son even though she was a virgin. In verses 26-33, so much information is given about Jesus from not only his name but to how he will live.

In verses 62-64, as John was born, many were saying that he should be named after his father Zechariah, but he wrote on a tablet that "His name is John" which released his inability to speak. That is exactly what Gabriel said before that the inability to speak would last until John was born due to Zechariah's unbelief.

The thing I love about this chapter is that even when things seem impossible, Luke 1:37 reminds us of the truth that "nothing is impossible with God." Whether you are an old woman or an unmarried virgin, God can and will use you, if you let Him. Being out of God's will (as you may have read yesterday) is never helpful in your walk with Christ.

Another note, that really solidifies all that is embedded in why we follow Christ was that his birth fulfills prophecies that were stated and documented years and years before his birth. I read from Dave Guzik on Studylight.org who explains that when Gabriel spoke from God's presence about words being fulfilled in their time (section 4 subsection 2 c), he was referring to Jesus's birth and the surround prophecies that prove that Jesus is the messiah and not just a good teacher. Know that!

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Matthew 28- The Resurrection and Commission

The Resurrection and Commission

Matthew 28 takes us into the resurrection of Jesus and what he wants us to do with what we know about him and his life.

Even with the huge stone rolled on front of Jesus's tomb, he still rose from the dead as he said he would after he was crucified. An angel of the Lord rolled away the stone in front of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary (not Jesus's mom, but the one from Luke 10:38-42 who had the right idea) were the first to see the empty tomb. They were told by the angel to see the empty tomb and then go and tell the disciples. They got proof of his resurrection and then went and told others. See that? In verse 7, they went and "spread the word" of Jesus. They didn't just keep it to themselves. They went and told others.

They get to see Jesus in verse 9 and then after clasping his feet and worshiping him they did what he told them, which was tell his brothers to meet him in Galilee. While they did as Jesus told them to do, the guards who were to keep watch over the tomb were paid off to make up a story that Jesus's body had been stolen by his disciples. Greed and lies.

In verse 19, he tells them that he has been given full authority on earth and in Heaven and that we are to go make disciples of all nations. This means spread the word of Christ to all people, man, woman, child. California, Arizona, Europe, Africa, India, Asia. It doesn't matter. Spread the word of Christ. Jesus told us to do so.

 
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Matthew 13:49-50

Matthew 13:49-50 "So it will be at the end of age. The angels will come out & separate the evil from the righteous & throw them into the fiery furnace."  commentary- When Jesus explains the parables of the sowers, treasure, pearl of  great value, he is saying that those who will enter heaven are those who followed him & obeyed God's will. "The fiery furnace" which we understand is hell is where the evil/disobedient will go at the end of age. Jesus's words were not & are not to be taken lightly. You will see through much of scripture a common theme is "do God's will." Got it?