Revelation 14: The Messages of the Three Angels

The Messages of the Three Angels

Three angels were seen in this vision. The first angel spoke to all the nations and brought forth an eternal gospel and said "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." The second angel said "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality." The third and final angel followed and gave warning not to have the mark of the beast or recipients will feel God's wrath. The take away from all three angels is that there is an eternal gospel, people need to flee sexual immorality and do not be fooled by the beast nor receive its mark. 

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Acts 27: The Storm and Shipwreck

The Storm and Shipwreck

While traveling at sea, a stormy wind called a northeaster struck the ship. They could not fight it and had to let it control them. Fear struck the men aboard as they thought they would run aground (crash) so they began to get rid of cargo one day. The next day they started to get rid of the ship's tackle. Many days passed and the storm persisted and the storm did not let up and they lost hope in being saved (Acts 27:13-20). 

In verse 21-26 Paul assures them that he has faith in the Lord as God has saved him from before in regard to being killed and imprisoned and being able to state his case before Caesar. In verses 30-32, some men wanted to jump ship but Paul let them know that if they did, they would not be saved and the men due to their trust in Paul cut away the small boat attached to the ship for just such situations. Paul continues to encourage the men and gather them together to eat. All in all there were 276 people and after they ate that lightened the ship as the threw the remains overboard. They eventually shipwrecked, but all men were saved just as Paul had stated in the Holy Spirit.

Overall, this all reminds me of Proverbs 3:5. The men did not want to trust in God or even speak to God, they just reacted to what seemed natural. Just because it seems like the best option, without consulting God, then it may not be an option for you at all. If those men had taken a small boat instead of a large ship that fit 276 people on it, then what good would a small boat be in that storm. When in fear, look to God. Ask Him for direction. Ask Him to lead. We can lean on our own feelings and make decisions, but it is not always the best way.

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Friday Focus #14

The Open Doors of Freedom

Now that I am taking steps to live outside of my "box", I recognize my freedom. This is not just freedom in the choices I make, but the freedom from that which I fear. I feared heartbreak, broken relationships, and not getting what I wanted in life. I even feared being humbled from being wrong. But the perfect life where everything goes my way is not realistic, and it is not what scripture teaches us either. We are taught to follow Christ and submit to God's will in our lives.

I wanted freedom from fear, yet I did not ask. I didn't ask God for His strength in my daily life. I just adjusted my life based on what I thought the right decisions would be, yet it was not based in Biblical principles. We know about "Ask, Seek Knock" from Matthew 7:7-12. If it is in God's will and I ask Him for it and seek it and knock on the door it will be provided to me. If it is not in God's will then there may be a problem with my motives.

I wanted to be free from condemnation. If anyone person or group of people condemned me for a dream, goal or a sin I committed or if I felt they did not support me, into the "box" I would go. Jesus wouldn't condemn me or want me to go inside my "box." Not once have I ever read about Jesus condemning people for their sins, only calling out hypocrites who used God's word to undercut others for personal/political gain (like the Pharisees did). We read in Romans 8:1 (one of my favorites) that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. I am free from the condemnation and judgment from others (we are not called to condemn Luke 6:37) and I am free from the condemnation of sin. Others look at the outside and do not see the heart as God does (John 7:24).

But with my freedom, I need to also be responsible. Just because I am coming out of my box it does not mean that I should run around and do all the things I want to do either. Yes God will forgive me when I repent, but what about my influence on others? What I do in my life can definitely affect others. I read in 1 Corinthians 8:9 about being careful that just because I can do something, I need to be careful not make another brother or sister in Christ stumble. While learning myself in God's will, I need to check my influence on others and make sure that I am in His will and not my own.

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Wednesday Wake Up #14

Living in a Box

I was driving home the other night and was thinking to myself about some of the patterns I have in my life. One of these patterns is living in a box. Not a literal box, but a figurative one. There are fears that I have that have been in control of decisions I made. I rationalized these decisions and utilized the boundaries I created in order to keep the "worst" from happening. There is nothing wrong with boundaries, but when the boundaries are outside of God's will, that's where the problem lies.

When we read 2 Timothy 1:7 we know that God did not give us a spirit of fear. God does not want us to live in fear, especially when we are doing things that glorify Him. There would be no need to be fearful when God tells you to do something to glorify the Kingdom. That fear can come from not thinking you are good enough to do it. Or that fear could come from thinking people won't like what you are doing. But, God can use imperfect people to get His message across (2 Samuel 11 and Matthew 1:6). And what we do for God isn't about how everyone will take it (Matthew 10:28). We are not people pleasers. We are servants to the will of God, our King.

Now, as I move forward in live I see that the box was supposed to be keeping me safe, but it was also keeping me from living life and living it abundantly in God's will (John 10:10). It kept me from doing what God wanted me to because I was not thinking how God wanted me to think. When I am in tune with Christ like thinking on God sized goals, I have no reason to fear. Maybe that fear was from Satan to keep me from being one with God, but we need not fear as we walk with God (Isaiah 41:10).

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Matthew 14: compassion, disbelief & faith

Matthew 14:14 "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, & he had compassion on them & healed the sick." commentary-  Have you ever just wanted to  get away for a vacation or the death of a friend or loved one (verses 1-13)? No matter what we are going through there are still things we can say or do that honor God & keep us humble in serving others. Jesus went to get away but still saw a need people had & met their need. He had compassion & didn't make himself the focus. (compassion)

Matthew 14:16 " But Jesus said, “'They need not go away; you give them something to eat.'” commentary- The disciples did not believe that all the people who wanted something to eat could be fed with what food was available. With Christ, it was possible. We don't go to Christ enough when things seem bleak. We complain and get scared and don't ask God for help. But when we utilize God's power then how can His will not be done? (disbelief)

Matthew 14:31 "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" commentary- Jesus called Peter out to walk on the water with him. Jesus wants us to do something amazing and unbelievable in the sight of man. Peter apprehensively walked out on the water and sank. Jesus saved him. When we take our eyes off of Christ and focus on our worries and apprehensions, we cannot do it the right way. We will "fall." Jesus calls Peter out saying he had little faith. This is not the same as the faith of a mustard seed which is small, but is also full of growth. Peter lacked faith and what little faith he had was overcome by his apprehension. When we fall is when we tend to look back up at Jesus instead having kept our eyes on him in the first place. (faith)

What is going on in your life right now where you can bestow some compassion on someone amidst your busy schedule?

Where in your life do you see that you lack faith? You think God isn't with you and you can't see His hand, but He is sticking it out to show you the way and that you are to have faith in Him.