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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Friday Focus #43

Take Ownership

Psalm 7:3-5. I have not fully read through the Book of Psalm yet, but this chapter jumped out to me in my head. I read the chapter until I came across something that would be interesting to write about. While reading, a few verses jumped out to me. I had to get some background on them so that I didn't misunderstand what was being said. Here, David is speaking to God. He says, "O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil, or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust." David lets God know "if" I have done something wrong to his friend or done wrong to an enemy for no good reason, then he says let them overtake me and trample my life to the ground. I like that David even looks at himself saying "if I" where many of us would not. There is no "if I have done wrong" in many arguments, disagreements, and issues in our lives. It usually is finger pointing. When, not if, but when you go to God for your troubles, open up and give Him the chance to show you if you have done others wrong. Maybe the trouble that you are experiencing is due to something you have done, not everything everyone else has done. Be honest with yourself and allow yourself to take ownership for your own problems.

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Friday Focus #41

All Fall Short

We have heard "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But do we know what it means and where that verse applies and in what context it was written? First, it comes from Romans 3:23 which was written by the Apostle Paul. Secondly, the words right before the "for all fall" part are "For there is no distinction:" This was in reference to the disputes Jews were having about being "better" than gentiles and Greeks. Their thinking was that they were better because they were Jewish followers of Jesus, similar to how the Pharisees spoke to people and treated people. God is not making distinctions of this group of people or nationality is better than this one. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, welcome to the family. Period.

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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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Ephesians 3: Prayer for Spiritual Strength

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

Paul further cements previous points made about the church believing that they have power on their own accord. Paul tells them straight forward and then also shows them how to believe by demonstrating a prayer in Ephesians 3:14-16. Paul says "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." Look at how Paul  bows his knees before the Father. That is showing, honor and humility to one who is superior. He speaks on the riches of God's glory, not our own. It is easy to lose sight and think we can figure it all out and think we have all the answers, but to God be the glory. God grants us the strength and power through His spirit. It is not on our own.

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Ephesians 2: Saved By Grace Through Faith

Saved By Grace Through Faith

You can take credit all you want for your being saved. You can say that you kept the commandments. You can say that God favors you over others. you can say that your sins aren't that bad. But, ultimately, you're wrong. It is not your works that led you to be saved. Yes, it is up to you to accept the grace given by God through the blood shed, death and resurrection of Christ, but it was God's grace that even allowed that to happen. If someone gives you a gift, not a reward, you cannot take credit for that gift. A reward is something you earn for doing something. A gift is freely given. That is what Paul tells us here in Ephesians 2:8-9. Paul says "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." You cannot brag about your being saved. Give glory to God.

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2 Corinthians 12: Suffieceint Grace

Sufficient Grace

Paul continues discussing his short coming and his imperfections. He tells the Corinthian Christians about his experience in coming to Christ (but does not tell them it was him). In doing this he tells of this man's story and how it has inspired him, so to speak. Paul continues and says that he wanted his tormenting to be ceased and He asked God to take them away. Paul said God's response was that His grace was sufficient enough (2 Corinthians 12:9). We need to know that. We need to not focus on how "great" we think we are and give glory to God. I hear too much too often about who deserves what praise and who deserves what ridicule. If anything, we "deserve" ridicule for knowing the Lord and focusing back on ourselves and our greatness. Glory Be To God!

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Friday Focus #17

It Won't Last Forever

When I was a kid I had heroes and role models. Most of them (if not all of them) were athletes. Nothing wrong with being an athlete, but there are people who define themselves and hang on to their job or social status. That becomes the most important thing to them. How they are viewed by others or how they see themselves becomes far more important than having a life that is Christ centered. Eventually that earthly glory fades. If you don't believe me then look at the careers of Kobe Bryant, Jerry Rice, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. It won't last. No matter what you have done, it does not define you. There is something far more important than earthly glory which is the sacrifice that Jesus made for you.

In the story of the young rich man (Matthew 19:16-22) we learn that a young rich man asks Jesus what Good deed he must do in order to have eternal life. Jesus questions the man's view of good and then tells him that you must keep the commandments and he gets specific into which ones. Then the man replies and says he has kept them all and he needed to know what else he needed to do in order to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. The young man heard that and turned away from Jesus sadly because he had a great number of possessions.

This begs the question, what is holding you back from following Christ wholeheartedly? Is it that you are more dependent upon earthly things than submitting to God's will in your life? What is getting in the way of a full dedication to following Christ? Is it it pride? Is it thinking that you are "good enough" for Heaven? There is no good enough when it comes to us. There is either walking with Christ or not. It is your decision, not one that people make for you. Don't be like the young rich man who would rather have what is earthly than that which is godly (Psalm 40:8).

On the next Wednesday Wake Up we will go through Matthew 19:23-30.


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John 11:4- The Glory of God

The Glory of God

The more we read scripture the more we understand how Jesus was focused and how we should focus.

When Lazarus died, people thought that Jesus who had healed a blind man could have saved Lazarus from dying (John 11:37). Once again we see "naysayers" looking at things from the outside rather than with real righteousness (God's will). The focus is to glorify God through what we do, not appease people's opinions and thoughts on what we should do.

In John 11:4, Jesus said “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” That means this is not "it" for Lazarus. This isn't the end and God will be glorified through it. People came to Jesus in order for him to save Lazarus. He waited two more days before he left to see Lazarus. Why did he wait two days?? Look at it this way, the Pharisees were going to critique him and question everything Jesus does any way. If Jesus was to hurry and heal Lazarus, then the Pharisees could say that Lazarus wasn't really dying and probably would have attributed it to some medical anomaly. When Lazarus died Jesus was able to glorify the Kingdom through the Son of Man (himself) being able to resurrection and showcase the the power in him as he is God in the flesh.

I know it is hard to relate the works of Jesus and various parables to our life and see how we can see the sin in our lives and what in our lives is not focused on obedience to God.  I look at it like this, there are hard times and really, really tough times that we can go through in life and it just seems like there is no end to it and the world is crashing down around you. You cry out to God to save you and nothing happens. You pray day and night and nothing changes, or things get worse. Now you start to think "does God even exist or is He ignoring me?" Look at it this way, what am I doing in my life that is leading to death? Maybe not physical death, but maybe it is. Maybe it is emotional death? Maybe spiritual death? Jesus needs to be allowed to work in your life. That means you will need to see what it is he wants from you. You can believe all you want, but when you believe the actions follow. God wants you to follow Him and submit to Him. If you do not there will be more "death" in your life. It is time to submit to God's will for all parts of your life.

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Mark 10:45- Life as a Ransom

Life as a Ransom

James and John (two disciples) are asking Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand. Didn't he just finish telling them and the other disciples (Mark 9) that it was not about earthly glory and accolades? It is about serving.

In verse 45 Jesus breaks down what his life means. He says that he came to serve not to be served. Now, right there can end the discussion. He focuses on meeting others needs over trying to fulfill our wants. Our wants can be very selfish, while attending to the needs of others if far more selfless.

The second half of verse 45 is where it gets even more real. Jesus tells them that even he came "to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus dying on the cross for our sins freed us from the guilt and shame and eternal damnation of our sin. If you want to be free from sin's power over you, follow Christ and serve others. Recognize what his death on the cross meant for you and others and let that be your example.

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