Revelation 1:5b-6
"To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Bound by sin, I am without hope. My sin always finds me out. My sin always ensnares me. It rules over me. I can't get rid of it. Suddenly in that perpetual, non-ending tunnel of dark sin, light appears. Who knew that one Man's blood could turn darkness into light? Sin into righteousness? Only one man's blood. The God-Man Jesus Christ. He loves me? He has set me free. Hallelujah!
There is a kingdom that is eternal; one that is superior to every kingdom established by man. A glorious kingdom with One true king; Jesus. He is the king; I am the servant. I rule with Him, not only in the future but right now in submission to Him.
I not only rule as king with Him, but I also serve as priest with Him. Outside of the indwelling presence of the one true priest, my priestly service is worthless, but because of His indwelling presence, I can do no less than serve as a priest to His Church by His indwelling character. Now I rule over sin (king) and serve those oppressed by sin (priest).
This Jesus, who constantly and unfailingly performs the Father's will, is the only One worthy of glory and dominion. As I have tried to dominate my own life and control His will, I have actually diminished His glory in my life. I must allow John 3:30 to become my hearts blood. I have no other purpose to tread the sod of this planet than to bring Him glory. His glory is manifested by His dominance over my will. "I surrender all!" Forever and ever and ever........so be it!
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Revelation 1:5a
Revelation 1:5a
"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Thank God that His faithfulness is not contingent on my faith. He (Jesus) is the only one who came from God. He is the only one who could witness with complete authority. I can trust Him (Is. 55:4).
Of course the "firstborn from the dead" speaks of His resurrection, but it also speaks of our own deaths and resurrection.
He died (first) that I might live. I really don't know where He came from or where He is going because I have never been there; I just know that He is and that He is good. He was that perfect Seed planted in His own garden that grew and died and spilled His blood on the ground that I might truly live. Now I must be born again (Jn. 3:3) that I might be raised with Him.
I am my own worst boss. I try hard, I do good, I fail miserably. I tend to set up kingdoms with non-human kings. Jesus is the one true King.
"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Thank God that His faithfulness is not contingent on my faith. He (Jesus) is the only one who came from God. He is the only one who could witness with complete authority. I can trust Him (Is. 55:4).
Of course the "firstborn from the dead" speaks of His resurrection, but it also speaks of our own deaths and resurrection.
He died (first) that I might live. I really don't know where He came from or where He is going because I have never been there; I just know that He is and that He is good. He was that perfect Seed planted in His own garden that grew and died and spilled His blood on the ground that I might truly live. Now I must be born again (Jn. 3:3) that I might be raised with Him.
I am my own worst boss. I try hard, I do good, I fail miserably. I tend to set up kingdoms with non-human kings. Jesus is the one true King.
Revelation 1:4
Revelation 1:4
"John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,..."
The seven churches were actual churches in John's time. They also represent periods of time in the church age. they are applicable to all churches today.
There can be no peace without grace and that only proceeds from that eternal, changeless God.
I never want to limit God, but neither do I want to be heretical. Seven Spirits? Is God one God in more than three persons? Isaiah 11:2 has been cited as a reference concerning the seven spirits of God, but I see one. "The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him - a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." My thought is that there is only one Spirit of the Lord (Is.42:1) with six attributes or characteristics. Be that as it may, the number seven is the number of completion. Genesis tells us that on the seventh day God rested (Gen. 2:2). There are seven churches mentioned here and seven Spirits. I believe that they are one and He is not only present in the churches, But He is also enough.
"John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,..."
The seven churches were actual churches in John's time. They also represent periods of time in the church age. they are applicable to all churches today.
There can be no peace without grace and that only proceeds from that eternal, changeless God.
I never want to limit God, but neither do I want to be heretical. Seven Spirits? Is God one God in more than three persons? Isaiah 11:2 has been cited as a reference concerning the seven spirits of God, but I see one. "The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him - a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." My thought is that there is only one Spirit of the Lord (Is.42:1) with six attributes or characteristics. Be that as it may, the number seven is the number of completion. Genesis tells us that on the seventh day God rested (Gen. 2:2). There are seven churches mentioned here and seven Spirits. I believe that they are one and He is not only present in the churches, But He is also enough.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Revelation 1:3c
"...Because the time is near"
So much interest in the Middle East, the rebuilding of the temple, etc. I just don't claim to know anything but Christ crucified. Yet in saying that, I don't want to be lethargic, but neither do I think that we should be speculative or even panic-stricken.
I believe that the time was near at the time of this writing and I believe that the time is near now. I should rejoice! The bridegroom is coming to get me! Time is irrelevant, yet it stands and knocks at my door. Time is cruel, yet it's on my side. "Come Lord Jesus!"
"...Because the time is near"
So much interest in the Middle East, the rebuilding of the temple, etc. I just don't claim to know anything but Christ crucified. Yet in saying that, I don't want to be lethargic, but neither do I think that we should be speculative or even panic-stricken.
I believe that the time was near at the time of this writing and I believe that the time is near now. I should rejoice! The bridegroom is coming to get me! Time is irrelevant, yet it stands and knocks at my door. Time is cruel, yet it's on my side. "Come Lord Jesus!"
Revelation 1
Revelation 1:3b
"...and keep what is written in it,"
O.K. so here it is - God is interested in our behavior? David was a man after God's own heart, but sometimes his behavior didn't reflect that.
When Jesus promised another counselor (Jn. 14), Judas (not Iscariot) asked the same question that we might ask today, "Lord, how is it that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Didn't Jesus come to save the whole world? Wouldn't He desire to reveal Himself to that whole world?
Turns out that Jesus is interested in our behavior because that is how we relate, how we communicate with our Savior. We are no longer separated from Him as the non-believer is. His desire is that all men would come to Him. But the one who actually does come to Him will keep His word and Jesus and the Father will come and take up residence in that believer. We can't just make a decision to keep the words of God and determine to do good and be good. The decision that we must make is to keep Jesus. He is the word. He becomes the desire of our hearts.
"...and keep what is written in it,"
O.K. so here it is - God is interested in our behavior? David was a man after God's own heart, but sometimes his behavior didn't reflect that.
When Jesus promised another counselor (Jn. 14), Judas (not Iscariot) asked the same question that we might ask today, "Lord, how is it that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Didn't Jesus come to save the whole world? Wouldn't He desire to reveal Himself to that whole world?
Turns out that Jesus is interested in our behavior because that is how we relate, how we communicate with our Savior. We are no longer separated from Him as the non-believer is. His desire is that all men would come to Him. But the one who actually does come to Him will keep His word and Jesus and the Father will come and take up residence in that believer. We can't just make a decision to keep the words of God and determine to do good and be good. The decision that we must make is to keep Jesus. He is the word. He becomes the desire of our hearts.
Revelation 1
Revelation 1:3
1:3a "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed is those who hear the word of this prophecy and keep what is written in it because the time is near.
The book of Revelation is truly a mystery. We need not concern ourselves with fully grasping all the speculation about the future. How many of us understand that God not only loves us but He wants to have fun and to be filled with Joy. The potential to live life to the full lies in complete surrender and service to the Savior. It's all a mindset. I desperately desire the mind of Christ. My own mind is so polluted with sin and evil thoughts. I must trust that tender beckoning heart of Jesus Christ (Is. 26:3) When I read aloud, I hear Him speak to me. How hard is that?
Prophecy can be a very daunting thing to me. Our timeline limits god. God is eternal (unlimited by time and space). When He speaks it has already happened even though it is yet to be. That is why we can trust the 100% accuracy of His word. Translations, even portions of scripture appear to contradict each other at times, but we can trust the Holy Spirit to speak to us through God's Holy Word.
1:3a "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed is those who hear the word of this prophecy and keep what is written in it because the time is near.
The book of Revelation is truly a mystery. We need not concern ourselves with fully grasping all the speculation about the future. How many of us understand that God not only loves us but He wants to have fun and to be filled with Joy. The potential to live life to the full lies in complete surrender and service to the Savior. It's all a mindset. I desperately desire the mind of Christ. My own mind is so polluted with sin and evil thoughts. I must trust that tender beckoning heart of Jesus Christ (Is. 26:3) When I read aloud, I hear Him speak to me. How hard is that?
Prophecy can be a very daunting thing to me. Our timeline limits god. God is eternal (unlimited by time and space). When He speaks it has already happened even though it is yet to be. That is why we can trust the 100% accuracy of His word. Translations, even portions of scripture appear to contradict each other at times, but we can trust the Holy Spirit to speak to us through God's Holy Word.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Revelation 1
Revelation 1:2
1:2 "Who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw."
The greatest testimony in a court of law is an eye-witness. The greatest testator is one that will make his will known. John validates himself and the other apostles in his letter in 1 Jn. 1:14. He shares what he has seen firsthand so that we might fully know the joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
1:2 "Who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw."
The greatest testimony in a court of law is an eye-witness. The greatest testator is one that will make his will known. John validates himself and the other apostles in his letter in 1 Jn. 1:14. He shares what he has seen firsthand so that we might fully know the joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1
1:1a "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..."
If I understand nothing else, I must come to the point that this Book is to bring me to an understanding of who Jesus is; the changeless One (Heb. 13:8). Yet we get a completely new perception into the depth of His character from those words spoken to John on the Isle of Patmos. This is my motivation for doing an expositional study of this Book. I want to know Jesus. I want to know Him well!
1:1b "which He gave to show His servants..."
Jesus said that "He no longer calls us servants, but friends..." (Jn. 15:15). Yet we must remain in the position of servanthood to the greatest Servant of all if we are to know Him and the fullness of His character. In order to truly understand this book, I must be emptied of myself and put on the mind of Christ. (Jn. 3:30-36)
1:1c "things which must shortly take place."
Shortly may be translated "swiftly" or "quickly". Jesus told us that it's not for us to know the times or the periods which God has put in His own power (Acts 1:9). We must be ok with the fact that it was that holy Other that set time in motion and our times are in His hands. As we watch at the window for the Bridegroom, we must forever be ready (Mk. 13:33). The word "time" occurs 562 times in the KJV. Time(ing) must be important in the Father's grand scheme of things, even though we who have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior are headed for a place that is timeless.
1:1d "He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,"
It would seem to me that, according to post-pentecostal theology, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (God Himself) would be a sufficient messenger. I sometimes wonder if the presence of sin in the believer's life obscures the indwelling presence of God. So much so that God must send an outside messenger (an angel). (Just a thought).
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