From A to Z

670.  "From A to Z"                  January 9, 2013
Revelation 1-Part 5
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  Rev. 1:7-8 KJV

LET IT GLOW

When I start to print out statements to our customers at the tire shop that have charged during the month, I tell the computer to print their last names that begin with A and all between, to any that begin with Z. 
So it is with God-The A and Z of life. He does care what comes between. He is our Creator, our Re-creator, our past, present, and future. All is in His hands.

Jesus tells John that He is:

• Alpha-the first letter of the Greek alphabet;used by the Jews for the chief of persons or things;
• Omega-the last letter of the Greek alphabet; all things are from Him and for Him; He was made the lowest state of humiliation;
• Beginning-(Before anything was created, Jesus existed.)
• End-(He is everlasting, without end, but will put an end to the devil and his demons, and the world as we know it now. His dominion is everlasting and His kingdom will not be destroyed.)
• Is-He is alive, existing now.
• Was-He was existing before time began and was there when everything was created because He did it. He was before all things and will remain beyond all things.
• Is to Come-He is coming a second time to earth to reign as King for a thousand years.
• The Almighty-His power is supreme over all cataclysmic events it records. He exercises sovereign control over every person, object, and event; not one molecule in the universe is outside that dominion. (MacArthur)

An alphabet is an ingenious way to store and communicate knowledge. The twenty-six letters in the English alphabet, arranged in almost endless combinations, can hold and convey all knowledge. Christ is the supreme, sovereign alphabet; there is nothing outside His knowledge, so there will be no unknown factors that can sabotage His Second Coming.  (MacArthur)

Jesus has a plan for history, directs path of human events toward His designed fulfillment. There is no blind fate, random meaninglessness. (Guzik)

Do I acknowledge Him as such?
Do I surrender to Him as such?

LET IT GROW

The second coming of Christ to earth in fulfillment of Old Testament prediction (Dan.7:13, Zech.12:10-14)) will be seen by all:

• kindreds of the earth at the time,
• every eye,
• Israel,
• the nations.

Jesus will be coming in the clouds. What a grand and magnificent manner of His entrance!

These clouds are no ordinary clouds but clouds of glory. In the Old Testament, God often manifested Himself in an energized, blazing light, called the Shekinah or glory cloud. No one could see it fully and live, so it had to be veiled. but when Christ returns, the glory will be completely visible. (MacArthur)

Am I looking up?
Are my eyes of expectation and faith looking for His coming?

LET IT GO

Get ready to leave all of this behind, soon He will take me home.

Trust in Jesus, The Almighty.

A Lively Hope

669.  "A Lively Hope"         January 8, 2013
Revelation 1-Part 4
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.   Revelation 1:5-6 KJV

LET IT GLOW

When I die, don't creamate me. Lay my body in a casket. I have a lively hope in being resurrected from the dead when Jesus comes to earth to reign, if I am dead at that time. I do like that description-a lively hope. This hope is alive and living inside of me-Jesus is the One in whom I put my hope and trust. He gives me that lively hope because He didn't stay dead, but arose from the grave, alive.

Webster's Dictionary defines lively as full of life; vivid, bright; bouyant, elastic.
Yes, my hope is full of life, not a dead hope or no hope, but lively. Can you tell I like the way Brother Henry described the hope we have because of Jesus' resurrection?

Looking at our verses, we can see that John answered the question:
Who is Jesus?

• He is the faithful witness. He was from eternity a witness to all the counsels of God (John 1:18), and He was in time a faithful witness to the revealed will of God, who has now spoken to us by His Son; upon His testimony we safely depend, for He is a faithful witness, cannot be deceived and cannot deceive us.
• He is the first begotten of the dead. He is the first-born from the dead, or the first parent and head of the resurrection, the only one who raised himself by his own power, and who will by the same power raise up His people from their graves to everlasting honor; for He has begotten them again to a lively hope by His resurrection from the dead.
• He is the prince of the kings of the earth. From Him they have their authority; by Him their power is limited and their wrath restrained; by Him their counsels are over-ruled, and to Him they are accountable. Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
•  He has loved us. He is the great friend of His church and people, one who has done great things for them, and this out of pure disinterested affection.
• He has washed us from our sins in His own blood. Sins leave a stain upon the soul, a stain of guilt and of pollution. Nothing can fetch out this stain but the blood of Christ; and, rather than it should not be washed out, Christ was willing to shed His own blood, to purchase, pardon, and purity for them.
• He has made us kings. Having justified and sanctified them, He makes them kings to His Father. As kings, they overcome the world, mortify sin, govern their own spirits, conquer Satan, have power and prevalency with God in prayer.
• He has made us priests unto God and His Father.  He hath given them access to God, enabled them to enter into the holiest and to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices.

[Resource: Matthew Henry's Commentary]

Jesus has freed us from our sins by His blood. NIV-verse 5
Brothers, you are a king; sisters, we are a queen. Through King Jesus, I am royalty.
Whenever I enter the throne room offering prayers, I am a priest by the High Priest Jesus' standards.
I am loved by the One who made everything-Awesome God.
Praise the LORD of lords and KING of kings!

Who is my King, the King of my life?
who is your King, dear one?

LET IT GROW

To Him, our Father God, be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Glory (doxa in Greek), means praise, honor; dominion (kratos in Greek) means strength, might.
(New Testament Greek Concordance)

Do I give God praise and honor that He deserves?
Do I rely on His strength?

LET IT GO

Praise God my heavenly Father and His Son Jesus every opportunity I get.

Depend upon His strength to carry on.

Proclaim with a  lively hope  the resurrection of the dead that is coming and Jesus' resurrection.

Letter Writing

668.  "Letter Writing"                  January 7, 2013
Revelation 1-Part 3
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.
Rev. 1:4 KJV


LET IT GLOW

How often do you write letters? With our modern technology, I either Facebook or email to people. Sometimes I call them, but rarely do I write a letter anymore. (To think, letter writing and telephoning were the main ways to communicate with people who lived away when I was a child.)
I can't imagine writing seven letters to seven churches, of which six were rebukes now days.

I noticed four things in this key verse that John says.
First, the seven churches to whom the letters were addressed existed in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Asia Minor had seven postal districts, whose centers were seven key cities which served as central points of information. Apparently they were singled out because John had ministered in them. It is to the churches in those cities that John writes-Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. (MacArthur)

These churches are chosen because of the specific characteristics in them. (Falwell)

Second, John is greeting those churches in Asia Minor with grace and peace. We refer to the grace of God as unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor. It is His grace through faith that saves us
(Eph. 2:8-9). It is the gift of God. There is nothing that we have done, will do, or even promise to do that can earn salvation. It is all the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. Precious grace is a relationship that offers us true peace that overcomes any trial and tribulations the world can bring. (Swindoll)

There can be no true peace where there is not true grace; and, where grace goes before, peace will follow. (Matthew Henry)

Third, this present peace and the future fulfillment of our salvation come from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Trinity). John called the Father the On "who is and who was and who is to come." In Exodus 3:14, I AM indicates God's complete transcendence over all history-past, present, and future. God is just as much in control of our unknown future and unnerving present as He is of our unpleasant past. (Swindoll)

God's eternal presence is not limited by time. He has always been present and will come in the future.
(MacArthur)

Jehovah is eternal, unchangeable, the same to the Old Testament church which was, and to the New Testament church which is, and who will be the same to the church triumphant which is to come. (Matthew Henry)

Don't we all desire grace and peace from the One who is, was, and is to come?


LET IT GROW

Fourth and last, John is sending grace and peace from the seven spirits which are before God's throne.
John isn't describing seven distinct Holy Spirits; there's only one Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:13, Eph. 4:4). In a vision of the heavenly throne room described in Revelation 4, John saw the Holy Spirit symbolically represented by "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne" (verse 5). Seven qualities of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Isaiah 11:2-3 are the Spirit:

1. of the Lord,
2. of wisdom,
3. of understanding,
4. of counsel,
5. of strength,
6. of knowledge,
7. of the fear of the Lord.

John is describing the infinite perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is a diversity of gifts and operations. He is before the throne; for, as God made, so he governs, all things by his Spirit. (Matthew Henry)

Do I seek wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord from the Holy Spirit of God? Ask and ye shall receive.

LET IT GO

Leave behind my own wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord, ask, and receive those from the Holy Spirit.

Seek the Lord for those things in my life.

Revelation

666. "Revelation"               January 3, 2013
Introduction to Revelation-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

In our local paper this week was a front page feature of a man who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and various committees. He has done many things throughout his political career and his name is well-known in our country. This man was born and raised within twenty miles of my home. He has  a degree from a Christian university and our state law school. Throughout the years, he has maintained his integrity and values while developing an influence within our nation. As I read about this local man, I realized John, who wrote Revelation, had many similiar experiences, was influential in public life, and in his service for his Lord Jesus.

Who is John?
John, nickednamed the "Sons of Thunder," (Mark 3:17) was one of Jesus' disciples and the author of the Gospel of John, as well as 1, 2, and 3 John. 

Where was John?
When John recorded what he saw, he was in exile for his faith on the tiny island of Patmos, which was located about 40 miles off the coast of Asia Minor. Patmos was a small rocky island in the Mediterranean Sea, about 35 miles southwest of Miletus.During the time of the Roman Empire, it was used as a place of banishment.

When did John write Revelation?
About AD 95 or 96, making Revelation one of the last books of the Bible to be written. This was during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian

What is Revelation?
It is a written record of messages, prophecies, and visions that John personally saw and heard.
(It was through divine inspiration that John wrote.) Revelation is considered a part of the canon of the Bible, since it carries divine authority and is normative for Christian abeliefs and behavior. Although it doesn't quote directly, its 404 verses contain about 550 references to the Old Testament.

Why was Revelation written?
It was written to show believers the things that will take place in the end times, with a view toward exhorting them to repentance and faithfulness. It was written for certain churches in Asia, but intended for other churches of that day and the church universal of all ages. It assurred final victory of Christ as the early church during Roman times experienced much persecution.

[Reference: Swindoll's New Testament Insights on Revelation, Liberty Bible Commentary]

What kind of influence do I have in my community?

LET IT GROW

Unlike most books of the Bible, Revelation contains its own title: The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In verse 1, we have the fivefold avenue of transmission of the Word is:
the Father to the son to the mediating angel to John the apostle/prophet to God's servants. (Falwell)

LET IT GO

Care, share, declare the Word of God and Jesus.

Tell what Jesus is doing in my life.

Blessings

667.  "Blessings"             January 4, 2013
Revelation 1-Part 2  
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.  Rev. 1:3 KJV 

LET IT GLOW

Do you want to be blessed? I surely do. Who doesn't? I think that when we question if we are blessed,  it depends on our perspective and position as to what we consider as a blessing. How can I say that I am blessed with having two diseases, Crohns and osteoporosis? Because I am alive and breathing to experience them, and have been for 11 years now. Yes, I am blessed. I haven't broken any bones, especially my weak spine in the last two years that I have been off medication. I am able to walk, run, skip, climb. I am not in a wheelchair. Yes, Lord, I am blessed! (I needed this lesson, since I found out yesterday the results of my bone density test and was down in the dumps. I'll have to start taking medication again to stop the deterioration of my bones.) Thank You Jesus for all Your blessings! He already knows that I was not happy about my diagnosis. Oh well, here we go again-another challenge in life. How do I react to it? Happy or down in the dumps? It's my choice.

Blessed (makarious) means supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, happy.
John wrote that the ones who read, hear, and heed the words of prophecy of Revelation would be blessed.

What does it mean to be blessed in the Biblical sense? One commentator says this about blessed, "It does not express superficial sentiment but instead the rugged and tested assurance that it is a good thing to be walking in the pathway of God's will."

Now that is where I want to be-walking in the pathway of God's will. I've walked on my own path, and it ain't no fun. (Pardon my slang.)

Did you know that the same Greek term, makarious, is used repeatedly by Jesus in the famous "beatitudes" found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:3-11?

Charles Swindoll says, "Revelation contains seven 'beatitudes' for believers, designed to provide hope and encouragement in the midst of trials." Here they are:

      Blessed are those who:

1. read, hear, and heed the prophecy (1:3). They will grow through its life-changing message.
2. die in the Lord (14:13). They will rest from labors and receive a reward.
3. stay alert and keep their clothes (16:15). They will not be ashamed for their lack of reward.
4. are invited to the wedding feast of Christ (19:9). They will experience everlasting celebration.
5. have a part in the first resurrection (20:6). They will never suffer or die again.
6. heed the words of the prophecy of this book (22:7). They will be ready for Christ's coming.
7. wash their robes (22:14). They will receive reward for their deeds.

We can't say that we have not been told how to be blessed. Yes sir-ee. I am blessed!

LET IT GROW

Now what was it John said in verse 3 that I needed to do in order to be blessed?
-Read Revelation.
-Hear the words of this prophecy.
-Keep (heed) the things written therein.

This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the person who listens to it being read and explained and, then, responds in obedience. (MacArthur)

Scripture can only be effective when applied in the life.  (Falwell)

Friends, there are some blessings awaiting us these next few, maybe several, months. If I want them, then I must read, hear, and heed the words in Revelation. Are you up for the challenge?

The time is at hand. Time refers to epochs, eras, or seasons. (MacArthur)

Are you ready to get started? I surely am.

LET IT GO

Open my eyes,
Open my ears,
Open my heart to see and hear
Words You speak,
Directions You go,
Obey the things
You tell me are so.

Thank You Jesus for Your blessings today!!!!!!!!

Recall

665.  "Recall"            January 2, 2013
Jude 24-25   Part 15 
Summary of Jude
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.   KJV

LET IT GLOW

Sometimes it is good to recall things and other times it is best to leave the past in the past. I can think on the many blessings which God poured out on me and my family this past year. These years seem to be flying by, don't they. Maybe it's because I am getting older. Can you believe it is 2013? Just yesterday it was the 1990's.

Here we read the benediction of Jude, the brother of James and half brother of Jesus. He wrote to encourage believers in Jesus to warn them of apostasy.

Jude causes us to recall some things about God that I often don't consider:

1. God is able to keep me from falling, which means not stumbling, standing firm, exempt from
    falling. (Thayer's Lexicon)

    The people of God are liable to falling into temptation, into sin, into errors and mistakes, from a
    degree of steadfastness in Gospel truths, and even into a final and total apostasy, were it not for
    divine power; and they are not able to keep themselves.
    (The New John Gill Expisition of the Entire Bible)

    However, I believe Christians are preserved by the grace of God.

2. Jesus is able to present us faultless before a Holy God. How? Believers that have trusted in Jesus as
    Savior, asked His forgiveness of sins, are clothed in Jesus' robe of Rightousness. It is a robe
    washed in the blood of the Lamb of Godwhich He sees us clothed in, not our filthy rags of sin.

3. Everyone will be joyful, Jesus who presents us, God who receives us, angels who observe us, and
    we who were sinners on earth. Will there be shouts of joy?

4. The only wise God our Savior Jesus, is part of the Trinity-Father and Holy Spirit. He is the author
     of all wisdom, natural and spiritual.
     "God is by nature a saving God, unlike the reluctant and indifferent false deities of human and
     demon invention. Divine wisdom is embodied by Christ alone and not by any human person or
     group, like the apostates," says The MacArthur Bible Commentary.

5. He is glorious in His deity, divine sonship, mediatorial works, and salvation!

6. He is majestic-King of kings and Lord of lords.

7. He has dominion over everything, both natural and supernatural, on earth, under the earth, and
    above the earth.

8. He is all-powerful, omnipotent. Eventually, every knee will bow to King Jesus and the evil devil
    will be defeated.

9. Both now and forever be glory, majesty, dominion, and power to our God.

Wow! He is The Great I AM.

LET IT GROW

John MacArthur has a profile of an apostate that summarizes the descriptions which Jude warned believers about:

• ungodly (v.4)
• morally perverted (v.4)
• deny Christ (v.4)
• defile the flesh (v.8)
• rebellious (v.10)
• revile holy angels (v.8)
• dreamers (v.10)
• ignorant (v.10)
• corrupted (v.10)
• grumblers (v.16)
• fault-finders (v.16)
• self-seeking (v.16)
• arrogant speakers (v.16)
• flatterers (v.16)
• mockers (v.18)
• cause division (v.19)
• worldly minded (v.19)
• without the Spirit (v.19).

I sure don't want to be like those false teachers.

* As I was reading for tomorrow's lesson, I found out some interesting history, which involves two grandsons of Jude. Domitian was an emperor at that time (90's A.D.). He followed the nortorious Nero in ruling the Roman empire. Here is what Charles Swindoll, the author of Swindoll's New Testament Insights on Revelation said:

Domitian, afraid of the kingdom of God and wanting to rid the world of any threats to his own power, sought out the known descendants of King David. He called in two grandsons of Jesus' brother Jude for questioning regarding the nature of Christ's kingdom and whether they wrere heirs to the throne. To Domitian's surprise, however, these Jewish Christian relatives of Jesus explained that the kingdom they believed in and proclaimed was not earthly but heavenly, and it was to be established at the end of the world. Additionally, the two had little monetary worth. After showing the emperor their empty pockets, he released them from custody.
 

I pray that my children and grandchildren will continue to have faith and serve our Lord Jesus throughout their lives. This is the type of lineage I desire. How about you?

LET IT GO

Let go of grumbling and fault finding, worldly mindedness, ungodliness.

Thank Jesus for being all-powerful, all wise, and ever present.

Praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Give God all the glory due Him.

Share Jesus and His salvation with my grandchildren.

*Revelation is our next study. Are you up for the challenge? Pardon me if I appear a little hesitant.

Needful of the New

664.  "Needful of the New"                January 1, 2012
Jude 22-23     Part 14
And of some have compassion, making a difference; And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  KJV

LET IT GLOW

Here we are, the first day of a new year! I feel refreshed, even though life and circumstances are still the same as they were yesterday. Maybe it's the hope for better, putting away last year's struggles, burying problems of woe, having the Lord chisel off the not-so-good from me.
Maybe it's the excitement of NEW being available. New what, I don't know. Just NEW. Fill in the blank.
I need a new _______________, Jesus.

If I were finishing that sentence, I can think of several possibilities:
I need a new  healthier body, a new heart of joy,  stronger faith, surrendered will, encouraging way, outspoken witness of evangelism, and more songs of praise to my Savior, not to mention the physical things.

Of what are you in need? Why don't we ask Jesus for them?

The John MacArthur Bible Commentary says the word some indicate three possible groups:

1. Sincere doubters who deserve compassion,
2. Those who are deeper in unbelief and urgently need to be pulled from the fire,
3. Those declared disciples of apostasy who still deserve mercy, but are to be handled with much fear, lest the would-be-resuer also be spiritually sullied.

He goes on to say that these three groups are more likely scenarioes.
Am I alert to such people, whose doctrine or unbelief in Jesus are in need of hearing the Truth of Jesus?

LET IT GROW

What can I do to help those people?

• Show compassion, which means to succor one afflicted or seeking aid (Thayer's Lexicon); compassionate by word or deed, specifically by divine grace (Strong's Greek Dictionary of the New Testament);
• Make a difference. Share and care; love our neighbors; help those in need.
• Help others find salvation in Jesus.
• Show mercy.

These victims of the apostate teachers need mercy and patience because they have not yet reached a firm conclusion about charist and eternal life, and so remain doubters, who could possibly be swayed to the truth. (MacArthur)

Have mercy onn those who waver in doubt; save those you can by snatching them, as it were, from the flames. show mercy in godlly fear, although you hate the clothes they wear, stained as they are by the flesh. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

We are to confront those who doubt, or convince them by patient instruction. Flirting with falsehood is like playing with fire. When we reach out to those engulfed in the flames of apostasy, we save them from destruction. We are to approach people in need with mercy and with fear. (Charles Swindoll)

We are to love the sinner, hate the sin.

I can always show more compassion toward others.

LET IT GO

Have a renewal of spiritual matters.

Love Jesus and others.

Let go of bitterness and unforgiveness.

Show more compassion.

*Happy New Year, friends!