Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
The Healing Power of God’s Smile
Scripture reading for September 14: Psalm 80:1-2, 16-19 “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock. You Who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. . . . .They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of Your face! But let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, the Son of Man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”
Asaph, one of the worship leaders of Israel, wrote this psalm as a testimony to be sung to God by His people. He began the psalm by addressing God as the ‘Shepherd of Israel,’ which would have spoken to the Israelites as many of them were shepherds and King David was also a shepherd. This ‘Shepherd’ was enthroned upon the cherubim in the place of highest honor and power at God’s right hand and His face reflected the unfading glory of righteousness and holiness. The psalmist asked that God would destroy those who had attacked Israel and burned it with fire. He asked that they perish by the rebuke of His face! As God’s smile brings blessing, so also God’s frown of anger means death.
But the psalmist interceded with God to put His hand on the Son of Man Who was seated at His right hand. This Son of Man was made strong to fulfill God’s plans and purposes. This Son of Man would save His people from their backsliding and restore them to eternal life. He would give them His Name to reclaim their lost authority. As the Lord of hosts, having all authority and power, the psalmist appeals to God to ‘let Your face shine.’ In amazing response, God sent the Son of Man, Who is now seated at God’s right hand and transforms believers into His glorious likeness!
Revelation 22:1, 3-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, . . .But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face . .”
Living by God’s Word
Scripture reading for August 19: Job 23:10-12 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.”
Matthew 4:4 “But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Job’s trial of extreme loss and then sickness approaching death was allowed by God to prove that Job served God for Who He was, not just for the benefits God gives those who trust Him. God knows everything about us, including the genuineness of our faith. We don’t have all the inside information of why God allows these tests, but they bring out of us amazing faith and confessions. Job confessed that God knew all about his walk of faith. Job was confident that when the test was over, he would come out like gold from the fire–free from impurities.
He had sought to walk closely with God and to keep His commandments. He stated that he treasured God’s Word more than his portion of food. This reminds us of Jesus’ confession when Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread after a forty day fast. Jesus stated that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) (Deuteronomy 8:3) Faith also comes by hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17) Job was revealing where his faith came from and how he knew his faith was genuine.
As we go through various trials, Peter tells us to rejoice in the testing of our faith. Faith is more precious than gold that is perishing as it is part of creation. Faith in God leads to eternal life and eternal joy–kept in heaven for us and soon revealed in Jesus’ return. “Come, Lord Jesus!” is the last prayer of the church recorded in Scripture! (Revelation 22:17, 20) Amen!
Cries up to Heaven!
Scripture reading for August 5: 1 Samuel 5:11-12 “They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.”
In today’s story from Scripture, the Philistines, enemies of Israel, had captured the ark of God and they were having great troubles everywhere that they took it. First they took it to the temple of Dagon and set it before their idol god. The next day, Dagon was lying on his face before the ark of God. They set the idol up again and the next morning, Dagon lay dismembered before the ark with the head and hands on the threshold of the temple. The people also noticed tumors growing on their bodies for God’s hand was heavy on them. There was great fear and panic in the whole city and countryside that caused them to cry out to heaven themselves. Their leaders devised a plan to move the ark of God out of their city. Offerings would be made of gold tumors and gold mice, five of them, for each of the lords of the Philistines. They put the ark on a new cart with two milk cows pulling it.
Have you ever had the ‘hand of the Lord’ heavy on you? These Philistines were Gentile idolaters but God had shown them mercy by coming near to them. They instead put God’s ark in their temple and continued their idolatry. Judgment from God fell and resulted in tumors and deathly fear and panic. They began to cry out and the cry went up to heaven. God showed them mercy in removing His presence and allowing them to continue in the darkness of idolatry.
As believers in Jesus, we are no longer under the curse of the law of sin and death. Jesus has bought and paid for our deliverance and for our healing. When attacked by cancer or disease, we go to our Father and He hears because He lives in us through His Holy Spirit. We trust His promises by faith. His hand is not heavy on us, but reaches out to lift us up and take us through! (Romans 8:37-38) Amen!
Messiah Suffered Silently
Scripture reading for July 15: Isaiah 53:7-8 “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of My people?”
Romans 5:8-9 “. . but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.”
Isaiah goes on describing prophetically the Messiah Who would come to save Israel, His people. This Messiah would come as an ordinary man, having no form or majesty that people would recognize. He would suffer oppression and be afflicted with suffering. Isaiah described Him to the people as a “Lamb that is led to slaughter” or “a sheep silent before the shearers.” The implication is innocence and willingness to be slaughtered or sheared! Jesus did not protest His innocence or promote the cause He was willing to die for. He humbly obeyed His Father’s plan.
It was justice that would take His life from the human point of view. The religious folks were plotting His death and setting up false accusations. They demanded a guilty verdict from Pilate and a criminal be set free. But it was to satisfy the justice of God that motivated the Messiah to suffer silently. God’s heart of mercy was demonstrated through the willing sacrifice of His only Son for sinners and rebels who pridefully oppressed Jesus and demanded that He be crucified. Isaiah again posed a question: “as for His generation, who considered that He was cut out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of My people?” The answer was most did not because they failed to believe God’s prophetic Word and receive revelation of the saving mercy planned through His Messiah.
Prayer: Father God, I am amazed that You would love us so much as to willingly and silently take the penalty for our sins in Your own Son’s body. Forgive me for remaining silent about this Good News. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and heart of mercy for the lost that I might proclaim Jesus as Lord. Amen.
Jesus our Sin Bearer
Scripture reading for July 14: Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned –everyone–to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit about seven hundred years before Jesus Christ, pours out the prophetic account of God’s plan to send His Messiah to earth on a mission. That mission was to save lost people from the consequence and penalty of their sins through substitutionary sacrifice. He has asked God’s people if they believed the report from God that he was delivering. This understanding would come by revelation from believing God’s Word.
Isaiah described the Messiah as One Who bore our grief and carried our sorrows. He would experience the life of fallen humans in a sin-cursed world full of sickness, disease, and sorrows of death. But those observing Him would think that God was punishing Him for His own sins. But the very opposite was what this Messiah would do. He would willingly be pierced for sinners’ transgressions, He would suffer crushing punishment for our own sinning. The beating that He would endure was for our own peace and the wounds He suffered would bring lost people healing.
Isaiah then noted that all of mankind were like sheep who had gone astray. Each person had turned away from God’s way to his own way of sin and self-will. Truly, all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23-24) But God’s plan through His Son, Jesus Christ was that our iniquity would be laid on Him. He would suffer the penalty of sin–death–on our behalf. Through Him we would be justified by faith in God’s Good News.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plan of redemption for all of us who have turned to our own way! Thank You for bringing healing and forgiveness and restoration of eternal life through the willing obedience of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. By His wounds, I am healed! Amen!
Day 2–Paul’s Anticipated Reward
Scripture reading for June 23: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
For many responders, our reward is to see those we are called to help find the relief that they long for. There is daily reward of those who thank us for help and the reward of our salary if we are paid. But God has promised those who believe in Him and Jesus Christ, His Son, something greater and more lasting.
Paul, the servant and apostle of Jesus, was facing death by beheading when he wrote his last letter to believers revealing his understanding. This was written down by God for us to give us hope and inspiration. Paul rejoiced in his life of faith. It was a fight, from beginning to end to stay true to Jesus and complete his assignment to share Jesus Christ with the Gentiles. He had suffered beating, shipwrecks, riots, hostilities, and imprisonment for his faith. God had been faithful to him, using him in each difficult situation to win souls, raise up new leaders, and plant thriving churches.
God had revealed to Paul that he would receive the crown of righteousness as his reward on the Day of Christ’s return. This award will be given by God to all believers who live by faith in Jesus Christ. Christ gives us His righteousness when we come to Him in repentance. We will be crowned with a special crown on the Day of Christ as a further gift of God’s grace. That is why we will cast our crowns at Jesus’ feet in worship and adoration. (Revelation 4:10)
Are you living daily in Christ’s righteousness? Are you fighting a good fight of faith by studying and applying God’s Word and commands? Will you be able to say ‘I have finished the race’ at your life’s end?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing this amazing reward promised to all who love Your appearing on that great Day. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and allow me to share this good news with all! Amen.
Day 2–Though Many We Are One
Scripture reading for March 24: Romans 12:3-6 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: . . .”
The body of Christ is composed of many members with various giftings and talents and abilities. Paul, writing to the Roman believers, encouraged them to hold their own giftings with great humility. It is God Who has blessed us with our abilities and gifts, we can claim little credit. We use our giftings by faith as acts of grace to bless and serve others. In fact, we belong to God and to each other in Christ’s body.
There are no big “I’s” or little “you’s” in Christ’s family. We are all on level ground at the foot of Jesus’ cross. He gifted us as He determined for His purposes and glory. One gift is not superior to the other so there is no reason for boasting or strife coming from pride and self-exaltation. We are to value each member and consider others of more importance than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3-4) We are to use our gifts to serve one another and those to whom God sends us. Our attitude of humility and loving and cheerful service reflects our Lord Jesus.
Unity and teamwork are valuable among those working together to help others. Pride and holding grudges cause attitudes that divide and and create tension. These attitudes are easily detected by those being helped and interfere with rendering needed aide. Each person should check their own heart and make necessary adjustments.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for bringing many and varied members into Your family. Help me to value each person you place on the team of responders I serve with. Give me grace to use my gifts to serve others and not as a means of gaining attention or controlling others. Amen.
Day 3–Jesus’ Gift of Peace
Scripture reading for March 11: John 14:25-27 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
First responders must be prepared to enter into the trouble and chaos of others involved in accidents, crime, sickness or disease. On top of that, each person has troubles of their own to deal with. In these Scriptures we uncover a Source of peace that helps us overcome each incident. God has made several key provisions for those who trust in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. He desires that all men and women enter into the perfect peace He offers. That peace comes when we receive and believe His Word. Faith comes into our hearts through this process. Jesus Christ came as the ‘Word made flesh’ (John 1:14) and He spoke His Word to those willingly following Him. “So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
But after Jesus gave His body and blood to cover and cleanse us from guilt and sin, Jesus rose again and told His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would live in each believer and personally teach each person the Word of God and help them to apply it through faith. The Holy Spirit would bring the fruit of peace. (Galatians 5:22) He would actually bring Christ Jesus’ own peace that gives comfort to us in the midst of the world’s troubles. It enables us to overcome those troubles and fears and walk in confidence. It is a gift from our Father and Lord to be received daily as we walk with Him.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing provision of peace given through the Words of Your Son Jesus Christ. Even more amazing is the Gift of Your Holy Spirit living in me to teach me God’s Word and manifest the fruit of peace through me to a world in trouble. Amen.
Week 8–Day 1–The Authority to Serve
Scripture reading for February 16: Luke 24:45-49 “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
As first responders, we need power at several levels to enable us to do our job. First, we are given authority to respond by becoming members of a fire department, sheriff’s department, EMT unit, or Highway Patrol. We are given official identification as members of the department and assigned under a command structure where we are accountable to a senior leader. We must have physical strength to do the job of handling heavy equipment, power tools, and driving trucks and vehicles. We learn the knowledge of what to do in various emergency situations and how to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships.
Jesus Christ equipped those willing to follow Him in each area with the authority and strength and understanding to do their job. He also taught them the importance of working together in teamwork and accountability. A major part of this empowerment was the promised Gift of God the Father, the Holy Spirit. The original disciples were told by the resurrected Christ that they must wait in Jerusalem for this ‘Promise’ and that they would be clothed with power from God’s throne itself. The purpose of this authority was to empower them to become witnesses who could effectively proclaim the Gospel message of forgiveness of sin through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
To be an effective member of a team of responders, we must understand authority. All of us are under God’s authority and those He has placed in authority over us. We voluntarily act in obedience to those over us and the framework of directives defining our mission. We are thankful for our leadership and support them fully.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for empowering those responding to You with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for those in authority that You have placed where You want. Teach us all to respect authority and work together to accomplish the mission. Amen.