Category: Revelation–BibleTrekToday
Sunday Rest: God’s Life-giving Word!
Dear Friends,
Greetings on this wonderful day of rest in Jesus Christ! Here are some great Scriptures to reflect on as we enjoy our time of rest today. It’s simply God’s breathed out Word carrying His Spirit and Life eternal!
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law.” “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8,10
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:17-18
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made know through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen!” Romans 16:25-27
In His Love, Pastor John
Those who call to Jesus find salvation!
Scripture reading for November 20: Romans 9-16
There are some people in religious circles who believe in universal salvation. In other words, no one will be lost. They contend that God is good and He would never send anyone to hell who is made in His image. If you take only the verses on God’s love and twist your reading of Scripture, you could justify this position. However, this is not the teaching of the Scripture! Paul is explaining in Romans 9-11 how God plans to save the Jews, a very religious people who had the right of adoption as sons, the covenants, the law and temple worship, and all the promises. Although they had all this, they still needed to come to God by faith in His Son Jesus Christ!
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13
Salvation begins in the heart. It is with the heart that we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. We believe that He died for our sins on the cross as the Son of God, descended from Abraham in the flesh through the son of promise, Isaac. We simply believe in God’s mercy through Christ, not in our works to be right. When we believe, we are justified by faith just like Abraham and Sarah. Our believing is counted as righteousness in our heavenly account because of what Christ has provided in His death, burial and resurrection.
Because we believe in our heart, we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord! Confession is not a work that we must do. It is the natural flow of a heart that believes and is fully persuaded about Jesus Christ! It is an outworking of faith. We confess Jesus as Lord and live in submission to Him and His Word.
Faith puts both Jew and Gentile on the same level ground at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. Believing opens the door to all who will call on the Lord for saving! If you refuse to believe and confess Jesus as Lord, you will be lost eternally! If you have called on Jesus for salvation, take time and thank Him for His marvelous gift. If not, today is a great day to do so! It’s available to everyone who will choose.
Abba! Father!
Scripture reading for November 19: Romans 6-8
God has given fathers the responsibility of modeling the character of God, the Father. They are to teach their children how to love, serve, and give their lives to God and others. Sin has marred this process so that many times fathers teach the opposite to their children. Children hate their fathers or in many instances don’t know their father or want to. In Romans 8, Paul teaches us about the new relationship that salvation brings with our heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings that we may also share in His glory.” Romans 8:15-17
When we repent and invite Jesus to be Lord of our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We are adopted into the family of God. The Holy Spirit gives us a deep understanding that we are children of God and our inner man cries out, “Abba”, which is the Greek word for “Daddy”. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9) He told them that He only did what his Father showed Him to do. (John 5:19-20)
We become “co-heirs” with Christ in the Father’s family! (Romans 8:17) This means that we are in the will! We have an inheritance from our Daddy’s estate! God owns everything! He made the universe, stars, planets, and every living thing visible and invisible! He rules as King so we are heirs of the highest royalty! This truth is beyond comprehension with our natural mind! We must have revelation to grasp what God has given us! (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
There is one stipulation that is often overlooked: we must be willing to share in His sufferings. When Jesus lived on earth, He suffered temptations and overcame them by the Holy Spirit. He suffered persecution, physical torture, and even death because of His willing obedience to the Father Who loved Him and us. He loved us enough to endure the pain and shame of crucifixion so that we might be adopted into Father’s family! (Hebrews 12:1-2)
As you go through your day today, take time to talk to your “Abba” and tell Him how much you appreciate what He has provided! Take any inconvenience or suffering as opportunity to thank Him for the coming glory and your future eternal inheritance!
Our God is able!
Scripture reading for November 18: Romans 4-5
Faith always has an object and that object is God! God alone is trustworthy and faithful to His word. If He said it, He will do it! He has the power to do whatever He says He will and the character of never lying! Paul writes to us today about Abraham and Sarah and what they discovered in their journey with God.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it has been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead–since he was about a hundred years old–and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised. This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.'” Romans 4:18-22
Sometimes things look impossible to the natural eye. When Abraham and Sara left their home to go to Canaan, God told them that He would give them offspring. (Genesis 15:4-6) In fact, their offspring would number more than the stars in the sky! Abraham believed God and it was counted as righteousness!
Time passed and they tried to produce the offspring. Nothing happened and they were getting older. Sarah gave Abraham her maid and she conceived a son, Ishmael. They thought that perhaps this child was the promised seed, but God visited them again and told them that in their old age that they would have a son from their own bodies! This seemed so impossible that Sarah, listening to the angelic visitor, laughed out loud! (Genesis 18:10-15) However, God restored their bodies and they had the child, Isaac, whose name means “laughter’! God’s Word is good and He is faithful! He has the power to do whatever He says!
Faith is not difficult. It is simply coming to the point of being fully persuaded that God is faithful! What He has promised, He will bring to pass! If you have heard Him promise you a child, believe it and prepare for a child! If He has shown you it is time to move to a new city and preach the Gospel, pack up and head out! Your faith is counted as righteousness! How marvelous is the grace of our amazing God!
God gave them over!
Scripture reading for November 16: Romans 1-3
My wife and I have raised 5 children, each born with a sin-nature and self-focus. Part of the job of parenting is to set boundaries and not allow the children to have everything they want. Their own way could be dangerous and lead to injury or possibly death. As parents our goal was to instruct our children to make wise choices that would enable them to go through life with God’s blessing and favor. This meant teaching them to love the Lord Jesus and His Word.
In Romans, the Apostle Paul described God’s discipline of those who refuse to acknowledge Him and His righteous action to discipline their lives. God made Himself known to all men through nature. (Romans 1:20) When men, made in God’s image, refused to acknowledge the truth about God as Creator, they come under God’s wrath. God’s wrath is His holy anger against sin and rebellion. God’s wrath is something that is happening on a continual basis and also something experienced eternally by those who die in a lost state after the final judgment.
As a result of suppressing the truth about God that God revealed to them through nature, men become darkened in their hearts and their thinking becomes futile. They imagine themselves as the center of all things and think they are wise and intelligent. This foolish thinking leaves God out and puts man at the center. When man chooses this route, God’s response is to give them over to what they desire in their darkened hearts. “Have it your way!” might be another way to say it!
As a result of being given over to their desires, men exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship created things rather than the creator. (Romans 1:25) Every kind of sin and wickedness flows into the life that suppressed or blocked out God’s truth. The sexual sins begin to predominate, degrading into fornication, homosexuality and lesbianism. Those ‘given over’ not only participate in this wickedness but encourage others who also practice this same kind of wickedness so as to normalize their choices! (Romans 1:32)
As we look at our nation and it’s spiritual state, we can see that God has given many people over to their own lusts and darkness. Much light is available, but men and women refuse light and choose darkness. God forces no one to follow truth, but offers truth to all. He wants none to perish and has made provision for all who will choose salvation. The power of the Gospel message offers righteousness by faith to all who will believe! (Romans 1:16-17) Lord, have mercy on our nation!
The power of a testimony!
Scripture reading for November 13: Acts 21-23
Have you had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ? How did it impact your life? The Word of God tells us that we overcome the accuser, Satan, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! (Revelation 12:11) Our testimony helps us and God uses it to reach others. Many people have been won to the Lord through the power of a testimony!
Paul had gone to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and had taken Trophimus the Ephesian with him. He went through the temple purification rites for seven days and went to the temple to verify that the appropriate offerings had been made. There Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul and Trophimus and began to stir up a riot. They aroused the city and men came running and seized Paul and drug him out of the temple, and began to beat him, intending to kill him!
The Roman guards heard the commotion and stopped the beating, putting Paul in chains. The commotion of the crowd was so great that they had to literally carry Paul back to the barracks. The crowd was shouting, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:33-36) Paul asked the commander of the guard permission to speak to the crowd. He gave Paul permission to address the crowd.
Paul simply shared his testimony of his own encounter with Jesus Christ. These were his people and quite likely some of the same people who had earlier demanded the death of Jesus Christ. Many were likely their descendants for this was over twenty years later! In sharing his testimony, Paul told this hostile crowd about his own anger against Christ and His followers. (Acts 22:3-5) He told them how he was struck blind and Jesus spoke to him, giving him instructions. He told them of his healing and call to go to the Gentiles. At this point, the crowd turned on him again and demanded his death!
What can we learn from Paul sharing his testimony? We remember that Paul, himself, was touched by Stephen’s testimony on the day he was martyred! (Acts 22:20) We learn how our testimony helps others to relate to us and us to them. It offers us a way to share our personal encounter with Jesus Christ. The results are always up to the Holy Spirit and often they may not appear positive at first! Try sharing your testimony with someone today as the Holy Spirit directs! You will be blessed and obey Jesus!
The Crowning of the High Priest
Scripture reading for September 28: Zechariah 5-6
Our goal during these devotions on God’s Word is to see Jesus Christ in every book of the Bible. Zechariah, other than Isaiah, has more references to the coming of Jesus and His ministry than any other prophet. In today’s reading we have more of the eight visions that God gave Zechariah to encourage the workers who were rebuilding the temple and city of Jerusalem. Eight is the number of ‘new beginnings’.
Zechariah had already mentioned the ‘Branch’ Who was symbolized by Joshua, the High Priest. This ‘Branch’ would come and be fully obedient to God and take away the sins of the nation in a single day. (Zechariah 3:8-9) The High Priest symbolically did this on the Day of Atonement each year. He went behind the veil of the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood of a lamb on the mercy seat. His offering of blood was for the sins of the nation. (Leviticus 16:15-17)
In today’s reading, Zechariah saw another vision of powerful horses going throughout the earth. (Zechariah 6:1-6) One of the horses went toward the North and reported rest being brought to God’s Spirit. Zechariah then was told to take silver and gold from the returned exiles, make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the High Priest. He was to say to him: “Here is the Man Whose Name is Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the Lord. It is He Who will build the temple of the Lord, and He will be clothed with majesty and will sit on His throne. And He will be a Priest on His throne and there will be harmony between the two.” (Zechariah 6:12-13)
As we reflect on this vision in light of the life and current ministry of Jesus Christ, we see that the ‘Branch’ is again a picture of Jesus Christ Who was and is both Priest and King! He is our “High Priest” before God, there interceding for us. (Romans 8:34) He is the “King of Kings” Who is coming in power to claim His bride, the church, and punish His enemies. (Revelation 19:11-16)
We are encouraged by these ancient visions today because of the revelation of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Jesus, our Priest and King, is praying for us today. He has given us the Holy Spirit and we have overcoming power to share with the lost world the good news of His coming again. We are watching for His return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Our faith and faithfulness will crown Him when He comes! (Revelation 4:9-11)
Protected by a ‘Wall of Fire’!
Scripture reading for September 26: Zechariah 1-2
Zechariah began his message with a word from the Lord to Israel. The Lord had been angry with their forefathers because they would not respond to His call for them to return to Him. For years prophets had been sent with a simple message calling for repentance from evil and idolatry and a faith response of obedience toward God. But the people of God would not respond so God’s Word, which promised consequences and curses for disobedience, overtook them! (Deuteronomy 28:15) People just can’t outrun the Word of the Lord! (Zechariah 1:6)
Zechariah then was given a night vision of a man riding a red horse. This rider was followed by riders on red, brown and white horses. As he asked the Lord for understanding, an angel answered him. These horses and riders were ones that the Lord had sent throughout the whole earth and they reported back that the world was at rest and peace. The angel then turned to the Lord and asked Him a question: “How long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem?” (Zechariah 1:12-13) (Revelation 6:1-7)
The Lord answered the angel with encouraging words about Jerusalem. He was jealous for Jerusalem and would return to Jerusalem with mercy. The temple would be rebuilt and the measuring line again stretched over the city in order to build the wall of protection around it and keep it secure. Prosperity would again flow to God’s people and God, Himself, would comfort them. (Zechariah 1:14-17) (Revelation 11:1-2)
It sounded good, but in the vision four horns appeared. Zechariah was puzzled and asked their meaning. They represented the nations that had lifted their power against Israel and scattered them. (Zechariah 1:18-21) They would be thrown down by spiritual forces of the Lord in the heavenly realm. A spiritual conflict would go on as the temple was rebuilt, but God’s people would succeed!
God’s people would succeed because their protection was not just physical walls! In fact, Jerusalem would be a city without walls! God, Himself, would be a “Wall of fire” around the city and its Glory! (Zechariah 2:4-5) What a glorious vision of encouragement to those who had by faith come to rebuild the city! God’s promises can be depended on and faith lays hold of them. God further stated that His people were the “apple of His eye” and that He would deal with anyone who would oppose them!
Are you fearful today? Do you need a word of encouragement? Read Zechariah 1-2 and let God speak vision and encouragement! He is your Wall of fire and Glory forever!
The belly of the big fish!
Scripture reading for September 17: Jonah 1-4
Jonah was a prophet of the Lord who was given orders by God to go and preach to the city of Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the super-power of Jonah’s time whose inhabitants were known for their cruelty. They routinely killed, tortured and mutilated those they conquered! It is said that they impaled people on stakes and piled up heads in great pillars to spread fear and boast of their power.
Our prayers move the hand of God but so does wickedness and cruelty towards the poor and oppressed! (Jonah 1:2) God’s heart is for righteousness and He has promised retribution for sin. His wrath is ongoing towards sin and is being revealed daily in the earth. (Romans 1:18) It will be revealed eternally in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15) But God does not pour out wrath without first giving warning and an opportunity to escape. He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone but would rather show mercy!
Jonah was sent on a mission of mercy to a wicked people. He chose not to obey and, to avoid God’s command, boarded a ship going in the opposite direction. During the course of the journey, God sent a great wind to buffet the ship. The wind obeyed the Lord when Jonah wouldn’t! The sailors cast lots to find out the one causing the trouble and Jonah was exposed! Jonah told the men he was running from the Lord. He told them to throw him overboard and the sea would calm down. It worked!
As Jonah sank down into the sea, God appointed a great fish to swallow him up! We can only imagine the smell and cramped quarters! A feeling of helplessness must have gripped Jonah! For three days and three nights he wrestled with his own heart and finally decided to pray and give himself to obey the Lord! What a beautiful prayer of repentance Jonah made! (Jonah 2:2-9) The Lord spoke to the fish and Jonah was vomited up on the shore of Nineveh! The ironic part of all of this is that the Ninevites worshiped Dagon, the fish god! When Jonah came out of the fish, they thought that their ‘god’ had sent him! As he preached repentance, all of them humbled themselves!
Jesus used the sign of Jonah to tell people that He would be buried for three days before His resurrection! (Matthew 12:38-41) We learn that God is sovereign and that creation obeys His commands! How much more should we, who are made in His image, obey Him! If you hear God calling you to follow Him, why not avoid the belly of the big fish?
Multitudes in the valley of decision!
Scripture reading for September 10: Joel 1-3
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; The earth and sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for His people; a stronghold for the people of Israel.” Joel 3:14-16
This book of Joel is an appropriate reading for our day! Joel was a prophet of God who spoke to God’s people during a terrible plague of locusts. (Joel 1:4) God used this locust plague to speak of their coming judgment if they failed to repent and turn to Him. (Joel 1:13-14) Joel called God’s people to fast and prayer for God’s mercy. A trumpet was to be blown calling all to God’s temple for serious intercession. Joel spoke to them about the ‘day of the Lord’ being near and their need to be ready.
The preparation for this coming ‘day of the Lord’ was preparation of the heart. The custom for fasting was to put on sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their heads. They would cry out in weeping before God, symbolically in mourning for their sins. But God was after something else. He desired a broken and contrite heart! (Psalm 51:17) (Joel 2:13) God through Joel called all the people together to rend their hearts. They were to say, “Spare Your people, O Lord.” (Joel 2:17) God’s grace and compassion was the motivation for the fast. The goodness of God always leads His people to repentance! (Romans 2:4)
The answer from God to this fast was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the whole land! (Joel 2:28-32) (Acts 2:14-21) As they came to fast, all would be anointed with God’s Spirit! There would be signs and wonders among God’s people, young and old, men and women! This would happen right before the ‘day of the Lord’! Everyone who would call on God would be saved! (Joel 2:32, Romans 10:13)
Joel ends with a vision of the coming ‘day of the Lord’. Joel sees multitudes of people gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat. There God enters into judgment against the nations that have rejected Him and His people. There are multitudes who will be judged and eternally lost! (Joel 3:1-2) This will be a terrible day for the unsaved when the lights of heaven grow dim and eternal darkness covers their souls. But God will be a refuge for His people! Whose side will you be on? Maybe it’s time for another fast!