God's Manure Pile

It is always interesting to hear how people handle the parables of Jesus. Some see them as allegories and try to take every part of the parable and make it stand for something. It seems intuitive but sometimes that is not what Jesus intended. He just knew how to tell a good story that hit right where you live. The classic line about a parable is that it is a "earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Point well taken, but I have heard a lot of people use that line that do not know how to read a parable. Jesus told one in Luke 13 that intrigued me this morning.

It goes like this: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' ⁸And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ⁹Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" -Luke 13.6-9 (www.lifejournal.cc)

Immediately people look at this parable and say that the tree represents Israel. Ok, a fig tree often represents Israel...so does an olive tree. It probably does here. However, it can also represent a lot of other people and the audience that heard it that day probably were not thinking about national ramifications. They were probably thinking about the same thing we are: the day to day stuff and how WE are going to handle it. Those who love to 'identify' everything in a parable ought to have fun here identifying the manure. They are probably the same folks that will get a little 'squirrelly' when the manure is identified.

Let me tell you what I think it means and why it gives me and you hope for today. The tree stands for those who need a touch from God. They either don't know the Lord or they are too crowded with the everyday to live for Him as if they know Him. We are quick to dismiss them and to give up on them. We have waited long enough. However, God is the God of second chance. If we can get the world away from their roots and put the 'good stuff' of God in there, then growth can come. Give them a little longer. Thank you, Lord! Sometimes I need a little longer.

Now, before you ploop back and sink your roots into the world a little deeper for another season of fruitlessness, notice as well, time does run out. God will clean your roots with his conviction and give you the opportunity for good stuff but you better take advantage of it. The ax will be laid in the future. Let's not waste another day! Let's sink our roots into the good stuff today, God's manure pile, and live fruitfully for Him!

Every Opportunity

Luke 12.16-21- And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷ and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (www.lifejournal.cc)

Invest every opportunity in this life wisely....including those you have today...and have a good one!!!

Lying in Wait?

From the time He came on the scene, the chief priests and elders followed Jesus around trying to discredit him or get in a pickle.  In Luke 11, He turns around and speaks to them.  He gives them some 'Woes', warnings about what they were really doing.  Notice the one in Luke 11.44 ^-Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.

What does that mean?  Well, to walk on an unmarked grave was to venture near the dead without even knowing it.  Jesus was saying that doing that is about like hanging out with the evercriticizing Pharisees.   They stinketh of having no real spiritual life.  Of course, He was right and had a great point.  Look at Luke 11.53-As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, ⁵⁴ lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.  (www.lifejournal.cc)

Lying in wait?  Sounds like my dog chasing squirrels.  They were just looking to catch Him saying something that they could go after.  I just want to say one thing:  Don't be like that.  I have seen self-righteous folks get it in for someone and try their best to find away to go after them.  I call it making them 'punchdrunk'.  It is a boxing term for when you have the worn out dude in the corner.  You can beat on him till the cows come home or you can leave him alone and let him fall.   Let's leave others alone.  We have enough trouble of our own...I bet. 

Smile at somebody today....don't hunt them down....and have a good one! 

The Low Down

Jesus sends out a load of folks to minister to people in Luke 10.  They are able to do marvelous things because they have been obedient to the Lord and have been busy about His Work.  They come back JACKED!  They are excited!  They cannot believe what Christ has enabled them to do.    Their excitement gets Jesus excited and He prays a prayer of thankfulness in v. 21.  Notice what He says in
Luke 10.21- In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

He thanks the Lord for letting us in on it....Giving us the inside scoop...Getting the low down.  The 'wise' are those that are too smart for their own good and do it their way and never rely upon the Lord through obedience.  In their pursuit of 'wise' things, they miss the best things.  The best things are found when we are obedient to the Lord and watch how He opens doors to use us.  We get in on the big stuff...the God stuff...the stuff that people just don't get. 

Get the Inside Scoop....Get in on the Low Down....You find out a bunch when you walk obediently with the Lord.

Raising, Lifting, and Giving

Psalm 113.4-9 -The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, 
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
⁹ He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.Praise the Lord! (www.lifejournal.cc)

He is the Lord that has the power, the ability, and the willingness to do it all.
What in the world are you worried about??
Don't be!  Celebrate Him today...and rest in Him!!

The Family of God

There is something special about family.  I am blessed with a family that I dearly loved.  I grew up in a good family with parents who put Christ first.  When I got grown, God gave me a family beyond my expectations and beyond what I deserve.  As football lovers often say, "I outpunted my coverage."
However, I have also been blessed with another family that is, oh, so special as well.  When the family that Jesus was raised in, had a concern about what exactly He was doing, He reminded folks that spiritual family is thicker than blood.  He stated it this way in Luke 8.21- But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Folks, you need a spiritual family and you need to be faithful to the family that God placed you in when you met Him- the family of God.  You need to have a church family where you can celebrate all that you have in God....including the family of God.

A Day In the House

Well, I am celebrating after a great day of worship yesterday.  I don't know that it was anything remarkable that set it off.  I just love church.  I was raised to go to the House of the Lord on a regular basis (3 times a week rather you need it or not) and I cannot remember a time when I did not enjoy it.  I am sure there were times when I was a kid that I got bored or missed something on television, but I have always loved church.  God has blessed with 5 church families over the years that have been spread out over different states at different times in my life.  I was saved in one, called into ministry in one, and served in 3 as their pastor. I just love and thank God for it.  I could not help but reflect on that this morning when I read  Psalm 84.10- For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (www.lifejournal.cc)

I hope you are blessed with a great church family and you are thoroughly involved in their worship.  If you are not, you ought to be and I am sure there is one close to you.  If you live near me, let me suggest one....

Have a great day!

A Lap Full

It is often amazing how some will take a passage of Scripture and completely butcher it, take it out of its context, and then use it with authority.   Context is so very important. Context includes the setting of the passage, the verses around a particular verse, and the audience and purpose in which it is given.
For instance, I have often heard people say that we are not to judge.  Many times when someone says that it means we are not to determine what is right or wrong in someone else's life.  Although I do believe we need to tread lightly when we start pointing fingers, sin is still sin and you ought to be able to recognize it when it comes before you.  The thought that we are not to judge comes from 
Luke 6.37-38- "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (www.lifejournal.cc)

The key to the passage is what I put in bold.  It means we ought to treat others as we would like to be treated.  If you don't like to be corrected, don't correct others, because it will come back to you.
Instead of focusing on the faults, we are better off focusing on forgiving and giving.  Sin is still sin, however,  and we need to be able to recognize it.  Let's be just as quick to forgive it when repentance comes. 

I don't know about you, but I want good things overflowing in my lap.  I hope you get a lapful of good today and I hope I get to worship with YOU!

The Cure

Well, I am proud of our Toppers!  6-0!  They faced a very talkative bunch and shut them down.  Our 6'7" defensive end standout, Chris Jones, was confronted in a casual confrontation by the Bruce coach before the season began.  The coach said, "Have a good first 5 games, because when you play us, we are going to shut you down."  Last night Jones had 4.5 sacks and chased the poor quarterback all night. The quote in the paper from the Bruce coach this morning: We didn't have time to throw the football.  He is a tremedous athlete.   A great night of football and, man, what fun it is!

Let me give you some encouraging news.  When Christ faced the leper, notice what he said in Luke 5.12-13- While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” ¹³ And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
What Christ can do to a flesh eating disease like leprosy, He can do for a soul eating disease called sin on the soul.  He is willing to make you clean, if you will just ask and repent.   So do it!  Take the cure!

Now that, my friend, is refreshing!

Not An Opportune Time

Luke 4 tells us about the temptations of Christ.  I believe that these temptations were allowed to prepare Christ for what was to come.  People would be trying to tempt Him to be the Messiah they expected and by facing those kind of temptations at the beginning of His ministry, it was easier to deal with them later when the people asked him to turn the stones to bread, rule the world through military power, and do all kinds of wonders and miracles.  The temptations of Christ pointed directly to the expectations that many people had based upon their understanding of prophecy.  Jesus passed the test with flying colors and when people put the pressure on, He had already dealt with it.  It was not going to be a problem.  Then at the end of the temptations, notice what happens in Luke 4.13- And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (www.lifejournal.cc)   

The devil left defeated and looked for the next opportune time.  I have some bad news...he is still doing that kind of thing....to us.  He (the devil) is looking for an opportune time to lead us astray.  May I challenge you?  Let's not give him an opportunity.  Let's stand strong for Christ with our eyes on Him and not allow an opportune time in our lives for his tempting games.  Let's shed our lives of any habits or hangups that could make us weaker at certain moments. 

Does that mean the devil is no longer going to mess with us?  Of course not, he is awful.  However, we can live our lives in such a way that there are not many 'opportune' times.  Let's do it today!

As Previously

You have got to love Daniel.  Just the name rings a warm feeling in your life....don't it?  Well, maybe that is just me.  Everybody knows about the den of lions but I am more impressed with what happened before the den.   Actually, I am more impressed with what got him there.   Notice
Daniel 6.10- When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (www.lifejournal.cc)
I appreciate the fact that he prayed.  Notice he did not picket with prayer.  He did not show out about prayer.  He did not form a new prayer emphasis.  The most crucial part (to me) is the last phrase- as he had done previously.  He did not pray more, pray less, or pray different when the rules changed.  He just did what He always did.  He did not do it for others.  He did it for the Lord, to the Lord, and before the Lord.  That is what the emphasis of prayer is to be.  He did not pray on the balcony for people to look at him.  He always prayed there.  That is what we need to do as well.

When the world makes its changes, don't you change to become like it.  Just serve the Lord as faithfully as you should.  If you were faithful before the pressure came, be faithful when the pressure comes.  Do it just like you have always done it.

Living Water

A vision that Ezekiel sees in Eze. 47 is quite fascinating.  There is a river flowing out of the Temple.  Wherever the river flows, there are bountiful trees on its banks.  The waters are filled with fish.  It is a beautiful scene.  Notice Ezekiel 47.12-  And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” (www.lifejournal.cc)

Notice the water flows from  the sanctuary.  The sanctuary speaks of the presence of God.  Newness, life, and bountiful blessings come from being in the presence of God.  It is what Jesus called living water.  It reminds me of the blessings of the person that stays in God's Word as recorded in Psalm 1. 

Don't forget where your blessing comes from and do not neglect your opportunity today.

The Proper Place

Why does God chose to use some people more mightily than others?  I don't know all the answers to that kind of thing.  God's economy is beyond my scope.  However, I can tell you why He used John the Baptist's parents in a mighty way (at least one reason why He did).  Luke 1.6 says, "And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord." (www.lifejournal.cc)

I don't know how God will chose to use us, however, I do know that it will be much easier for God to work in our lives if we are obedient to Him and walking blamelessly before others.  People will want to know what is different about us...then we can tell them...then God will use us mightily.

Put yourself in the proper place to be used of God today!  And have a great one!

Amen...Come On!

When I was a kid, there used to be a commercial that came on television that promoted a bathing powder called Calgon.  Some woman would be in a big bubble bath and would say, "Calgon, take me away!"  It was the whole world could be solved with a box of powder.

I think about that when I hear people talking about the return of the Lord sometimes.  Many people look at the return of the Lord as an escape from all this down here.  That is not what we are to do as Christians.  Instead, we live each day trusting in the Lord and leave this life and His Return in His Hands without wishing our life away. 

With that said, I still get chills when I read Revelation 22.20- He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

In your time, in your way, Come, Lord Jesus!  What a Day That Shall Be!

What a Day!!

There is coming a day....
Revelation 21.1-3-  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place^[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,^[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.^{[c] 4} He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (www.lifejournal.cc)
But until then, let's keep on practicing our worship so that we will be good at it when we get there.

Hope to see you in church today!

Proud and Praising!

Well, I have to give a word about by Houston Hilltoppers.  Dominant again last night.  They are 5-0 for the first time in ages after beating Hamilton 37-0.  With four dominant wins  and a comeback,  it is only going to get tougher.   I think they will get tougher too! Go Toppers!

And for the rest of you, let the Psalmist remind you of what we ought to be doing today. 
Psalm 145.1-3- I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Take time today in the midst of the football, fall preparation, shopping, and doodling to give praise to God today.  He is worthy of our praise!

Understanding Angels

When I first became a pastor, angel lapel pins were very trendy.  I never cared for them, but several senior ladies in my church wore them a lot.  One day their Sunday School teacher came to me and asked me to come to their luncheon and speak.  She wanted me to speak on angels.  This is how she stated my invitation:  Several of these ladies are wearing these angel pins and when they forget it, they get worried about their safety.  That is superstitious.  I want you to come and tell them different.
Well, I agreed with her but I know how to smell a setup. That is a no-win deal.   Instead I studied angels, which I knew little about it at that point, and then taught the role of angels and the 'do's and don'ts' of angels.  I did talk about the innocence of decorative pins and the importance of not trusting in anything but the Lord.  Angels by definition and by translation of the actual word are messengers.  Angels are simply messengers of the Lord.   What they do, they have been instructed and empowered to do by the Lord.  He gets the credit not the angels.  John found that out in Revelation 19.10- Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”

Don't worship angels.  Don't put your trust in angels.  Worship the Lord and put your trust in Him...Today!!!

Tootin' Your Own Horn

When a trumpet is spoken of in Scripture it is referring to a warning of an incoming army or a proclamation of battle by the enemy.  Judgment day is coming.  Did you know that you are to toot your own horn?  Let Ezekiel explain:
Ezekiel 33.1-6  -The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, ³ and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, ⁴ then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. ⁵ He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. ⁶ But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.
I believe the judgment of God is coming upon America for the state of affairs that we have allowed.  What does that mean?  I don't exactly know, but I believe God's Hand of blessing upon us is being lifted.  The hedge of protection is lessening because we have not truly taken advantage of the opportunity that God threw in our laps.  Judgment is coming.  We need to sound the alarm. 

I am not really concerned about us sounding the alarm about the country near as much as I am concerned about the souls that make up the country.  The country is changed when the souls of the countrymen are changed.  Therefore the trumpet we sound is the trumpet of the Gospel.  If we don't let people know of their salvation opportunity in Christ, we are guilty of neglect.  If we do 'sound the alarm', then what they do with it is up to them.  Let's clearly give men and women, boys and girls the opportunity to know of the life-changing love of Jesus.

Toot your horn for Jesus today!

But If Not

Those three fellows should not have had to face what they did...but they did...notice how.  When they refused to worship idols, the three Hebrew men of Daniel 3 would face death by furnace.  At least, that was the intent.  However, before they ever went in the furnace, they make a powerful statement.
Daniel 3.16-18- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.^{[d] 18} But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (www.lifejournal.cc)
I like that 'But if not'. How many times do we bargain with the Lord, pray to the Lord, and trust the Lord to do what we want Him to do with struggles, hardships, and tough spots in our lives?  What if His Will is not what we want?  Would we serve Him anyway?
We need to pray, serve, love, and trust Him with a 'But if not' attitude.   He will move mightily in us in any episode that we lay before Him.  He may answer our prayers just as we want, but if not...we serve Him anyway.  That is why we call Him 'Lord'.  They came out of the furnace without a singe, but life does not always work that way.  Yes, God has the power to do it every time, but He does not always answer like we want.  What will you do then?
Trust God with all your burdens and serve Him as if He will give you everything you want, but if not...serve Him anyway.

Face the Challenge

When the king's diet was not what Daniel was to eat, he refused. His bucking caused a stir, so he put them to a challenge.
Daniel 1.12-16  -“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” ¹⁴ So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. ¹⁶ So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. (www.lifejournal.cc)
His challenge worked...and I don't believe it was about the food.  I think it was about him doing what God told Him to do. 
This world is going to challenge you to compromise your Godly convictions...don't you do it!  You can shine in the darkness only if you light your world. You can be salt only if you flavor the world with a wonderful difference. 
Don't compromise today!  Let the Lord work in the world through you, instead of the world working on you!

A Work of Restoration

Lamentations is a sorrowful book of lamenting prayers after the nightmare of several centuries has happened.  Their nation has fallen.  A range of feelings and emotions come out as they pray to the Lord.  I think a key verse in the midst of the struggle is Lamentations 5.21- Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!  (www.lifejournal.cc) That, my friend, is where it is at.   It is all about getting back to our proper place with the Lord when heartache surrounds our lives. 

On the same note I think of Psalm 51 that David prayed when his personal sin had wreaked havoc in his life and he is confessing and repenting before the Lord.  An unbelievable passage of Scripture, let me focus just on v.10-12 for our purposes- Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

In a crisis?  Whether of your own making or feeling a little victimized, regardless, turn to the Lord and ask for restoration today.  He will do a work of cleanliness in You!  Have a great Day!

The Grapes of Wrath

I started on a journey years ago after reading Revelation 14 (www.lifejournal.cc). It was the last verse of Revelation 14 that spurred me on to look into this book a little deeper. It had always been described to me that the battle of Armageddon would lead to tremedous bloodshed, so much so, that blood would flow through the streets as high as a horse's bridle. Whew! That is a lot of blood. So one day I looked the passage up. I guess I was in high school or college. (I am of the age that I was my children's age when I saw the End Times movies in the 70's on a reel to reel that they put in the middle of the sanctuary. That was a movement of movies in that day as I recall. We get too much of our theology from movies or fiction books that we put a lot of confidence in.) What I was surprised to find in Revelation 14 was that Armageddon is not mentioned here at all. This is final judgment and the great harvest. I was amazed to find that those that told me about the amounts of blood had never told me that they came from a couple of huge sickles that were swung by angels on clouds. They did not tell me that grapes were harvested. They did not tell me about God's great winepress. The details were left out. The point of the passage is not the depth of the blood. The point of the passage is the judgment of God.
There are many Biblical takes on the return of the Lord. It was described by Christ as a harvest of wheat where the wheat was celebrated but the tares or weeds were burned. It was described, as well, as a shepherd calling his sheep away from goats. It was also described as a land owner coming back after a long time away to find out who had been accountable with the investment that he left them. Each one tells us when the Lord returns, the sinner will go to eternal punishment. Here he describes it as a harvest. It describes first the reception of the saints. 2^nd, v.17-19, it describes the punishment of the wicked. It says they were gathered when they were ripe, in other words, when the time is ripe.
The grapes are then thrown into the winepress of God. In Israel August or September was the harvest months for grapes. They were gathered and placed in long, wooden or stone troughs. Then, often to the sound of a flute playing, workers would trample the grapes into juice with their feet. Here God is promising to trample the blood of the wicked like wine in a winepress. It is not meant literally anymore than the wheat and tares, or the sheep and goats or the owner coming back. They all are pointing to the same event and giving different nuances of the return and judgment.
Notice all this takes place outside the city. The wicked does not belong in the city of God's people.
1600 stadia is almost the exact distant from the north tip of Palestine to the south tip of Palestine. The message is that it will effect all of them. What is the point? The same one it has been all the time. Revelation 14:12- Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Hold on, folks! God will make it right! Tell as many as you can about Jesus and keep looking up! Have a great day! And go Hilltoppers!

Our Allegiance

Oh, don't you love the imagery of the book of Revelation! Years ago I was watching local Christian television and they were having a fund raiser. If you ever watch the national Christian television while they are having their telethons, think about such an event happening on that homemade, local level and you will get the idea of what I am talking about. Their guest that night was an artist who had done several paintings of the scenes of Revelation. Although the artist was good and the renderings were a faithful attempt at the scenes as described, I could not help but think: You cannot paint or draw the scenes of Revelation. They are described the way they are (count the word "like" in Revelation) to try to put the infinite images of the spiritual world and of heaven into some finite description that we can somehow grasp. However, human words cannot fully describe such scenes. Not the half has been told.

Another thing to remember when reading Revelation (as well as miracles, parables, and narratives) is always ask the question: What is this written for? Of all the descriptions of Revelation 13 and the explanations and identities and time frames of these beasts, notice the stated point of this passage: Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Rev. 13:10). We must stand firm. That was the message for the 1st century, 21st century, and every century in between and any future ones. The message is a timeless message. Revelation's message is not just for the last generation unless you include all since the ascension of Christ and until the return of Christ as the last generation. This message was for them and is for us. Endure! Stand Strong! Have faith!

One way to make sure you are standing strong is to check your allegiances. A very familiar passage that is brought up in Rev. 13 is the mark of the beast passage (v.16-17): Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,^[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, ¹⁷so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. Have you ever heard anything like that before? Anywhere else in Scripture? I will tell you what it reminds me of. It reminds me of the Shema, one of the most popular passages of Scripture in the Old Testament for the Jews and one of the most popular in the 1st century among Christians. It is found in Deuteronomy 6: 4 and following: ⁴"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^{[a] 5}You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart....⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." I will always believe that the concern there is not the hand or the forehead, but the activity (symbolized by the hand) and the thought pattern (symbolized by the forehead- keeping it ever before you) of doing everything that you do, whether in word, deed, or thought to the glory of God. Many Jews made the mistake that this meant tying Scripture on your arm or head, however, if you don't digest and live by it, what difference does it make?

Now once you realize that the first audience of the Revelation (those seven churches in Asia Minor under the influence, power, and persecution of the Roman Empire) knew this Shema passage "like the back of their hands" (excuse the pun, it was not intended), then you realize how they would interpret such a passage as that in Rev. 13:16-17. I have heard this described as a tattoo, a barcode, a computer chip, and I bet some are saying now, a scan code. Those that do, I believe are missing the point, just like the Jews did when they tied their boxes of Scripture on their hands and heads. The point is: where does your allegiance lie? Are you sold on the concepts, the plans, and the hopes of this wicked world or are you sold out in your thought and action on the things of God? Where does your allegiance lie? By what authority (the right hand is the one of authority) do you do what you do? Oh, let me once again remind you of the point of this passage as it is found in Rev. 13:10- Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Don't side with a lost and dying and manipulative and hellbent world! Align with Jesus! Endure! Stand Strong! Sell Out! Live it today! Be marked by Christ, not by the World!

The War At Hand

When I was a teenager, there was an evangelist that traveled around talking about the dangers of rock n roll music.  We were in the days when records were being replaced by cassette tapes, but the mixture was about like CDs and mp3s are now.  He would come and tell us that when you played songs backwards ( you could play albums that way) that there were subliminal messages that could be heard.  Although you cannot hear these 'messages' when you play it forward, your mind can pick up that message and influence you.  I did not understand that, because my parents could not understand the music when it was played normally, nor did it seem that we could subliminally entice them with the genre of our music.  They say that there were blips of coke or popcorn in movies that would move you to go buy more.  I don't know if there is.  I buy before I go in there and I don't need a mid-movie message to tell me that too much popcorn will make you sick on your stomach.  I feel that internally, without a need for subliminal. 

Let me not transgress further, the evangelist would tell us how the Eagles dedicated their album to Satan, Queen told us subliminally to smoke marijuana, and Elton John was gay (you don't say!).  He would encourage record burnings and tape smashings and it was effective.  All jokes aside it was not a bad thing.  I had just a shoebox of cassette tapes then that were (sshhh!) secular.  Instead of throwing them out, I boxed them up and put them away.  My brother saw them later and said, "Hey, if you are not going to listen to them...." I have not seen them since. 

One message the evangelist would say over and over again about subliminal messages in music was, "Somebody is messing with your mind and you don't even know it!"  I have never forgot that....and he was right.  Somebody is messing with our minds, hearts, lives, and loved ones, and we better know it.  Revelation 12.17 puts it this way- Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.(www.lifejournal.cc)  Whether the woman is Israel, the Church, or however you handle it, the offspring are those changed by the Lord.  We are in a war.  Ephesians 6.12 puts it this way: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
We are in a war.  The enemy is not Obama, the Mormons, record albums or your boss man.  The dragon, the evil one himself, has went off to make war with us.  If you are not aware of it, you are losing the battle. 

Fight the fight!  Finish the Course!  Walk with the Lord today!

The Unstoppable Witness

Can I get a witness? Today's passage in Revelation 11 is one of those that prophecy teachers sometimes like to talk about.  It is the two witnesses that speak for Christ, are killed, but then come back to life.  Notice what happens:
Revelation 11.9-12- For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, ¹⁰ and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
Who are these guys and when are these guys going to do this?  Many believe that this is an end time event based upon their understanding of Revelation.  I always like to emphasize the context of John writing the letter, the churches that he was writing to (the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3), and the overall thematic message of the whole Revelation.

First who are these guys?  Many believe these witnesses are two unidentified witnesses in the future.   That may be so.  However, Jesus often spoke of the Law and the Prophets as the Scripture.  The Law represented by Moses and the prophets represented by Elijah.  The 'whole' testimony of Scripture for the 1st century Christian would be found in the Law and the Prophets.   Could these two witnesses represent a Moses and Elijah kind of take on pointing to the unstoppable witness of Scripture? Notice at the end they go up, just like Elijah did.

In the beginning of Revelation we saw the scene of the twenty-four elders around the throne.  I shared with you that I believe 12 represent Old Testament believers or those that believed before Christ's incarnation.  I also believe the other 12 represent New Testament believers since the time of Christ.  Could these two witnesses represent the profound testimony of the saints through the ages? One speaking for Old Testament saints and the other speaking for new. 

Anyway you slice it, the message is the same.   The testimony of the Gospel cannot be stopped.  It may seem to be stopped at times.  The world may gawk at what appears to be the weakness of the testimony at times.  However, the witness of Christ cannot be stopped.  Even in dark times, it will live again. 
When are these guys going to do this?  The timeless message of the Gospel will not stop until we are all taken home.  It is a timeless message.

The question for us in our day is not just trying to figure out this passage, but to try to keep our personal witnesses strong for Christ.  Let's not let dormancy happen under our watch.  Let's speak out for the love and salvation of Christ to all that so desperately need it.

The Bittersweet Word

Have you ever ate paper?  I guess I have at some point in my middle school years on a dare or something, but I don't remember doing that.  I have only seen it done as an antic, so what is the following talking about:
Revelation 10.9-10- So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” ¹⁰ And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. (www.lifejournal.cc)
Well, the prophetic message that was explaining what WAS happening and what was going to happen was again developing or continuing to open up.  The messenger was to take and eat the scroll.  This rings of the Ezekiel 1 passage that sounds similiar.   You will notice that John is given by the Lord a  lot of imagery and actions that relate to other matters in the past (like this one).  There is a reason.  All of that is supposed to ring a bell of familiarity to the readers. 
The point of eating the scroll is really just an illustration that emphasizes the digestion of the Word.  Yes, He told Him to do physically, but that was not what was most important.  The spiritual digestion was much more important.  Take the Word in.  It is sweet to the touch, refreshing to read, and joy to understand.  However, it is also difficult to swallow at times or bad tasting when related to our lives. 
In other words, you may not like everything you read in Scripture.  Eat it anyway!  You need every bit of the spiritual nourishment that it can give you, whether it is sweet to the tongue or hard on the gut.  We need the Word regardless.
It is not enough just to read it or to look at it like a man looks a mirror  (much different than a woman) and forgets what he is looking at.  Instead, we need to take the Word in, digest It into our lives, swallow It 'hook, line, and sinker', and watch God do His Work-- whether pleasing or painful.

Take in the Word today!

Covering the Breach

Well, I went to Jackson last Tuesday to fly to Kansas City.  Flew out of Jackson because I had a meeting there before the flight but the meeting was put off a week due to Hurricane Isaac.
I flew to Kansas City and got back to Jackson Thursday and drove home.  On Friday, after speaking to the team, Millie and I drove (well, I did the driving) to Jackson to see Abby in her pageant.  After escorting her Saturday night, we (I) drove home.  After church Sunday morning Millie and I went back to Jackson to see the rest of the pageant.  We came home yesterday.  The meeting that was scheduled for last Tuesday is today....guess where I am going...As Johnny and June Carter Cash said it: I'm going to Jackson....But before I do, let me give you a thought:

In Ezekiel this morning I was touched by how much God just wants pure living. It burdened the heart of God to watch the Israelites waste opportunities to walk righteously before God and instead get caught up in idolatry and worldly sins. He searched far and wide for the righteous. Ezekiel 22:30 speaks of the attempt: And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. We still need breachmakers and gapstanders. Oh, that God can look at our lives and see those taking a stand for the things of God and whatever the cost. Live for Him today! 

Sweet and Powerful Prayer

Revelation 8.1-5  -When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. ³ And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, ⁴ and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. ⁵ Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,^[a] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

You cannot let the imagery of Revelation throw you off your game.  Revelation is about the big picture: God, not only wins, but is winning! However, like  a 'Where's Waldo?' picture, the closer you look, the more you see.  You also have to remember that John is writing a coded message to Christians about concepts that they are already familiar with. 

The seal comes from the thought of a wax sealed, royal document that is to be delivered untampered.  A broken seal could mean that the courier would lose his life, so the seal is important.  However, on this document, there has been placed seven seals.  Typically that would mean that it took seven important people to be at a place to read an important document.  One seal for each person.   For instance, when a will is read.  However, when the seventh seal is broken and therefore the whole document is read, there is silent anticipation (v.1).  You can cut the air with a knife, in other words.
Seven angels are messengers of God (seven being a complete number that goes back to creation week).   This will be a complete message from God. 

Then there are trumpets.  Trumpets are blown when war is declared, the battle begins, and the royal entrance is proclaimed.  All of those things are happening here.    They stand before a golden censer filled with incense.  Incense is also always aligned with prayer with the thought that we are  attracting the Lord with beautiful aromas to work in and through our prayers. 

The message in these passages concerns the power of the prayers of the saints.   God enjoys our prayers (incense) and answers our prayers.  In this passage He is responding to the wickedness of the world due to the prayers of the saints.

Do our prayers today have such power?  That is not the question. The question is: Do we pray such prayers?  That reminds me of If my people who called by my name....

Let's pray like the whole world is depending on it and all of heaven is listening to it...because it is true.

No Holds Barred Worship

What a beautiful scene of heaven!:
⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”- Revelation 7.9-12 (www.lifejournal.cc)
It says every nation, tribe, people and language are worshipping together.  That is a foreign concept this Sunday morning in 99.9% of churches, yet all of heaven will worship together.  The most segregated place in America is when the Body of Christ worships together.  Does that fascinate you just a little?
Again it describes their worship with a sevenfold praise statement (v.12).  That is perfect praise.  So perfect praise comes from all God's people from all over the world from all eras of time.  What a concert that be!
In the meantime our worship needs to be as much like this as finitely possible.  It's no holds barred worship!
Let's worship with all of our hearts and all we are this morning!