I remember when I was a young girl looking at the photographs in Life Magazine of the 5 martyred missionaries in the jungles of Ecuador. That was one of the early seeds that God used to bring me to Him, for I thought, Why were they willing to risk their lives like that?
The word “martyr” means “to love unto death.” The most famous of those missionaries was Jim Elliott, whose life and quotations were made known through the writings of his wife, Elisabeth. If you listened to her radio broadcast, “Gateway to Joy,” this woman, who surely knew suffering, always began with:
You are loved with an everlasting love,’ that’s what the Bible says, ‘and underneath are the everlasting arms.’”
There is much in Revelation that is obscure, and there are three main different perspectives that scholars take and which disagree in part, but they all agree on this: “God rules history and will bring it to its completion in Christ.” There is no doubt who will win, and there is great hope for believers who trust and persevere. This message enabled the early Christians to face the terrible persecution of Nero and to die with confidence, even with joy.
I am not going to wade into the disagreement about when the rapture will happen, or if it will happen at all. (Many Reformed scholars interpret 1 Thessalonians 4 as referring to the 2nd Coming of Christ rather than the idea of a rapture.) We do know He is coming back and we must be ready — and that is as far as I am going with that. The purpose of Revelation, I believe, is not to predict His return but to prepare for it. By taking to heart God’s holiness, love, and final victory, we can be overcomers in this seismic battle with Satan. As our own Sharon said: “Revelation is not about head knowledge of end times, but growing in my relationship with my Savior and how to be prepared in being an overcomer…”
We have six weeks before Lent begins, and that will give us time to look at the beginning, middle, and end of Revelation, giving us a good grip on the keys to overcoming trials and temptations. The theme of Revelation is overcoming, and there are many promises to those who overcome. Watch for them!
There are three ways to participate in this study, so ask God how He would lead you. I’m hoping many might dare to choose the third way, but seek God!
- Join in with us here, on this blog. If you are new, just make a comment and give us your name (and a middle name too if your name is not terribly unique) and your e-mail. Your e-mail will not show up. The first time I will need to approve you to make sure your are joining us for the right reason and not to sell us soap, porn, or lead us into a cult!
- Do this study silently on your own, recording your answers in a notebook.
- Facilitate a zoom or small live study with your friends. You can direct them to the right week to read the opening, where there are pictures and audio/video clips. Then, after the opening, I will provide a link to a word document that has all the homework so they can print it off before or after they fill in the answers. You don’t have to be on our timetable to do this — you just need to direct your group to the right study so they can read the opening. At the end of the six weeks, Lord willing, and technology cooperating, on Sunday, Feb 7th at 3:00 Central time, whoever wants to join me on zoom can click on the link given that morning (or paste it in) to join me to reflect on what we learned. I am praying some of you will do this and God will show you whom to invite!
Whether God instigated this shaking the world is going through, or has given permission to Satan to do it, God is in control, and He closes His Bible with wisdom on how to overcome in a time of trouble. I believe many will not return to church when Covid is over, for God is pruning, but this study will help us to be among the faithful. Revelation does make it clear we are in a cosmic battle with Satan, but we are loved with an everlasting love, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
We will begin this week by looking at some of the key themes of Revelation. I have a couple of helpful resources I will recommend to those who want to go deeper, and one is a free online resource recommended by The Gospel Coalition. I’d like you to read its opening this week, so you may want to download it on one of your devices. It is: The Returning King by John Frame and Vern Poythress:
https://frame-poythress.org/ebooks/the-returning-king/
As we have learned so many times in the past, the key to overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil is not to try to do it in our own strength, but to draw near to Him, to worship Him, to abide in Him so that His strength will flow through us. Worship is certainly more than singing, it is what we do with our mind and body all day long. But music can help us with that. Our key song for this journey is this one, but I’ll be lookin for others from you!
An optional but helpful sermon that will help you get your bearings is this from Kevin Cawley of Redeemer in Kansas City. This is an ACTS 29 church I attended while living there. You’ll have an opportunity to share your thoughts and comments on Day 5. You’ll be hearing sermons from many different pastors whom I respect during this six weeks.
Before we begin, I want to share something that I hope will cause your heart to wonder as you anticipate Revelation. We know the Bible is not a series of unrelated moral lessons, but is ONE story of a great King whom God planned to rescue us even before the foundation of the world. Revelation is chock full of references from Daniel, Ezekiel, and all of Scripture, for it is the culmination of this great story. Our own Laura mentioned her favorite part from Songs of Hope this Advent was from Poor Bishop Hooper. They go through the genealogy leading up to Christ and it is especially meaningful to read along in Matthew 1 as they do. And here is the truth that stopped my heart: Matthew tells us there are 3 groups of 14 generations leading up to Christ. That means there are 6 groups of 7 generations leading up to Christ. Why is this important? Because it means Jesus was the 7th 7! Seven represents the number of perfection, of completion, of God! And you will see it again and again and again in Revelation: 7 churches, 7 angels, 7 trumpets, etc. How is it that Jesus is the seventh seven? Because this was God’s plan from the foundation of the world and this plan culminates in Revelation. (I hope this is meaningful to some of you — I excitedly told one relative about this discovery recently and he shrugged and said, “So what?” 🙂 )
Word Document for Lesson 1 (Love in a Time of Covid)
Word Document for Lesson 1 (Love in a Time of Covid)
(The above is for those who wish to print the following questions off, before or after they answer them.)
Day 1: Getting Started
(If you are doing option 3 and are in a separate online or live group, introduce yourself to the group and share one way God has been a light in the darkness to you during this time of Covid.)
- What stood out to you from the above and why?
- Read Revelation 1:1-3.
A. In verse 1, who received this revelation and why?
B. What promise is given in verse 3?
C. The phrase “take to heart” is used in John’s gospel in John14:15 and translated “keep.” What evidence is there in a life when head knowledge has dropped to the heart?
D. Share a command from God you have taken to heart and how it has impacted your life.
3.. Read Revelation 1:4-7
Seven is God’s number, and you’ll see it throughout Revelation. Seven spirits represents the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew Henry explains this represents His diversified gifts and operations.)
A. How can you see the Trinity in verses 4-5?
B. What three names are given to Jesus in verse 5? Take one and share your contemplations.
C. What do you learn about believers in verse 6?
D. Challenge question: How can His blood free you not just from the penalty of sin, but strengthen your heart in your ongoing battle with the power of sin?
E. What future event is described in verse 7 and why will there be mourning?
This refers not only to those who actually crucified him but those who pierce him anew with rejection.
F. Compare the above to Daniel 7:13. Thoughts and contemplations?
Keith Mathison says Revelation can be “regarded as a vision of the fulfillment of the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer: “Your name be hallowed, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Day 2: Can We Understand?
4. In “The Returning King” read the Introduction up to “Can We Understand?” and share the author’s main point.
One of the themes of Revelation is that Satan has a counterfeit unholy Trinity — and the third member of that Trinity is the false prophet who spreads deceit and confusion. Most commentators believe the “last days” refers to the time between Christ’s ascension and return, though the deceit and trouble will increase, as His return draws near, like the birth pangs of a woman in labor.
5. Read 1 Timothy 4:1-4. Paul addresses a few false teachings here that would happen in the “last days.” What were they? What was the lie? What harm did they cause?
6. What false teachings do you see happening in recent times, even within the church? Share one, along with its lie, and the harm it causes.
7. Now read Can We Understand?
A. In their diagram “It’s Simple” and the paragraph below, what point do the authors make?
B. What did you learn from the illustrations given of both the 12-year-old and the janitor?
C. What wisdom is given in the closing paragraph and illustration to anyone facilitating a study on Revelation?
Day 3 The True and The Counterfeit
My favorite book of 2020 was Alysa Childer’s Another Gospel. It is about the tremendous threat and growth of “Progressive Christianity” which indeed, is not Christianity at all, but a counterfeit. It’s primary appeal is not to atheists or secular people, but to people in the church. This is one of the primary warnings of the book of Revelation – to be alert to the counterfeit. This is from “The Returning King.”
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14?
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15?
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24.
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6?
C. What promise is given in verse 4?
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6?
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?”
B. Who has worshipped her?
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4)
Day 4. The Power of Worship
The counterfeit bride is called the Prostitute and represents the worship of sex, money, and pleasure. One of my favorite quotes about overcoming our heart idols is: “We worshipped our way into this mess, and we will worship our way out.” Revelation has so much about worship, and we will, indeed worship the Lamb who is worthy!
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!)
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened.
Day 5: Take To Heart
Because our hearts are deceitful, it is so easy to study Scripture for the wrong reason: to feel good about ourselves or to impress others with our knowledge. Satan delights in wrong motives so that it never gets to your heart and transforms your life. Many have misused Revelation, and those abuses can cause us to be fearful of studying it. Much is hard to comprehend, but we know God wants us to be holy, to give Him weight, and to see the depth of His judgment and mercy, so we will take it to heart and be ready when He returns.
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
E. Why are You telling me this today?
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
264 comments
Day 2: Can We Understand?
4. In “The Returning King” read the Introduction up to “Can We Understand?” and share the author’s main point.
“God rules history and will bring it to its consummation in Christ.”
5. Read 1 Timothy 4:1-4. Paul addresses a few false teachings here that would happen in the “last days.” What were they?
# forbidding marriage
# requiring abstinence from foods that God created that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth
What was the lie?
That these foods were unclean in the sight of God and therefore couldn’t be eaten.
What harm did they cause?
They led people to depart from the faith.
It reminds me of Jeremiah 2:5 that God had me reading, when He asked me to speak up about the false teaching at my church:
“This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.”
When I told my senior pastor about my concerns, he agreed with me that the Bible verses I spoke of pointed out the error of the teaching (denying the finished work of the Cross) and yet then he said to me that it wasn’t bad because it made him “feel better” in doing it, so where is the harm in that?
I am so thankful to God for how He protected me – I was interested in the teaching because I longed for more deliverance in my life (as I suffered through Complex PTSD), but as I read one of the books, something in my spirit was deeply troubled. So, I sent a friend who I know loves the Word of God, an email quoting bits from the book and asked her for her opinion. She sent me back one line: “Anna, Jesus died on the Cross full stop.”
6. What false teachings do you see happening in recent times, even within the church? Share one, along with its lie, and the harm it causes.
The ten steps to freedom course. You must follow particular steps to be delivered by God, researching your family history for the presence of evil, breaking curses on your family line. This teaching even went as far as saying that if you were sexually abused, you were now possessed by the devil and needed to go through cleansing to be delivered, whereby you needed to repent of the abuse done to you.
The lie taught: that we have not been delivered from the domain of darkness when we give our hearts to Christ and that sin in our life suggests we have not been delivered by God. It denies this truth:
Colossians 1:13 ESV
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
It teaches us that we must free/deliver ourselves from our own and our family line’s record of debt via man-made (fed by the enemy) steps, which deny the truth of this verse:
Colossians 2:14
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Harm done:
This book is playing/pretending to be God in people’s lives, destroying their trust in Jesus, the finished work of the Cross and stopping them from drawing near to God just as they are, to be cleansed of all unrighteousness.
Yokes people to a set of steps, turning them away from a living and breathing relationship with God. Incites fear, as they focus on and look for the presence of evil. Causes them to stop confessing their sins to God and others, as they don’t want to be seen as belonging to the enemy.
Causes them to move to “fix”, blame and condemn others around them (especially those who confess their sins and boast in their weakness), and to hold tight to control in fear, rather than surrendering control in trust to God.
Causes them to boast in their goodness and to point out others’ sins and failure to be good. Causes them to see anyone who speaks up against the teaching as out to cause division, as sinful and as a slanderer. Ultimately it hardens their heart in sin and causes them to depart from the faith.
7. Now read Can We Understand?
A. In their diagram “It’s Simple” and the paragraph below, what point do the authors make?
That we should read Revelations like a picture book and not look at it as a puzzle we need to “solve”. They suggest by getting lost in all the details, we won’t engage our hearts to receive the revelations God is wanting to open our eyes to.
B. What did you learn from the illustrations given of both the 12-year-old and the janitor?
God rewards simple, childlike faith.
C. What wisdom is given in the closing paragraph and illustration to anyone facilitating a study on Revelation?
To not be the expert, but allow the others to engage their hearts with the pictures in Revelations: to let God speak to them personally.
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
They are like frogs. They are unclean.
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14?
Demons; the rulers of the world.
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15?
The Lord will come quickly and we should always remain ready.
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24.
We must remain faithful as from the beginning. That way we will remain in fellowship.
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
The false prophet will not believe that Jesus came to Earth in a real body.
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6?
If people believe in this world then they speak of this world from the worlds viewpoint and world listens to them. If they do not listen to us (believers) then they are not of God.
C. What promise is given in verse 4?
We (believers) already have won the battle over the worldly people because the Spirit in us is greater than them.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6?
She is described as “Babylon the Great, Mother of Prostitutes and Obscenities in the world.”
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?”
She is a home for demons.
B. Who has worshipped her?
Nations have worshipped her.
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4)
The voice says to not take part in her or we will be punished along with her.
Wow… lots to digest today.
Day 4
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
Worship doesn’t take place in a certain place but the Father is seeking those who worship Him in spirit(the inner man, the heart ) and in truth (seeking God’s word in genuineness ).
Thank you so much for allowing me partake of your Bible study series.
It is so refreshing to have God’s timeless Word with so much anxiety and uncertainty around.
God bless you all.
Tega
Welcome, Tega!
So glad to have you, Tega!
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13? As impure spirits that look like frogs.
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14? Demonic forces
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15? Be awake and ready for his return at anytime.
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24. What we have heard in the beginning.
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3? One who denies the incarnation.
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6? They will speak from the world’s viewpoint and the world listens.
C. What promise is given in verse 4? God the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the spirit of this world.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6? A prostitute and an abomination, drunk with the blood of God’s people
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?” Demons and impure spirits.
B. Who has worshipped her? All of the nations of this earth.
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4) Come out from among them so that you don’t share in their sin or receive their plagues.
5. I Timothy 4:1-4 In later times some will abandon the faith. It seems that this is happening frequently now. People are following deceiving spirits and not obeying the truths of scripture. The blessing received from reading Revelation will come to those who take to heart the words written. The command that comes to my mind first is Matthew 28:19 , Go into all the world and make disciples and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. My prayer is to honor God at my own expense. So I am praying to be alert to who I can witness to and to love others and forgive those who have caused me pain. This is a hard command for me because I tend to feel hurt easily. God is giving me plenty of opportunities to work on this!
Can We Understand is a great introduction because it simplifies the process, to read and let the Spirit teach us what Jesus is revealing.
Jesus is the faithful witness and he loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. This is a reassuring scripture. It reminds me of the joy I have in knowing that I belong to Him, I am his beloved and my desire is to please him and to keep close. No one can interfere with this truth in any way!
I have invited others to join in, but I see resistance as they seem to think they will not have time or the understanding for the study. I wish they would have an open mind. I always want to do more, but feel the importance of working on what I can in our time of great challenge in our churches. Truly it seems that many have lost their first love.
Shirley, you talked about the Great Commission. I just watched, twice actually, The Insanity of God. You can watch it free on Facebook. This missionary interviewed persecuted Christians around the world. He started out wanting to find tools for how to live under those circumstances. But he realized eventually that what he really wanted to know is, is Jesus worth it? And the way we know what our answer is, is by whether we share our faith every day regardless of the cost, or do we stand with the persecutors and keep our faith to ourselves. I am hugely convicted, and believe this has a lot to say to us in this study.
Thank you, Mary, I will watch it.
7. A. The point is that people have tried too hard with understanding Revelation. If we just view it as a whole, even if we don’t get everything, we’ll get the gist.
B. What did you learn from the illustrations of the boy and the janitor?
Thinking in simple terms is better than trying to analyze every detail.
C. What wisdom is there for anyone helping to teach on Revelation?
Let the Holy Spirit be the main teacher. Don’t set yourself up as the only one who understands the book.
Day 2: Can We Understand?
4. In “The Returning King” read the Introduction up to “Can We Understand?” and share the author’s main point.
His main point is that we can understand the book of Revelation and it’s message is that God rules history and will bring it to it’s consummation in Christ.
One of the themes of Revelation is that Satan has a counterfeit unholy Trinity — and the third member of that Trinity is the false prophet who spreads deceit and confusion. Most commentators believe the “last days” refers to the time between Christ’s ascension and return, though the deceit and trouble will increase, as His return draws near, like the birth pangs of a woman in labor.
5. Read 1 Timothy 4:1-4. Paul addresses a few false teachings here that would happen in the “last days.” What were they? What was the lie? What harm did they cause?
Some will turn away from true faith and follow deceptive spirits and the teaching of demons.
Lies Saying it is wrong to be married. Wrong to eat certain foods.
They become hypocrites and liars with dead consciences.
6. What false teachings do you see happening in recent times, even within the church? Share one, along with its lie, and the harm it causes.
A major lie is the acceptance of homosexuality and the undermining of marriage which goes against God’s order of the Biblical pattern as ordained by God. It has the effect of destroying the family and we have a deeply troubled society as a result now. Many children are the casualties of this false thinking.
7. Now read Can We Understand?
A. In their diagram “It’s Simple” and the paragraph below, what point do the authors make?
Revelation is a picture book not a puzzle book. Children can understand it.
B. What did you learn from the illustrations given of both the 12-year-old and the janitor?
The important thing is to realize in the over all Revelation is about Jesus and His place in the end of history.
C. What wisdom is given in the closing paragraph and illustration to anyone facilitating a study on Revelation?
To not try and become an expert in the details when studying Revelation and creating confusion but to keep it in a context where ordinary people can experience the powerful drama of it for themselves and engage their hearts to see God’s greatness.
Day 3 The True and The Counterfeit
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
A dragon, beast and false prophet with evil spirits that looked like frogs coming from their mouths.
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14?
Demonic spirits
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15?
Jesus says He will come unexpectedly so to keep watch for Him and be prepared for his return. Those who do will be blessed and not ashamed.
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24.
Abide in
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
He will not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6?
Those of the world speak things from the world and those of the world listen to them and who ever is not from God will not listen to those who are from God.
C. What promise is given in verse 4?
Those who are from God have overcome the spirit of the Antichrist.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6?
The mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations. A woman drunk with the blood of saints and of the martyrs of Jesus.
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?”
Demons and unclean spirits.
B. Who has worshipped her?
The nations, kings and merchants.
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4)
Come away from her my people and do not take part in her sins or you will be punished with her.
Day 4. The Power of Worship
The counterfeit bride is called the Prostitute and represents the worship of sex, money, and pleasure. One of my favorite quotes about overcoming our heart idols is: “We worshipped our way into this mess, and we will worship our way out.” Revelation has so much about worship, and we will, indeed worship the Lamb who is worthy!
Good thought that we worship our way into messes by worshipping the wrong things (like our idols) but we can worship our way out of those messes by worshipping rightly with our focus on the only One worthy of worship. Jesus!
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
The need is too worship in in spirit and in truth. It’s not about a place but about a relationship and the heart.
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
By setting my mind and heart on the things of God and I am most successful in worshipping with my mind by reading and meditating on God’s Word. The scriptures are key to filling my heart and mind with God’s truth and experiencing his presence. Memorizing verses are important as well so that I can turn my thoughts to God and find strength and encouragement from his Word anytime any place. I memorize very slowly but over time it sticks and I find there is power in the Word of God to help me in times of need. And for me to share with others in their need.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!)
Is He Worthy is just simply a favorite worship song because it progressively builds to cause your heart to declare with him that Jesus truly is worthy and at the end it resonates with the affirmation that He is worthy.
Last Sunday morning I listened to a song by the Sidewalk Prophets called “Come To The Table” that spoke strongly to my heart then later at church it was Communion Sunday and in coming coming to the communion table I found a deeper more meaningful worship with a heart already prepared by the depth of meaning in coming to the table. Here are the words of the song.
Sidewalk Prophets
Come To The Table
We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry, we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us
He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thieves
There’s no one unwelcome here
So that sin and shame that you brought with you
You can leave it at the door
Let mercy draw you near
Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger, all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who fail you’ve been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow, all who lead
Anyone who’s been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who have been labeled right or wrong
To everyone who hears this song
Ooh
Come to the table
Come join the sinners you have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Oooh
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
Just sit down and rest a while
Just sit down and rest a while
Come to the table
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
…him who is and who was and is to come. / Jesus is eternal
The faithful witness. / He gave John the Revelation
…the firstborn of the dead. / He is risen and alive.
…ruler of kings on earth. / He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened.
I appreciate his what sounds like youthful (to me) enthusiasm and energy for teaching God’s Word. It was a good introduction to The Revelation and I especially like his strong focus on Jesus Christ and Who he is as revealed to us in Revelation and the entire Word of God. I realize I do have a different point of view on something he thinks but I agree whole heartedly with 99% of what he said and don’t consider my difference a point of argument or even a right or wrong issue. I just see it differently. As long as we agree on the Gospel and Who Jesus Christ is the other issues are completely secondary as long as God’s Word is not compromised as to it’s truth for me it stands the test of time.
Some things he said that I thought were particularly good:
“We need to encounter Jesus”
“He alone is our hope”
“Jesus is reigning right now”
“The Revelation was not given to confuse, confound or divide but to encourage us in the midst of trial and tribulation”
Beautiful song, Bev!
8. Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?Uncleanness coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.
B. Who is behind them?
They are demonic spirits, from the devil.
C. What is the warning to believers?
Be alert, be aware, stay clothed in Jesus, because you don’t know when the time will come.
9. 1 John has a repeated phrase to help us discern the real from the counterfeit in 2:24.
What you have heard from the beginning needs to remain in you.
10. 1 John 4:1-6. How to spot the counterfeit. The real always acknowledges Jesus: His bodily life, His diety, His sacrifice, His coming again.
A. What is clear warning in verses 2-3? Spirits that do not acknowledge the truth about Jesus are not from God.
B. Another clear warning in 5-6.
There is the viewpoint of the world, which the world listens to. And there is the word of God, which only those of God are willing to listen to.
C. The promise in verse 4. The One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, and He is the overcomer.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride in chapters 17-18. How is she described in 17:5-6?She is dressed in wealth and beauty, but she holds in her hands a cup full of terrible things, including the blood of martyrs.
12. Revelation 18:1-4. A. Who is she a home for?
Every unclean and evil thing.
B. Who has worshipped her?
All nations have had a part in her worship, and especially the rich and powerful people of the world.
C. What does the voice from heaven tell us?
To get away from her. It reminds me of when Koran rebelled and Moses told the people to move away from Koran and his followers, so that they would not share in Korah’s fate. I know there are some today that take this as a command for now. They take their families and move to some isolated place, so that they can ‘come out’ from the evil. I think rather God is telling us to not get close to that kind of thinking; to not participate in thinking and acting like the world. If we leave, they have no witness. If we stay but are radically different, then they might still see and repent and call on Jesus to save them.
Yes Mary — to be in the world but not of it!
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
He says to her that she can worship any place she would like (funny Dee, this is the video I chose to post one day this week from The Chosen to make a point about the gentleness of Jesus). He says followers can worship in spirit and in truth (from the heart).
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
We are to set our minds (in habit) to things above not here on Earth.
I will immerse myself in Him in many ways. I am planning to choreograph dance to as many Psalms I can, to Poor Bishop Hoopers music of the same. I am teaching 2 young ladies about Jesus and dance and will continue to do so. I will continue these studies each morning. I will not be watching ANY news on the tv (we don’t have cable anymore so it’s not hard) I will just search on the internet for news when I feel I need it, from trustworthy sources (not too many out there these days). No more FB for me.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!)
Is He Worthy?
I was touched by the church and how he put people into the church from the beginning of the song to the end of the song I thought that was pretty cool. I have not noticed that before in this video.
So many songs, not enough time! I think one of my favorite “Go-tos” is Chris Tomlin’s Home.
https://youtu.be/YIb4NC5ikYo
Day 4
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
Thinking about the things of heaven, having affections and making a habit of looking towards moral interests and things of eternal value. Not thinking of earthly things which have only temporal value.
I would like to start my days off with meditating on His word, filling my thoughts with His truth and putting that into action. Spending time in prayer and as the Sunday School song goes…be careful little minds what you think and I’ll add what you watch and read.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!)
I have been listening to this song every morning and it sets the tone for the rest of my day. One of my favorite chapters in Revelation, after 4 is 5…it’s exciting when the 24 elders tell John to stop weeping and tell him to look closely at who is worthy to open the scroll, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome and conquered. He can open it!” I can just imagine John’s face when he saw the Lamb, Jesus Christ…the new song says, He is worthy to take the scroll…!
I love the idea of John’s face!
Sharon — love to think of you starting your day with Is He Worthy?
Day 3
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
As demonic spirits
Performing signs
Who go abroad to the kings of the whole world to prepare them for battle on the great day of the Lord God Almighty
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14?
Demonic spirits
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15?
To stay awake
Keep our garments on
To not become exposed and naked
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24.
To let the Word that was first revealed to us continue “to abide” (dwell, live, make His home) in us
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God
they speak from the world, and the world listens to them
whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God
every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God
This makes me think of how the teaching used at my church became a kind of Bible to people. They were no longer confessing Jesus, but this author and his words. An older woman who I actually invited to mentor me, immediately showed me the author’s various books in her house, when I visited, including a volume that was larger in size than the Bible and sat on her living room table, being obviously well used. She was so in love with this man’s words.
But as God had me share about the power of His Word transforming me, I watched Him remind her of how she had originally come to the LORD and how it was Him who had repeatedly transformed her own heart: with no courses or steps to freedom: just by the Word of God and His Holy Spirit. I saw her really sit with that, especially as her heart ached for her mentally ill son and Prodigal family members. I saw it give her hope and turn her back to the face of Jesus.
I had to leave her behind at the church I left, but I still pray for her as God prompts me. She is a beautiful soul and I saw the light of Jesus in her.
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6?
they speak from the world, and the world listens to them
whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
C. What promise is given in verse 4?
That we have overcome them as children of God have overcome them, for he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6?
As having on her forehead a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” As being drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?”
for demons, and a haunt for every unclean spirit, for every unclean bird, for every unclean and detestable beast.
B. Who has worshipped her?
all nations (sexual immorality)
the kings of the earth (immorality)
the merchants of the earth (become rich)
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4)
Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
This is so interesting to me because although I know that verse so well, it now links to a verse I prayed this morning:
Proverbs 11:24 – to “give freely” (One who gives freely grows all the richer) means in fact to be scattered, dispersed, spread and driven away. The Word used in Hebrew is also found in this verse –
Jeremiah 50:17 (ESV):
“Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.
I see now how this links to Revelations in that being driven away and scattered, we in fact come out of her – the prostitute – SO that God can grow (which also means add to) us. Oh I love that idea of “add to”: souls being harvested.
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
A dragon, a beast, and a false prophet were seen in John’s vision, and three evil spirits that looked like frogs came from their mouths.
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14?
The spirits of devils, or demons.
C. What warning is given to believers in verse 15?
Jesus says that he will come as unexpectedly as a thief, and we need to be watching and prepared.
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24.
It’s about remaining faithful to what you have been taught “from the beginning”.
10. The false prophet will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
If a prophet does not acknowledge that Jesus came as a human being (the incarnation), that person is not from God. So, denying the humanity and divinity of Jesus? Or that He is truly God’s Son?
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6?
False prophets teach, or speak, from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. False prophets will not listen to men and women of God.
C. What promise is given in verse 4?
We don’t have to worry about “winning the fight” with false prophets, because the Spirit in us is greater than the spirit in them.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6?
A woman sitting on a scarlet beast, wearing purple and scarlet clothing and jewels. She has a mysterious name written on her forehead: Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World. She is drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, witnesses for Jesus.
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for”?
For demons and evil spirits, dreadful beasts, and filthy buzzards.
B. Who has worshipped her?
All the nations, the rulers of the world, the merchants of the world who have grown rich from her.
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4)
To come away from her and do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her.
Susan — I think coming in the flesh, the incarnation, is what is meant. The incarnation shows He is both fully man and fully God. I’ve been reading “Captive in Iran” and learned that Muslims are taught from the fraudulent “Gospel of Barnabas” about Jesus, which denies the above. The Gnostics denied it. Many fraudulent “religions” say that Jesus was a man, though a great one — and some say the Spirit came upon him but left him before the crucifixion.
Dee: I am confused. I keep seeing others on here answer question 9 by saying that WE need to remain faithful. And yet the Scripture (at least in the KJV and ESV) speaks of us LETTING/ALLOWING God’s Word to abide in us. That Word “abide” means:
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
abide, continue, dwell, remain
A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) — abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t 1 John 2:24 command us to continue to let GOD’s Word fill our hearts, to continue to let Him make His home in us?
Anna, the NLT translates it this way…”So you must remain faithful (continue in, endure, stay with) to what you have been taught from the beginning ( which is God’s Word, the gospel).” To me that means the same thing as to what you stated above because if we do that it will “fill our hearts.” Don’t know if this helps…I hope so.❤️
That’s so interesting that the NLT says that. I don’t think it is the same. As the NLT puts the control more in our hands: “you must remain faithful”. The KJV (and ESV) put it in God’s hands – where the only thing we do is give Him permission to abide in us:
“Let that [the Word] therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Paul actually also tells us that where we are unfaithful, God remains faithful to us because He cannot disown Himself (His Son) in us:
2 Timothy 2:13 KJV
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
This is so important to me because I can say from experience that I was unfaithful and yet God’s Word abided in me and with me.
Anna — it is true He is faithful when we are not, yet His Word was in you. We are encouraged to let God’s Word abide in us, but I don’t think we should think that means that the instigator and sustainer is not God. I think Larry Crabb uses the word cooperative dependence. Others may remember better what he said.
See, that’s my problem with saying we overcome through our faithfulness. That’s just not true. It’s God’s faithfulness working in and through us. I guess it’s uncovered an anger in me. If we truly see God as the instigator, then we shouldn’t be standing in fear when it comes to Prodigals (which is what I even see preached from the pulpit). I think we should be standing in faith, believing not that we have “made it” because we are oh so good and faithful, but rather we should be oh so thankful to God for His grace to us and believe that He will be just as faithful to Prodigals in whom His Word abides. We should stand in the gap and declare that God’s Word shall yet be unveiled in those who gave their heart to Christ for safekeeping as kids, rather than standing in judgment of them and in self-righteousness.
Maybe because of my own journey I see it differently because I know that the opening of my eyes to believe again was ALL God, NOT me. I did not choose Him, yet HE chose me and stooped down in mercy, wrapped me in compassion and declared me His.
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan woman in John 4:21-24?
Jesus emphasizes that there is no “right” place to worship God (here or in Jerusalem). Worshipping God is done “in the spirit and in truth”.
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
This verse tells us to think about spiritual, or heavenly things, and not just things that are going on down here on earth. I could do better at this by being a learner….it is so easy to be consumed with all the things to do here, that my mind is always thinking about things I have to do at home, or at work….yet this isn’t as easy as it sounds to just say, “okay, I’m going to think about spiritual things all the time.” Because, for example, if you are in a profession, any profession, in a workplace, you are expected to be knowledgeable and competent at what you do, and that means spending time with learning and education and gaining experience in what you do. My son showed me like a 50 page technical write-up he and others prepared as to the engineering of a well to get oil out of a location where it was found on the sea bed. It might as well have been written in Arabic…the math and physics equations were incomprehensible to me. But he needs to know his stuff for his job, and has spent considerable time in learning how to do this. As a nurse, my patient would care more about my recognizing the signs, say, of sepsis and taking action rather than if I can quote them a Bible verse. So how do I find the balance? I do have free time, and during some of that time can read books that deepen and strengthen my faith. But maybe even when we’re learning or studying the necessary things we need to, in order to carry out our jobs here, we can “worship” Him by thanking Him for being able to have this knowledge revealed to us, from which He is the source.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing along with Andrew Peterson’s “Is He Worthy?” and share what impacts your heart.
I just like how the beginning of the song describes all the wrong things….the darkness and brokenness of our world, the groaning of creation, and ends with such hope as the question is answered, “Is He worthy….HE IS!” Also, the question, “Does the Father really love us?” And the answer, “He does”. I have asked this question lately, feeling as if, with the numbers of those who have died from Covid keep growing, “God, it seems like you’re just letting us all die down here….where are You?”
C. Worship comes from a word that means “weight” – we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, and He is the commander of all the rulers of the world (despite what they may think, He really is in charge.) He has “weight” and deserves our worship for freeing us from our sins through His blood. Just some of His titles give Him weight: the Lord God, the Almighty One, the “One who is, who always was, and who is still to come”.
Susan, I appreciate what you are saying about life here on Earth and your spiritual journey; the balance. I have a younger friend who is a missionary now. She used to teach with me. When she and her husband lived here she always took Sunday as her day of rest. Then, she would be going to church events during the week. I was also a Christian and went to church, and was also a teacher and had papers to grade and lessons to plan and learning to do myself. All that happened usually on the weekends because there’s really no time during the week. One day I asked her how she managed to fit it all in. She replied, I don’t know but I just trust God. After I had cancer a few years back, I decided to stop grading and working during the week and to also leave Sunday as a day of rest. What ends up happening is I work mostly on Saturdays, because I believe that God is going to let me get it all done, and somehow it gets done. Sometimes I fail, but it’s not really that often. He always provides! Mind you, my house is not always clean, the laundry isn’t always done, and that’s ok. My true friends won’t judge me and really, I don’t care anymore! Birthday is soon and it is SO freeing to get older! Hahaha!
Laura: your story here so encouraged my heart. I have started teaching again and fear has been looming about messing up in balancing everything. God has kept reminding me to ask Him for what I need. Your story so blessed me and affirmed His Word to me. God bless you for sharing from your weakness and His perfecting power to give Him glory.
Laura, I’ve been thinking more about this and had another thought: that we don’t have to separate the earthly from the spiritual, as in our work or stuff we do here is unspiritual, and “God-stuff” like church and Bible study is spiritual. All of our life should be integrated. So we can be “spiritual” while grading papers, or doing the laundry….keeping company with God. That’s amazing and wonderful how you seem to get everything done on Saturdays, trusting God that you will!
Susan: but you are worshipping Him in your very deeds of love and care for another. His love, compassion, knowledge and discernment in you and the talents He gave you to put on display give Him such glory. You are the hands and feet of Christ to others in your job.
Day 4. The Power of Worship
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24? – He tells her that her worship will not be in the places she is used to and that a true believer will worship the true God and His Word.
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific. – we need to be focusing on Jesus and The Word at all times. For me I can search my heart, mind and soul and rid my self of any negativity around me. I can keep my eyes in His Word and search it for answers. I can speak to God more and go to him first before others.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!) – I really love this song. In all my heartache with the finger pointing and the naming calling, this song gives me so much Hope. There is no darkness that will stop the Light that’s to come. He is worthy of all our praises for what he has done and continues to do for us. It must be so sad for him to see that the world he created has once again turned it in to evil. I need to really try hard to rid myself of all that is against God. If there is no love shown I need to walk away. God is the only worthy of my praises. I’m staying focused on Him.
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight. – Jesus is the faithful witness to us all, he is the firstborn and ruler over all the kings of the earth. There is no one more powerful than him.
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened. – I started listening to it last night when I went to bed around 8 but fell asleep before it was over. He sounds on fire for God but I will have to listen again where I can take notes and concentrate.
Hi! This is my first time here, and I am excited to study Revelations with you all. Surely I will be blessed by this study and and you as well.
Welcome, Suzette!
Welcome! Glad you are here.
Suzette — so glad to have you!
14. C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
He is The One who was, is, and is to come. He is the faithful witness, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler over all kings of the world. He has freed us by shedding His blood. He has made us a kingdom of priests.
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened.
First half:
It is a Revelation of Christ. Not Revelations.
It is about the coming of Christ.
Jesus is King and He is reigning now.
It’s only when you are gripped by the invisible world that you can live well in the visible world.
The Revelation was not given to us to confuse, confound, or divide us. It was given to astonish us and comfort us. It was given to encourage us. He is with us NOW.
It is about Jesus. It is about how God wins.
During His reign, we see His love and justice.
It is about His loving conquest to dwell with His people.
Day 4. The Power of Worship
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
By explaining that a time would be coming (after His death and resurrection), when people will neither worship the Father on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, and that the true worshippers will be those who worship in Spirit and truth.
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
By being in the Word of God daily, by seeking Him in prayer throughout my day, by listening to His Holy Spirit promptings, by looking for His hand in my day and thanking Him for who He is, by seeking fellowship with His Body, by doing what He has created me to do unto Him and praising Him in doing so, by singing songs of praise and worship to Him, by casting my burdens (confessing sins, crying out for help, giving Him my weakness) on Him and listening for His Word to me, by asking Him to give me eyes of faith to see myself and others through His eyes.
B. Music can indeed help us. Listen or sing-along with Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? (above) and share what impacts your heart. (Feel free to share songs that help you, though realize sometimes links mean I will need to approve your comment — and it is very haphazard which ones trip the warning!)
I wept through the repetition of “Is anyone worthy?”. I just kept seeing the backs turned toward me in churches, the ways people almost pretended like I didn’t exist in their midst. And I felt Jesus say: I exist in you, Anna, and no one has the power to take that worthiness from you.
I think it hit me so much because I had messed up with something and in my repentance, accusations were beginning to scream loudly at me. Satan was reminding me of all the reasons why I should just disappear and why God would never choose to work through someone like me.
I was beginning to agree with him this morning, until I went out to pray in the forest, asking my husband to do the homeschooling with my girls for an hour. During that time away I was listening to worship music at random and these lyrics began playing from Graham Kendrick’s song “My Worth Is Not in What I Own”:
“Two wonders here that I confess
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed – my ransom paid
At the cross”
Then, He took me to this verse and I wept and wept, thanking Him for showing me that my repentance was proof of His love for me:
2 Samuel 7: 22 – 23 KJV
For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Then, an email dropped into my inbox from my Dad that brought more tears. A story of how God prepared him for my Mum’s diagnosis of incurable brain cancer. I felt God wrapping our family in such compassion. Last night I was overcome in such deep grief, missing my Mum and all my family. It’s been three years since I saw my sisters and their kids. And I have never held my one year old nephew.
I then added the two Scripture verses to my blog post for next week, which is the first chapter of my testimony that I had entitled: “Love Never Ends”. Truly, God is in every detail.
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
He is the Alpha, Omega, He was and is and is to come. It reminds me of a bit my Dad quoted from German martyrs during World War II in the piece he sent me:
I am convinced, through the Scriptures, that I will not have to wait for Judgement Day, but I will, somehow, immediately after death, be fully alive in the Kingdom of God. I will simply fall out of the three categories of time, space and causality into a kind of existence which we cannot now imagine, because, during our earthly life, we are only able to think in these three categories. …God has granted me an unshakeable confidence that He will, upon my death in Plötzensee, immediately receive me into His arms. (Helmuth von Moltke to his wife from prison, before being executed by the Nazis)
I still need to finish listening to the sermon.
So sorry about the early death of your “Mum.” So good of God to wrap your dad in compassion.
8. Read Revelation 16:14-16
A. How are the three counterfeits described in verse 13?
As Impure spirits that looked like Frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.
B. Who is behind them according to verse 14? Demons
C. What warning is given to believers verse 15? Jesus will come unexpected so stay awake and remain clothed-don’t go naked and be ashamed at His coming. Hmmm…Perhaps this is God warning us to worship Jesus above all which includes being in Scripture for we can so easily worship what He has created and instituted for us. Thinks like Kings, governments, and teachers teaching a false gospel. If we are entangled with our idols and believing lies we can go to sleep and our fellowship with God wanes or is very lacking. When He comes be found naked.
9. In John’s 1st letter, he continually uses a phrase that will help us discern the real from the counterfeit. Find it in 1 John 2:24. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. (the Gospel!).
10. The “false prophet” will witness and propagandize, but with the counterfeit. Again, John gives some clear warnings on how to spot him in 1 John 4:1-6.
A. What is a clear warning sign of the false prophet according to verses 2-3?
Everyone who confesses his faith in Jesus Christ-the son of God who came in flesh comes from God and belongs to God. Anyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God.
B. What is another clear warning according to verses 5-6? These false teachers belong to a Christ denying world. They talk the worlds language and the world eats it up. They have nothing to do with God and will not listen to scripture.
C. What promise is given in verse 4? We who are are His have His Holy Spirit in us-I have already had victory over the false teachers for His spirit in me is stronger than anything in the world.
11. There is also a counterfeit bride. You can find her in Revelation 17-18. How is she described in Revelation 17:5-6? She has babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and abominations written on her head. She was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, those who bore testimony to Jesus.
12. Read Revelation 18:1-4
A. Who is she “a home for?” Demons
B. Who has worshipped her? All the Nations, the Kings and merchants of the earth.
C. What does a voice from heaven tell us? (verse 4) To come out of her so that we will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues.
13. We must not think of worship as just congregational singing, confined to a place and time. How does Jesus make this clear to the Samaritan women in John 4:21-24?
Jesus makes it clear that going through the rituals of worship isn’t true worship of God. it is merely worship confined in a moment. It isn’t the kind of worship God desires, for He desires us to worship from the inside in spirit and in truth.
14. Ways to worship:
A. How can we worship with our minds according to Colossians 3:2? How could you better do this in 2021? Be specific.
Worship with our minds set on things above not on the earth.
To read edifying books, keep meditating in Scripture and listening to sermons, keep in communion with God-talking with Him always-never ceasing in prayer. Stay away from non-edifying Netflix series shows and be careful to not receive ungodly advice or information that would cause me to worship anything other than God. To be content with where God has me right now.
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
Jesus is the One Who was, is and is to come. He is the beginning and the end. He loves us and has freed us from our sins with His blood.
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened. I have run out of time but will listen to this this morning on my way to work. 🙂
Day 5: Take To Heart
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
I can praise Him for Who He is. The Alpha (Beginning) and the Omega (End). The eternal God who is, was and is to come, the Almighty. I praise Him for the grace and peace he brings to my life. I praise Him for being a faithful witness to me through his Word, for his resurrection and his place as the King of Kings. He is in control of the rulers of this world even when it looks otherwise. I praise Him for loving me and freeing me from my sin by the shedding of his blood and making me part of his kingdom and a representative to God the Father. The privilege to praise Him for eternity. I praise Him that he is coming again!
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
In confessing my sins He frees me from my sin by his blood. The Cross covers my sin and takes it away.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
To forget these truths leaves me without a glorious hope that He has given us in this passage. It leaves me open to doubt and living life apart from the grace and peace He offers me. It makes me ineffective in my role with the standing of a priest in his Kingdom failing to give him the praise and glory due to Him.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
This morning I read this quote by Oswald Chambers which encourages me in my faith in Jesus Christ and to be practicing my faith especially now in this dark time that we are living.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
“When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” We all have faith in good principles, in good management, in good common sense, but who amongst us has faith in Jesus Christ? Physical courage is grand, moral courage is grander, but the man who trusts Jesus Christ in the face of the terrific problems of life is worth a whole crowd of heroes.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
This has been a troubling week for our country and I believe it is a precursor of harder things to come. We are living in a time of lies and confusion. Many are sick and afraid. If there were ever a time I have needed to look to Jesus Christ for grace, peace and hope it is now in these times even today. In these verses we have the promise of His coming again and the strong reminder that He is Alpha & Omega the Lord God who is, was and is to come, the Almighty!!
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
The study this week along with other study and reading I have done has been part of a reminder to put my focus on Jesus Christ and to live my life for Him.
Why?
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Amen Bev! To letter E.
Also the Oswald Chambers quote!
So true about this week and needing our Alpha and Omega. I often think now of the false prophet propagandizing lies.
Day 4
C. “Worship” comes from a word that means “weight” — we worship what we see as having value or weight. Revelation can help us realize the weight of Jesus. Read Revelation 1:4-8 and share a few ways that Jesus has weight.
He, Jesus…who is, who was and is to come!On a throne! Faithful witness! First to rise from the dead! Ruler of all the kings of the world! He loves us, freeing us from our sins by the shedding of His blood! Alpha and Omega – beginning and the end! Almighty One!
D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened.
I did listen. These two things stood out to me…Revelation is “the kingship of Jesus being revealed” and “only when your gripped by what’s happening in the invisible will you live well in the visible.” I was intrigued by his view…asking the Holy Spirit for a teachable spirit and truth.
Good points you drew out from the sermon! Love being gripped by the invisible.
Day 5
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
I praise you Jesus, the one who sits on the throne. Your love for me is evidenced by the shedding of Your blood and freeing me from sin, making me and all Your children a Kingdom of priests. You are worthy of glory and power, the Alpha and Omega and the Almighty! Amen!
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
I confess that I tend to take for granted who your are and that You aren’t always on the throne of my heart.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
Wrong behavior: spend more time in worldly occupations, replacing You with idols.
Harmful emotions: selfishness, hopelessness.
False attitudes: why would Jesus or anyone love me?
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
I should be aspiring to make Jesus first place in my heart, remembering how He showed His great love for me on dying on the cross. Frisking my thoughts with Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
E. Why are You telling me this today?
In this crazy world we live in, it is so important for me to keep my focus upward and not get so caught up with the news and Facebook as I have…there’s no hope there but only in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me (little old me😜).
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
The importance of keeping in the Word, seeking His truth so I can discern false prophets, so I can keep a proper grip on the fact that He is in control and that others will see Him in me…the light in such a dark world.
Love this: “there’s no hope there but only in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me (little old me).” I can say the same about resting my mind upon the enemy’s accusations: “There’s no hope there, Anna. Turn toward your only hope.”
I think I am going to repeat that to myself when those accusations come against me. “Satan there’s no hope in your thoughts: be gone!”
Day 5: Take To Heart
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text? – I can praise Him because he is very aware of what is going on and has been since the beginning of time. I can praise him because he has given me peace and grace. I can praise him knowing he is ruler over everything and every person created.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text? – I confess my sins knowing that he has forgiven and will forgive me again and that he will guide me through the times to come.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this? – Because it is true, that Jesus is ruler over all, when I forget this fact, I start to worry, fear and doubt. But there is no need to do that when He is in control of the situations at hand.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for? – I need to always get to the point of remembering that I can come to Him with anything. He is not surprised at what I do or don’t do. He has planned my life out and know what I will do. But remembering this I need to be obedient to do what is asked of me when it is from Him
E. Why are You telling me this today? – With all the hurt, hatred toward each other, the anger and sinful desires of this country, I need to have this reminder that God sees it all. I’m even thinking that he is allowing things to happen because of our sinful ways. I needed this to remember that He provides peace and grace to me. I need to seek him for them daily.
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why? – How it all comes together for our good. God has told us what to expect in this world. I guess I’m just a bit amazed that I see it happening. I didn’t think I would see brother against brother, nation against nation, Christians against Christians, but in the End HE WINS.
14. D. Good books and sermons can help us worship. Share your comments from the above optional sermon from Kevin Cawley if you listened.
I listened to it twice. If only I had always heard teaching like this about the book of Revelation, I might not have “sighed” when I saw that we were going to study it here! It was such a logical, non-sensational, practical overview. He emphasized that the book is not about some geo-political unfolding of something in the future, complete with micro-chipping. That’s almost always the stuff that people come up with. Instead, he said it is simply a revealing of things, many of which happened around the time or shortly thereafter that it was written. And, he said that you need a good understanding of the Old Testament, in particular, the prophets, to really understand it. But it is mainly a book about the Lord Jesus. So, I really felt encouraged by it, knowing that he takes the “idealist” approach and doesn’t try to make all sorts of ridiculous assertions, which I have heard over the years.
I’m so glad, Susan. I too was too long in avoiding Revelation for the same reason!
13. Worship is more than singing in a church building. Jesus makes this clear in John 4:21-24 by telling the woman that the physical place of worship will no longer be an issue, and that true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth.
In today’s world, we often correlate church buildings with the temple. Maybe because they are both ‘houses of worship’. But we don’t see the enormous differences. The tabernacle, and then later, the temple in Jerusalem, was the only place you could go anywhere to ‘be in God’s presence.’ This was revolutionary to their minds, that God would tabernacle, or live, with them. What Jesus told the Samaritan woman, and is true for us today, is that instead of God dwelling in a building you could go to, He would dwell within believers by the Holy Spirit. That continues to be a huge concept for me; that I, and other believers, are now the temple of the living God.
14. Ways to worship.
A. With our minds. Col 3:2. We often think that where our minds go is arbitrary. But Paul says we can keep directing it on God and on heavenly things. Others have brought up here that we have a choice what we set before our eyes and ears and thoughts.
How can I improve this year? I would like to read 12 edifying books, one a month.
B. The song by Andrew Peterson brings me to tears nearly every time. It starts so dark and questioning, but little by little light starts making a difference and more music adds in. For me, it is a picture of my life with Jesus. It started so small and weak and tentative, but over time it has grown. And someday there will be a great crescendo, when I stand faultless in His presence singing full force that He is worthy.
C. Worship means weight; what we see as having weight or value. I was always told that worship could be described as giving ‘worth’ to my estimation of God. To see Him as worthy.
Revelation 1:4-8. Share ways Jesus has weight.
He is eternal, and sits on the throne of what we consider the universe. He is not just a witness, but the witness, who is faithful. He is the firstborn from the dead, unique, because He alone laid down His life and then took it up again. No one else has ever taken their spirit from their body and so died, nor has anyone else ever picked their life back up again. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth, whether they realize it or not. He loves us with enough power in His blood to free us from sin. He has enough power to make us, who were just sinners, to be priests in His kingdom. He is the Alpha, the beginning of all things. He is the Omega, the result or end of all things. He is the story.
So true: “He is the story.” Amen.
I love the idea of reading 12 edifying books. Have you made a selection yet? I would be interested to hear what books you have chosen.
Anna, I need to get going on the choosing! I will probably take from my bookcase. First will probably be Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund. My husband has read it and highly recommended it.
Thanks for asking! It helped me not procrastinate!!
I have kept looking at that one on Kindle as a possible book to get. Useful to hear your husband recommends it.
Gentle and Lowly is less than 4 Euros on Kindle right now, so I snapped it up! It only cost me a few cents because I had part of a gift voucher leftover.
Will be reading right along with you. See it’s also recommended by the Gospel Coalition.
That’s a great goal on reading an edifying book a month. I need to update my book list on my website for I’ve read 5 wonderful ones in the last two months! Right now I’m reading Captive in Iran and listening to an easy fiction by Francine Rivers when I multitask –Her Mother’s Hope.
You sound like me: multitasking with books in tow 🤣. I am often reading various books at once too. Funny thing is finding how they speak into each other, even when they have a completely different focus.
Where do I go to look at your book list? Does it include publisher name and so forth? To ask my library to consider buying a book, I need more than author and title.
Mary, What an excellent answer to question 13.
Mary, Another thought. I am in the process of reading one of the books Dee has recommended to us. “Another Gospel?” By Alisa Childers. If you haven’t yet get a copy and put it on your list of 12 edifying books to read. It is excellent.
Bev, thanks for the recommendation. I will look into it.
I have two books on my list called “He calls You Beautiful” and “Idol Lies.” I have heard the author is very good😜❤️😊
Idol Lies was such a gift to me. Affirmed so much of what God had taken me through and still is. You will be blessed by it, Sharon. That book is what brought me here. Dee’s humility in her open confessions in that book shone the light of Jesus upon me.
Love it, Sharon! And you, and Dee!!
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Thank You, Jesus, that YOU have freed us from our sins by YOUR blood. Thank You that I don’t have to carry that weight anymore. Thank You that I am no longer dead in my transgressions, but alive in You. Thank You that You are my beginning, my present and my ending. Thank You that You promise to complete the good work in me that You have begun.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Father, forgive me for forgetting that You have freed me from my sins by Your blood.
Forgive me for resting the eyes of my heart and my mind on the offenses of myself and the offenses of others. Forgive me for not fixing my eyes on You and Your love and grace for me and others. Forgive me for picking up what Your Cross has freed me from. Forgive me for choosing to embrace and fix my mind on thoughts of self-pity, self-hatred, bitterness and hate. Forgive me for my pride and for turning my back on Your mercy and love toward me and others.
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
When I forget that God has freed us from our sins by His blood, I listen to and embrace the accusations of the enemy. I fix my eyes on my own and on others’ offenses against me. I embrace self-pity, self-hatred, hatred, bitterness and shame. I fill my mind with sinful thoughts that lead me to put space between God and myself and others and myself.
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
Reminding myself moment by moment that Christ has freed us from our sins by His blood. Taking Satan’s thoughts of accusation against me and others captive and making them obedient to the truth of God’s mercy and steadfast love toward us.
E. Why are You telling me this today?
To help me see the sins at the root of my crippling emotions. To help me to stand firmly in the truth of Your forgiveness of my sins, next time I face the enemy’s accusations. To teach me how to resist the enemy by fixing my eyes on things above and not on the things of this fleeting earth.
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
I can overcome the enemy by repeatedly focusing my mind on the forgiveness of my and my brothers’ and sisters’ sins by the blood of Jesus.
So good, Anna.
14D. Notes from Kevin Cawley’s sermon.
It is only when we are gripped by the invisible world that we can live well in the visible one.
Revelation was not given to confuse, confound or divide us, but to encourage us. It reveals what Jesus is doing now. Don’t approach the book with fear or avoidance. Instead, strive to grasp it. Berkhoff said the church can’t stand against rapid change because it hasn’t learned to view history from the truth and perspective of Jesus Christ’s current reign. We are short sighted. Revelation is about the victory of Jesus. Not just someday, but now. As we experience love and justice, that’s where we encounter God. Seeing Jesus is the framework of the book. What John reveals is the present state of Jesus from heaven. Historically, there have been three ways to interpret Revelation.
1. It is all going to happen in the future.
2. It all happened in the past.
3. The idealist view that it is all symbolism, starting with the fall. The reason for the book is that we need present encouragement to handle present pain.
A. To reveal, or unmask
B. To be seen
C. It makes sense only in light of the OT.
D. Numbers have meaning in Revelation, especially 6, 7, and multiples of ten.
E. Revelation is for the church under attack now.
F. It concerns what must happen soon; in the last days, which is now. The end point is Jesus Himself. Christianity is eschatology. Eschatology is not just a part of Christianity. The concern is the reality of our lives now, because the time is now.
G. Victory belongs to Jesus and to God. Fullness of joy comes from the presence of God.
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again.
How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
I praise You, Lord Jesus, because You are all grace, all peace, all love. I thank You because You have given me freedom and standing and relationship with You.
How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Lord, You know how I sometimes take for granted who You are and what You have done for me. I confess, Lord, that even when I think I have those two things right, I still am so slow to take action on their truths.
If this is really true, what wrong behavior, harmful emotion and false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I lose the wonder, awe and joy of You. I start seeing interacting correctly with the world as a constraint, a burden, and something I want to ignore. I strip You in my mind and heart of who You really are.
What should I be aspiring to or reaching for?
To live out of being in Your invisible grip. To have You and Your glory constantly emblazoned before my eyes.
Why are You, Lord, showing me this today?
Is it because I am slipping? Getting complacent. Tired. Growing weary. Please lift my eyes to You. Change my focus so that it is off me, and laser strength on You.
16. Take away and why.
I am remembering a song from an exercise album back in the 80’s. It explored praising God not just for what He has done – something I have come to see as thanksgiving – but for Who He Is. Focusing on His attributes. The phrase from the sermon about being in the grip of the invisible is staying with me. The constant tendency to drift has to be resisted. It is all of God, yet He desires that I participate.
Good notes, Mary!
God’s been dealing with me all day and I know I need to speak up about it here too. He pointed out to me that He never said that all churches in this region are led by unrighteous authorities. He only asked me to stay out of churches here. He did not tell me that all churches here had bowed down to the enemy.
As I lay in bed, sitting with this conviction, He reminded me of the story of Elijah in the cave and showed me how my pain and frustrations and exhaustion have been speaking, not Him. He reminded me of this verse:
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
May God forgive me for twisting what He had spoken to me and any negative impact it had on you, as you read it.
It’s been a grueling six and a half years since my Mum left for heaven and God opened my eyes to see with a newborn’s faith. You wouldn’t believe the half of it, even if I told you. Repeatedly, God has asked me to bow low and become the fool for Him, to boast in my weakness, confess my sins very publicly and to glorify His Name in doing so.
As His Word puts it (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, ESV):
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
And oh how I have stomped my feet again and again to say: “no more, enough, enough of all the humiliation!” In this place also. But just like with Elijah, rather than chastise me, God has again and again, drawn me near, touched me in love, fed me and then sent me right back out to die to my flesh and arise in Him.
You see that’s what it really means not to be found naked: it means being covered in nothing but the righteousness of Christ, in knowing and tasting Christ in the boasting of our weakness and the open confession of our sin. It means dying to our pride to tell of His goodness, not our own, that we might slay the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who are caught in sin and trauma’s hold. The children He loves so deeply that He died for them too.
Oh how I see how God has been shaping and moulding my heart through all the pain and trauma, and my husband’s and children’s too. They have watched their wife and Mama suffer so much, watching me face trauma trigger after trauma trigger, after trauma trigger, but they have also watched God be so strong for me, in me and through me: also through the truth, compassion and mercy He is growing in them in this place too. One day their eyes will open too and see how beautiful Jesus is in them.
I am just so blessed to see it. HIS Word in us is so very strong. HE protects and guards all that is His and all those who are His. May all our eyes open to see it, more and more. May His Word arise so strongly in and through each one of us here to defend His elect. For, it was His elect, His children who were the joy set before Him, when He walked toward the Cross to bear all our sins and shed His blood to shed abroad His love in us through the power of His Holy Spirit.
No, not one star is missing or gone: all have been accounted for. May we never ever deny the power of His Name, nor of His living and active Word that carries the power to save all those who He has called, chosen and appointed to be His. Let’s not look at what we can see: let’s never stop asking Jesus to take our blinders off and show us through His living and active Word what HE sees. I am so thankful for you, Dee. His Word is so living and active in you through this study. God bless you and your eyes. May He give you fresh revelations of His love for you as you lay there to have that surgery done.
May we know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. May we share His sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible we may all attain the resurrection from the dead that HE has purchased for us with His blood.
And may this song so bless you as you stand firm in the faith:
https://youtu.be/MZmS81yLjMg
Hello from sunny Las Cruces, NM!
Welcome, Laura!
So glad I am able to keep up with my own notes. I am now very excited about re-reading the book of Revelation! So blessed by the changes here but I just do not have the time to respond to comments.
Day 5: Take To Heart
Because our hearts are deceitful, it is so easy to study Scripture for the wrong reason: to feel good about ourselves or to impress others with our knowledge. Satan delights in wrong motives so that it never gets to your heart and transforms your life. Many have misused Revelation, and those abuses can cause us to be fearful of studying it. Much is hard to comprehend, but we know God wants us to be holy, to give Him weight, and to see the depth of His judgment and mercy, so we will take it to heart and be ready when He returns.
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Jesus is the VICTOR. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
By acknowledging that sometimes I live like a defeated Christian. I know Jesus who was and who is to come. I often forget that He is! ( in the present)
C. If this is really true what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I get angry at the sins I see; I feel discouraged because of what I see around me.
Example: Capitol, Covid, mental health issues, discouraged Christians
D. What should I be aspiring to — reaching for?
Joy in my journey here on earth as I know Jesus is reigning right now.
Encouragement to others to look at Jesus
A. Why are You telling me this today?
I need to be reminded that the battle is of the Lord’s and He has already won. Everything going on right now, the division we see in our country, fear rampant even among Christians-I need to encourage others and point them to our Warrior King who is reigning right now.
16. What is your take-a-way this week and why?
Andrew Peterson’s song, Is He worthy? Yes, He is.
Message from Kavin CawleyRevelation is the unmasking of present reality. The triumph of the Lamb is the theme of Revelation. Revelation is meant to bring comfort to Christians who are in a battle to be overcomers (italics mine).
I am now very excited to re-read Revelation from this vantage point of view!
Great summations, Bing.
15. Read Revelation 1:4-8 again and contemplate with these contemplation questions from Tim Keller:
A. How can I praise Him on the basis of this text?
Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, I praise you, three-in-one, for being the One True God who is the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End, and I would add, everything in-between. You are the True Ruler of all the nations and over every ruler that has ever lived, or is to live. I praise You for loving us and breaking into our reality and freeing us from our sins.
B. How can I confess my sins on the basis of this text?
Lord, it is my sins, too, that caused You to be pierced and to have to shed your blood. I confess to You my apathy, my self-righteousness and pride, my jealousies and resentments, anger and even hatred at times, my self-centeredness and unloving attitudes, my lack of interest in the viewpoints of others.
C. If this is really true, what wrong behavior, what harmful emotions, and what false attitudes happen when I forget this?
I let my emotions tell me that God is not for me, is angry at me, does not like me nor accept me (this denies the part about His grace and peace being extended towards me). I can also tend to feel hopeless and despairing about current happenings, like the attack on our capital, when I forget that He is really the ruler of all and is in complete charge of our world. I can become hopeless when I forget that HE really will make everything right in the end.
D. What should I be aspiring to – reaching for?
Allowing Him to be the ruler of my life; giving Him praise and honor and glory – worshipping Him in all aspects of my life.
E. Why are you telling me this today?
Because He wants me to live as an overcomer, as one with hope and determination.
16. What is your take-away this week and why?
I think I just want to take-away that it is not impossible to understand Revelation, to keep in mind that it’s not a puzzling book, but it’s all about Jesus and that He wins….actually, He’s already won.
I am looking forward to doing this study.
Need to this blog and feel blessed to be here.