NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FROM THE WORD OF GOD

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and advise one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:12-17

Several years ago, I was asked to deliver the message at a church service just before New Year’s Day. The Lord placed the following on my heart as I was thinking about what He would want our resolutions to be for the New Year. He gave me ten resolutions from Paul’s words to the church in Colosse. I pray they will be a blessing to you as get set to enter 2008. Feel free to share with others and may the Lord richly bless you and yours in all things. I will continue our journey through Exodus tomorrow.

Ten resolutions for 2008 from the Word of God:

10. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

How many of you are very selective in the things you wear? Most people are. Dressing properly takes time and careful consideration over style and color of what we’ll don. We want to ensure we look the best as we enter a world where others will see us.

So how well do we also select the way we clothe ourselves with our attitudes and demeanors? Do we take as much time to properly prepare ourselves before we go out and let others see what we look like on the inside? Look at the things that God’s word says should be part of our inner wardrobe:

- Compassion which consists of affection, tenderness, pity, and mercy
- Kindness which can include courtesy, favor, good deeds and goodwill
- Humility…a spirit of mildness, humbleness, surrender and modesty
- Gentleness which involves sensitivity, friendliness and politeness
and
- Patience…one’s ability to remain calm, composed, cool under pressure

So how well dressed are you on the inside? In this new year, maybe a makeover might be in order.

9. Bear with each other

What does it mean to bear with one another? Can you think of someone right now who just seems to get under your skin? Someone who annoys you to no end?

Resolve in the new year to be more tolerant. To respect others. To stop looking so closely at a person’s shortfalls in spite of ignoring all of yours…for we’re all flawed and imperfect when we get down to the truth of the matter.

So seek to be more understanding of others and strive to resolve differences when they occur. Seek to rebuild bridges instead of burning or tearing them down. Pray for those who you differ with and seek reconciliation in the year ahead.

8. Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

We all know what forgiveness is…putting it into action is often the real problem.

If left to our own devices, we could easily wiggle our way out of forgiving some people by deciding who we wanted to forgive and who we didn’t want to. We would turn forgiveness into a selective process.

That’s why scripture had to put down strict guidelines to govern our forgiveness. Hear the word of God from verse 13: Forgive as the Lord forgave you. WOW! This takes all the guesswork out of forgiveness. For we must forgive everyone without exception. If you doubt that, then I ask if there has been anything you have done that the Lord has not forgiven you for? The first steps to inner healing when you are burdened with anger or hatred toward another is to say the words I forgive, then resign to pray for that person as being just like you…a sinner who is only saved through the amazing grace of God through Jesus Christ. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

7. Over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.

The package of prior resolutions all revolve around love which is central to the greatest commandments of Jesus. Remember His answer when asked about the greatest commandments? He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength." Then He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:36-40)

If you truly love God with all that you are, you will easily embody compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with and forgiving one another, all in the name of love through the One who showed and taught us what love is all about. So when you unwrap the gift of this new year, take off the ribbon of love that is on the gift of Jesus and see what is inside the package. In it are priceless treasures in and of the Savior…the Christ who we should be seeking to be like in every way. And the first thing we see when we look at Him is love. So put Him on your heart…wear Him with pride…and let love rule supreme in you this coming year.

6. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

In a world full of violence, confusion, problems and constant change, peace is sometimes very hard to come by, isn’t it? I think that’s why we were given the words of God found in Philippians 4:6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything but give your concerns to God in prayer and petition and with thanksgiving. So you might find the peace of God that transcends all understanding and your hearts and minds will be guarded in Christ Jesus."

In 2008, God would want us to remember that He is the only One who is fully able and ready to handle any problem we have. And when we truly lay our burdens at His feet and allow Him to work awesome miracles in our lives, then we can fully experience that peace that transcends all understanding...a peace that will ensure our hearts are guarded by Christ Jesus. I pray that peace will rule your hearts and the hearts of all creation in the new year.

5. Be thankful

There’s a popular saying that says, "Count your blessings...and when you get done, count them again." Too often, we lose sight of all the great and awesome things the Lord has done in our lives. In fact, just me being here writing this and you being where you are reading it is a blessing in its own right and something we should be greatly thankful for.

For it’s only due to God’s love and mercy and grace that we are here, even though we are all undeserving sinners before Him. It’s easy in life to curse our circumstances at any one time but if we truly stop and take an account of how very blessed we have been in our life, we can keep our attitude focused and centered on thanksgiving and praise unto the One who gives us every good and perfect thing from above.

Be thankful…in all circumstances.

4. Let the word of God dwell in you richly

How good are you at time management? Our days seem to get ever more busier as we run from obligation to obligation…from event to event. There seldom seems to be enough time in the day. In fact, too often as we arrange and prioritize our time, we schedule so much that we squeeze the most important things out…like quiet time with the Lord in prayer and scripture reading.

For God blesses us with time. We all get 24 hours a day and He expects us to invest it wisely. Yet, too often we skip giving some of that time to Him every day and jump into life lacking the wisdom, guidance and strength we need to make it through situations we encounter. We often sit in dismay and depression…lost and in need of help, even when that help is just a few minutes of prayer or bible reading away.

Friends…all the wisdom, strength and guidance we need is fully found in the bible...God’s Holy Word…His instruction manual on life given to us to help us make it day by day by day. When we read it, study it, and pray over it, then it comes to dwell in our hearts and minds, illuminating our path as we walk down the path of life. I believe that God would say to us in 2008...make time for my word so you know what you’re doing with the life and time I have provided…and let that word live in your heart and mind forever more.

3. Teach and advise one another with all wisdom

We can only do this if we have wisdom within us. And that wisdom is not our own wisdom or worldly wisdom but the wisdom that comes from the Father above.

This resolution only happens when we adhere to the last resolution and let God’s word dwell richly within us. Our study of Holy Scripture will lead to spiritual wisdom as it takes hold within our hearts. Then, God would say, "Don’t keep My word to yourself but rather take the learning you have received from Me and use it to teach one another." In fact, Jesus gave us that instruction in His Great Commission. He told us to "teach others to obey all that He had commanded." (Matthew 28:20)

So we learn His commandments and understand His expectations only by reading the Bible, meditating on our reading and then putting it into action. The call in 2008 is for us to be proactive in our teaching others about Jesus using the wisdom God places within us.

2. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God

Do you have a favorite song? What is it about that song that makes it your favorite? Most often, it is because the song makes you feel good. It has a way of elevating you above whatever might be happening in your day and brings joy to you for the moment you listen to it.

Personally, I have found that music has an effect on the soul unlike any other medium. Whether it is a praise and worship song, a contemporary Christian song or a classic hymn, spiritual music is a gift from God that brings us into the attitude of worship and adoration unlike any secular song can. In 2008, examine the music you’re listening to. Does it glorify God? Does it edify you spiritually?

My prayer would be that you truly sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your heart toward God. And when you lift your voice up, do so in a way that the Lord will feel your fullest gratitude. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

1. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him

Is there anymore suitable number 1 resolution that God would have for us in 2008 or any other year for that matter?

For in this resolution, there is no gray area…no exception…just the requirement for us all to do everything in the name of Jesus and all the while giving thanks to God for the indescribable gift of salvation and eternal life through His Son who He gave freely to pay the price for our sins.

Once again I ask, is there any greater resolution we could make for the new year? And is there any more challenging resolution for us to carry out in such a sin-filled world?

The good news is that we can meet this challenge…just as we can meet any challenge…through the power and strength of the Christ within us. Truly, we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens us." (Philippians 4:13).

In this new year, I pray we will live out the verses of this word of God from Colossians. For if we do, we will find ourselves in the very spirit of God’s will for us in Christ Jesus!

I look forward to a great year ahead in the Lord and wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

AN AROMA OF CHRIST IN SINGAPORE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

I had an awesome experience today and wanted to share it so count this as a bonus blog entry.

As you all know, I have been on a trip halfway around the world this week…a trip that started in Washington DC last Sunday (November 25th) and went to Honolulu, Tokyo, Singapore and the island of Diego Garcia before returning home a week later on Sunday, December 2nd.

This morning, Saturday, December 1st, I arrived back in Singapore after flying through the early morning hours onboard a military transport plane. I had worked all day Friday up to my flight and arrived at the Singapore Hilton exhausted. So I took a short sleep after getting to my room and then ventured out to do a little shopping for Grace and my daughters (I try to come home with souvenirs when I go abroad).

Well, I was looking for a place to shop and found this nice little indoor mall called the "Far East Plaza". Inside, it was a bustling atmosphere with lots of people shopping and Christmas music playing. After working my way up the fourth and final floor, I had been successful in finding some nice items for my family and was about to leave and get something to eat. The fourth floor seemed to be just a lot of restaurants and nothing more but just as I turned to leave and head down the escalator. Something caused me to look to the end of the hallway where I was standing. I couldn’t see what was at the end of the hall but I felt the urge to walk down to the end to see what was down there.

Well, as I walked past this long line of restaurants and approached the store at the very end of the hall, I heard music coming from the story…music that was saying in English, "I love you God…" It was a praise and worship song and the store was a Christian book store! J And what a wonderful store it was.

I found my tired body and soul reenergized as I shopped around and listed to the wonderful praise music playing. I found a great book to read on my long flight home and then had to tell someone in the store about how blessed I felt to find their store. This led me to Ming.

Ming and I had a wonderful conversation as I thanked her for having such a wonderful store and telling her how much it blessed my heart. We shared several minutes of fellowship and then I told her about The Christian Walk ministry. She took my URL and I told her I intended on writing about my experience today. I look forward to hopefully continuing communication and promised her a free copy of my first book which I plan on getting to press sometime in 2008.

Why do I share this story with you? Because it testifies to what we are assured by in the scriptures. God is always with us…no matter where we go. His presence is revealed in so many different ways. Today, it was at the Christian Book and Gift Corner in the Far East Plaza in Singapore off of Scotts Road…a beacon of light to all.

In closing, Paul’s words from Second Corinthians rings so true in my experience today. For truly God led me down that mall hallway "in triumphal procession in Christ" and "through (Ming and her store) spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. What a blessing this place was for me…the weary traveler with a slight cold who needed an injection of Vitamin C (Vitamin Christ). Ming, I hope you read this for you "are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." God bless you!

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

PS 2: Would you like to send Ming encouragement? Her e-mail address in Singapore is crestchristian@pacific.net.sg

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

THANKS...FROM THE WORD

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

Today, I take a brief respite from Genesis to focus on the subject at hand on this blessed day: Thanksgiving. As we seek to learn what we should be thankful for, we shouldn’t forget what the Holy Bible teaches. So in tribute to Thanksgiving, to the Lord and to my faithful readers, I offer these biblical reason for us to be thankful:

…for He is good and His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

…for His righteousness.
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17

…because He is our strength and shield.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

…for His name is near.
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near… Psalm 75:1

…for His unfailing love and wonderful deeds unto us.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men… Psalm 107.8

…because He answers our cries for a Savior to become our redeemer and salvation.
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. Psalm 118:21

…because He is our God.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks… Psalm 118:28

…for His grace and victory given in Jesus Christ.
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

…for our circumstances.
…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

…for by His Almighty, Infinite Power, He reigns!
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Revelation 11:17

We also give thanks for the Word of God that brings us all the wisdom and understanding we need to make it through life. I give thanks for being able to study, discern, and teach from it. I give thanks to all of you who continue to share in this Christian Walk with me. Have a VERY blessed Thanksgiving and may His richest gifts come raining down upon you and yours this day!

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

ARE YOU REALLY SOMEBODY?

"And I saw a great white throne and I saw the One who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death – the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15

I’m not much of a movie buff but I have watched a few films through the years. Some time ago, a Steve Martin movie titled "The Jerk" followed the journey of a naïve Southern man named Navin Johnson. Living at home until well into adulthood, he finally decides to venture out into the world and lands his first job at a gas station where he is also given a small space to live. One day, the mail comes and Navin excitedly runs to get it. In the mail was a brand new phone book and Navin is filled with absolute excitement because his name is in the white pages. He yells that he "really is somebody" now that his name is in that book.

Today’s scripture also deals with a book that will determine whether we are somebody or not. There is a whole lot more at stake with this book however than the phone book that Navin had.

For the scene in Revelation, Chapter 20, isn’t a gas station but rather heaven. And God is ready to pass His final judgment on the people of His Creation. One by one, they are brought before Him and checked against the Book of Life…"judged according to what they had done…judged according to their deeds." Remember that the bible also says "faith without deeds is dead". (James 2:26). Revelation sees this played out because those who do not have their names in the Book of Life are "thrown into the lake of fire." In other words, lost forever and not a part of God’s new kingdom to come.

Question: Are you really somebody in God’s eyes? Do you personally know Him and His Son Jesus? If so, are you seeking His Will for you…a Will that will drive you to the deeds He wishes for you to do…deeds that will gain you a place in His Book of Life?

As you can read…and the scriptures are absolute truth…your very eternal existence is at stake. When God’s final kingdom is established, it will reign forever along with those He brings along to share it with Him. Will you be there or left behind? Will you be somebody to God? I pray you will be.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

WORSHIP HIM ALONE

"And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are the true words that come from God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him but he said, "No, don’t worship me. For I am a servant of God just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." Revelation 19:9-10

In biblical times, you had two primary schools regarding religious worship. Most civilizations practiced polytheism where one would worship many different gods. In fact, there would seem to be a god for everything. Monotheism on the other hand is the exact opposite. In monotheism, all power and authority is in one single God…a God who has everything under Him.

Today, we live in an America that offers lots of things for people to worship. Money, sex, power, celebrities, etc…all can be worshiped and adored and are by many. The problem is that worshipping any of these worldly "idols" will not get one into heaven for all eternity. Only belief in Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior, can lead to salvation.

This is why the angel tells John not to bow down before him but to worship God alone.

He also makes another important proclamation in the form of another beatitude saying, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." The wedding feast is used to represent the intimate relationship between God and his people. Those who know and trust in Him and Jesus will receive an invitation to the wedding feast. And what a celebration that will be. Yet, there’s even more to celebrate because the party will never stop. Once there, those invitees will dwell with the Lamb in heaven for all eternity.

Question: What do you worship? If it’s anything short of Jesus Christ and His Father, then you are missing the mark and in danger of missing something far worse than your mark…like eternal life. Stay blessed, stay faithful to God and shun the things of the world that would entice you, and stay focused on Jesus, our only hope and salvation.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

THE QUALITIES OF GOD

"And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are your actions Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for Your righteous deeds have been revealed.’" Revelation 15:3-4

Our scripture passage is a song attributed to "Moses, a servant of God, and…the Lamb." Sung by "all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number of people representing His name", the song is a great summation of qualities found in the Lord…a summation that we can use to explain Him to others. Let’s look at the key qualities highlighted in this song:

1. Great and marvelous are His actions. His righteous deeds have been revealed. We don’t serve a passive God. We never have to be concerned as to whether He will be there for us. His blessings flow abundantly to us every day and are indeed "new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) And let’s just walk outside and look at the awesome nature of His creation…the earth…the sky…the stars…the sun…the moon…everything we see was made by His hands. Indeed, great and marvelous are His actions. True appreciation for them takes us to the place of worship and praise.

2. Just and true are His ways. In a world where justice is too often corrupted or not administered at all when it should be, what a comfort it is to know that we serve an Almighty Judge who always makes the right and perfect decision…who is always true in the way He conducts business. In other words, we can trust Him and know that any counsel He provides is the absolute way that we should proceed. There is never a need for a second opinion nor should we question Him. We only need to be obedient and respond in accordance to His will and way for us. Every step we walk in His way brings us a step closer to being just and true in our ways as well.

3. He is to be feared and glorified. He alone is holy. Too often, God finds Himself disrespected by His children…the very ones He created in His own image. He becomes a God of convenience and is only called on when one gets themselves into deep trouble and are desperate for relief. Because we are so consumed by our own selfish desires, the desires of God’s heart for us get pushed aside. We too often treat Him with irreverence and it’s no wonder that He gets angered by the way His children shun Him. I think we better reassess our attitude before the One who has the power to destroy all creation just as easy as He made it. It’s time we give God His due and live in reverent fear of Him. And we can further exhibit reverence through the act of glorification. How well do we glorify God by the way we act… speak… think? Do we glorify Him in our relations to one another, especially when we are partnered in marriage? We can best honor God and show Him that we respect Him by striving to be like Him. He alone is holy but He can help us live in representative holiness by reflecting His character to others in the way we live.

Great, marvelous, righteous, just, true, reverent, holy…just a few of may words we can use to describe our Father in heaven. Do you know Him as being all these things? If not, dig deeper into your bible and you will find all this and more as you seek to learn more and more about Him so that you can strive to be more and more like Him.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

HOW TO HANDLE PERSECUTION

"Let this encourage God’s people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying His commands and trusting in Jesus." And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good deeds follow them!" Revelation 14:12-13

In the midst of a world that ever more chooses to degrade and shun Christianity, Christians find it ever more difficult to live. It seems more and more that those who choose Christ and walk the narrow path to righteousness, walk in the midst of less and less fellow walkers. Indeed, Revelation shares that 144,000 were found blameless and worthy enough to be with the Lamb before God’s wrath was exercised. Day after day, more and more believers fall aside and in doing so fall victim to the temptation and draw of the world. They fail to persevere and stay firm in their faith, no matter how much the world entices them…no matter how much of a minority they become…no matter how much persecution comes their way. They wait in eager anticipation for their reward which lies not in the here and now but in the eternal future that comes after death through Jesus Christ.

Our scripture today uses some key words to help us as we seek to persevere through present day persecution until Jesus returns. First, persecuted Christians need encouragement. Persevering through mistreatment can be a lonely endeavor if we’re trying to go it alone. Thank goodness, we’re not going through it alone…for we can either count on another who is also enduring persecution to encourage us or we can simply turn to the Lord, our constant Companion and very present Help in times of trouble.

Secondly, persecuted Christians need to be patient. No one knows when Jesus will return. We just know He is coming back as He promised. The wait that ensues while we watch for Jesus can be painstaking. And we may not see His coming before we pass away and go to be with the Father. Either way, the good news is that those who live a life of obedient service to Jesus and His Father will join them in heaven whether they die before Jesus returns or are taken up into heaven with him at the rapture. The call is for us to be patient.

Last, we’re to stay "firm to the end, obeying His commands and trusting in Jesus." We stay firm by not wavering in our faithfulness and obedience. The hymn, "Trust and Obey", offers the following words to describe our experience after patient perseverance:

"Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey."

Staying firm requires strength and you don’t have near enough strength to stand against Satan and his associates. Only through the strength of Christ living and abiding within you can you persevere and cross the finish line into eternity with the Savior. Remember Paul’s words in Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

So in sum, one needs encouragement, patience, obedience and faith to persevere through persecution. All these can be found in their purest forms through Jesus the Christ…the One who assures us that, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord…they are blessed indeed because they will rest from all their toils and trials."

Thanks be to God for the promises found in His only Son.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

THE WAR WITH SATAN

"This great dragon – the ancient serpent called the Devil or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world – was thrown down to earth…And when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the child… the dragon became angry at the woman and he declared war against the rest of her children – all who keep God’s commandments and confess they belong to Jesus." Revelation 12:9, 11,17

Just in case you weren’t sure whether there was a Satan in the world, our scripture for today affirms that there is. You’ll read that he was once in heaven but was cast out after losing a battle with "Michael and the angels under his command." (Revelation 12:7) Once on earth, he (Satan) set his sights on the woman who had given birth to the boy (Jesus) who was snatched from Satan’s attack and taken up into heaven (representative of Jesus’ resurrection).

So Satan not only failed to get his evil hands on the Messiah but he failed to harm his mother as well. That was the good news. The bad news is that he "declared war against the rest of her (the woman’s) children – all who keep God’s commandments and confess they belong to Jesus. Since Satan couldn’t get Jesus Himself, he decided to go after anyone who would believe and trust in Him…His disciples…like us.

Scripture does not invalidate the fact that a battle is in progress on work between Satan and God’s children. It reinforces the fact, particularly in Ephesians, Chapter 6, verses 13 through 18, where we are instructed to wear the full armor of God daily as we walk onto battlefield earth. Unprotected, we will be attacked and fall…victimized by Satan’s schemes and his desire to destroy anything that is of Christ. As we read in 1st Peter, Satan prowls around like a hungry lion waiting for someone to devour. (1st Peter 5:8)

Question: Have you ever felt Satan attacking you and driving you to where he wants to have his way with you? Did you don your full armor for protection or did you enter into battle unprepared?

One final point as we wrap up today’s study with some good news. For you see that Satan will never have victory over Jesus Christ and when Jesus returns, Satan will be destroyed for good once and for all, wiped off the face of the earth along with all those who didn’t lace their hope and trust in Jesus. It’s comforting to know that one who keeps God’s commandments and confesses Jesus will be taken up with Jesus upon his return.

Question: Where do you stand in your relationship with the Father and His only Son Jesus? Would you join Jesus in heaven for eternity or be cast into hell with Satan and all his followers (i.e. anyone not professing Jesus as Savior)?

Won’t you make the choice right now to make Jesus your personal Savior? For He could return anytime and you must be prepared…or your will lose your ticket to eternal life and a chance to be part of the new kingdom. Come to Christ right now and never turn back.

In Christ,

Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

A DAY TO LONG FOR

"Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet and there were loud voices shouting in heaven, "The whole world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He will reign forever and ever. And the twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped Him. And they said, "We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who always was, for now You have assumed Your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry with You but now the time of Your wrath has come. It is a time to judge the dead and reward Your servants. You will reward Your prophets and Your holy people, all who fear Your name, from the least to the greatest. And You will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth." Revelation 11:15-18

As I read and watch the news every day, I get ever increasingly upset at the world we live in. So much lawlessness, conflict, immorality, and death happening every day, most of it completely senseless. In fact, so many people today have just simply lost their senses. They’ve lost their minds but also their souls along the way. It’s enough to have you yearn for a time when justice and righteousness rule supreme.

Well, the good news is that the day is coming so we need not lose hope. God’s word has given us the assurance that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is returning to earth…returning to take His own to be with Him and the Father in a new kingdom. The world as we know it will end and so will evil, sin, and all the by products of both. Now that is a day to long for and we must do so in patient anticipation until that seventh trumpet sounds and the world becomes the kingdom of God and His Son. Their reign will last forever from that day forth.

Question: Have you chosen Jesus as your heart’s desire instead of the world and its enticements? Will you be at peace or in fear when the seventh trumpet sounds? Will you be rewarded or penalized? It’s not too late to make the necessary corrections in your life to get right with God. Strive to live for Him and embody what He represents in your own life. Run the good race with Him alongside you…run all the way to the finish line where He will declare you victorious. The alternative is destruction. As I have said so many other times, the choice is yours to make. Choose wisely...choose Christ.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

THE PENALTY FOR STUBBORN SINFUL LIVING

"But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood – idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21

The Revelation of Jesus Christ very vividly describes the consequences that will come to a world disobedient and indifferent to their Creator…the infinitely Almighty God. Chapters 8 and 9 document further judgment on the earth and its people. Seven trumpets are to be sounded by seven angels, each trumpet bringing a different catastrophe. A third of the earth is set afire, a third of the seas become blood, a third of all living things in the sea perish, a third of ships at sea are destroyed, a third of the sea becomes so bitter that many people die drinking it, a third of the sun moon and stars becomes dark, and a third of every day and night become dark as well. An eagle soars through the air warning of pending terror when the last three trumpets are blown.

The first of these final trumpets bring locusts up from the bottomless pit but these are no ordinary locusts. Instead of harming the plants, grass or trees, these locusts are given the ability to sting like scorpions and are ordered to plague all who do not bear God’s seal for five months. The stings of the locusts were tempered so they would not be fatal. Rather, those attacked would be under such affliction that they wish they would be put to death rather than continue to suffer. But this wasn’t as bad as it would get.

For the sixth trumpet is sounded and four angels are released from the Euphrates River to kill one third of all people on earth. They would lead an army of 200 million to carry out the task, many riding horses who spewed fire, smoke, and burning sulfur from their mouths to kill the prescribed one third. All this and there was one final trumpet to be sounded.

Now given everything above, you would think that the entire world would be cowering in fear and willing to do whatever God required of them to spare their lives. But that’s not what happened. Our passage today states that those who "did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds." That’s simply amazing to me but then again, creation has turned from God since the very inception of sinfulness in the Garden of Eden. Since then, Satan has continued to convince countless numbers to follow his desires and the desires of their hearts vice be obedient to the God who created Him. We would call these people stubborn and foolish; Jesus called them stiff-necked. Regardless, they are destined for destruction short of turning from their sins and repenting.

Question: Do you have a deep respect for what the bible says? If so, how will you fare when the trumpets sound? Will you be marked with the seal of God and spared? Or will you be one of those who are afflicted and then eventually perish, missing the opportunity to be part of God’s new creation when he hits the reset button and starts over with His faithful ones? It’s your choice.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

OBEDIENCE TO JESUS = SURVIVAL

"I know all the things you do and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word…Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world…All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them and they will be citizens in the city of My God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And they will have My new name inscribed upon them." Revelation 3:8, 10, 12

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white…He said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God, serving Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them. They will never again be hungry or thirsty and they will be fully protected from the scorching noonday heat. For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears." Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

At the end of Revelation, Chapter 6, Jesus, the Lamb worthy to remove the seals from the scroll, broke the sixth seal and set off a series of cataclysmic events. You’ll recall that it all started with a great earthquake, then the sun and moon changed color, followed by the stars falling from the sky, the sky rolling up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands disappearing. Fear struck everyone from the most powerful to the free to the slaves. The question was asked, "Who will be able to survive?"

Well, the answer to that question comes from an earlier passage which can sum up what God requires from His creation, the very works of His hands. This all powerful, all wise, all loving God has given every one He created everything He has, to include His only Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. And yet, most of us fail to even give Him a fraction ourselves back in return. Jesus in our passage from Revelation, Chapter 3, emphasizes that obedience is what will move you toward eternal life and a place in God’s temple with Him and our Father in heaven. Jesus promises that He would "protect you (the obedient) from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world." He then affirms that, "All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them and they will be citizens in the city of My God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And they will have My new name inscribed upon them."

Question: Are you living in obedience to the Father and His Son Jesus Christ? If judgment were to come down this very minute, would you find yourself marked to be with God and Jesus in the throne room of heaven, serving as "pillars in the Temple."

Christian living is not easy. We are weak and sinful by nature when left to our own devices. That is why Jesus would say you HAVE to become obedient…because apart from Him you DON’T have the strength to stand against Satan. You CAN’T make it on your own. You CAN’T save yourself. That’s why we have a Savior and His name is Jesus. Place Him first in your mind, first in your heart, and first in your soul and He will always be FIRST in your life. It’s the only way you can and will survive when judgment comes. Don’t delay.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

WHO WILL SURVIVE?

"I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to earth like green figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, an every slave and every free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountain and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come and who will be able to survive." Revelation 6:12-17

Today’s passage from Revelation 6 conjures up some rather frightening images but ones we need to definitely consider. For we serve an awesome, powerful God and an equally powerful Son, the One who was worthy to remove the seals of the scrolls. Their power and might can and will be leveraged against this evil world as consequence for its turning from the one and only true God…the Maker of heaven and earth and everything on it. It’s this creation power that does not make the assertions of the scripture seem far-fetched.

For if God made the sun, the moon, stars and sky (as He did), then surely He can change the color of the sun and moon, make all the stars from the sky, and roll up the sky like a scroll. Further…if God placed the mountains and islands on the earth, then He surely can make them disappear.

Question: How would you feel if there were a great earthquake and you looked out to see everything taking place as mentioned in our scripture? Do you think it could happen?

I think the biggest problem with our world is that people in general lack a solid respect for God. They want a cushy God who will give them everything they desire while they completely desecrate Him by the way they act. They expect His protection and love while they choose to defile Him by their sinfulness. They fail to acknowledge that God is a God of judgment just as much as He is a God of love. And its that mindset that is going to have them running for cover like the kings, rulers, generals, the wealthy, the enslaved and the free when God’s wrath comes. They too will be shouting out, "…hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come and who will be able to survive?" Indeed, who will be able to survive? Stay tuned for the answer.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

HE IS WORTHY

"And as He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they held bowls of gold incense – the prayers of God’s people! And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For You were killed and Your blood ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Revelation 5:9

At the beginning of chapter 5 of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John continues to share his experience in the throne room of Heaven. He shares the events regarding a scroll that was held in God’s right hand. There was great sorrow in the room because no one was worthy to open the scroll. That is, until Jesus enters the scene as a Lamb. John recounts, "I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but now was standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty four elders…He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne." Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God who died on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for the sins of the world and then ascended into Heaven to sit at God’s mighty right hand, was the only one worthy to open the scroll.

In acknowledgement of His authority and power, the four living beings and twenty four elders immediately fell down before Jesus in reverent respect and worship. They held harps for song and gold bowls of incense filled with the prayers of God’s people, offered to Jesus as they sang to Him.
In their song, the living beings and elders speak two truths about Jesus…truths central to the Christian faith. They included:

(1) He was killed. Jesus would not have made it to this place and time in the throne room of Heaven had He not been crucified first. As a former pastor of a church I attended used to say, "you can’t have the resurrection without the crucifixion." The sacrifice had to come before the reward.

Question: Are you willing to sacrifice everything to gain your reward? Are you willing to lay everything down for Jesus, just as He did for you, so you can join Him in Heaven some day?

(2) Jesus ransomed God’s people with His blood. We were all held hostage by sin, facing eternal captivity and loss of liberty. Nothing could set us free except for the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. The hymn, Nothing But The Blood, says, "What can take away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus." The required ransom to free us from destruction from sinfulness was the blood of Jesus. And He gave it because He loved us.

Question: Do you fully realize you have been set free? For if the Son has set you free, then you are truly free indeed. (John 8:36) In what ways do you show Jesus your gratitude for dying for you? Would you be willing to die for another if it meant saving their life? Have you truly stopped to reflect on the love that Jesus has for you?

Won’t you join the living beings and elders in the throne room, bowing down in respect and honor to the One who died for you, paying the ransom for your sins with His blood…the One who offers you the chance to be set free and join Him in Heaven at this life’s end. For He is worthy of not only opening the scroll but also of receiving all our glory, honor, praise and worship. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

HUMBLE WORSHIP

"Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created everything and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.’" Revelation 4:9-11

In today’s scripture we observe more response from those who are in the presence of God in the throne room. The living beings gave glory, honor and thanks to God as He sat on the throne proclaiming His majesty all day and night. The twenty four elders then responded by "fall(ing) down and worship(ping)" God.

The response of the elders highlights how we should conduct ourselves while in the presence of our Almighty, Omnipotent God. We are expected to be in a constant spirit of worship and not just token worship but all consuming, passionate, worship. The elders fell before God prostrate around His throne. They realized that they were not even worthy to stand in His presence. And they fully understood the depth of His power.

Question: Is your worship simply a matter of going through the motions, performing in concert with some preconceived script? Or is your worship heartfelt, devotional, and humble? It’s that last word humble that we seem to have the worst time with.

So why is humility such a problem for us? Well, the world defines humility as a weakness and people simply don’t want to be considered weak. So they turn away from humility, unwilling to swallow their pride...more concerned about how the world will judge them than the Almighty God who made them. We only need to turn to God’s Only Son Jesus to see consistent humility as applied to living. And as Christians, aren’t we supposed to be modeling Christ?

Question: How well are you modeling Jesus in your every day Christian living? Do others get a glimpse of who Jesus is by examining the way you live? How do you think Jesus feels when we were not willing to sacrifice for Him, even though He sacrificed everything for us?

Keep in mind that through Jesus and His resurrection, we were all made heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. And as heirs, God gives our crowns of life to wear in glory but He is still the Supreme King. This is why the elders could not wear their crowns in His presence. Instead, they laid them before the throne and acknowledged God as the only One "worthy…to receive glory and honor and power." And so should we.

So worship God without ceasing with passion and humility…a humility that will always drive you to a place uncrowned and prostrate before the Lord. For truly, He and only He is worthy of our praise.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

GIVE GOD EVERYTHING

"Day after day and night after night, they (the living beings) keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty – the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’ Revelation 4:8b

As Jesus concludes his letters to the seven churches, He ushers John into the Spirit where he witnesses a throne room filled with wonder, awe, and majesty…a throne room where God the Father Almighty is seated. In His presence are four living beings and twenty four elders who show us the way to a proper praise attitude when we are in the presence of the living, Almighty God.

Question: Each day as you are in the presence of God, what is your life attitude? Do you take His omnipotent power for granted and treat Him with token respect? Do you show Him your utmost gratitude for, first, creating you, second, sustaining you and finally preserving you through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son Jesus Christ? I suspect we have a long way to go when it comes to truly being in the right frame of mind and attitude of heart when it comes to relating to our Heavenly Father.

So given that, let’s seek to model the living beings in the throne room.

First, we’re told in scripture that they speak praises to God the Father "day after day and night after night." In other words, they never cease to praise Him. Why do they praise Him? Well, there are a few reasons given in our scripture passage but they are not the only rationale for praising Him. In fact, the reasons to praise God are as infinite as the power He possesses. The living beings say the following about God:

(1) He is holy. Webster’s Dictionary gives the best definition of what it means to be holy stating, "one who is exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness." We know God is perfect. Given that, we know God is the perfect example of righteousness. We also know that God is good. His mercies freely flow to us…His grace amazes us…and His love embraces us always. Truly, God is the only One who is holy and thus is to be exalted and given our complete devotion. He has given, continues to give, and will give in the future His everything to include His Son Jesus. We fall short if we do anything less than giving Him our everything.

(2) He is almighty. Back to Webster’s. Almighty is defined as "having absolute power over all". There is nothing in all creation that was not made by God’s hands. Thus, He has absolute authority over everything, including you and I. Given that He has absolute power over all, how much respect do we show Him? Do we truly have a reverent fear for what God could do to anything He has created when he chooses to administer judgment? We can’t afford to do anything short of respecting Him as Almighty.

(3) He is the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come. In other words, He was there in the beginning, He’s there in the present and will be there in the end. What an awesome assurance we have in knowing He is always there for us, no matter what. And it’s that eternal relationship that brings us to the place of praise and glory toward our Father.

Question: Do you know God as being holy…almighty…eternal? If so, model the living beings around the throne. For God is truly worthy of all our honor and praise. Give Him your everything.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

LISTEN, ANSWER, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS

"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne." Revelation 3:20-21

Question: Do you feel as if the Lord is inactive in your life? Are you going through circumstances where you feel lost and alone? Depressed and stressed instead of blessed?

If so, then I believe that today’s scripture from the 3rd chapter of the Revelation of Jesus can offer you guidance toward renewing and strengthening your relationship with Him and moving you from despair to hope. Here are several points to ponder:

(1) Jesus never leaves us…we leave Him. In verse 20, Jesus says that He stands at the door, knocks and calls out. The "door" is the entrance to your heart, a door that we too often keep closed with a do not disturb sign on it. We tend to want to internalize everything, especially when things are going wrong in our lives. At the very time we should be asking Jesus in to help, instead we shut Him out with the intent on relying on ourselves to work things out…and that’s a recipe for disaster.

The truth is that void of Jesus, we can’t succeed and we certainly don’t have the inner strength to persevere through trials on our own. We have to have Jesus. Paul asserts in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So can we but only if we answer the knock on the door of our heart and invite Jesus in.

(2) When we let Him in, He makes Himself at home and enters into fellowship with us. Jesus tells us that He "will come in and share a meal as friends." Food brings nourishment and strength. In your weakest times, the invited Jesus feeds your inner heart and soul, bringing strength and vitality…a renewed zest for life and living. But He brings even more…He brings friendship.

As mentioned, we tend to withdraw during times of trouble. When we need someone to hold and comfort us most, we tend to steal away and isolate ourselves. Jesus brings us friendship anytime we want. He longs to be in constant fellowship with us…to show us a joy and peace beyond comprehension. We need only invite Him in.

(3) When we fellowship with Jesus and build a solid faith relationship, He knows us and will count us as the "victorious" when either we die or He returns, whichever might come first. Either way, we are assured victory and the privilege "to sit with (Jesus) on the throne, just as He was victorious in resurrection. Is there any better news than that?

So…in summation, listen for Jesus knocking and calling…when you hear Him, invite Him in…partake of His strength, comfort and peace, all that come to nourish you in your weakest time. And sustain your fellowship and relationship with Jesus after inviting Him in so you might be counted among the victorious. The prize is eternal life and a place on the throne with Jesus and His Eternal Father. Hallelujah!

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

LOOK IN THE MIRROR

"You say, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!" And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from Me – gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the One who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference." Revelation 3:17-19

Have you ever met anyone who did nothing but boast about their successes and gains in life? Maybe you have done it yourself. For it’s so easy to fall into the temptation of self reliance, self promotion and self worship. After all, we work hard in life to earn what we have and the world would drive us to reach a point when we can relax and enjoy the fruits of our labors…whether we reach that point early in life or get to where we can retire and say, "I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!"

Jesus warns that there is a danger in focusing so much on what we attain and emphasizing our material gain at the expense of looking at our character and the kind of person we are. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21) For so many people, money and possessions are their treasure and thus their hearts are centered on them. They place their personal value on how much they have outside of themselves at the expense of realizing they are spiritually bankrupt.

Jesus sums it up as He tells the Laodician church that they "don’t realize they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." For anyone not living in the Lord but in the world, this statement would seem like craziness. One would ask, "How could the Lord say this? Has He not paid attention to my home? My car? My bank account?" The truth of the matter is that the Lord can say it because He has paid attention…attention to that person’s soul and how rich they are in Him and His Spirit.

Question: If the Lord looked in your heart this very moment, would He see that you feel you couldn’t make through each day without Him? Would He see that He is the treasure of your heart? If your answer to the questions is "no", then Jesus offers some direction to get our lives back where they need to be.

First, Jesus tells us to put some ointment on our eyes so we will be able to see. Before we can make the right changes to our lives and begin to please God, we need to have the ability to look within.

Next, Jesus directs us to buy "gold" from Him…and not just any gold but purified gold. Jesus only deals with perfection and only He can give you pure treasure for your heart…only He can make you rich.

And finally, Jesus orders the Laodicians to buy "white garments" so they would not be shamed by their nakedness. For Jesus knows that when we are exposed for who we truly are…when we truly look within, we will be ashamed of our sinfulness and feel "naked" (exposed). The only way to escape our nakedness is to clothe ourselves in righteousness…to don "white garments".

Question: So where do you stand in regard to your value system in life? Jesus would ask that you step back and take a real good look in the mirror…a look into who you are on the inside. Remember He can already see there so you’re only kidding yourself by not evaluating objectively. Seek yourself, root out any matters that are not in accordance with God's Word and Will, and start today to reach a place of spiritual wealth…a place where we are rich in our Savior, the One who holds the key to eternal riches in Heaven.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

GET HOT

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16

Out of the seven churches addressed by Jesus in Revelation, the church of Laodicia is last. He also shares what could be considered His harshest comments yet about any of the churches…comments that contained an obvious disdain for the way the Laodician church was operating.

First, let’s look at the choice of words Jesus uses to describe the church…words that all have relation to temperature.

Jesus starts by saying the Laodician church was not hot. He was not referring to a church that had adequate ventilation and thus was cool. Rather, He was saying the church had lost its fervor for serving the Lord. Churches are most effective when they are on fire for the Lord…motivated and ambitious to do whatever is necessary to follow God’s will and way and advance His kingdom on earth. And these churches are hot because they are made up of believers who are hot…Holy Spirit hot. Jesus was looking for His churches to be hot. Laodicia was not.

Jesus also said that the Laodician church was not cold. A cold church is one that has no life. There is no forward motivation…no desire to reach out beyond the church walls…and no Spirit of fire for the Lord. These churches are more like social gathering places than instruments of evangelism. So one may think that all is not that bad in the Laodician church. At least they’re not dead.

But Jesus expresses that a church who chooses to steer the middle between hot and cold, serving the Lord in lukewarm fashion, is the worst. In fact, he makes an amazing statement when He says He would prefer they were cold rather than lukewarm ("I wish you were one or the other."). It’s obvious from Jesus’ words that a lukewarm church attitude sickens Him. He says, He would "spit" the Laodician church out of His mouth. In other words, the Lord cannot stomach a lukewarm approach to Christian faith and service.

One other point to repeat. A church will reflect its members. Just as a hot church is that way because its members are on fire for the Lord and are willing to do whatever He calls them to do, the Laodician church was lukewarm because its members were lukewarm...neither hot nor cold. A church and what is able to accomplish is directly proportional to its membership and what they are able to come together to accomplish.

Question: If you have a church home (and I highly recommend you seek and find one), how does your church operate? Is it on fire for the Lord, complacent and unmotivated, or lukewarm? How about you and your personal service to the Lord? Are you hot, cold, or warm?

If you are anything but hot, it’s time to get your priorities back in order. Get back to basics, praying daily, regularly reading God’s word, always seeking His will for your life. Ask the Holy Spirit in and watch your faith life become energized and red hot. For that is what is truly pleasing to the Lord…the very Lord who wishes to use you for great purposes…all to His glory.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

THE MASTER DOORKEEPER

"This is the message from the One who is holy and true. He is the One who has the key of David. He opens doors and no one can shut them; he shuts doors and no one can open them. I know all the things you do and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me." Revelation 3:7b-8

Inventor Alexander Graham Bell said, "When one door closes, another one opens" and life seems like this, doesn’t it? We move from one door to another and sometimes we feel like we’re in a revolving door, never seeming to move further ahead but rather perpetually stuck in place. Does you life feel like it’s stuck in the revolving door of monotony?

Well, maybe it’s that way because you haven’t gone to the Eternal Doorkeeper, Jesus…the One who is holy and true"…the One who wants to guide you to the ultimate goal…the door that leads to eternal life. On the way to that final door, Jesus explains in our scripture that "He opens doors that no one can shut" and "shuts doors that no one can open." In other words, Jesus is in control…not you or I. Yes, we try our best to control our respective destinies and the direction of our lives but the bottom line is that we can’t open a single door unless Jesus wishes for it to be open first.

So what do we need to do to make sure the doors we want to travel through are open? Well, the church in Philadephia can help answer that question. It’s obvious they had done what they needed to do to gain the Lord’s favor and escape His wrath. Such was the quality of their service as Jesus praised them saying, "I know all the things you do…You have little strength yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me." Jesus requires us to be obedient and faithful to Him and His word. In return, He will open the ultimate door, the one no one can shut.

Question: Are you trying to open and close your own doors in life? Do you find yourself dissatisfied with the direction your life is taking?

If so, why not turn to the One who is "holy and true". He longs to be your personal Doorkeeper, always guiding you to and through the right doors all the way to your final passage through the door of Heaven and a life eternal with Him and God, His Father. Get out of the revolving door and start moving in the direction the Lord commands. You’ll never go back to your old ways…to the old doors that were only leading you to destruction, not eternal life. The time is now.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

DEAD OR ALIVE?

"…you have a reputation for being alive – but you are dead. Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. Yet even in Sardis, there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy." Revelation 3:1b-4

In Chapter 3 of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus continues having John write down letters to the seven churches. In His letter to the church in Sardis, Jesus highlights a concern over the lifestyles of the people there. Specifically, the people have turned away from living their lives for the Lord ("your deeds are from right in the sight of God") and they have drifted so far that Jesus tells them that they are spiritually dead ("but you are dead").

The problem of dying away spiritually was not a new one. Jesus forecast it would happen as He instructed His disciples and us as well through His word when He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers…" (John 15:3-6) Spiritually, we only stay alive if we stay connected to Jesus…to His Word…to His Will…and to His Way. Through previous entries, I have highlighted the dangers of living in the world and its ways vice living in the word and the ways of the Lord. The world we live in entices us to adopt its way, ever more pulling on our respective branches to see if we will break away from the Vine. And many branches every day are removed …removed from the One true source of spiritual life…destined to wither and die.

Question: Are you attached to the Vine or have you allowed yourself to be removed from Jesus? Are you spiritually alive or near death like the people of Sardis?

If you have fallen away from Jesus, hear His words to the people in Sardis and hear them as words to you as well. For Jesus said, "Go back to what you heard and believed at first, hold to it firmly and turn to Me again." Jesus is calling for Sardis and us as well to get back to basics. Go back to the root of your Christian belief system….the Gospel of Jesus. "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, so that who so ever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Real life, now and after death, only comes through Jesus, our Savior, who will receive you back if you have drifted. "Turn to Me again", He urges.

So where are you today? Are you in a place where you need to turn back toward Jesus? Are you dying away spiritually? Or are you firmly attached and living in obedience to Jesus’ Will for your life? Some in Sardis were and Jesus commended them saying, "there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy."

Dead or alive? It’s a question only you can answer. Your very hope of eternal life is at stake. Please choose Christ…choose to "walk in white" and live in purity…be obedient and faithful to Him…model His life in yours…and stay attached to the Vine…forever.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

WHAT DO YOU DESERVE?

"…I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman – that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet – to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. I gave her time to repent but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn from their evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know I am the One who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to you whatever you deserve." Revelation 2:20-23

In the fourth of seven letters to the churches, Jesus dictates His message for the church in Thyatira to John, leaving little doubt that He is not happy with what is going on. His displeasure is centered on a woman who the church has allowed to introduce false teachings. Indeed, many in the church had adopted her ideals such as idol worshipping, eating food offered to idols, and sexual immorality.

Yet despite His displeasure, Jesus did something that defines Him: He showed grace and mercy. Indeed, he gave Jezebel the opportunity to repent but as scripture shares, "she would not turn away from her immorality." She snubbed her nose at the offered reconciliation of the Father and chose to continue her sinful ways. In return, He passed down judgment, not only on Jezebel, but also anyone who committed adultery with her. At this point, things aren’t looking good for Jezebel’s disciples but as the Lord so often does, He opens doorways. Sometimes these doorways are meant to welcome people in; sometimes it offers a way to escape.

In today’s passage, Jesus opens the doorway of escape from what would surely be harsh judgment (i.e. Jezebel faced illness upon her sickbed), telling the people who had sinned under Jezebel to "turn from their evil deeds" Interestingly enough, the word that requires a turning away from our sins is repent, the word that Jesus used when He spoke to Jezebel. And Jesus follows up this expectation by saying, "I will give to you whatever you deserve." He then backed this up by what He did to Jezebel. You’ll remember that Jesus promised to cast Jezebel upon a sickbed and strike her children dead. It sounds harsh but Jesus will not tolerate someone leading His people astray.

Question: What do you deserve? Has your sinful nature drawn you away from Jesus? Are you willing to come back to Jesus and repent? The bottom line is Jesus loves obedience. It is one of the true ways that we can show Him that we appreciate Him and wish to be in His favor.
So give this a try: Break free from your sinfulness, repent and turn your heart and mind and soul to Jesus.

Be obedient as you are called to be in Christ and you will experience His favor. For He promises to "give you what you deserve". Make sure it’s His blessings and not His punishment.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

RICH IN JESUS

"I know about your suffering and your poverty – but you are rich!" Revelation 2:9

These dozen words from Jesus speak volumes about our life, first in the world and then in Him. First, let’s look at our life in the world.

The words from Jesus, "I know your poverty and suffering" addressed the plight of the people of the church in Smyrna. We too often go through the same plight. Whether then or now, we discover two important things through these spoken words of the risen Savior.

First, Jesus knows us and what we’re going through. There isn’t anything that happens to us that is out of His sight. Anytime we think He is far from us, we need only seek Him to find He is right next to us, ready to assist. I’m reminded of the famous writing titled "Footprints in the Sand". You may recall that the narrator speaks about walking through his life with Jesus on the beach with each leaving their footprints in the sand. During a particularly difficult time, the man notices that there is only one set of footprints in the sand. He questions Jesus as to how He could have abandoned the man when he needed Him most. Jesus calmly explains that the single set of footprints in the sand were not the man’s but rather His. He tells the man that during his difficult time, He was carrying him.

Question: Have you been through difficulties? Poverty? Suffering? Did you allow Jesus to carry you through?

Second, Jesus shows us He cares for us and loves us. By noticing our circumstances, He lets us know we count…that we are valued. Otherwise, He could simply choose to be indifferent to what we go through. What an awesome assurance we have that our Savior loves us and knows our troubles.

Now that we have examined Jesus’ words about our life in the world, we need to focus on His words about life in Him. He reminds us that no matter what our worldly circumstances, we are abundantly rich through Him and the promise He gives us…the promise of eternal life after death. We are heirs to Heaven through Jesus who provided a rich inheritance through His death and resurrection. So no matter what our worldly circumstances might be…we are all rich if we know and trust in Jesus. For all of us, that’s good news.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

ARE YOU WILLING TO LISTEN?

"Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7

Revelation 2:7. One simple verse but so much to offer us in guidance and assurance. It consists of two basic parts. The first is a recommendation from God’s word. The second is a promise. Let’s first look at the recommendation because without adopting it and exercising it, we will forfeit the opportunity to enjoy the promise of part two.

The first part is centered around the concept of listening and understanding. The two are as indelibly linked as seeing and understanding but in the case of our scripture today, we are dealing with the Holy Spirit…ever present around us, ever willing to enter into us and ever ready to speak to us but invisible. And maybe this is where people have such a problem in experiencing the Spirit. They can’t see it so they don’t think it exists and thus they don’t listen to it. And yet, the Spirit is always trying to speak to us.

In closing his letter to the church in Ephesus, John states, "Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit…" Notice that John doesn’t say, "Anyone who can hear listen to the Spirit" but rather "anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit." We have to show a willingness to listen to what the Spirit has to say to us before we can begin to understand what the Spirit is saying to us.

Question: How well have you shown the Spirit you are willing to listen and understand?

Part two of verse seven deals with a promise…a promise that will come to those who are victorious. OK…but victorious over what? The answer is sin. We are in the midst of a great battle on earth. Two competing factions wish to have control over each of us: Jesus, our Savior, and Satan, who has the sole desire to destroy every good and perfect thing that God creates. Satan would have us sail in a sea of sinfulness, navigating our way to future death and destruction where as Jesus seeks to lead us to victory…victory over sin and victory over death so that we might enter into Heaven and "eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God."

Question: Who is winning the battle for your soul: Jesus or Satan? Are you closer to victory or defeat? Eternal damnation in Hell or eternal life with the Father in Heaven? We do have a choice. It begins by choosing to listen to the Spirit who will always guide you to truth and holiness…to a place where you begin to reflect Jesus in everything you do…to a place where you will ultimately live forever with Jesus and His Father in Heaven, never going hungry as you dine from the tree of life in paradise. There will be no sweeter meal you will ever meet.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

LOVE...OR ELSE

"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to Me again and work as you did at first. If you don't I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches." Revelation 2:2-5

After John comes face-to-face with Jesus and commits himself to obedience, following Jesus’s command to write down everything he sees, Jesus starts to tell John what to write. He starts with a letter to the church in Ephesus, one of the seven churches He told John to send His message to. There are several critical takeaways from this letter that we would be well-served to adopt in our personal lives.

First, Jesus knows all the things that we do. Just as He was totally aware of all the good and bad in the church in Ephesus, He is also totally aware of all the good and bad in each one of us. Jesus knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. It is impossible to be superficial in the presence of Christ for He can see through us…literally.

Question: When Jesus looks within you, what does He see?

Second, we all do please Jesus when we live in obedience to His Word, Will and Way. The church in Ephesus worked hard for the Lord, displayed patient endurance, didn’t tolerate evil people, flushed out false apostles, and suffered patiently without quitting. They had built up a lot of favor with Jesus.

Question: What have you done in obedience to Jesus that would lead Him to look on you with favor?

Finally, Jesus explains to the Ephesus church as well as all of us that without love for Him and each other, any favor we have gained will quickly be replaced by judgment. For Ephesus, the penalty was removing their lamp stand from the midst of the other churches. The Ephesian church would perish minus the love that Jesus expected from them. And so will we. Remember that when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandments, He replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength…and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31) The commands are simple: love the Lord and love one another. The key is love and it’s the key because Jesus was the perfect definition of love. He wants us to model His character in how we approach love as well.

Question: How well have you loved Jesus lately? How about one another?

There isn’t a whole lot of gray area in Jesus’s words today. It comes down to a rather simple decision: Love…or else.

What will your choice be?

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com

SEEK HIM, PRAISE HIM, OBEY HIM

"It was the Lord's Day and I was worshipping in the Spirit. Suddenly I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast. It said, "Write down what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicia. When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a gold robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were bright as bronze refined in a furnace and His voice thundered like the mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in His right hand and a sharp two edged sword came from His mouth. And His face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One who died. Look I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Write down what you have seen - both the things that are happening and the things that will happen later." Revelation 1:10-19

Before we get too far into Chapter 1 of the Book of Revelation, John tells us where the Revelation originated. I’m sure the day was like any other day for John. As an apostle, he would have been setting out to prayerfully carry out the Lord’s Will, most certainly teaching and preaching the Gospel and ever seeking to help others find their salvation in Jesus Christ.

But the Lord had special plans for John on this Lord’s Day (a term used for the 1st day of the week because it was on that day that Jesus rose from the dead). John shares that he was "worshipping in the Spirit" when he heard a loud voice behind him, demanding that he "write down what you see and send it to the seven churches…" John turns to see who is giving him the order only to witness the majesty and power of Jesus right before his eyes. The scripture tells us there were "seven golden lampstands’ with the "Son of Man" standing in the middle of them. Jesus was radiating an awesome light, "as bright as the sun in all its brilliance". His eyes were described as "bronze refined in a furnace" and from His mouth came a "sharp two-edged sword." It was quite a spectacle for John to encounter.

Question: How would you respond if you encountered such an experience with Jesus? Well John did what most of us would probably do: he "fell at His feet as dead," surely frightened beyond belief. But then something amazing happened.

In the presence of the Almighty, Powerful Son of God, John experiences His awesome grace and love. For Jesus "laid His right hand on John and spoke four words of peace saying, "Do not be afraid." He then tells John who He is: "the First and the Last…The Living One who died…The One who is alive forever and ever…the One who holds the keys of death and the grave." Jesus then directed John again to "write down what he has seen and what he will see in the future. How does John respond? Obviously, in complete obedience or else we wouldn’t have the Revelation to study from.

Question: Has the Lord Jesus ever spoken to you in a special, powerful way? How did you respond?

The truth is that Jesus wishes to speak to all of us in a special, powerful way. He wants to bless us, teach us, heal us, and love us in ways we never imagined. How can we receive Him?

First, like John, "we need to consistently be worshipping with the Spirit." Open your heart and mind to Jesus in prayer and ask Him to enter in. Request His guidance for your life and then watch what He does within you and around you so that His Will might be done.

Secondly, praise Jesus for His daily guidance. We should ever be in awe that the Son of God would want to even come into the hearts of sinners like us to do anything good and yet He does because He wishes to partner with us to further His kingdom here on earth. Like John, we should respond to being in the presence of Jesus with absolute reverence.

Finally, we need to respond to Jesus with obedience. John received orders to write down what he saw and he did, authoring the Book of Revelation. How about you? What is Jesus calling on you to do today? I pray you will open your heart and mind to receive Him, praise Him for what He intends to do in and through you, and respond to His call in absolute obedience. Jesus awaits you. Enter into fellowship with Him this day and forever more.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com