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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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THE ONLY ONE WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE

"All praise to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us His kingdom and His priests who serve before God His Father. Give to Him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Revelation 1:5-6

Praise. I don't think there is anyone who doesn't like to receive it. In a world that seems be ever more critical of everything, it's always refreshing when someone compliments you for something you've done. It's just a nice way of saying that you're appreciated.

There is a bit of a danger however when we receive praise for an accomplishment because the selfish part our human nature would have us take credit for what we've done. And in doing this, we can tend to forget that we are nothing and cannot do anything good without the Lord’s help. He is the Author of our successes and deserves all the credit. Our goal in life should be to live in a way that will "give Him everlasting glory" as John exhorts us to do in today’s scripture passage from Revelation.

All praise goes to Jesus as well because of His redemptive work on the cross. Jesus, the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God, "shed his blood for us" so that we might be "freed us from our sins" and have the opportunity to find our way to Heaven at our life’s end. Why did He do it? Because He loved us enough to die for us and save us.

Question: Is there anyone in your life who could die for you and, in doing so, grant you eternal life? The answer, of course, is no one…except Jesus.

Won’t you renew your faith in Him today? Won’t you "give Him the everlasting glory" and "all praise"? For only He is worthy as "He rules forever and ever." Thanks be to God for the indescribable gift of His Only Son.

In Christ,

Mark
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THE MAJESTY AND AUTHORITY OF GOD AND HIS SON JESUS

"This is the revelation from Jesus Christ which God gave Him concerning the events that will happen soon...God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church and He blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen....Grace and peace from the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne, and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead and the commander of the rulers of the world." Revelation 1:1, 3, 5

When it comes to the Book of Revelation, you typically find two approaches by people who study God’s Word.

For some, the Book of Revelation is a book that rarely is read or studied. For them, it is a bit of a mystery…a unique writing that is hard to read and understand. For this reason, it is bypassed in deference to the rest of the New Testament.

For others, the Book of Revelation is an obsession. Filled with so much prophecy about Jesus’ return, these fans of the apocalypse painstakingly examine this book with the hope they can unveil new clues to the day and time Jesus will indeed return. Often times, these obsessive Revelation readers will not spend as much time in the rest of the bible than they will spend in this book.

Regardless if you fall into category one or two, the most important thing you need to do is ensure you read, study and share this book. John, who received this revelation and authored the book, tells us several reasons why we should not fail in our responsibility to do this.

1. "This is the revelation from Jesus Christ"…our personal Lord and Savior who died on the cross for us, who was the "first to rise from the dead", and who is coming back again. When Jesus speaks, we are to listen to Him, learn from Him, and obey Him. He brings us guidance straight from the heart of the Father and, in this instance, the guidance involves "events that will happen soon." Since Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life, we can always trust that the words from His mouth will guide us to His Will for us.

2. "God blesses the one who reads the prophecy to the church and He blesses all those who listen to it and obey what it says." Please note that the promise of blessings comes with a qualifier…you must not just hear what the Lord is saying through the Revelation text but you must obey it.

3. "The time will come when these things will happen." The coming events described throughout Revelation are just not predictions but facts. There’s no need to dabble in whether Jesus is returning or when that will take place. He is returning and He has assured us that we won’t know the time when He does. Frankly, trying to figure out the exact time and place when Jesus will return is counter-productive. Jesus would rather have us focus our energy on the Great Commission instead.

4. "Grace and peace from the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come…". Finally, we need to read Revelation because it came from the only true Authority in the world, God the Father who passed it to us through His Son. God has been there from the very beginning. In fact, the beginning began with God. He made everything from the ground up. Our entire living environment came from the works of His hands. If that isn’t enough in its own right to motivate us to study this book in obedient faithfulness, I don’t know what else will do it. I look forward to our Revelation journey together.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE YARDSTICK OF FORGIVENESS

"You must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are guided by the Holy Spirit. Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is going to give you. Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering." Jude 1:20-22

Question: How many times a day do we need to show mercy toward others? Maybe I need to ask this question a different way: How many times do people upset you during the course of any day?

If we’re brutally honest with ourselves on this matter, we probably say that it happens at least once a day.

If you drive daily, which most people do, then there is never a shortage of times when some driver decides to drive inappropriately around you and raise your anger. The bigger the area you live, the more traffic and the greater the potential for this happening.

How about at work? How often has a co-worker done something that really "ticked" you off?

How about within your family? And rift between you and your spouse? How about you and your kids?

And let’s not even talk about the daily news stories we’re bombarded with. I’m sure you can’t help but be incensed with some of the terrible actions people take toward others.

This leads me back to the original question: How many times a day do we need to show mercy toward others? We could probably make this whole matter simpler by just applying this one principle…one that comes straight from the heart of our Heavenly Father, our Master Maker who created us in His own image. His Will for us is that we show mercy every time we start to feel irate with another. As our scripture for today states, "Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering".

This perpetuating spirit of forgiveness emulates the mercy and grace that our Father exercises toward us, His Children. How many times do you anger God by the way you think, speak, or act? The answer to that is simple: you anger Him every time you sin. Now try and count the number of times you do that on a daily basis. It’s not pretty.

Yet, His love is so deep for us that He forgives us and seeks to help us become more like Him. In order for that to happen, we need to stay strong in our faith and embrace His Word and Will for us at all times. I think we find that we fail most often when we are living farthest from the Father. Away from His arms, we are subject to Satan’s attacks and victimized by our sinful nature. Conversely, in His presence we find ourselves in a place where sin does not exist. That’s the place we need to seek to be always but we are prone to failure. We need to remember that others fail likewise. And just as the Father loves and forgives, so should we.

If all this weren’t incredible enough, we can look to Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of mercy and forgiveness. The absolute depth of our Father’s mercy for us is found at the Cross where He offered His only Son as a sin sacrifice for all of us. This God, who has infinite power to destroy anything and everything evil and sin-soaked, decided instead to save us through giving up His Son.

He further demonstrated true mercy and forgiveness through the words of His Son on the Cross. You may remember the powerful call of reconciliation and intercession on the Cross where Jesus was suffering and dying…placed there by all who have sinned. Remember His Words…"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." There’s your yardstick for forgiveness. Like everything else, it’s all about Jesus.

Final questions: If Jesus could forgive us after we caused Him to suffer and die on the Cross, is there any instance where we cannot forgive another? If God’s mercy, grace and love continue to flow to us despite the sinners we are today, shouldn’t we reflect that same mercy, grace and love to one another? Pray hard on this and seek the Spirit’s guidance. You’ll be led to where the Father and Jesus reside…to the place of forgiveness and reconciliation. Thanks be to God.

In Christ,

Mark

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GUIDANCE FOR FOLLOWING WHAT IS GOOD AND THUS WHAT IS GOD

"Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children." 3 John 11b

I received a forwarded e-mail today that has the perfect illustration of how to follow what is good. In order to do good, you must follow God's Word, Way, and Will for your life. You must allow Him to give you guidance. Here's an interesting item that addresses our responsibility to follow God's guidance. I hope you'll be as blessed by it as I was.

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

And remember...In happy moments, PRAISE GOD, Difficult moments, SEEK GOD, Quiet moments,WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD, Every moment, THANK GOD.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE ETERNAL REWARD

"Watch out that you do not lose the prize for which we have been working so hard. Be diligent so that you will receive your full reward. For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son." 2 John 8-9

We all look forward to being rewarded in life. From our earliest years, we are taught that proper behavior leads to some sort of gain. A young child might be treated to ice cream for being good. When students study hard, they learn that they earn good grades and academic recognition. Teens earn allowances for pitching in and helping out around the house. Adults are given raises or promotions for outstanding performance in the work place. Workers who dedicate years of service to a company will earn retirement pay. From infancy to senior adulthood, we learn to seek and gain material reward. This is a worldly reward system that will cease when someone dies. Many never realize there is another reward system available that will never cease but follow one into eternity. This reward only comes in knowing and following Jesus Christ.

For Jesus and Jesus alone was sent by our Heavenly Father to serve as a sin sacrifice for you, I, and all creation. He was the perfect, faultless, unblemished Lamb of God who was nailed to the cross along with all of our sins so that we might be saved from certain destruction. His blood was spilled to cleanse us and prepare us to join Him in Heaven with the Father at this life’s end. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it but to save it." (John 3:16-17) Our resurrection, liberation from the afflictions of this world, and opportunity to live with our Father and His Son forever are our reward for having "fellowship with both the Father and the Son" as we travel the Christian walk day by day.

Question: Have you given you body, soul, heart, and mind to Jesus just as He did it for you? Have you gained your eternal reward through your faith in Jesus and your subsequent service in accordance with His Will for you? There’s much at stake and you have everything to forfeit by losing the prize. As John urges, "be diligent so that you will receive your full reward." It’s what the Father hoped for when He gave His Son for you. Don’t miss out on your reward. Come to Jesus and receive eternal life.

In Christ,

Mark

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IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

"We know that those who have become part of God's family do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely and the evil one cannot get his hands on them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one. And we know the Son of God has come and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God and He is eternal life...keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." 1 John 5:18-21

Remember when you were a child. The world was an exciting but also very scary place. You were little but everything else was so big…the people and all the things around you seemed gigantic and intimidating.

Remember as well that when you would get scared about anything, you could always run into the arms of your father or mother where safety and sanctuary awaited. The world didn’t seem so scary anymore when Dad or Mom hugged you close and calmed your fears.

Well, we don’t stay little forever, do we? All of a sudden, we grow up and find the things of the world not as imposing as they were when we were in our early years. In fact, we go from being cautious and wary of our worldly environment to being reckless and impulsive, caught up in the many enticements. The world goes from being our enemy to being our friend and partner. It’s a big change…but is it really a big change?

You see, the world is still a very scary place to be. We had it more right as children than we do as adults. Satan is very good at luring us in and then keeping us attached to the very things that draw us away from God. As soon as Satan can get his hands on us, he goes to work keeping us there. He produces a false sense of comfort in the world around us, seducing and hypnotizing us with his power. The end result of his efforts has people worshipping their own desires…fulfilling their wants…gaining a false joy attached to material objects that can neither love or save them. We become dominated by desires and possessions which slowly establish a foothold in our hearts. We begin to worship false gods such as money, other people, materialism, sex, etc. Jesus, "the only true God", becomes an afterthought. It’s no wonder John felt it was important to warn us in the last verse of his letter.

Thank goodness there is good news for us. We can flee this world and its scary attempts to ensnare us and keep us from our Heavenly Parent. All we need to do is to run into the arms of Jesus Christ, "God’s Son (who will) hold (us) securely (so) the evil one cannot get his hands on (us)." He is always waiting to receive us, wrap His arms around us, and remove our fears, replacing them with a peace that Paul says transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

Question: Are you so attached to the world that Satan has a foothold on your heart? Where are you in relationship with Jesus, the only One by which you can be saved? Run to Jesus and don’t delay. He’s ready to shield you from the evil one and this world that would seek to entrap you. He will then show you an unspeakable joy like no other as you live in partnership and service to Him. Trust in that.

In Christ,

Mark

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SEEKING GOD'S HELP WITH CONFIDENCE

"And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will. And if we know He is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure He will give us what we ask for." 1 John 5:14-15

One of the biggest excuses people use for not believing in God is that He never answers my prayers. They assume that God doesn't exist because He doesn't give them everything they ask for. At the heart of this problem is that society doesn't know what to ask for and how to ask properly.

Let's tackle both of these areas and see how our scripture can lead us to understanding.
First, we will look at what we should ask for. If the person asking is doing so from a worldly perspective, then they will be asking for the wrong things and God will not hear them. For the world doesn't distinguish between a want and a need. Everything is a want and the world would tell you that you deserve everything the world can offer. Consequently, God becomes this genie in a magic lamp who should answer every wish of the one asking. Our scripture today shows us it doesn't quite work that way.

What we should ask for. John tells us that before we even ask God for anything, we need to ask Him about what His Will is for us. He knows our needs before we even ask. He also has a distinct plan for every one of this. So instead of deciding for yourself what you need, ask God first and He will tell you what you truly need.

How to properly ask. After we ask for and receive what we need to fulfill God's Will, we then turn to the Father in prayer, asking for what He has told us we need. By asking this way, in accordance with the scriptures, then we can be confident that He will listen and answer our prayers by equipping us with what we need to fulfill His Will.

Question: Have you had a problem receiving what you have asked for in prayer? Have you been asking properly in accordance with His Word? Today is a new day and a chance to change the way you approach the Lord with your needs. He is ready to bless you in accordance with His Will for you. Give it a try.

In Christ,

Mark

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DO YOU HAVE TRUE LIFE?

"And Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by His baptism in water and by shedding His blood on the cross - not by water only but by water and blood. And the Spirit also gives us the testimony that it is true. So we have these three witnesses - the Spirit, the water, and the blood - and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the testimony that comes from God...And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have His Son does not have life." 1 John 5:6-9, 11-12

It was an Old Testament custom. In order to validate something as truth, there had to be a testimony, not just by one person but by "two or three witnesses" (Deuteronomy 19:15). John uses this custom to validate the truth about Jesus but adds a unique twist. Instead of using the names of three people, he uses two events with their respective elements (baptism and water, the crucifixion cross and blood) and a spirit...not just any spirit but the Holy Spirit. Let's take a look at all three of these witnesses.

Baptism and water. In Matthew Chapter 3, we read the account of Jesus's baptism. John the Baptist had been predicting this event to those who came to hear him speak and be baptized by him in the Jordan. He would proclaim that One more powerful than him would be coming...One who would baptize, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit. There's an immediate connection established here between Jesus and the imparting of the Spirit. And just in case there was any doubt amongst those who heard John and then witnessed Jesus's baptism, it was removed as Jesus emerged from the water. It was then that scripture tells us that the Heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended and rested on Him as God spoke from Heaven saying, "This is My Son who I love. With Him, I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17) Jesus was now prepared for His awesome Ministry. Visual testimony in the Spirit's descending. Audible testimony in the voice of God. How could one not believe after witnessing this?

The cross and the blood. The people of Israel were under Roman rule and every day was laden with sever oppression. They longed for the day to be liberated and set free...a day that had been prophesized over and over again in the Old Testament scriptures. A Messiah...a Savior...would come and they would be set free from their bondage. They expected a powerful warrior...what they received was not quite what they expected. For Jesus, who came into the lives of the people of Israel and proclaimed Himself as their Messiah, did not go about His business with hatred, brutality, and bloodshed. Instead, He did everything out of love whether it was teaching, healing, resurrecting, or leading. The people quickly forgot about God's validation of Jesus as His Son at the Jordan River. They instead decided He was not what they wanted because He did not give them what they thought they needed. So they orchestrated His crucifixion on the cross...they endorsed the shedding of His blood. Little did they know that by their very actions, they were setting in motion the actions that would come to provide them the salvation they longed for. Their worldly yearnings disallowed them to see that Jesus came to liberate them spiritually...to offer them a life eternal well beyond the worldly lives they were currently living. He had to die before He could be raised from death...resurrected to be with His Father who loved Him and was well pleased with Him. But God's love is far deeper than just for His Son. His love displayed on the cross and in the blood shed by Jesus extended to all His Creation. He loved everyone enough to allow His Son to die on the cross, bearing the sins of the world upon Him. Three days later, Jesus would ascend and sit on His Father's right hand but not before appearing to more than the requisite three witnesses; many have their testimonies written in the scriptures. And there were others who were resurrected at the time Jesus was as well. These spirits went into the Holy City and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27:53). Through His resurrection, Jesus's mission had been accomplished. The opportunity had been created for all to come and join Him, if they just simply place their faith and trust in Him. The cross and the blood shed by Jesus are reminders of God's love for us...a love that gave us eternal life through His Son.

The Holy Spirit not only came upon Jesus at His baptism and validated that He was God's Son but comes upon all believers today to continue to validate. If you don't believe that, simply clear your mind and pray before the Father. Ask Him to open your heart and mind to understanding and lead you to truth. Then ask Him if Jesus Christ, His Only Son truly came and died to pay the price for your sins. Ask Him if His Son's death truly brought you salvation and life eternal after death. Then be prepared for the Holy Spirit to rush into your open heart and mind, completely validating the truth. Receive the Holy Spirit and never lost touch with it again. For it will continue to help you separate truth from lie...God's will from Satan's. Receive God's testimony about His Son and find "true life".

Question: Do you have "true life"? Have you acknowledged that Jesus shed His precious, holy blood on the cross and paid the price for your sins? Have you secured your place in heaven by believing and trusting in Jesus, your personal Savior?

By Old Testament standards, the testimonies of three or more witnesses have shown the way to truth. Our scripture extends three witnesses to you...the Spirit, water, and blood. Won't you believe today and come to Jesus. For He is the Way and the Truth and the Life...the "true life".

In Christ,

Mark

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THE WAY TO VICTORY

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey His commandments. Loving God means keeping His commandments and really that is not difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:1-5

As we have journeyed through John's first letter, we have seen multiple places where he has writen about the contrast between the world and God. He has said more than one time that the world is an evil place and actually under the control of the evil one, Satan. He has also emphasized that we can not be in a relationship with the world and God at the same time. In other words, the world is the domain of sinfulness and all temptations that would pull God's children away from the Father's will for them. God cannot abide where there is sin so allowing oneself to enter into fellowship with the world is the same as one severing their ties to God. Remember, you can't have it both ways. It's either the world or God in your life.

So there is a constant battle for our very hearts and souls. One one side, the world would want to possess us by drawing us into a passion for its possessions. As the saying goes, "Draw near to possessions and before long they will possess you." Remember again the words of Jesus who said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The world would want you to make it and all of its trappings your treasure.

On the other side and in direct conflict with the world is God...the very God who created the world and created it perfectly until man came along and changed the perfect, holy world into a perfectly evil one. The world that God created would love to gain the victory over us and, in fact, is winning victories every day. As people make the choice to pursue sinfulness in lieu of the holiness that God intends for that person to have, they are turning their back on the One responsible for authoring their hope and salvation...the only One who can lead them to victory...the One and Only Jesus Christ.

Our scripture today affirms that the way to victory is through Jesus. John says, "every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory." When Jesus died on the cross, Satan thought he had won. The Savior...the Messiah...was dead. "He couldn't save anyone if He wasn't alive," Satan muct have thought. But then something miraculous happened three days after Jesus had been taken from the cross and buried in the tomb: He rose from the dead. The crucifixion had to happen to lead to the resurrection. And in gaining the ultimate victory...the victory over death...Jesus paved the way for all mankind to do the same. There's only one requirement: believe and trust in Jesus as your Savior. Believe and trust that He will give you the victory over death at your life's end...believe and trust in it because He promised it to you...and Jesus's promises are true.

Question: How well are you doing in your battle with the world? Without Christ at the center of your heart and life, you're losing the battle for your very soul...you're forfeiting your opportunity for eternal life. Tell me...what does the world have to offer that would be more important than a life eternal with the Father of Heaven and Earth after you die. I can tell you, I have yet to find anything this world can offer that even comes close to comparing to the immeasurable gift of salvation. Come to Jesus today and don't delay, lest salvation slips away.

In Christ,

Mark

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THE DEFINITION OF SACRIFICE

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God-for God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:7-10

It's been several years now since I received a very powerful e-mail forwarded by a friend. The gist of the e-mail was this:

Imagine you're married. You and your wife have dreamed about having a child together and finally you learn she is pregnant. The most beautiful baby boy is born nine months later and your dream has come true.

Then suddenly, you're watching TV and see a news flash. A deadly disease has broken out and is quickly spreading throughout the world. At first, hundreds are afflicted but that soon turns into thousands and within a week millions are stricken. Centers for Disease Control feverishly try to get get to the source of the disease with no success. Soon, many start to die and there seems to be little hope of finding a cure. You are afraid and won't go outside for fear that your family will perish, including your precious, innocent baby boy.

As you're sitting in your living room, contemplating whether this might be the end, your phone rings. As you answer it, the person on the other end of the line shares with you an unbelievable story. The hospital where your son was born had discovered a way to make an antidote to stop the disease and save all mankind. Then a chill runs down your spine as they share that your son has a very rare blood type and his blood is the only blood that will work to make the antidote. You're asked to bring him to the hospital.

You take your son in and think just a small amount of blood will be required to get the job done. But then the doctors break the horrifying news to you: the only way to make enough antidote to save the world is to take all of your son's blood. The doctors hand you a form to sign to grant permission to do it. You break down and cry, unable to withstand the choice you are faced with. Save your son and the world dies, including you and your son. Save the world and your precious, only son dies. Faced with these options, you tearfully decide that the world needs saved and give permission for them to start the process. You grasp your child's little hand as they take all his blood. Before long, his pale face breathes its last breath. You have given up your son to save the world. You did it out of love, not selfish love but a love that we call agape love...a love where you would be wiling to surrender anything, in this case your son, to save another.

This illustration is gut-wrenching but it shows us what Our Heavenly Father must have been faced with as He had to give His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our disease...sin. As our scripture states today, through this sacrificing of Jesus, God showed His love for us and opened the gates of Heaven for entry into eternal life for all those who would trust and believe in His Son. It is defined in our passage as "real love".

Question: Do you know what real love is? Have you come to a place where you recognize the awesome sacrifice that God gave in His Only Son Jesus so that you could experience eternal life at this life's end? The Bible states, "Oh how great is the love the Father has lavished upon us. So that we might be called sons and daughters of God." What level of love have you shown your Heavenly Father in return? Have you lavished him with your total love and devotion? Have you validated your love for Him through your obedience to His Will for your life? Have you given your life to Him as a living sacrifice?

The bottom line is this...He gave us His all. Shouldn't we give the same back to Him in return?

In Christ,

Mark

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COMPREHENDING GOD'S WILL AND WORD

"You belong to God...You have already won your fight with the(se) false prophets because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. These people belong to this world so they speak from the world's viewpoint and the world listens to them. But we belong to God; that is why those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." 1 John 4:4-6

In a prior writing, I shared that one cannot be living for the world's ways and in God's ways at the same time. For the ways of God run counter to the ways of the world. The world we live in would offer that sinful behavior is acceptable. We should pursue everything that is the desire of our heart, whether that is in the form of material things, sexual things, money, fame...the list could go on and on. And the world's proposal to everyone is very enticing. It's also very dangerous when we compare it to what God expects from us.

For all the enticements of this world draw us farther and farther away from what God expects of us. These wordly temptations have a way of consuming our hearts and minds, obsessing us with what the world would propose makes us get ahead and prosper. And there are very many convincing people in the world who seek to persuade us to seek the world's desires. They speak from the spirit of deception. For worldly matters may indeed lead you to worldly success but at the same time they will lead you to spiritual bankruptcy and ruin.

Jesus said that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Materialistic and sexual infatuation only leads one's heart void of the Holy Spirit, the only One who can consistently lead you away from deception and into truth.

Question: Where do you stand? Are you obsessed with the matters of the world and thus in partnership with the spirit of deception? Or are you obsessed with living a life that is in accordance with the Will and Word of God? If you have fallen prey to worldly ways, there is good news for you today. Simply pray for God to forgive you and ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life through the work of the Holy Spirit. Then constantly seek the Spirit's guidance as to what you should and should not do. In return, God will reward and bless you more abundantly than you could ever imagine. Remember the words of our scripture today, "the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit that lives in the world." Turn to the stronger Spirit of God within you today.

In Christ,

Mark

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DIVINE FELLOWSHIP

"Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please Him. And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as He commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with Him and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us." 1 John 3: 21-24

Fellowship is a word we use a lot in the church. It is that friendly connection between believers as they join together to worship or serve the Lord. Webster's defines it as companionship or a company of equals and friends.

Personally, I cherish fellowship and the special blessing it has brought and continues to bring to my family and myself. I see my companions...my company of friends in the church as an extended family, always there for me when I need them...always ready to offer love and a kind word. There's a comfort zone I find in fellowship.

Today's scripture takes the concept of fellowship to the highest plain possible for John is discussing fellowship with fellowship's Master Maker...the One who has created those who exercise fellowship here on earth. And in order to be in proper fellowship here on earth, we first need to be in fellowship with the Lord. Our passage today tells us that we only enter into fellowship with the Lord if we are obedient to His commandments and we only stay obedient if we welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts and minds. In other words, the Holy Spirit offers us the conduit by which the Lord communicates with us in our fellowship relationship.

There's another benefit beyond fellowship that comes from living in obedience to God. We can live with a clear conscience, free from the haunting conviction of the sins we have committed. This allows us to enter into fellowship with God in "bold confidence" and "receive whatever we request".

Question: Where do you stand in regard to fellowship with the Lord? Do you have a clear conscience from living in obedience to His commands? If not, there is good news. You can repent right now. Confess your sins before the Lord and ask for His help to rid you of your weknesses. Then ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart and mind and bring you into fellowship with the only One able to strengthen you against temptation. When you enter into true fellowship with God, you will truly feel like you're part of His family. You'll experience His companionship and begin to develop a relationship that can carry into all eternity when your earthly life is over. Are you ready for divine fellowship? The Lord is awaiting you.

In Christ,

Mark

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ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

"We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help-how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let us just stop saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth..." 1 John 3:16-19

If we took a survey and asked everyone we polled whether they love others, I am confident that nearly every person asked would respond that they do. If we followed that question with a secondary question asking, "How do you show you love others?", we might be surprised at some of the answers we receive...or don't receive. It's easy to say we love others...all it takes is for us to open our mouths and utter the words. But our scripture today tells us that talk is often cheap and is not always supported by action, action that at times requires us to use our financial resources to help someone else who is less fortunate.

Love, at its best, is displayed in the way we seek to make a difference in the lives of others, the same kind of love that Jesus showed. As we seek to model Him daily, we will see love take a central role in everything we do. For Jesus is love and during His life He always showed His love through His actions, the final act coming on the cross where He died for you, I and all creation. And the awesome thing about Jesus’ sacrifice is that He did it 2,000 plus years before we were even conceived. He didn't know us then but died for us any way. He did it to show us what real love is all about.

Question: Would you lay your life down and die for a total stranger if it meant saving their life? How do you respond when you see someone truly in need? Do you show that the love of God is in you? Do you seek to model the love of Jesus in all that you do each day? How much are you truly living "in the truth"?

Your answer to these questions will either validate or invalidate whether the love within you is true or transparent and whether Christ is truly abiding within your heart.

In Christ,

Mark

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WHO ARE YOU MOST LIKE? CAIN OR ABEL.

"This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil and his brother had been doing what was right. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves we have passed from death into eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them." 1 John 3:11-15

Love one another. God first rendered this command in the Old Testament book of Leviticus before making it a staple of the New Testament. John particularly makes sure we remember the command in first his gospel and then his epistles. Why is the concept so important? Because love is central to what God is all about. He loves us as His children, so much so that He gave His Only Son Jesus to die for us, bearing our sins on the cross. Yet with love so central to God, Jesus and the scriptures, we still live in a world that chooses to hate.

John uses the Old Testament account of Cain and Abel to highlight the topic of love versus hate and what consequences might result in choosing not to love one another. Referring back to Genesis, Chapter 4, you'll find that Cain and Abel were both sons of Adam and Eve who through their disobedience to God in the garden, ushered all mankind into affliction by sin. And, as you might expect, sin played a big role in the relationship between the two brothers.

It all started going awry when the brothers brought their traditional sacrifices to God. Both knew what they should bring but only one did. Both knew what was right and wrong but only one did what was right. And to make matters worse, the brother who knew he was wrong didn't repent and seek forgiveness but rather went onto do wrong a second time out of hatred and received the brunt of God's wrath. Rest assured of this, God hates sin.

In the story, Abel brings the proper sacrifice and is commended by God. Cain on the other hand brings less than his best and does not receive the favor his brother does. So he lures Abel out into the field and murders him. His actions draw sharp condemnation from God who places a curse on Cain that removed his ability to produce crops, the very skill that won him his livelihood. Yet, God still showed Cain mercy and marked him so he would not be killed. Love still won out over wrath. Mercy flowed in the midst of disappointment. Such is our Heavenly Father, our Almighty Parent above.

So why did John have to mention Cain and Abel again? Because the problem of hatred leading to murder had not went away. Indeed, we still see stories daily of one person killing another or others out of pure hatred. We need to be reminded of God's expectation to love one another.

There's one other important point to bring up on this topic. Jesus took the law of the Old Testament and built upon it, not replacing the law but rather expanding it. In the case of the commandment, "Thou shall not murder", Jesus said this in His Sermon on the Mount:

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:21-26)

Notice in this passage that Jesus expands the definition of murder to include anger and even name-calling. For murder gets started by the spark of anger within someone. So to be truly obedient to God, we cannot even begin to show anger toward another without being convicted of murdering that person. Keep in mind that God, our Father, created us to love and showed us the greatest model of love in His Son Jesus. Also keep in mind that God hates sin and can’t be in partnership with anyone engaged in it. Hate and anger are sinful and of the Devil. Choose to partner with these emotions and you will choose to partner with the Devil and distance yourself from God. This would be acting as Cain did. Choose to do what is right and act in obedience to God and you can partner with Him.

Question: Are you like Cain or Abel? How well do you love others? Are you quick to anger or name-calling? How do you choose to respond to those who would choose to show anger and hatred toward you?

Using Jesus as our main reference point, we see that He responded to the hate filled mob at the cross by asking His Father in Heaven to forgive them. He realized that they did not know what they were doing because they didn’t know Him.

Today, we are assailed by those who don’t know Him as well. And as in all things, we need to model Christ in how we respond to others. For those who don’t know Jesus are under the control of the Devil, as were those at the cross. Are you ready to forgive those who hate you? Are you ready to exhibit Christ-like grace? Keep in mind that your response toward others might just be the experience that either draws them to Jesus or drives them away. In all matters of life, we are to show that Christ dwells within us. Always remember that you may be the first glimpse of Christ that someone else sees.

In Christ,

Mark

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