Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — February 2009
Revelation 3 -- What's In YOUR Report Card?
We don't want to ever be caught resting on our laurels as a church. Jesus tells us in this chapter the dangers of doing so. The Holy Spirit, I think, highlights reminders of what we should be doing as a church and may not be doing; th
We don't want to ever be caught resting on our laurels as a church. Jesus tells us in this chapter the dangers of doing so. The Holy Spirit, I think, highlights reminders of what we should be doing as a church and may not be doing; through the letters to these three churches:
"Wake up! Make yourself stronger .... what you are doing is less than what My God wants. (This fits well with Brother Donny's sermon yesterday!)....Don't forget what you have received and heard. Obey it and change your hearts and lives .... I have put an open door before you .... I now you have a little strength.... I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith."
One thing God cannot stand is Christians who are lukewarm --neither hot nor cold -- "I am ready to spit (vomit) you out of my mouth! ... You don't now that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked ... I correct and punish those whom I love. So be eager to do right, and change your hearts and lives. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice AND open the door, I will come in and eat with you and you will eat with Me."
The sidebar in my Bible echoes what Donny said yesterday. "If God gave you a report card on your relationship with Him, what would it say? Which are the areas you neglect? Continue what You are doing well, aggressively improve an area you have neglected."
Father God, I could use a report card right now. Please show me what areas I'm lacking in, them strengthen me and help me to aggressively improve those areas where I'm woefully inadequate.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 4 -- A Glimpse Of What We'll Be Doing For Eternity
My commentary said that God frequently gave a vision of His glory to His prophets before permitting them to tell the future. It continues, "Now John is given a vision of God before he learns the judgments which will be poured out on unbeli
My commentary said that God frequently gave a vision of His glory to His prophets before permitting them to tell the future. It continues, "Now John is given a vision of God before he learns the judgments which will be poured out on unbelieving Israel and the Gentiles."
I could see why this would be necessary. In our love for all things human, we could certainly be guilty of favoring humans when God tells about His coming judgments of us. But by seeing God in all His glory and purity and perfection, John couldn't help but become completely convinced that God is right and we are wrong. John is given the enviable opportunity of seeing this world from GOD's perspective, being able to witness firsthand the ugliness of sin and how it has infected every human on earth. He would also be able to see how Adam's original sin changed the created world, causing even the ground to be cursed, and how all creation cries out to be restored to its original state, except for humans.
I like to think that we will also praise God as the angelic beings do here: "Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. He was, He is, and He is coming.' " Because God is magnificent and beyond human description, we will have eternity to gaze upon Him and wonder and marvel at all we see. There won't be even a hint of boredom about it all. The created will take an eternity to know his Creator. And it will take that long to do so. I can't think of a better way to spend my time!
Father, You are awesome and wonderful and amazing! You are beyond my ability now to understand. I can't wait to finally see You and to discover all Your marvelous ways.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 5 & 6 -- Why John Cried So
"God is seen holding a scroll which has seven seals binding it. The scroll contains a record of the judgments that must fall on the earth before the Lord Jesus can set up His kingdom," my commentary says.No one was found worthy of bre
"God is seen holding a scroll which has seven seals binding it. The scroll contains a record of the judgments that must fall on the earth before the Lord Jesus can set up His kingdom," my commentary says.
No one was found worthy of breaking the seals. In other words, "No angel, man, or demon has the wisdom and knowledge to execute the judgment," according to my commentary.
It would seem that, since John lived on earth and apparently could tell that the seals meant a horrible time for earth's inhabitants, he wouldn't want them opened. But instead John tells us in verse 4 that he cried hard. Why???
My commentary offers a reason: "Did it mean that the wrongs of the earth would go unrighted, that the righteous would never be vindicated, that the wicked would go unpunished? Did it mean that the kingdom would not come because the necessary purging of the earth would be thwarted?"
One of my favorite bumper stickers says, "I know the future -- God wins!" Perhaps that all seemed in doubt to John. Could it even be possible that Almighty God could lose?? That would shake John to his core! His entire belief system was in jeopardy. Perhaps he'd reached what Henry Blackaby calls a crisis of belief. That's quite enough to cause any man to cry hard.
God doesn't leave us there long, and He didn't leave John there either. One of the elders told John that the Lion of Judah and the Root of David met all the qualifications. My commentary said, "Jesus is qualified to be the Judge by His infinite wisdom, by divine decree (John 8:22,27), by personal excellence, and by His work at Calvary.... At His First Coming, He was the Lamb. At His Second Coming, He will be the Lion."
Father, I'm so glad that I serve the All-Powerful God and the Lion of Judah. There's never been anything wimpy about You or Your Son. The world tries to tell us differently, but the world is flat-out wrong. They will lose and You will win. I'm glad that I've been picked for the winning team!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 7&8 YOU Know, Father, And That's Enough For Me
With visions of angels holding back the approaching storm of God's wrath, a multitude dressed in white before God's throne, hail and fire mixed with blood, the loss of one third of the vegetation on earth, a large burning mountain that falls
With visions of angels holding back the approaching storm of God's wrath, a multitude dressed in white before God's throne, hail and fire mixed with blood, the loss of one third of the vegetation on earth, a large burning mountain that falls into the sea, along with a larger burning star which together ruin a third of the sea and 1/3 of the drinking water, it's really amazing that God directed me to three words John uttered in the middle of it all.
One of the elders had asked John who the great multitude in white were and where they had come from. In John's answer, he confessed ignorance but a desire to know. In my commentary, F.B. Meyer stated, "When we stand face to face with an inexplicable mystery, how comforting it is to be able to say, 'Thou knowest."
Father, a large part of this book is a mystery, yet I trust You. That I may not understand it all is of little importance. The fact that You DO is most important. When I wrestle with the "why's" of this life, please help me to simply be content with the knowledge that You know. I don't have to know. I simply have to trust You and that will be enough. Give me that trust, Father. Let my boys have it, too.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 9 & 10 -- The Sweet And The Bitter
John was given a "scroll" to "eat" and was told that it would taste sweet but would be sour in his stomach. My commentary said that here the Bible means that John was to read and meditate on the judgments it contained.
John was given a "scroll" to "eat" and was told that it would taste sweet but would be sour in his stomach. My commentary said that here the Bible means that John was to read and meditate on the judgments it contained. "It is sweet to read of God's determination to glorify His Son where He was once crucified. It is sweet to read of the triumph of God over Satan and all his hosts. It is sweet to read of the time when the wrongs of earth will all be made right. But there is bitterness also connected with the study of prophecy. There is the bitterness of self-judgment which the prophetic scriptures produce. There is the bitterness of viewing the judgments which must soon fall on apostate Judaism and Christendom. And there is the bitterness of contemplating the eternal doom of all who reject the Savior."
Father, as I read these words, there is the sweetness of the great hope of many more being saved when Your word is presented. But there is also the agony of seeing those who don't care about Your word, who mock it, disrupt the teaching of it, and generally try to do their best to make sure others don't hear God's word either. I see it often at youth. I don't want to lose even one, Father. Show me how to reach the difficult-to-reach, Father. Let them experience the sweetness of knowing You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 11 & 12 Protection From The Hurt
God protects His two witnesses with supernatural power. When Satan attacks them through his ruler on earth, God raises them from the dead, taking them to heaven. God also ushers a remnant of believing Jews to a hiding place, and even send
God protects His two witnesses with supernatural power. When Satan attacks them through his ruler on earth, God raises them from the dead, taking them to heaven. God also ushers a remnant of believing Jews to a hiding place, and even sends an earthquake to prevent them from being killed by a flood caused by Satan. If God can do all of that, why would I have trouble assuming that God will also protect me?
In the sidebar to chapter 12, from Max Lucado's book, The Applause Of Heaven, it said, "Why don't I let my Father do for me what I am more than willing to do for my OWN children? I'm learning, though. Being a parent is better than a course in theology. Being a father is teaching me that when I am criticized, injured, or afraid, there is a Father who is ready to comfort me. There is a Father who will hold me until I am better, help me until I can live with the hurt, and who won't go to sleep when I'm afraid of waking up and seeing the dark. Ever. And that's enough."
Father, thanks for being my Father, for upholding me, for caring for me. Thanks for showing me The Way. Thanks for bringing me into Your salvation.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 13 -- The Perfect Chapter Number For What's Inside
Unlucky number 13 is the perfect chapter for the description of 2 men who are pure evil. The "beast", having 10 heads with a name against God written on each head, certainly seems to indicate a totally committed, thoroughly evil perso
Unlucky number 13 is the perfect chapter for the description of 2 men who are pure evil. The "beast", having 10 heads with a name against God written on each head, certainly seems to indicate a totally committed, thoroughly evil person.
What amazes me is the way that the world is suckered into following him! He is animated by Satan, yet people like him so much that they willingly worship Satan.
He speaks words against God. He rails against God's name. He is given power over "every tribe, people, language, and nation. And all who live on earth worship the beast."
A second "beast" arrives, making everyone on earth worship this man who is so against God. At first, they willingly worshiped, yet now it seems they are made to worship him. He orders those who will not worship to be killed. This is also where he commands the placing of a mark on the forehead or the right hand of everyone. My commentary says it's an effort to force men by economic means to forsake Christ.
I suppose I was most amazed by the fact that people would believe all of this evil and yet willingly submit to it! But as my commentary said, "They would not believe the truth; now they believe a lie."
Father, thank You for clarifying my vision so many years ago. Thanks for helping me to discern evil. I pray that You will help me to teach others to do so as well. Let no one be fooled by Satan.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 14 & 15 -- What Everyone Will Know
This is what I wait for: "....and there before me was the Lamb...." What John must have thought when he had to return to this life after see Him!God seemed to have pointed out three things of importance for me today. In 14
This is what I wait for: "....and there before me was the Lamb...." What John must have thought when he had to return to this life after see Him!
God seemed to have pointed out three things of importance for me today. In 14:11, my commentary says, "This verse reminds us that hell consists of eternal and conscious punishment. The Bible never teaches that the wicked dead will be annihilated. The smoke of their torment ascents perpetually, and there is no relief day or night." We don't simply cease to exist. It's not the end-all, be-all punishment to have one's consciousness annihilated. For one's choice to reject God and His mercy for us in sending His son to die for us, those who reject Him will face conscious and eternal torment.
In 14:13, God lets us know that anything done for the least of His children will bring great reward if we believed in His Son. My commentary says, "Everything done for Christ and in His name for others will be richly rewarded -- every kindness, sacrificial gift, prayer, tear, word of testimony."
And finally, I saw something about God here that's important. According to my commentary: "God's judgments on the earth have shown Him to be a Lord of holiness. They will cause all nations to fear, glorify, and worship Him." Not His mercies, but His judgments. Not His kindnesses, but His judgments. Children know love by seeing the boundaries their parents set up and judgments of their parents if these boundaries are breeched. It shows that they care enough to protect them from hurtful things. In much the same way, God will lift the veil that has kept the world from seeing and understanding that what He's done, He's done out of love. That will cause even the damned to say, "I deserve it. God is right and just. He is holy."
Father, I'm thankful that I can marvel that You will reward ME for even a tear shed for someone who is hurting, and for every prayer I've prayed. Please help those who haven't yet found You to know the joy I have in being Your child!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 16&17 -- HOW Can They NOT Believe??
Judging from what we read here, it should be no surprise that some people will have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus.As the bowls of God's wrath were poured out, 16:9 says, "They cursed the name of God, who had control over these disaster
Judging from what we read here, it should be no surprise that some people will have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus.
As the bowls of God's wrath were poured out, 16:9 says, "They cursed the name of God, who had control over these disasters. But the people refused to change their hearts and lives and give glory to God."
In 16:11, it continues: "They also cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and the sores they had, but they refused to change their hearts and turn away from the evil things they did.
You'd think that people covered in painful sores and suffering severe sunburn would no longer feel like committing evil, but somehow they do.
In 16:21, again: "People cursed God for the disaster of the hail..."
How amazing it is to me to think that, with every successive disaster, people would not cry out to God, but would instead angrily blame Him for their troubles!
Father, while there is still time, help me to tell others about You and help me lead them to Your Son and all He's already done for them.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Revelation 18 & 19 -- Can't WAIT To See THIS!
When God finally has had enough of Satan, it doesn't take Him long to get the job done. In just one hour, the capital of Satan's kingdom is gone, destroyed by fire. People all over the world are stunned. The center of the on
When God finally has had enough of Satan, it doesn't take Him long to get the job done. In just one hour, the capital of Satan's kingdom is gone, destroyed by fire. People all over the world are stunned. The center of the one-world-government and headquarters of the world's economy are wiped out.
Satan has escaped and in desperation he manipulates the world's armies to prepare for the largest battle ever fought. Christ returns to earth with His armies -- His saints, prepared for battle yet never having to strike a blow. For with a word from the mouth of the One who is MY Lord and King, it's over. The armies lie dead in the battlefield, with vultures having a feast. But Jesus has something special in store for that worthless, sorry, soul-spoiler Satan. He's thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur -- never to die. And never will those flames go out! Eternal torment is almost too good for that wretched beast.
Father, I know that every Christian would love to be the one to pay Satan back for what he's done to each of us, and to Your good name. I'm glad that paybacks truly are Hell for him.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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