Sunday, October 31, 2021
Revelation 4:10
Sunday, October 31, 2021 |
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying.
For further study - Revelation 4:1-11
That phrase, "come up hither," may well be the words Jesus will shout at the Rapture, to call us up to join Him in the heavenlies.
As we take our guided tour of the "throne room in heaven" there are many things to notice, like the "rainbow" over the throne reminding us of God's promise that He would never again destroy the earth with water.
Then there are the "twenty-four elders" seated around the throne. Notice they are clothed in "white raiment" and they have "crowns on their heads". These 24 elders represent the "Church". I believe this to be true because the number "twenty-four" is the number of "representation".
Only Christians will wear "white robes" and we Christians will be the only ones who receive "crowns" at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
We also see the "throne room creatures", the four beasts which are actually “angels”. They are different than cherubim and seraphim. These four "angelic creatures" sing "holy, holy, holy" 24-7 at the throne of God the Father.
What an awesome place the “throne room” is with God the Father on the throne, and Jesus seated at His right side. John the Revelator has given us a personal tour of the throne room. Before we leave, notice what the twenty-four elders do with the “crowns” that they will have received at the Judgment Seat of Christ, verse 10.
By the way, there are “five crowns” that are possible for us to receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ; the “crown incorruptible," I Corinthians 9:27, for bringing our bodies under subjection; the "crown of rejoicing," I Thessalonians 2:19, for being a soul-winner; a "crown of life," James 1:12, for not yielding to temptation; the "crown of glory," I Peter 5:1-5, for building up the body of Christ; and a "crown of righteousness," II Timothy 4:8, for eagerly looking for Jesus to appear in the last days.
Notice what the twenty-four elders do with their crowns, verse 10, they “cast them at the feet of Jesus Christ” to honor Him and thank Him for what He has done for each of us as Christians.
What a day that will be; therefore, we must work to receive as many crowns as we possibly can so that we can cast them at His feet.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me dear Lord to work in Your power and for Your glory to receive these crowns so I can cast them at Your feet in honor and thanksgiving.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me dear Lord to work in Your power and for Your glory to receive these crowns so I can cast them at Your feet in honor and thanksgiving.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
Revelation3:10
Saturday, October 30, 2021 |
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
For further study - Revelation 3:7-13
The passage for today's devotional is actually the letter to the church in Philadelphia, a church in full operation in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, during the life of John the Apostle who recorded Revelation.
The book of Revelation came from God to Jesus to an angel who gave it to John to write it down, Revelation 1:1. In Revelation 2 and 3 we have the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia Minor, churches that John had ministered in and had a relationship with over the years.
The church at Philadelphia was one of the two churches of the Seven Churches that received no condemnation from the Lord. The other was the church in Smyrna. It was hard to pick the church letter for our devotionals for today, however, this letter has such great promises to those of us who are Christians and are awaiting the coming of the Lord.
The Rapture of the Church is an event that happens before the terrible time of judgment in the future, the seven-year Tribulation Period. Notice our key verse, verse 10. The Lord promises to those of us who are saved that He will take us up to be with Him before the judgment starts.
The promise is, "I will keep you from, the judgment." He did not say that He would take us out of that time of judgment but He would "keep us from that time". This means that the Rapture of the Church comes before the Tribulation. That promise is worth the entire letter.
However, there is more in this letter to praise the Lord for. Notice verse 8. The Lord tells us that He has set an "open door" before us that no man can shut. He then reminds us that we are of "little strength".
At the same time, He commends those in the church at Philadelphia and each of us, as well today, who have kept His word and have not denied His word.
I love the thought in verse 8, that we the "minority," those of little strength; as we stand on the "authority," the Word of God; we can reach the "majority," those people we come in contact with as we go through open doors that only He can shut.
Notice just one more great thought, verse 11. John exhorts us by quoting Jesus who says, He is coming "quickly." When the Rapture starts, it will be quick and therefore, we should live so that no one can take away the "crown" that the Lord will give us.
These are the crowns that we receive at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" for works we have done in His power and for His glory. We must not allow our relationship with any man to take away those crowns.
By the way, the text says "He is coming quickly." I know that it means, it goes quickly when it begins.
However, I do believe that His coming is closer than it has ever been and I live and believe that it will happen in my lifetime, and yours. Even so come Lord Jesus.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for the open doors you give us to serve You and also for the promise to call us up to be with You before the terrible judgment comes to the earth.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for the open doors you give us to serve You and also for the promise to call us up to be with You before the terrible judgment comes to the earth.
Friday, October 29, 2021
Revelation 2:7
Friday, October 29, 2021 |
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
For further study - Revelation 2:1-7
As we come in our daily reading to Revelation 2, we begin to look at what Jesus has for the "church", before the Rapture and after His Second Coming. Revelation 2 and 3 are messages to "seven churches" that were alive and active during the first century in the area of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey.
John, the writer of the book of Revelation, had been the pastor of the church in Ephesus and had a close relationship with the other six churches, most likely as a visiting minister on a regular basis.
While on the Isle of Patmos, as a prisoner, John received these messages from Jesus to give to the churches. It will be a great benefit to you, as it has been to me, to spend time reading and studying these seven messages to these seven churches.
In our devotional today, I will only have time and space to look at the one church, the church in Ephesus. However, before I do that, let me remind you that there are similarities between the messages to the seven churches.
Each letter is written to the "angel of the church". This is the Greek word "angelos" - meaning angel. I Corinthians 11:10 reveals that there are "angels" in attendance at each church meeting. Also at the beginning of each message, there is a characteristic of Jesus.
Each of the letters reminds the church that the Lord knows of their works. John records the messages from the Lord to "those that are overcomers." I John 5:4-5 tells us that "overcomers" are those who know Christ as Lord and Savior.
There is also the phrase in each letter, "he that hath an ear let him hear." This means to pay attention to what is being said. The other similarity is that the Lord promised something to the “overcomers” of each church. These rewards are for us and will be given to us during the "kingdom to come", after the Lord's return to earth.
That is what I want to look at for those in the "church at Ephesus". But I must hasten to write that all seven messages are applicable for each of us, including the promise for each of us. In this letter to Ephesus, to those "overcomers", they shall eat of the "tree of life", verse 7.
There are several thoughts that we must consider. First, we will all eat of the "tree of life" during that 1,000-year period as Jesus sits upon His throne in Jerusalem. This helps to understand how those with physical bodies who go through the Tribulation Period, having become believers, will live for 1,000 years in that physical body. They will eat of the "tree of life" and live in their physical bodies forever, Genesis 3:22.
This "tree of life" is different than the one in the "New Jerusalem" in Revelation 22:2. The "tree of life" in Revelation 2:7 is located in the "earthly Jerusalem", in the "paradise of God" which is the Garden of Eden, as it was 6,000 years ago. The Garden of Eden was, and is today, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (see my audio series, "Return to Eden").
Please consider reading the other seven messages to find out what is in store for each of us who are "overcomers", in the future. God is so good.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, Lord, to learn from the messages You sent to the seven churches, through John.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, Lord, to learn from the messages You sent to the seven churches, through John.
Thursday, October 28, 2021
Revelation 1:3
Thursday, October 28, 2021 |
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
For further study - Revelation 1:1-20
As we come to the book of Revelation for our daily devotions, we have come to the last book of the Bible that has the “end of times” scenario for all of those students who want to understand exactly what the Lord has planned for all of His creation.
We started with Genesis and have gone through the Bible, book by book, looking at the scripture for a devotional with a prophetic prospective in these pages of God’s Word. I’m amazed how each book of the Bible has passages that have a prophetic significance, not only the books that have been set apart focused on Bible Prophecy.
As we now visit this book of Revelation which is packed full of “end time prophecies”, I am going to encourage you to read through the entire book even though we will not be able to cover the whole book in our devotionals.
By the way, if you will read through Revelation and maybe listen to it on an audio Bible, and then go out into the world and live in light of what you read and hear, then you are promised a blessing, verse 3.
As we look at this last book of the Bible, we see the "resurrected Jesus Christ" as described in the written word, Revelation 1:12-18. God gives the "message" of this book to Jesus. The Lord then gives the contents of this prophecy to an "angel", who will deliver it to John, verse 1. The title of the book is also found in that first verse, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ".
The first chapter presents Jesus Christ in His "person", His "power", and His "program". The "person" of Jesus Christ is the resurrected, glorified Son of God with white hair, verse 14a. The Lord's "white hair" depicts his purity and his longevity. Verse 14b tells of His "eyes" - eyes that see our every activity. The "feet" of Jesus, as described by John, are like brass that has been burned in the furnace, verse 15a, which speaks of Jesus as the "coming Judge".
The resurrected Christ has a "voice" like the sound of many waters. That voice spoke the worlds into existence. That voice will shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies at the Rapture. To those who have never been saved, that voice will one day say, "sorry, I never knew you."
Revelation 1:16 describes Jesus with the Seven Angels of the Seven Churches in His "hand", verse 20. In this verse, it depicts His word coming from His mouth as a "two-edged sword" and His "face", His countenance, as the sun shineth in its strength. The power of Jesus is found in verse 18. The Lord gives testimony of being alive, dead, and now alive. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the manifestation of His "power".
The "program" of Jesus Christ is found in verse 19 where John is told to write about those things in the "past", those things that are "happening at that time", and those things, which happen "hereafter". The things found "hereafter" are found in Revelation 4-22, which we will eventually get to in our devotions.
The "resurrection", which is the "cornerstone of our faith", is also the "foundation of Bible prophecy". The "resurrected" Jesus Christ proves His authority to foretell the future as the authoritative Word of God, the One who does indeed know the future.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank You Lord, the One who knows the future, because Your are the "resurrected One", for revealing the future to me and all that read your "Word".
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Jude 1:17-18
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 |
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
For further study - Jude 1:17-25
The theme of this little book written by Jude, the brother of James, the Pastor of the church in Jerusalem, is "earnestly contending for the faith". Jude goes at this exhortation and challenge from several directions.
As we come to our devotional reading for today, Jude wants each of us to "contend for the faith" by “remembering”. We must remember the “word spoken by the apostles”.
The apostles were a select group of men that Jesus trained for a special period of time and purpose for the new "body", known as the church. Each of the apostles had to have seen Jesus, in person, after His resurrection. The last of the men chosen to be an apostle was Paul who saw Jesus in person on the road to Damascus as he was traveling from Jerusalem, Acts 9:1-16.
The Holy Spirit "breathed" into these men the "words of warning" that Jude wants us to remember. Let me just remind you of the words of two apostles, Peter and Paul. In Paul's last letter, II Timothy, he wrote of the days that would mark the "last days" that lead up to the return of Jesus Christ.
II Timothy 4:3-4 reminds us of the people who will no longer endure sound doctrine, they will turn away their ears from the truth and they do this because they, of their own lust, will choose teaching that will "tickle their ears."
Peter also, writing his last words before his death, reminded us of those who would even "deny the coming of the Lord" as they also would "walk after their own lust," II Peter 3:3-4.
Jude gives us three ways to live in these times described as the “end times”. Verse 20 tells us to "build" ourselves up in the "holy faith." Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and believing it to the extent that we walk in what it says.
Then Jude says to "pray." Matthew says "watch and pray", we watch for Jesus to come as we pray. Then in verse 21 Jude says "keep yourself in the love of the Lord." This means "stay in love with the Lord," don't forsake or leave your first love for Jesus.
If you notice that you have left your first love, return to that proper relationship by spending time talking to Him in prayer and allowing Him to talk with you in His Word.
These are only several ways that Jude tells us we can "earnestly contend for the faith" as we await His soon coming.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the warning of the end times, help me to "contend for the faith" by remembering your Word for these days.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the warning of the end times, help me to "contend for the faith" by remembering your Word for these days.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Jude 14
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 |
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.
For further study - Jude 8-16
In the portion that I selected for today, there are two names that I want to draw your attention to for further thought. One is an angel - an archangel and the other is a man, a man who has never died but was taken to heaven, alive.
The angel Michael is spoken of throughout the scriptures especially as the "protector" of the Jewish people, Daniel 12:1. Michael heads up the "angelic army" in the heavenlies.
Michael's "army of angels" will at the midway point of the Tribulation period throw Satan and his evil angels out of the first heaven, the one above us where the sun is located over the earth.
The prophet Daniel also referred to Michael as the "chief prince" who deals with the "demonically controlled" world leader of Persia. This supposes that the heavenly visitor came to meet with Daniel, Daniel 10:13.
However, with all this contact with the evil forces of Satan, Michael dare not tell Satan what to do, he left that up to the Lord, Jude 9. As powerful as Michael the archangel is under the sovereignty of God, he did not demand the Devil to do anything.
This principle must be considered when there are those today who think they can demand Satan to do anything. We are never told to take on Satan. We are told to put on the whole armor of God so we "can stand against the wiles of the Devil", Ephesians 6:11. We stand against the Devil - we do not confront him.
Enoch is the man we need to consider for a moment. Enoch, the great grandfather of Noah, was a mighty preacher in his day before the worldwide flood came upon the earth. He was a man who walked with the Lord on earth and then was taken by the Lord into heaven without dying, Genesis 5:23-24. Enoch is one of two men that have never died, the other was Elijah who was also taken into heaven, alive, II Kings 2:11.
It is interesting that at least one of those men, Elijah, will be one of the two witnesses during the seven-year Tribulation, Revelation 11:3-10 and Malachi 4:5. I do believe the other witness will be Enoch, who during his previous earthly ministry preached about the coming of the Lord, Jude 14.
Both of these men, the "two witnesses" will die at the end of their 3 1/2 years of ministry, Revelation 11:7 . The whole world will see these two men dead in the streets of Jerusalem. They will then be resurrected and taken again into heaven, Revelation 11:11-12.
The information we receive from our reading today, I believe, helps us to understand the times we are living in and how to deal with Satan as we await the coming of the Lord. As the song says, I think we are living in the days of Elijah...and Enoch. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for an example of how to deal with Satan in what seems to be the days Enoch spoke about, the time of the Lord's return.
Monday, October 25, 2021
Jude 1:6-7
Monday, October 25, 2021 |
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
For further study - Jude 1:1-7
The half-brother of Jesus, Jude, is the writer of this short, but power-packed letter to the church in general. There are many issues discussed in Jude's letter, all of which seem to have a connection to the last days, with warnings and exhortations to the believer. This time through Jude I want to draw our attention to the two verses that deal with angels and coming judgment, verses 6 and 7.
Let me remind you that angels are created beings, created on the first day of Creation. (See my study on "Angels and Prophecy".) It was after the 6th day of Creation, Genesis 1:31, that Lucifer rebelled against God, along with 1/3 of the angels.
Then a number of evil angels, "the sons of God" in Genesis 6, had an unnatural sexual relationship with "the daughters of men." And God "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" these evil angels. They have been awaiting judgment for over 4,500 years.
Revelation 9:1-18 unfolds the Last Days drama for these evil angels that will be released from their prison, the "abyss" or "bottomless pit", and allowed to come to the Earth during the Tribulation Period.
Under the control of Satan, they will kill millions on the Earth before being thrown into the eternal punishment of the Lake of Fire, Matthew 25:41.
These passages help us to understand what happens to even angels that commit fornication, verse 7, so that we can know how God deals with fornicators. The Bible definition of fornication is "any unnatural sexual sin that God condemns".
In our day, there is fornication practiced by those who have rebelled against God's natural laws for mankind. In particular, there are those men and women who have "changed the natural use" of each other of the same sex, for "that which is unseemly," Romans 1:26-27. God has given these fornicators "over to a reprobate mind" and to judgment to come.
By the way, Jesus Christ said it would be this way in the Last Days. Jesus said it would be like the days of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah, Luke 17:28-29. We are quickly approaching the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the Rapture could happen today, so let's keep looking up, until...
PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, as I see the days in which we are living, please help me to be ready for the Rapture.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, as I see the days in which we are living, please help me to be ready for the Rapture.
Sunday, October 24, 2021
III John 11
Sunday, October 24, 2021 |
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
For further study - III John 5-12
As we read our extended reading for today, you may recognize someone like one of the leaders in your church. The man's name is Diotrephes. He is a leader of a church John wanted to visit but was kept from doing so by this one who took the preeminence in that church.
Remember, that John wrote III John just before he wrote Revelation while serving as a prisoner on an island in the Aegean Sea, on Patmos. John was most likely a "circuit rider" preacher. He may have started the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 or at least would visit these seven churches on a regular basis.
John would be a shepherd to these churches and present teaching that would build up not only the church but the individual members as well.
John's pastoral ministry, at the church in question, was being hindered by one of the church leaders. John sees a need to name this man for all to know about his "evil" deeds, III John verse 11. In fact, John tells the church to not follow these evil deeds or the one that commits them. John condemns Diotrephes and his evil deeds publicly to teach those in that church and all who will read this letter.
Also in John's letter, the apostle points the readers to a good example of local church leadership, Demetrius, in III John verse 12. Demetrius is a leader who is reported to be a good leader among all men. Remember, Paul wrote of the qualifications for local church leadership in I Timothy 3.
Verse 7 of that passage says that the church leaders must have a good report of them that are without the church as well as within. The reason for this good report is so that this church leader will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil, which is exactly what Diotrephes had done.
Referring back once more to Paul's writings, the failure in leadership of Diotrephes is how it will be in the last days, II Timothy 3:1-5. Paul wrote of men, lovers of their own selves, high-minded, and having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
In John's day, the attitudes and actions of Diotrephes were evidence of the last days. That was almost 2,000 years ago. How much more those attitudes and actions depict our day. This is setting the stage for the day of the Lord's return. We must all follow John's exhortation and follow not that which is evil, verse 11, but instead that which is good.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, dear Lord, to shun evil and follow good, Godly activities.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
III John 4
Saturday, October 23, 2021 |
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
For further study - III John 1:1-4
Truth, "What is truth?" This question was asked of Jesus Christ by Pilate as Jesus stood before him just hours before He would die on the cross in Jerusalem. Jesus had answered Pilate's question a few hours before His appearance in the Judgment Hall. Pilate actually questions Jesus on a number of issues, John 18:28-38.
The first question directed at Jesus was, "Art thou the King of the Jews?", John 18:33. Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, or His servants would have fought to keep the Jews from crucifying Him. Pilate's response was another question. "Art thou a king then?" Jesus then told Pilate that He was born to be a King. That was the reason that He came into this world. As a King, Jesus was to bear witness of the truth.
This statement brought out several other questions from Pilate, "What is Truth?" However, this time Pilate did not wait for an answer and Jesus never responded. This was because He had basically already done so. Jesus had said that He was bearing witness of the Truth, and therefore what He had been saying is Truth.
It was earlier in the evening, in the Upper Room with His disciples, that He had revealed to them He was the Truth, John 14:6. In that Upper Room, the writer of III John - John the Apostle - was one of those who heard Jesus' claim to be the Truth.
John had been traveling with and learning from Jesus for over 3 years at this time. John knew that indeed Jesus was the Truth. It was that Truth that Jesus bore witness of that all who would come to Him, He would take to be with the Father.
John would go from Passion Week to establish a number of churches in Asia Minor, Revelation 2-3. It was his ministry of teaching the truth about Jesus Christ that was such a personal blessing to John. But John's greatest joy was to see and hear, III John 4, of those he had ministered to that, were "walking in the truth".
In the Last Days, men will pervert the truth. They will have difficulty telling the truth because they do not have Him who is the Truth. The truth is that the opposite of truth, false teaching, and deception, will get so bad that The Truth will return to make everything right. Until that time, we must spread the Truth, walk in the Truth, and teach others the Truth. Like John, this will give us great joy.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the Truth that sets me free, help me to spread the Truth to others.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the Truth that sets me free, help me to spread the Truth to others.
Friday, October 22, 2021
2 John 9
Friday, October 22, 2021 |
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
For further study - II John 7-11
There are many today that say "doctrine divides" and it is better to "love" than to allow doctrine to divide believers. As we look at another book written by the apostle John, we see the view of the crowd who says doctrine divides is wrong.
John's perspective is that true Bible doctrine will "unite", not divide. John gives us some directives for the last days that we should pay close attention too found here in our devotional reading for today.
John tells us about deceivers - many of them will enter this world at the time of the end. These deceivers will deny that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is come in the flesh. John is pretty tough on these deceivers - he calls them an "antichrist". Now that is not the "antichrist" - but an antichrist, verse 7.
Then John reveals the method for us to deal with these antichrists - these deceivers. He says if they come and bring their false doctrine, do not allow them to enter your house.
John also says do not bid them God speed. In fact, if we do allow them into our homes and bid them God speed, we are partakers of their evil deeds. John is straightforward with this message warning of false doctrine and those who propagate it in this world. We need to not only heed his warning, but follow his example in our associations as well.
Again John has a practical word for us. Verse 8 tells us that we must do as he has instructed or we are in danger of not receiving our "full reward". Now this has nothing to do with salvation but with the rewards we receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
You may remember that at the "judgment seat" we will receive "crowns" that we will lay at the Lord's feet in thanksgiving for what he has done for us, Revelation 4:10.
You know, having a daily dose of prophetic truth is a blessing as it tells us how to live in these last days. Our passage today also reminds us that doctrine does not divide. It unites us all in Christ, as we await His call for us to join Him in the heavenlies.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to know the true doctrine of your word so that I am in perfect harmony with you, dear Lord.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
2 John 6
Thursday, October 21, 2021 |
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
For further study - II John 1-6
The phrase, "many deceivers are entered the world" is not included in our reading today from II John, but it describes John's day as well as our day. In light of the situation, John in this the smallest of his writings gives us instructions for how to walk with the Lord in this day.
John lifts up the "truth" which he uses to describe the "revealed truth" in the "holy" Scriptures. The Bible, as the only authority for doctrine, is our resource for a time like we live in today, a day of spiritual decline and apostasy.
In the message to all believers everywhere, John says the truth, true doctrine, is a necessity for our daily walk. Today we hear that "love" is the driving force in relationships - not doctrine. John says love is a key component in our Christian walk, but not to the exclusion of biblical doctrine. However, John brings the two - love and doctrine - into perfect harmony.
Our key verse for today, verse 6, defines love as walking in His commandments. We are not talking about the external "law" of Moses but the internal "law of Christ." I John 4:7-8 tells us what love is and how we got "true love". God is love and when we received Christ, the divine love of God was placed in our renewed heart. This love then is manifest in following "the law of Christ", which is to “love one another”, verse 5b.
Therefore, "love" and "law", i.e. the law of Christ, are partners in our walk with Him each day. To me, this is very practical, especially in the world we walk through today. Because we love Him we do what He wants us to do.
I have found that to be the case with my dear wife of 60 years. The longer I am with her, the more I love her, and the more I want to do those things that please her. This is a simple illustration of a profound truth that John reminds us of often in his letter.
Just one other thought. He wants us to show our love by walking in His law and at the same time, He enables us to do so. He also reminds us through John's letter that "reward day" is coming at the Judgment Seat of Christ and He does not want us to lose the reward He has for us, verse 8.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for the provision to walk by your law through your love that you placed within us.
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
1 John 5:5
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 |
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
For further study - I John 5:1-21
John defines for us who an "overcomer" is in I John 5. He tells us what's in store for those of us who are "overcomers" as foretold in Revelation 2 and 3. I'll get back to you on that in a moment but first to things that we know for sure, as confirmed by this chapter of I John.
Verses 11-13 tell us, on the record, how we can have a "know so" salvation. God, verse 11, has given us "eternal life". This is a gift from God for all of us who recognize that this life is in His Son.
The text tells us "this life is in His Son." The positive and negative are found in verse 12, "he that hath the Son of God hath life," and vice-versa, "he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
The truth is very simple. There is no need to question or worry about salvation, eternal life. In fact, the reason John wrote this book is so that we can "know" for sure that we have eternal life. That's not a feeling, a "hope so" or a "guess so", but a "know so" salvation.
Then John gives us confidence about our "prayer life", and that confidence is found in the Lord, also. John tells us that if we ask anything "according to His will", we can know that the Lord hears us.
Then we are told that since He hears us, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him, verses 14-15. You may say, how can we know His will so that we can pray in His will?
The "Word of God" is the "will of God". Know the "Word of God" and you will know the "will of God". But you may say, I can't determine the "will of God" from the Word on a specific matter, that's where Romans 8:26-27 comes into the equation. When we can not determine the "will of God" the Holy Spirit takes over and intercedes for us according to the "will of God", Romans 8:26-27.
There is another "great nugget" for us to take away from our Bible reading today. It's found in I John 5:4-5. John, as I said earlier, defines who is an "overcomer". An "overcomer" is someone who is born of God. That would be someone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God who died for us and rose from the dead.
We must "admit" that we are sinners, in need of salvation. We then "believe" that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was that which our Lord did to take away our sin. After admitting and believing, we then "call" upon Him to save us, Romans 10:13. An "overcomer" is someone who is "born again".
With this information, we can see what is guaranteed to all "overcomers" as found in the "letters to the seven churches" of Asia Minor, Revelation 2 and 3. Common in all of the letters to the seven churches, he that is an "overcomer", precedes the promise that the Lord makes to all "overcomers."
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for giving me eternal life by making me an "overcomer". And thank you also for all that is promised in Your letter to the seven churches of Revelation to "overcomers."
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
1 John 4:17
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 |
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
For further study - I John 4:1-21
We will read the entire chapter of I John 4 for our extended reading today. I John 4 is a marvelous description of what and who "love" is in our world today. Verse 8 jumps right out at me as I read about "love", from verses 7-21. In fact, the word "love" is used 26 times in these verses.
Then we are told to follow God's example by “loving” one another, since God “loved” us. John tells us how we can know God and know that He dwells within each of us, it is by "loving others," verses 10 & 12.
John gives us a test so that we can know for sure that we "love" the Lord, Verse 20. This verse states that if we "hate" our brother, fellow man, and say that we "love" the Lord, we are "liars." How could we truly "love" the Lord Whom we have not seen and yet hate those whom we have seen.
I John 4 is a great statement about "love"; however, it is very interesting to see that the first four verses of this chapter deal with another issue all together. John warns us to not believe every spirit, but to try them, hold them up to the standard of the Word of God.
The reason for this is especially true for the days in which we are living today. The reason is that there are many "false prophets" out there.
John gives us another test, this one to determine the nature of these spirits or teachers that come our way. A true spirit or teacher that represents the one true God is the one that admits, confesses, that Jesus is the Son of God, come in the flesh.
If the spirit or teacher says Jesus was not the Son of God, then it is the spirit of "Antichrist." Any religion that claims "its god had no son" and that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God in the flesh is an "Antichrist religion."
That's God's Word, not mine, and God's Word is absolute. We live in a day of many false teachers and religions, these are the days preparing for, and leading up to the Antichrist, the last days.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me dear Lord to love You and others as I abide by Your Word and follow Your example.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me dear Lord to love You and others as I abide by Your Word and follow Your example.
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