|
Revelation 1:12-15 - “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me.…I saw one like a son of man, …His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; …and His voice was like the sound of many waters.”
The emperors wanted to be worshipped as if they were gods. The faithful followers of Judaism and Christianity would not worship them and consequently, this led to their executions. The apostle John who had been exiled to the isle of Patmos because of his faith hears a voice behind him and he turns to see who is speaking to him. He "saw one like the son of man." In other words, he is seeing Jesus Christ. His head and hair were white is another way of saying Jesus is the pure one. Jesus is the one who never sinned. White is the color used for "purity".
I am not sure how many of you have ever been near a waterfall or an area that is being flooded. I have been near both of them and I can tell you from experience the noise is unbelievably loud. You have to yell at the person who is standing next to you for them to hear you. So what did "His voice was like the sound of many waters.” mean when John wrote it? God is telling John to allow the "Word of God" to drown out all worldly noises. If you will allow the Word of God to drown out all of this world's noises you will not worry. There was a lot of political noise in John's day and God is saying don't listen to the political noise. God is telling John to write to all Christians and inform them not to listen to the political nonsense coming from the Roman Empire. God wants Christians to listen to Him. His Voice is to be heard over all other noises. I would like to say there is a lot of political noise in our world today. God's Word is timeless. He wants us today to not listen to all the political noise. We are to listen to His Voice. The importance of listening to God's Voice over all of the political nonsense in our world is we will not be upset by the nonsense. We will not worry. We must never forget our citizenship is in Heaven (Phil.3:20). One lesson the book of Revelation teaches is human history is not separated from God's awareness or involvement. God is still in control of this world. Not only is He in control He is walking in the midst of His Church. He is the Good Shepherd and He is in the middle of His flock. So take it easy. Don't Worry Be Happy that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Don't listen to all the nonsense this world is throwing at you. Listen to this: Matt 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Think On These: God gives us the ingredients for our daily bread but He expects us to do the baking. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. God still speaks to those who take time to listen. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
0 Comments
John 1: 40-42 - One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Peter is mentioned over 160 times in the N.T. and it is all because his brother Andrew (mentioned 13 times) led him to Christ. Andrew is mentioned fewer times but plays a vital role in God's Kingdom by introducing Peter to Jesus.
All we have to do is be like Andrew and introduce a Peter like person to Jesus. Peter was the one who said, "Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God." And Jesus would give Peter the keys to the kingdom (Matt.16:16-19). It was Peter who got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. It was Peter who would cut off Malchus' ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was Peter who would preach the first gospel sermon and over 3,000 people would be baptized into Christ. We could say a whole lot more about Peter, but I want to remind us of this one thing: it was ANDREW, one guy, who brought Peter to meet Jesus. It was Andrew who became friends with one little lad, who had a lunch, and when this one lunch was given to Jesus it fed over 5,000 men, women, and children.
Yes, one can make a difference. In what area of life are you going to make a difference? Andrew was just one person but look at the huge impact he was able to make. YOU ARE ONE. What huge impact are you going to make? You may have thought "What can I do, I am only one person?" Well, now you know. One person can make a huge impact if he or she has a mind to do so. Now go and accomplish something great in your life. Go and make a huge impact. You know you can do it. Think on These: It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that are most likely to be remembered. Every accomplishment, great or small, starts with the right decision, "I'll Try". Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Philippians 2:14 - Do everything without complaining or arguing. NIV
His players moaned and groaned about this schedule, but Shula would not change his mind nor reduce the number of workouts like the players wanted him to do. His players said that this was unheard of and no other NFL team had four workouts per day. Another player said, "All we do is dress, practice, undress, and dress, practice and undress. We are not sure if we are football players or strippers." That year the team won 10 games and when the players were asked what made the difference in their team's successful turn around they all attributed their success to the four workouts per day. The exact thing they were complaining about is what in a few months they attributed to the team's success." In two more years, the Dolphins would become the only team to remain undefeated all year long. They finished with a 17-0 record. This record has still not be duplicated.
Exodus 16:7-8 - And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?" Also Moses said, "…; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD." NKJV In God's Word, we are told to do everything without complaining. Do we think that God may just know what we complain about is exactly what we need to be successful? Is it possible the things we ask God to free us from when He begins the freedom process we complain about the way He is doing it? We need to trust God more every day and view what He is doing in our life as that which we really need. Many people have prayed to God for help and when He started to help them they complained about the way He was helping them. A good thing for us to be mindful of is God is God and we are not. Think About This: To hear complaints is tiresome to the miserable and the happy. Samuel Johnson Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Ephesians 2:12 - "…remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." NASU
If you are a Christian and you are having a rough day. I highly recommend reading this verse and think about how horrible a non-Christian's life is. A non-Christian is separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger to the covenants of promise, they have NO HOPE and they are without God in this world. What problem could a Christian have that would even vaguely compare to being separated, excluded, having no hope, and without God? Now I can't speak for anyone but myself but seriously could a person's life get any worse than the person who is outside of Christ? I absolutely think it cannot. How horrible would your life be if you were hopeless and without God? And yet, that is exactly where we were when we were without Christ in our lives.
The words "in Christ" are found 90 times in the New Testament. I would like to share some of the great blessings a person who is "in Christ" has in this life. Romans 3:24 - "…the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:1 - "…no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:39 - "…the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:22- "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." I have listed 7 things a Christian has because he/she is "in Christ". The next time you are having a rough day I would like to suggest you read and meditate on the 7 things you have because you are "in Christ". The good news is to remember there are 83 other items we have because we are "in Christ". As you read your New Testament you might want to underline every time you see the phrase "in Christ". Now would be a good time to look up and say "Thank you God for allowing me to live "in Christ" the greatest place on earth." Think About This: We have forgiveness because of where we are and that is "in Christ". Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Revelation 22:21 - The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. NASU
How many of us could have quoted the last verse of the Bible? I know I couldn't have if I were asked before I started to work on this Pump Up. As I was reading this last verse a thought came to me to slow down and reread this passage of scripture and so I did. Let's reread it slowly and dissect this verse: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen" What is GRACE? Here is a definition from (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) - Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and despite what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Ex 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress. The Christian were being persecuted during the writing of the book of Revelation. The last verse of the Bible talks about the Grace of the Lord Jesus and John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is pronouncing a blessing upon all Christians. The blessing is he wants the Lord Jesus' Grace to be with all Christians.
The "Favor and Kindness" or "Grace" of Jesus our Lord is with us. I am not sure what you might be going through today, tomorrow, next week or next month but I can tell you this much if you are a Christian the "Grace" that comes from our Lord, Jesus Christ, is sufficient to get us through any trial. Here is what He told the apostle Paul: And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corin. 12:9) This you can take to the bank. Jesus' grace is sufficient for us.
Revelation concludes by John giving us a blessing and the blessing is the "Grace of Jesus" is with all believers. Think About These: Anyone in the world can give up; it is the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else in the world would understand if you quit, that is true courage. Knowledge knows a fact. Wisdom knows what to do with that fact. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
Archives
October 2020
AuthorGary A Serago. Categories
All
|
RSS Feed