28 Jan 2014; Rev 3
Rev 3 v14 to 22 is the letter to the Church in Laodicea. This is the only letter among the 7 that had no commendation but all rebuke.
What is God angry about? v16
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16, ESV)
What is the problem with the Church in Laodicea that as an individual as a family and as a community that we must be looking out for.
The Church was not on fire for God - not hot. But neither it is not for God - cold. Is that what God hates?
No. Laodicea was a commerce center - it had no natural resources - just like Singapore, but it was rich.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,
The Church has opening declared that it don't need God.
Check - the Church was not good for "hot" things of God and neither was it anything useful for the "cold" things of God. Neither. Geographically, Laodicea was situated in the middle of a hot spring area in the north and the cool mountain range in the south. the reference was made here as if is useful as a "hot" spring area or a "cool" range mountain - good, but it is neither.
So much rebuke and it is time for a wake up call. No longer should one sits on the fence but be active and be "on" for God. The resources that the Lord bless - remembers his blessing on your abilities and because of this abilities, we are able to build wealth and prosper.
I will also make references to the passage in Joshua Chapter 1:
“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. (Joshua 1:2-3, ESV)
It is time to rise up - Mosses is now dead - past. Now move on and lead and that the land with the blessing of the Lord!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
21 Jan; Rev 3
21 Jan; Revelation 3
Rev 3 begins with the letter of Jesus Christ to the Church of Sardis:
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Strong words. About works, about being active, alive, vibrant - but Jesus says - you are dead!
Wake up, because what is alive is going to die, what looks alive that is remaining is going to die!
Works - not complete, not worthy in the sight of God - useless.
A total wake up call. If you are that Church, this was the strongest rebuke.
Your labour (works) is not seen as worthy, useless. Your works prove that you are in active service - but in your heart - dead. What more your work will not see to completion - either you are going to die or your works has lose strength.
I pray that these words sink into my heart - a wake up call. Worse - no work - no love - already dead! Be alive again.
Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Leave that something worthy behind.
Rev 3 begins with the letter of Jesus Christ to the Church of Sardis:
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Strong words. About works, about being active, alive, vibrant - but Jesus says - you are dead!
Wake up, because what is alive is going to die, what looks alive that is remaining is going to die!
Works - not complete, not worthy in the sight of God - useless.
A total wake up call. If you are that Church, this was the strongest rebuke.
Your labour (works) is not seen as worthy, useless. Your works prove that you are in active service - but in your heart - dead. What more your work will not see to completion - either you are going to die or your works has lose strength.
I pray that these words sink into my heart - a wake up call. Worse - no work - no love - already dead! Be alive again.
Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Leave that something worthy behind.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
16 Jan 2014; Revelation 2
16 Jan 2014; Revelation 2
There are 4 letters to the churches in Revelation 2. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira.
These letters are from Jesus to the Church. Imagine that!
In these letters, there were imperfection and sins in the Church. The letters also mentioned about their works in faith and their struggle.
To the Church in Ephesus, they have lost their first love - probably something they have began their work and walk with God but had stop doing them.
To the Church in Pergamum, it is about a compromising faith. It is ok as long as ...
To the Church in Thyatira, it is about falling in sexual sins.
To me, then what have you to say - your first love, your compromising faith and sins...
I have these against you.. stop and by the grace of God - live a life of faith, live a life in truth. I serve a faithful and truthful God. He said these but He also warn so that I may come back and live a life alive.
These are the word to the Church of Smyrna
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
The only church without a rebuke - live a life of such!
There are 4 letters to the churches in Revelation 2. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira.
These letters are from Jesus to the Church. Imagine that!
In these letters, there were imperfection and sins in the Church. The letters also mentioned about their works in faith and their struggle.
To the Church in Ephesus, they have lost their first love - probably something they have began their work and walk with God but had stop doing them.
To the Church in Pergamum, it is about a compromising faith. It is ok as long as ...
To the Church in Thyatira, it is about falling in sexual sins.
To me, then what have you to say - your first love, your compromising faith and sins...
I have these against you.. stop and by the grace of God - live a life of faith, live a life in truth. I serve a faithful and truthful God. He said these but He also warn so that I may come back and live a life alive.
These are the word to the Church of Smyrna
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
The only church without a rebuke - live a life of such!
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
8 Jan; Revelation 2
8 Jan; Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
The church of Ephesus love God, they for God's name sake, had not grown weary labored for God. But why then did the verse say that they have abandon their first love. Would they have labored without love?
At least they labored, how about you? Am I laboring - no. Because I have no love? Or do have love but chose not to labored for God.
Regardless, my response to is a search for myself - first about that first love for God. Do I still have the fire. Or if not what is holding me back loving Him and serving Him?
To the Church in Ephesus
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:1-7, ESV)
The church of Ephesus love God, they for God's name sake, had not grown weary labored for God. But why then did the verse say that they have abandon their first love. Would they have labored without love?
At least they labored, how about you? Am I laboring - no. Because I have no love? Or do have love but chose not to labored for God.
Regardless, my response to is a search for myself - first about that first love for God. Do I still have the fire. Or if not what is holding me back loving Him and serving Him?
Monday, January 06, 2014
6 Jan; Revelation 1
6 Jan; Revelation 1
Rev 1: 9-11 is about John's vision of Jesus Christ.
This is the second week of the week, not too late for an envisioning.
Coupled with Sunday's message on Jer 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know
The revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John and John addressed himself as your brother and your fellow companion and sufferer for Christ - to ordinary man. The message of Christ was given to you and me.
Call to God and He will answer you. I like the story of Hanna in 1 Samuel to cried out to God for a child in the temple.
Beat your chest, shout and express that you really want. Seek Him and ask for a fresh revelation. I have not done that and so it is time to seek and express what is on my heart to Him and hear Him for a vision.
What is then my response?
I need to see who am I and gain spiritual insights from God and so as be able to move in flight with God this year. The first encounter is to recognize that we are just man and a mes-sager of God and not God. The second is what we see determines what we lives. That is to to see Christ as who he is (v12-15) - the high and holy priest, the son of man, the one who came and died for us, but lives again and now seated at the right hand of God.
Rev 1: 9-11 is about John's vision of Jesus Christ.
This is the second week of the week, not too late for an envisioning.
Coupled with Sunday's message on Jer 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know
The revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John and John addressed himself as your brother and your fellow companion and sufferer for Christ - to ordinary man. The message of Christ was given to you and me.
Call to God and He will answer you. I like the story of Hanna in 1 Samuel to cried out to God for a child in the temple.
Beat your chest, shout and express that you really want. Seek Him and ask for a fresh revelation. I have not done that and so it is time to seek and express what is on my heart to Him and hear Him for a vision.
What is then my response?
I need to see who am I and gain spiritual insights from God and so as be able to move in flight with God this year. The first encounter is to recognize that we are just man and a mes-sager of God and not God. The second is what we see determines what we lives. That is to to see Christ as who he is (v12-15) - the high and holy priest, the son of man, the one who came and died for us, but lives again and now seated at the right hand of God.
Sunday, January 05, 2014
5 Jan; Revelation 1
5 Jan; Revelation 1
verse 4:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Who is this Jesus - who is, who was and who is to come.
That set the purpose of whom to we serve, not a God who was a man and now is a god or a god who is a god and now is a man. Because there is no end - He is the
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the king who rule extends beyond the life span - eternally. So if he is a bad king - too bad.
But this king is a good king - a God who came as a man and a man who is God. It is for the purpose to use his blood to save us.
What is then our response?
Do you acknowledge this king?
Do you intend to serve this king?
Why do I want to acknowledge this king?
Why do I want to serve this king?
The recognition is whether this is a worth king and a God who we want to acknowledge and serve.
The recognition is who is this God that we want to serve?
As for me, I choose Jesus - the king who died for me. But that is not the end of him, he was raised and become God. But he is not a man who become God, but first a God who become man died and back to God again. He is a God who promise eternally.
Worth it - a bet that has more to gain. I am serving God, not man become God.
I am serving this God, who die for me and this God is there for me for once, not always but eternally.
verse 4:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Who is this Jesus - who is, who was and who is to come.
That set the purpose of whom to we serve, not a God who was a man and now is a god or a god who is a god and now is a man. Because there is no end - He is the
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the king who rule extends beyond the life span - eternally. So if he is a bad king - too bad.
But this king is a good king - a God who came as a man and a man who is God. It is for the purpose to use his blood to save us.
What is then our response?
Do you acknowledge this king?
Do you intend to serve this king?
Why do I want to acknowledge this king?
Why do I want to serve this king?
The recognition is whether this is a worth king and a God who we want to acknowledge and serve.
The recognition is who is this God that we want to serve?
As for me, I choose Jesus - the king who died for me. But that is not the end of him, he was raised and become God. But he is not a man who become God, but first a God who become man died and back to God again. He is a God who promise eternally.
Worth it - a bet that has more to gain. I am serving God, not man become God.
I am serving this God, who die for me and this God is there for me for once, not always but eternally.
Thursday, January 02, 2014
2 Jan; Revelation 1
Revelation 1
Blessed is he who hears, keeps and does the will or work of the Father.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Basically the concept of the the time is near. If the time is near then what are we running to and what are we running for?
We are blessed, already bless because we have access to the words, which we can reads, hear about. But then do we not take it to heart?
We are called also to be do-ers of the word. What is the point if we who hears but does not do it. If we hear and do it, we are further bless. (Do and remember better the word that we reads or hears).
As such, I pray for today your divine appointment to share your words to someone.
Blessed is he who hears, keeps and does the will or work of the Father.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Basically the concept of the the time is near. If the time is near then what are we running to and what are we running for?
We are blessed, already bless because we have access to the words, which we can reads, hear about. But then do we not take it to heart?
We are called also to be do-ers of the word. What is the point if we who hears but does not do it. If we hear and do it, we are further bless. (Do and remember better the word that we reads or hears).
As such, I pray for today your divine appointment to share your words to someone.
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
1 Jan 2014; Revelation 1
1 Jan 2014; Revelation 1:1-3
Spiritual Blessing
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3, ESV)
The year begins with this verse - a promise for God's blessings.
I asked for God's blessings - a blessings of a double portion of my pay. I will submit this plan and see His plan as I walk through the year to see His blessings.
1. Blessed is the one who sees (who reads the words, who hear)
Listen and look, see the revelation of Jesus Christ and be like Him
How?
Listen - prayer and wait upon the Lord.
Look and see - reading and through His words
2. Blessed is the one is His messenger ( who keep)
The revelation was not made from God to the direct ones. It was through the angels
to John and to us.
As such we who hears, is to keep but also to share.
I thank God that I share and open my invite to Steven to attend church this year.
Spiritual Blessing
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3, ESV)
The year begins with this verse - a promise for God's blessings.
I asked for God's blessings - a blessings of a double portion of my pay. I will submit this plan and see His plan as I walk through the year to see His blessings.
1. Blessed is the one who sees (who reads the words, who hear)
Listen and look, see the revelation of Jesus Christ and be like Him
How?
Listen - prayer and wait upon the Lord.
Look and see - reading and through His words
2. Blessed is the one is His messenger ( who keep)
The revelation was not made from God to the direct ones. It was through the angels
to John and to us.
As such we who hears, is to keep but also to share.
I thank God that I share and open my invite to Steven to attend church this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)