“Stay safe!” Multiple urgent warnings, minute upon minute reporting, and hour upon hour projections come our way when satellite images prove a storm is near.
Plans are made to prepare.
Well, there’s a storm on the horizon. Haven’t you heard?
Are you in search of proof? A visual image?
The Bible recorded a “test” for Jesus when the religious leaders asked Him for a “sign from heaven.”
Jesus answered, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Jesus, not so “mild and meek,” continued,
A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”
Jesus then left them and went away (Matthew 16:2-4).
The sign of Jonah? (Does this indicate the Bible account is actual and not a fairy tale. This is the only sign we get, according to Jesus.)
I see five pictures in this “sign of Jonah,”
Five Pictures:
Jonah disobeys God and runs in the opposite direction. (We all have disobeyed God and run in the opposite direction, Romans 3:23).
Jonah’s rescue: A great storm and realization. “Throw me overboard,” cried Jonah. (When we “see” our waywardness brought a storm.)
God’s grace and salvation is given through a very large fish who swallows Jonah. (“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is . . . )
Three days of revelation for Jonah to bring about repentance. God gave life to Jonah, undeserved, unearned favor. (“. . . the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23.)
Regurgitated resurrection life in Jonah and a call to obey God for hope and peace!
We see 1. A storm. 2. A gracious whale. 3. Hot revelations and repentance. 4. A resurrected life.
This is all we get, minus the gracious whale. Instead, when we believe, we’re received and accepted by a gracious Lord Jesus.
He’s the only safe place for you and me and all the people of the world, today. Jesus, He’s the Rock we can stand on. He never changes.
To be saved, or un-saved, this is the “safe” question:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” Matthew 7:24-27, NIV.
There’s a storm coming. Make wise plans. God’s report is 100% accurate!
There’s no shadow of turning with Him, (James 1:17). Not ever.
God is patient. Kind. Most people think this about God, but are we hungry to know Him?
Familiar words often become blurred, but to chew on the Bible’s account of God’s nature brings a prick to every heart:
God’s love doesn’t envy.
God’s love doesn’t boast. He’s not proud.
God doesn’t dishonor others.
God’s not selfish. He’s not easily angered.
God does not keep a record of wrongs.
God takes delight in truth, not evil.
God always protects. God always trusts. God always hopes.
God perseveres through everything.
God’s love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13.)
“God is love” 1 John 4:8.
Do we (really) want love?
We must seek the true and living God!
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17.
We’ve got a choice to make. To believe or not to believe the Holy Bible proclaimed to be the truth of God.
And who’s Jesus?
From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks a Scarlet thread to tie and hold each Book together.
To open the Bible is to hear God’s heart. His story. His plan. His promises. Everything about life for humankind is written.
What happens when the Book is closed? We can see this, today the truth is what you make it. But is this true?
We believe many things. The human mind, heart, emotion is expressed in words—communication. Words have power.
We follow words . . .
how can we hear the true voice of God?
Faith. ” . . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17.
The testimony of every believer in God is summed up in the first four verses of the Bible. I’ll share an example with my testimony:
God created me. Then my life was dark and empty, (because of sin). “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” (Genesis 1:3). (My body consists of 73% water. My interpretation.)
The Spirit of God was patient to wait as His presence remained and . . .
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” Genesis 1:4.
Many testimonies speak of chaotic beginnings, brokenness, darkness, emptiness, pain, and hurt. Then, . . . the Rescuer came.
Chaos turned to light. Old became new.
Do believers have perfect lives after Christ? No way, but directed by the Spirit of God, the Word of God, the Father of Light who delights in His children—yes! Perfectly covered by His blood. Renewed in His love.
Jesus:
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” Revelation 19:13.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” John 1:1-4.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” Revelation 1:1,3.
Truth? Jesus said, “I Am.”
Let the little children sing about “All Things New:”
P.S. Please spend some time talking with the Lord today. This day, may you ask Him in your life and say, “I’ve made Him mine!”
“Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near” Revelation 1:3, Amplified.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Do I believe it? Do you believe it? Why does this matter?
If God’s Word is truth, as Jesus Himself proclaimed in His prayer for those who follow Him in John 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth,
then, I must understand there is blessing in hearing and receiving the Book of Revelation along with the entirety of the Bible. This is the revelation of Jesus.
Jesus is the Word. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God Revelation 19:13.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth John 1:14-15.
Everyday I need revelation of Jesus Christ. I need to see His glory. How about you?
The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Am I separated to Him that I might receive His amazing grace, one time for salvation, everyday for light in the midst of a dark world.
Let our hearts sing, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved . . . “
Am I separated to receive the fullness of His grace? Grace is His unmerited favor on my life. Jesus offers sufficient grace and forgiveness. Am I in a place to receive this?
Happy, blessed, and safe are those who read and hear, who keep these words in our heart, who choose to believe and follow the prophesy. From the first Book of Genesis to the final Book of the Revelation of Jesus.
Where do I stand? Where do you stand. Are we separate unto the Lord?
Can we sing, “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”
What does it mean to be sanctified?
Why would I want to be separated to God? Will He take away my life’s desires? Does fear keep me from receiving God’s love and life eternal through His Son Jesus Christ?
Am I half-hearted or set apart?
Jesus was all in:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit John 19:28-30.
Jesus gave all when our backs were turned to Him: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
The revelation of Jesus is grace and truth. “And of His fullness we have all received grace for grace.” We receive because he gave us what we didn’t deserve. This makes me want to be on His side, no?
Read in Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828, the definition of sanctify:
SANC’TIFY, verb transitive . . .
1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.
2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3 . . .
5. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.
To sanctify God, to praise and celebrate him as a holy being; to acknowledge and honor his holy majesty, and to reverence his character and laws. Isaiah 8:13.
God sanctifies himself or his name, by vindicating his honor from the reproaches of the wicked, and manifesting his glory. Ezekiel 36:23.
Is this not safety? In a day where so much expense and time is being spent on safety are we safely set apart to God, the keeper of our souls?
Am I a lost soul? or am I sanctified to the Lord, the One who is able to save us to the uttermost:
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them Hebrews 7:25.
“Give me revelation,” we pray in this dark day. We need to know truth. Let’s read aloud the Amplified version of His grace upon grace for those who choose Him today:
Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever]
and Who was [continually existing in the past]
and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—
and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath].
So it is to be. Amen. Revelation 1: 4-7.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:8.
Separated to God? Yes!
Let’s proclaim together: “I will be careful and safe, making the most out of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Today, we ask to be cleansed and emptied of ourselves and filled with the Spirit of God, that we might have lives that bear much fruit. That God’s love and joy and peace would permeate from our lives because we choose to be separate to Him.
That we might have patience in all things. That we might have the fullness of self-control and gentleness.
We ask for a filling of His Spirit over and again. That we would be faithful to read and hear the revelation of Jesus Christ through the entirety of His Word.
He has given us a new song. Today we will choose to make music in our heart to the Lord.
Let’s continually give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His love, He has made glad, me, you, and those we are around!
PS: If you’ve never asked the Lord Jesus in your life, . . . do it now.
Simply bow your head and talk to Him. Ask forgiveness for your stubbornness and hardness of heart. Ask Him to wash, cleanse, and purify.
He will. He will sanctify you.
Ask the Lord to fill You with His Spirit and understanding in His Word, in the revelation of Jesus.
He will. He looses the stronghold of every chain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And tell someone that you have opened your heart to Love.
Can we be angry and humble at the same time? Can justice be found without anger? Where is the love we all long for? Can forgiveness be complete?
Today, our eyes witness evil. That is an absolute we can agree on.
“Justice,” is the people’s cry in the streets. This is a two way street that is an absolute .
Love is planted deep in the heart of every human. Family is a place to often see it grow.
Forgiveness is an absolute necessity and a great need.
“Where in the world do evil, justice, love and forgiveness converge at one point in history?” Ravi Zacharias concluded his talk at a United Nations Prayer Breakfast.
We know evil exists. We seek justice. We’re hungry for love. Forgiveness is needed. “Can I take you to a hill on Calvary and show you the person of Jesus Christ.”
Ravi, who has recently gone home to be with the Lord after a short but painful battle with a rare bone cancer stated, “Deep in my heart, I believe there are no other answers apart from the person of Jesus Christ.”
He shows us evil, taken on himself. He was the just and justifier who loved us so greatly that He prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
What’s truth? Where’s God in all this suffering and pain?
Ravi Zacharias shared thoughts by James Stewart of Scotland:
“It is a glorious phrase of the New Testament, that ‘he led captivity captive.’
The very triumphs of His foes, it means, he used for their defeat.
He compelled their dark achievements to subserve his end, not theirs.
They nailed him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to his feet.
They gave him a cross, not guessing that he would make it a throne.
They flung him outside the gates to die, not knowing that in that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe, to let the King of Glory come in.
They thought to root out his doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy.
They thought they had defeated God with His back the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated: they did not know that it was God Himself who had tracked them down.
He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil. He conquered through it.”(James Stewart, October 17, 2012).
We seek peace in the midst of evil. We pray for justice. We desperately need love and forgiveness . . .
There are many questions.
Jesus Christ laid down His life us. He paid our debt in full on the cross at Calvary. He rose from the dead. And He lives today. Does He live in our heart, today?
The final answer? The Gospel:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.
I am reposting something I wrote awhile back, but it speaks encouragement to me in the midst of what feels like a ‘tug of war!’ But the beauty of it all, is victory is possible with God!
manna for the moments of ‘tug of war’…
by tonirypkema
Tug of war? Yes! It is going on every minute in our hearts and minds. And the sad part is, ‘out of the abundance of our heart, the mouth speaks’,(Matthew 12:34.)
You and I both know all about this. We all have an ‘old nature’ that we were born with, much like a ‘roaring tiger’ that often times ‘gets out of its cage!’ This nature is known in the Bible as the ‘flesh’. “But whenever a person turns (in repentance) to the Lord the veil is stripped off and taken away.” 2 Cor. 3:16. Something new happens when we receive the Lord, we ‘see’ the power for the ‘new nature’ of God. And we see that we don’t HAVE TO let the ‘ol tiger’ out of the cage -but still, oftentimes, it does!
God gives us provision to lock that ‘ol roaring beast’ (or otherwise, the flesh) in a cage, so to speak – but He doesn’t take that ‘ol nature’ away! My only comment to this, is…’Lions and tigers and bears remain in us…
“oh my!”
Well, the provision is NOT good works. We can know that because in John chapter 3, a man who was ‘very good’ by human standards came to Jesus at night with questions, and Jesus Himself instructed him, (Amplified version), “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see – know, be acquainted with [and experience] – the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).
God doesn’t look at our ‘good works’ the way we think He does. The Scriptures are quite clear about this: “…our best deeds or rightness and justice – are as filthy rags or a polluted garment.” (Is. 64:6).
Jesus tells us quite simply, the ‘good work’ that we must do in the eyes of God,”This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29).
“But, how does this put that ‘ol roaring beast behind bars and locked up?” you and I ask. Even after believing in Jesus, there is a tug of war…
“For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the (Holy) Spirit, and the [desires of the ]Spirit are opposed to the flesh, (that human nature without God,) for these are antagonistic to each other…” Gal. 5:17. That ‘ol beast seems to keep clawing his way out?
BUT GOD gives us provision,“But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh – put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature – to [gratify its] desires (lusts). (Romans 13:14. Amplified.)
And God even provides more insight to victory, “But I say, walk and live habitually in the (Holy) Spirit – responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh – of human nature without God. (Gal. 5:16, Amplified).
The provision is there. We simply need to HALT and seek first the Kingdom of God. We need to bow our hearts to the Lord and pray, “Father ‘lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil, for Yours IS the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever'(Matthew 6:13). ‘Your love never fails'(1 Corinthians 13:8). And a ‘bruised reed You will not break and a smoking flax You will not quench'(Matthew 12:20). ‘Help me!’ (Psalm 119:86). Yes, we give thanks to You Lord, because You never give up on us, never, even when we have given up on ourselves. Our hope is always in You. Looking to You IS our victory! In Jesus name, Amen.”
Corrie Ten Boom who was put in a concentration camp during World War ll, who suffered great loss and was treated cruelly along with many others penned these words: “Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? “Lord Jesus”, I prayed, “forgive me and help me to forgive him….Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness…”
And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
― Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place
Forgiveness and grace to ‘love our enemies’ is not in our own capacities at all-however, they are in the Lord’s. Thus the expression, ‘I will cling to the old rugged cross’ means something to me. You see, the words aren’t simply ‘I’m looking to the cross’ or even ‘I’m near the cross’ – NO – the words in an age old hymn are much more desperate and urgent than that: ‘I will CLING to the old rugged cross’!
Is there anyone else in this desperate place? There is cruelty and there is anger being poured out on the innocent! This is a difficult day!Things just aren’t done in ‘righteousness and truth’ anymore. I really wish I liked the melody line more, of this hymn, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, but I am going to try to make it my own and play this one and speak these words, because God exhorts us to ‘speak in Psalms and hymns’ and make spiritual melody in our hearts to the Lord- so that a complete and perfect work of ‘forgiveness’ can take place in my broken vessel! I have no idea how to ‘love my enemies’.But as Corrie Ten Boon said, I will believe: “When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
So, “I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.” Yes, we will wear forgiveness and mercy like a crown, just like our Jesus. This is where I want to dwell and keep my thoughts when I am challenged in the ‘forgive’ task. “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross Where the dearest and best, For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.” “Oh, that old rugged cross, So despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God, Left His glory above, To bear it to dark Calvary.” So, I’ll cherish the old rugged cross….
I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown!”
Jesus could bear that cross at dark Calvary, and suffer to take my punishment today, yesterday and even tomorrow, even for all our sin; can we bear this cross to forgive for Him and His glory? ‘Clinging to the old rugged cross… “To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, It’s shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away Where His glory forever I’ll share… “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day…
for a crown.”
Today, with all the grace and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I will wear forgiveness as a crown on this thorny ol’ earth, clinging, yes, clinging to that old rugged cross.
