Revelation 22 -11.17.22

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 22:4 TPT

“they will always SEE His face, and HIS name will be on their foreheads.”

OBSERVATION:

God’s dwelling place is now WITH His people. He, HIMSELF—dwells among us! The original order has been restored and Nothing separates us from God-our Creator. We will SEE Him—face-to-face.

UNDERSTANDING:

This is unfathomable for me. I’m trying to take this in—and I don’t even know HOW to journal on it. But, it’s worth it to me to simply ponder on this verse today. A time IS coming when I will Live eternally WITH the ONE who KNOWS everything about me. HE created me-designed me—gave gifts to me—purposed my destiny—that this is the time and place I would live—and there are Good things I will do BECAUSE He decided even before the earth was created that I would do them—this is how well HE Knows me. AND—HE has sealed me with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee—that Heaven awaits…

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

“So, while living in this “tent,” we groan under its burden, not because we want to die but because we want these NEW bodies. We crave for all that is mortal to be swallowed up by eternal life. And this is no empty hope, for GOD Himself is the ONE who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 5:4-5 TPT)

LIFE APPLICATION:

I AM a Citizen of Heaven!

Once you are Born Again—even though you are still living on earth—you have IMMEDIATE Citizenship IN Heaven! A type of permanent passport that is stamped and SEALED. We ALL have the exact same FATHER!

“You have all become true children of God by faith in Jesus Christ! Faith immersed you into Christ, and now you are covered and clothed with HIS life. And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all ONE through our union with Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-28)

“Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and FILL your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of this (earthly) natural realm.” (Colossians 3:2 TPT)

I LOVE what Pastor Levi shared last Sunday in his teaching “Treasure in Heaven”—something SO extraordinary when you think about it. Gold which is so HIGHLY valued will be Heaven’s pavement! And as you know—Gold has many forms. This Gold is Top Grade—The Purest of Pure Gold-that glistens SO Bright it’s translucent! The truth is we cannot even Imagine what Heaven has in store for us—because that’s what God’s word tell us.

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him— (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to Keep my eyes Focused on YOU and to FILL my thoughts with Heaven. Though my eyes have seen your beautiful handiwork of mountains and trees and oceans and flowers and stars set up upon a clear cool night—You say my eyes have NEVER seen anything like I will SEE in Heaven. Though I’ve heard baby’s laughter and the sound of waves crashing and oooh’s and aah’s when I’ve made a special dinner (one of my favorite sounds, and I’ve heard beautiful instruments play music that touches deep in my soul—you say that I’ve Heard NOTHING that compares to what I will HEAR in Heaven. AND…You have Prepared things for us that our human minds cannot even conceive—even with all our creativity and scientific innovation—we cannot IMAGINE what GOD has WAITING for us in HEAVEN!

Thank you for my citizenship. LORD—Help me to remember that this citizenship has costs as well as privilege.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-19a NIV)

Tina L Kudelka

Psalm 117-11.16.22

Scripture

Psalms 117:1-2 NIV

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”

Observation-What does it say?

Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm and shortest chapter in the Bible, but the Psalmist gives two main reasons why we must praise the Lord. (David Guzik commentary on enduringword.com)

Understanding-What does it mean?

God is worthy of our praise ALL the time!

Praise and Worship to God is not an activity based on feelings or circumstances. Why? Because both instances (our feelings and circumstances) change.

2 main reasons why we praise and worship, which the Psalmist points out, are: 1) God’s love for us. 2) His faithfulness. Both of these endure forever, throughout eternity.

Life Application

It doesn’t matter where you are right now. Give Him your worship and praise!

Dear Lord, may we honor You with our praise and worship all the time. Thank You for Your love for us and for your faithfulness. Thank You for Your promise to never leave us or forsake us. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Esther 10-11.15.22

SCRIPTURE:

Esther 10:3

"Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, famous among the Jews, and highly popular with many of his relatives. He continued to seek good for his people and to speak for the welfare of all his descendants."

OBSERVATION:

In the book of Esther, we see how God intervened when Haman, a Persian high official began to hate Esther's legal guardian Mordecai, and arranged to have him and all the Jews exterminated. When Mordecai was targeted by the second most powerful person in the kingdom, the situation looked very bleak, but... Mordecai trusted God.

When Esther seemed to be the only hope for the survival of herself and her whole nation, she risked her life for the sake of God's people. God honored both their faith and their human efforts. Esther modeled living as a godly woman in a pagan culture, complying with local cultural practices where they didn't conflict with godly morals and ethics. Mordecai refused to give a man the kind of worship that only God deserves. Persecution was the inevitable result of living in a pagan environment, but Esther and Mordecai trusted that God would bring justice in the end!" (Life Essentials Study Bible by Gene Getz).

UNDERSTANDING:

No matter how evil the world becomes, we are to put our faith in God's sovereign promise that someday Jesus will deliver all true believers from this evil world.

LIFE APPLICATION:

It takes a great amount of wisdom to live in a non-believing world. In a setting which is for the most part hostile to Christianity, I pray we will rely on the Lord's wisdom and depend on His guidance and strength. I pray we will give respect to what is true and good as we humbly stand against what is wrong.

I thank God that He has promised to guide and defend the ones who have put their trust in Him.

Thank You Lord that You are able to save us from the evil of this world and deliver us from sin and death. I pray we will keep our hope and trust in You, and not fear what people may say or do to us, instead, I pray we will be confident in knowing that You are the sovereign, powerful God, Who is in control of history.

-Robin Orefice