Revelation 1 - 7.25.23
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 1:11a “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches…”
OBSERVATION: This book was written to the seven churches that were located on a major Roman road in Asia. They were facing severe persecution. John was exiled to the island of Patmos because he refused to stop preaching the gospel. In John’s vision Jesus revealed His mighty power as He appeared in glory and splendor, and John was reassured that even in the severe times of persecution, God’s strength was more powerful than the opposition. God’s power was not only more powerful, it was accessible!
Verse 16b is a powerful Scripture as it shows a sharp, double-edged sword coming out of His mouth. That sword is the Word of God; Jesus! This is the Word that God has hidden in every believers heart! This is the Word that lights every believers path! This is the Word that gives us eternal life! This is the Word that is powerful, active, and alive, and is THE WAY, the Truth, and the LIFE! This is the Word that goes out from His mouth that does not return empty, but accomplishes what He desires, and achieves the purpose for which He sent it! Near the end of Joh’s life, he saw this vision, and was told by God to write it down for the 7 churches, AND for Christians throughout history.
APPLICATION: How blessed we are to have the reassurance, like John, that no matter what comes our way, we have continual access to God’s presence and mighty power! No matter how violent or scandalous or depressing our world becomes, we have the hope of God’s Word! He is working out His plans and purposes, and NOTHING will be able to stop Him from accomplishing what He has set out to do!
PRAYER: Thank You Lord for Your Word that brings us such encouragement, even when we see such evil, crime, and chaos all around us, You are still very much in control, and we can be comforted in knowing that You are the infinite, powerful God Who is full of mercy, love, and justice, and are victorious over ALL!
- Robin Orefice
Psalm 112 - 7.24.23
Scripture
Psalms 112:1 NLT
“Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.”
Observation
The author of this psalm reminds us that when you put your complete faith and trust in God, and obey His ways, you can find joy in any circumstance.
-verse 4 says: “the light will shine in the darkness for them.”
-verse 6 says: “they will not be overcome by evil.”
-verse 7 says: “they do not fear bad news because they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.”
-verse 8 says: “they are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.”
Application
The fear of God can lead us to living a fearless life.
On last Friday’s SOAP Journal, Ken picked the verse “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” It reminded me of the true meaning of that word fear. The fear that is referenced in these verses doesn’t necessarily mean scared or afraid. The word fear in these verses refers more to respect and reverence. You see, when we truly display that deep reverence for God and obey what He says, we will experience that true joy that the psalmist is talking about in this chapter. We can face whatever circumstances life throws at us knowing that our God is in control. We have a faith and hope in life, (even in the bleakest situations ), that only we who know and experience God’s love can have. We KNOW that our God is faithful! And just like this psalm reminds us, God WILL be our light, even in our darkest hours. God WILL not let evil overcome us. And God WILL care for us whenever we confidently trust in Him. So my question today is…what do we have to fear?..especially when God is with us.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”-Joshua 1:9
Prayer
Father God please forgive me whenever I allow fear to creep through in my life. I look back at my life and see that You are always faithful and that You have never failed me. Thank You Jesus! May I never forget that. May I stay on Your path, by Your side, all the days of my life. May I give You all the respect, glory, and honor You deserve. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Psalm 111 - 7.21.2023
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
When I first read this verse I immediately thought of Proverbs. And how dad did such a good job with Solomon, his son! This sure seemed to be a principle that was embedded into King Solomon’s thought life!
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
How could fear of the Lord possibly resemble some sort of healthy respect?
I respect people at work. I respect people in my community. I respect God fearing men and women.
And then there is my mom. (Deborah read a statistic that measured a child was 800 times more unruly around their mother as opposed to their father. Yea, that wasn’t my childhood.) I respect my mom. As a child I can honestly say that for many many many years she terrified me. I can still remember the look in her eyes, and the cocksure stance she took right before I got wacked for doing something I shouldn’t have been doing.
Perhaps remembering the fear of my Mom, might get me on the right track to understanding fear of the Lord.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
Thank you Lord, for allowing me to be raised by a god-fearing woman. I am grateful that you have shown me a glimpse of a glimpse into what true fear and respect for You might look like. Help me to lean into this verse today. Lord, I pray for some of Your wisdom today. May I be filled with proper fear of You. And may I continue to build on this foundation of knowledge and wisdom that is centered around Almighty, You. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee