Revelation 5 - 6.28.24

Scripture: ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.“

Observation:

Jesus is the only one worthy to take the scroll and open it. He also was the only one worthy to pay the price for our sin. He purchased us with his precious blood. It says there will be people from every tribe and every nation.  I love that all are included. Jesus selfless act made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God. The word Kingdom implies we will be united under His authority as we reign on earth. What an honor will be bestowed on us in the future. 

An incredible picture of praise follows this proclamation, thousands upon thousands of angels praise God. Then, every creature throughout the earth joins in and praises God. What a simple, but beautiful chorus they sing, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”

Application: 

Jesus is worthy.  Starting each day with this as my focus can greatly change the trajectory of my day. Rough times will still come, but I will handle them differently.  A marvelous future awaits His people, we will reign with Him. Our day to day lives are stepping stones to prepare us. 

Praise is contagious. As one, or thousands, enter in, even more will follow. I want my life to be one that causes other people to acknowledge God and join me in praising Him. 

Prayer:

Lord, you are worthy to receive all honor, glory, and praise.  Father God, you are a wonderful creator. My mind cannot even fathom the plan you put in place for salvation, your own Son as the sacrificial Lamb.  Jesus, you paid it all, full price for me. There is none more worthy than you to open the scroll and reveal God’s plan.  Thank you, help me live my life to honor you for stepping in for me and all humanity. May I wake each day putting my focus on honoring you and proclaiming how worthy of praise you are.  Amen

- Cindy Howard

Revelation 4 - 06.27.24

SCRIPTURE -Revelation 4:2,5, 8-11 NKJV

“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a THRONE set in heaven, 

and ONE sat on the THRONE . And from the THRONE

proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. 

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the THRONE,

which are the seven Spirits of God.

The four living creatures, each having six wings,

were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night, saying: 

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the THRONE, who lives forever and ever,

the twenty-four elders fall down before HIM who sits on the THRONE

and WORSHIP Him who lives forever and ever,

and cast their crowns before the THRONE, saying: 

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; 

For YOU created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.””

OBSERVATION 

Heaven is a Place of Worship

THRONE is used fourteen times in this one chapter. 

It is a key word here in the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 

This scene of Worship IS actually happening right now as we read through this book—and Jesus graciously gave John—in his latter and exiled years—an opportunity to be an eyewitness. 

There is no possible way for human words to describe what John experienced. 

But John does his best to use familiar comparisons to explain the extraordinary Glory and Majesty of Almighty God on His Throne in Heaven.

I am thinking we will have to wait for our opportunity to EXPERIENCE it, to understand the absolute passion of the twenty-four elders 

to continually fall down before HIM to give HIM ALL glory, honor, and praise.

APPLICATION 

We can have Heaven’s perspective on Worship THROUGH John’s experience.

John’s view from Heaven in Revelation 4 gives us an important reminder.

No matter what may be happening on earth, or how our “feelings” may attempt to sway us—

God IS on HIS THRONE and IS in Complete Control.

Whenever I am tempted to fear OR place my Hope in the outcome of our future in anything other than God Himself—May the LORD -swiftly remind me—

God sits on The THRONE of All Creation—God is Sovereign- over every King, President, National Figure—and more over—

God is Sovereign over every single detail of my (our) life.

God Loves us.

We are Created for Relationship with God and to Make Him Known.

““You are worthy, O Lord, 

To receive glory and honor and power; 

For You created all things, 

And by Your will they exist and were created.””

(Revelation 4:11 NKJV)

Today this simple truth reminds me that God HIMSELF created everything that exists-God Created me. 

HE saw me BEFORE I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in HIS book. 

Every MOMENT was laid out BEFORE a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16)

How can I ever fear or doubt…God is WITH me.

“YOU go before me and YOU follow after me. 

YOU place your hand of blessing on my head. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”

(Psalms 139:5-6 NLT)

PRAYER

LORD JESUS,

We were created for YOUR Praise and Pleasure. Created for relationship.

Created to be WITH You eternally. You are intimately acquainted with everything about us. Thank You for Your Goodness which is beyond measure. Thank You for Your Love that is so great we will never fully understand it. Forgive me for the times I fear, or doubt, or worry. YOU have given Your Holy Spirit as a Guarantee of what is to come. YOU are WITH us. May my life be a FULL PRICE living worship and sacrifice for You Lord. Complete Your work in me. All Praise and Honor and Glory belong to YOU LORD who sits on the THRONE.

“He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him the privilege to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.”

(Revelation 3:21 AMP)

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Tina L Kudelka 

Revelation 3 - 6.26.24

Scripture

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19 NKJV)

Observation

The book of Revelation is a record of Apostle John about the revelation he received about the end times. The book opens with Jesus’s messages to the seven churches of that time. Jesus addresses the church of Laodecia in this passage. Laodecia was a wealthy city, and the people were prosperous. The people of the church felt that they were wealthy and needed nothing. They were so content in their materialistic pursuits that they were unaware that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev 3:17). Jesus counsels them to buy from him true riches - gold refined in fire, white garments and salve to put on their eyes so that they can see clearly (Rev 3:18). Jesus reminds them that he chastens and disciplines His children whom he loves. He urges them to repent, so that they will not be chastened. What was the sin of the church of Laodicea? They were complacent. They were so comfortable in just going along with life. They had forgotten their first love. Jesus tells them that they were neither hot nor cold, they were lukewarm.  The imagery here is of a drink like coffee, which tastes great when it is hot or ice-cold, but disgusting when it is lukewarm and makes the drinker spit it out. 

Application

Let us examine ourselves. Are we on fire for God? Or have we lost our flame? Have we allowed ourselves to be so comfortable with all the blessings God has poured on our life, that we no longer seek Him like we used to? Have we slipped into complacency, just going through the motions of Christian life? If we have, let us repent. Let us ask God to restore us to our first love. Jesus’ goal is our character. He looks at our heart. He wants us to grow and be like Him. If there is disobedience in our life, He will chastise and discipline us, just like how a loving parent disciplines an unruly child. No discipline is pleasant for a child who is going through it. Similarly it is painful when we go through God’s disciplining process, but God produces in us a “harvest of righteousness and peace” for those who are trained through God’s chastisement (Hebrews 12:11). 

Prayer

Father, thank you for making me your child. Thank you because your love for me is far beyond what I can understand. Everything I have in my life is a blessing from you. I don’t have anything that I haven’t received from you. Please convict me if I have been complacent and lost my first love. Please help me to repent and draw close to you. Restore my first love. Help me to love you above all else, and seek your kingdom first. Help me to draw near you, knowing that when I do, you will draw near to me (James 4:8). Whatever you have allowed me to go through in life, I know I can trust you with it, because you will bring a harvest of righteousness and peace through it. Everything works together for good for me, because I love you and I am called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28). In Jesus’ name. Amen

- Asha Chacko George