Revelation 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me!"

REVELATION 1:11 YOUR ALPHA AND OMEGA 

Revelation 1:11 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

Jesus is Alpha and Omega.  He's not only THE Alpha and Omega but he is YOUR Alpha and Omega.  Both are Greek words meaning beginning and end or first and last.  Jesus isn't just the beginning or just the end.  In your own life, don't just start well with Jesus without finishing with Jesus because he isn't going to abandon you. He's going to stay with you through it all! He isn't going to begin with you and then tire of your relationship, nor is he going to give up on you when the going gets tough.  He's the author of your faith and he's the finisher of your faith and he's doing a perfect work with and in you.

Hebrews 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him...

Hebrews 12:1,2  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Recognizing Jesus as the author of our faith, we recognize our faith was his idea.  Just coming to him to be born again means we lay all of our burdens at the foot of the cross.  We enter into a race in which we run with him. Our goal is the same as his, the joy set before us.  Our joy is in him.  Our new life is in him and although there are trials and temptations, finishing the race means we endure in-between the obstacles that come our way and cross the finish line.  Our life on earth is just the beginning.  While there's a finish line, which is our eternal destination, our life doesn't end there! Praise God we live forever in a place with no more tears and no more sorrow...a world without end! Let's therefore take the advice in Hebrews and lay aside sins and weights.  Let's lighten the load and place every burden at his feet.

Jesus is not just the author and finisher of our faith as individuals but for the entire body of Christ. He mentions the 7 churches and names them one by one.  Later, he will address each one according to their present state.  He will speak his Word in a way that will minister directly to their most desperate need.  We all will find ourselves somewhere in the Words to his church and the Word that ministered to them will minister to the intimate places in our hearts.   Although he is risen from the dead, ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father, he is present by his Spirit. John was "in the Spirit," and heard a voice and SAW what he spoke.  Jesus named the churches one by one!  He didn't say the letter was only FOR those churches but he said to distribute them there.  He knew that through this distribution, this WORD, the prophecies of THIS BOOK would reach the entire body of Christ, becoming part of the Canon of Scripture. God is intimately aware of his church; his bride; his love and he is the author and finisher of HER faith.  He is ever present and ever making intercession.  What a comfort to know Jesus sits at the right hand of the father and there, he is praying for me! There, he is praying for you!  He ever lives with that purpose, to see his bride come home!   His Word is alive and well as he is and he is with us! He will never leave us or forsake us. He will bless us and correct us.  He will make his bride ready. He is not only our author, our starter, and our companion.... he is our finisher!  When we as his body, lay aside our weights and look unto him, we will walk through this life and one day we'll step across that finish line and be with him forever! Amen and glory! It excites me to think about that!

Jesus is also not only the author and finisher of our faith, he is the author and finisher of this world. The bible says by his Word, the earth both came into existence and is held in existence.  One day, every Word of this prophecy will come to pass and we'll see the end of the story of earthly creation.  May we find ourselves "in Christ" on that day!  If "in Christ," the story ends well.  If not, the ending isn't so great but we'll leave that for another study.  Just know he is the beginning and the end.  The Word of God opens with the phrase, "In the beginning," and ends with these words:

Revelation 22: 20-21  He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Everything in between is all about him and the joy set before him. He is gathering all things to himself but the choice is ours whether we will be gathered and end in his joy or will we have that undesirable end? The choice is ours! May we be found in his grace!  Won't you accept his grace today? Won't you lay your burdens down at his feet? Won't you hear his voice calling you to run your race with him by your side?  If you've never asked Christ to be your author and finisher, please do so today with a simple prayer, "Lord I give myself to you! Mold me and make me! Precious Lord take my hand!"  Amen!

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

REVELATION- A Verse by Verse Study- My own personal journey

"A journey of studying what’s revealed to me; not a journey to study what isn’t revealed!"

Revelation 1:9 Beauty in Banishment

Revelation 1:9
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

John, one of the 12 disciples, the one Jesus loved, the one who sat with his head on Jesus heart beating, was in prison for his faith in Christ and for the Word of God.  Sometimes we don't realize the generals in the kingdom of God go through trials too! John was in prison! He was exiled! Why? Because he believed in Jesus and spoke his Word!  Your faith doesn't guarantee that you won't be in trials but it does guarantee you'll go through them.  When you go through something, you come out the other side.  Sometimes the middle is tough.  John was in a trial. He was imprisoned for his faith. He would die there....and live again on the other side!

THE ISLE OF PATMOS

John's banishment to Patmos is interesting. Patmos is a Greek Island. At the time, Patmos was a place for banishment of political prisoners as well as those that practiced sorcery, witchcraft and astrology.  John, being prophetic would have been in that category as some saw prophecy as witchcraft... just as they do today!  Prophecy is not witchcraft when it's from God!  John didn't say he was imprisoned for being a Christian but for God's Word!  I find that interesting and although I can't confirm it, I wonder if John was preaching of future events and proclaiming the living prophetic Word of God!

BANISHMENT CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

We may think of John as being imprisoned and I guess being exiled is imprisonment but if I was going to be exiled anywhere at all, I guess I'd choose an island....a Greek island!  The story is told, the encounter with Jesus that brought the Revelation was in a cave. I don't know if he was held there or if he was free to roam the island but just remember, in the same way God can give you beauty for ashes and joy for mourning, he can give you beauty in banishment. We must have our eyes open as John did.  One version of the text said he "saw the voice of God!" Whether he saw the voice or what the voice was showing him matters not. He saw something with eyes wide open and in the midst of his banishment, he saw something beautiful!


Revelation 1:10-12 I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: “Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea.” I turned and saw the voice.


It was here, on The Isle of Patmos, John had his greatest encounter of all, out of which came the Book of Revelation which is a glimpse into the future for the body of Christ and the world at large.  Trials can be difficult but there are lilies in the valley!  Sometimes our greatest encounters come at our lowest moments.

IN THE SPIRIT

John was "in the Spirit."  He was praying and as he was praying he heard a loud voice like a trumpet.  Note John didn't lose his faith while in prison. He still continued to pray. How many of us get into a funk when our hopes and dreams don't turn out the way we expected?  Sometimes in a funk, we may stop praying. John may have gotten in a funk but prayer brought him through. Today John isn't in a funk. Today John is in heaven, seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus worshiping, living in the reality of the revealed and tangible presence of God, and waiting to hear Jesus say, "Come on!" "It's time to see your Revelation revealed!"

When we are "in the Spirit," things happen! As we call upon the name of the Lord, he shows us things to come as he did with John.  We must stay "in the spirit," to make it through our own "Isle of Patmos!"  We must stay in the Spirit to receive heavenly vision.  Jesus had already spoken about this in John 16 as he was telling the disciples about the role the Holy Spirit would have in their life. John wrote about it as he recalled the words of Jesus telling them of the revelations the Holy Spirit would bring:

JOHN 16: 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

JOHN HEARD A VOICE

Now we've all heard of the experience of Moses on the back side of the desert. He was dilly dallying along, minding his own business, herding sheep when out of nowhere came a voice.  He wasn't seeking God at all. He may have not been in a funk at all since he had fled Egypt long ago. Moses may have been living an entirely new life, married to the daughter of the Priest of Midian and minding his sheep.  Moses had given up on the call of God having murdered a man and gone into hiding.  Then out of nowhere he heard a voice, turned aside to look, and there was a tree burning but not desinigrating. 

John had been sent to the Isle of Patmos to live out the rest of his life.  Imagine the hopes and dreams that were crushed.  Having walked with Jesus in his earthly ministry, having seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle and having heard Jesus speak the Words of life, then to die right before his eyes had to be heart rending.  Then Jesus rose from the dead and restored hope but as they began to spread the good news the opposition was great.

THE TRIALS OF THE APOSTLES

Both the bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs are great resources for knowing what some of the apostles of our faith went through to lay the foundation for the Kingdom of God!

They were imprisoned, beaten, chained, stoned and killed. Some were boiled and some were burned at the stake.  They were persecuted, harassed, chased down like animals and tortured. Through all of this, their faith did not fail.  The key word is through. All of them went through!  In America, we are fortunate to have religious liberty.  They were not so fortunate.  Some may think those were acts of ancient times but get the publication "Voice of the Martyrs," and you'll know these thing are happening this very day!

Our faith has to go beyond our circumstance!  Our faith has to be forever settled in heaven and on earth. Our faith has to be settled in our hearts, that no matter what we go through, even death, our faith remains strong and our expectation that he will deliver us and do far above all we could ask or think will be realized!  We must in the face of our greatest trial, have our greatest faith! We must remain "in the spirit," and pray!  Just as John and Moses out of nowhere heard a voice, so our encounter with God that carries us to our next assignment will come suddenly!  Although this assignment didn't bring deliverance from Patmos, it brought a message of deliverance for the entire body of Christ!

THE INHERITANCE Of JOSHUA

Wow, Joshua is a leader that amazes me. As I've journeyed through the book of Joshua I've seen a fearless relentless leader that believed the Lord, trusted him, obeyed him and above all else valued his presence. When Moses and Joshua went into the tabernacle, Moses left but Joshua lingered behind in the glory. When Moses went up the mountain, Joshua followed just to be near the presence. When Moses sent 12 spies into the promised land only 2 of them believed God- Joshua was one along with Caleb! When Moses died, Joshua was appointed leader by God. Joshua was a faithful leader that walked in faith and obedience and was able to bring the children of Israel all the way into their promises.

After Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land and after all the land was divided, Joshua was able to choose the land he asked for. It says he was able to choose his land according to the Word of the Lord.  That's what the reward of faith is! You get to choose what you want and receive it of the Lord.  In the same way he had told others to survey land and divide it among them, so they gave him his portion and he was able to survey his land and make his choice just as God had promised.  Not everything is appointed. Some things you just ask for and because of your reward God gives it to you.  There are things about which he says, "You have not because you ask not!"  God says "Ask and you will receive whatever you ask for (paraphrased.)  This is the reward for those who desire God's will, make the choice to walk in obedience, have faith through trials and tribulations and become an example others can follow!  Joshua's reward was his choice of land!

The bible says the land was divided at the door of the tabernacle. Joshua as leader gave the tabernacle place in the new land. Joshua is an Old Testament character and therefore did not have the Holy Spirit inside. He could not yet BE the tabernacle because the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. I'm sure that if Joshua could have taken up residence inside the tabernacle he would have.  He couldn't live inside the tabernacle because he was not a priest but as an older man, Joshua chose to give place to the presence of the Lord and the Word of the Lord! I have grown to love this man named Joshua and I think I want to follow his example!

Lord may we all be like Joshua who believed you, followed you, trusted you, obeyed you, believed you in the midst of battles and adversity and all of his days followed your word and gave place to your presence! May we all so fully obey you that we too can choose our inheritance! Amen!

Neglecting or Possessing- A Little Umph for Your Get Up and Go!

NEGLECTING OR POSSESSING

a little "umph" for your "get up and go"

Joshua18:2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? 4 Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts.

IF A STEP IS REQUIRED,  THEN A STEP YOU MUST TAKE

What has God promised you, that he has also revealed to you, that the time to receive that promise is now?

Sometimes we are not actively pursuing what we know we've been promised and what we know God has said it is time for now!

Go is a word of action. It means to take steps. Joshua said go and possess. Before you can possess, you first have to go. Some people just need to take a step and watch God move on their behalf.

We all have heard how Peter walked on water but he never would have done that if he hadn't taken a step.

We've all heard of how Abraham left his homeland to come into the new land God was showing him but that never would have happened if he hadn't taken a step.

Even Joshua would have never led the children of Israel into the promised land if he had refused the leadership role and refused to move forward.

We could go on with example after example of those that took steps in order to receive their promises.  I won't take time to tell the stories of Elijah, Elisha, Ruth, Nehemiah, Ezra, David and many many more! How about the wise men, the shepherds, and even Mary and Joseph?  Each had to take a step of obedience.

One thing is for certain- if a step is required, then a step you must take! 

Joshua had led the children of Israel into the promised land.  They were in the land and had defeated many kings and enemies through the help of God! 

In Joshua 18:2 it says, though that seven tribes had "not yet" received their inheritance.  This is in spite of the fact the possession was right in front of them- right under their nose!

Is there something you know you should have possessed already that you haven't?  Is there something God has promised that he has told you is available now? 

SOME UMPH FOR YOUR GET UP AND GO

Joshua had to confront these seven tribes and inject a  little "umph"  into their "get up and go!"

These Israelites were complacent where they were. They were not taking the steps necessary to inherit what was right under their nose! Joshua asked them why they were neglecting to do what was clearly time to do. Here Joshua told them to go and survey the land, pick out what they wanted, and come back to him and they would divide it!

Maybe some people need to just start moving forward in their plans, survey their land and watch God perform a miracle on thier behalf!

If God spoke the promise to you, then he will surely fulfill it but if he has said the time is now, then it's time to take a step.  Don't get this far, to your appointed time and abandon the promise now!

Go ahead, get up and go, take a step, survey the land and possess your inheritance!  Amen!

YOUR TERRITORY- YOUR SECTION-YOUR SPHERE

YOUR TERRITORY­-YOUR SECTION- YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

Caleb Contrasted With The Tribe of Judah

Caleb was of the Tribe of Judah.  He along with Joshua was one of the only two adults from a previous generation to come into the promised land God had promised Abraham.  All others were under the age of 20 when Israel came close to the promised land and Moses sent 12 spies into the land. 

Ten spies came back with an evil report of giants in the land that caused the heart of the people to melt in fear.  Only Joshua and Caleb out of all of the adults believed.  This unbelief caused the nation of Israel to wander around in the desert until that evil generation died.  Then after Moses died and God made Joshua the new leader, they came into the promised land.

• Caleb was in the tribe of Judah and was given the land he chose.  He had to drive out enemies from that land in order to come into his full inheritance. 

• Caleb was over 80 years old and still had the same strength he had when he was a young man. 

• Caleb never gave up and he came into his full reward.

The rest of the tribe of Judah came into some of their inheritance but they never fully drove out all of the enemy!

Joshua 15:63 The people of Judah couldn't get rid of the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. The Jebusites stayed put, living alongside the people of Judah. They are still living there in Jerusalem. (The Message)

What territory of our heart and life have we ceded? What have we accepted as our lot in life that is not all God envisioned for us?

What mountain have we been promised would move is still standing in our way? It's time to come into ALL the promises of God and to drive out every enemy in the power and authority God has given us! God is not the problem.

This passage doesn't say God couldn't defeat the enemy. No! It says the tribe of Judah couldn't! Apparently they didn't keep trying and relying! Apparently they settled for less! 

YOUR SECTION

Each person is responsible for their own heart and their own SECTION of territory! Caleb took care of ALL the enemies in his section even though he was in the tribe of Judah!

God gives each of us a dream, a vision, promises and plans! It's our responsibility to stay in the fight and keep pressing in for everything he's promised- even if 40 years go by!

If we have that steadfastness and determination we'll come into everything. Even if we stumble along the way like Joshua did in Chapter 7 of the book of Joshua, we are to get back up and keep moving. The plan hasn't changed as long as we keep looking forward.

Let's not look back- even if we fail!  Let's keep moving forward- Let's stay in the fight and let's drive out each and every enemy until we are able to say with Caleb that our children can have the upper AND lower streams of all God has given us! Amen!

Josh 15:13-19  Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a section among the people of Judah, according to God's command. He gave him Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. Arba was the ancestor of Anak.

14-15 Caleb drove out three Anakim from Hebron: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, all descendants of Anak. He marched up from there against the people of Debir. Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.

16-17 Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I'll give my daughter Acsah to him as his wife." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as his wife.
18-19 When she arrived she got him to ask for farmland from her father. As she dismounted from her donkey Caleb asked her, "What would you like?" She said, "Give me a marriage gift. You've given me desert land; Now give me pools of water!" And he gave her the upper and the lower pools. (The Message)

What's your section?  Have you seen everything God has promised you come to pass?  If not, keep pressing in! Keep believing! Keep fighting!  There will come a day when you'll look around and say, "This is what the Lord promised me!"  Not only that, you'll have something to give to those that come after you- maybe natural children, and maybe those you influence!  Whichever the case, you'll pass on a story of faith and a substance of all you believed for! Amen!

If my children (both natural and those I influence) can come to me and say, "Give me fertile ground, with streams of living water, then I've run my race and stayed my course well!" 

May we stay on course and run our race! The Lord is with us! Amen!

AT THE END OF THE DAY

In Joshua 10 we find a pretty intense situation.  Israel was in the promised land and there were battles to fight.  They would find themselves fighting for a nation that had at one time been an enemy but was now in covenant.  The surrounding armies were in fear and everyone had something to say:

·         The remaining enemies had something to say.

·         The new found friends had something to say.

·         God had something to say.

·         Joshua had something to say.

It really doesn't matter who says what! What matters is what God says.

When we find ourselves in a battle- whether fighting for ourselves or fighting for friends, we need only to know what God says.

Once we know what God says, that's what we are to say.  When we do that, we demonstrate the kind of faith God honors.  The child of God that will stand in faith, look the enemy in the face and fight the good fight in confidence will see the hand of God and the power of God come to their defense.

For Joshua, the sun stood still at his command!

There was no day like that before and no day like that after that day!  

Even the calendar has changed because of that day! 

What changes are we affecting by standing on God's word?

THE ENEMY ARMIES SAID WHAT?

The kings of the surrounding enemy armies spoke in fear among each other, planning and conspiring how they could defeat the Gibeonites.  This obligated Israel to protect Gibeon as if they were one nation.

These kings spoke!  What came out of their mouth was an evil yet futile plan to attack Gibeon and preserve themselves!

Joshua 10:3,4 Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4-Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel......5- Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

·         They said they would smite Gibeon.

·         They said it alone and they said it together.

·         The defeat of Gibeon, was spoken from the mouth of the kings.

Sometimes what the enemy, being the devil, says will come into your ears. When the talk comes into our ears, we just need to call upon the name of the Lord!

THE GIBEONITES SAID WHAT?

Joshua was the leader of the army of Israel and this nation had made peace with Israel.  The Gibeonites called on Joshua for help according to covenant!

Joshua 10:6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

Joshua means Savior and surely he would be that to the Gibeonites.

When we call on our savior he comes running.  When the Gibeonites called on Joshua, he came running, bringing ALL the armies with him.

Joshua 10:7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

GOD SAID WHAT?

Here's what God said as Joshua stepped out to help their new friends:

Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

·         God says fear not!

·         God says he's already delivered us!

·         God says he will fully defeat our enemies and really, already has!

·         God says he will not do a partial work!

WHO SAID WHAT AND WHO DID WHAT?

It doesn't matter who said what when God has spoken. Only what God says matters.  God said he had delivered them and that's what happened!

Joshua 10:10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11-And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

JOSHUA SAID WHAT?

Joshua said, "Sun stand still" 

God had said, "There shall not be a man standing!"

Joshua held God to his word.  It says he spoke to the Lord but commanded the sun to stand still. 

God will stop at no lengths to bring his Word fully to pass even if he has to stop time. 

Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon 13-And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 14- And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

When we line up our mouth, in faith with what God has said, God will listen to our voice.  Joshua was a man of faith. He had full confidence in God's ability to do what he said and was so confident he was willing to speak to the Lord and command creation.  That reminds me of a scripture:

Isaiah 45:11  Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “ Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons;

And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.

God wants us to know that he will honor his Word above his name.  God has given us dominion and the ability to speak in his name!

·         He has said we could speak to mountains.

·         He has said we could ask anything in his name.

·         He has said, "Whatever we ask in prayer believing, we receive.

·         He has said we will have what we say!

·         He is looking to someone that will confidently, in faith, believe him, even in the face of great battles.

The day was over. The night was upon them. There were enemies still standing yet God had said, "There will not be a man standing before you!"

Have you ever heard the saying, "At the end of the day?"

Well at the end of the day, it didn't matter who said what; it only mattered what God and Joshua said.  God is looking for those who will believe him, and stand in faith in what he's said.  Then concerning the work of his hands, we can command and God will honor his word!

At the end of the day, God's word came to pass!

Some of us may want to give up before the end of the day but don't give up!

Keep fighting and keep speaking and you'll see, at the end of the day, God's word is true!

AT THE END OF THE DAY

At the end of the day, the sun stood still.  At the end of the day, God's word was true! At the end of the day, they could all look back and say, "Who said what?" 

We can know for certain that it doesn't matter what the enemy said - it only mattered what God said! 

What is God saying to you concerning things you're going through.  Whatever God has said, that he will do.  Hang onto his promises and stand in faith.

I wonder what the enemies said..... AT THE END OF THE DAY!

THROUGH THE ROOF

THROUGH THE ROOF


My meditations on a sermon preached by Bishop Howard Bass of The Destiny Center:

Jesus, sitting in a room, maybe even standing- teaching, ministering under the anointing, doing what he's always done before.  In his presence are the hungry and the thirsty, pressing into him for their every need, their every desire, hearing a sound from his mouth and feeling the deepest parts of their every longing met. 

Also around him are the religious, the deceptive and all of those with motives to corner him and trap him.  One wrong word and they've got him!  They fill every part of the room. There's standing room only and even those standing are pressing against one another- each trying to move closer inching in for every available space and slowly filling it, ensuring they are the ones to receive what they came for.

Along come four men, carrying a friend- a friend that once moved with ease and agility but is now paralyzed,  his paralysis from injury keeping him from moving forward.  He wants to get up but somehow he can't. He is blocked. He is dysfunctional.  His brain says yes but his body says no and so there he is, collapsed into the only place he has found for himself- his bed!   There he lies day by day on his bed with no energy, no ability and no will.  Outside there is also a press at every window and doorway- crowds and lines of people pressing each other on every side and blocking the way.  No one can get in and no one wants to get out!  Now what?  His friends have brought him this far through the streets and to the house just to have their dreams crushed?  No!  Their expectation is to see their friend get up.  Here is the man that can help!  Here is their only hope!  They've come this far¸ carrying their friend, knowing they would be able to walk in as four men carrying another but walk out as 5 friends, all on their feet together!  They will not be stopped.  They look around for another answer.  One of them gazes up and gives voice to the thought that passes through his mind, "What about the roof." There's no one blocking the passage to the roof.  No one cares.  Everyone is there for themselves- to each his own!  There's no answer on the roof.  The roof has no entrance.  The roof is nothing more than a blockage to keep the rain out.  The roof is a covering for the place they want to be.  The roof is a blockage, not a passage.  No one wants to go to the roof.  They can't hear the master through the roof and they can't find a good place to rest on the roof that gets them close to the master that can fill their every longing.  The friends pick up the stretcher once again and head for the passage and when they make it to the roof- tired, panting, sweating and breathless, they lay the friend beside them, ensuring his safety and they begin to dig.  They tear into the surface, knowing that if there is no passage, they'll make one.  They will not be denied what they came for even if it means they do the unthinkable- dig through the construction of another man's house, but it's worth the risk.  It's the only way.  All other ways have been exhausted.  They may be accused of vandalism.  They may be met with opposition.  Surely there  will be accusation and wrong assumptions but it's their only hope and their expectations are high.  They know he has what they need if they can only get beside him.  A hole in the roof can be tended to but they need answers and they need them now!  They dig and dig and dig and suddenly they see glimpses of the inside.  Their calculations are confirmed.  The master is just below.   Having carefully chosen their position they begin to clear the way and they lower their friend, right in front of the master.  The entire atmosphere changes as the master sets eyes on the scene in front of him.  The one who changes has been changed.  His plans have changed.  His eyes and thoughts have been redirected to this team of  5 rebels who refuse to be denied.  Those competing for position are angered and appalled.  They are burning with envy and even hatred.  They begin to devise plans of what they will say.  Others are amazed and just stare in awe of the scene that is playing out before their eyes.  The master, seeing the expectation and faith of these men begins to address the one on the stretcher.  He explains his condition is not because of sin.  He says, "Your sins are forgiven you. Stop thinking that way!"  The religious men with only their own selfish desire for position, power, authority and recognition say in their minds but not out loud, "What right does he have to say this! How can he forgive sins. He is blaspheming!"  They're glad they've finally caught him in something they can hold against him.  The master hears their thoughts- not their words.  He knows by the Spirit what they are thinking.  The master brings peace yet these men want to strive.  The man on the stretcher is sincere in his search yet these men are deceptive and self seeking, even self exalting and surely self­-preserving.  Instead of arguing, the master begins to demonstrate.  He doesn't demonstrate with a magic wand or even his hands but he demonstrates with  the power of his words and with authority!  He says, "So you may know the son of man has power and authority to forgive," and he says to the paralytic, "Arise and walk.  Take up your bed and go your way!"  With just one Word spoken from the master, the brain and body begin to function again!  The man who was stuck in his place can move again!  That which was blocking him and had been stopping him no longer had any power over him.  The expectations of the friends were not disappointed.  The ones willing to crawl, carry a load with and of their friend, and peel their way through the roof and make space in a place that had no space, changed everything.  They redirected the attention of the master, stirred up even more envy and anger among the haters, stunned the onlookers and ignited the anointing of the one with the answers- and saw him do what he had never done before!  Everything in their world changed in a moment!  They got what they came for and went forward, not only having received all they came for but became a walking talking bible for generations to come!"  Expectation that changed an atmosphere and was not disappointed!"  (Amen, my morning meditation of a sermon delivered yesterday by Howard Bass- preaching from Mark 2)

FORWARD MOTION: THERE'S BOOTY JUST AHEAD!

THERE'S BOOTY JUST AHEAD

Joshua 8:1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves....

FORWARD MOTION

God told Joshua here NOT to be discouraged.  He told him to keep moving forward.  He even promised great plunder just ahead.

This promised came after what some may have perceived as failure.  There may have been discouragement and a temptation to give up in Joshua's mind.  God revealed the problem to Joshua and told him to move on!

Discouragement and fear are the enemies of forward motion.  While fear is paralyzing, discouragement is weakening and disheartening.  Fear stops you in your tracks because you're afraid of the future based on the past. Discouraging words deprive you of the will to move on.  Discouragement is usually spoken from the mouth of another, however you can also discourage yourself.  On the other hand you can encourage yourself as David did after a failure at Ziklag.  (He encouraged himself in the Lord.) We have to stop listening to outside and inside voices that bring discouragement and cast down everything spoken into our ears that isn't good, edifying, encouraging and uplifting.  If what you're hearing isn't edifying or encouraging you to come up higher, and to move on further, it's not God!   If what you're hearing is condemning, discouraging and stopping you, the words aren't from God!  It's time we know who we're listening to!

GOD SAYS TO TRY AGAIN! DON'T GIVE UP!

Joshua 8:1b-Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.

Even though they had just experienced a failure God said to get up and try again!

THE CALL TO VICTORY WAS ALIVE AND WELL

The call to victory was not nullified by one defeat.  The call was still there.  The best thing to do if you've fallen off a bicycle is to get up and try again.  You learn what you did before that may have caused you to fall and you try again.  The more you try, the better you become at riding.  Eventually you become the master of the bicycle!

This time God said the same thing he said at Jericho, "I HAVE DELIVERED INTO YOUR HANDS THE KING OF AI, HIS PEOPLE, HIS CITY AND HIS LAND!"

THE KEY TO FUTURE VICTORY IS FORWARD MOTION

Joshua 8:1c "And you shall do to AI and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves.

Wow! Did he say, "It's spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves?"   If Joshua had refused to go, and insisted in wallowing in defeat, he would not have experienced the victories in the future.  You shall take is a statement about the future!  Think about it- if you refuse to walk forward, you never get to what's just ahead.  If you stay in yesterday, you will never experience today or tomorrow.  Today and this moment lasts only a moment but there is a future just ahead!  We can't stop!  We must try again! We must keep going! The call of God to a victorious life in the land of promises does not go away just because there's a failure in the journey of life.  It's through those failures that we grow and know and become stronger.  The message here is to deal with what needs to be dealt with, put the past behind you and move on.  Move on in the promised land.  There will be victories and disappointments in this road called life but move forward and don't lose heart.

Forward motion is key!  Let the past be the past at last but let the God of forward motion lead you to your victorious future- the booty is just ahead!