We went to Bible study last night… between having Zoe 5 months ago and my second job, neither Barry or myself have either been able to go for quite a while but last week we sat down and made a plan and faithful church-and-Bible-study attendance/participation was part of the deal. So, we went.
Back up a bit.
The past few weeks have been pretty trying to say the least. It seemed as though things were good, then people started testing us in various forms. Now, lately, it’s only gotten worse. Becoming so distant to my own church, ministry, and fellowship I had begun to actually FEEL my spirit weakening, becoming thirsty, needing Him. My strength started to break and my patience cracked under all the pressure. I’ve started reacting to people who are testing me in the same negative ways they come at me. Not good. Nooooooot good, folks.
Not to go into detail because the details aren’t really important … these people are only pushing Barry and I closer toward our destiny so little do they know, they “control” NOTHING and they “change” NOTHING in our lives. Anything that comes our way, GOD has allowed, including their PETTINESS… all for good reason. I had lost sight of that through my frustration and am SO glad God brought me back to my senses through the wisdom of our wonderful, anointed Pastor. Rather than fuming about everything that I would love to say (bursting people’s bubbles used to be a much-enjoyed hobby of mine, but I’m NEVER going to be that person regardless of how people do me!) I am simply going to say THANK YOU for giving us the motivation we needed to get rid of our apathy and get back on the grind to achieving our DREAMS – the goals we’ve set through the grace of God and the vision of the plan He’s given us!
Anyway, alllllll that being said, here’s the recap of the lesson last night for those who wish to read on… it is the summary of Revelation and I thank God that we were present for it because it’s exactly the REVELATION that we were seeking!! God has so many better things in store for us once this season has passed; SO STAY TUNED, ‘CAUSE THERE’S MORE TO SEE!!! lol
As the confirmation of Revelation being John’s personal testimony, he says “And I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel showing me these things.” -Revelation 22:8 (MKJV) This tells us that this was not a dream or a vision. He saw these things with his own eyes, heard these things with his own ears so that he could bear witness to what he personally knew to be the truth as revealed to him by the spirit… Revelation was written to the seven churches as a cry out to those who are saved by the blood of the lamb that the WORLD needs the help of God’s chosen… but God can’t use us until we’ve straightened ourselves out first.
Ever heard the saying, “You can’t help anybody else if you can’t help yourself.”? That’s kinda what this means. If you still have JEALOUSY in your heart, you can’t help the world… because you don’t want to help somebody you are jealous of. If you still have HATRED in your heart, you can’t help the world… because you don’t want to help somebody you hate. If you are still SPIRITUALLY APATHETIC, you can’t help the world… because you are neither hot nor cold, but “sometimey” in your spirit and well, you can’t just help the world “sometimes.” If you still have STRIFE in your heart, you can’t help the world… because you can’t help the world on your own terms and you can’t compete with other people on the same team as you! Waywardness is not what God needs from His people – to say that you want the success of God’s Kingdom but that you only want the success of God’s Kingdom if YOU can be leader of the choir… well, that’s strife.
Who has more wrong with them in their heart – the drug addict/alcoholic who enters the church high/drunk seeking the help that even in his drunkenness he knows that Jesus can only provide, or the uppity “church folk” who whisper of how ashamed he should be to stand in that state in the house of the Lord? Think about it. Judgment belongs to the Lord. However, love and compassion is what He has commanded from YOU.
SIDENOTE: BUSINESS does not exempt you from this requirement. Period.
Back on track… John writes this letter to the churches (and keep in mind that WE are the church, not a building or a group of us – each Christian is a part of Christ’s church) urging them to GET IT TOGETHER for the sake of the lost because if WE who are knowledgeable about God’s expectations can’t even clean up ourselves, then we are among the lost! You can hide your shortcomings from the world and leave the world thinking you are something that you’re not (*read that sentence again – it could do you a world of good… pun fully intended lol*) but you cannot hide from God. He knows the things you’ve claimed to quit, but haven’t. He knows the things you’ve claimed you don’t do, but do. He knows the prayers you’ve promised others without intention. He knows every FAKE and LYING element of every fiber of your being and you can’t hide from HIS judgment. John’s reason for this letter to the churches was to warn them NOT to get caught up in, or spotted, by the sin in the world which soooooo many of them (then and still now) had already fallen into while still “posing” as Christians in the church and still believing they had it all together – or acting that way anyway!!
After greeting and warning them, John goes on to explain to them what is going to happen in the world as a result of sin (aspects of God’s judgment – revealed through the seven seals and the seven trumpets):
- Wars and rumors of wars
- Famine in a time of plenty… SIDENOTE: Did you know that 4,000 children ages 12 and under die of hunger in the US every year? Hunger… in the US.
- Mass death… SIDENOTE: Holocaust, tsunamis, 9-11, Katrina, etc.
- Disease… SIDENOTE: Did you know that 1,700 people die every day as a result of complications from the AIDS virus? Did you know that 9,000 people die every day as a result of addictions to drugs and/or alcohol?
John also talks about a vast pollution of the earth… so massive, in fact, that 1/3 of the earth becomes unable to sustain life. He then moves on to the creature deemed the “antichrist” – a servant of Satan who rises to power using miraculous signs and economic threats to turn believers away from loyalty to Christ by convincing them that he will save them. I’ve run out of time as I have to finish getting everyone ready to leave for school, daycare, and work… I suppose my main emphasis is simply to GET IT TOGETHER. Too many, um, so-called “Christians” are doing their good works for self-gratification and don’t stand to glorify God through their lives and the example they set as representatives of Him. Your STATUS in the world doesn’t impress God. Some of the wealthiest and most “successful” people are just as lost as they could be. The sad thing is when you can hop into a relaxing shower in your custom bathroom then cover yourself with expensive fragrance, throw on a $300 shirt and think that covers up the dirt. Some things just aren’t washable without the blood of the lamb.
Have a blessed day… and don’t just ACT like a Christian. Be one.
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