Rev 14:14-20 Two Harvests

Rev 14:14-20 NIV
For a couple of decades, every July, we traveled north to Upper Peninsula of Michigan to make hay. It was not exactly my idea of how to spend a vacation; but, family needed help. In good years the farmers get to harvest two crops. The first harvest, beginning around the 4th of July, is usually the best.

John's vision includes two harvests, as well. The first is of those who are found righteous. The second harvest is of grapes that grow from the vine of the earth. These grapes are thrown into the great winepress of God's wrath and from that winepress, that is outside the city of God, flows blood.

Two harvests; one for the those found righteous through Jesus the Christ, the other for those who have followed in the ways of the world.

In which harvest will you be gathered?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 14 - Lord, Save Me!

"Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matt 14:28-31 NRSV)

Jesus heals the sick; feeds five thousand men plus women and children; and walks on water. I'm thinking that if one didn't believe that he is the Son of God after witnessing all that, there may have been a problem with their vision as well as their faith. 

Peter has witnessed all this and so wants to walk on the water, too. He begins, fully trusting in the LORD. But, then his faith waivers and he begins to sink. How many times do we begin a venture, trusting that God is with us? But, then we become frightened. Maybe the project is too big, the obstacles too many, and rather than to keep our trust in the LORD we begin to trust our own weakness; falling fast and hard. This is what usually happens when we trust our own abilities or inabilities over the power and ability of almighty God. We fall. We begin to sink. We so not have the power to save ourselves and so we cry out to the LORD "Lord, save me!" He will save. Have faith.

Have faith, that the LORD is with you, at all times and in all places so that you might stand. "Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong." (1 Corinth 16:13)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 14 - Judgment and Mercy

     On that day... On the Day of the LORD... there will be both judgment and mercy. It will be an awesome day for those who worship the LORD. It will not be so good for those who reject Him. It will be a day of destruction, but it will also be a day to rejoice in the LORD.
     I pray often (daily) for the lost. Their suffering and pain is so extreme. Yet, there is nothing that I can do to help them; except, to pray for them and continue to encourage them to turn the LORD for He is our only Help and Salvation.
      Do not think that because all is not perfect in the world; that He does not exist. He is there with you. He sees all that we do; whether we worship and serve in His Way or not. We continue to try to assist those who are suffering. We hope that their hearts will be opened so that they might receive the love of God and truly live. Yet, many will not and we grieve. It is most grievous to witness the suffering that exists because hard hearts will not let the love of God live in or through them.
     On the Day of the LORD there will be both judgment and mercy. May God be merciful to you and grant you His peace.

God's peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 13 - Prophecy Dead?

     “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.

     “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive." (Zech 13:2-4 NIV)
    
     So, is the gift of prophecy a gift that is received today? Absolutely! I remember years ago being told that prophecy is not a gift for new covenant people. It died when the first disciples died. They based (and some still do) that assumption on scriptures like this one that we find in Zechariah. But, this scripture refers not to prophets that the LORD has called. It refers to false prophets. It refers to prophets who not only call on false idols, but those who prophecy falsely in the LORD's name. I am sorry to say that both abound today. But, that does not negate the fact that God still calls prophets. They are around for the benefit of the people. They are around to remind us of the LORD's will and of the Way in which we should be going.
     In today's culture we often think of a prophet of someone who predicts the future. But, it is not normal for a prophet of God to do that. A prophet's message usually includes the warning of what will happen if we do not worship the one true God and only Him; if we do not follow in His Way.  Thankfully, many of the prophets of old (as well as today), also included a promise to those who would gift thanks to and glorify God before all others.
     I find it quite sad that so many who profess to be Christian today are running around supporting false prophets; so many who are seeking a prediction of their future; seeking a word from the dead; rather than seeking the will of God and standing on God's promises of eternal life in His Kingdom for all who believe. May God bless you with that the reassurance that He is with you. He will provide for you. He will keep you in His Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Today's blog came easy as yesterday's Bible Study at Zion related to the gift of prophecy, as well as the gift of tongues. We had an excellent discussion on 1 Corinthians 14. Join us next Wednesday at 9 a.m., if you are able, for chapter 15 and the resurrection of the dead. BTW - haven't been able to figure out why anyone would seek guidance from supposedly dead spirits when they can seek it from God who sees all and knows all; and, has already provided His Word.

Hosea 14 - Repent and Be Blessed

This last chapter in Hosea has a little different tone than the preceding. The preceding chapters were mainly warnings: fall away and suffer the consequences. Today we hear that all who go to the LORD with repentant hearts will be blessed; will be forgiven.

God does not wish for any of us to be separated from Him and from His love. He calls us to turn again (repent) to Him so that we might be made whole.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 14 - Turn And Be Saved

 ^"Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!" (Ezekiel 14:6 NIV)

It did not matter who they were, the LORD warned the people that he would cut them off from Him if they continued in their idolatry. Over and over again, idolatry is the issue. The prophets continually warn against idolatry; they warn against worshipping anyone and anything other than the LORD, God. Will they ever learn? Will we?

God's whole point to warning the people and cutting them off is so that they and we will return to Him with our whole hearts and minds. He does not desire that anyone be separated from Him. That desire is in the hearts of mankind, as we are so determined to set up our own gods, in our image, rather than the other way around. God promises that those who repent of this sin; that those who return and worship Him; those who would put their trust in Him, will be saved.

"They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD." (Ezekiel 14:11)

May God bless you with great faith.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 2 - Walk in the Light of the LORD

 "Let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isaiah 2:5b NIV)

We await the day when the LORD will come in the splendor of His majesty. "There will be no more war. The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.. (vs 11) What a day that will be! The earth will tremble. The people will tremble. We will finally realize the fruitlessness of worshipping silver and gold, the work of our own hands, and every knee will bow in recognition of the LORD, God, Almighty.

Isaiah's sermon is a hard one for many to hear. All is not right in the world. There is much trouble on every side; mostly caused by greed or jealousy, caused by desiring what we cannot have. Scripture tells us that Satan, the oppressor, was cast down to the earth. Do you remember why? Isaiah 14:12-14 says: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.""  Satan wanted not just to be like God. He wanted to be God. He wanted to be worshipped. There is a little of the devil in all of us, it seems. He sneaks out (or in), when we're not looking, trying to convince us that we are worthy of honor and glory. Sometimes, we believe him. Well, not sometimes, often. We often put ourselves before the LORD, our Creator and Redeemer. And, when we recognize the sin that dwells within us, it should be enough of a reason to go before the LORD, seeking His mercy and grace often, like daily, like a few times a day?

There is only one God and the day will come when all people will have no choice, but to recognize Him as the one true God. Those who desire and/or think that they are gods and above God, will be humbled and their pride brought low as He shows Himself to all people in the full splendor of His majesty. I'm just thinking it would be a whole lot easier on everyone if we could all bow before Him now and "walk in the light of the LORD." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. A warning... do not fall prey to the temptation to glorify the works of your own hands; but give all to the glory of God.

Psalm 95 - God Was Angry

I wonder how many "Christians" know the story of the Israelites escape from Egypt.  If they have heard it, did they really listen?  I think we like to forget the part that the Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years because God was angry with them for not trusting Him. They were not wandering around just because they were lost.  Well, I guess they were lost in a sense because they did not trust nor listen to God. 

God was angry!  How many of you, does that surprise?  Isn't God suppose to be an all loving, all giving, just an even-tempered, all gracious God.  Indeed, He is all loving.  But, scripture also tells us that God can be angry when His children refuse to listen to Him, refuse to trust Him, refuse to follow in the way He has led them.  Indeed, He is quick to forgive all who turn to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  But, he is not overjoyed knowing that there are those who would forsake Him or His Son who was willing to die so that all people might be reconciled to Him in the promised land, the Kingdom.  Make no mistake, when you sin and willfully follow in the ways that would lead you away from the kingdom of God, you are separating yourself from God and the promised land.  God wants you to be reconciled to Him in His Kingdom.  Why would He be happy if you chose another way and rejected the promised gift?

The Israelites feared entering into the promised land in the way that God would have them go.  They feared and chose another way.  They rejected God's full promise to them, at least in the way that He would give it to them.  And... God was angry. The consequence was to wander around outside the promised land for forty more years. For sure God was with them as they continued their journey through the wilderness.  And... God is with you.  You have no need to fear following in the way that God has prepared for you through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're having problems remembering the story, read again the story of how the Israelites decided, out of fear, that they would not enter the promised land as God directed them. It can be found in Numbers 13 and 14.