Rev 13:1-10 Beast of the Sea and Idolatry

Rev 13:1-10 NIV
If you are a Christian, expect persecution. The dragon, who is Satan, has been exiled to the earth and he is not happy. He will give authority to the beast who comes out of the sea to rule the nations and make war against God's people. Anyone who will not fall down and worship the beast will be persecuted. It will not be easy. It is not easy. With faithful patience and endurance we are to reject all forms of idolatry, whether they are to things that might bring us earthly pleasures or people in power. God is with you. But, do not be deceived. Do not think that this is something that all will just happen in the future for the devil is also very near to you. He will use all means to detract you from your relationship with God our Father and Creator. He is busy, very busy, trying to break your relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Do not succumb and fall down and worship anything or anyone other that our Father, our Saviour, our Protector.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 12 At War With Satan

Revelation 12 NIV
A great war breaks out in this vision of John between Michael's legion of angels and the dragon and his angels. Michael prevails and the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil or Satan, is hurled to the earth. Satan could not win against the angels of God so he attacks the people of God. But, neither can he prevail against God's chosen people. By the blood of the lamb, Satan and by the word of God that old serpent, the devil, will be defeated. He will not prevail. No evil can prevail against the Word of God. No evil can prevail over the blood of the lamb, who is Jesus the Christ.

Take heart, no matter how grim some of these visions may appear for humankind; they are good news for the Kingdom of God; for all who love our Lord and King and long to be with him forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Revelation 2:8-11 Synagogue of Satan

Revelation 2:8-11 NIV
There were "fake" Jews in the church in Smyrna even as there are "fake" Christians in the church today. In John's vision, Jesus warned the church in Smyrna about them. There were some within the church who said they were  Jews; but, were not. They belonged to the synagogue of Satan. Oh, no, they probably did not worship Satan outright. Simply "pretending" to worship God makes them followers of Satan. Either you are for Jesus or you are not. There is no in between.

Be aware of those who say they are Christian and are not. They will slander the name of Jesus and all who follow in his way. They will cause much dissension and make every attempt to distract the faithful from proclaiming the gospel. But, they will not prevail.

Even though we are persecuted for his name's sake, we have assurance that all who are faithful, even to the point of death, will be victorious and not suffer at all by the second death.

May God grant that we will always be faithful to Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 11 False Prophets

2 Corinthians 11 NIV
Do not be deceived by false apostles. There are many who preach a different Jesus than the one whom Paul preaches and teaches. There are many who would preach a different gospel today, as well. Beware, of those with slick tongues, but have very little knowledge. The best way that I have found to know whether someone is an apostle of Christ or a deceiver of Satan is to know scripture. Read your Bibles. Hear the Word of God speak to you through the written word. If what someone tells you cannot be supported by scripture then toss that notion away. It is not for you.

One of the biggest lies that I hear today is preached by those who would teach that if we do this or that, God will give us everything we want. We will be prosperous. Paul was willing to endure hardship; others were willing to give of their own abundance, in order to make it possible for neighboring communities to hear the proclamation of Jesus and his kingdom. God does not promise that we will be wealthy in this world if we follow all the rules and regulations that our little minds can contrive. He does; however, promise us peace of heart and mind even while we are in the midst of persecution for proclaiming the truth.

I was reminded by our Sunday School this past Sunday that there is only one reason to want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus into his Kingdom, and that is to be with Jesus. If a preacher is preaching some other reason or goal than Jesus, who is the Kingdom, then run. No, maybe a better alternative to running is to do what St. Paul did. Speak the truth. Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God for all who would believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 2:1-11 Division Pleases Satan

2 Corinthians 2:1-11
St. Paul urges the church at Corinth to forgive the one who has had to be confronted for their sin. They must, he says, in order that Satan might not outwit them. Forgiveness reconciles us to one another and to God in Christ. Satan is not so keen on us working together for the sake of Christ. His aim is to divide us; to turn us against one another; to keep us from proclaiming the gospel.

Sin causes separation and division. Division switches our focus to things other than the love of God in Christ Jesus. May God help us to forgive our neighbors, our brothers and sisters in Christ that the mission of the church be not hampered by the schemes of the devil.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 22:1-6 Too Many Witnesses

Luke 22:1-6 NIV
Yep, the less witnesses the better if you're planning on doing something that Satan is encouraging you to do. That would be the way to go. The chief priests, the teachers of the law, even Judas did not want too many witnesses for about what they were about to do to Jesus. They wanted to get rid of Jesus, but the people loved him. They didn't want the people turning against them, So, they needed a plan on how to get rid of him without anyone figuring out that they were setting him up.

The moral of the story: Beware of joining any group that thinks the way to do things is to get rid of their enemies when there are no witnesses.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 8:22-38 Get Behind Me Satan!

"Get behind me, Satan!"

I love reading the stories about some of the events in Jesus' life. He can be so sweet! When I read some of these stories, I cannot help but wonder what people would do if I acted like that.

For example: a blind man is brought to him for healing and what does do? He spits on the man's eyes. Yep, I can already see what would happen if I spit on some one's eyes.

Then, there is the story about how after predicting his persecution and death and Peter rebukes him for talking like that. What is Jesus' reply?  "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mark 8:33 NIV) Can the reaction if you talked to someone like that? I confess, I have. It does not make for warm and fuzzy relationships. But, still I would probably do it again if the occasion called for it.

Jesus' words and actions are not always what we expect. We expect him to be the most generous, indulgent person ever - never offending anyone. The fact is that he offended a lot of people. He offended them so much he ended up on the cross.

But, I find, that often, the most offensive of all of Jesus' words, to many, are the words he used when "... he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

Tough words, indeed, to swallow for those who choose to gain the world; who are ashamed to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 3:7-35 House Divided

Will demons kick out demons?

As the people flocked to Jesus and were healed and exorcised of their demons, they recognized who this Jesus was. They would cry out: "You are the Son of God." (Mark 3:11)  Jesus has the authority to remove demons. He also gave this authority over demons to his twelve disciples.

Yet, the teachers of the law accuse him of being possessed himself. They say, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house." (Mark 3:22-27)

Why indeed would Satan destroy his own house? It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that demons fall and run. (see vs. 28) Jesus has been anointed by this Spirit. His disciples, also have been given authority, in the Spirit. What is evil is all around us. Do you stand in the Spirit so that the evil will fall or run? Or do you accept it as something that is just because it is? The devil has no power over us; the demons have none; except that we allow evil to enter into our lives by denying the power of God.

A house divided cannot stand. Is your house divided between God and Satan? Do you allow God into some parts of your life and Satan into other? Stand, in the name of Jesus, who is the Son of God, before all evil that threatens you and your house.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 1:9-13 The Wilderness Follows Baptism

 "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." (Mark 1:9-13 NIV)

Immediately following his baptism; immediately after being anointed by the Holy Spirit; Jesus is sent by that same Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He is there for forty days.

During my seventeen years of public ministry this is what I have observed most often: Following baptism or affirmation of baptism by people of consenting age; they disappear into the wilderness, often never to return. When and if they do return, it is usually only for a special holy day once or twice a year or even every other year. Sometimes they will come for someone else's baptism or maybe for a wedding or funeral. I have tried to warn them in these latter years that with the anointing of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they, too, will be tested by Satan. The devil will not be happy that they have received this sacred gift from God. But, my warnings usually fall on deaf ears - ears that do not hear. They simply do not get that becoming a child of God is about more than getting to heaven when they die. The devil gets it; but, we do not.

We are anointed at our baptisms with the Holy Spirit for very good reasons. One being; that we will need the Spirit with us as we journey through the wilderness. We also cannot forget that it was the Spirit that sent Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted in the first place. The journey through the wilderness; the temptations that will come; are the Spirit's way of preparing us for our entire life's journey as children of God; for our ministry as followers of Jesus. Remember, that Jesus' ministry did not begin until after he was baptized and after he was tempted in the wilderness.

Baptism is not just a mere ritual by which we gain entrance into the church. Do not take it lightly. As we become children of God, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. That will include journeying through the wilderness; being tempted by Satan; ministering to others; actually worshipping, loving, and serving our Father in heaven; doing His will. But, do not fear, for you have been anointed by the Holy Spirit. God will be with you on your journey.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 42 - The Light Is With You, Even Now

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison   
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (Isa 42:6-7 NIV)

Isaiah prophesied the release of God's people from captivity. This prophecy relates not just to release of the Israelites, but all whom He loves. For generations, God's faithful people waited for this coming Messiah. According to the New Testament, the prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ.

^"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:25-29)

 

A light for the Gentiles has come. Jesus Christ is that light. He is our way. He is our truth. He is our life. (John 24:6) He was, He is, and He is to come. He is with us now. He is with us always. Follow in the way that the light reveals to you so that you might live life and live it abundantly.

 

I find it most uncomfortable when I hear people talking about the light which we are to follow to the Kingdom of God after we die physical deaths. I am uncomfortable with unbelievers who come back from near death experiences, having seen a light, proclaiming that there are many paths to the Kingdom. As I remember the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians in his second letter to them (vs 14) "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."  We must ask ourselves, was this a trick of evil one? Will the light really be revealed to us only after we die physical deaths?

 

St. Paul died a spiritual death in his encounter with Jesus. He died to self on the road that day so that Christ might live in him. He became blind so that His eyes could be opened to see the true light. Once having seen the light, St. Paul was no longer concerned with his death. He was willing to sacrifice his whole life so that he could proclaim the light that reveals the path to the Kingdom of God. That light is Jesus the Christ.

 

The light has come into the world. You do not have to wait until you die physical deaths to see the light and to to follow in His way. In fact, it would be foolhardy to think that you can wait until after death to know the light that has come into this world. I think there is something key to remember in those words: "Light has come into the world." St. John wrote (John 3:19) "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." The light has come into the world. Is there something better in this world that we would seek first something other than the light in the here and now?

 

Simeon saw the light, who is Jesus the Christ, before he died. Once seeing it, Simeon was ready to die. He was prepared to die in peace.

 

May God open our eyes to see the light of Jesus who has come into the world to shine upon and for and within us.

 

God's Peace - Pr.

Isaiah 14 - The Fallen Morning Star

Hate to disappoint you all this morning, but I need to hit the road to do a long distance hospital visit so don't have the time to research chapter 14 as well as I would like to. Maybe, you would like to?

Verses 12 through 15, in particular, leaves us with a question. Who, exactly, is this "morning star, son of the dawn" that has fallen from heaven?

"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.”
But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,to the depths of the pit." (NIV)

First choice is the king of Babylon is the fallen morning star, as in our previous chapter that is what is being prophecied. We need to take a look at these verses in context.

Second choice would be Satan. These would be some of the verses that some Christians traditionally use to support the concept of the fallen angel.

Third choice; although, not a good one... would be the one that some use to deny the deity of the Christ and that is that the morning star refers to Jesus the Christ. See 2 Peter 1:19, Rev 2: 28, and Rev 22:16. These all refer to the Messiah as the morning star. However, we need to remember that the evil one is quite capable of disguising himself as the angel of light. "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Cor 11:14)

Overall, it is difficult for me not to see the fall of Satan in this reading, mainly because this is what has been engrained in me from early years. Satan, the anti-Christ's, desire is to be seated above the throne of God. On the other hand, this prophecy can be legitimately said to have been fulfilled with the fall of the last king of the Babylonian empire,  Belshazzar. (See Daniel 5 for his fall). I personally am thinking that this prophecy could well have two meaning - two fulfillments.

The good news here in this chapter is that God's ways will not be thwarted. He will have compassion and He will save His people and that His people (according to this prophecy is Israel) will be united in peace with foreigners (this I am reading as you and me - all who believe in salvation through Jesus the Christ).

Got to get moving! Have a blessed day!

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.

Job 2 - Curse God and Die

All that he owns has been taken from him, even his children.  Satan is still not happy.  He wants to test him even more and God gives him permission to inflict Job's flesh - his health.

Job is miserable to say the least; yet, he continues to praise God.  His wife tells him he ought to "Curse God and die."  (vs. 9)  Essentially she is telling him that it is better to get it over with - curse God because God deserves to be cursed because of the misery He has brought upon you.  Curse God, so that he will take your life and put you out of your misery.

But, Job will not.  Instead he says: "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak.  Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Shall we, indeed?  Most of you have probably heard of the "prosperity gospel."  That is a gospel that says if you do this or that or give this organization money or... or...  God will bless you with everything you every wanted.  Hog wash!  You cannot earn God's blessings.  God give and he takes away.  God is God and He gets to do what He wants- He gets to give what He wants to give.  You cannot manipulate God into doing what you want or giving you what you want.  There will be times that you are tested and/or refined with fire.  That's just the way it is.  If it wasn't, would Jesus have had to face those temptations Satan brought before him?  Would Jesus have had to suffer excruciating pain as he hung on a cross until he died? 

I've been told from time to time, if your God allows these kinds of things then I don't want your God.  Guess what!  There is only one God!  You either worship Him or not.  If bad things happen you don't get to disown God.  Well, I guess you can if you want.  But, it doesn't make God less God. 

The thing about God is that He is just that - God.  And... He desires to be in relationship with you.  Even in the most dire times, God is with you.  It is His presence that helps you through those trying times, in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S.  Sorry I'm late and it was a little rushed today.  Telephone repairman was out this morning - trying to speed up the internet and make it so I could hear on the phone.