Tag Archives: Hope

Why Revelation Now?

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Epistles make Christianity applicable.  So many wonder, “why should I care about reading the Bible?”  I mean, all that people really want is some insight into this life, how to deal with the emotions, inconsistencies and trials.  Folks, reading the Bible provides all that and an endless repository/access to the wisdom of the ages, while delivering the greatest prize, a growing relationship with God.  Taking that into account wouldn’t you believe studying/learning the Epistle written by the Apostle John dictated by Jesus Christ, given to Him by God Himself would be an important part of any believers success preparedness?  That Epistle of which I speak is also called “Revelation”.

The Book of Revelation is for believers seeking Christian maturity, those of us who desperately want to tie the entire Bible together and discover the reason for the sense of urgency behind repentance, salvation, sanctification and service.  Why is it so important to take stock in Christian teaching?  Why did the Apostles continually warn Christians to be ready, ready for what?  Why should I be concerned about the current state of worldly affairs, truly what does it have to do with me?  Isn’t everything that God said would happen going to happen no matter what I do?  Is there a practical method of applying what I’ve learned to this life while preparing an understanding of the hereafter?  What is going to happen to those that don’t believe in Jesus?  Can I avoid that and does that escape mean that I have a responsibility to those who are still held captive?  What is going to happen to my family, this country, the world, how about the devil?  All these questions are valid and deserve a clear answer.  Please don’t be surprised but all these questions are adequately and completed answered in a thorough study of Revelation.

As Revelation is so complete, so precise so in depth, I cannot do the Lord justice by telling you in a paragraph all that may be found in its body.  I must however, beg, plead, insist, implore and guarantee you that it will provide the kind of hope, understanding and knowledge necessary to surviving the trials that will soon face this entire world.  Maybe you will heed my warning and begin today, I pray that is the case.  I ask the Holy Spirit and other believers be provided as your guide so that you may fully comprehend the urgency and gravity of the days in which we reside.  I pray for your edification, health and peace, in the name of the Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ the King.

Fear, the sign of imminent Hope

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Father the time of fear has arrived.  I see the bulk of humanity embracing negativity tortured by the burden of predictive circumstance.  Lord, this must be calm before the storm, a perfect time for people to cry out to God and receive forgiveness, hope and peace.  Pestilence is frightening, but we who take stock in the inerrant Word of the Gospel find peace in the foreknowledge of what must come.  War is devastating, even the rumor of clashes possibly involving nuclear armed nations rocks the stability of every global member.  We who hold to the Truth that is Jesus Christ take faith and peace in that we know these to be signs of God’s imminent return.  Financial loss raises the specter of homelessness or scrounging.  The four horsemen are being announced, the signs posted for all who have eyes and ears to hear to prepare, the time of choice is nearing completion.

Soon only those who walk by faith will have cause for hope and security, the rest will look to a charlatan for their sustenance.  Do not be caught by the greatest deception to be perpetrated in the history of mankind.  Place your hope, trust and faith in the Lord God Almighty, by accepting Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind.

Lord let us walk in joy, mindful of those who mourn, fight hysteria and worry.  Give us a Power in Spirit not just Word, such that Your Light is visible to all.  Let us walk into the hysteria, bringing peace and calm to the roiling seas.  Let us be of good courage, Knowing emphatically that Your Word is the only Truth.  Let us separate soul from Spirit with Your Powerful Word, forcing principalities to flee before Your Sovereign Command.  Give us a special understanding of hope, kindness and love so that we point them to Your Word as source of all abundance, blessing, hope and protection.  May they find peace in Your Shadow.  Praise Jesus Christ, King of Kings, every tongue confess and every knee shall bow in realization of His Name.

Trust, hope and joy

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Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.  You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:6.5-8 NKJV

Give ear to my words, O Lord, Consider my meditation.  Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray.  My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.  Psalm 5:1-3

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy because You defend them, Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.  For You, O Lord, will will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround as with a shield.  Psalm 5:11-12

Where did we discover the great things in life?  When did we know, each of us the satisfaction of being safe, knowing favor or safety in the eyes of worthy protectors or for that matter did we understand hope?  What happened to the man which experienced none of these motivating, foundational principles?  How do young women mature without hope, never knowing security or faith?  How are relationships possible without trust?  We all know the answers and dread the truth of it, for life without hope, trust and safety is war.

Did your parents watch over you, keeping you safe and assuring you that nothing would get passed their loving arms of protection?  What made them wish to show you this thing, what gave them the overwhelming desire to place your welfare above their own, even in the midst of true danger?  Why have they worked so hard to earn your trust?  Why does it hurt you so that they have not?  Where is hope born?  How do you know that the sun will rise tomorrow?  How is certainty founded in a body that only believes in evolving man?  My questions all point to God, their is no escaping the logic, the reality, the knowledge of his existence.  Not because I want to convince you of something that I believe, rather I wish for you to challenge everything I proclaim, because I know, just as God’s Word states, that every man knows the truth of God.  The problem is that so many have forgotten, having been provoked by absent love and trust or holding their hands over their ears in denial hoping to forget the pain of guilt accompanying sin.  The price is heavy, having given up hope, or trust and life lived without safety is ill conceived.

Why then should I have hope in God?  What makes me believe, No, better Know that He will be there to fulfill each of His promises?  Why would I spend a lifetime in prayer and worship of a God that I am merely guessing will demonstrate His love for me when the opportunity presents itself?  The answer for those of narrow faith or maybe even if you are reading and you don’t know Jesus, is that, He has proven it to me time and again.  He has taught me to trust, He has given me hope, He has shown me the contentment of feeling completely safe in His protecting arms.  God is not the God of dreams and wishes, like some djinn, wooden shrine or dancing nymph.  He shows up, not only when you are in dire need, but also in the everyday, in the success, in the quiet or in the devastation of loss.  The difference between any “religious” or “spiritual” person and a Christian is that we have a relationship with Almighty God, not just a chant, a golden lantern or an oracle, we connect with God.  We don’t just repeat some mantra to the waiting air, in hope that someone is there or put our foreheads on the ground facing east to suit the mandates of a capricious and uninvolved sovereign, who has never shown himself.  We serve a God who stepped into humanity and humbled himself, sacrificed himself for our salvation and lives on in each believer’s heart as His sanctuary.  Name me any other god in man’s history who gave his own life for creation?

I have hope because God showed me that I had cause to hope in Him.  I have trust because God showed me I could trust Him and taught me how to trust others.  I am safe because He stood over me in my nightmare and watched over my sleep until once again I could stand.  Without these things life will never be complete.  That alone is reason enough to cry out to God at this very moment.  Try it, you will be surprised when He answers, that is the greatest of joys.  Praise God in Jesus’ Name.