Waiting to Rejoice

Waiting to Rejoice

Revelation 18: All the ships' captains and passengers, the sailors and all others who earn their living on the sea, stood a long way off, ¹⁸ and cried out as they saw the smoke from the flames that consumed her: “There never has been another city like this great city!” ¹⁹ They threw dust on their heads, they cried and mourned, saying, “How terrible! How awful for the great city! She is the city where all who have ships sailing the seas became rich on her wealth! And in one hour she has lost everything!”

²⁰ Be glad, heaven, because of her destruction! Be glad, God's people and the apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her for what she did to you!

 

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As the teacher separated the thug from the rest of the class, I felt relieved. It seemed like she allowed the thug to torment us forever without doing something about it. Before she left with the thug to go to the principal’s office, she gave a warning. “Do not celebrate, because this could be you.”

 

• She put a damper on my celebration.
• I wanted to get excited because justice had finally been served.
• I was told to hold back on my celebration, which was kind of a letdown.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw world trade and ocean travel come to an end. The great city that made it possible for goods to be sold around the world, and for luxury cruises to make people rich, had come to an end. This was the final piece of demolition that GOD put in place.

 

My Observations:

• Wealth without GOD can lead to my destruction.
• Luxury without GOD can cause me to move further away from hear HIM and seeing HIM.
• One day, the rich, powerful and arrogant leaders will mourn over the fall that GOD has planned.

 

Wealth is a touchy subject that can cause highly charged conversations. I mean, one person preaches prosperity, the other preaches poverty, in terms of being close to GOD. JESUS said “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the SON of man does not have a place to lay HIS head” while HE walked on earth. HE owned everything, yet chose to be the poorest among HIS people.

 

To HIM, worldly wealth was not a thing to be obtained because HE owned it all anyway. But what was HE after? HE wanted to save all HIS humans HE created, from destruction. One day, JESUS will judge the world for stealing people away from following HIM. I gladly seek HIS kingdom, which are the lost people HE wants me to find.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer give a sense of urgency?
• Have you ever wanted to be rich or follow those who are?
• What is GOD’s plan for your life and why do you think HE has you where you are today?

Get Back Up

Get Back Up

Acts 14: ¹⁶ In the past, he let all nations go their own way. ¹⁷ Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” ¹⁸ Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

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After the accident, I was shaken up. The car was smashed beyond repair. Having no money to buy another car, I had to walk to work. “If you are more than five minutes late, you will be fired” were the words I remembered that haunted me. Exhausted from the extra walking, I overslept and kept missing class. “Why did this happen to me?” I cried out.

• There were times in my life that seemed extremely low.
• There were times in my life that seemed like everything was going wrong.
• There were times in my life that seemed as if nothing would go my way.

Paul kept trying to convince the people not to worship him, but the more he spoke, the more they insisted on bowing don to him. Church leaders from other cities heard about what was going on and decided to put an end to the situation. Ignoring the miracle of Paul healing a lame man, they stoned him to near death. BUT GOD had other plans for Paul.

• GOD knows I will face difficulty in life.
• GOD knows I need HIM daily.
• GOD knows I will fall down, or get hurt, or be persecuted, BUT HE is there for me.

Instead of asking “Why does GOD allow pain?” people rarely ask “What happened to make GOD curse humanity?” I mean it must have been something extremely wrong that made GOD want to put limits on humans. Unfortunately, when Satan desired to be like GOD and tricked the humans into doing the same, it caused all humans to fall. What could be done?

JESUS, being GOD, had to volunteer to take the blame, even though HE did nothing wrong. HE died for the sins of mankind and was raised from the dead. Speaking about HIM is a blessing, but the curse makes people and demons extremely angry. They fight and harm those who truly speak JESUS’ name. I am grateful GOD picks me up when I am down.

• Are you down because you speak the truth about JESUS?
• Have you been persecuted because of your belief in JESUS?
• Will you get back up or ask GOD to pick you up so you can continue with the purpose HE has given you?

Oppressors Fall

Oppressors Fall

Acts 12: ²⁰ Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.

²¹ So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ²² And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God grew and multiplied.

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It seemed impossible to get anything done with this person as the boss. Besides the paranoia, the sheer arrogance and belligerence towards others placed shame on anyone who said they worked for him. I did not know what to do. One of the senior leaders said. “Don’t worry about it.” About a month later, we had a new boss.

• Some oppressive people lasted a long time in my life.
• Some oppressive people lasted only a short time in my life.
• Some oppressive people lasted long enough to do some damage, but was handled in the right way, at the right time.

Herod’s killing spree of people who followed GOD was over. The kingdoms he was angry with united in peace and in one accord. An angel of the LORD struck down Herod for not giving  GOD glory. His oppressive reign was now over.

• GOD wants me to know HE is in control.
• GOD wants me to know HE raises people up and makes them fall.
• GOD wants me to know HE enjoys when I work with others to have peace.

Uniting because of peace pleases GOD. HE sees those who have oppression in their hearts and will not stand for it. Unfortunately, the oppressors will do some damage before getting removed. BUT GOD can use that damage to grow HIS kingdom.

GOD uses broken people for HIS plans. HE heals people to fight another day. GOD enjoys hearts that desire peace but won’t stand for injustice. I am grateful GOD protects me and guides me.

• Are you being oppressed?
• Does it seem like no matter how good you are, bad people seem to “win?”
• Will you keep your faith, knowing GOD sees everything and has “that” person under control?

Purpose in the Stumble

Daniel 11: ³³ “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. ³⁴ When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. ³⁵ Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

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Pulling up on furniture enabled me to walk as a toddler, but of course I fell only to try again. Riding near grass was my plan anticipating the inevitable fall as I learned how to ride my bike; of course I fell only to try again. Observing others, driving slow and practicing was my plan, but when I had my first accident, I learned to watch my blind spot so I had to try again.

• There have been times in my life when I have fallen down hard.
• There have been times in my life when I have crashed to the ground.
• There have been times in my life when I have stumbled.

Sometimes I felt like staying down. I mean, what is the purpose of getting back up when I could be knocked back down? What’s the purpose of falling down anyway? Can’t I just stay up all the time?

• GOD says to me “I WILL be with you when you fall.”
• GOD says to me “In your weakness MY strength shines bright.”
• GOD says to me “You will have sin, but MY faith is everlasting.”

Stumbling and falling are not meant to crush my spirit. Quite the contrary, GOD wants me to recognize my need for HIM. HE allows me to stumble and fall and tumble down to the ground only to reach HIS mighty hand out to pick me up again and again. After the fall I rise with HIS help, this time a little wiser and stronger.

GOD purifies me and makes me spotless with each fall. HE wants me to get back up and endure the race called life.

• Have you stumbled in life?
• Have you fallen to the point where you do not feel like getting back up?
• Can you see that GOD needs you to get back up so you can reach “that” person HE has appointed to you?
• Will you ask GOD to give you strength today?