Unharmed Woman Witnessed

Unharmed Woman Witnessed

Revelation 12: Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a woman, whose dress was the sun and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. ² She was soon to give birth, and the pains and suffering of childbirth made her cry out.

³ Another mysterious sight appeared in the sky. There was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and a crown on each of his heads. ⁴ With his tail he dragged a third of the stars out of the sky and threw them down to the earth. He stood in front of the woman, in order to eat her child as soon as it was born. ⁵ Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne. ⁶ The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days.

 

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Everyone was working normally until a sudden moment. An armored car pulled up and I could see the tension on the manager’s face as the guards entered the facility. They quickly went into the back, grabbed what they needed and quickly left. I asked what was going on. Someone said, “We had a lot of cash that needed to be deposited and required a special level of protection.”

 

• The cargo was precious and required a different level of protection.
• The place that held the cargo was at risk, so it needed special protection.
• Once the cargo was delivered, normal operations continued and all was well.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, had heard the seventh trumpet blow. JESUS was revealed and was now showing him a recap of life from the beginning of human time. JESUS showed John a woman about to give birth. The woman was precious to GOD as well as the baby. They both needed special protection from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Life is precious to GOD.
• JESUS chose to become a human and was born by a woman who belonged to one of the twelve tribes.
• Satan tried to stop JESUS from being born, but his plan to harm the baby or the woman, was thwarted.

 

As fragile as this plan seemed, GOD’s protection was always there. Satan did a lot of harm and JESUS showed us that everything was in control. The birth of JESU was the beginning of a victorious story.

 

HE will one day return and rule with an “iron rod” meaning this time HE won’t be so gentle. GOD’s power protected JESUS and the nation HE chose to be born through. That same power protects me and you.

 

Challenge

• Do you think the writer knew what was being shown?
• Have you ever needed a recap of events to know what was going to happen next?
• Will you believe that the woman, also known as the nation JESUS chose, was safe and did give birth to JESUS and HE did die and was raised to life and is victorious for you and me today?

Who can defeat the world?

Who can defeat the world?

1 John 5: Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. ² This is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. ³ For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, ⁴ because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. ⁵ Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

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Winning the most coveted award in the company made me feel great! Conversely, being told “Your position has been eliminated” was devastating. I had wrapped my entire identity in work. When I had to face other parts of the world, I no longer had my title to lean on.

 

• I felt beat up by the world.
• I thought that the world was helpful, until it turned against me.
• I felt that I lost my “purpose” that was given to me by the world.

 

John turned his attention to defining what true victory looks like. He first spoke about what true success looks like. He mentioned the grand prize of being a child of GOD. He then defines how GOD’s children should act, namely with love and obedience to GOD. He then defines the battle. Believers against the world.

 

My Observations:

• The world has a lot to offer that could distract me from believing in GOD.
• Fighting the world sometimes feels overwhelming.
• GOD sent HIS SON to defeat the world, and HE did, so I need to place my trust in HIM so I can experience HIS victory!

 

Life has many ups and downs and the world thinks it has remedies. I mean, the solutions from the world usually appeal to my eyes, pride, and physical indulgences. BUT GOD wants more than that for me. JESUS was tempted by food, power and physical preservation.

 

HE experienced pain and suffering. HE knew about loneliness as well as persecution. HE did all of this to overcome the world so I would not have to. Any problem I face, HE knows and is empathetic. I am glad JESUS understands me and has defeated the world so I can have life through HIM.

 

Challenge

• What answer does the writer give to the question “Who can defeat the world?”
• Are all of your solutions to life’s problems from the internet?
• Will you seek a relationship with JESUS, who defeated the powers of this world, so HE could save you and me to join in HIS plan to save all today?

Victory Found

Victory Found

2 Timothy 4: ⁶ As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. ⁷ I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. ⁸ And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day—and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

 

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Looking for a “win”, I joined various groups, followed certain sports teams and even competed. Sometimes my team won, which made me feel better as a human for some reason, and sometimes my team lost. When I won a bowling trophy, I wanted another. After a while, I wanted more and more trophies and awards in life.

 

• I wanted to feel like I was getting ahead.
• I guess I just wanted to feel special for a moment.
• I wanted to have a bright shiny moment in my life that was sometimes filled with hurt, and pain.

 

Paul tells Timothy this is the end of his life. He mentions that he has participated in the greatest competition, namely the fight against evil. He also mentions that he is on the winning side and has a “victory prize” waiting for him in heaven.

 

My Observations

• Friendly human competitions are alright BUT GOD wants me to join the competition against the evil one.
• JESUS has already won the victory, so HE wants me to join the side that already won so I can receive my prize.
• GOD wants me to “wait with love’ until the Day JESUS returns.

 

Waiting on JESUS is hard, especially during times when it seems like evil is rampant. I mean, the world seems to have lost its mind! BUT GOD sees all the violence, hurt and pain. Instead of competing with one another HE wants something different.

 

Waiting with love is different than being nervous that my moment here on earth has not happened yet. It means I will keep showing love to those HE sends me to or who HE sends to me. It also means that even though life can be hard, GOD still wants me to join in on HIS victorious side and do my part with love. I gladly join GOD and know my victory has already happened.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer feels satisfied?
• Are you disappointed with your accomplishments?
• Instead of looking at your situation, will you love someone who GOD wants you to show love to and keep pressing forward in the “race” of life by seeking HIS Kingdom today?

Expect It

Mark 13: ³ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

⁵ And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁶ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

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 “This is going to sting a bit” said the doctor as he gave me a shot. I braced for the worst and while it was bad, I expected it.

• Sometimes bad news comes in droves.
• Sometimes I get bad news then some more bad news then some more.
• Sometimes it seems like there is nothing but bad news all around.

Two thousand years ago JESUS speaks about these days. HE does not paint a very good picture for mankind. It seems like all of humanity are doomed by the way this reads. BUT GOD said something that caught my eye.

• GOD says to me “Do not be troubled when problems seem to pile up.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be troubled when it seems like the trial keeps going on and on.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be troubled when issues develop.”

The reason JESUS can say “do not be troubled” is because HE already saw the outcome and it was victorious. HE, like the doctor, says to me “This may sting a bit” in order to warn me. BUT GOD sees beyond the surgery, unlike the surgeon. HE sees HIS victory in my life and says to me “hang in.” By expecting trouble, I can also expect HIS protection and HIS guaranteed love for me.

• Are you frightened by the trouble you are in?
• Do you feel a lot of pressure?
• Can you stop for a moment and expect the trouble and also expect GOD’s victory?