I worry when I hear about people appearing to worship angels. I know they're cute and nice to collect, but...
Here's why I worry: twice, in Revelation, the angel who shows John around heaven specifically warns him, "Do not do it!" when John tries to worship this angel.
Rev 19:10: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, 'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethern who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"[I]
(note also that the last sentence means that prophecy is, as my Ryrie study Bible says, "designed to unfold the loveliness of Jesus.")
[I]Rev 22:8-9: "...And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. (9) And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethern the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God."
Interesting that John had to be told twice--the angel must have been radiant in his splendor!
So that's some daily bread--don't take your eyes off worshiping or praising God, His only son come in the flesh who is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! Or you might end up like poor Peter...who Jesus allowed to walk on water to come to Him, but when Peter took his eyes off the Lord...well, you know what happened! El-sink-o. Fortunately, before he was all the way sunk, he cried out to Jesus.
Cry out to Him right now if you need Him.
Jesus, please hear our prayers, and thank you so much for what you did for us on the cross!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Intercessory prayer and leaning on God
In this morning's reading, I was cross-checking with my "Believer's Bible Commentary" (big, thick book that tells you what some things mean.)
I found something interesting. In reading Revelation 15:8, "[I]And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; [B]and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."[/B][/I]
The commentary says this may mean that intercessory prayer from priests and others for mercy on the earth will not work during this time....God's temple is already filled with smoke---meaning His spirit and He will not allow anyone (or their prayers?) to enter.
I'm guessing this means prayers for His Wrath to stop...but as we know, it happens with the 7 bowl/vial judgments because it must. It has been foreordained.
TOPIC SHIFT:
My sunday school lesson I'm teaching this month involves having the kids make one big cookie and write on it with icing all their problems--their "giants" like David faced. We're reading 1 Samuel 16:6-13 (David's anointing) and 17:33-50, in which little old David defeats Goliath because he had God with him...and David trusted God.
Do you face giants, like financial fears, health hazards, political problems, or relationship worries?
Lean on your heavenly Father. Call out to Him in His Son, Jesus', name. He will lift you up, and help you, and wrap His loving arms around you...no matter who the giant is.
Let God love you. Open your arms, open your hands, open your mind and spirit and let your Father love you right now.
I found something interesting. In reading Revelation 15:8, "[I]And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; [B]and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."[/B][/I]
The commentary says this may mean that intercessory prayer from priests and others for mercy on the earth will not work during this time....God's temple is already filled with smoke---meaning His spirit and He will not allow anyone (or their prayers?) to enter.
I'm guessing this means prayers for His Wrath to stop...but as we know, it happens with the 7 bowl/vial judgments because it must. It has been foreordained.
TOPIC SHIFT:
My sunday school lesson I'm teaching this month involves having the kids make one big cookie and write on it with icing all their problems--their "giants" like David faced. We're reading 1 Samuel 16:6-13 (David's anointing) and 17:33-50, in which little old David defeats Goliath because he had God with him...and David trusted God.
Do you face giants, like financial fears, health hazards, political problems, or relationship worries?
Lean on your heavenly Father. Call out to Him in His Son, Jesus', name. He will lift you up, and help you, and wrap His loving arms around you...no matter who the giant is.
Let God love you. Open your arms, open your hands, open your mind and spirit and let your Father love you right now.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The technology predicted in Revelation
One thing that's always jumped out at me as I read Revelation is the prediction of new technology that could in no way have been predicted back when John wrote Revelation circa 90 A.D...without supernatural help, of course.
1. When the 2 witnesses are killed and their bodies allowed to lie in the streets of Jerusalem, Rev. 11:9: "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." (Side note: slightly interesting connection hwere with 9-11, in which about 3,000 to 3,500 died, most of which were not found to put in graves.)
Big question: how on earth could a guy in 90 A.D. have foreseen people from all over the world seeing those bodies lying in the streets, unburied...without it coming directly from Jesus (the knowledge, that is)? We know now--we'll see it on CNN!
2. When the woman clothed by the sun (Israel) flees into the wilderness, in Rev. 12:14, And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
Big question: Could "eagle" be a symbol for the USA? And could "two wings" refer to jets, or to two military wings (groups of jets) And if so, how could John have known that without Jesus telling him or showing him?
3. The famous mark of the beast from Rev. 13:16, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
Big question: Even 50 years ago, did they assume this was a tattoo or something? Because now--as we all know--the tech exists to implant something smaller than qrain of rice that lets you do all your financial transactions just with a swipe of your hand. They use it at high-end resorts in Europe, I hear.
My point is, NOW all of this tech exists. NOW we understand how all of it can happen. NOW it's becoming frighteningly clear.
Comments on other tech that's in Revelation?
1. When the 2 witnesses are killed and their bodies allowed to lie in the streets of Jerusalem, Rev. 11:9: "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves." (Side note: slightly interesting connection hwere with 9-11, in which about 3,000 to 3,500 died, most of which were not found to put in graves.)
Big question: how on earth could a guy in 90 A.D. have foreseen people from all over the world seeing those bodies lying in the streets, unburied...without it coming directly from Jesus (the knowledge, that is)? We know now--we'll see it on CNN!
2. When the woman clothed by the sun (Israel) flees into the wilderness, in Rev. 12:14, And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
Big question: Could "eagle" be a symbol for the USA? And could "two wings" refer to jets, or to two military wings (groups of jets) And if so, how could John have known that without Jesus telling him or showing him?
3. The famous mark of the beast from Rev. 13:16, "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
Big question: Even 50 years ago, did they assume this was a tattoo or something? Because now--as we all know--the tech exists to implant something smaller than qrain of rice that lets you do all your financial transactions just with a swipe of your hand. They use it at high-end resorts in Europe, I hear.
My point is, NOW all of this tech exists. NOW we understand how all of it can happen. NOW it's becoming frighteningly clear.
Comments on other tech that's in Revelation?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
How are we strong when we are weak?
I never used to understand 2 Cor 9-10, (NASB): "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness'"..."
and in verse 10, "...for when I am weak, then I am strong."
But then I thought about what my mother said when my dear grandmother passed away 3 years ago almost to the day this month, that as she'd aged she'd lost so many thing, including even her cherished ability to read (even with a magnifier) and play bridge even with the huge-font cards...yet she withstood it all in stride, with grace, as was her name, Grace Laurie.
Two days ago, in a devotional, I read a scripture saying that most of us have trouble with the loss of capability that aging brings. But when we are gradually stripped of everything propping us up--whatever it may be--we learn to lean on Him more, and on other Believers more.
Thus, when we get weaker, we learn--or should learn--to get stronger in our faith in the Lord, for His power is made perfect (or how about 'perfectly clear') in our weakness.
I've seen this in myself. As I've struggled with my many knee surgeries and lost my ability to run and lift heavy things, I've had to ask for help...and now the Lord is laying it more and more on my heart to help others.
In the past, it was all about me. The big marathon runner, the big powerlifter. I guess I inspired some people...but not much more.
Now, though, it's more about reaching out and lifting up others where I can, and helping and connnecting.
I feel a new priority in my life--to help others, and also to let myself lean on them more.
Praise God, His power is made more and more perfectly perfect as we are made weaker!
Love y'all,
Tam
and in verse 10, "...for when I am weak, then I am strong."
But then I thought about what my mother said when my dear grandmother passed away 3 years ago almost to the day this month, that as she'd aged she'd lost so many thing, including even her cherished ability to read (even with a magnifier) and play bridge even with the huge-font cards...yet she withstood it all in stride, with grace, as was her name, Grace Laurie.
Two days ago, in a devotional, I read a scripture saying that most of us have trouble with the loss of capability that aging brings. But when we are gradually stripped of everything propping us up--whatever it may be--we learn to lean on Him more, and on other Believers more.
Thus, when we get weaker, we learn--or should learn--to get stronger in our faith in the Lord, for His power is made perfect (or how about 'perfectly clear') in our weakness.
I've seen this in myself. As I've struggled with my many knee surgeries and lost my ability to run and lift heavy things, I've had to ask for help...and now the Lord is laying it more and more on my heart to help others.
In the past, it was all about me. The big marathon runner, the big powerlifter. I guess I inspired some people...but not much more.
Now, though, it's more about reaching out and lifting up others where I can, and helping and connnecting.
I feel a new priority in my life--to help others, and also to let myself lean on them more.
Praise God, His power is made more and more perfectly perfect as we are made weaker!
Love y'all,
Tam
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