Revelation 2-Has your love grown cold?

To the Church in Ephesus

(Acts 19:8-12)

1To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. 3Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.

4But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.

6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God.

Ephesus was a great city and had a great church. Paul preached there for three years. Aquilla, Priscilla and  Apollos served there. Timothy also worked there. 

“I consider what is spoken to this angel as spoken to the whole Church; and that it is not his particular state that is described, but the states of the people in general under his care.” (Clarke)

“Surely it was a place of great privilege, of great preaching.” (Robertson)

“Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practised. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city.” (Gaebelein)

“This was grand of them: it showed a backbone of truth. I wish some of the churches of this age had a little of this holy decision about them; for nowadays, if a man be clever; he may preach the vilest lie that was ever vomited from the mouth of hell, and it will go down with some.” (Spurgeon)

“But I have this against you”.

Despite all that! 

You have left your first love!

“A church has no reason for being a church when she has no love within her heart, or when that love grows cold. Lose love, lose all.” (Spurgeon)

They lost the love of God and without the love of God you cannot have the love for your fellow man. Their heart has grown cold!

They are given a warning to hurry up and repent!

Do you remember your love of God when you were first saved? (When you came to Christ)

Has your love grown cold?

I’ve always wondered why I was bald! Now I know because of this commentary!

“The churches of the land are sprinkled all over with bald-headed old sinners whose hair has been worn off by the constant friction of countless sermons that have been aimed at them and glanced off and hit the man in the pew behind.” (H.W. Beecher)

Blessings, David 

Revelation 1-Judgement is coming!

John's Vision on Patmos

9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus. 10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11saying,c “Write in a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man,d dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. 14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

19Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. 20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. 

Patmos was a desolate prison island of rocks about 6 miles wide and 10 miles long.

In the Spirit definition; “Carried beyond normal sense into a state where God could reveal supernaturally the contents of this book.” (Walvoord)

“a loud voice like a trumpet”. 

“This was calculated to call in every wandering thought, to fix his attention, and solemnize his whole frame.” (Clarke)

“I am the first and the last”.

 Isiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

“Therefore write down the things you have seen.”

“We get the sense that unless John was commanded to write, he would have just kept it to himself. It’s always best to keep visions and revelations to one’s self unless commanded otherwise.” (Guzik)

Seven churches;

“It is the opinion of very learned writers upon this book, that our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he saith to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is.” (Poole)

Judgement is coming, 

is a warning of this book and Jesus will purify the earth with fire. 

Jesus holds the keys of Death and of Hades.

The seven churches will be judged by the word of God and their works that they do for God. 

Blessings, David 

Revelation 1-Do you believe He has his hand on everything?

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”b says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

“The book of Revelation is, therefore, a spiritual book sent to a spiritual people, involving spiritual events and experiences in the spiritual kingdom of Jesus Christ! “ (Mark Eby)

“Christ has not gone to heaven to stay there. He has gone for the church’s benefit; and for his church’s benefit he will return again.” (Seiss)

“Understanding this connection with the glory of God, it is fitting – and wonderful – that the multitude of believers is called a cloud. God’s people are His glory. They are His “cloud,” His Shekinah.” (Guzik)

Matthew 24:26 So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Zechariah 12:10“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

“And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.”

All means all......

Introduction by Jesus; after all this book is about Him!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”

He is the beginning and the end and everything in between!

“the Almighty”, translates the ancient Greek word pantokrater, which literally means “the one who has his hand on everything.” (Guzik)

Do you believe He has his hand on everything?

Blessings, David 

First Impressions. Genesis 32:3-12 NLT

How many times are our first impressions of someone wrong? How many times do we misinterpret peoples words (especially with email and text messages) or actions? 

Jacob hears his brother is coming with 400 men and he immediately fears the worse. Esau probably heard of a very large caravan coming his way and went to see what their intentions were. Naturally you take an army with you for protection. But didn't Jacob trust God? God had told him to return to the land of his birth and to his family. Where God guides, He will provide and protect. 

Genesis 32:3-12 NLT 

Jacob Sends Gifts to Esau 

3 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom.  4 He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban,  5 and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’” 

6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”  7 Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.  8 He thought, “If Esau meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the other group can escape.” 

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly '. 10 I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! 11 O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. 12 But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’” 

Blessings, Cecilia

Revelation 1-Do you give a little squeak?

John Greets the Seven Churches

4John,

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

This letter was originally addressed to the seven churches in Asia which is the western part of modern day Turkey.

“who is and was and is to come” speaks of the eternal nature of God.

“sevenfold Spirit” speaks of the Holy Spirt. Count them in this verse!

Isiah 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

John brings the greeting from Jesus Christ. He is pre-eminent among all those who are or will be resurrected. 

“To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,” Romans 5:8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

“The priests could only cleanse with blood of bulls and goats; but he has washed us from our sins ‘in his own blood.’ Men are willing enough to shed the blood of others. How readily they will enter upon war! But Christ was willing to shed his own blood, to pour out his soul unto death, that we might be saved.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus made us priests to go out and serve Him! We are Gods special servants. 

Are you serving Him?

“to Him be the glory”....“Some of you are very like a mouse behind the wainscot. You are in the Lord’s house, but you are not known as one of the family: sometimes you give a little squeak in your hiding-place, and sometimes come out at night, as the mouse does, to pick up a crumb or two, without being seen. Is this worthy of yourself? Is it worthy of your Lord and Master?” (Spurgeon)

Do you give a little squeak?

Blessings, David 

Revelation 1-The time is near!

Prologue

(Daniel 12:1-13)

1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse).

From Enduring Word 

From the outset, we are given the most important truth about the Book of Revelation. This book shows us the Antichrist, it shows us God’s judgment, it shows us calamity on the earth, and it shows us Mystery Babylon in vivid detail. Most of all, it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to us. If we catch everything else, but miss Jesus in the book, we miss the Book of Revelation. (Guzik)

How we need a revelation of Jesus! “The great fault of many professors is that Christ is to them a character upon paper; certainly more than a myth, but yet a person of the dim past, an historical personage who lived many years ago, and did most admirable deeds, by the which we are saved, but who is far from being a living, present, bright reality.” (Spurgeon)

This book is a difficult book to read and understand. I’ve studied it several times and will do my best to bring forth the meaning of the prophecies contained within. David Guzik nails it on the head concerning Jesus within the book.

Are you ready? The time is near!

Blessings, David 

Genesis 30:25-31:55 NLT summarized.

Jacob wants to return to his own country, he makes a deal with Laban but once again Laban acts deceitful. Finally, Jacob has had enough. He packs up his wives, kids, servants and livestock sneaking out in the middle of the night. 

Genesis 31: 19 At the time they left, Laban was some distance away, shearing his sheep. Rachel stole her father’s household idols and took them with her. 

When Laban finds out they are gone, he goes after them in hot pursuit. It took him seven days but he finally catches up with him.

24 But the previous night God had appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and told him, “I’m warning you—leave Jacob alone!” 

At first Laban plays nice. Genesis 31: 27 Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you deceive me? And why didn’t you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. 28 Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? But he soon gets to the point. Genesis 31:30b "But why have you stolen my gods?”

Laban searches everywhere and can't find his gods because Rachel is sitting on them. I am so glad we don't have a god we can sit on! 

Finally, Jacob lets Laban have it with both barrels and gives him what for. After further discussion, Laban and Jacob reach an agreement to part company and stay away from each other. They build a rock monument in honor of their agreement, have a feast to celebrate and part company. 

That's the last we hear of Laban, he was dead weight around Jacobs ankle. Laban was "of the world" and held Jacob back. Now he would be free to pursue God whole heartedly. 

That's my summary, it's all rather interesting to read, I just chose not to break it down verse by verse. You can read it all here: 

http://biblehub.com/nlt/genesis/30.htm

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/genesis-30/

Blessings, Cecilia

Jude 1-How do you keep from stumbling?

Doxology

(Romans 11:33-36; Romans 16:25-27)

24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity.

Amen. 

Doxology, (a brief declaration of praise to God).

How do you keep from stumbling? 

Keep in His Word, studying and living it out in His love. 

When you became a believer He washed your sins away and clothed you in white, so you are now unblemished in His eyes.

Give Him only, the glory! 

He has “majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity.”

Blessings, David 

Jude 1-Jesus is the reason!

22And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.

Using wisdom we approach different people in different manners. By being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can know when we should comfort, and when we should rebuke. Christians should not abandon a friend flirting with false teaching. They should help him through it in love. (Guzik)

Others save with fear: This second group must be confronted more strongly – but in fear, not in a sanctimonious superiority. You may need to pull them out of the fire, but never do it in pride. (Guzik)

We’ve all been in these positions, the brethren that states you must be baptized to be truly saved, you must attend church on the sabbath. How do you contend with them? Out of love. You have a bible study and ask the question; where in the Bible does it state that? Was the thief on the cross baptized? Did he attend church on the sabbath?

But what about the second group? You pray the Holy Spirit gives you the words to speak! If not, walk away as God will deal with them!

Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season! 

Merry Christmas my friends!

Blessings, David 

I Can't Get No Satisfaction. Genesis 30:22-24 NLT

God wants to bless us like a loving parent giving good things to a child. But just as you can't reward a child for bad behavior, God can't reward us when we aren't faithful to Him. When He does bless us, when He answers our prayers, are we thankful? Do we praise Him? Is it enough or like Rachel, do we just want more? 

Rachel had barely finished given birth and was asking God for more. She finally gets what she longed for most, a son with Jacob yet it wasn't enough. She didn't want a son as a reflection of her love for Jacob, she wanted a son to save her reputation and in retaliation against her sister and her numerous sons. Maybe if she hadn't gotten into this silly competition of producing babies, God would have blessed her sooner. 

How many blessings have you missed out on because of your lack of faith? How many gifts has God withheld because of your rebellion? I wonder about that sometimes and try to conduct myself in a way deserving of God's love. 

Genesis 30:22-24 NLT 

22 Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.  23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said.  24 And she named him Joseph,  for she said, “May the LORD add yet another son to my family.” 

Blessings, Cecilia

Jude 1-Are you building yourself in faith?

20But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

“Such is our sloth, and that such is the coldness of our flesh, that no one can pray aright except he be roused by the Spirit of God . . . no one can pray as he ought without having the Spirit as his guide.” (Calvin)

Build yourself in faith doesn’t just happen, it requires work. To build your faith you must study the Bible, attend bible studies and fellowship with other Christians. 

Cecilia and I belong to a Life Group, attend Compassionate Recovery and are involved in various ministries in our church of which we are members.

Are you building yourself in faith?

We also must remember to keep ourselves in the love of God. 

What good will it do to grow in faith if you don’t love one another as God loves you?

Blessings, David 

An Old Testament Jerry Springer Show. Genesis 30:1-21 NLT

It's like an Old Testament Jerry Springer Show. Two women publicly fighting over a man using their children as weapons. Can you see it? Both women on stage hands on hips in each others face wagging their heads and pointing well manicured fingers at each other.  

No wonder God had said in Genesis 2:24 "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."

One man and ONE women. 

After watching this fiasco God said in Leviticus 18:18 "While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals." Good advice God. 

Read on and try to keep this family tree straight in your mind. I need paper to follow this mess. 

Genesis 30:1-21 NLT

1 When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” 

2 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel. “Am I God?” he asked. “He’s the one who has kept you from having children!” 

3 Then Rachel told him, “Take my maid, Bilhah, and sleep with her. She will bear children for me,  and through her I can have a family, too". 4 So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. 5 Bilhah became pregnant and presented him with a son.  6 Rachel named him Dan,  for she said, “God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son".  7 Then Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son.  8 Rachel named him Naphtali, for she said, “I have struggled hard with my sister, and I’m winning!” 

9 Meanwhile, Leah realized that she wasn’t getting pregnant anymore, so she took her servant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.  10 Soon Zilpah presented him with a son.  11 Leah named him Gad,  for she said, “How fortunate I am!”  12 Then Zilpah gave Jacob a second son.  13 And Leah named him Asher,  for she said, “What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me.” 

14 One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 

15 But Leah angrily replied, “Wasn’t it enough that you stole my husband? Now will you steal my son’s mandrakes, too?” 

Rachel answered, “I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes.” 

16 So that evening, as Jacob was coming home from the fields, Leah went out to meet him. “You must come and sleep with me tonight!” she said. “I have paid for you with some mandrakes that my son found.” So that night he slept with Leah.  17 And God answered Leah’s prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.  18 She named him Issachar, for she said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband as a wife".  19 Then Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob.  20 She named him Zebulun,  for she said, “God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six son". 21 Later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Jude 1-Focus your attention on God!

A Call to Persevere

(Hebrews 10:19-39)

17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ 18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.

In context Jude is referring to ones that are in the church. 

From Enduring Word

These certain men had an instinct to separate themselves and make divisions. “The word, found only once in the Bible, denotes those superior people who keep themselves to themselves – Christian Pharisees.” (Green)

Significantly, Jude does not tell us to attack the certain men who are a danger to the church. Instead, he tells us to focus on our walk with the Lord, help others affected by the certain men, and to focus on God. We simply are to pay the certain men no attention, except for what is necessary for our warning. God will take care of them. (Guzik)

What do you do? You pray for “the ones” “certain men” because Jesus loves them too. 

Focus your attention on God, help others and God will take care of them. 

Blessings, David 

Jude 1-Are you preparing for judgement?

12These men are the hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones 15to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”d

16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

Early Christians met for a meal, we call them potlucks but they called these meals love feasts, or “Agape Feasts.

“These men”, were men that came into the Agape feast only thinking about themselves, taking what they could get, not caring about salvation or others.

Jude quotes in this scripture from the ancient Book of Enoch.

“Tertullian tells us that the book of Enoch’s prophecies were preserved by Noah in the ark, and that they continued and were read until the times of the apostles. But because they contained many famous testimonies concerning Jesus Christ, the Jews out of malice suppressed and abolished the whole book.” (Trapp)

To convict all who are ungodly: In this quotation from the book of Enoch Jude emphasized the words all and ungodly. God is coming to judge all of the ungodly. (Guzik)

Are you preparing for judgement?

Only a fool would not prepare to stand in front of the greatest Judge of them all!

“A Wisconsin man who sent an anti-government manifesto to President Trump and confessed to stealing a huge cache of firearms was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Wednesday — but not before he cursed out the judge and threatened to commit even more crimes.”

Was this man a fool?

I pray you are not like “these men”, that you have prepared yourself for the Final Judgement, eternal life and a life with God!

Blessings, David