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Revelation 2:1-20

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  May 16 Introduction Revelation 1:1–20: The book of Revelation was written during a time when Christians were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Through John, the Holy Spirit was giving the early church the hope and encouragement needed to remain faithful during times of suffering and persecution. The book of Revelation belongs to the literary genre called “apocalyptic literature.” Apocalyptic writings seek to reveal the secrets of heaven and describe the conclusion of human history. In today’s reading, the writer tells how he received a message from an angel sent by Christ and describes his vision of the risen Christ. Today’s Key Verse: Revelation 1:8 GNT “I am the first and the last,” says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come. Read 1 This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Christ made these things known to his serva...

Serving the Kingdom!

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  Serving the Kingdom Scripture: Isaiah 58:10–11, NIV “… And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. ” Living a fulfilled life is the desire of every living being. Many of us attempt to find life in the wrong way in the wrong places, and in following the wrong pursuits. The best antidote for fighting depression, anxiety, fear, and other negative emotions that can cripple us is to discover what we have been designed for, and to use ourselves in conformance to our design. In some way we want to help meet the needs of other people, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. We have been designed for eternity. God has a purpose for us, and we need to dis...

Set Free!

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  “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25, NKJV Set Free Three Hebrew teenagers had their hands and feet bound firmly with ropes and then were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol. This seemed like an impossible situation for survival. But in that furnace, the only thing that burned were the cords that held them bound. God was showing us that there’s no bondage the enemy puts on you that He can’t break. There’s no addiction, no depression, no sickness that He can’t free you from. Yes, there will be opposition. The enemy will try to bind and restrict in any way he can. Sometimes the medical report is not good, or your child is off course, or the addiction seems permanent. Those cords are only temporary. Your time of release is coming. God wants us to see Him not just as a God who protects, but as a God who frees ...

Son- Tanned Christian!

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  Son-Tanned Christian Scripture: Isaiah 55:11, NCV “ The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. ” God wants to make things happen in our life. God wants his living and powerful Word to produce change in our attitude, thinking, feelings, and actions. He wants to put to death the sin that lurks in our soul, so Christ can continue his ministry through us. He wants to use us to meet the spiritual, physical, and material needs of others. God does not want his Word to return to him empty—that is failing to accomplish the purpose for which it has been sent. One of the questions he will ask us when we meet him face to face is, “To what extent did you allow God’s Word to prosper in your life, and to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent?” As I reflect on this truth, I find it to be very sobering. We can tell when others have been spending time in t...

Is It A Heathy Relationship?

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  The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation.” Genesis 12:1–2, NIV Is It a Healthy Relationship? If you follow the journey of Abraham, you know that God called him to leave his relatives and go to a new land, but he took his nephew Lot along with him. Perhaps Abraham felt he was obligated to take care of Lot and his family, but it wasn’t what God called him to do. From that point on, Lot’s presence brought strife, contention, struggle, stress, and frustration. Abraham did not distance himself from a relationship that hindered him, took his time and energy, and was a distraction from what God called him to do. Lot may be the coworker you sit with at lunch who talks badly about the boss, or the friend who causes you to compromise, or the cousin who brings out the worst in you. You can’t reach your destiny hanging around people like that. You need people around you who insp...

The Secret to Finding God’s Favor!

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  The Secret to Finding God’s Favor Scripture: Proverbs 8:33–35, NIV “ Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. ” People are looking for LIFE and FAVOR or advantages in their circumstances. However, most of the world is looking in the wrong places for these ingredients. In this incredible passage of Scripture, we learn what it means to find life from God’s perspective, and how to experience the promise of receiving favor from God. Life and favor are sourced in God alone. In order to receive God’s favor, we need to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are declared righteous when we trust in Jesus alone for our salvation: “ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ” (Romans 10:10, ESV) “ Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them w...

Your Author and Finisher!

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  …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2, NKJV Your Author and Finisher God is the author of your life. He breathed life into you. He chose you to be here. He gave you a purpose, an assignment, something to accomplish. He’s not just the author, He’s the finisher. He’s going to keep making you, molding you, giving you grace to come up higher until He finishes. Now, the key is don’t give up in the middle. Don’t get discouraged while you’re being changed. He’s in control. As long as you’re being your best, you don’t have to perform perfectly. You have a heart to do what’s right. Then you can be assured when it’s time to change, all the forces of darkness cannot stop you. But notice that there’s a requirement for this to happen. You have to look away from all that will distract and look to Jesus. Focusing on your flaws will distract you from your purpose. Magnifying your weakness, what you don’t like about yourself, will keep you from your potential. Lo...