Revelation 22:8-21 ~ Worship God

 

Revelation 22:8-21

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

 And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.



16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”


17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” 

And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.



Noah sent the Dove out to find peace.

And one day, God's Holy Spirit will say to us all, "Come."

We will fly to Heaven.

And we will see what John saw 60 years after Jesus Ascended into Heaven.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…Theeverlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright and Morning Star

Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of theWord of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found theMessiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…Thetrue light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10 

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; 
he is Christ the Lord.

Abba, Father God,

Moses left a prayer, and this prayer probably interested David and Solomon. Psalm 90 when Moses prayed to be happy.

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Let us be pleased to Look for Your mercies renewing each day,

Help us to remember the Lord's Prayer Jesus gave us saying, "Give us this day!"

To be so pleased to know this day is part of eternity. 

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

David loved to look to Your tender Heart, Father God. 

David dwelled, anticipating Your Mercy. 

We will follow their example 

and melt thinking of Your Great Love.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 

that we may rejoice 

and be glad 

all our days.

We love Moses looking for You, Father God, and happiness to rejoice and be glad in. Moses speaks well with You, we can say this prayer is a Rock to stand upon in prayer.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

 and for as many years as we have seen evil.

Surely not a pleasing thought. Yet, to know the Words of God is to know the Power of God's Word. Your Prayer says, "Lead us not into Temptation." We know You look for heart. Samuel saw the process of David's family working the day Samuel came to anoint David, and, Jesse, his father said move on without David. We know David did find himself anointed of God. God, we pray in all hope for all things work together for good, for those who Love You and work according to Your purpose.

Let your work be shown to your servants, 

and your glorious power 

to their children.

Millenniums have seen the Beloved of God pray for their children. 

This loving concern is far from tedious to You, Father. 

God of Love. Jesus our Salvation. 

And for the people You have given us.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

 yes, establish the work of our hands!

Abba, we Love the work of Jesus' hands. 

Bless us to remember the Hands of Jesus and be grateful. 

And Pleased Jesus is in the Paradise He gave His Father 

- a new Heaven and a new earth.

Let us live to bring more Heaven on this earth. And with Your Love, Guidance, Encouragement, Joy and Hope - we will bring More Heaven to earth.

Thank You Jesus, Amen.

Yay Jesus

1 Samuel 8:4-7 ~ Prayed to the Lord

Archaeological dig of Samuel's house on the hill outside of Jerusalem, Ramah. Samuel's Tomb is here as well.

1 Samuel 8:4-7

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 

6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” 

And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."

Samuel, how close was David, and Saul to The Book of Judges, the government after the Exodus created the Nation of Israel. Pretty close.

The Book of Judges has a passage that says, "All the people did what was right in their own eyes." Anarchy, more or less. 

Jesus called John the Baptist, "Elijah, if you will."  And...'

"Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." The Gospels present holiness with calling and doubt at death from John the Baptist. Grappling with doubts and the difference with life and Heaven.

Samson was prophetically conceived and asked to be holy like a Nazarene. Yet, Samson basically married into pirates. Killed at will. Consorted with death in Delilah. And his last act was revenge. Samson is the failure of holiness. Jesus healed the Phoenician woman's child. By His honesty with her requests. Samson points out the wildness of revenge and hateful behavior but getting down on the same level. The Book of Judges is about war and not rising up to create a place for family and culture. The Book of Judges is about a season of waning. 

Samuel is 1000 B.C. We thought we were so far from the Exodus, yet Samuel is the end of government from the aftermaths of the Exodus. The problem with the holiness Samuel faces is the same failure in Samson and in the era of tax collectors and Herod bowing down. Human frailty.

David grew up as one of the Shepherds, dreaming of his nation.

The oldest Philistine inscription describes

Goliath in his hometown

Museum of Israel

Appropriate Date B.C.

The Who sang about My Generation in 1965. We Begin Again. 

Samuel was the Bronze area, yet Samuel knew when to pack it in. Not with plots and revenge.  Churchill says revenge is expensive. Samuel had a clue and Samuel moves on to a new form of government. They weren't any happier with Saul or David or Solomon or Solomon's son.

Waiting on the Lord can be difficult. I'm sure Jesus felt His own family should have been able to catch on and do the right thing. Jesus, different from Samuel, forsakes revenge and waits for His Family to mature, understand and rise to better works.

Waiting on the Lord, isn't a bad idea. Samuel doesn't spend a lot of time blaming himself.  Samuel isn't wearing rough clothing or tearing his clothes.  Yet, in the New Covenant, we are the Easter people,  Samuel doesn't pray and pray and pray for his sons.  He doesn't tell the Lord of his disappointment. He doesn't believe that if His Father God was in bed resting, Samuel's prayers would stir the Lord to mercy.

Samuel was different from David. And Jesus is David's Son.  I like Jesus!

Abba, Father,

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

May He send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

May He remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

May He give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

May we shout for joy over your victory

and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now this I know:

The Lord gives victory to His anointed.

He answers him from His Heavenly Sanctuary

with the victorious power of His Right Hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

 They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

Lord, give victory to the king!

Answer us when we call!

In the Name of Jesus we pray! 

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Philippians 4:19 ~ according to His riches in glory

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours 

according to His riches 

in glory 

in Christ Jesus.

We, probably, all spend too much time in Pop Culture for many years. Conversations are interesting to have and to remember. The variations time takes, as we travel down the journey and see what was intended.  Sometimes this is a reverse of Scripture. Other times support The Word of God.

I've encountered people who are terminally ill and come over to me, to take my hand, thank me for the Posts on Heaven and tell me the thoughts on Heaven make being terminally ill bearable and weep, thanks again. Been deliberately ignored by people who I'd pray for every day if they were open to this.  Screamed at, by barely an acquaintance, all I believe in is fiction, in excessive anger. And thanks to knowing the Lord Jesus, I know the blind at birth, decades later who can see well enough to walk through a busy Church. Dear Jesus!

Blessings are worth considering. The reality, the glory, the hardship, the joy from our God who identifies as wanting to save the world in Jesus Christ, God of Hope, God of Love.

Blessing, the word, occurs 96 times in the Bible. Why so few? An excellent, superb, wonderful question.  God doesn't blow a trumpet when Jesus heals the blind, the deaf, those living among the dead. Not even when a daughter lives or a son, from the dead.  Jesus had palm branches given to His feet, but not the Shofar for even one miracle. We have to read into His Word to find the blessings. God, upholding the Universe with His Word, knowing the Host of Heaven by name. Doesn't provide Cliff Notes. Jesus tells us, Know the Scriptures, know the Power of God.

Anger occurs over 600 times. Life is the Prodigal Son. Scriptures address Life. Messy. Glorious. Broken.

Rick Warren says life is like a train running different directions. We face a problem we are bogged down, we solve a problem, have joy.

British humor loves to explode.  Aunt Marge, Dudley's aunt, explodes talking about... dogs.

Monty Python, Maitre D: And finally, monsieur, a wafer-thin mint.

Mr Creosote: No.

Maitre D: Oh sir! It's only a tiny little thin one.

Mr Creosote: No. Fart off - I'm full...

Maitre D: Oh sir... it's only wafer thin.

Mr Creosote: Look - I couldn't eat another thing. I'm absolutely stuffed. Bugger off.

Maitre D: Oh sir, just... just one...

Mr Creosote: Oh all right. Just one.

Maitre D: Just the one, sir... voila... bon appetit...

As the Maitre D' takes cover, Mr. Creosote swallows the mint, expands and then blows up dramatically.

Maybe

We need to blow up our idea of blessings, 

to magnify what blessings are, 

and then jump back.

We want Plenty. We all, mostly, do.  We'd like to let justice roll down like waters,

    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream!

Proverbs 23:26

26 My son, give me your heart 

and let your eyes delight in My Ways

And then, we would probably act like Aunt Marge. Or David, given all, he did, incredible things, to train to be anointed King of Israel. By passed to - - - ha, you were wrong, we got another King after Saul. 4 times, David was crowned before dancing in the nude and having his donkey be ridden. A little bit like Inspector Clouseau, in some eyes.   David then promptly went off the Path and taking count, by census, to line up all his blessings and probably gloat at his own achievements. Judas worked with Jesus and felt he was owed more and more. Jonas was angry to see His fruitful salvation. Saul felt he was owed a glorious, godly career after being educated by Gamaliel.

Amos 5

Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

    and gloom with no brightness in it?

21 “I hate, I despise your feasts,

    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

    I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

    I will not look upon them.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;

    to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

24 But let justice roll down like waters,

    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” 

says the Lord, 

whose name is the God of hosts.

David veered from Blessing to tragedy and back again. As if Smaug was chasing him. Paul did better being into exile beyond Damascus!

Blessings are like Water Mills. We are plunged in after seeing the abundance, we are pushed and pulled by the events and trauma of life. We can drown, or we can hang on. Because God will lift us out of the water like Peter, immediately, to soar and hope again in His Glory. We can do this within 5 minutes, a day or a decade.  The Peace that Passes Understanding is His Gift to Believe the One He has Sent, Jesus, The Christ of God.

And my God will supply every need of yours 

according to His riches 

in glory 

in Christ Jesus.

This is real. Not fiction. Not for infants. This is the seek and find of faith. The comfort. Love. Joy is our strength in the Lord.

To know the Scriptures is to know the Power of God.

Romans 8:28

And we know 

that in all things 

God works for the good of those 

who love Him, 

who have been called 

according to 

His Purpose.

If we condense this:

Thy Kingdom Come,

THY WILL BE DONE

on earth

as in Heaven!!!

We believe, like the people with 10 Talents, God's Will is Good. To believe in the One He has sent. Paul called this:

Philippians 2

23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon 

as I see how it will go with me, 

24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

 

And my God will supply every need of yours 

according to His riches 

in glory 

in Christ Jesus.

What we consider false starts or non-blessings,

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 

so that 

having all sufficiency in all things at all times, 

you may abound in every good work.

What we consider false starts or non-blessings, after World War II, no one wanted to work with the Nazi people.  And yet, various clergy felt called and dodged out. Why help those? They met with fewer and fewer post-war letdowns in their work. Like Jonas did. And all paths led them back to helping those without hope. Eventually, these blessings began to rain like water in Eden! His Good Work. His Plan. His Plan always succeeds.  We can't break God's Plan. Not today, Satan. Not ever. 

Exactly, completely like the Book of Acts describing the Saints of God going to various places and finding God moves them along. We think, why? And instead, God knows.

We have a part to play. Yes, we do. We cannot play or learn or do, "The Art of Not Being Seen." Or... we will explode. No. But for evil to prosper, all good mankind has to do is nothing. 

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth, 

"Jesus is Lord," 

and believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For it is with your heart that you believe

 and are justified, 

and it is with your mouth 

that you confess and are saved.

Back to the Water Mill. The earth is full of His Glory.  We don't think of God existing solely in His Word. Our adventure is to see all Life hands us and allow Him to pull us up.

Like Peter, who audaciously tried to walk on water, and did. Baptism. We reach for every

Blessing God would give us. Daily.  And like Peter, we learn to jump fully into the water and swim when we see Jesus. Give Him the gift of your heart and miracles to others.

Abba, Father, 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies 

and God of all comfort

He, Who comforts us in all our affliction, 

so that 

we may be able to comfort those 

who are in any affliction,

 with the comfort with which we ourselves 

are comforted 

by God. 

Jesus dwell in me

as You are all in

Abba we trust You with our cares.

Abba we trust You with our dearly held Love ones.

Abba we trust You with the people You Give us.

Abba we trust You with today, 

we trust You with tomorrow.

We are the people who will rest tonight safely.

We are the people who will rise up to the Work You give us.

We are the people You nourish in the Holy Spirit.

We are Joyful to be Your Beloved.

Thank You, Abba, to care for the people who delight You.

We believe You have a Plan.

 And as we trust in You,

we can do all things in Jesus Christ.

We have seen Amazing Grace during the flood of Houston.

We are seeing Amazing Grace caring for those in recovery.

We Thank You for the Holy Spirit You display in this time.

The Father still at work. With His Son Jesus. Joy.

Amen and Amen 

Father God for Jesus and the people with Your Holy Spirit. 

Just as Jesus trusted You 

with His Brothers

and those He Loves

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus

Hebrews 3:7-14 ~ His Voice

Hebrews 3:7-14

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear His voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

    on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

    and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

    they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

    ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

John 19

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 

39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 lbs in weight.

 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

20 or 30 Gallon Vats were used regularly

This Amazing Vat is reclaimed pieces from the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem

Alabaster

Museum of Israel 

2 Corinthians 6:11

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, 

and opened wide our hearts to you. 

 2 For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I ask as if to my own children) widen your hearts also.

Proverbs 23:26

 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus