bible

Throne Room Scenes~Part One

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I love to think about the scenes in Revelation 4. When I had carpet replaced in an old mobile that I bought, I chose emerald green. I wanted to be reminded of the emerald like rainbow around His throne each time I vacuumed. 

All throughout Revelation John used like, then gave a description. Verse 1 says that a voice came that sounded like a trumpet. I recently attended a brass concert at our church. I can’t imagine distinguishing words coming out of a trumpet. 

Next John described the Lord’s appearance as jasper and sardius. Regarding New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:18 says, “The construction of the wall was of jasper…” Jasper was brilliant and transparent. 

Verse 5 reminds me of when God was on the mountain and it thundered. It says, “And from the throne proceeded lightning, thunderings, and voices…” Picture this in verse 6. It says that in front of the throne was a sea of glass, like crystal.

Throne Room Prayers~Part Two

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Let’s go back to the parable. The publican came in humility. Luke 18:13 says that he didn’t even lift up his head. He said, “…God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Verse 14 was Jesus’ words. “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified…who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I love Psalm 63:1. I imagine David in the throne room. It says, “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”

Psalm 55 is another David-psalm. Verse 17-18 says, “Evening and morning and noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.” Let’s go into the throne room and spend time with the Giver of Grace.

Deceit Hardens Hearts

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Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Calloused hearts have hidden sin. Romans 5:12 says that through Adam sin entered the world. Adam and Eve bore Cain and Abel.

Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, though Abel’s was. Genesis 4:5 says, “…Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” In verse 7 God asked Cain a question. It says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?…”

Cain’s sin remained hidden. His anger smoldered until in rage he killed his brother. He did not do what God had said. Verse 7 continued, “…sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Hidden sin is the trap-stick in satan’s trap. Hidden lust, bitterness, resentment, critical spirit, unforgiveness, etc. Numbers 32:23 says, “…you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Prayers Not Answered? Part One

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James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” As I meditated on this verse, I asked the Holy Spirit how we ask amiss.

Then my eyes glanced at my cross references and saw Psalm 66:18. I know that verse but I never had connected the two verses before. It says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

Slip over to Ezekiel 14:4. Written about Israel. It is about heart idols “…puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity…I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols.” Hidden sin is an idol. It takes God’s place as first in our heart.

James 4:8 says, “…purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Double-minded in this sense is wanting to please the Lord, yet at the same time refusing to let go of something that He has pointed out to you.

Patient Endurance~Part Two

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Our flesh and the Holy Spirit are antagonistic.  Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…”

That is a perfect description for why we struggle. We don’t want to let go of our flesh.

Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

The fear of the Lord, seeking Him, and patiently enduring our trials are three areas that supply anything we lack. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold for those who walk uprightly.”

Endurance means to bear up under difficult circumstances with hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.

As You Go: Preach

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2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” My dad’s motto was as you go ~ preach. He had a Scripture car up until he went into the rest home in June 2015. 

Still he lived his motto. He tootled around the facility in his wheelchair. His Bible was on his lap and tracks were in his pocket. This verse so typified him. I remember hearing him on many occasions say to someone, “Suffer an exhortation.” They would usually reply, “Am I in trouble?”

To exhort is to come alongside someone and strengthen them through encouragement. Barnabas was a great example. Acts 9:26-27. Acts 11:22-24. Exhortation is one of the gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8. 

2 Timothy 4:2 in the Amplified says, “…encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.” I needed this reminder with my two 8th grade mentees.

Grace Words~Part Three

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Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Grace words come from a humble heart. Fights, quarrels, harsh words, heated arguments, etc. come from a heart lifted up in pride.

Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Our pride will land us in the devil’s trap. It is bated with the exact temptation that will ensnare us unwittingly.

Chapter five in my book, Victorious Heart, is entitled Honey-Laced Words. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and heath to the bones.” Blood vessels and bone marrow run through parts of the bones. The holes in the honeycomb-like mesh make the bones stronger. Do you want strong bones? Then add grace words to your vocabulary. Impart grace to your hearers that will build them up.

Our Strength Is In God

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Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Remember what the Lord said to Paul? Paul had pleaded with the Lord three times to remove the thorn. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”

John 15:5 is a verse we need to use as wallpaper on our heart walls. “…without Me you can do nothing.” Not one thing. When we acknowledge our dependence on the Lord, we walk under His canopy of grace.

I love David’s expression of love in Psalm 18:1-2. It says, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Our intimate communion with Him is the pathway for strength to gain victory over every temptation.

Resist Enticements

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James 1:13 says that God will never tempt us to evil. Verse 14-15 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James then wrote the key. Verse 16 says, “Do not be deceived…”

The enemy’s only pseudo power is through deception. Remember that God is All Powerful. 

That means, without exception, He alone has power. He has set His resurrection power within us. Ephesians 1:18 says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

The only time His power is not active is when we step out in our flesh. At that point we are walking independent of God. That is exactly why the enemy lures us with his temptations. To get us to act in our fleshly will and ways. 

God Watches Our Hearts~Part Three

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Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

God’s goal is that we represent Him in every aspect of our lives. David wrote Psalm 86. Verses 11-12 say, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart…” David was asking the Lord to make him wholehearted and single minded. What an example for us.

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” It is good to sit before the Lord and be real. He sees right through any act. He is looking for those whose heart is loyal to Him.