Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 10

Day 10

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not spoiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:1-6

Application: Five out of the seven letters to the specific churches found at the beginning of Revelation begin with these words: “I know your works…” In previous letters, and in the next one, these words are followed by encouragement. In this and the last letter, however, these words are meant to cut straight to the heart of the readers. There is no comfort in being reminded that God knows everything when we are dead inside.

I cringe at the thought of taking these words too lightly. Of passing over them briefly without allowing God to use His Word to examine my heart. During the last nine weeks, there have been many opportunities for you and I to open ourselves before the Lord and have Him purge what needs to be excised and plant what needs to be nurtured. Yet, He is not done. There is no plateau in a relationship with God. There are always deeper issues to be dug into and higher places to go. This is such an opportunity.

Throughout many sermons I’ve listened to and discussions I’ve participated in, the question of how we do church and how it compares to the biblical model for the Church seems to continue to come up. People have various preferences and desires for worship style, location, programs, preaching style, and discipleship. We tend to base our opinions on our backgrounds, education, church experience, and perceived successes or failures. However, this scripture gives us a perfect opportunity to examine how we “do” church – both individually and corporately.

That a church can have a phenomenal reputation yet be dead to Kingdom works should raise an alarm in us. It is much easier to look upon other church bodies, other denominations, other people and point out how they are lacking in spiritual fruit and growth. It is much more difficult to turn our gaze inward and be willing to sacrifice any beloved church ministry or way of doing church. This is the very problem Jesus constantly pointed out in the Pharisees and Sadducees: they knew the scripture and followed the letter of the law while neglecting the heart of the law – to love God and people. They most likely had a reputation of being alive within the larger church, but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. They were dead inside.

Could it be that we are more like them than we’re comfortable considering? Could we be clinging to a way of doing church more than God’s vision for us being the church? Could we be pushing the Gospel aside to have great programs? Could we be failing to make disciples because we’re too focused on feeding ourselves? Could we be missing the leading of the Holy Spirit because we’re following rules and regulations according to human teachings? Could we be forgetting the ends of the earth because of being too comfortable at home? Could we be missing out on the best God has for us for the good that is before us?

Let us be a people who hears what the Lord is saying to us and stay alert to who He wants us to be.

Prayer: Oh, God! Wake me up! Strengthen me! Let You be my greatest love and the Gospel be my greatest mission. Make me uncomfortable. Reveal to me if I’m dead in my works. I forego any reputation I have with anyone other than You. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness. Remind me that bringing glory to Your name by living a holy life and sharing Your salvation with others is why I am here. It doesn’t matter what that looks like. Make me who You desire me to be. Use the unique gifts, talents, and abilities You’ve given me to bring glory, honor, and praise to Your name. Thank You, Jesus for confessing my name before the Father. Let me respond to the worthiness You poured out on me by grace through faith by letting go of everything that doesn’t expand Your Kingdom.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

In what areas or ways have I placed too much importance or emphasis on my reputation in the world?

What works am I putting my efforts into might God be asking me to give up or alter?

Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me remember the grace I received and Gospel I heard through Your Word.

Where might my preferences and perceptions of how church is to be done be hindering the spread of the Gospel?

How can I be more focused on who God desires the church to be rather than what I think the church should do?

Lord God, I praise You for writing my name in the book of life.

Father, what are You saying that You want me to hear today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 9

Day 9

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: “The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 2:18-28

Application: I don’t know about you, but this passage seems to blur the lines between metaphor and literal prophesy. There is debate on what much in the letter from John to the churches means, and this section isn’t immune to that debate. Whether Jezebel is an actual woman in the church, or symbolic. What it means when it says the one who conquers will rule nations. What the morning star is the conquerors will receive. Instead of glossing over passages such as this one or diving too deep into trying to figure out the exact meaning behind each word, I think we are best served by examining it from the perspective of the two questions we broached from the beginning of this devotional:

          Who is God?

          How is God calling us to live?

These are two of the most important questions we can ask in reference to scripture.

First of all, I’d like to note once again Jesus starts off His message to this church with the phrase, “I know….” He knows! When you are loving someone without that love being returned, the Lord knows. When you are standing on your faith and your stance isn’t appreciated, He knows. When you are serving and no one seems to notice, He knows. When you endure hardships, trials, challenges, difficulties with patience, He knows. When you grow in your relationship with God and dedicate more time to God-glorifying works, He knows. You are never alone and you are never unrecognized for your devotion to the Lord.

This knowing of course also means that God sees our failures and faults. He sees if we tolerate sin in our lives, families, or church. He knows if we stand idly by as Satan corrupts members of the church or church teaching. He knows if we excuse, ignore, or try to explain away sin. In a culture where people seem to ignore, embrace, or harshly condemn sin, there seems to be a lack of bold speaking truth in love. This is the case often within the church as much as without. Sometimes, there is so much yelling at the lost world for being lost, saved sinners slipping back into sin are missed. Let it not be of us!

We don’t want to miss the glaring truth about God knowing our sin: He gives us time to repent! God’s desire is that we surrender our hearts to be gutted by Him. To turn from our sin and acceptance of it. To not withhold Him full access to search our minds and hearts and transform them by His mercy, grace, and power.

Let each of us be emboldened to love the Truth and love in truth as we speak the truth in love.

Prayer: Father God, search my heart and mind. Reveal to me any hidden sin. Any hidden fear. Any part of me I haven’t surrendered to You. Clean me from the inside and help me to see myself clearly through Your eyes. Reveal to me any sin in my home, my family, or my church that I have accepted or turned a blind eye to. Guide me in cleansing that sin from my life and how to confront others’ sin in truth and love. I praise You for Your goodness, love, grace, mercy, and limitless power. How great it is to think about absolute power controlled by absolute love! Holy, holy, holy, are You, Lord God Almighty. All praise and honor and glory go to You alone. May Your praise always be on my lips.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

What is God revealing that I need to repent of?

How can I most effectively praise God today?

Is there sin in my church I’ve been ignoring?

Lord, help me hold fast to You today.

How can I cultivate an ear to hear God more clearly?

God, thank You for sustaining me when I get weary and or feel unrecognized/ unappreciated.

Lord God Almighty, embolden and empower me to speak the truth in love.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 7

Day 7

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: When we read a passage like this we may have several different reactions. One may be that we can’t relate because we are not being persecuted and threatened with death for our faith. Another may be a focus on our personal hard times of spiritual drought, difficult relationships, or financial struggles. Still a third may be that people who are religious but lack evidence of spiritual fruit or maturity come to mind. Maybe the changes of values in our country which have begun to impact the freedom to express our faith in public ways press forward in our thoughts. Possibly all of the above. However, this passage offers so much more.

First, this is one of two letters in Revelation to the churches that contains no rebuke. Given the state of the churches and the issues addressed in each individual letter, chances are if we’re not the church under great tribulation, God has a rebuke for us. What might that be?

Second, Jesus reminds His people in this letter that He is the beginning and end of everything. He knows everything about us – individually and as a church body. There is nothing that happens outside His sovereignty. Even persecution and financial poverty. He also reminds His people that when they have Him and seek His Kingdom, we are rich in the truest sense. We have wealth that cannot be stolen or destroyed. These believers were facing prison, and from what I’ve learned, when they were thrown in prison there was typically a ten day holding period before they were put to death. So their ten days of tribulation might have been starvation, beating, harassment to recant their faith. Then they would be put to death. But God reminds them (and us) that when we hold fast to our faith in Him, He grants us the crown of life – life eternal with Him. The greatest gift of all.

He also reminds us that the devil is the one behind the schemes of attacking Jesus followers. Whether it’s actual prison, emotional prison, feeling trapped by unhealthy relationships, or financial poverty, we are in more of a spiritual battle than a physical one. The same is true when we experience other personal or corporate trials as a church. While our arguments, loss of trust, anger, and disappointments may produce real feelings bread out of real circumstances created by real people, it is all rooted in spiritual battle. We do not war with flesh and blood, but the principalities of this world. Therefore, the only way to wage war on evil, sin, broken relationships, disunity, doubt, depression, or discouragement is to fix our focus on the One who is the First and the Last and all the promises in Him, which are “yes and amen.”

  

Prayer: Jesus, You are holy, righteous, and truly good. You are the first and the last, the beginning, the end, and everything in between. Let me never forget that You conquered death and through faith, You have gifted me to not only conquer over eternal death, but also the small deaths that seem to come as part of this world. There is nothing You don’t see. There is nothing for me to fear because anything I experience in this life is temporary. I praise You for Your gift of life and sovereignty in it. Let me never focus on my trials, tribulations, or trying relationships, but help me keep my eyes fixed on You. You know all. Help me never to forget that.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

How can I keep my focus on Jesus and giving Him the praise He deserves each and every day?

Lord, help me never forget that You know. You know my pain, my trials, my struggles, my sin, my heart. Reveal and let me hear clearly what You want me to know about You, about myself, and about others.

Fear is rooted in a lack of complete faith and trust in the Lord. Is there an area of fear in my life that I haven’t surrendered to God and His sovereignty?

Jesus, when I suffer, help me to hold fast to my faith in You. Grow me. Mold me. Make me more like You.

How can I keep the crown of life Jesus will give me more clear in my mind than my current circumstances?

Father God, let me hear what You are saying to the churches, to my home church.

Nothing is more important than living for God’s glory. How can I live to bring Him more glory today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 6

Day 6

Scripture focus: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: God knows. And He sees. This is great encouragement! Often we labor in our faith and feel like no one recognizes our effort. Most of life isn’t made up of the great events or works that are seen by others, but in the daily “hard work and…patient endurance.” No human sees when we get up early to spend time with God. Often no person sees when we sacrifice time or money or pleasure to feed into someone else’s life. Going to work and completing our tasks with excellence usually is expected and not praised. There’s seldom reward for cooking meals, mowing the lawn, washing clothes, cleaning house, changing the oil, changing a diaper. These are tasks that make up the dailyness of life and we do because they need to be done. However, God sees it all and knows the things we do. He sees us volunteer in the nursery. He knows when we get to church early to greet people. He observes us when we meet with and encourage another believer who is struggling. He is watching when we gather in small groups to pray over and discuss decisions for our faith family. He is not absent when we make a pot of coffee, sweep a floor, or give a hug. God knows all the ways we serve people. When we refuse to compromise His standards for the world’s values. When we hold fast to His truth in a corrupt and capitulating culture. None of this escapes His notice.

Neither does our motivation and heart for our works. It is easy to get wrapped up in our life routines of work, school, parenting, grandparenting, running around, and serving and lose our love for God and people. We slip into a mode of survival instead of victorious living. We fall out of loving God and others with a passionate love. A love that comes first and foremost and serves as the impetus for the things we do. Have we, have I, forgotten to love God as I did at first? You know what a “love at first” is like: passionate, joyful, willing, energizing, enthusiastic, all-encompassing. When we first recognize God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we are compelled and excited to love Him back, spend time with Him, share His love with others, and are empowered to love them well. As time moves on and the everydayness of life creeps in, it can crowd out and dampen the flames of our love for God and others. Yet, we are still working. In our own strength. According to our own ideas. For our own purposes.

But God.

He desires our hearts. Our love. Our complete devotion to Him, reliance on His strength, surrender to His ways, and focus on His purposes. And out of that love and devotion the fruit His Spirit will then blossom and feed our everyday labors.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the reminder that You see. You see my works. You see when I don’t give up. You see when I stand up for You. You see how I labor when no one else does. You know my heart. Thank You that Your steadfast love endures forever and that You continually call me to love You first. Show me where my love has waned. Reveal to me where my works and labors have thrown water on the fire of my love for You. Continue to call me to spend time with You, to dwell in You, abide in You. Shower me with Your love so I can in return love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, body, and spirit. Overflow my heart with Your love in order to enable me to love others around me well. To love them in such a way that’s best for them: for their good and Your glory. Give me ears to hear Your Holy Spirit and understand. I praise You for the victory You give in this life and the fruit of eternal life You have prepared for me in the next. To Your name be all honor and praise and glory. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, help me to remember that You see and know all and that my works and labors are to be done unto You.

Am I examining the claims made by all who call themselves Christians and evaluating them based on God’s Word?

Have I fallen from loving God first with a first kind of love?

Of what is God calling me to repent?

Jesus, never let me forget that You command an army of angels and walk amongst Your church. You are here with us and have unfathomable power!

What are the “works” the Lord wants me to do? What are some “works” that He may be calling me to lay down or let go?

Almighty God, thank You for preparing my heart to hear Your Spirit. Prepare it every day and help me to have understanding of Your Word.

Because of Enemies

Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friend - those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:11-14

When I come across scriptures like these I wonder how it relates to me and how I can relate to it. What does God want me to do with it? I don't have enemies. I mean, I've had people over the years I didn't like and who didn't like me, and there are probably some people even now who couldn't care less about me. But enemies? People who hold contempt for me? Conspire against me and plot to take my life? No. I don't experience those things.

So, what is it Lord? What am I to get from these words? You included them for a reason.

And He answers.

We have Christian brothers and sisters who live these verses each and every day. While the exact numbers are unknown, you can only imagine with more than 50 nations that restrict the sharing of the gospel. Our brothers and sisters, bought into the Lord's family the same way we were - by the blood of Jesus - are facing true enemies, contempt of their neighbors, people who flee from them simply because they are Christians, and terror on every side of them. Yet they hold fast to their faith.

What can I do?

I can read the words of God, remember my brothers and sisters in Christ (who will be as precious to me in heaven as my own parents, sister, husband, and children are to me here on earth) and lift them up to the Lord.

We, in Christ, "form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." {Romans 12:5} We are one. We are not to live our convenient, comfortable lives and simply thank God for the blessings He pours out on us. We are to be broken-hearted for those in our family who suffer on a daily basis. And we are to pray.

Pray that they will hold fast to their faith and trust in God completely. Pray they will be delivered from their enemies, but if not, that God's name will be glorified. Pray that they will be bold in their proclamations of the truth of God's love, grace, and mercy through His Son Jesus. Pray that their love will abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that they are able to discern what is best in every situation they face. Pray for workers to come alongside them to help them learn the Word, be able to teach it to others, and be encouraged. Pray that we will never forget, never ignore, never disregard our brothers and sisters persecuted around the world.

Every word in scripture is God-breathed, alive and active, and does not return to Him without completing it's mission. This is true for even the hard words. Ignoring them doesn't change them. Looking into them and opening ourselves to what God wants to say to us through them will change us and bless us beyond comprehension - just not in the ways we always expect.