Month: April 2016

Reflection on John 21:1-19

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Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21.1-19

Scripture

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Observation

Peter and some of the disciples go fishing. Jesus appears on the beach at daybreak. They have caught no fish all night, but Jesus tells them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat. They do so and catch more than they can handle.

John tells Peter, “It is the Lord”, and Peter swims in to the shore while the others stay in the boat. When they are all together Jesus invites them to share breakfast.

After that have eaten, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. He replies, “Yes, you know that I love you. Jesus tells him to feed His sheep. This is repeated twice more.

Application

When we sin in a big way, as Peter had done in denying Jesus, there is needed a process of putting things right so that the relationship with God is re-established.

1. Forgiveness- that is always God’s offer to us when we repent and turn back to Him.

2. Fellowship- we need to spend time enjoying the presence of the the Lord

3- Restoration- this is a recommissioning or a confirmation of our calling and vision of our ministry or purpose.

We often make the mistake of believing the God’s forgiveness is enough. God is relational and desired friendship with us not just a religious transaction. Building that friendship is a process that we grow into.

Prayer

Lord I thank you that you love me and desire to spend time with me and invest in my life. Help me to seek you, going beyond repentance and into deep fellowship with you. Amen.

The “Beast” Revealed

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Who is the Beast of the Book of Revelation? There are many fanciful and wrong ideas about this, but many Bible scholars are now pointing to the Roman Emperor Nero.

J.D. King writes in the World Revival Network blog:

idolWho The ‘Beast of Revelation’ Really Is

As far back as I can remember people have been speculating about the “Antichrist,” an evil figure referenced in portions of the New Testament.

After President Ronald Wilson Reagan was shot and miraculously recovered in 1981, people made the ridiculous assertion that he was the prophesied evil figure of “end-times.” It didn’t help that his first, middle, and last name all had six letters (666).

At that same time, others argued that the Antichrist was Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev or Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. Less than a decade later Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians were insisting that the “Man of sin” was actually Iraqi Saddam Hussein in the land once known as Babylon.

Later, I learned that previous generations believed that the Antichrist was Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy or Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany. The actual listing of individuals identified with this role is quite long and ludicrous. Whatever nation happens to be the current enemy of America (or Israel) usually supplies us with the current candidates for the antichrist.[1]

Obviously there’s a lot of misunderstanding and misapplication here. Many of our collective anxieties and fears are coloring our readings of the Bible. We’re bringing into the text things Scripture never actually articulates. Much of this happens because of our confusion about the Bible and ignorance of the apocalyptic genre. We don’t comprehend its intended meaning or its use of fierce imagery and symbols.

Read the full article here

Reflection on Revelation 5:11-14

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Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+5.11-14

Scripture

To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honour and glory and power

for ever and ever!

Observation

In heaven the voices of many angels sing glory to the Lord- ten thousand times ten thousand of them. They sing, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive honour.”

Then the whole of creation joins in- every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea.

Application

This is a massive chorus of praise to God- the millions of angels and then every creature in the whole of creation.

The time is coming when even those who deny the Lord will be forced to honour Him and recognise that He is worthy of praise,

The whole of creation praises the Lord- every bird and animal, the flowers and fish, the stars and comets. There is an awesome symphony of praise to God going on constantly.

At the moment we see this very dimly and join in imperfectly. The effects of sin in our world blind us to the glory of God. But the day is coming when we will see the Lord as He really is, and then our worship will be pure.

So for now we praise in part and worship weakly. But we need to give Him all that we can, for He is worthy of our praise.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the Lamb who was slain. I praise you. I thank you for dying for my sin. I thank you for the privilege of being a part of your kingdom. May my days be filled with your praise. Amen

Reflection on Acts 9:1-20

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saul

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9.1-20

Scripture

The Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”

Observation

Saul is breathing murderous threats against the followers of Jesus. He receives authority from the High Priest to go to Damascus and bring back in captivity any disciples there.

Along the road he has an encounter with Jesus and is struck blind. He goes on to Damascus and eats nothing for three days,

A believer named Ananias is told by the Lord to go to Saul and lay hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias does this, and Saul is immediately healed.

Saul then spends several days in Damascus preaching about Jesus in the synagogues.

Application

When a person has an encounter with Christ, everything is changed. No matter how opposed to God they may be, a real meeting with Christ is life-changing.

We need to pray more intensely for our unsaved friends and family members, that they will come to see Jesus face to face.

The church is good at evangelism programmes and revival meetings. But just one touch from the Lord will set a person on the path to salvation far more quickly than a dozen programmes.

Prayer

Lord please help me to pray fervently for my unsaved friends to be touched by Jesus. Amen.