An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 2

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Let's start our journey into the worship in Revelation by looking at the attributes and descriptions of the LORD in the book of Revelation.

These are taken only from the poetic worship and hymns in Revelation alone.*

In just these short hymns we learn that God is:

1. Holy
2. Eternal
3. Worthy
4. Creator
5. Our sacrifice
6. King
7. Judge
8. Rewarder
9. Just
10. True 
11. Righteous

We are told God is deserving of: 

1. Praise
2. Power
3. Wealth
4. Wisdom
5. Might
6. Honor
7. Glory
8. Blessing
9. Thanksgiving
10. Thanks
11. Worship

What an amazing amount of information about our Lord in just a small number of verses!
And now, knowing more about His character, we can move into holy worship of our Saviour.
Hallelujah.

*Taken from Revelation 4:8,4:11, 5:9-13, 7:12, 11:17-18, 15:3-7, 19:2-3 and 19:5

An Antidote to PTSD* (*Prophecy, Timeline & Symbols Distraction) Part 1

We're going to start a series focusing on a main theme in Revelation. Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is known for the much debated prophetic views that surround it. Christians tend to see Revelation as first and foremost a book on prophecy. We all to often view worship as tangential to the theme. In doing so, I think we miss many blessings. Revelation has a lot to teach us about worship. Did you know that many theologians consider worship to be more prominent in Revelation than any other book of the Bible?

Disappointed we aren't talking about world events, timelines, blood and predictions? Wait! Worship isn't a boring topic even in the face of prophecy. It is actually a very exciting and relevant study, so I hope you'll come along so we can look at these things together.

Revelation is meant to adjust our perspective. More on that later. We can learn much about our LORD just by studying the worship due Him. A few of the things we'll touch on in our study are: divine patterns of worship, true and false worship, threats to true worship, what worship tells us about God through God the Father and Jesus the Son, reasons God is worshipped, and how the worship in Revelation reflected Old Testament worship patterns and might give us an insight into true worship in the church.


One fact to wet your whistle today before we part:

Did you know that in the book of Revelation, every stage of God's victory in chapters 7-19 is accompanied by worship in heaven? Through most of Revelation, the focus of the worship of Christ is focused in the heavenlies, not on earth. We see the earthly focus of worship associated with the antichrist and earthly songs in lament of Babylon. Are you wondering about the significance of the heavenly focus? Stay tuned!

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The Mourner Comforted

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Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

By the valley of weeping we come to Zion. One would have thought mourning and being blessed were in opposition, but the infinitely wise Savior puts them together in this Beatitude. What He has joined together let no man put asunder. Mourning for sin—our own sins, and the sins of others—is the Lord's seal set upon His faithful ones. When the Spirit of grace is poured upon the house of David, or any other house, they shall mourn. By holy mourning we receive the best of our blessings, even as the rarest commodities come to us by water. Not only shall the mourner be blessed at some future day, but Christ pronounces him blessed even now.

The Holy Spirit will surely comfort those hearts which mourn for sin. They shall be comforted by the application of the blood of Jesus and by the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost. They shall be comforted as to the abounding sin of their city and of their age by the assurance that God will glorify Himself, however much men may rebel against Him. They shall be comforted with the expectation that they shall be wholly freed from sin before long and shall soon be taken up to dwell forever in the glorious presence of their Lord.

-C.H. Spurgeon

Forget Not His Benefits

Forget not all His benefits—Psalm 103:2.

T is a delightful and profitable occupation to mark the hand of God in the lives of ancient saints, and to observe His goodness in delivering them, His mercy in pardoning them, and His faithfulness in keeping His covenant with them. But would it not be even more interesting and profitable for us to remark the hand of God in our own lives?

 Ought we not to look upon our own history as being at least as full of God, as full of His goodness and of His truth, as much a proof of His faithfulness and veracity, as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that He wrought all His mighty acts, and showed Himself strong for those in the early time, but doth not perform wonders or lay bare His arm for the saints who are now upon the earth.

 Let us review our own lives. Surely in these we may discover some happy incidents, refreshing to ourselves and glorifying to our God. Have you had no deliverances? Have you passed through no rivers, supported by the divine presence? Have you walked through no fires unharmed? Have you had no manifestations? Have you had no choice favours? The God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart, hath He never listened to you and answered your requests? That God of lavish bounty of whom David sang, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things," hath He never satiated you with fatness? Have you never been made to lie down in green pastures? Have you never been led by the still waters? Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. 

Let us, then, weave His mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David's harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endureth for ever.

-C.H. Spurgeon

Coping with Heat, Humidity and Hot Tempers

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Don't let the heat get you hot under the collar.

Funny how fast our tempers can flare when we are heated, tired or uncomfortable. Did we really just pick the wrong grocery store line again?? On top of that, she has to do ANOTHER price check?? The car that uses the turn lane to dart ahead of everyone that has patiently waited their turn just picked us to get in front of and we're already late for work. There can be many reasons we become short of patience. 

Maybe Proverbs can be of help offering us some perspective.

Proverbs 19:11 says:  A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Easier said then done. Need more motivation? Want to persuade someone to your point of view? 

A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 21:15)

Finally, it is paramount for us to remember that like the Apostle Paul wrote of himself, we are examples to the nations of God's character and transforming power:

But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16)

Now that we've cooled off, let's relax with a cool glass of water and go be a light!

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“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

All Scripture taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Power of Prayer

“The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.”

-John Chrysostom