Rev. 11 [The Message]

When I attended the Bowling Green State University School of Music, I was a member or a choral group that toured with Handel’s Messiah every other year. Every night we would sing the Christmas section of Messiah and ended with the Hallelujah Chorus. I NEVER got tired of singing it. It is infused with the Spirit of God and has taken its text from Rev. 11;

When Handel was composing Messiah, he had rented a room to work and hired a man to bring him meals. On the occasion of the writing of the chorus Hallelujah, the man walked in and found the Composer with his head collapsed on the manuscript. George looked up and declared, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.” There were tear stains on the page containing the chorus.

It’s possibly the greatest single piece of music ever written.

Rev. 7 [The Message]

John saw a limitless multitude of worshipers all dressed in white waving palm branches in their hands before God’s Throne. They all bowed before the Lord and began singing, “Salvation to the Lamb.”

Among them were elders. I am now in the stage of life to be considered “elder.” I’m now 74 and no spring chicken (err … rooster). Anyway, for me to prostrate myself with hopes of getting up again (on my own) is a pipe dream. The body just can’t do what it used to. But MY HEART is more tender than ever. It hurts to raise my hands to the Lord because of arthritis in my shoulders. My hips and knees have all been replaced. I have no pain, but very little mobility.

My point: the body can’t assume the ideal postures of worship, but the heart is as worshipful as ever. Praise the Lord, in Heaven I will have a new body that can jump, run, kneel, whatever it wants to. I know it will want to worship the Lord.

Rev. 7

I have a cousin who believes the earth is flat. He claims to have done extensive research on the subject and is convinced he is right. He uses the scriptural passages that refer to the “four corners of the earth.”

I believe the reasonable explanation is that this is a reference to the extremities of the earth as in East – West – North – South. He also claims that the photos taken from the moon shuttle were all staged to promote a round earth theory.

I love my cousin and refuse to get all worked up over this point. At least he’s studying the Bible.

Rev. 2 [The Message]

The Lord declared to John that He searches the reins and hearts, the mind and emotions and motives of every heart. God doesn’t let deceivers get away with their heresy. Because He X-rays every motive, we should put a priority upon achieving and maintaining pure motives.

Years ago when I was in deep spiritual training to become a worship leader, I became very sensitive to the motives behind singers and their songs. Many were in it for ego, or lust, or money. It’s the sad truth that many motives were and are out-of-bounds. This is all the more reason to seek purity of motive in all we do. We don’t just do the right thing … we do it for the right reason.

Rev. 2 [The Message]

As Christians we often complain about the most minor irritations of life as if we are above them. This is wrong thinking. Christ Jesus rather encourages endurance and perseverance rather than presumptive charismatic escapism. Why? Because Jesus is focused upon providing your reward … a glowing Crown of Eternal Life.

High School Football provides young men with an opportunity to learn to work hard, prepare strategies for success, and endure the hardships of a pounding, physical battle. They labor so hard for a mere letter of the alphabet … a “W.” Can’t we as the inheritors of Heaven and an Eternal Life with God put up with some transient irritations and challenges? Christ promised to us the strength and patience to endure and get the BIG “W!” [1 Cor. 10:13]

Revelation 1 [The Message]

John was “In the Spirit, praying,” when this massive revelation of Christ and the End of Times was revealed. This should motivate us to likewise spend time “In the Spirit, praying.” We never know what great blessing God may have in store for us.

You know how it begins … God’s Spirit quietly whispers, “Now would be a good time to spend in prayer.” Hence, we are Spirit prompted to transition from dealing with life with our own strength to calling upon God’s help to face the challenges of living. Whatever the current challenge is and whomever is being faced with it, we pray.

My son is dealing with neck issues – my granddaughter’s brakes nearly went out – my grandson’s teaching job is really STRESSING him – my daughter is in the beginning stages of “empty nest” grief – these are all issues I tackle with prayer and I REFUSE to allow them to take us under. As I pray, I believe for miracles.

3 John [The Message]

Gaius was commended for making his faith visible by extending hospitality to traveling strangers on their way, He obviously went out of his way to be good to people he didn’t even know. He gave to them.

Nothing given in the name of Christ is wasted. Everything given in the name of Jesus will be replaced and with a blessing. You cannot outgive God. What’s more, God gives back to you in ways that are much more valuable than you deserve. He gives back to you in the lives of those you love.

2 Peter 3 [The Message]

It’s so easy to play God and become incensed over the injustices we see around us. Actually, it is a GOOD THING that we aren’t God … because we will not have had the patience to see those in error repent and be restored to God.

God is not ultimately willing that ANY perish. We’d like to see some people burn … but not God. He sill loves them and is giving them time and space to turn around. It’s His wise restraint that keeps giving them chances to make things right by the cleansing blood of Jesus.

We should pray and act accordingly.

2 Peter 1 [The Message]

Can you imagine how it was for Peter and the early disciples to have walked and lived with Jesus, the miracle-working young man from Nazareth? Christ revealed His divinity through His miracles, having the Voice of God The Father speak out of the heavens on the mount of transfiguration etc. And yet, God’s plan was to send His Son in the flesh to suffer like we do and rise triumphant over the grave.

Peter assuredly declared, “We couldn’t be more sure that this was the Messiah.” The garden tomb was EMPTY!

1 Pet. 5 [The Message]

My mentor, Moses Vegh, used to say,”God doesn’t always pay on Fridays, but HE ALWAYS PAYS.” He was referring to God’s deferred payment process. Actually, we should be ultra glad that God doesn’t operate on an immediate payment basis. If He did, we’d ALL be wiped out.

Christians have rewards awaiting them in heaven. Jesus was constantly preaching, “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” It’s healthy to be generous because God is, but living a generous life is a blast. We get rewarded here with the satisfaction of helping others, and then we have a reward stowed away in heaven.

Payday’s coming.