11/14/14- Vision of Heaven- Rev. 4

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^a of God. 6Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. (Revelation 4) 

Thoughts: Heaven was opened to John.  He saw the rare sight (to us) of God on the throne.  Even Moses, who asked to see this, didn't get to see this.
     What John saw was beyond beautiful.  It is a similar vision as commonly described by those who have had near death experiences.  There is color, beauty.  John uses the prettiest things he has seen- precious gems, rare jewels, colorful rainbows to describe what he saw in heaven.  But such words while perhaps a true approximation are just an approximation.  Heaven is beautiul, and is described as such.  God is not only awesome in beauty but He is also awesome in power.  The pagan god-king, Zeus (Jupiter) held thunderbolts in his hands.  Thunder and lightning are great images of power.  God is on the throne.  He sees all and is powerful enough to help.  By faith we can put our trust in the One who is on the throne. 

Prayer: Lord, may I trust in your awesome power.  

9/29/13- Praising God for a Reason

 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God,    to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,    and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:10,11)

Thoughts: The Bible gives us a glimpse of the content of praise in heaven, which also gives us an idea of how we should praise on earth (even as we pray on earth as it is in heaven).
First God is worthy- the word "worship" is a contraction of the word "worthy-ship" and really means giving God His worth.  In heaven worship will not be a task but a real joy (this seems so foreign to us).
What is He worthy of?  glory, honor and power.  All of these things come from God- and should go back (reflect back) to God.  We are created to glorify and honor God.  We are created to give our power- our energy- our life back to Him.
    He is worthy of our power because He created everything by His will- so life is returned back to the Creator and Redeemer.

Prayer: Help me to give you all of my honor, glory and power now, Lord, for you are worthy of my life now as well as in the life to come.  

9/29/13- A Month in Prayer Begins

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Thoughts: The inner most song- the four cherubim around the throne sing is a song of holiness, power, and a song of the Trinity.
    The Trinity- the three I ams in one I am is found in the triplicate- "Holy, holy, holy.  It is found in the three names of the the one God- Lord, God, and Almighty.  He is over all in terms of allegiance, created all, and rules over all. The three in oneness is found in terms of time- He was, is and is to come. Past present and future all point to the trinity.  
    It is a song of power, person, and punctuality.  

    God is a holy God- unpolluted, unpoisoned with sin, brilliantly clean, absolutely perfect in morals, in person, in love.  The word "holy" means "other" or "different."  God is different from us- and that is a good thing.  This difference points to Creation.  Whereas pantheists and panentheists have a hard time saying God is different or holy- or that there is such a thing as holy.  For them God is only tolerance and love. 

     There was never a time when God was not.  God always is- He is never not present.  He is always to be trusted to come.  He comes to us in our time of need; He comes when no one else does. 

Prayer: Let me trust in your holiness, power, and ever-present love.