The Passion Week, Part 5

In today's study we conclude our look at Luke 19:28-42 and Daniel 9 to see that the day in which Christ entered the Eastern Gate into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, was prophesied by the prophet Daniel. 

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The Passion Week, Part 4

In today's study we continue to look at Luke 19:28-42 and Daniel 9 to see that the day in which Christ entered the Eastern Gate into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, was prophesied by the prophet Daniel.

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The Passion Week, Part 3

In today's study we continue to look at Luke 19:28-42 and Daniel 9 to see that the day in which Christ entered the Eastern Gate into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, was prophesied by the prophet Daniel.

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The Passion Week, Part 2

In today's study we continue to look at Luke 19:28-42 and Daniel 9 to see that the day in which Christ entered the Eastern Gate into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, was prophesied by the prophet Daniel.

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The Passion Week, Part 1

In today's study we look closely at Luke 19:28-42 and Daniel 9 to see that the day in which Christ entered the Eastern Gate into Jerusalem, which we call Palm Sunday, was prophesied by the prophet Daniel.

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Twoedged Sword - Revelation 1:16

Last week, we left off talking about the sword mentioned in Revelation 1:16 where it says, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” If you study the history of the two edged sword, you will find that it was developed and mastered by the Romans. As a matter of fact, it is credited with the rapid rise of the Roman Empire. 

While Rome had many strengths, it is no doubt that the two edged was one of its greatest. When other nations were still using a single edged sword that could only cut one direction in combat, the Romans had mastered the two edged sword that could cut in both. Therefore, the Roman solder was twice as lethal as their enemy on the battlefield. Their sword definitely gave them a great advantage.

Another interesting note is that the Word of God is compared to a two edged sword as we mentioned last week. As a two edged sword it represents the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This verse shows us both the truth and the severity of the Word of God. If it is allowed to cut one way, it can be a surgical scalpel that the Master Physician uses to repair heal, remove, and restore. Ephesians 5:27 speaks of this process when it says, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” 

However, the Word of God may also cut another way and be an instrument of judgment. The Bible says that when Jesus returns for the second time in Revelation 19:15 that “…out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” So, the Word of God can be both an instrument of healing and an instrument of judgment. It’s entirely up to us which way it will cut in our lives. Which way is it cutting in your life?

Notice also in this verse that "his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” I am reminded of Exodus 33:18-22 when Moses asked the Lord if he could see Him. God’s response was, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” 

Can you imagine the brilliance of God? He told Moses that no man could look upon Him and live to tell about it. John 1:18 says, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” In the end, Moses was only allowed to see God’s “back parts” (Ex 33:23), and yet we’re told in Exodus 34:29-35 that Moses’ skin was so bright after being exposed to God’s “back parts” that the people couldn’t even look at him. We are future told that Moses had to cover his face with a veil so that the people could even be in his presence. Can you imagine what would have happened if Moses had seen God’s face? He probably would have been vaporized!

You know that’s the way it should be. People should know when we’ve been in the presence of God. Acts 4:13 says, “And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” I’ll be honest, some of the nastiest, bitterest, and meanest people I know, claim to be Christians. They look like they’ve been baptized in lemon juice every time I see them! They are always mad about something or someone. If they really are the Christians they claim to be, it’s obvious that they have not been in God’s presence for quite some time. They are not giving off any glow that I can see. How about you? Do people know that you’re a Christian by your glow?    

Directional Devo - Ephesians 4:1-2

In today's study we find that Paul now transitions from doctrine to duty by asking each of us walk worthy in lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and in love.


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I am also now live streaming each devo on Facebook, Monday through Friday, at 6:30 a.m. Join me and say hello!

 

Directional Devo - Ephesians 3:14-21

In today's study we see how Paul's prayer is that the inner man might be strengthened so that Christ might dwell in our hearts by faith, to the end that we might be rooted and grounded in love. 

I am also now live streaming each devo on Facebook, Monday through Friday, at 6:30 a.m. Join me!

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Directional Devo - Ephesians 3:9-13

In today's study we see that it has been God's plan all along for the Jew and the Gentile to be brought into one body called the church by the preaching of the gospel.

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Portrait of Jesus - Revelation 1:11-16

Let’s pick up our study this week in Revelation 1:11 where it says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." Here are the instructions that are given to John. He is to write everything that he sees in a book and send it to seven churches in Asia.

Now look at v.12, “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands.” We will find out later in v.20 that these seven golden lampstands represent each of the seven churches that are mentioned in v.11. 

Now notice v.13-14, “and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;” It’s interesting that we really do not have a detailed physical description of Jesus anywhere in the Bible or in history. We don’t know how tall he was. We don’t know if he had curly or straight hair. There are just no real details given on his physical appearance.

Something that I have found as I have traveled all over the world as a serviceman, missionary, and pastor is that we all want to portray him as looking like “us”. I’ve seen a black Jesus, a white Jesus, a Hispanic Jesus, and an Asian Jesus. However, in reality he was a Jewish Jesus and as such, looked like a Jew. Also, in Isaiah 53:2-3 we told that he was not out of the ordinary or above normal in his looks and appearance when it says, “For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” I’m humored many times when I see the pictures of Jesus with blue eyes and the perfectly manicured beard. It’s almost a “Glamour Shots” portrayal of him. That’s not what the Bible teaches about his appearance. He was a normal man to look upon.

Look at v.15-16 which says, “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” Brass in the Bible always represents judgment and that’s exactly what Jesus is going to bring with him at his Second Coming in Revelation 19. 

Notice also that he “had in His right hand seven stars.” We are told in v.20 that these seven stars are the seven angels to each of the seven churches. The word angel means messenger. Since John was writing this letter to real churches, we can only assume that these angels are terrestrial (earthly) and not celestial (heavenly). After all, it was the earthly angels that were going to have to read the letters to their churches. So, the angels are the pastors of the seven churches. It feels pretty good to be reminded that I and my other pastor friends are referred to as angels in the Bible. I wish everyone thought of us that way!

And then finally, look at the last part of the verse that says, “out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” The sword is the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Also, Paul when speaking to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 6:17 encouraged them to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” We will discuss this in more detail next time.