Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
2 Chronicles 4:6
He then made ten basins for washing and placed five on the south side and five on the north. In them the things to be used for the burnt offerings were rinsed, but the Sea was to be used by the priests for washing.
John 2:7
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
John 4:14
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
These descriptions of Heaven over the last few weeks have been so rich in imagery. This week is no exception. This river that is spoken of here in Revelations; what does it look like? How big is it? How wide? There are rivers.. and then there are rivers… I’ve traveled with my family across the great Mississippi river a time or two. What a magnificent sight. As much as two miles wide in some places, it brings life and livelihood to all of the peoples of the region. Good and services are transported on it. Water from it supplies every municipality within miles. It provides an outlet and an inlet into the Gulf of Mexico, thus making it a fresh water port for international commerce. It’s affect on our nation’s economy is as grand as it’s banks are wide. That’s a river.
So then, what of this Heavenly River of Life? How magnificent must it be? How grand? What impact must it have on all living creatures throughout the universe? Water, flowing in great volume, is a powerful force. A tool for great construction and change and benefit when channeled properly. Destructive beyond imagination when unbridled and swollen beyond it’s banks by rain and storm. Perhaps no natural resource better exemplifies the power of God than the imagery of a flowing river or a great raging sea. And so, this great crystal river that we see coming from the throne, this grand, magnificent, River of Life; how appropriate a description for the Holy Spirit of God, The Ruach Ha’Kodesh, the very ‘Breath’ or ‘Wind’ of God? The kind of imagery provided in these passages helps us to keep our perspective in check. We serve a big God. We serve a God who is All Mighty, All Powerful. The power of His Holy Spirit then is as immeasurable as the imagery of this great River of Life suggest. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is revealed, countless souls have been saved and the Church is sustained and nourished. So has it been since God said, ‘Let there light’. The Holy Spirit seeks no glory for He is the very Glory or Shekinah of God, the very essence of all life emanating from that great crystal river; the River of the Water of Life. Thank God for sending us His Spirit, bring us the everlasting, Zoe kind of life that will replenish us for all eternity.
I hope I’ve left you with some images that speak to the Majesty of God, whom we serve, over the last several weeks. I have certainly been challenged and blessed in my thinking about this that is Eternal. I pray that you have been too.
Blessings,
.wb
Revelation 22:1
[ Eden Restored ] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Isaiah 55:11
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for May 22, 2011: New Order of Things (Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27)
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Peter 3:11-12
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[a] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
Indeed! What kind of people ought we to be in these last days, as we eagerly await the return of our Lord? A little soul searching is required here. Are you allowing yourself to be changed? God will renew all things. All things. And when he does, only those who have been made new by Him will get to be where He is. It’s a little like that room in your Great Aunt’s house. The formal living room with the good furniture still covered in plastic? Don’t you have an aunt like that? No playing in that room. There’s no television, nothing. Heaven won’t be quite that exclusive. There will be millions of people there, and all kinds of other beings, but, all who reside there will have been ‘made new’ by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony. Will you be in that number? Matthew tells me that ‘only the pure in heart will see God’. Paul tells us that we have to let go of our past and count everything but ‘dung’ for the excellence of the ‘knowledge of Christ’. Jesus said that we couldn’t worship Him and money. James warns that I can’t be double minded (undecided).
The practice of sin should be dealt with in the life of every believer. No, none of us are perfect, and yes, we will all still sin (everyday), but… ‘Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound?’ You know the answer. ‘Heaven forbid. What then? What are we to do? Remember, everyday, every moment, who you are in Christ: whose you are and at what cost. Remember the Cross and what it delivered you from. Remember what you’ve believed. We’ve been redeemed, bought, purchased with the shed blood of Christ. Our very souls have been washed in that blood and made new: as new as new can be. Rejoice and Rest in this ‘newness of life’. Put away old things: old habits, old hurts, old failures, old successes and put on Christ. Old things will indeed ‘pass away’ if you let them. Let ‘em go. Let that old life go.. There won’t be any suitcases in Heaven. No baggage. God won’t allow it. You’ve got mansions awaiting you, fully furnished. Leave that old stuff here. You can’t take it with you..
Blessings,
.wb
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Peter 3:11-12
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[a] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
Indeed! What kind of people ought we to be in these last days, as we eagerly await the return of our Lord? A little soul searching is required here. Are you allowing yourself to be changed? God will renew all things. All things. And when he does, only those who have been made new by Him will get to be where He is. It’s a little like that room in your Great Aunt’s house. The formal living room with the good furniture still covered in plastic? Don’t you have an aunt like that? No playing in that room. There’s no television, nothing. Heaven won’t be quite that exclusive. There will be millions of people there, and all kinds of other beings, but, all who reside there will have been ‘made new’ by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony. Will you be in that number? Matthew tells me that ‘only the pure in heart will see God’. Paul tells us that we have to let go of our past and count everything but ‘dung’ for the excellence of the ‘knowledge of Christ’. Jesus said that we couldn’t worship Him and money. James warns that I can’t be double minded (undecided).
The practice of sin should be dealt with in the life of every believer. No, none of us are perfect, and yes, we will all still sin (everyday), but… ‘Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound?’ You know the answer. ‘Heaven forbid. What then? What are we to do? Remember, everyday, every moment, who you are in Christ: whose you are and at what cost. Remember the Cross and what it delivered you from. Remember what you’ve believed. We’ve been redeemed, bought, purchased with the shed blood of Christ. Our very souls have been washed in that blood and made new: as new as new can be. Rejoice and Rest in this ‘newness of life’. Put away old things: old habits, old hurts, old failures, old successes and put on Christ. Old things will indeed ‘pass away’ if you let them. Let ‘em go. Let that old life go.. There won’t be any suitcases in Heaven. No baggage. God won’t allow it. You’ve got mansions awaiting you, fully furnished. Leave that old stuff here. You can’t take it with you..
Blessings,
.wb
Sunday School Lesson for May 15, 2011: Thankful Worship (Revelation 7:9-17)
Isaiah 25:8
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
Luke 7:38
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
I can’t speak for everyone, only myself.. You see, as I’ve gotten older I’ve become much more prone to emotionalism. I know I shouldn’t admit it, but .. I cry easily. As I’ve matured, grown more comfortable in my skin, I’ve actually found that it’s ok to cry sometimes. I tear up at the movies. I tear up at funerals, weddings. I tear up when the news is good …. and bad. It’s ok. It just means that I’ve been overcome. Overcome. There will some among you who will not agree with me, but I think that when I get to heaven, I’ll tear up from time to time. Real tears. And among the most pleasant thoughts that this passage of scripture brings to mind is that Father God will provide… a shoulder to cry on. Won’t that be something? You see, I count myself in that great multitude that ‘no man can number’. I will have been though some stuff. I’ve been delivered from a bunch of stuff already. Haven’t you? Add that to the fact that I’ll be reunited with loved ones who’ve gone on before me and continually meeting others who believed like I believed, experiencing the joy that comes with meeting new ‘family’ members. I’m sure that, from time to time, I’ll just be over whelmed. And when those times come… I’ll go to the Throne.. and get a hug… (I’m trying not to tear up here). I thoughtfully submit this for your consideration and reflection. God loves you. He really does. And like any father, when you get to heaven, He’ll be waiting for you, just you, with open arms. For just a moment.. allow yourself to imagine… the embrace of the Father…
Blessings,
.wb
Acts 20:37
They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
p.s. please forgive me for submitting this lesson a week late. I almost didn’t submit it at all, but the thought was too precious not to share. Blessings..
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
Luke 7:38
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
I can’t speak for everyone, only myself.. You see, as I’ve gotten older I’ve become much more prone to emotionalism. I know I shouldn’t admit it, but .. I cry easily. As I’ve matured, grown more comfortable in my skin, I’ve actually found that it’s ok to cry sometimes. I tear up at the movies. I tear up at funerals, weddings. I tear up when the news is good …. and bad. It’s ok. It just means that I’ve been overcome. Overcome. There will some among you who will not agree with me, but I think that when I get to heaven, I’ll tear up from time to time. Real tears. And among the most pleasant thoughts that this passage of scripture brings to mind is that Father God will provide… a shoulder to cry on. Won’t that be something? You see, I count myself in that great multitude that ‘no man can number’. I will have been though some stuff. I’ve been delivered from a bunch of stuff already. Haven’t you? Add that to the fact that I’ll be reunited with loved ones who’ve gone on before me and continually meeting others who believed like I believed, experiencing the joy that comes with meeting new ‘family’ members. I’m sure that, from time to time, I’ll just be over whelmed. And when those times come… I’ll go to the Throne.. and get a hug… (I’m trying not to tear up here). I thoughtfully submit this for your consideration and reflection. God loves you. He really does. And like any father, when you get to heaven, He’ll be waiting for you, just you, with open arms. For just a moment.. allow yourself to imagine… the embrace of the Father…
Blessings,
.wb
Acts 20:37
They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
p.s. please forgive me for submitting this lesson a week late. I almost didn’t submit it at all, but the thought was too precious not to share. Blessings..
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sunday School Lesson for May 8, 2011: Perpetual Praise (Revelation 4)
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (New International Version
13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God
Isaiah 6:1-4
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Job 38:7
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
What do you think? How will you respond to Glory? Will you fall to your knees in eternal gratitude for being allowed to enter in by the shed blood of Jesus? How will you feel? Will you be overcome with emotion when you think of how far He brought you? What will it be like? Will the atmosphere be charged with the Glory of the Eternal, Almighty, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, so vibrant and so alive that you can feel it in your bones? What do the angels look like? And the creatures surrounding the Throne, shouting, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’, how magnificent, how (for lack of a better word) fearsome or ferocious might they seem? Will you even be able to breathe? How long will you be able to look upon He who sits on the Throne of Heaven before you have to avert your gaze because of the shear brilliance of His Glory? Every knee will bow. Will that be reflexive, based on all of the dynamism on display? Will it be voluntary on your part because you know, finally know that you know that you know. Every tongue will confess. What will you utter? How will it sound? Will you even be able to hear yourself speak? Will you shout? If you shout, will it be to hear yourself over the cacophony of praise and adulation that is constantly, constantly going forth? How loud is Heaven? What does Peace sound like when it’s perfect? Did you know that the stars will sing? How will that sound? What about the rocks praising Him? Will you be able to keep up?
Beloved, everything we do here is but dress rehearsal for what we will do there. However you do that, whatever you do when you get your praise on, do it with all your heart, all your soul and all your understanding. Love hard. Serve hard. Praise hard! Give from a very deep place. When it’s my time to stand before Him, I don’t want to have a lot of catching up to do. What about you?
Blessings…
.wb
13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
“He is good;
his love endures forever.”
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, 14 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God
Isaiah 6:1-4
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
Job 38:7
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
What do you think? How will you respond to Glory? Will you fall to your knees in eternal gratitude for being allowed to enter in by the shed blood of Jesus? How will you feel? Will you be overcome with emotion when you think of how far He brought you? What will it be like? Will the atmosphere be charged with the Glory of the Eternal, Almighty, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, so vibrant and so alive that you can feel it in your bones? What do the angels look like? And the creatures surrounding the Throne, shouting, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’, how magnificent, how (for lack of a better word) fearsome or ferocious might they seem? Will you even be able to breathe? How long will you be able to look upon He who sits on the Throne of Heaven before you have to avert your gaze because of the shear brilliance of His Glory? Every knee will bow. Will that be reflexive, based on all of the dynamism on display? Will it be voluntary on your part because you know, finally know that you know that you know. Every tongue will confess. What will you utter? How will it sound? Will you even be able to hear yourself speak? Will you shout? If you shout, will it be to hear yourself over the cacophony of praise and adulation that is constantly, constantly going forth? How loud is Heaven? What does Peace sound like when it’s perfect? Did you know that the stars will sing? How will that sound? What about the rocks praising Him? Will you be able to keep up?
Beloved, everything we do here is but dress rehearsal for what we will do there. However you do that, whatever you do when you get your praise on, do it with all your heart, all your soul and all your understanding. Love hard. Serve hard. Praise hard! Give from a very deep place. When it’s my time to stand before Him, I don’t want to have a lot of catching up to do. What about you?
Blessings…
.wb
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