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How to Sustain Your Prayer Meeting

Filed under: Intercession

I’ve talked a bit about how to start a prayer meeting as well as the different aspects involved in leading a prayer meeting. In this article I’m going to cover the question “how do I sustain my prayer meeting?”

Small Groups (Developing Community)

Acts 2:42-46 gives us a great example of how the early churched sustained prayer and their community. It says they continued steadfastly in 4 things: 1) the apostles’ doctrine, 2) fellowship, 3) the breaking of bread, and 4) in prayers. In Acts 2:46 it says “continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house…”

If we are going to sustain our prayer meetings it must be coupled with the study of the word and fellowship. Add to your weekly prayer meeting weekly small groups where you can build community while going deep in the word together and even add in a bit of food to the mix.

A couple of things I want to mention are to make the prayer meeting and the small groups on 2 different days. Make your prayer meeting the primary thing with your small group the thing that is adjustable. As your prayer meeting grows increase the number of small groups. Find leaders who are willing to lead a bible study and care about other people.

If your community is connected outside the prayer meeting then your prayer meeting will be stronger and last. Be blessed and keep the fire burning.

Tags: Christianity, Intercession, Prayer, Small Groups

Revelation: 7 Main Symbols

Filed under: End Times

Inside of the “Angelic Explanations” or (parenthetical sections), we find these 7 main symbols. When we look to understand the book of Revelation and to interpret its meaning, we should interpret Revelation in the plain sense reading of the text (the literal interpretation). It’s numbers are literal unless the Scripture specifically indicates that they are symbolic.

Here are the 7 Symbols and their meanings.

1. The dragon: is always symbolic of Satan (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4; 16:13; 20:2).
2. The first Beast: is symbolic of the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11; 17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10).
3. Another Beast: is symbolic of the False Prophet who is only called, “another Beast” one time (Rev. 13:11).
4. The 7 heads: are 7 empires from history that persecuted Israel (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, revived Roman Empire of Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7, 20, 24; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3-16).
5. The 10 horns: speak of a future 10-nation confederation of ten kings (Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7, 12-14, 16-18).
6. The Harlot Babylon: will be established in the literal re-built city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq as a worldwide demonic religious and economic center (Rev. 17-18; Jer. 50-51).
7. The Woman with the Mail-child (Jesus): the woman is the faithful remnant of Israel through history (Rev. 12:1-5). Satan wars with her offspring who are Gentile believers (Rev. 12:17).

Tags: 10 Horns, 5 Chronological, 5 Parenthetical, 7 Bowls, 7 Heads, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, Antichrist, Babylon, Beast, Christianity, Dragon, End Times, Eschatology, False Prophet, God’s Wrath, Great Tribulation, Harlot Babylon, Interpretation, Jesus, John, Prophecy, Rapture, revelation, Satan, Symbolism, The Bride, The Woman

Revelation: 5 Chronological & 5 Angelic Explanations

Filed under: End Times

Revelation: 5 Chronological & 5 Angelic Explanations

In the last article in this series I laid out the 4 Part Overview of the Book of Revelation. Part 4 is the story line of the book unfolding here on earth. It spans from chapter 6 to 21, so putting it into one part of a 4-part overview doesn’t help much unless we unpack it. So that is where this next part comes in.

5 Chronological Sections

As the story line unfolds, there are 5 sections of the book that happen in chronological order, we call these the 5 Chronological Sections… very clever, I know. These 5 sections give the details, as they happen in succession, in which God’s judgment on the Antichrist’s empire unfolds on earth.

5 Angelic Explanations

During the process of unveiling the story as it happens in order, from one thing to the next, there is a pause in the story line. There is a pause after each of the 5 Chronological Sections. This pause allows for further explanation to give details and insight into what happens to God’s people. These sections answer some of the tough questions such as “Why is God’s wrath so severe?” and “What will happen to the saints?”

Chronological Section #1: Seal Judgments (Rev. 6:1-17)
- Angelic Explanation #1: Protection from judgments and falling away (Rev. 7:1-17)
Chronological Section #2: Trumpet Judgments against Antichrist (Rev. 8:1-9:21)
- Angelic Explanation #2: Direction by increase of prophetic ministry (Rev. 10:1-11:13)
Chronological Section #3: 2nd Coming Procession (Rev. 11:15-19)
- Angelic Explanation #3: Confrontation against saints by Antichrist (Rev. 12:1-14:20)
Chronological Section #4: Bowl Judgments (Rev. 15:1-16:21)
- Angelic Explanation #4: Seduction by Bablyon’s evil religion (Rev. 17:1-19:10)
Chronological Section #5: Triumphal Entry (Rev. 19:11-21:8)
- Angelic Explanation #5: Restoration of all things (Rev. 21:9-22:5)

In the next article in this series I’ll go over the 7 Primary Symbols that occur in the Angelic Explanations.

Tags: 5 Chronological, 5 Parenthetical, 7 Bowls, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, Antichrist, Babylon, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, God's Wrath, Great Tribulation, Jesus, John, Prophecy, Rapture, revelation, The Bride

Revelation: The Basics

Filed under: End Times

Here it is in its most basic form. It’s not difficult, and it’s not my opinion mixed in with interpretations, it is just a plain sense reading of the book of revelation and breaking it down into 4 parts.

4 Part Overview of the Book of Revelation:

1. John’s Calling (Chpt. 1)
2. 7 Letters (Chpts. 2, 3)
3. Jesus Takes the Scroll (Chpts. 4, 5)
4. Jesus’ Battle Plan (Chpts. 6 – 21)

Simple. It is of course missing the details, but its a great way to approach the book.

So now that we’ve figured out that it isn’t so difficult to wrap our minds around, let’s just look at these 4 sections  and break it down a little further.

Part 1: John’s Calling to prophecy about the end times (Chpt. 1): In chapter 1 John is given a commission to prophesy in writing the things he has seen through the lens of Jesus’ majesty.

Part 2: Jesus gives 7 Letters (Chpts. 2, 3): In chapters 2 and 3 Jesus is speaking throughout the 2 chapters and giving the 7 churches exhortations to be overcomers.

Part 3: Jesus Takes the Scroll (Chpts. 4, 5): In chapters 4 and 5 Jesus takes the scroll and given His mandate to take over the earth. In these chapters we also get a glimpse of the throne room of heaven.

Part 4: Jesus’ Battle Plan (Chpts. 6 – 21): In these chapters we are taken through the story line of Jesus’ actions to cleanse the earth (Great Tribulation). In these passages there are 2 main literary sections:

1. 5 Chronological Sections (the chronological order in which God’s judgments unfold on earth)
2. 5 Angelic Explanations (the story line is put on “pause” to answer important questions)

Tags: 7 Churches, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, Great Tribulation, Jesus, John, Overview, Prophecy, revelation

The Book of Revelation is for Everyone

Filed under: End Times

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.” (Rev. 1:1)

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Rev. 1:3)

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.” (Rev. 1:7)

I’m not a super theologian. I also haven’t yet heard the audible voice of God. Yet I know that the book of Revelation is meant to be read and meant to be understood. It’s the only book in the Bible that has both a blessing for those that read, hear and keep the words of this book, and a curse for those who add to it or take away from it.

This book is one of those in the Bible that many avoid. People read the good parts of course; Many times when they start to read the Bible in any regular fashion most want to see what happens in the end. They see that we win and many times that’s it. That’s good enough for them. They don’t hear about it too often from the pulpit, and they aren’t encouraged to study it. 

If however, they decide to push a little farther, they then come upon the seals, trumpets, and bowls, the beast with 7 heads with 10 horns, and some woman and a dragon who wants to kill her offspring.  Usually, because of the symbols, people think they can’t really understand the symbols and start to avoid those parts because they think they don’t apply to their life today.

So many say to themselves (even if they aren’t aware of it) “I’ll take the good stuff and not worry about the stuff I don’t get” and they leave it at that.

However, this is a dangerous place to be. From this place people may begin to take scripture out of context and misunderstand the very truths Jesus wanted us to know. Also a very deep motivation for living for the age to come lies dormant and people fail to develop vision to live for more than this life, believing that either “we won’t be here” or “it will all pan out in the end”.

I’ve heard people say “It’s too difficult to understand” or “it’s not meant for general reading.” 

All of the Bible, including the book of Revelation, was meant for everyone to read and understand. Sure, you may not get it on the first go-around, but go back a 2nd time and a 3rd (The Bible isn’t meant to be read once). Also, throughout history the majority of the people in the world have been uneducated peasants. This book, as well as every other book in the Bible, was meant to be understood in its plain sense reading of the text as read by an average reader. It is NOT meant for only the elite, PHD, highly intelligent, super theologians of the world and then explained to the rest of us. 

However, it does help having a road map of the book going into it. It’s not necessary, but makes the book of Revelation so easy to understand that a 6 year old can get it. So in the next few posts I am going to be laying out a road map of the book of Revelation. It’s pretty basic, but makes for a great guide in your journey through the book.

Tags: Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, Jesus, revelation

Revelation: A Series

Filed under: End Times, Featured, Knowledge of God

The book of Revelation is meant to be read and understood by everyone not just the scholars. This book gives us more information about the severe coming crisis than any other book in the Bible. As the body of Christ, we are responsible to know and act on this information.

Below is a series of articles to jump start you in your journey through the book of Revelation and ultimately help you to pursue knowledge of God. By reading and praying through this book you will get to know the leadership of Jesus at the end of the age.

1. Revelation: Is For Everyone
2. Revelation: The Basics
3. Revelation: 5 Chronologicals & 5 Angelic Explanations
4. Revelation: 7 Primary Symbols

Tags: 5 Chronological, 5 Parenthetical, 7 Bowls, 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, Antichrist, Babylon, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, God’s Wrath, Great Tribulation, Jesus, John, Prophecy, Rapture, revelation, Series, The Bride

Top 3 Reasons You Should NOT Study the End-Times

Filed under: End Times

3. We’ll all be strumming harps on clouds for thousands of years anyway… what’s the point?

Once we finish standing in the long lines at the pearly gates, are introduced to all of our favorite bible characters, and say hello to the big guy and ask him all the questions nobody had answers for here on earth, and we have full knowledge and understanding… we will be given a harp and a cloud. It will be a very special harp, and a very special cloud, because to God… you are very special. Yes, you will not get bored and will have no need to do anything of value… just think of it as a fully-funded retirement; the American dream times 100. So why bother?

Is God is going to bring heaven and earth together at the 2nd Coming of Christ? Having made known the mystery of His will, will He gather together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in Him? Seriously, if heaven and earth were joined together and believers could interact with both the heavenly supernatural realm and the earthly physical realm that would be rather mind blowing… and very distracting from the harps and clouds reality everyone is so excited about.

What I want to know is who started the rumor that Jesus is coming back to rule and reign as King of Kings on the earth and that we would be here with him forever? Somebody needs to investigate this and get back to me!

2. Jesus is a heavenly Santa Claus and is committed to making my life easy in this age.

Jesus understands my needs and desires and as long as I am going to church, giving to the poor and doing more than my other Christian friends, He is committed to giving me the desires of my heart. I am working hard to make sure the house I live in and the car I drive matches up with the church culture around me and makes me happy. Jesus wants to make me happy. Why would I need to study about the end times if Jesus is just as committed to me obtaining the American Dream as I am?

It’s not like I would learn anything about Jesus by studying His leadership and heart at His 2nd coming. I’ve heard some of those who talk about this Jesus who is a zealous Bridegroom King coming to establish His Father’s glory, vindicating His persecuted Bride and replacing all evil governments on earth by dashing nations and executing heads of nations that refuse His leadership… but that doesn’t sound at all like anything I would go through as a Christian. Jesus wouldn’t allow me to suffer persecution, so I have no idea where they got their information. Besides that would totally wreck my lifestyle if I actually had to believe that.

1. Studying the end-times will not affect my Christianity today. It’s irrelevant, a waste of time, and distracting.

If I studied the end-times in a focused way it would distract and pull me away from other subjects in the Bible that are more important and pressing in the day we live in NOW. This subject takes would-be kingdom workers and makes them into theoristic, eccentric Christians who seem to put the topic of Jesus and His coming to be with us and our desire to be with Him AHEAD of loving our neighbor and bringing others to the knowledge of Christ.

… wait a second …

[goes and reads Mark 12:28-31]

… now this is awkward.

Tags: 2nd Coming, Christianity, End Times, Eschatology, Jesus, revelation, santa claus, Satire

Sin – As Defined by Barack Obama

Filed under: Blogging, Knowledge of God

I saw this article in the USA Today and the author was commenting on a quote from Obama in an interview when asked the question “What is sin?” I found his answer to be very revealing, not only of his personal beliefs but in how many in the world today are coming up with their own definitions of sin and what it really means to “sin.” 

Sin (as defined by Obama):

“Being out of alignment with my values”

Sin (as defined by the Bible): 

1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (sin is lawlessness)

Romans 4:15 – “…for where there is no law there is no transgression”

Romans 4:23 – “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Sin = Transgression of the Law; Sin = Whatever is not from faith

so that would mean:

Whatever is not from faith = Transgression of the Law = Sin

So in Obama’s case, he is saying that if he is out of alignment with his values, then he is sinning. This type of thinking is very normal in postmodern America. Especially among young people and it has unfortunately also entered parts of the Church. We tend to personalize our faith, and rightly so. Our faith is very personal, but our faith in God, and in Jesus Christ isn’t based on a set of values that each of us determines on our own. The values that we as Christians should have SHOULD be determined by the values that God has. 

Here is how Wayne Grudem defines sin in his book (which I highly recommend) Systematic Theology:

“Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.”

Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law.

3 Biblical Aspects of Sin

1. Action (Ex. 20:17)
2. Attitude (Mt. 5:22,28)
3. Nature (Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:3)

Sin in our Actions 
This is an easy one to see and the one most people will agree with as being morally wrong. These include individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder.

Sin in our Attitudes
Now on this one it starts to encroach on most people’s comfort zones. When someone starts to tell you that things you are thinking are wrong, or desires that you may have are not desires that you SHOULD have, then attitudes start to flare and walls go up right away. However, this type of sin is something Jesus spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount (basic foundational Christianity at its core). (Matthew 5:22,28; Gal. 5:20; Mark 12:30)

Sin in our Nature
This refers to our humanity and our inherited sin. We are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. Paul explained the effects of Adam’s sin in this way:

“Therefore… sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all mean because all men sinned” (Rom. 5:12)

“while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

“we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:3)

When we are first introduced to this concept, the tendency is to think it is not fair that we should be counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. We didn’t actually sin. How can we be counted guilty?

But we must remember a few things:

1. We will be judged for our own sins on the day of judgment. Everyone who is of the mind that this is not fair has committed some type of sin to which we will be judged. (for God “will render to every man according to his works” (Rom. 2:6). 
2. Our sin today also likely demonstrates that if we were in the same boat as Adam, we would have sinned to and wrecked it for the human race. 
3. However the best answer lies in the 3rd one. If we think that it is unfair that Adam represented us and thus we bear the guilt and inherited sin of what he did, then we must also concluded that it is unfair that Jesus represented us and our sin on the cross and so we get to reap the benefits of His righteousness being imputed to us. (“As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” Rom. 5:19). 

Our View of God (and who Jesus really is)
Our values determine our actions, how we walk out our faith. But if our values are faulty, or based off of wrong information, to begin with, then our actions will suffer the consequences of faulty values. It is our view of God, what He is like, and what we as moral beings must do about Him that will shape our values. 

As Tozer puts it:

“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place. 

The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.”

Our View of Jesus Christ
This brings me back to another statement made by Obama in the interview. When asked who Jesus was to him, first he laughed nervously. Then he went on to say that:

“Jesus is an historical figure for me, and he’s also a bridge between God and man, in the Christian faith… and he’s also a wonderful teacher.”

While those things are all true it is missing one crucial element of the Christian faith. Jesus was and is God in the flesh. Jesus even said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me.” 

Having a right view of who Jesus Christ is (which really means who God is), will dramatically shape the way you think about everything, and it will specifically shape your values. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man, He was and is both Fully God and Fully Man. Not half and half. He was not only a great teacher (though He was that), and not only a historical person. Jesus is the ONLY true God. 

Obama’s Christian Faith of Many Paths
Which brings me to the other comment made by Obama. When you begin with a wrong view of who God is and who Jesus is, then you too may find yourself saying this statement:

“So, I’m rooted in the Christian tradition. I believe there are many paths to the same place…”

Tags: Christianity, God, law, obama, Politics, sin, values

Jesus’ One World Government

Filed under: End Times, Knowledge of God

What I’m going to attempt to do in this article is to provide the framework for the real establishment of a real government whose leader is God Himself in human form. This will take place at a future point in time and will be a progressive time of preparation for the earth as a whole.

This framework will take on these 2 assumptions:

1. Jesus is coming again to the earth at some point in the future (2nd Coming)
2. There will be a literal 1,000 year period of time starting soon after Jesus returns to the earth (2nd Coming).

For the past 2 months I’ve been studying Psalm 50 (a Psalm of Asaph). We’ve been looking at it in a small group I lead as well as singing through the passages each week. I’ve developed an insatiable desire to see Jesus break into this world set the wrong things right and setup a righteous government all the while believers getting to be with Jesus and work along side of Him.

(more…)

Tags: 2nd Coming, Christianity, Eschatology, Government, Jerusalem, Jesus, Zion