Skip to main content

Revelation: Discovering Life for Today and Eternity – Week Seven


Philadelphia:  The Secure Church on Shaky Ground

This was an amazingly encouraging letter.  Wasn’t it?  Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus opens doors that no one can shut and closes doors that no one can open?  What does this mean to you?  Apparently, this meant a great deal to the church of Philadelphia.  It is believed that these Jews were shut out of the synagogue and excommunicated.  Being shut out hurts.  Exclusion makes us feel as if we’re not valuable.  It makes us feel disposable.  Jesus’ words bring assurance that we are valuable to Him.

I was greatly encouraged by the reading of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10.  Believers were created to be part of God’s family, not the objects of His wrath.  This is wonderful news.  Isn’t it?

I am thrilled that the overcomer will be made into a pillar in the temple in eternity.  He will never leave the temple.  Jesus will write God’s name and the name of the New Jerusalem and His own new name on them.  Wow!  What intimacy…and it gets better.  When you read Revelation 21:22, you discover that God and Christ ARE THE TEMPLE!  Ooh, I’ve got chills thinking about this.

This week’s video teaching was anti-climactic for me.  I don’t know why I expected serious teaching on the end times with only 2:38 minutes of video.  But I’m sure there are those who needed to hear that God is capable of creating a new home for His people.

The church of Philadelphia stood on shaky ground.  Regardless of what is shaky in our own lives, our security and stability is in Christ.  Hallelujah!

Memorize:  1 John 5:13

Comments

Anonymous said…
Stacey,
Good evening! I came across your blog while doing some research for some clients I'm working with, and saw that you've previously read a book written by Beth Moore. Beth has a new book coming out in October called Whispers of Hope and I wanted to see if you might be interested in reviewing it. You can find additional information about the book below.
Please let me know if you're interested in reviewing the book on your blog and I'll be happy to mail you a copy. We also have copies available for giveaways if you're interested in hosting one. We're aiming for reviews to post in October and November.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Caylen Kyle

Whispers of Hope, Beth Moore

Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, but how in the world do we do that? In fact, how should we effectively pray to begin with?

Best-selling author Beth Moore addresses these practical and pervasive matters in Whispers of Hope by walking readers through an easy to remember and apply method of prayer, coupled with seventy daily devotionals and followed by prompts to put this prayer method into practice.

Indeed, Whispers of Hope teaches the manifestation process of powerful Word-saturated prayer in response to a daily Bible reading. In turn, you will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God.
Stacey said…
I would be happy to read and review the b ook, Caylen, but I don't know how to contact you.

Popular posts from this blog

Homiletics Training: Content

Homiletics .   By definition, “homiletic” is the art of preaching or writing sermons.   I think we would all agree that our pastors study the Bible thoroughly to deliver sermons every Sunday to their congregations.   The beautiful news is that every child of God can use this discipline to study the Bible for themselves. As a member of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) Leadership, part of my required preparation each week is to prepare homiletics for the passage we are studying.   BSF offers an engaging seminar on how to use this method to study the Scriptures.   I’ve taken the seminar several times under two different leaders and I’ve learned something new every time I’ve attended.   I’ve also been doing the process of homiletics for over ten years and I can say that there is no better teacher than the Holy Spirit in this process!   So keep practicing.   Keep sharing and discussing.   I’ve been posting my homiletics on this blog for quite a...

Homiletics: John 12

Contents ( not sentence, direct verbiage from Scripture, fit on one line ): 1 1-3 6d b4 Pass J2Beth dinr Marth servd, Laz@tbl; Mary $$$$ perf J ft, wipe w/hair, hs filld frag 2 4-6 Judas, l8r betray obj: why wasn’t perf sold, wrth 1y wages, didn’t care abt poor, thief 3 7-9 Lv alone, she sv perf 4my burial, u alwys hv poor; MW lg crwd came bec of J & 2C Laz 4 10-13 CP md plans kill Laz-on acct o hm mny bel; Nxt dy grt crwd: Hos! Blest=He cm in nom o L 5 14-16 J fnd dnky, sat, as writn: Dtr Zion, c ur king cming seatd on dnky colt; @ 1 st Disc undrstd 6 17-19 crwd w/Him whn Laz raisd spread wd; Mny went 2 Him; Phar: lk how wrld gone aftr Him 7 20-23 Som Gks to Phil: we like 2CJ; Phil 2 Andrw, Phil&Andrw told J: hr cm 4 SoM be glrfd 8 24 VTITY unle...

Homiletics: John 10

Contents ( not sentence, direct verbiage from Scripture ): 1 1-2 VT ITY Phar, any1 enter shp pn by gate=thief/robbr; 1 enters by gate=shepherd 2 3-4 Gatekpr opns gate 4 hm/shp listn/he calls shp by name/leads out/shp follo bec kno voce 3 5-6 They nvr follo stranger, run away bec recog voce; J used fig o spch, Phar understd 4 7-8 Thrfr J: VT ITY I gate 4 shp; all who cm b4 me=thievs/robbrs, shp listn them 5 9-10a I gate, whoevr entr thru me savd/they cm/go/find pasture; thief cm only steal/kill/destry 6 10b-12 I gd shepd, lay dn life 4 shp; Hird hd shepd/own shp, see wolf/abandn shp/wlf attck/scattr 7 13-15a Man run bec care nthg 4 sheep; I gd shep; kno sheep/sheep kno me as Fr kno me/I kno Fr 8 15b-16 I lay dn life 4 sheep; have othr sheep of this pen...