Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Revelation 1:8-9


I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).
·         Jesus is the Ruler of all. A lot of people have a great deal of fear when it comes to the end times. The Truth’s of the Book of Revelation will put an end to those fears. The Truth that is the Cornerstone of this peace is that Jesus is the Ruler of all. Jesus is our Lord, our Friend, and our Savior. He will never leave us or forsake us and He is always in complete control. Jesus’ power will not cease keeping us during the end times.
I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.
·         Look at what John was compelled to write to us: that he is a partaker in the tribulation. As Christians we will always have persecution, Jesus told us plainly that we would. But Jesus also told us to be of good cheer for He overcame the world and robbed it of its power to harm us.

·         I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33

·         Don’t fear or try to avoid persecution. It’s going to come and amen that it does! Persecution allows us to see our Father in full action. Our Father delivering us from tribulation allows the world to see that He is alive and well. There is no better time to see just how powerful our Father is then when we lose a job, have an accusation thrown at us, or have a bad medical report. The world will accuse us and beat us and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bless them and forgive them for doing it to us. We do this by the power of our Father that is within us. The lost will lie to us, they will steal from us, and we will be prospered according to our Father’s riches in glory as they do. Tribulation and persecutions are game time, they are the time for our Father to shine through us. Eagerly desire to get in the game, the world needs to see our Father! 
 
·          Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5
 
·         So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

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