Repentance for adultery

 S - Revelations 18:4-8 (NASB)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[b]
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back double for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c]
    I will never mourn.’
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

O- This revelation about the Queen of Adultery who is judged in the end, comes as a reminder and warning of the sin of the world and the tempation of Satan.    God not only see's this sin but has a plan for forgiveness and is willing to put a hedge of protection over your heart and mind to prevent the influence of the devil in this case.

A -  The application for me is to repent for the times I have fallen for her.   I have allowed her to tempt me to sin with her body and even just entertaining thoughts of her.  This includes letting just the looking at her as a sin to be removed.

P -  Dear heavenly Father thank you for your understanding and mourning over my sin.   I thank you for your protection from this sin of thoughts and deeds with other women.  It dishonors and hurts my wife, is a bad example for my children to see, and only leads to death and separation from you.  I pray for your forgiveness and for your healing of my heart and mind.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

The final battle : Satan vs the Angels of God

 S - Revelations 12:1-17 (NASB)

The Woman, Israel

12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was pregnant and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.

The Male Child, Christ

5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to [a]rule all the [b]nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

The Angel, Michael

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole [d]world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even [e]when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 [f]But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her [g]children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

O - This prophesy from John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, shows the vision of the final battle between God and His angels.   Satan is cast out to battle the Angels of Heaven, led by Michael.  This was done to fullfil the word of God.   And Satan battle against God until He was thrown out of heaven and came to the woman of God (who represented Israel) and tormented her.  But God rescued her for a period of 1260 days.   After which the dragon (who is Satan) hurled a great river from His mouth but God intervened and earth opened up and swallowed the river before it got to the woman of God.   The woman gave birth to a son, and Satan persecuted her.   God's creationopend up its mouth to protect the woman and the child.   This testimony of Israel's salvation was given as a testimony to God's children, that they might know the power and mercy of God toward's His children.

A -  The application for me was to recognize that the enemy today still holds dominion over the early and rules all the kingdoms which the children of God live in.  It is through Christ that we overcome Satan but it is by our testimony that Christ is able to reign in our hearts and overcome the devil.  All who know and understand this truth are given the full armor of God to defeat Satan.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you that you have sent your only son Jesus,  to die for my sins.  I know by myself I cannot resist the temptations of the devil,  but by your mercy and grace the enemy is defeated, for your glory.   I pray that you would forgive me of all my shortcomings, in which I failed to resist the temptations of Satan.  I ask that you forgive me, and by your Grace you would allow me to serve your Church,  so that the saints would be edified by my testimony.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Prophetic word to the church at Ephesus.

 S -  Revelations 2:1-7 (NASB)

Message to Ephesus

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks [a]among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 ‘I know your deeds and your labor and [b]perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have [c]perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the [d]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’

O -  The apostle Paul has penned one of the most prophetics books of the new testament here.   He writes of what He see's while in exile to Pathmos,  though in this chapter he is writing to the Church of Ephesus, he  is speaking even to us today.   He writes here to the  Ephesians, that they have left their first love (the relationship with Christ) and that they need only repent and turn back to the one who saved them. The consequences of not repenting is separation from God,  but to those who obey,  they will overcome and will be given access to eat from the tree of life. 

A -  The application for me is to turn back to my first love,  Christ, and repent of my sins that I am hiding in the dark places of my heart.    Christ is the light of the world, and is lighting my path to return to Him,  if only I would choose to follow Him.   The devil is the master of lies, and works hard to make me stumble in my moments of weakness.  His ways are death, and I am to resist the devil until Jesus comes and makes him flee from me.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your word.  I pray that I would remember my first love and repent and turn back to you.   I repent of my sins, the ones deep inside my heart that I cling to.  Help me to remove these hardened spots that lead to death.  Lord I pray that you would help me resist the devil and love your word which is more powerful than any weapon of the devil.  I pray your spirit would watch over me and lead me to your kingdom.  In Jesus Christ,  I pray, Amen

A word of God to the church - flee from sin and shine God's light to all the world

 13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his [e]heart [f]against him, how does the love of God remain in him? 18 Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him, 20 that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence [g]before God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

23 This is His commandment, that we [h]believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He [i]commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

O -  As children of God we have been set free from sin and reconcilled once and for all with the Father.   We are not to walk in the dark and be tempted by sin but rather are free from the bondage of sin and free from the influence of the devil.   We have been freed indeed by the Spirit of God,  and once free, we are freed to do the good works of the Father, because out of the holy spirit's presence of our heart he has given us the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, kindness, mercy, patience, and joy.   It is out of this spirit that we do good works to our fellow man, so they may be edified and so the good news of the Gospel is received by those who don't know him.

A - The application for me is to remember that I am a child of God, save by Jesus by repentance of my sins, and the saving Grace of the Father.  I have been called by the Father to do Good works which come from the Father, so that I may reach my family and the world with the Good news of the Gospel.    We are to flee from the devil and Love and serve our brothers and sister, therefore saving them from themselves, giving them the free gift of love and mercy of God the Father. 

P Dear heavenly Father, I repent of my sins and receive your saving love as Jesus has shown love for us and called us to follow Him.  He leads us into your kingdom and to your house which he has prepared us a place to live in.    Holy Spirit convict me and show me the Way of Truth.  Shine the light of Christ on me so that my sin would be revealed and I can have it removed with the reconcilliation of relationship as paid for by Jesus Christ sacrifice.  I pray this in Jesus name,  Amen.

The Gifts and Power of the Holy Spirit in me

 John 16:5-15 (NASB)

5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the [e]Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; 11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.

O -  The Holy Spirit is the first spiritual gift Jesus bestowed on his disciples.  Not only to his disciples but to all who believe Jesus died for our sins, and has been resurrected and now sits on the right hand of the Father, to them He will send the Holy Spirit to live in us.    The Holy Spirit is one with the Father, and is send to us that he will guide us int all truth, because He hears the father, and will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Jesus, for He takes the plans that God has for us and discloses it to us.  

A -  The application for me is to be sure Jesus is my Lord, and the Holy Spirit is my guide.  He  resides in me now and is one with the Father.  He listens to all around me and in alignment with the Father, He guides my steps.   This is Jesus' promise that He will disclose to me what the Father is doing.   It is a sort of double decision to make.   First to follow Jesus and receive His salvation,  and second is to accept that I am a vessel for the Holy Spirit to reside in.   I am part spirit and part flesh.   I am to be obedient to that which strengthens my soul and avoid the temptation of my flesh.   Now we are all sinners and to avoid these temptations is not possible on my own,  but with the power of the Holy Spirit I can avoid the devil's tempations and follow the will of God.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for salvation that comes from making your son,  Jesus Christ,  my Lord and Savior.  Thank you for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and this opportunity to cement in my heart repentance for my sin,  santification of my soul,  through the baptism by the Holy Spirit.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus the way, the truth, and the light of the world

 S- John 12:27 - 36  (NASB)
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what am I to say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him!” 30 Jesus responded and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” 33 Now He was saying this to indicate what kind of death He was going to die. 34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the [o]Christ is to remain forever; and how is it that You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”

O - Jesus is the light of the world, and all that follow Him walk in the light.   He lights their path and walks with them as they seek God and go where God is working.   Now God works all things for good who are called according to Christ.   Therefore we are now bondservants of Christ, much like Paul was called and became a bondservant of Christ.   Jesus want us to put our work toward the Harvest, but he fully equips us to do good works so that we might have the wisdom and strength that comes from the Holy Spirit who resides in us.   God does not promise us a life free from troubles, but he does commit to walk through the trials so that we may not fall.   He ways are narrow, but with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and the mercy and grace of God we are able. 

A-  The application for me is to commit my plans to the Lord, but if it is His will it will be done.  If it is not His will I pray my mind would be changed, so I might travel on the path of righteousness.   I pray that the Lord would walk with me and the people would not hear my voice but recognize the voice of Jesus who is the way and the life,  and draws those called to him in the way of righteousness.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's Truth may it lead and guide me in your ways.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

The parable of the "Good Shepherd"

 S- John 10:1- 18(NASB)

Parable of the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them [a]meant.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and [b]have it abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”

O - Jesus is the good shephard, and those who know His voice and are called by Him are able to enter by the shepherds gate.   Those called know His voice and follow Him, and He keeps them safe by protecting them from the thieves and robbers that may come.  He lays down His life for them that they may be protected.   When we follow the Good Shepherd we follow the one who gives life,  protection,  wisdom and the path to the Kingdom of God.   We know His voice because we have heard the Truth speak to us and follow His voice , the voice of Truth.  

A - The application for me is to head the warning not to become like the pharisee's who led God's flock away from God.   Not out of malice but with the same slyness of thieves and robbers,  preventing God's children from seeking the kingdom of God and receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But Jesus, our Good Shepherd has come for us, so that none of us would be lost.   Instead He came as the Door to the Kingdom of Heaven.   He gives us shelter and has us lay down in green pastures,  He gives us rest for our wearied souls.   My role in the kingdom is to help spread the good message of the savior who has come to take away our sins.    I am not to be conformed by the world, but transformed in the renewing of my mind.  I am to be the "Church" of God who is reaching out into the world. 

P - Lord this is my prayer, that you would shepherd me in my ways, and that you would show me my purpose in the Kingdom of Heaven.   Lord I know I am a sinner in need of a savior.   I pray that you cleanse me of all unrighteousness,  and show me your ways.    Lord I know your ways are not the ways of the world but rather lead to eternal life.   Thank you Lord for your patience, grace, mercy, and love.   I am forever committed to follow you.   In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Walking in the Freedom of Christ

 S- John 8:12-20 (NASB)

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not [b]true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is [c]true, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge [d]according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 Even in your Law it has been written that the testimony of two people is [e]true. 18 I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20 These words He spoke [f]in the treasury, as He taught in the temple area; and no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.

O -  Jesus is the light of the world, yesterday, today, and in the future.  He see's all of our actions and motives, and does not judge us but rather shines a light on our sin so we may turn away from it.   For we cannot escape what sin Jesus exposes.  But at the same time he does not condemn, but rather comes into our lives to set us free.    He comes and reveals His truth by shining a light on our sin, and gives us the ability to resist and turn away from our sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.  In the Law it is written that two or more believers coming together to reveal God's truth and show us this truth in our lives.   Those that don't know the Law know not the way of freedom from sin.   They may be free in the flesh, but that way does not lead to eternal life.  God's way leads to eternal life, and those that are seeking the light will find it's way better than their own, and leads to the path of righteousness.

A -   The application for me is to seek the Lord and His righteousness.   I am to seek His light, and have it reveal every sin in me.   I am to seek His ways in my life so that I might reflect His light and His love for everyone.  I am to avoid the temptation of those things on earth that attempt to inprison me, and seek Jesus and the Way that leads to freedom. 

P- Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for today's scripture,  I pray that you would show me your ways and lead me on the righteous path and away from the temptations of the world, especially those temptations of the flesh.  I pray for wisdom in my actions and clarity of my thoughts that I may know and walk in your righteousness.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

The seed of life - from heaven

 S- John 6:28-40(NASB)

28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What then are You doing as a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [j]that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. 36 But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

O -  Jesus often teaches in parables.   Here He is talking to His disciples, and he reveals the truth of what He is called to do in a subtle parable or analogy.   He is says He is the way the truth and the life.  He is the bread of life; the one comes to Him will not be hungry or thirsty. continues with this,  that those who follow Him and do the will of God, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and will be raised up on the last day.

A -  Jesus intends to Glorify God the Father through these acts of mercy on the crowds that came to see Him.   He gave them the bread of life which restored God's children to Him.    For He came to gather His flock to Him.   This salvation from Heaven, is the free gift from the Lord,   to be received by all who call God their Lord and Savior.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this word of truth,  may it be planted deep in my heart and take root.   I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

God's way requires endurance

 S- James 1:2-8 (NASB)

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various [c]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let [e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a [i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

O - In the beginning was the word, and the word is Jesus Christ,  and Christ being one with the Father, by His own choice came down from heaven to reside with  us and to bring life to His truth.  And the truth walked amongst us and showed us His Way.   And His way was good and some men rejected it, while others rejoiced in it.   For those who rejoiced in it they counted it all joy when they faced various trials and suffering because it proved their belief true that God is the way, and that we are able to face our trials with the endurance of Christ.  That God provides for each and everyone of our needs in His perfect timing.

A- The application for me is to seek God's wisdom in my circumstances and to wait on His direction for how I am to handle it.   I often anxiety drives me to do impulsive things, but I must endure this trial and wait on the Lord, because His ways are better than my ways.  I pray Lord that you would show me your way and how it might bless others and my family in a way that Glorifies your name.  My disease is no excuse for my poor behavior and I ask that it would be more than a thorn in my side but instead would be a gift from you to remind me to humble myself as well as rely on the gifts you have given me.   

P - Lord my prayer is that good would come of the circumstances, and if in any way I have sinned that I alone would pay the price.  I pray that you find your way to be glorified through even my stumblings.  I pray your light would shine on the way I am to go.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.