White Horse Principle!

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I looked and saw that heaven was open, and a white horse was there. Its rider was called Faithful and True, and he is always fair when he judges or goes to war.

He had eyes like flames of fire, and he was wearing a lot of crowns. His name was written on him, but he was the only one who knew what the name meant.
The rider wore a robe that was covered with blood, and he was known as “The Word of God.”

Revelation 19:11-13

The bad guy in a cowboy movie never rides a white horse. White horses are reserved for the cowboy who rides in to rescue the community from the evil villain who wants to take all their farms. I never really thought about the fact that the "white horse principle" came from Revelation 19.

I think there is no doubt that the rider on the white horse is Jesus Christ. His Name was written on Him and He was the only one who knows what that name means.

I cannot speculate what the Name of Jesus means. If Jesus is the only one who really knows then I will have to wait until He tells me. But I can say this: We are only touching the hem of the garment of who Jesus is and what this whole humanity story is all about. Jesus is Creator, Savior, Lord, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus is the Great Physician. All we can say about Jesus gives only a dim picture of His Eternal significance.

Jesus is like the most beautiful Christmas present ever wrapped and carefully placed under the tree with your name written on the card. You can only imagine what it might be and how wonderful it is. Then on Christmas morning you open it and see the Glory of that Present.

Every thought and imagination about the Glory of Jesus Christ cannot come close to the truth about Him. But soon, oh very soon, we will all see who Jesus is and what His Name truly means!

Like children waiting for Christmas morning we wait and watch for that Glorious Morning when Jesus comes back!

War on Christians!

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The heavens should rejoice, together with everyone
who lives there.
But pity the earth
and the sea,
because the devil
was thrown down
to the earth.
He knows his time is short,
and he is very angry.”
When the dragon realized that it had been thrown down to the earth, it tried to make trouble for the woman who had given birth to a son.

But the woman was given two wings like those of a huge eagle, so that she could fly into the desert. There she would escape from the snake and be taken care of for a time, two times, and half a time.
The snake then spewed out water like a river to sweep the woman away. But the earth helped her and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon’s mouth. This made the dragon terribly angry with the woman. So it started a war against the rest of her children. They are the people who obey God and are faithful to what Jesus did and taught.

Revelation 12:12-17

If there is only a little time left before the Coming of Jesus, then believers can rejoice, but also must be sobered by a very difficult truth. Satan has gone to War against followers of Jesus.

Of course Satan has always been opposed to Christians and attempts to derail their faith at every possible opportunity, but this is different. At the very end of time, just before the return of Jesus the opposition by Satan will become a declared war.

Are we in those Last Days? Many of God's people believe that we are indeed living in that time right now. If that is the case, then look around at other believers and at your own life and see if the attacks from Satan have intensified. My very subjective view of the matter is that they definitely have increased. I have never seen so many believers with so much trouble and even direct Satanic attacks. There seems to be major trouble on every front for followers of Jesus.

So how must we live our lives as Christians if we are in those final days? I think it was Sir Winston Churchill who said, "Never, never, never give up!" Hold on tightly to Jesus and keep saying "No" to Satan. The Lord will soon be here and the victory will soon be won!

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Golden Bowl of Prayer!

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Then I looked and saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne that was surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if it had once been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent out to all the earth.
The Lamb went over and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. After he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders knelt down before him. Each of them had a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

Revelation 5:6-8

When I send an important letter I always pay a little extra to get "delivery confirmation." That way I receive an email or can look on a web site and know for certain that it was delivered. Sometimes I can even see the signature of the recipient scanned in to the system.

When you pray, how do you know that God actually heard your petition? Of course, you know by faith that God hears your prayers, but how are they delivered to Him in Heaven? These verses in Revelation 5 give a stunning picture of your prayers arriving at their destination. Your prayers are incense in Heaven and they arrive in a golden bowl delivered by one of the four living creatures or one of the twenty four elders. When you bow your head and pray you become a part of the glorious throne room scene in Heaven! When incense is present in a room it cannot go un-noticed!

So when you pray what difference does all this make? Actually, it is profoundly important. Praying is not about changing things on earth, but it is rather about supporting and establishing the aroma of the throne room of God! When you realize that truth, even answers to your prayers become almost irrelevant.

Here is the scene. You are standing before the throne of God Almighty and everything gets quiet while all of Heaven looks straight at you and waits for you to pray!

Now lets see, what was that thing I thought was so important and was going to pray about? The things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of Heaven!

Time of Testing

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You obeyed my message and endured. So I will protect you from the time of testing that everyone in all the world must go through.

I am coming soon. So hold firmly to what you have, and no one will take away the crown that you will be given as your reward.

Revelation 3:10-11

The Bible clearly says that before Jesus returns there will be a worldwide "time of testing." The exact timing and specifics of that "testing" may be debated, but the offer of being protected from it is not in doubt. Jesus said that obeying His message and enduring will result in our being protected from that time of trouble.

So how do you get ready for the difficult days ahead? Is it wise to make preparations for shortages of food and water? Of course it is, but there is a preparation that is much more important and effective. Prepare for those days by being obedient to Jesus and enduring in that obedience.

If I could choose between being the richest man in the world when the trouble hits, or being the poorest, but obedient to Jesus Word, I would choose to be the poorest. That man is the one who is promised protection from the storm. The other man will ultimately run out of supplies.

Search the scriptures today for a Word from Jesus that you can obey. Then let tomorrow come, you will be ready!

The Small Stuff!

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“But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.”

Philippians 3:7-11

When a young man finally meets the "girl of his dreams" everything else begins to become totally unimportant. She is the focus of his every thought and desire. It is an amazing thing to watch him, but it is even more amazing to be him.

When you finally meet Jesus Christ, instead of just hearing about Him, it is very much the same. Just as Paul said, "Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to Him."

You may know everything about Jesus without ever meeting Him. Let me assure you it is not the same. Knowing Him and knowing about Him define the difference between relationship and religion.

Jesus wants you to know Him, not just know about Him.

What I'm about to suggest may sound silly, but I think it is really important. When you love someone, every word you speak and hear is significant. Spend some time talking with Jesus about ordinary things in your life. Tell Jesus what you think about everything. Speak with Him about the weather, the traffic, how tired you are, and what you would like for supper. Then you will find it easy to speak with Him about the big stuff in your life as well.

"Jesus, what did you say? Oh yes, I think that's one of the most beautiful sunsets You've ever made!"

Where is Jesus Going?

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Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered, “You can’t go with me now, but later on you will.”  Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!”  “Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t even know me.”

John 13:36-38

I have often asked the Lord, "Where do You want me to go?" I have only rarely asked the Lord, "Where are You going?" There is a huge difference.

When I ask God where He wants me to go I am setting the stage to possibly go to a place without Him! It is not wrong to ask Jesus that question and sometimes like the disciples He will send me off alone into a storm. But I have decided like Ruth with Naomi to declare to the Lord that I choose to go with Him! Where Jesus goes, I will go. His people will be my people and the only way I will know that I am in the right place is if Jesus is there with me!

Going with Jesus is not more comfortable and is certainly not safer. Going with Jesus will ultimately lead you to the Cross.

Instead of asking the Lord today,"Where do You want me to go and what do You want me to do?" ask "Where are You going and what are You doing today?" Then as you walk with Jesus through the day, He will let you put your hand to the plow.

When I was a little boy, my father would sometimes let me sit in his lap in the car and hold on to the steering wheel. It was before the days of seatbelts and yes I know it was totally unsafe, but it gave me such a feeling of power to be driving with my father. Jesus lets me sit in His lap and hold the steering wheel of life. When I don't turn far enough He nudges me on and when I turn too far Jesus pulls me back!

Oh yes, there is also room for you in the lap of Jesus!

Saint or Sinner?

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Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.

Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord's wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.

Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame,
she who said to me,
"Where is the Lord your God?"
My eyes will see her downfall;
even now she will be trampled underfoot
like mire in the streets.

Micah 7:8-10

Are you a sinner or a saint? The truth is you can be a sinner without being a saint, but you can't be a saint without being a sinner as well. Does that mean as a Christian you accept sin in your life and embrace it as an inevitable part of your existence. Oh no, not at all. The goal of being like Jesus is completely and totally without sin.

But shutting the door to one sin by your own human power simply opens wide the door to another sin, the sin of pride. It would be like a man who decided to commit suicide by holding his breath. If he held his breath long enough he would simply pass out and then start breathing again. You cannot cure sin in your life.

Jesus is the only remedy for sin. Unless you let Jesus deal with your sin, it will not be taken away. Unless you walk the path laid out by the Holy Spirit you will find yourself stumbling into sin over and over again.

But when temptation comes, and it will, just like it did to Jesus when He went into the desert and was tempted by the Devil. The best response to temptation is to quote scripture like Jesus did or to run away like Joseph. The worst response is to try to stand against temptation by your own human power and strength. If you do you will be doomed to fall into sin.

Even then my hope is in Jesus. He pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light and I will see His righteousness.

"Jesus may Your Blood make me righteous and Your Spirit make my path straight! Amen."