The Power of His Word Revelation 10 – 12

 The message 11:15-18 The seventh Angel trumpeted. A crescendo of voices in Heaven sang out,

   The kingdom of the world is now
      the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah!
   He will rule forever and ever!
The Twenty-four Elders seated before God on their thrones fell to their knees, worshiped, and sang,

   We thank you, O God, Sovereign-Strong,
      Who Is and Who Was.
   You took your great power
      and took over—reigned!
   The angry nations now
      get a taste of your anger.
   The time has come to judge the dead,
      to reward your servants, all prophets and saints,
   Reward small and great who fear your Name,
      and destroy the destroyers of earth.

 19 The doors of God’s Temple in Heaven flew open, and the Ark of his Covenant was clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning, loud shouts, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a fierce hailstorm.

A week  of wow . What a sight to see the the heavenly Ark .

I think starting with chapter 12 is a retelling of events . Some that have happened and others that are yet to happen .

Lord we need your wisdom and understanding .

Pastor

The Power of His Word Revelation 7 – 9

The Message 7: 9-12 I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there—all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb and heartily singing:

Salvation to our God on his Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!
All who were standing around the Throne—Angels, Elders, Animals— fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, singing:

Oh, Yes!
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
The honor and power and strength,
To our God forever and ever and ever!
Oh, Yes!

13-14 Just then one of the Elders addressed me: "Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?" Taken aback, I said, "O Sir, I have no idea—but you must know."

14-17 Then he told me, "These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they’ve washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. That’s why they’re standing before God’s Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes."

Someday we will stand shoulder to shoulder singing  this song like we’ve never sung it before. What a day that will be.

Pastor

‘Twas the Night before Christmas … at Gateway

A few people had asked for a copy of the poem read at the Christmas party. Here it is:

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the church
Not a creature was stirring …. except for a Moose.
The dirty pots were hung in the kitchen with care,
In hopes that a dishwasher would soon be there;
The praise team was nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of very expensive sound boards danced in their heads;
And Char in her ‘kerchief’, and Moose in his jeans,
They had just settled in for their weekly clean,
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter,
Moose sprang to his feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, he flew like a flash,
Tore open the drapes and un-cranked the sash.
When, what to his ONE GOOD EYE should appear,
But a Honda Pilot and a 10-point deer,
With a driver that couldn’t be any faster
Moose knew in a moment – it must be the Pastor.
He whistled and shouted and called them by name;
"Now Parker! Now Kneebone! Now Yokimcus and Hicks!
Now, Harney! Now Byron! Now Cuva and Fisk!
Though tiny, this guy seemed to be the master.
He kept shouting and sputtering, "Can’t you work any faster!"
Down from the church roof-top they flew,
With a sleigh full of tools and that dead deer too.
And then, in a twinkling, we heard Pastor say with glee:
"It’s just like the Hotel California…
You can check out any time you like… BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE."
A bundle of tools he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes – how they twinkled! His mouth, oh did it shout!"
"Ah… if you don’t like it!… GET OUT!"
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was almost as white as snow;
He was a jolly old elf.
And Moose laughed when he saw him, in spite of himself!
Moose’s wife watched it all and boy did she get hot
She looked at them all and yelled, "Did someone remember to turn off the coffee pot!"
Laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the staircase he rose
He sprang to his Pilot, to his team he did yell
And away they all flew, to where I can’t tell.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove through the dirt
"Merry Christmas to all … now get back to work!"

The Power of His Word Revelation 4 – 6

The Message 5:11-14 I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals, and the Elders—ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song:

The slain Lamb is worthy!
Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength!
Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!
Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing:

To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb!
The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength,
For age after age after age.
The Four Animals called out, "Oh, Yes!" The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.

It thrills me to know that one day we will see all that John saw. The reality of Heaven ought to keep us alive in Christ even in our worst days.

To the One on the Throne ! To the Lamb !

Pastor

The Power of His Word Revelation 1 – 3

 The Message 3:7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the church. The Holy, the True—David’s key in his hand, opening doors no one can lock, locking doors no one can open—speaks:

 8 "I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn’t deny me when times were rough.

 9 "And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they’re forced to acknowledge it’s you that I’ve loved.

 10 "Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I’ll keep you safe in the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man, woman, and child put to the test.

 11 "I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.

Opening doors no one can lock and locking doors no one can open. To know this is great comfort to me. When He makes a way for us no man can stop it . Also when he locks a door all your kicking and screaming won’t open it. It is wisdom to know the difference.

Pastor

The Power of His Word 2 John – Jude

The Message Jude 20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

 22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

 24-25 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes

It is in our power to either build up or tear down our faith. Today we need to be careful not to allow things in our lives that would like to destroy our faith in God. Do the actions that build up your most holy faith.

Pastor

The Power of His Word 1 John 4 -5

 1 John 4:17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

 19  We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

 20-21 If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

Are you crippled by fear? Perfect love, mature love casts out fear. To know that He loves us and to live that by loving others  leaves no room for the torment of fear.

Pastor

The Power of His Word 1 John 1 – 3

 The Message 3:18-20 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

 21-24 And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

To live in God’s reality is to truly live. I’m sure you hear the barrage of self-criticism. It is impossible to live bold and free before God when we are condemning ourselves. Don’t let today be consumed by all that you think you’re doing wrong. Let it be consumed by practicing real love for others and watch God take care of the rest.

Pastor

The Power of His Word 2 Peter 1 – 3

 8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

10 But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.                                                                                                                                                                                                   14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

God is never late. When what He promises seems to us delayed, it is with purpose and restraint on His part. What we are to do in the mean time is to do our best to be our best .

Be careful who you listen to. There are some whose purpose is to knock you off your feet.  Listen to those whose purpose is for you to grow in grace and understanding of our Savior.

Pastor

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