The Daily Dose

Give up control

Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.” – Revelation 16:6

For years, I thought I had control of my life.  Ironically, I didn’t realize I could make my own choices that didn’t necessarily line up with God’s plan.  I thought everything that happened around me was God’s will. I didn’t understand that my choices were putting me on a path of destruction instead of His righteousness. But I did the things I needed to do to try to live in a way that would look successful to those around me.  The reality was that I was the only one deceived by that appearance.

Later on as I began turning every area of my life over to God, I would still try to control things through prayer. I would come up with clever ways that I could see possible and ask God to fix or change things in a way that I could imagine.  As my children became adults, I realized that God’s way is so much better than anything I could come up with, so I gave up trying to control my circumstances through telling God how to fix thigs.

At the beginning of my marriage, I would try to control things by fighting to get my way or by letting my disapproval known through my silence.  Still, these were ways that I was trying to control my circumstance through.

Finally, I realized that if I turned things over to my Father in heaven and let Him work out the details, He would move things in a way that I could have never come up with. By trusting Him with my relationship with my children, He has brought me into the best possible place with them including their spouses.  In my relationship with my husband, again as I keep my mouth shut and let God work out the details, He has eliminated many stressful conversation and brought us into agreement in a way that would not be possible if I tried to accomplish it on my own.

You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with the book of Revelation?  The answer to that question is that even though the anti-Christ and the false prophet are trying to push their agenda in the world and take control of all people, God’s way is still being poured out and disrupting their efforts.  In the key verse above, I love that it says that since the rulers in the world are shedding the blood of God’s people, they are receiving their just reward right in the middle of trying to control the whole earth.  It doesn’t matter what they try to accomplish, in the end, God’s way will supersede all. I will take this opportunity to once again remind us that Revelation is not a book about the evil that will rise up and try to take over the world, it is the conclusion to God’s message of salvation and love for His created people. He is the only one in control

Today I want to encourage you to give up control.  Turn every area of your life over to God and then trust Him to handle it.  Don’t pray to Him trying to get Him to move in the way that you see possible.  Instead, let Him do His impossible miracles in all your circumstances.  He will bless you far greater than you could ever imagine and if you turn things over as soon as a concerned thought comes, you will eliminate a lot of stress and anxiety in your life.  Trust Him for the details today by turning things over to Him as soon as they are evident.  He may give you a part to do and lead you through His Spirit or your part might just be to wait as He unfolds the details and then works all things in your life together for something good because you love Him. (See Romans 8:28)

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 16:1-6

1 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”

2 So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.

4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood. 

5 And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying, “You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments.

6 Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.”

Don’t Worry

“Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:15

Don’t worry?  Is this even possible?  In the world we live in today, how can we not worry.  Worry about how to make ends meet? Worry about our children growing up in godless society? Worry about contracting the latest epidemic or plague?  Certainly, God understands that things are a little stressful in day to day living right now?

Well, according to this passage, and this is Jesus speaking, we should not be worried about anything in life.  In fact, this isn’t even a suggestion, it is a direct order.  He said don’t worry about if there will be food on the table of if I will have clothes to wear.  The reason is because life is so much more than eating and the latest fashion.  He goes on to say that God takes care of the birds and the flowers so how much more valuable are we to God than these?

Then Jesus repeats His admonishment to not worry about what you are going to eat or wear.  He said that is what the gentiles, the people without a relationship with God, worry about.  Then, He gives us the key to success in life to having those needs and desires met. It is:  in all areas of life, before anything else, look to God’s kingdom and His righteousness in Christ Jesus.  As you do that, then all of the above things will be added to you.  That is an extremely awesome promise!!

Lastly, He sums it all up by saying “and don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of its own things.  Live in today!”

Today I want to encourage you not to worry about the things you need.  Instead, start the day off by seeking God’s kingdom plan and receive His righteousness and grace to accomplish it.  As you begin to line your life up with God’s agenda, all the other things will be added to you and fall into place.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

Who do you serve?

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  Matthew 6:24

Who do you serve?  You have probably never thought of it and maybe a better question would be what do you serve?  Most likely your first response would be God, but if you take time to consider, you may realize that you actual put some natural things first in your life. Things such as: yourself, your employer, your friends, your family or your bank account.

In order to truthfully answer this question, you would have to take a look at your life’s priorities.  In my case, my priorities are my family members.  I have a job, but since it is part time, our household does not solely depend on my income.  I can also identify that I spend a significant amount of time studying and pursuing God, His goodness, love and purpose for my life.  However, if I am being honest with myself, I would have to admit that I am mostly interested in me and what belongs to me.  Do I serve me? Sometimes.  When it comes down to the decisions I make in life, my desire is to follow God’s plan because I know there is success there and I love Him and desire to walk closely with Him.  Do I always do it perfectly? No way!!  However, my heart’s desire is to honor God and be successful in the things He has called me to, so I attempt to follow every direction He speaks to my heart and through His word.

Today’s scripture only gives two choices.  God or mammon.  Other translations would say God or money, but mammon is the name of the spirit of covetousness.  This is good news, because money is not evil.  In fact, we need it to accomplish just about everything.  The key is not to trust or depend on it.  We trust God to provide, and we trust God to meet our needs.  Mostly, that happens by our faithfully working in the employment that He has given us to supply those needs we have such as: home, food, clothing and transportation. 

I believe the question to ask yourself is: Are you working hard for the money? Or are you working hard to honor and represent your Heavenly Father at the job He has given you to provide money.  Chase after God, not after a paycheck.  When you follow what He has planned for you, you will live the richest and fullest life ever imaginable.

Lastly, this passage says if you try to serve both God and mammon, you will hate one of them and love the other or cling to and be loyal to one and despise the other.  Wow!  This in enlightening.  It explains why there are so many people out there that hate their jobs but will not let go because they are working for the money.  Likewise, there are many that are thankful for the employment and work hard with a good attitude because they recognize that it is a gift to have the opportunity to choose where and how you will serve the Master.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart and your life.  Ask yourself “Am I working hard for money or am I working for my Father in heaven by being a good employee with a good attitude and work ethic?”  Be honest with yourself and make an adjustment if you need to.  Mostly, be thankful for all God has provided for you and be faithful to work where you are as unto God, not your boss.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:22-24

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 

23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Where do you belong

The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.  Revelation 15:6

I feel like it has taken me a long time to know where I belong in the body of believers and even life for that matter. It has taken many years to discover my purpose and called place.  However, even though I know I will continue to grow and step in to new assignments, I have a constant peace in my life because I know that I am where I am supposed to be.

It wasn’t always this way.  The first half of my life I carried a feeling of not belonging.  Even within the church walls, I felt out of place for much of my adult life.  But when I began to do what I knew was right, on a consistent basis, over time, I was able to step into a place where the gifts and talents that God had given me were being used to where now I know I am where I am called to be.

In today’s reading, this scene in heaven is so amazing to me.  The angels are in place for the exact moment of their purpose.  When the temple of God was opened, seven angels came out of the temple dressed in spotless white linen with gold sashes.  The passage doesn’t say how long they have been in the temple, but they are in place for that precise moment, holding their purpose to be executed at the exact point of God’s plan for their mission.  There were no questions by the angels of how long they would wait until their purposed is realized. They remained in the holding place of the temple until the doors were opened.

This picture of the angels helps me to realize that much of my life was in a holding position.  I was being prepared and developed for a future time.  My purpose and call were always the same mission, but the time leading up to realizing them was where I was learning to hear the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit so that I would be ready to respond at the precise moments that God needed my life to reach another.

Maybe that is where you are today.  You sense that there is more, and you do not quite fit in where you are right now.  It’s ok, don’t give up.  Use this time to press into all that you are called to by consistently following the direction of the things that the Holy Spirit puts in your heart.  You may not always get it perfectly but keep checking in and taking those next faith steps.  Your consistent walk with Him will have you in the exact right place at the exact moment of His plan.  You will be cleansed from all spots and blemishes, prepared for every good work that He has designed for you to complete.

Today I want to encourage you to take a moment to evaluate your place in this world.  Are you confident that you are in the right place at this time in your journey?  If you feel like things are not quite in place yet, be encouraged that you are in a holding pattern being prepared and developed for your future self.  Press into His love and direction and be determined to be ready for that appointed day to come that He has prepared for your gifts and ability.  Understand that you are in a time of refinement and although it feels like nothing is happening around you, it is happening inside of your heart.  Let the empowering grace of God transform you into a vessel of honor to accomplish all that is in the heart of God for you to achieve.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:5-8

5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 

6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests. 

7 Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 

8 The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

Great and Marvelous

They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Revelation 15:3

After writing the other day about reading God’s word to get to know Him more, I want to continue with that focus today.  The next two verses of Revelation 15 are a condensed version of the song of Moses from the Old Testament in Exodus 15:1-19.  Moses sang a song of triumph as the Israelites left Egypt to go to the promised land.  In Revelation, those who have the victory over the beast, his image and his mark sing this song again with harps except this time, they are in heaven.  In the words of this song, we learn so much about the character of God and the lengths He goes to for His people.  Below is a list of attributes we can learn about God and depend on when we are facing any battle.

1. His works are great and marvelous.
2. His ways are just and true.
3. All people should fear Him and glorify His name?
4. He alone is holy.
5. All nations will come and worship before Him.
6. His righteous deeds have been revealed.

Our heavenly Father’s works are great in quantity and in awesomeness.  He does marvelous, wonders that are not possible without Him.  All His ways are just and true. Because of that, He can be trusted and will never deceive or lie to you (something that is so precious to me).  We fear and reverence Him by giving Him glory and honoring His holy name.  One day every nation, tribe and tongue will come before Him and worship because He does not hide His works of righteousness.

This song tells the story of my life and what He has done to rescue me.  I know Him greatly and intimately because of the trouble He has saved me from.  When I imagine the multitudes standing on the sea of glass singing this song to Him, I am inspired to praise Him again and again.

Today I want to encourage you to worship and praise His holy name.  Come before Him each day and worship His holy name.  Set special time aside to sneak away and be alone with Him to talk about the things on your heart.   Then come together with others and declare His wonderful works in your life.  Encourage others because of His goodness and then tomorrow, get up and do it again.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:3-4

3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.

4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come

and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Why do you read?

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.  Revelation 15:1

As we begin chapter 15 of Revelation, I want to take a pause here and ask ourselves: Why am I reading this book?  Why do I read any of God’s Word?  What am I looking for?  These are questions I thought about this past weekend.  Why am I reading God’s Word everyday and what am I looking for when I read the scriptures. 

I have to be honest and say that some of the reasons are because it is a habit and because I know it is the right thing to do and it is good for me. I open up the bible every day to make sure I am taking in His good content.  Also, If I am being totally honest, I look into God’s words for His promises and that translates into “What’s in it for me?”  Kind of a selfish attitude, but still, it is important to know where the real answers to everyday life can be found.

However, and this may seem like a no brainer to some people, but now I am taking on a new purpose for reading the holy Word of God.  This is so that I can know more about Him and understand Him on a more personal level.  I believe this is the main reason why God has preserved His story and book down through the ages.  It isn’t so that we can know what is coming up next although much of that is in there.  It isn’t even so that we can know how to live life successfully, because that is also in there.  The real reason God has given us His very own words in a book that we can hold onto in this physical world is so that we can know how much He loves us and wants to walk with us each day we are here in this world.

In today’s key verse, we read that God’s wrath is complete!   He will never pour out wrath on His enemy again for all eternity.  I also am made aware from this chapter, that I am not reading it to see what the anti-christ will be doing on the earth, I am reading this book from heaven’s viewpoint.  I said it before, but this is not a vision to learn about the beast and the false prophet, this is the revealing of our Lord Jesus and events that took place in heaven to be lived out in a future time in the world.  This is God’s story, and it is the conclusion to the age of grace that we live in today.  It is the last opportunity for those who still live in the world to step into that personal relationship with their heavenly Father and He is pulling out all the stops to urgently get that message out to the remaining few to be rescued during that time.

So now, my perspective has changed and each day when I open God’s word, I am looking for His love and what He wants to teach me about our relationship.  I will be looking for the message He wants to speak to me personally and also what He plans for me to share with others.  I have included a prayer below that I now put into my Daily Dose Journals, that you can pray before you read God’s word each day to help you remember why you are reading and also to ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Who He is and His great love for you in a new and special way.

Today I want to encourage you to answer the question: Why do you read God’s Word?  Start turning your focus when you open it to His love and goodness instead of reading out of obligation or habit.  Pray the prayer below and let your time in His word be a personal time to enrich your relationship with Him and get to know Him better.  Begin to increase your understanding of the love He has for you and all people and then just sit in His presence and listen to words of wisdom He wants to share with you for the day.

Pray: Father, thank You for Your Word and that I can get to know you better through it.  I thank you for the wisdom and promises in it!  Open up my understanding now as I read, to receive the message that You have for my life personally today and show me how to apply these truths in my everyday life.  I thank You for showing me more of your great love and all You are imparting into my heart through this reading and for giving me opportunities to share your love, wisdom and promises with others each day.  In Jesus name, Amen!       

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 15:1-2

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 

Invest in your future

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

I love this passage in Matthew that talks about your “treasure”.  This was also one of those elusive scriptures to me because I never considered that I had a “treasure”.  Treasure to me always seemed like something in a fairy tale or pirate story.  Silly right?  Finally, I realized that my treasure is what I value most and what is most important to me.  When I began to think about what was valuable on earth like material things, as opposed to things valuable in heaven such as people and the good we do for others here in this world, then I started to get it.  That’s when I began to recognize how important it is to invest in my future . . . my eternal future.  But how?

Let’s examine the today’s key verses a little closer.  It says that your heart will follow where you put your treasure. So once again it is a step of faith. The first act is to intentionally lay up your “treasure” in heavenly things.  So first of all, determine what your treasure is.  The passage is talking some about your financial treasure because it refers to “things”, but it is not limited there.  Your treasure is where you put your time and energy also, which are even more valuable than your money because they are not replaceable.  Put your money, time, resources and efforts into the things of the Kingdom of God and before long that will be what you are most interested in and love. AKA where your heart is.   You will notice your heart following your “treasure”.  You will become increasingly interested in growing your heavenly account each day.

Revelation 14:13 says “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” It is very interesting that though we cannot be saved or get into heaven by “good works” or anything we do other than make Jesus the Lord of our life, this passage would indicate that good works are still important and will actually follow you into eternity.  That is, work that is done for the kingdom of heaven here on earth.  We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t take it with you”. Well according to God’s Word, there is something you can take with you, other people and good things done for others in the name of Jesus.

Today I encourage you to start investing in your eternal bank account and look for others you can bless and pray for.  Reach out and ask God to lead you to those good works that He planned for you before you were born.  Then begin to walk in them.  Instead of checking the stock market or your bank account each day to see how your investments are doing, start checking your heavenly account and adding to it daily.  Soon those will be the only investments you are interested in looking at because you heart has followed the action you physically put behind your faith.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:19-24

19  “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22  “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 

23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

What about fasting?

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  Matthew 6:16

After teaching His disciples to pray in secret, Jesus told His disciples another practice that is to be done in secret.  Fasting.  Notice, He doesn’t say to them “If you fast?” like it is an option. He says “When you fast” because it is something they did regularly.

So, what is fasting all about?  I want to answer that question by identifying what fasting is not.  Fasting, at least godly fasting is not about a diet or weight loss.  Fasting is not something you do as a ritual or commandment of God.  Fasting especially isn’t something you do to try to get God to answer your prayer request.

Fasting is a time of separating from the things of the world to “tune in” to the things of God.  It doesn’t have to be food, but certainly can be.  It could be things such as social media, tv/movies, news, or gaming. It can be anything that uses the time that you can turn your attention to God instead.  The things you fast aren’t bad things, it’s just a time you purpose in your heart to spend with God in the space you usually spend with those other activities and distractions.  Fasting can also be a time when you decide to reach out to others more or in a different way than you usually don’t take the time to, a time of giving of yourself. 

When fasting foods, it can be for a time of cleansing in your body for more healthy living.  The timing is also flexible.  It can be one day as the Israelites did weekly on the sabbath or three days as Esther did to seek God’s wisdom.  Daniel fasted twenty-one days, he still ate food, he just fasted “pleasant foods.” Lastly, Jesus and Moses fasted forty days. 

Fasting is not a ritual practice; it is a spiritual discipline.  In fasting, your physical body is forced to submit to your spirit and must obey what you tell it to do instead of your sprit giving into the demands of your flesh to be comfortable.  It is not something you do to try to get God to move closer to you or to move on your behalf.  Fasting is for you to move closer to God and to act on His behalf.  It creates a desire in your heart to purge out the unclean to make a space for the pure things of God’s plan.

I know this is not so interesting to some, but it is truly a powerful act of worship.  By putting your flesh in subjection to your spirit, your spirit becomes dominate and more discerning of the things God is speaking to your heart.  Today I would ask that you consider and pray about fasting.  Read about it in the Word and listen to what God has to say about it.  It is not a bad thing, for sure, and it is not obsolete.  The same results can be had today that were given all through the scriptures.  If nothing else, in fasting you show yourself just how serious you are about the things of God, and Jesus promised when done in secret you will see the rewards of it openly.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 6:14-18

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 

17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 

18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Harvest time

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  Revelation 14:15

 If you know anything about harvest time, you understand that it is an exciting time, but it is also a time for a lot of work.  Depending on how big the harvest is, it can take days and even weeks at times.  In recent years, my husband has taken up gardening.  It is something that he really enjoys.  In the spring, he spends a lot of time planting, nurturing and caring for the new little seedlings that he starts in the house and when they grow up strong enough, then he transplants them into the garden area that has already been prepared for them to take root.  Then all through the summer, he watches over these plants to make sure they are getting enough water and nutrients and also that no pests are feeding on them and damaging the leaves and even the roots.  By the time the harvest comes in and the fruit is fully grown, he knows every detail about each of the plants.  When the vegetation is fully matured, he begins to bring in the produce, there may be just a little bit at first, but after only a few short days, there is abundance.  That’s when the work really begins.  If we don’t keep up with the harvest, the crop will become overgrown and spoiled.

Planting and reaping is such a vivid picture that parallels life and also what happens when people turn their lives over to the Lord Jesus.  Someone plants a seed in the ground of a person’s heart about God’s love and provision of salvation and if that seed is prayed over and nurtured it will grow up until that person decides to receive that gift of salvation the Father in heaven wants every person to know. If the person never makes that decision or if the seeds were never planted, there can be no harvest of that life into God’s kingdom. 

Matthew 9:37-38 – “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Jesus said that the harvest of the world right now is plentiful, but we need more laborers.  He commanded that we pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send out more laborers into the harvest.  Laborers come in many different ways.  Some are seasoned Christians that have been called to foreign lands to reap that harvest.  Others are called to do the work of the ministry right here in their own neighborhoods.  Some are called to be financial laborers and support the work of ministry and still others are new laborers that are growing up under the training of the seasoned workers.  The point is that we are all called to bring in the harvest of new believers to disciple them up and equip them to go back into the fields to bring more in.  We all have a part to do and a place that we have been designed to fill.  Evidently this is not an automatic thing or Jesus would not have said that we need to pray that the harvesters will get into their place and bring the people in before it is too late and that crop is lost for all eternity.

In today’s reading, it is talking about a different harvest time.  John wrote about One sitting on a cloud with a sharp sickle in His hand and then some angels with sickles also.  At that time, it is the season for the earth to be reaped, but the harvest is to bring in the great winepress of the wrath of God. This is a great battle that results in blood flowing up to the horse’s bridle for 200 miles.  I cannot even comprehend it.

Today I want to encourage you while we are still on this side of that great harvest of the wrath of God to get into your place as a harvester of souls.  Begin to plant and water seeds with God’s Word and your prayers.  We live in the time that was prophesied by the prophet Amos when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested.  This truly is the time when the harvest is plenteous so we need to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers and also pray that you would step into your laboring position.  If you do not know where that is, begin to take the next steps and opportunities that open up in front of you and determine that you will take your place along side all the other harvesters in the world and bring in your section of the field.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:14-20

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 

16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 

19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

You Can’t take it with you

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  Revelation 14:13

Have you ever heard the old saying: You can’t take it with you? Meaning that when you die and leave this world, you cannot take any material things with you when you go.  Once I heard an older preacher say that they never saw a moving truck following a hurst to the cemetery.  Yet the majority of people spend their entire time here in this world trying to accumulate the best things that will only last for a few short years here on earth.

It’s true, when we leave this world and go on to live in heaven, we cannot not, nor would we ever want to take any physical thing that we have acquired here in the earth with us when we pass.  It just cannot compare to the treasure we will see in heaven.  However, there is something that we can take with us from this life.  That is the good works that we do for other and the souls that we lead to our Savior Jesus.

Today’s reading describes three angels that fly through the heavens proclaiming the everlasting gospel message and also giving warnings to the people on earth to fear God and give Him glory.  These angels are messengers to preach the good news that Jesus is Lord to the people in the world and to warn them that the beasts and systems they are trusting in are going to fall and God’s wrath is coming to those who receive the mark in their hand or head.  This is bad news, but there is still time at that point for the people of the world to turn to God and aways from the deception of the evil leaders.

Then John was told to write a proclamation that those who die in the Lord are blessed and they will rest from the labors and all their hard work will follow them into eternity. These that are suffering the terrible afflictions of the evilness that is possessing the earth are blessed and all their labor to help others in that time will live on with them for all eternity when the finish here in this world.

You and I are blessed too.  Even though we will escape the treachery of those great tribulation days, God’s blessing is on us right here and now.  We have been called to do His good works and glorify our Father here in the world.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine brightly so that the world can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  His intent was for His disciples to carry on in the good work Jesus started and to continue in it through the generations until the end of the age.  These good works, feeding the pour, healing the sick, sharing the salvation message and following the leading of the Holy Spirit will follow you into eternity.  So you can take something with you when you leave this world, that is all that you have been called to by your heavenly Father.

Today I want to encourage you to do the good works that Jesus did while He was here in this world.  Love the unlovable, Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you.  If anyone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other also.  From him who takes aways your coat, do not withhold your shirt either.  There is no reward for loving those who love you and doing good to those who do good to you.  Even the world does those things, but loving your enemies, doing good, lending and hoping for nothing in return,  that is when your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High because He is kind to the unthankful and evil so be merciful just as your Father is also merciful. In the same way that Jesus said these things in Luke 6, that is the good that will follow us into our eternal destination.

Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 14:6-13

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people

 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

8 And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 

10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”