Yesterday I had the opportunity to lead a BSF group called Every Nation for my friend James. I started the group 1/2 hour early for fellowship and prayed for each guy to come in and share what the Lord is doing, through his Word and Spirit in their lives. I sent an email inviting them to join with a link to the passage (Revelation 21:9-22:5), the BSF App, and link to our meeting. I continued to pray as I waited until at the hour of the meeting we had 2 guys join out of 15. We enjoyed a wonderful fellowship, then at 4 minutes after the hour we opened the meeting with prayer for each guy that was missing, as we prayed for them by name 5 more guys joined!
We alway start our meeting with a review of last week, "Last week we learned about God’s just response to sin in final judgement and new creation, what help did you receive from the notes or lecture?" We had great sharing but even with 7 guys, by the end of day 2 not everyone shared so I opened pair-share breakout rooms on the application question "How does Revelation 21:9-14 offer a helpful perspective for God's people?"
The meeting flew by quickly and we got to last question that we framed up as prayer requests. Prayer on Question #14 What does the promise of God’s eternal reign, constant light, and continual presence with His people mean to you?
- Jon always safe, nothing hidden, unconditional support and love.
- Ngula, eternal reign, no longer questioned, just be with God and keep his word. Importance of sharing His word with more people: strangers, and family. Share and be with them forever.
- Kevin, removes the fear and phobia.
- Jeff, this week called brother Leo about sharing Christ tonight. He feels life is unjust, Christ isn't #1 and he's tired of hearing it. Urgency in light of what's happening. Pray Jeff delivers love of Christ and the seed planted in a receptive heart.
- Yujin, gratitude to the Lord for our BSF brotherhood.
We prayed for James safe return and stayed for end of meeting fellowship where I learned Khup was from Myanmar!
My first trip to Myanmar was during the summer before BSF had launched Revelation (2016). I brought a bunch of chrome books and created an HTTP application for them to navigate resources via a thumb drive. I uploaded it to the web for fun here: https://myanmar-christian-bible-resource.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/index.html. I had a vision at that time of Myanmar people ministering to people in Africa via online resources. Tonight that vision was realized with your Every Nation group! Praise the Lord for you guys! My friend's Patrick Walker and Jonathan Stone are still involved in Minister other there: https://www.facebook.com/OrphanCareInt
Before this trip to Myanmar I met John Bevere at Ameriprise SALT meeting where he shared God and Gary, Larry and Harry (Matthew 25:14-30).
His big point was that people think the kingdom of heaven is like this:
But God's word reveals this:
After this teaching John Bevere had everyone bow and pray. Then asked if we were going to do something different with the resources God has entrusted to "raise your hand." I raised my hand (and later learned that the other 50 people did as well). I added 4 more chromebooks and continued to create resources for them to use them.
I'm praising God for Huey and his family we had dinner last night with Paul at Hip Sing BBQ and shared how impactful friendship is. On the way I heard from Russ and enjoyed the wonderful reminder that when we seek the Lord, He hears, and He answers!
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him
When life seems hopeless, shift your focus - raise your level of understanding
Christians have an ongoing struggle against sin that is frustrating
3 proofs of bona fide Christianity
Lord, wash my feet
Jesus wants us to be light so that He can be seen to the lost
Had to share John Bevere - Relentless with Rob, Gloria, and Jim and be reminded: James 1:2-3, "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it pure joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything".
Thanking God for Heaven today (Heb 12)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.
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