Devotion Revelation 5:8-14 Part 4 Now Or Later
Revelation 5:8-14 – 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them…” John is clearly saying that in the following worship, there shall be no being, no creature, wherever they may be, that will not admit and confess what they have always known, that God lives and He reigns. Here He lists God the Father and God the Son, but we must remember that where the Father and the Son is so is the Holy Spirit (Revelation 5:6, John 14:16, 26, John 15:26). So the Triune God will be worshipped and acknowledged (Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10). Family, as previously discussed, there is no person on earth, none that was ever born, that did not know that God exists. It is true that most of people who ever lived on earth do not and have not acknowledged and yielded their will to the One and True God Almighty. But that is not because they do not know that He exists. It is because in their pride and in their lusts they have rejected God so that they can live their lives as their own God. Those who reject God have deceived themselves or, because they have refused to believe the truth have put themselves into a position to be deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Romans 1:18-25). This is the choice they make. It is why God’s Word calls all those who say that there is no God, fools (Psalm 14:1). They have made choices that place them in the snare of the enemy and they are therefore aligned with Him rather than God. We are not talking about intellect here. We are talking about wisdom, and the lack of it. . Wise people make wise choices, including the wisest of all decisions, to die to self and live for Christ. It is the only thing on this earth that matters (Mark 8:36). Family, in the end, every rejecter of God will bow before God and acknowledge what they tried to hide. They will acknowledge that God lives and that Jesus is Lord of all. There will be no exceptions. It is a true saying that we can now bow and acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord while we live on earth and thereby be saved. Or we can refuse to do so on earth but bow and acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord on the day of judgement, when it was too late. The man who has refused to pay taxes will find that acknowledging His error before the judge will not delay the penalty that comes from his actions. The time to pay taxes is when they are due. The time to honor and praise God is while alive on earth. At the judgement table it takes no love for God to acknowledge who He is there. There it is merely stating the obvious. It is too late.
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” All of creation at every location will be praising Father God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb of God and acknowledge who He is. At this time it is acknowledged that God is worthy and deserving of praise, honor and power. Notice that John does not differentiate to whom the praise is going to. He does not need to. The Father and The Son are one. The song of praise is intended for both, who are one.
“The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are the ones who start the praise and worship and they are the ones who finish this praise. The four living creatures boom out so that all of creation hears “Amen!” Amen means “so be it” or “Yes.” It is a confession that all God says, that God Himself is True and that He is Truth. To confess is be in agreement with God. It is admitting, in heart, mind, and deed that who God is and what He has stated is true. At a service saints may say “Amen” meaning that they agree with the truth of the Word that is being preached or taught. Amen, I agree, yes it is true. That is the life Jesus lived. He is the Amen (Revelation 3:14) just as He was the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:1-5). Jesus was God in the flesh. Since all that God says is part of Him because He says nothing that is not true and nothing that He does not mean. God speaks with purpose. His Word is truth at the moment, has always been true and will forever stay true. Jesus becoming that Word in the flesh reveals that all that God has said is never separated from Him, but it reveals Him. Jesus revealed who God His, His great love for us, His redemption plan and His action to save all who would come. Jesus completed the verb that is the Word of God. Yes, Jesus is the Amen. Jesus is the shout and the proof that God is God alone and everything about God is true. Jesus is the Amen. He is the “So Be It” and the “Yes” to and about God. The four living creatures said Amen, “So be it” and “Yes!” The elders fell down and worshipped. May we, every morning and throughout the day likewise fall down prostrate before God with a shout of confirmation that, to God, we say “Yes!” We say to God “Yes” You are who You have revealed Yourself to be and all You have said will come true. Lord God, yes!
What if a person does not acknowledge that God is to be praised and that He has honor, glory and power? What if the whole world refused to acknowledge that? Would it effect who and what God is? No! God is who He is. He said of Himself that “I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:14).” He is who He is and He always will be. God does not need the acknowledgment or testimony of men. It is not for His benefit that man should praise and worship Him. He is autonomous and ever will who He is. It is for the benefit of man Himself that man praises God. The man who bows before God will walk beside Him. The man who refuses to bow before God shall forever walk bowed over in the eternal flame. God is the great I AM. Jesus is the only Lamb of God. He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). We know Him because He first knew and loved us (1 John 4:19). So let us now echo and live out the truth that all will one day announce “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Praise God! The words of this book are coming true, are true, and will be revealed as true. Let’s praise God! Let’s be ready! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 5:8-14 Part 3 The Result Of Right Focus
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Not after, but during the worship of the four living creatures and the twenty four elders, John’s attention shifted to another host of worshippers, angels. When John writes “numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” it is not to give us an exact number. He is saying there was a huge amount, too big to count.
Notice that this innumerable amount of angels were singing “In a loud voice.” It does not say they were lifting up their voices, but that they sang with a single voice. They were all united in the purpose and voice of their song, they all were praising the Lamb of God. As with the four living creatures, twenty-four elders, and the host of angels, all who love God, when our eyes are upon God, are overwhelmed and want to worship and praise Him. And that is where our eyes belong. That is where our spiritual eyes belong, focused on God. That is where our spiritual ears must be attuned to, our God. When we see and hear God, we, who love God, are absolutely moved to praise Him. Keeping this in mind, let’s add depth by looking again at Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” We often see in scripture that God will not share His glory with another or His praise to idols. Everything in the Word of God flows smoothly from one subject to another. It all is a single message with a single purpose. So tying these two verses together to find that singleness of message, as we stay in the presence of God we will, like the heavenly hosts in the throne room, have praise burst from our overwhelmed hearts. Our love for God and amazement of Him bursts from us and new songs of praise continuously flow from us to God. It is when we are in His presence with our focus on God, that this joy and praise flows from us. We know that is where we are called to live. It is simple: Focus on God, be in His presence, and praise flows. This happens for all who love God and whom He calls His own. Family, if we are in the presence of God, whether corporally or individually, and praise does not flow, something is very wrong. The questions must arise whether we are in His presence and also do really love God. Since it is so that to be in His presence is to love, praise and glorify Him, then this verse from Isaiah is a call to be in the presence of God and our focus be on Him. Family, we know the Lord really does take His wisdom that is beyond us and explain it to us in the simplest of forms. He does that because the reason He gave us the Word of God was to reveal Himself and continually draw and keep us close to Him. He does that for our benefit, not His. So how do we avoid misappropriating the glory and praise of God to another, or a dead idol? We stay in His presence. If our eyes are on anyone or anything but Him, then we be awed by another. Job said in V 31:1 about his eyes “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman,” If he stared, then evil stands ready to pounce. So it is to focus on the world rather than God. So we must keep our eyes on Him, we must stay in His presence! If we truly worship God, stay focused on Him and keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, then our songs will never ascribe the glory and praise that belongs to God to another. As we learn from the praise of the angels, so we keep the word of God in Isaiah.
The praise of God originates from His very being. Who He is, when gazed upon by those whose eyes have been opened, produces the byproduct of a heart that loves God and automatically praises Him. Therefore, we must stay in His presence, then we will praise God, only God, and not attempt to rob Him of the praise and glory that belongs solely to Him. Praise our God who is worthy of praise! Let us remind ourselves in thought and song, that Jesus is the Lamb of God and the unique one to save us all. What joy and hope flows from looking to Him and to finally be in His home, living with Him, forever and ever. Oh to see God face to face. How frightening! How powerful! How wonderful! Wonderful is our God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 5:8-14 Part 2 A Reason For Our Song
Revelation 5:8-14 – 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
“9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” The compassion of our God is extended to us daily, and His love surrounds us as we wake every morning (Lamentations 22-23). We are His beloved because He saw us wandering through life, filthy and headed for an eternity of suffering (Isaiah 64:6-7), but He decided to love us, to take us to His Father’s home, to clean us up and tend our wounds and infirmities and to call us His own (1 John 1:7). Now every night He watches over us when we sleep (Psalm 3:5). He is there every morning with gifts of inexhaustible love. Family, oh yes, our God is ever with us and always speaking to us (Job 33:14). His love for us is manifest and if we don’t see it, it is because we do not look and do not listen (Matthew 7:7). His love and blessings surround us. Every morning, every day, if we will consider God’s great love and listen for His voice, His love is there to overwhelm us and carry us through the day, each day. We need not look far, He is with us (Acts 17:27) Every day the abundance of His love and blessings in us cause a song of praise to rise up on our hearts for Him. Every morning our eyes should open looking for Him, our ears should be listening for Him, and our hearts and minds must be in an expectant position to receive from Him. When that happens, indeed there is a new song, a fresh song, a song for each morning that is like no other. God is good, loving and wonderful every morning and as we do our human best to receive from Him, a new song is instant in praise and worship for our God! Praise God!
How inexpressibly wonderful must it have been for the witnesses in the throne room to see the Lamb of God step forward and receive the scroll from the hand of God! Wow! Yes, they see the conqueror of the powers of this world, the great redeemer, now ready to open the scrolls and release its contents. It is not hard to imagine the anticipation, awe and joy that filled all angels and humans in the room. Praise God! Of course they sang a new and fresh song to Him. The song is from the wonder of Him…praise God! Don’t try to think of praise songs, let them flow from the joy of our spirits united with Him!
How is He worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? It is because of Him stepping down from heaven, being obedient to the Father, and loving the Father and us so much that He willingly laid down His life for us (Philippians 2:4-8). He willingly was beaten beyond recognition, insulted and killed because of the great love of God for us (John 10:18). Jesus purchased us with the most precious of commodities, His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). There will be none of mankind who will reside in heaven except those who are covered by the blood of Jesus (Acts 4:12). None except those who are covered by His sacrifice (1 Timothy 2:5). Family, we were bought back from sin and death by none other than the Lamb of God! Aren’t we so glad!
What is the result of the sacrifice of Jesus? It is that He has made, from mankind, a nation of kings and priests who, under Him, shall rule and reign on earth (2 Timothy 2:12). That is the position and inheritance of all the saints of God, to reign with Him. Jesus shares His inheritance with us Romans 8:17). He remains our King and our Lord and He has a place, a position, already prepared for us (John 14:2). Let’s strain our spiritual eyes as we look for the return of Jesus to bring us home (Philippians 3:20). Family, our champion is coming back for us to bring us home. And yes, He has a job for us. Of course He does, we will be with Him forever! Praise God!
Family, are we listening, are we looking for the Lord this morning? Are we asking Him, to lead, guide and use us? Are we stopping to, first and most importantly, spend time with Him and letting His love flow into our hearts and embolden us for the day? If so, we have a song in our heart and a spring in our step. Let’s always start our day by receiving from God and letting a song of praise to our God, a new one every morning, be the fire that burns in us daily. Let it be the witness of God within. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 5:8-14 Part 1 Recognize And Be Grateful, We Are Never Forgotten
Revelation 5:8-14 – 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
“8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” The Lamb of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has stepped forward and received the glory, praise and honor that only God deserves. Him, the Son, being fully God and having suffered, died and been resurrected for our sake, in complete obedience to the Father and guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, stands alone and is set and ready to open the scroll and break the seals. Celebration in complete abandon to honor the Lamb of God erupts. This is greater than the last second game winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, or the winning shot in the last game of the NBA finals, or the walk off game winning grand slam in game seven of the World Series. The total glee, the shouts of triumph and honor are, and the total giving over to the moment is released by the four living creatures, and the elders. Imagine a person who is watching the Super Bowl, who has never before watched a football game, and comes in to watch the final minute of the game and the winning touchdown. When the touchdown is scored and everybody in the room starts celebrating, he doesn’t know why. He doesn’t know the importance of the moment. He looks around and smiles at their celebration but he himself is not celebrating. He doesn’t understand what was done. He doesn’t understand the victory. So it is that those of us who love and obey the Lord Jesus look for and celebrate this moment when the Lamb of God, who paved the way to heaven for us, steps forward and receives the honor that only He can receive. However, those who have not been washed clean by the blood of Christ, don’t understand, they don’t celebrate. Praise God! Family, we may not be actually present there, but even now we can celebrate the moment that is sure to come, and maybe very soon! Praise, glory and honor to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!
Each of the living creatures and the elders held a harp. In this book the harp is an instrument of praise. These were pouring out their hearts, with all they could, in praise and adoration of the Lamb of God. What a sight! What a ripening fruit that is soon to be enjoyed!
Also each of the living creatures and the elders had a golden bowls filled with incense. The incense represents the prayers of God’s people (Psalm 141:2). When incense is lit in a room, the aroma of it fills the room. Each breath in the room is filled with the incense. Here we see the prayers of the saints lifted up to God. He breathes them in and has an answer for each one. The prayers of His people are precious to Him, they are kept in golden bowels. This reminds us that God not only hears all of our prayers, but each one, big and small, is important to Him. We must never forget our prayers, God never does. In faith, we must remember them so that when the prayers we thought were not to be fulfilled, when they are actually fulfilled, then we will give credit to God and thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness. Family, if we are not walking in the Spirit, if our minds are not on God, then we may not give Him credit for the blessings we receive. If we don’t give Him credit, then when we bow our heads in prayer, we will not thank Him. If we don’t remember our prayers, then how will we thank Him for something we have not even given Him credit for? We must see the blessings God sends and give Him full credit for the blessings. God will often use others to bless us, but the blessings originate from God. Let God receive the ultimate praise and glory. Let’s remember our prayers so that God will be thanked. Giving God the credit and having hearts full of thankfulness, will build our faith and bring about the reality of God in our lives. May our hearts be full of praise to God! Praise God who is good to us beyond our comprehension and loves us with a love that is ever-present and eternal! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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11-25-17 Devotion Revelation 5:6-7 Lamb Is Lion, Lion Is Lamb
What John sees is “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.” John must have been taken aback. A victorious and mighty Lion had been announced and what He saw was a Lamb that was “looking” like it had been slain. Now we know that who John is seeing is Jesus, the Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world (Genesis 22:8, John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7, 1 Peter 1:19). Not only did John not seem to see a mighty lion, but he saw a diminutive Lamb, not a majestic ram on a mountaintop looking powerful and in control and snorting out each breach with steam. No, he saw a little Lamb, like a pet Lamb. He saw a dear and non-threatening Lamb. Initially, was it a bit bewildering to John?
The Lamb was not only not a mighty lion, but it was also “looking” as if it had been slain. The wording here is in the imperfect tense meaning that it looked like (and indeed had been) slain, but that the effect of it being slain was perpetual and continuing. What that means is not that the Lamb was continually being slain, but that the power and he purpose of the Lamb being slain remains in effect. It means that the blood of the Lamb brought forgiveness not only for the forgiveness of sins of all mankind (that would come to Him) living at that time, but also for the sins of all mankind that would be born in the future. It also represents that the sacrifice of the lamb was not a one-time event in any repentant individual, but the efficacy of the sacrifice continued forever in their life. Jesus died once, and the power of His sacrifice is eternal and always perfectly and completely apt (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 10:10). So the diminutive Lamb, that had been slain, was indeed the eternal and mighty champion. As we shall see, the lamb is indeed the Lion. What was important at this point, is that Lamb is the portal to peace, unity and victory to God. The only portal. The only one worthy to open the scroll and break the seals. Praise God! Thank you Jesus!
“…standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders…” NIV translates the verse as above. NKJV translates it “In the midst.” What this is saying is that Jesus, who came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, was in the center of, in the midst of, God’s will and actions, and the one who released all that was to come.
“The Lamb had seven horns.” Once again the number seven is representative of completeness (Genesis 2:1-3). The horn represents power and authority (Deuteronomy 33:17, 1 Samuel 2:10). So the seven horns means that the Lamb had complete power and authority to step forward and to release what was coming. We also can receive that since He has complete power and authority, He is completely adequate for any situation. He is more than adequate, He is supreme and in complete control.
And the lamb had “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Again the number of seven represents completion, or completeness. Here the verse lets us know that the seven eyes are the sevenfold spirits of God. It is representative of the Holy Spirit who is perfect and complete. The Holy Spirit, as is the triune God, is omnipresent and omniscient. He sees everything and so, of course He knows everything. Nothing is hid from His sight. He has perfect insight. This represents Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was on earth He was full of the Holy Spirit and His miracles were done through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 12:28, Romans 15:19). We must remember that our Triune God is three in one and one in three. There is no separating them and no consolidation of them into one. They, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all of a single mind and single will. Praise God! As during His ministry on earth the Lord remains united and one with the Holy Spirit.
“He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” Jesus stepped forward took the scroll from the hand of Almighty God. Jesus had earned the right to do so by His complete obedience to God as He lived out being the Lamb of God. Jesus took the scroll from the hand of His Father. What a magnificent and powerful, yet dear and wonderful that moment must have been. In my mind I see the Father watching as His son approaches. The Father’s eyes are focused on His Son, full of pride, contentment and love His heart aches with love as He watches His Son’s approach. Likewise His Son’s eyes are locked on His Father. When He reaches the Father, they share a moment, a smile, that only they could share. Then the Father lifts up the scroll toward His victorious and magnificent Son and the scroll that reveals and releases the most tumultuous seven years of mankind is passed to His most worthy Son. The Son has endured, has persisted, has earned this right. And so the baton is passed. Oh praise God to have seen that moment! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 5:5 Yes, He Is Who He Said He Was
Revelation 5:5 – Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.
Notice that it was one of the elders who comforted him. Previously it was angels whom he heard. Now one of the elders, one who had served God and now had received the honor of sitting on a throne beside God, who spoke to him. Who might the elder have been? We have established that the twenty-four elders are most likely the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of Jesus (minus Judas Isacariot and including Paul). So John finds one of these twenty-four comforting him. Could it be Judah or one of his brothers? Remembering that John was seeing something in the future, something that was going to be, could it have been one of the apostles, maybe Peter, who was comforting him? Or, maybe, even it was John’s resurrected self that was comforting him? How much a comfort that would have been if John saw himself in the future, redeemed and sitting on a throne in heaven? Wow! Of course we don’t have the identity of the elder who comforted him. We will one day find out. We shall meet them all. Praise God! The most important thing was not the identity of the elder. The most important thing was that there was someone who could, and would open the scrolls. The elder commanded John to “stop his wailing.” The champion was present! Praise the Lord!
The elder described the champion as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” This is using the verse that describes the coming Messiah as rising from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:8-10). The lion represented sovereignty, courage, victory and authority. The tribe of Judah will have the scepter of authority until the “he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his…). This was a solemn promise of God to the nation of Israel. They would have the right of assuring justice. Let’s jump forward to the year A.D. 12. In that year the Romans issued a decree that the Jewish people would no longer be able to carry out capital punishment. As soon as this news hit all the rabbi’s ran into the streets, tore their clothing, wailed and beat their chests. Why was this so devastating? It was because it seemed to them that a promise from God was no longer in effect. God had promised them that they would have the scepter of authority until the Messiah came. Here they were, their Messiah had not yet come, and the scepter of authority was taken from them. They were crushed? What did this all mean? Had a promise from God failed? If so, does that mean that God is not infallible and His promises not secure? This seemed to be a tragedy beyond conceivability! But God… As we know, God is infallible and when it seems that God is nowhere in sight, we need to trust in what we know of God rather than what we can see or understand the circumstances around us. God was still in control even though that proclamation had gone out. The very Spring day that the proclamation came out there was a twelve year old boy sitting in the temple in Jerusalem, confounding the “professors” of the day . The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Messiah, Jesus as a boy, was there. When the Jewish world seemed to be falling apart, God was in control! Praise God! Let us not focus on the things we do not understand, but on the things we do understand. We know that God is good and that He loves us. We know that all His promises come true because He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2) and He knows all things (1 John 3:20). Family, we know these things. When the worst news comes, God is still in control. We don’t know why many troubles come. We must remember to focus not on what we do not know (the why of the events of life), but on what we do know, that God is true, that He is good, and that He loves us. If we keep our eyes focused on God, then the doubts will not overwhelm us. Focus on the road ahead, focus on Jesus, and our final stop will be in heaven. The “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” has triumphed! Praise God!
The other description of the champion is “Root of David.” Now we often understand this to mean that Jesus was a descendant of David. We know this to be true as also per Isaiah 11:1. Now let’s consider that the description “Root of David” is not describing one who comes from something but is what something comes from. Something that is the root is what the rest of the plant or tree is sprouted from. Also it means that the root existed before the rest of the tree, or plant. So the description that the Messiah is the “Root of David” is saying that the Messiah existed before David and indeed “gave birth” to David, and nurtured him. David was sustained by the Messiah that was to come. How is this possible? It is possible because the coming Messiah, born of a virgin, was not only man (one hundred percent), but also God (one hundred percent). We know that all of creation was from Jesus (Colossians 1:15-17) so David was created and guarded by God, who would be the “in the flesh” Messiah. In Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus challenged the Pharisees (religious experts) concerning this. He asked them who the father of the coming Messiah was. They responded that it was David. They knew what they were talking about, they had scriptural back up (Isaiah 11:1). In response to their reply Jesus then asks them “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ V43-44. The Jews would never have a father calling the son Lord. The son called the father Lord. Here, in Psalm 110:1, David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was saying that Lord God Almighty was calling David’s Lord, the Messiah. This was not proper. So Jesus then asked “If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” None of the Pharisees could solve this answer because it would mean that the only way this could be explained was that the Messiah was indeed God in the flesh. It would mean Jesus was the Messiah, God in the flesh. Father God was speaking to David’s Messiah God. So Jesus is both the Lord and Creator of David, and also the descendent of David. Jesus was indeed God in the flesh, coming to save them. Praise God!
Now we have an explanation to the conundrum of how the Messiah is both the Root of David and the sprout that comes from David (Jeremiah 33:15). The Messiah Jesus is both God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1) and also a physical descendent of David (Matthew 1:1-6) through His manhood, via His mother Mary. Oh praise God! Don’t you “love it when a plan comes together?” Can God cook or can God cook! Praise the Lord!
Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He is the Root of David, He is the Messiah and He was God in the flesh! Praise our God! Because Jesus was worthy, because He saved mankind (those who call Him Savior and Lord) are assured that He will bring them home with Him. As the elder told John, Jesus “has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” So John, don’t doubt, but believe. Did not Jesus say and will He not do? Jesus has triumphed. As He described Himself, He is the “Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” Revelation 22:13. Let us trust the Lord and lean not to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). God is worthy or faith and trust. He is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals. This is great cause for joy and peace. Come soon Lord Jesus, come (Revelation 22:20)! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 5:1-4 Finding The Worthy One
Revelation 5:1-4 – Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
In Revelation 4 the scene of these visions is set as John describes the throne room of God and who He sees in it. In chapter 5 the view begins to focus on events. The story begins to unfold.
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” John saw in the right hand of the Almighty a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. In the days of John the scrolls were made by gluing together two thin pieces of papyrus, at right angles to each other. To make it longer they would join pieces edge to edge. Each piece was thought to be about eight by ten inches long. Short epistles such as Jude and Philemon would have been written on one piece of papyrus. These papyrus pieces had a smooth front side and a course back side. Usually only the smooth side was written on. The Book of Revelation would have been about fifteen feet long and written on both sides. The prophecy containing scroll that was unrolled before Ezekiel was also written on the back and front sides (Ezekiel 2:9-10).
What was the scroll representing and how was it sealed. The sealing of the scroll may be an indication of what the scroll was. Most hold that it represents the title deed to the planet earth. In that day, title deeds were sealed with a single seal. If the owner could no longer make his payments, the owner had to give up the deed. On the backside of this relinquished deed would be written the outstanding the debts of the owner. Also seven seals would be placed. Over the next seven years, if the owner could pay back the debt, the seals would be broken until the debt was paid in full and the title deed returned. We know who paid our debt, full of the seven-fold Spirit of God, it was Jesus our Savior and King.
Some hold that the seven seals were all on the outside edge of the scroll so that no part within could be seen until all seven seals are broken. What may be more likely is that the seals were not all on the outside, but each seal was placed before each part. Thusly, successive seals were broken only after the previous part had been opened and set forth.
“But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” The challenge was issued, who could open the scroll and break the seals. No-one in heaven or on earth could open it. There was none worthy to open the seal. Worthy is not speaking of naked power, as in someone who by might could come by the power of their might to receive open the scroll. Worthy here is speaking of someone who by merit of person and deed, was in a position to open the scroll. Like a wise maiden seeking a worthy husband, no strongman will come and sweep her away. A wise maiden considers what is of true worth of a husband and gives her hand to that man. Handsome features and physical strength are not alone qualifications for her hand. It must be a man of God, who will lightly, but firmly hold her hand and bring her alongside him to walk along a Godly path which he has already been walking on. It is the proof of his character by the history of his walk with God and the wisdom of life choices that wins her hands. Worthiness comes from having merited it through performance. No man on earth had what it took to open the scroll, or even peek inside.
We also see that no creature of heaven or earth was found to open the scroll. This scroll revealed and set loose what was to come by the Almighty God. As a baton being passed in a race, none was worthy to receive the scroll. No-one. No angel was to be transformed into a god-savior. No-one was worthy!
“I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” This was no light sobbing, or weeping. It is not a tear that trickles down the cheek. John was heartbroken. Have you ever been so broken, so hurt, so wounded that you wailed out the pain? Yes tears flowed, but also agony flooded out of your heart and all boundaries of containment are broken by the flood that forces its way out. Tear stream from you, your chest heaves, it is uncontrollable soul pain that screams out of you and you loudly cry out, ache, and are helpless to stop. This is the type of weeping that John felt. For the last sixty years he has lived grasping onto the truths that Jesus taught Him. Has all that Jesus taught Him now come to naught as no-one could open the scroll? Where was Jesus? Surely He could! But why the silence? Where was the champion to step forward? John was in utter despair.
The champion will step forward, but there was a time of silence after the invitation was given for someone to stop forward. Can we imagine how excited John was at the giving of the invitation? Then when no one stepped forward, when no-one was able to be the champion, he was completely devastated. It is good for us to sometimes pause and consider the mighty work of our champion, the Lord Jesus Christ. What if Jesus had not come and made the way for us to heaven? We know that we would then have no hope. We know no-one can save themselves. We would still be lost, wallowing in the filth of our former lives with no hope of future eternal life with God. How lost, how forlorn we would be! Even the consideration of that can bring panic, desperation and fear. Yet we fear not because Jesus did come and make the only way to the Father that there is. Let us never take the work of God through Jesus for granted. May we never be unappreciative or complacent! Let’s keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and anxiously await to happen what John will see. Our champion will appear, just as John is about to see. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 4:9-11 The Song In Our Hearts
Revelation 4:9-11 – 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
“9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.” Today, right now, the angelic beings in heaven are worshiping God. God did not make them robots, but with a free will, for they had their opportunity to choose to follow the devil rather than God. Their choice to love and serve God was a conscious one. It was a choice to continue to do what they had been doing. Family, it is impossible to know God, to experience God, and to not love and serve Him. All who truly love Him understand this. Of course this knowledge, these innate urges, are grown as we become further away from living for the flesh and continually transition to living for God. The more important the Word of God being revealed by the Holy Spirit becomes to us, the more dearly we love God and seek to obey and serve Him.
John sees angels, who in awe and adoration attest to the singular attributes of God that cause them to sing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (V8). These sing not because they are handed a hymnbook, or because songs are put up on giant screens, but because the only reaction of those who love God being in the presence of God is adoration and praise. The closer we are to God, the more we want to praise Him. If we find ourselves not being to get into the praise and worship times at church, we will likely find that we did not start the day, and did not enter the church service, with God already the focus in our minds and hearts. We must, must, must start our days in praise, thankfulness and worship of God. It is the only way a saint should start their day. Victory for the day begins with humbled hearts and minds focused on God in the morning. Want to be “into” praise and worship at church? Want to receive deeply from the preached Word of God! Then enter into church with worshipping hearts. Let the love of God be the cloud you are walking on. Then we are ready to receive of God. Then we know our focus is on Him.
We simply cannot be loving God and walking in His presence without the overflowing desire to please and serve Him. So, the twenty-four elders being in the very presence of God, cannot help but sing praise and glory to God! Though the song of the twenty-four elders is also a song of worshiping who God is, though they are in complete agreement with the angels, their song is their own praise to the glory, honor, and majesty of Him who sits on the throne. They praise the creator of all things. The angels praise God Almighty for who He is. The twenty-four elders praise God for who He is and also for what He has done, for them, for us, and for all of creation. The twenty-four elders do not need to pick up an angelic hymnbook. Their song comes from the witness of God in their lives. It is their very own heart song. We all have songs of testimony and praise for what God has done for us, and for who He is. These songs burst forth from us as we are in His presence. We must stay in His presence.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 4:6b-8 Who Are the Four And What Do They Mean Part 3
Revelation 4:6b- 8 – In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
“8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” These four angelic beings are also noted as seraphim in Isaiah 6:2 “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” The literal translation for seraphim is “burning ones.” Fire is the chief symbol of the holiness of God (Exodus 3:2-5, 19:18). Being in the proximity of the holiness of God, they are referred to as the “burning ones.” It is interesting that they cover their eyes. Some believe it is because even they could not gaze into the intense holiness of God, even while being consumed in His holiness. But, being servants of God, their ears were always open, always tuned to His bidding. In this we may find confirmation how, as we learn more of God and increasingly desire to dwell, and do dwell in His presence, that our eyes do not strain for proof of God. God need provide no proof or reason for us because we know Him and who He is greater than our thoughts and understanding. We need no proof, we have known His presence and need to see nothing. In fact, Jesus said we are blessed because we believe though we have not seen (John 20:29). The reality and proof of God lives within us (John 16:13). The holiness, the purity of God burns within us. Although we long to see God, and we will at the appointed time, the position of our hearts is to hear God. We long to be as the seraphim and cherubim are. To be burning with His presence and listening for the instant He calls us to service and we immediately are off to do all He asks us to. We, like the angels, are servants of God. We are the redeemed of God who love Him with a fire that consumes us. We desire to hear from Him. We read His Word that His Holy Spirit might make it explode with fire within us, bringing us into His throne room, into His fiery presence, and we will move forward, from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), in our knowledge and love of Him. We see and know Him in Spirit. What we see becomes to us, reality. We understand that what we see with our physical eyes is temporary, but what we see in our spirits is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). May we all be as the seraphim and cherubim are, always living in God’s presence and forever, in every moment, desiring to do His will. To live in His will. To be so one with God that we are an integral part and effect of His will. As a leaf is irresistibly blown along by the wind, it has no control over its own travel, nor does it desire to and sit idly on the earth. It desires to be swept up and dance in the wind that carries it along. So may we be.
The living creatures are covered with eyes, front and back. They represent that God is always looking and always seeing all. Yet we remember that that God is omnipresent (Jeremiah 23:24, Proverbs 15:3). He is everywhere. He is the witness to all. There is no hiding from God. For the unredeemed this is a fearsome thing. From those who run to Him, through Jesus, this is a most comforting truth. His eyes are always on us, His love and protection is with us always, because He is with us always. Always is always.
It is interesting that after noting that they are covered with eyes all around, it is then noted that they even have eyes under their wings. Why that notation? Perhaps it indicates that when they are busy, when they take flight, they are not distracted. In fact, as they fly, as they do the will of God, they do not know and see less, but their vision of the beauty and will of God is increased. Praise God, may we be busy in the works of God that we may know Him, and His will, ever more.
Being in God’s presence, the four creatures cannot stop praising God. When we have set aside the concerns of the world and are focused with heart and mind only on God, what do we do? We praise the Lord. We cannot help it. We are overwhelmed by His presence. Jesus said that if the children did not praise Him then the rocks would cry out . It is not because of God’s ego that His very presence demands praise. It is because of His holy and completely separate and superior being that all must cry out (Luke 19:40). It is not so much a demand from God, but an irresistible response to our God who is pure holiness, absolute love and beauty beyond imagination. If we see someone or something beautiful in this world, it is said that in amazement we look at the jaw dropping beauty. Well in God’s presence, the jaw doesn’t just drop, it keeps moving and praise flows from us. It is the appropriate and irresistible response to God. For those who are “dumber than a box of rocks” and will not praise God, well then, the rocks themselves will acknowledge what the fool will not.
In Isaiah’s vision we see the angelic saying that God is holy. In the Old Testament Hebrew the superlative is expressed by saying a word twice. For example in 2 Kings 25:15 what is translated “pure gold” is said in the original language “gold gold.” Here the way of expressing the superlative by saying it twice is not sufficient to describe the holiness of God. So, the holiness of God is expressed three times. It is the only time in Hebrew bible that a quality is raised to the power of three. Praise God! People, take off your sandals as we consider what the holiness of God.
Additionally, holy expressed three times is said to be indicative that it is the triune God being referred to, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Family, let us start every day at the place where these cherubim and seraphim live. May we learn, in ever increasing measure to live there! Oh, let us fix our gaze upon God, let our ears be listening for His voice speaking to us from within. There is no better blessing than to be in, and to continuously live, in His presence. Praise our God who, purely because He loves us, has called and blessed us so. Wow! Just wow!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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Devotion Revelation 4:6b-8 Who Are the Four And What Do They Mean Part 2
Revelation 4:6b – In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
“7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.” Some see the four living creatures to represent the four gospels. In this view Matthew represents Jesus as King, here noted as the face of the lion. Mark represent Jesus as the Servant, here represented as beast of burden, the ox, who carries and pulls to serve his master. Luke represents Jesus in His Humanity, here represented in the face of the man. John represents Jesus as the Son of God, pictured by the eagle. The eagle soars high above the earth and looks upon it with keen eyes for small details. Additionally, the eagle can look directly into the sun. Jesus was with and had seen the Father, and now He is again with and sees the Father.
Another interesting note about these four living creatures. In Numbers 1-2 we read that God declares an order to how the tribes of Israel will march through the desert. Surrounding the tabernacle on all sides would be the Levites, the priests who serve the Most High God. These are the only group to be on all sides. On the east side of the tabernacle the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon (186,450 people) people were to march. Bear with me family, if you have not seen this before, you’re going to live this! The symbol for the tribe of Judah is the lion. Now Jesus first came as the Lamb of God who came to die for the sins of the world. When Jesus returns, He comes back as the conqueror and victor who has and does overcome all that opposes Him. He comes back, from the East, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Praise God and hang on!
On the west side of the tabernacle were to be the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (108,100 people). The symbol for Ephraim was an ox. Jesus came and bore our sin (1 Peter 2:24) and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4)
Traveling on the south of the tabernacle were the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad (151,450 people). The symbol for the tribe of Reuben was a man. Jesus stepped down from heaven to become and man the only sacrifice that God accepts as forgiveness for our sin (Hebrews 2:17)
The tribes of Dan, Naphtali, and Asher (157,600 people) were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. The symbol for tribe of Dan is the eagle. (Isaiah 40:31)
The tribes that camped around the four sides were know by the first tribes listed, thus the priestly Levitical tribe surround the tabernacle of God. Jesus is our high priest, God in the flesh and Savior to all. The remaining camps were known as the camps of Judah, Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. Noting the symbols for the tribes we see, surround the tabernacle of God, the lion, the ox, man and the eagle. Just as we see represented on the faces of the four living creatures around the throne of God in heaven. Family, praise the Lord! In the Old Testament the tabernacle, where the Jews went to inquire of God, were surrounded by the same images as at the very throne of God. The continuity of all scripture is manifestly displayed in these verses from Numbers 1-2 and here in Revelation 4:7. Praise God!
But wait folks, there’s more!
Let’s recall when Balak, king of Moab, tried to hire Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam was certainly a man who had been given the gift to give prophecies from God. Horribly, Balaam wanted to use this gift for his own personal profit. For money, he was willing to try to curse Israel. God did not allow him to. Hmm, imagine a person being blessed by God and then descending to wickedly using the gift of God for his own personal gain at the harm of God’s people. We know this evil occurs even today. Continuing, Balaam looked down from a high place and saw the people of Israel moving in his direction. Remembering how God told the Israeli’s to travel, and remembering the numbers and position of the people, what Balaam saw moving toward him was the Israeli’s moving in a position that looked to Balaam, like a huge cross made up of the Israeli’s. The people of God seen and recognized by the cross. Approximately one thousand five hundred years before Jesus died on the cross, God gave a sign! Woohoo! Tell someone else the Bible is not God’s Word because I know it is! Praise God!
WEST
EAST
Family, even in the marching of the Israel, God was pointing to Jesus. Even as Balaam wanted to curse Israel for his own prophet, God was protecting His people and giving a sign of the coming Messiah, our Jesus! God, from before the creation of all of creation has always had the perfect, and undefeatable plan for our redemption (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20). Are we safe or are we safe! Are we eternally secure in God through Jesus or are we eternally secure in God through Jesus! Praise God! Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
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