REVIVAL TALK

Revelation 1:8 -  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,   the Beginning and the End,”  says the Lord,  “who is and who was and who is to come, the   Almighty.”      The Book of Revelation is an apocalyptic book of future events. It gives us a prophetic look into the consummation of the ages.  It has been titled the Revelation of John, because the Apostle John authored this great work. In reality it should be titled, “The Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.”      The first eight verses reveal the Lord Jesus Christ as the central figure of this Revelation.  Verse 1 reveals Jesus as the channel of the Word and testimony of God.  Verse 2 teaches that He is the source of blessings.  Verse 3 promises His blessings to those who hear and keep the words of this prophecy.  John continues in verse 5, “He is the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. “ He is revealed to be the source of all grace who loves and cleanses us through His shed b

Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”             Genesis 3:15 is the first recorded promise of the Messiah, who would come to bring salvation to a fallen, rebellious humanity.   The promise is two-fold. First, this man (seed of the woman) would crush the head of the serpent. Second, the promised Messiah would be the seed of the woman. This promise was fulfilled when Christ was born. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”             The story of the Bible is the story of God searching for fallen humanity. Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save those who were lost. Luke 5:32 reveals, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”   Who is this Messiah?   His name is Jesus.   He was foretold by the prophets of old. Perhaps the best known of the

Luke 2:8-14 – “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”             One of my favorite Hymns to sing during the Christmas season is   Angels We Have Heard on High . The English version of the hymn was translated from French by Bishop James Chadwick.  The song tells the story of the shepherds who are surpris

Isaiah 1:18 – “’Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’”             Christmas in our society has become a very secular holiday.   If we are not careful we can allow the busyness of the season to distract us from the true meaning of Christmas.   We must make our devotional life a priority during this festive season.   Matthew 6:33 instructs, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”             What are the colors of Christmas? Perhaps the most prominent colors of Christmas are red and green.   We could add blue, gold, and purple.   An interesting study in the Scriptures is the study of colors and what they represent. Shari Abbott writes, “Colors in the Bible have a symbolical significance and can remind us of God and His plan of redemption.” [i]  The colors are Christmas and t

Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”             Perhaps you have heard the expression, “You cannot out give God.”   God is a giver.   His giving is motivated out of love.   1 John 4:8 says, “God is love.”   John 3:16 teaches, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” When we give in obedience to the Word of God it will bring a blessing. “Give and it shall be given to you.”               God is a giver.   James, the half-brother of Jesus, reveals the following about God’s giving nature in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”   In Ephesians 4:8 the Apostle Paul writes, “When He as