Revelation 13:15-17 – “The beast from the earth was empowered to breathe life into the image of the first beast so that it could speak and kill those who refused to worship its image. It also caused EVERYONE, small and great, rich and poor, free and bound, to be MARKED on the right hand or on the forehead. This meant no one could buy or sell unless they had the MARK; that is, the name of the beast or its number.”

Revelation 13 contains a warning to help us see the enemy’s schemes and live protected from deception.    We all know about the “Mark of the Beast.”   I will not give a discourse on my theory but instead, ask that we consider something laced in this account.

Revelation 13:15-17 is important in our consideration.  I have to ask, “How much is AI involved?”   AI with demonic activity seems likely.   Let me offer something that transcends a physical mark, and you consider its ramifications.

I believe that more than a tattoo or chip is implied.   The word “marked” is the Greek “engraved.”    It is the same root from which we get the word “character.”    It is a transformational event.   The person’s nature or character is transformed, affecting their life and possibly their DNA.

Do we not see the transformation of character today, both good and evil?   This would imply that the character or nature of the beast filled the people.   If we are not filled with God’s Spirit and the love of God overflowing in us, we are in danger of deception and transformation toward evil.  That condition in the world will make the anti-Christ’s work easy.

The marked forehead could also be viewed as impacting or transforming the thoughts. (Bring every thought captive to Jesus.)  I am not suggesting that the ‘Mark of the Beast’ is not a literal mark, but I offer these thoughts for consideration.

• Transformation of the mind means to think the thoughts of the transformer – God or the Beast.  
• Transformed thinking results in transformed living.  
• Transformed to the character of the beast results in deadly world conditions.
• Being transformed into the character of Jesus results in a world of peace.

Since we know how the story ends, we know that peace will not come until evil is destroyed.    But we are protected if we are filled with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.   Psalm 91 becomes our personal promise, Psalm.  John 14 becomes our confidence.  Romans 8:37 (more than conquerors) our identity.

Therefore, do not fret over the conditions of the world or what is to come; be filled with Hope! Live victoriously, confidently, and fearlessly. He’s coming back, and we are on the winning team!

Rise and shine, for the Lord is with us and will never leave nor forsake us.   Keep looking up. Our redemption is nearer than when we first believed, and we are not appointed unto wrath!

Revelation 3:19 – “All those I dearly love I UNMASK and TRAIN.”

Revelation 3:19 brings to light that God Unmasks and Trains those He Loves.  Everyone has masks they hide behind.   Everyone has secrets they want to protect.  Everyone has flaws they don’t want to be exposed. Everyone has a measure of the fear of exposure.   God is unwilling to let us hide because He loves us.

God’s unmasking can take one of two paths.  Both paths are momentarily painful, but one contains the assurance of restoration. The other may or may not lead to restoration.   One involves willing surrender in confession, exposing ourselves, and the other involves forced exposure.  Both have a measure of shame, but one is rooted in repentance and pride.

God’s love will not let us hide.  We either willingly confess and surrender to Him, or He exposes us.   Exposing ourselves defangs the shame that is a part of exposure because we have already repented. The other is filled with the shame of exposure and frequently leads to more hiding, more profound withdrawal, and even anger.   It may soften the heart and may harden it.

Until there is an unmasking, there can be no training, equipping, or spiritual empowerment.  God seeks pure hearts to deposit His glory, power, and peace in. Training only comes after unmasking.   Only after denial is removed can approval come.

We want God’s fullness.   We want God’s favor.   We want His peace, but we want to stay hidden and unexposed.   We feel vulnerable if exposed and fear the opinions and rejection of people.   We think, “If they truly knew, they would reject me.”    Our pride elevates our status in the eyes of people higher than our condition in Christ.   The pain of exposure and the pain of shame entice us to hide.  Only as we are fully transparent and unmasked can we enter God’s training program and become warriors for the kingdom.

What would a man give in exchange for his soul?  Having no masks enables us to receive God’s fullness and restore the weak and entrapped.

Galatians 6:1-3 – “My beloved friends, IF you SEE a believer who is OVERTAKEN with a fault, the one who is in the Spirit should seek to RESTORE him in the Spirit of GENTLENESS. But keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him. Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we CARRY EACH OTHER’S TROUBLES. If you think you are somebody too important to stoop down to help another (when you really are not), you are living in deception.”   [Emphasis mine]

If we hide behind masks, we become judgmental and use one standard for ourselves and another for others, adding sin to sin.  Unmasking is step one to total victory and the only pathway to training by God!   It is a required step to fullness.  Let’s unmask ourselves before we are unmasked.

May the peace of God’s presence overflow into your lives, and may you learn to live free of Masks and embrace the Training of the Lord.   Victory is ours!

Proverbs 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

As I was reading, praying, and pondering the Word, the thought of Hope tugged at my heart.   We all have hopes that are or have been fulfilled, delayed, or dashed.   Each of those has a lasting impact on our lives.

Proverbs 13:12 – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”   In one translation, it is rendered, “When Hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.”

Delayed Hope can lead to deception and rejection of God.   It can lead to making rash decisions and pursuing fantasies to make Hope a reality. Proverbs 12:11 says, “…whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.”

As believers, our hope must be anchored in God and God alone.    It is a matter of trust.   He sees the end from the beginning, and we know the beginning from the end.    Our hopes must be based on His Word, not our preferences.

We all have hopes!   We all have preferences!   We all have ideas as to how and when things should happen!   The problem is handling God’s failure to meet our timelines and methods.   Delay is sometimes a test, not to show God our faith but for us to learn complete trust.

The 3 Hebrew children had total trust!  They said, “King, we belong to God. He can deliver us from your planned destruction. His ability is not in question. However, if, for whatever reason, He does not deliver us from the flames, we will continue to trust Him and will not succumb to your threats just to make life easier for us or for self-preservation.”

Hope is a wonderful motivator.  Hope needs to be anchored in God’s promises.   Hope that is God-inspired and Word-centered will build faith.   Hope that loses sight of God’s infallible integrity will become a cause of soul sickness.

It is possible to want something so much we convince ourselves that God promised it and tie our entire future to it.  We may cling to that hope irrationally or become discouraged, discontented, and angry.

A sick soul pollutes the pool we are swimming in.   God’s promises are certain.   Our Hope is Jesus!    If your hopes are delayed, two things need to happen.   First, examine the Hope.   Was it human fantasy and desire or God’s Promise? If it was human preference, reject all discouragement, disappointment, and anger.   If it was God’s Promise, repent for trying to help Him do His job and questioning His timing.

Hope is a powerful motivator.   False Hope is a trap that can lead to soul sickness and spiritual death.   Here’s what the Holy Spirit impressed upon me.

• Hope that is a fantasy is an open door to deception and discouragement.  It has no root in God’s Word and produces no good fruit.

•  Hope that is God-inspired and Word-centered produces faith, confidence, endurance, and life.

My Hope is in God and nothing else!   My Hope is not some external fruit that will fulfill my fantasy but in God.

If what you are hoping for is delayed, ask God if it was His promise or your preference that birthed the hope.   Never allow anything to cause you to develop soul sickness that questions or blames God.  May all your God Inspired Hopes become God-fulfilled Realities!

God bless you as you live each day with God-inspired Hope!

1 John 1:7 – “The blood of Jesus, His Son, CONTINUALLY cleanses us from all sin.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word, the Holy Spirit made me laugh by depositing a phrase in my heart.  As I began reading 1 John, a phrase or declaration from verse 7 captured my attention with the word “continually.”

The thought made me laugh: I am careful not to appear irreverent, but I heard, “Jesus is our perpetual spot remover.”   When doing laundry, the bottle of spot remover is of no value and is sitting on the shelf.   We can even take it down and read the instructions and benefits, but it is of no value unless it is applied to the spot.

The Blood of Jesus “continually” cleanses us “if” we abide in Him. Knowing about the blood does not cleanse, applying the blood does.   In confession, repentance, and reception, we enjoy His “continual” cleansing.

Many claim to be followers of Christ but with no lifestyle or heart change. 1 John 1:6 – “We can be SURE (absolute certainly) that we’ve truly come to live in intimacy with God, not just saying, ‘I am intimate with God,’ but by walking in the footsteps of Jesus.”   It is in the walk, not the talk!

I John 3:1-3 is a fantastic revelation. “Beloved, we are God’s children RIGHT NOW; however, it’s not yet apparent what we will become. But we DO KNOW that when it is finally made visible, we will be JUST LIKE HIM, for we will see Him as He truly is. AND all who focus their hope on Him will always be purifying themselves, just as Jesus is pure.”  [Emphasis mine.]

1 John 4:12 gives us the promise of becoming God’s permanent home! We have our permanent residence in Him, and He makes us His permanent and perpetual residence.   If God is permanently “in” us, then we continually enjoy His life and have access to all He is.   Let your permanent spot remover do His work in you.

Surrender 100% of yourself to Him and receive 100% of Him.   No spots or blemishes can withstand the blood.   No demon in hell can overpower the blood.  No disease can survive the application of the blood. It’s time to apply the blood! Holy Spirit, we welcome you and invite you to sprinkle us with the blood of Jesus!   Victory is ours through that precious blood! Lord, I plead the blood!

I pray that your day will be victorious as you enjoy being continuously cleansed by the Blood of Jesus!   God bless you!

2 Peter 1:3 – “Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by His divine power…”

As I read, prayed, and contemplated the Word, a declaration in 2 Peter gripped my heart like a vice and would not let me go.  I have turned it over in my heart, and as I cried out for understanding, I saw a pathway to the promise of that declaration.

Notice in 2 Peter 1:3 – “Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by His divine power…”   There is more, but let’s pause and extract some keywords.

The Revelation begins with the word Everything!   It is all-encompassing, leaving nothing out.  The phrase “Could ever need” speaks to time and eternity.  It reaches beyond where we are to wherever we will be.  The eternality of that phrase is unmistakable.  “For” speaks to the goal.  “Has Already Been Deposited” reveals that it has been completed.    It is not earned or future, but a present reality in us.

Therefore, according to the Word, the Finished Work of Jesus has made us complete in every way.  We have all we could ever need for life, yet we fret.  That reality reveals that we either do not know what we have or do not believe it.

What has been deposited in us must somehow be discovered, uncovered, and extracted to be of any practical value.   Imagine standing before God and hearing Him ask, “Why did you not exercise your authority?  What did you need for Me to be that I was not?  I gave you access to Everything you needed, but you lived as though I had ignored or abandoned you.  Why?”

How do we extract that gold from the deposit inside us?  The Psalms speak to this.  Psalm 142:2 – “I cry aloud with my voice to Adonai (more than a thought or wish).  I pour out my complaint (problem, trial, or need) before Him; before Him I tell my trouble.”  Honest, open prayer is a catalyst to victory.

Psalm 143:5-10 reveals the needed intensity and focus.  Meditate on God and His provisions.  Praise Him (spread forth my hands to You).  Long and thirst for God.  He becomes the passion of our souls.   2 Peter 1:4 describes our life as a partnership with God’s divine nature.  It is not me and Jesus but Jesus IN and through me.  Out of that partnership, we can exhibit the qualities Peter described in 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Notice he says in verse 8, “Since or because these virtues are Already Planted deep within, and you Possess them in abundant supply, they Keep  you…”  They keep us from inactivity spiritually.  They keep us from being fruitless in our pursuit of knowing God intimately.

 2 Peter 1:10b – “If you do (practice and embrace) these things (those listed in the verses), you will never stumble.”

We are the righteous of God in Christ.  We have everything we need for His abundant life and victory.  What is missing?  It is Recognition of His provision.  Reception of His provision.  It is Expectation of it being a manifested reality in us Now!

God asks, “Will you let Me Be what you need?”  What do we need that He has not already provided in heaven?  He is the eternal I AM!

A deposit in our bank accounts does us no good unless we make a withdrawal.  So, let’s use our ATM card and withdraw from our account, which He established, and do whatever we need!   It is done in heaven, deposited in us, and awaits for us to extract it.  I am headed to the spiritual bank now to make a needed withdrawal.  Victory is ours, in Him!

I pray you will have a victorious and prosperous day!