Revelation 21:27 – “and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  NASB

I have had the pleasure and misfortune of traveling extensively. I have stayed in various types of hotels and different levels of quality.  I have discovered that, frequently, it is impossible to secure accommodation without reservation.  Even while serving in the Navy we discovered the importance of having a reservation.  We were going through the Panama Canal and were forced to wait several hours before we could go through because of the time of our reservation.  We had to wait for our reserved time slot.  Had we not had a reservation we would have had to wait hours and possibly more than a day before being permitted to go through the Canal to the Pacific from the Atlantic.

Traveling aboard ship, we found that in numerous ports we had to anchor offshore and await a slot at the pier because we did not have a reservation.  Most of us have discovered that going to the doctor requires an appointment or reservation.  Your name must be logged into his book with a time-slot or you will have to wait a long time if you get in at all.  Likewise, in some restaurants, you must have a reservation to get a table to dine or you are turned away.

In this world, the importance and requirement of making an advanced reservation to get into or do what you desire to do is readily apparent.  How much more, entering Heaven because in God’s House – A Reservation is Required!

Jesus said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Our text in Revelation, reveals that only those whose names are written in the Book of Life are permitted to enter.  A Reservation is Required!

CONSIDER THE PRIZE

The 21^st Chapter of the Book of Revelation is an wonderful picture of Heaven.  The Prize for which we seek is Heaven, not Hell.  The Prize we desire is that we will be able to live, in this life, free of condemnation, guilt, shame, and sin.  In Heaven, there will be no more death, no more tears, no more pain.  In Heaven there will be no separation or rejection.  In Heaven there will be no disappointment or defeat.  We live Eternally in the Presence of the Eternal God of All Creation, the Living God!

CONSIDER THE PRICE

John 3:16 declares the incredible price that God paid for our Redemption and Reservation.  He gave Heaven’s best for Earth’s worst.  God’s Only Begotten Son became sin for us that we could live forever.  The Price was incredible, and the Prize is amazing!

CONSIDER THE PREPARATION

Jesus declared in John 10:9 – “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  There is only one door and that door is Jesus!  We must be Born Again through the Forgiveness of God.  We received God’s Grace through the Sacrifice of Jesus, His Blood, His Obedience, His Suffering, His Death, His Resurrection, and Ascension.  He opened the Reservation Book for us because – A Reservation is Required!

There is only one classification of people that will enter Heaven – The Redeemed!  Those who are ‘born-again’.  Jesus said in John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” 

Redemption is required to make your reservation. It is the requirement for Heaven.  Today is the Day of Salvation and now is the accepted time.  If you do not know Jesus, then I ask that you examine your own heart and allow the Holy Spirit to bring to your consciousness:

• Recognition of your sinful state.
• Recognition of your need for a savior.
• Repentance of your sin.
• Reception of His Forgiveness and Jesus as your Savior.

The only question is – “Do You Have Your Reservation?” 

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

Revelation 2:29 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  NASB

Our LORD instructed John to write, “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.”  In John’s writing in the first two chapters of the Book of Revelation, he speaks in very plain language and lays out the plan of God.  The plan is incredibly simple and when followed in parts one and two, part three becomes possible and probable.

TO THE PASTORS – “Angels” – – Speak Up!

God makes a powerful declaration in Jeremiah 3:15 – “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.”    Jesus instructed His followers of their mission and commission in Matthew 28:20 as He told them that they were to go, “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

Our mission and commission are to proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord of all.  We are to instruct others of the benefits, blessings, and truth of God’s Word.  In Salvation, we have Freedom beyond anything we have or could ever know.  We have moral freedom, spiritual authority, positive self-acceptance, and can become mighty in God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are to warn of the pitfalls and obstacles presented by sin. We are to expose rebellion and the results of that path and the benefits afforded believers through obedience.    So, pastors, it is time for you to Speak Up!

TO THE MEMBERS – – Shape Up!

God is not playing a game and fellowship with Him has some requirements.  He is Holy and wants us to be holy.  The apostle Paul declares in Romans 13:11-14 – “And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now, salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

We discover a powerful revelation in Titus 2:11-14 – “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” 

We dare not overlook the powerful directive found in Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” 

The desire and requirement of God are that we walk in obedience to Him embracing His appointed leadership allowing ourselves to be lead deeper into His presence and grace.  There are incredible blessing and benefit that come through Obedience to God, His Spirit, and His Word.  Our acceptance into Heaven demands that we walk in obedience to Him.  We never want to be broken cisterns that can hold no water but vessels of honor for His Glory!

TO THE DEVIL – – Shut Up!

When pastors and teachers present the Truth of God explaining the benefits, blessings, and pitfalls something powerful happens.  When the congregation hears the truth of God’s Victory and the devil’s defeat something powerful happens.  When the Word goes forth people hear it, faith is developed in the heart, courage is inspired and the anointing comes!  The mouth of the enemy can be silenced by God’s people who know the Truth and know Who and Whose they are!

Satan has no right to say anything.  He has no power to overcome us because we are ‘more than conquerors through Jesus.’  It is important and imperative that we commit ourselves to Him and determine to walk in obedience to God’s plan and enjoy the benefits not only for ourselves but for the lost and all of humanity. 

May God inspire you to press into His presence and live in the Atmosphere of Heaven and allow the Holy Spirit to develop the culture of the Kingdom in you!   

Have a fantastic day!

1 John 5:14-16 – “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  NASB

Through the years I have noticed that Christians talk a lot about faith.  Sometimes it is wishing they had faith or more faith.  Some wish they had the faith of Paul, Elijah, Moses, Daniel, or some other mighty man of the Bible.  I have had discussions with preachers and names such as Charles Finney, E.M. Bounds, Leonard Ravenhill, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley, John Hyde, David Brainard or some other legendary man of the past arises and the wish for a ministry or faith like they had is expressed. We marvel and are awed by those who are able to get results from God.  We are often captivated by them because they have something that we wish we had or perceive we do not have.

Tragically, we sometimes utter answer-less prayers expecting nothing and getting what we expected.  In our finite minds, we visualize God as a God limited in our situation but able to do great exploits for others.  There is a real problem that has a simple solution.  I said simple not necessarily easy!

God made His Word simple for the person who will seek His face and has the desire to discern and obey His will.  The Bible is an open book understood in precepts and principles both specific and general.  We have the Promise of Scripture that the Holy Spirit will:

• Guide Us into All Truth.

He will guide or lead us but will not drive us to truth. God never forces us to receive His Truth. He almost never drops truth in our laps when there is no investment on our part.  Leading implies that someone is following.  Likewise, when driving begins leading ends.  It is a cooperative effort – He leads, and we follow.

• Teach Us the Things of Christ.

Teaching does not take place unless there is learning on the part of the disciple or student.  Our openness to His instruction is necessary for Him to impart truth and knowledge to us.  It is for use not hoarding that He gives revelation.

• Bring to Our Remembrance Christ’s Words.

The Holy Spirit is our resource bank of the Word of God.  He enables us to learn the precepts and principles of God so that we can function according to God’s purposes and plan. 

This is for everyone!  All who will avail themselves to His Promises can receive His Promises!  The Bible gives us a simple key to answered prayer and that key is available to whosoever will. 

I believe that based on the revelation of Romans 13:8 that Jesus is eternally the same, past, present, and future.  I rely on the revelation of Acts 10:34 that God is not a respecter of persons.  I build my faith on the declaration of James 1:17 that there is no variableness in God.  He is always the same and the same for everyone. 

I stand on Psalms 119:89 that His word is forever settled in Heaven and does not change.  I rest in Psalms 119:152, “Concerning thy testimonies, I have found of old that Thou hast founded them forever.”  I trust the words of Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”  My anchor is secured by 1 Peter 1:25, “But the Word of the LORD endures forever.”

God’s Word is sure and can be relied on in every situation.  So, if there is a key to answered prayer what is it and where can we find it?  That is what we will discuss in the next devotional.  It is found in the text that we used, and we will attempt to open it up at that time.

Until then, may God be with you and enable you to enjoy this beautiful day in Him!

2 Peter 3:11-12 – “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”  NASB

We have considered that we should be people who are Regenerated and people who Pray and today we are going to consider another trait of the believer.

We Ought to be a People Who Study the Word of God.

We discover the admonition or command in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  There should be a continual searching of the Bible for Life Truths which cannot be understood by the natural mind alone.  We discover in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

The Word of God is food and water for the soul of the believer.  Jesus made that clear in Matthew 4:4 – “…It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'”   We study the Word of God for nourishment and spiritual health.

The Bible is our Spiritual Sword and powerful as we read in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 

It is a weapon of warfare against the devil.  Jesus used that sword numerous times in his dealings with the devil and Jesus is our example, therefore we need to use it as well.  But you cannot use what you do not know or understand.  It can be used to combat the enemy and can be used to help the believer become what God desires them to be.

It all begins with Regeneration or Salvation.  That is the beginning point from which none of the rest will matter if that element is not the foundation.  Then, we should become people who Pray and seek the face of God in prayer.  Prayer is a powerful weapon and a powerful source of inspiration and strength. Then, we should become people who Study the Word of God.

Our present world is rapidly moving toward the Final Hour of Judgment.  The Bible warns that Judgment first begins at the House of God or with Believers.  It indicates that the righteous will scarcely be saved and if that is the case where will the sinner and ungodly find themselves? 

In light of prophecy and in light of current world conditions we must not delay in making a decision for Christ and seeking to introduce others to Jesus, the Redeemer.  Delay is or can be destructive.  Today is the day of salvation and there is no promise of a tomorrow on this earth for any of us.  Some have literally robbed God with not intent to settle the account.  Some have swept things under the rug with no intention of carrying out the garbage.  Some have procrastinated thinking they still have time and when they see destruction coming, they will repent. 

Jesus is going to return!  Today is the day of salvation and once this life is over, there is no more opportunity to repent and get right with God.  Therefore, as the day approaches and the final judgment looms on the horizon I ask, “What Manner of Person Are You?”  When He comes what manner of person will He find you?  What kind of person are you now and are you what God would have you to be?

If not, then call upon His name and ask His forgiveness and mercy.  He stands at the Door and Knocks.  Let Him Come In!

God bless you on this beautiful day!

2 Peter 3:11-12 – “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”  NASB

Last time we considered the character trait of being a Regenerate Person and today I want to move to the next trait or quality we believers should possess and exhibit.

We Ought to Be a Praying People.

Prayer, for the believer, should be and is a natural part of life.  It should be as natural to believers as breathing is to human beings.  The source of our strength is in God and our access to that source is through prayer. What is Prayer?  In the most simplistic of terms, it is “communication with God.”  It is the spoken or unspoken desires of the heart.  It is the expression of wants, needs, requests, desires, and petitions. 

The Bible gives a glimpse of some praying people.  In the Old Testament, we see Abraham, the friend of God and witness him frequently engaging in prayers.  One of the most powerful prayers was in his discussion with the LORD regarding the fate of Sodom and his nephew Lot.  Then we have David, the man God identified as being a man after His own heart.  David declared in Psalms 55:17, “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice.”  Prayer was a natural part of life for those believers.

In the New Testament, the most prolific example is Jesus our prime example of how to live and pray. We have no record of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to work miracles or how to preach.  They did, however, ask “Lord teach us to pray!”  (Luke 11:1).  We follow some of the prayers of Jesus as seen in Mark 1:35, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”  Also, in Luke 6:12, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”    He was our example in prayer and demonstrated how to pray.

Some more modern-day examples would be men like David Brainard and John Hyde called Praying Hyde.  Charles Finney wrote that he never went into a city to preach that had not first been saturated with prayer.  He had a team of intercessors who never cease to pray while he was there.  Revivals were incredible and the foundation was prayer.   Therefore, we ought to be a People Who Pray.

I am going to pause here and pick up the next trait in the next devotional and encourage you, if you are not now, to become a Person Who Prays and follow the directive of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and “Pray without Ceasing.”  Let prayer become who you are and not just what you do.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

2 Peter 3:11-12 – “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”  NASB

We asked the title question in the last devotional and asserted that there were three types of people we should be and could be.  That is not exhaustive but those three afford a beautiful picture of who we can be, should be, and God desires us to be.

We Ought to Be a Regenerated People. – – Saved, Born Again.

We should indulge in a measure of ‘Self-Examination’ to see if we are truly in the faith, regenerate and born again.  Forgiven!  Are we?  How do we or how can we know?  Some suggest that you cannot not and can only hope but I believe the Bible disagrees with that position and affords us means by which we can know that we are in the Beloved and Forgiven.

We do not know through experience or ritual alone.  I know some people who embrace a very high standard of morality that are not born-again believers.  I know some people who go to church every time the doors are open but have never confessed their sin and asked God’s forgiveness.  Jesus said in John 3:5-7 – “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” 

Nicodemus was a ruler or leader in Israel. He had many years of experience.  He could quote long passages from the Old Testament canon of Scripture.  He was faithful in attendance to the synagogue.  He would be considered a religious man in any age.  He was Religious but Lost!  Sadly, there are countless numbers of people today who are in the same condition and believe that church membership and self-imposed morality will earn them access to heaven.  They believe they are qualified based on what they do or do not do.  Jesus taught the need to be ‘born-again’ or receive forgiveness and grace.

I am convinced that it is possible and should be the objective of every person to have all doubt removed from their hearts as to their relationship with God.  I am convinced that God wants us to know that we are Saved.  Let me offer these passages for confirmation of that declaration:

Romans 8:16-17 – “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” 

1 John 3:14 – “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” 

1 John 5:19 – “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 

He has promised us that if we come to Him in true repentance, He will receive us and not cast us aside.  Therefore, We ought to be a Regenerated People.  I am going to pause here and take up a second character trait in the next devotional but pause here and allow this to soak in and bring new hope to your heart. 

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!