Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 16, 2013

“Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 15:1-4. 
 
“1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
 
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.  3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”  Revelation 15:1-4. 

——————

“Great are the works of the Lord;  They are studied by all who delight in them.”  Psalm 111:2

Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and what He has done.  Other doctrine focuses on man and alleged man’s free-will (what man has done and what man will do).   

Today’s Scripture shows that the Reformed Doctrine’s focus (on God and what He has done) is correct.  And, we see Scripture elsewhere maintain that focus.

From beginning to end, the focus is on God and what He has done.  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1.  “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.”  Revelation 22:21.

Even in between this beginning and end, the purpose of the Law was to bring us to Christ.  “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26.  The focus is on God (Christ) and what He has done.  

We see this focus on God and what He has done in the Reformed Creeds. 

Consider “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Four of the five points focus on God and what He has done from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”.  And, even the first point (which does focus on man and what man has done) focuses on man’s “Total Depravity” which emphasizes the absolute need to focus on God and what He has done as the only chance for salvation for man.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 15, 2013

“So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:14-20.
 
“14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.  15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
 
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.  18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar;  and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”  19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God.  20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.”  Revelation 14:14-20.
 
—————–
 
The hour of wrath is horrific for the wicked, but the hour of wrath is holy salvation for the righteous.
 
“7 Arise, O Lord;  save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.”  Psalm 3:7-5.
 
“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12.
 
“1 Who is this who comes from Edom,
With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
Marching in the greatness of His strength?
“It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2 Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?
3 “I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me.
I also trod them in My anger
And trampled them in My wrath;
And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
4 “For the day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
5 “I looked, and there was no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
6 “I trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”  Isaiah 63:1-6.
 
“… And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect:  because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world;  and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor;  and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels;  all tears shall be wiped from their eyes;  and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates, as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God.  And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  AMEN. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation. 22:20.”  Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment, from the Belgic Confession. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 14, 2013

“your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:12-13.  (We repeat verse 12 from yesterday’s devotion.)
 
“12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
 
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’”  “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”  Revelation 14:12-13.
 
——————-
 

Today’s Scripture teaches us that our deeds follow us.  In other words, our labor is not in vain.  Our labors will produce fruit, and we will be rewarded for our labor.

“Perseverance of the Saints” a/k/a “Preservation of the Saints” (the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation) causes our labor to not be in vain.  We persevere in our labors, and God preserves us by working within us.  Either way of looking at it, from man’s side or God’s side, it is the grace of God.    

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;  Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.”  Psalm 127:1
 
“It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors;  For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”  Psalm 127:2
 
“They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity;  For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, And their descendants with them.”  Isaiah 65:23
 
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10
 
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 13, 2013

“Salvation from our enemies”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:9-12.
 
“Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger;  and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever;  they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”  Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”  Revelation 14:9-12.
 
——————-
 
By another name, we also call “perseverance of the saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  We call it “preservation of the saints”, because God deserves the credit for causing us to persevere by preserving us from many threats including the threat from our enemies. 
 
We tend to think of salvation as just forgiveness of our sins.  But, salvation includes salvation from our enemies.  “Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;”  Luke 1:71
 
“… And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect:  because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world;  and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  …”  Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment in the Belgic Confession.
 

Question 45:  How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;  in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.  Westminister Larger Catechism.

Question 54:  How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

Answer: Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fulness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnishes his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and makes intercession for them.  Westminister Larger Catechism.

Deuteronomy 33:29

“Blessed are you, O Israel;  Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty!  So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”
 
“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.
 
“46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47 The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48 He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50 He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.”  Psalm 18:46-50.
 
“4 Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
5 He will recompense the evil to my foes;
Destroy themin Your faithfulness.

6 Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For He has delivered me from all trouble,
And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.”  Psalm 54:4-7.

“5 You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity.  Selah.
6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.
7 Behold, they belch forth with their mouth;
Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, “Who hears?”
8 But You, O Lord, laugh at them;
You scoff at all the nations.

9 Because of his strength I will watch for You,
For God is my stronghold.
10 My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.
11 Do not slay them, or my people will forget;
Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield.
12 On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be caught in their pride,
And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
13 Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
That men may know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth.  Selah.”  Psalm 59:5-13.

“7 But God will shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they will be wounded.
8 So they will make him stumble;
Their own tongue is against them;
All who see them will shake the head.
9 Then all men will fear,
And they will declare the work of God,
And will consider what He has done.
10 The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.”  Psalm 64:7-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 12, 2013

“I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:6-8. 
                                                                                                                                                          “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;  and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come;  worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
 

                                                                                                                                                        And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”  Revelation 14:6-8.

——————–

Today’s Scripture presents two angels who represent agents of God to perform His will.  One angel preaches the eternal gospel which is an exercise of God’s lovingkindness.  A second angel announces judgment which is an exercise of God’s justice.

It is easier for man to understand and accept God’s lovingkindness than it is for us to understand and accept God’s justice.  But, I wonder if it is easier for the angels to understand and accept God’s justice than it is for them to understand and accept God’s lovingkindness.  I think the angels marvel at God’s lovingkindness to “totally depraved” man.

“Who is the wise man that may understand this?  And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it?  Why is the land ruined, laid waste like a desert, so that no one passes through?  The Lord said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.  I will scatter them among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known;  and I will send the sword after them until I have annihilated them.”  Jeremiah 9:12-16.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 10, 2013

Blameless

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 14:1-5.
 
“1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.  2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.  3 And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders;  and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.  4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste.  These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.  5 And no lie was found in their mouth;  they are blameless.”  Revelation 14:1-5.
 
—————————
 
Today’s Scripture reminds us what God has done for us.  God has made us blameless through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!”  Psalm 32:1-2.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.
 
“30 As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?”  Psalm 18:30-32.
 
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
 
“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.
 
Christ “… has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”  Colossians 1:22  
 
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.
 
And, this 144,000 number is figurative, not literal.  This 144,000 number represents both a definite finite number and a perfect number.  First, the definite finite number refutes that Christ died for everyone.  If Christ died for everyone, then everyone would be “purchased from the earth”.  But, in today’s Scripture, we read of a definite finite number being purchased.  Second, the number represents a perfect number.  As stated in the following Reformed creed, Christ effectively redeemed “all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation” and that He will bring them “free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in His presence forever”.
   

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  Canons of Dordt SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 9, 2013

“Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you …”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 13:11-18.
 
“11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth;  and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.  12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.  And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.  14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.  15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,  17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man;  and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.
 
———————–
 

Today’s Scripture places us in the wilderness.  And, we certainly experience times when we feel like we are in a wilderness taunted by our enemies:  “Where is your God?”  

We need to remember God and hope in God.

“1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice ofjoy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.”  Psalm Chapter 43.

We also need to remember Scripture.  For example, consider “the bookends” of today’s Scripture.  The immediate preceding Scripture is Revelation 13:10:  “… Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”  God will preserve us.  God will cause us to persevere.  The immediate following Scripture is Revelation 14:1:  “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”

“Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city.  And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?”  So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”  And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw;  and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  2 Kings 6:15-17.  

But yet, we may still struggle remembering God and remembering Scripture.  Our faith is not in us or in our memory.  Our faith is not even in our own faith.  Our faith is in God. 

“‘Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”  Isaiah 41:10
 

And because God preserves us and otherwise also helps us, we persevere.

We may die, but God will cause us to be faithful until death.

But, whether we live or die, we belong to our “faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be  subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes  me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”  See Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 1.   

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 8, 2013

“Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 13:1-10.
 
“1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
 
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.  2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.  And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.  3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed.  And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;  4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast;  and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”  5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.  6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
 
7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.  8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.  10 If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes;  if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed.  Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.”  Revelation 13:1-10.
 
———————-
 
At the conclusion of today’s Scripture, after we “watched” a horrific vision, we come to the comfort of “Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  
 
“8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.”  Psalm 91:8-10.
 
But, first of all, why do we even need to “only look on” with our eyes to the disturbing Scripture throughout the Book of Revelation?
 
We get a clue from Exodus 14:30-31:  “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.”  
                                         
Like Israel needed to see the Egyptians dead on the seashore, we need to “see” the “recompense of the wicked” in order to more fully fear the LORD and believe in the LORD.
 
Now, we consider the “Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”.
                                       

In today’s Scripture, we read clues about the basis of the “Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”.  We read about the “book of life” and examples of “destiny” in verses 8 and 9.  We conclude that the basis of “Perseverance of the Saints” is that the Saints were unconditionally elected to “the book of life” “from the foundation of the world”.  The Saints were “destined” for salvation.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

In the section titled “FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints”, the Canons of Dordt explains “Perseverance of the Saints” starting with its following Article 1.

Article 1.  Whom God calls, according to his purpose, to the communion of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he delivers also from the dominion and slavery of sin in this life;  though not altogether from the body of sin, and from the infirmities of the flesh, so long as they continue in this world.

The rest of the section can be read from this following link – Click here: The Canons of Dordt, Fifth Head of Doctrine

In conclusion, this is not only “Perseverance of the Saints”, this is also “the faith of the saints” Revelation 13:10.  And this is why, we strive so hard to teach this Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 7, 2013

Divine Intervention? or Divine Invention?

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 12:13-17.
 
“13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.  14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.  15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.  16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.  17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”  Revelation 12:13-17.
 
—————-
 
We tend to think of God as the Great Reactor.  Evil pops up, surprises God, but God reacts to intervene.
 
In today’s Scripture, we see what at first thought may be considered as reactions by God to surprising evils by the dragon (Satan).
 
Indeed, God may intervene.  But, it is no surprise to God.  It is not an isolated action.  It is not merely a reaction. 
 
God calls up a bird of prey to help and give wings.  God raises up a man of His purpose to be the Savior of the World and even places Him in the wilderness for a while.  But, it is all part of God’s divine plan, His divine invention.
 
We may see evil people rise to power.  We may see evil events.  But, it is all part of God’s divine plan, His divine invention.  “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”  Romans 9:17.
 
God does not just react and intervene.  God sets His goal at the end and works everything from the beginning to the end to accomplish His goal.     
 
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 6, 2013

“the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 12:7-12.
 
“7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.  The dragon and his angels waged war,  8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.  9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;  he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
 
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.  12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them.  Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”  Revelation 12:7-12.
 
—————————
 
“1 O God of my praise,
Do not be silent!
2 For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And fought against me without cause.
4 In return for my love they act as my accusers;
But I am in prayer.
5 Thus they have repaid me evil for good
And hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man over him,
And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him come forth guilty,
And let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few;
Let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless
And his wife a widow.
10 Let his children wander about and beg;
And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has,
And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him,
Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off;
In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,
But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,
And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
17 He also loved cursing, so it came to him;
And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.
18 But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
And it entered into his body like water
And like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself,
And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.
20 Let this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake;
Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;
22 For I am afflicted and needy,
And my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens;
I am shaken off like the locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting,
And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.
25 I also have become a reproach to them;
When they see me, they wag their head.

26 Help me, O Lord my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
27 And let them know that this is Your hand;
You, Lord, have done it.
28 Let them curse, but You bless;
When they arise, they shall be ashamed,
But Your servant shall be glad.
29 Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor,
And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord;
And in the midst of many I will praise Him.
31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy,
To save him from those who judge his soul.”  Psalm Chapter 109.

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