Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 23, 2013

“May my prayer be counted as incense before You”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 8:1-5.
 
“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
                                          
Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer;  and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.  Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth;  and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”  Revelation 8:1-5. 
                                  
——————— 
                                        
Today’s Scripture shows that the prayers of the saints were deemed worthy to be mixed with incense and to be presented before God.  Today’s Scripture encourages us thereby to pray.
                                                                          

We have seen many times that Israel was commanded to make “an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord”.  Here is a link to these Scriptures – Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: soothing

As one example, ““Command the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time.’”  Numbers 28:2
 
Now, we need not make such offerings of animals by fire.  But, we should make such offerings by prayer.  “May my prayer be counted as incense before You;  The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.”  Psalm 141:2
 
The Heidelberg Catechism gives us good instruction on prayer.
                                

Question 116.  Why is prayer necessary for christians?

Answer.  Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us:  and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and are thankful for them.

Question 117.  What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?

Answer.  First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested himself in his word, for all things, he hath commanded us to ask of him;  secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of his divine majesty;  thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that he, notwithstanding that we are unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer, as he has promised us in his word.

Question 118.  What hath God commanded us to ask of him?

Answer.  All things necessary for soul and body;  which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer he himself has taught us.

Question 119.  What are the words of that prayer?

Answer.  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.

Question 120.  Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus:  “Our Father”?

Answer.  That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents will refuse us earthly things.

Question 121.  Why is it here added, “Which art in heaven”?

Answer.  Lest we should form any earthly conceptions of God’s heavenly majesty, and that we may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.

Question 122.  Which is the first petition?

Answer.  “Hallowed be thy name”;  that is, grant us, first, rightly to know thee, and to sanctify, glorify and praise thee, in all thy works, in which thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed;  and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honored and praised on our account.

Question 123.  Which is the second petition?

Answer.  “Thy kingdom come”;  that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to thee;  preserve and increase thy church;  destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee;  and also, all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word;  till the full perfection of thy kingdom take place, wherein thou shalt be all in all.

Question 124.  Which is the third petition?

Answer.  “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”;  that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good;  that so every one may attend to, and  perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.

Question 125.  Which is the fourth petition?

Answer.  “Give us this day our daily bread”;  that is, be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for the body, that we may thereby acknowledge thee to be the only fountain of all good, and that neither our care nor industry, nor even thy gifts, can profit us without thy blessing;  and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in thee.

Question 126.  What is the fifth petition?

Answer.  “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”; that is, be pleased for the sake of Christ’s blood, not to impute to us poor sinners, our transgressions, nor that depravity, which always cleaves to us; even as we feel this evidence of thy grace in us, that it is our firm resolution from the heart to forgive our neighbor.

Question 127.  Which is the sixth petition?

Answer.  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”; that is, since we are so weak in ourselves, that we cannot stand a moment;  and besides this, since our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own flesh, cease not to assault us, do thou therefore preserve and strength us by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may not be overcome in this spiritual warfare, but constantly and strenuously may resist our foes, till at last we obtain a complete victory.

Question 128.  How dost thou conclude thy prayer?

Answer.  “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever”;  that is, all these we ask of thee, because thou, being our King and almighty, art willing and able to give us all good;  and all this we pray for, that thereby not we, but thy holy name, may be glorified for ever.

Question 129.  What doth the word “Amen” signify?

Answer.  “Amen” signifies, it shall truly and certainly be:  for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of him.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 22, 2013

The Heavenly Benefits of Belonging to the Lord

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 7:13-17.
 
“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”  I said to him, “My lord, you know.”  And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple;  and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.  They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore;  nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;  for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life;  and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”  Revelation 7:13-17.
 
——————-
 
God “not only” saves us from our sins and from the eternal punishment of hell that we deserve;  God also provides us with eternal blessings in heaven. 
 
Yesterday, we considered that “Salvation belongs to the Lord” and that the Lord provides all that we need for salvation.
 
Today, we considers that the Lord provides glorious blessings in heaven as well.  “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore;  nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;  for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life;  and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”  Verses 16 and 17. 
 
“… Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9.
 
But, we have difficulty believing that God will provide these things to us.  Our natural tendency is to believe that God will treat us as we treat others.  We may be good to others for a little while or for as long as they are good to us.  Likewise, we believe that God will only be good to us as long as we perfectly perform for Him.  In summary, we tend to only lightly consider these heavenly things, because we think that they are too good to be true.
 
But, there is hope!
 
Reformed Doctrine destroys that thinking.  Reformed Doctrine teaches us that God did not save us, because we were good enough.  Reformed Doctrine helps us to believe likewise that God does not provide blessings in heaven, because we are good enough or will be good enough. 
 
Reformed Doctrine helps us to understand that like “Salvation belongs to the Lord”, we belong to the Lord.  God chose us.  We are His people, His sheep.  God saves us and provides blessings in heaven, because we are His people, we belong to Him.
 
Our only comfort in life and death is that we “belong” to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ Who saved us from our sins, preserves us, and assures us of all these heavenly things that He will provide us.  See Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism.          
 
In conclusion, we received some glimpses of heavenly things in today’s Scripture.  Reformed Doctrine strengthens our faith to help us look more and believe more at these and other glimpses of heaven – Click here: Heaven | Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions
Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 21, 2013

“Salvation belongs to the Lord”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 7:8-12. 
                                                                                                                                                     “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;  and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
                                                 
Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”  Revelation 7:8-12.

———————–

“Salvation belongs to the Lord;  Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.”  Psalm 3:8

Some teach that man should get some credit for salvation.  They teach that man supplies the “free-will”, the condition that motivates God to elect themselves, the inherent goodness which God loves, the good works or maybe just their choice of Christ, and the perseverance of faith until the end.

But, those are not among this great multitude who “cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

This great multitude does not regard man as deserving any such praise. They “fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.  Reformed Doctrine teaches “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation which clearly shows that “Salvation belongs to the Lord”.

Reformed Doctrine first humbles man by teaching the “Total Depravity” of man.  Man is dead in sin and cannot contribute anything to his own salvation.  Man’s only chance for salvation is that God will provide all that is needed for salvation.

Reformed Doctrine then teaches that God provides everything needed for salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”.

In conclusion, Isaiah Chapter 59 is a good summary of man’s wickedness and God’s salvation.

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken falsehood,
Your tongue mutters wickedness.
No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly.
They trust in confusion and speak lies;
They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
They hatch adders’ eggs and weave the spider’s web;
He who eats of their eggs dies,
And from that which is crushed a snake breaks forth.
Their webs will not become clothing,
Nor will they cover themselves with their works;
Their works are works of iniquity,
And an act of violence is in their hands.
Their feet run to evil,
And they hasten to shed innocent blood;
Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity,
Devastation and destruction are in their highways.
They do not know the way of peace,
And there is no justice in their tracks;
They have made their paths crooked,
Whoever treads on them does not know peace.

Therefore justice is far from us,
And righteousness does not overtake us;
We hope for light, but behold, darkness,
For brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 We grope along the wall like blind men,
We grope like those who have no eyes;
We stumble at midday as in the twilight,
Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men.
11 All of us growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We hope for justice, but there is none,
For salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And we know our iniquities:
13 Transgressing and denying the Lord,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
14 Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.
15 Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the Lord saw,
And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
16 And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18 According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19 So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the Lord drives.
20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.

21 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”  Isaiah Chapter 59.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 19, 2013

A Perfect Remnant Reminds us of God’s Election

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 7:4-8.
“And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.”  Revelation 7:4-8.

—————————

“and so all Israel will be saved;  just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
“This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”  Romans 11:26-27.

144,000 represents perfection.  All the Jews that God elected to salvation are saved.

144,000 is not many compared to the “great multitude” in the following verse.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;”  Revelation 7:9.

The 144,000 is a remnant, but it is a perfect remnant.

“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved;  for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.”  And just as Isaiah foretold,

“Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left to us a posterity,
We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah.”  Romans 9:27-29.

Regarding the fact that only a remnant of Israel is saved, Paul states:  “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed.  For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;  nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but:  “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”  Romans 9:1-8.

“For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

In summary, today’s Scripture reminds us of God’s election which is taught by Reformed Doctrine.  God’s election is the only chance for salvation for the Jews, and God’s election is also the only chance for salvation for the Gentiles.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 18, 2013

“all things must be subservient to my salvation”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 7:1-3.
 
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.  And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God;  and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”  Revelation 7:1-3.
 
——————–
 
Heidelberg Catechism assures me that “all things must be subservient to my salvation”.  Question and Answer 1.
 
Even in Ezekiel’s vision of slaughter, in which it appeared to Ezekiel that God was destroying the whole remnant of Israel, Ezekiel was saved.  There too a saving mark was put on the foreheads of those who were spared.  See Ezekiel Chapter 9.
 
In Jesus’ parable of wheat and tares, although God very much desired to burn the wicked represented by the tares, God was careful to not hurt the righteous represented by the wheat.  “Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.  But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.  The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?’  And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’  But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Allow both to grow together until the harvest;  and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up;  but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”  Matthew 13:24-30. 
 
What more shall we say?
 
God “preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;”  2 Peter 2:5.  
 
God “rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men” when He “condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes”.  2 Peter 2:6-7.
 
God “knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,”  2 Peter 2:9.
 
“Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you;  Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course.”  Isaiah 26:20
 
Psalm 91 provides a comforting conclusion.
 
You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
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.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm 91:5-16.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 17, 2013

“Stop regarding man, … For why should he be esteemed?”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 6:12-17.
                                                           
12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake;  and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;  13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.  14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;  16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;  17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?””  Revelation 6:12-17.
                           
———————–
                          
10 Enter the rock and hide in the dust
From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.
11 The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

A Day of Reckoning Coming

12 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and lofty
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be abased.
13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up,
Against all the oaks of Bashan,
14 Against all the lofty mountains,
Against all the hills that are lifted up,
15 Against every high tower,
Against every fortified wall,
16 Against all the ships of Tarshish
And against all the beautiful craft.
17 The pride of man will be humbled
And the loftiness of men will be abased;
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
18 But the idols will completely vanish.
19 Men will go into caves of the rocks
And into holes of the ground
Before the terror of the Lord
And the splendor of His majesty,
When He arises to make the earth tremble.
20 In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats
Their idols of silver and their idols of gold,
Which they made for themselves to worship,
21 In order to go into the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs
Before the terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty,
When He arises to make the earth tremble.
22 Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed?”  Isaiah 2:10-22.

Reformed Doctrine properly starts with the humility of presenting man’s “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Whereas, other doctrine focuses its hope on alleged man’s loveability, alleged man’s inherent goodness, and alleged man’s “free-will”.  They teach God loves everybody, there is goodness in man that initiates good works, and man has “free-will” to do good and to choose good (have faith in Christ).

Reformed Doctrine clings to the precious chains of predestination.  It recognizes that predestination is the only hope for salvation for such a totally depraved man.

Whereas, other doctrine clings to alleged man’s “free-will”.  They cry out:  “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3.

Today’s Scripture warns us the coming great day of reckoning and wrath.

“The proud look of man will be abased
And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”  Isaiah 2:11.

22 Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
For why should he be esteemed?”  Isaiah 2:22.

11 The Lord utters His voice before His army;
Surely His camp is very great,
For strong is he who carries out His word.
The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome,
And who can endure it?”  Joel 2:11.

But, there is hope!

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.”  Joel 2:12-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 6:9-11.
 
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;  10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  11 And there was given to each of them a white robe;  and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”  Revelation 6:9-11.
 
———————
 
Yesterday, we considered:  “But, we need to remember that those seals need to be broken to open the book of life.  …  Random “helter-skelter” did not break out in the breaking of the seals.  These are no “Pandora’s boxes”.  God is still sovereign and in perfect total control.”
 
Yet, there is a big difference between the death of the ungodly and the death of the godly.  We may have thought regarding the deaths that occurred in the breaking of the second, third, and fourth seals that those were “just” the deaths of the ungodly.  But, we are confronted with the deaths of the godly (the martyrs) in the breaking of this fifth seal. 
 
We may wonder like the martyrs:  “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 
 
But, God is still sovereign and in perfect total control as is evident by His calm response:  “they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”
 
Not one of the godly slips through the fingers of God.  “Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.”  Psalm 116:15
 
We may not fully consider that godly people may die unexpectedly.  But, today’s Scripture reminds us that godly people may die as martyrs or otherwise die unexpectedly in our eyes. 
 
We may think that God somehow lost control and that there are godly people who slip through the fingers of God and die.  But, the will of God is always “completed”.  
 
Most importantly, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”  John 10:27-30.
 
In conclusion, there are those who teach that man’s free-will trumps God’s sovereignty, but today’s Scripture and Reformed Doctrine teach that God’s sovereignty totally controls everything, even the death of godly ones, such that the will of God is always “completed”.  
Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 15, 2013

The Seven Seals Need to be Broken

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 6:1-8.
 
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”  I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow;  and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
 
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.”  4 And another, a red horse, went out;  and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
 
When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.”  I looked, and behold, a black horse;  and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius;  and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
                                               
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.”  I looked, and behold, an ashen horse;  and he who sat on it had the name Death;  and Hades was following with him.  Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”  Revelation 6:1-8. 
 
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As we start reading the Scripture which describes the breaking of the seven seals, we may focus on the vivid imagery and be alarmed, puzzled, and frightened.  But, we need to remember that those seals need to be broken to open the book of life.

“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”  And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.  Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;  and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping;  behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”  Revelation 5:1-5.

Random “helter-skelter” did not break out in the breaking of the seals.  These are no “Pandora’s boxes”.  God is still sovereign and in perfect total control.

The events described in the breaking of the seals are things that must come.  We remember Revelation 4:1:  “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”  Revelation 4:1.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

“And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God;  and they will reign upon the earth.”  Romans 5:9-10.

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 14, 2013

God’s Sovereign Dominion Forever and Ever

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 5:11-14.
 
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders;  and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.”  And the elders fell down and worshiped.”  Revelation 5:11-14.

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Some teach man’s free-will determines who will be saved.  If that were the truth, would there be such praise as we see in today’s Scripture?   

Are these myriads of myriads of heavenly voices in today’s Scripture proclaiming man’s free-will or God’s sovereignty?

God’s perfect sovereign dominion is eliciting such praise and worship. 

Our doctrine should be consistent and in harmony with these heavenly voices and the truth of God’s perfect sovereign dominion.  And, Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism is.

We read about such dominion in the Belgic Confession

Article 13:  Of Divine Providence.

We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment:  nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed.  For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly.  … This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father;  who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust;  being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us.  And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.

We read about such dominion in the Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my 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.

We read about such dominion in the Canons of Dordt.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,”  Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.  The Canons of Dordt FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

We read about such dominion in the Westminister Larger Catechism.

Question 13:  What has God especially decreed concerning angels and men?

Answer:  God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, has elected some angels to glory;  and in Christ has chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof:  and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will (whereby he extends or withholds favor as he pleases), has passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.

“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.

God accomplishes all of His good purpose.  Total Perfect Triumph.

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 5:1-10.
 
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”  And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.  Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;  and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping;  behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”                                    
                                         
And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.  And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God;  and they will reign upon the earth.”  Revelation 5:1-10.

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Reformed Doctrine teaches the total sovereignty of God over who is in the book of life and who is not in the book of life.  Today’s Scripture supports that teaching.  The book of life can not even be opened by anyone except God, nor can anyone even look into it except God. 

The “Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” also referred to as the “Lamb” in today’s Scripture is obviously Jesus Christ Who is God the Son.  He “has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”   

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

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.  The Canons of Dordt SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

“What shall we say then?  There is no injustice with God, is there?  May it never be!  For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  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.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:14-18,

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