Rv22

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" The one who is thirsty should come. Take the living water as a gift. 

The Bible ends with an invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good.  It is an invitation to receive the eternal gift of life.  To have a personal relationship with the Living God.  It is an invitation that should not be put away.

If you are not yet a follower, decide today.

Read it here.

Rv20-21

"Look, I am making all things new!" - God  As we get to the end of our Bible, we see tons of disaster that God is unleashing on sin and rebellion.  It is incredible, scary and universally extreme.  In the midst of it all, we see the hope for those who are in Christ.  God's promise of heaven is that He will make everything new!  Not only new, but unlike anything we have ever seen.  It will be awesome.  We have to be there.

Rv19

Merry Christmas! Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign! Let us be glad, rejoice and give Him glory.  -19:6-7

Rv18

The most prominent act of godlessness seems to be sexual sin!  Maybe a great gift to give this Christmas would be repentance from any and all sexual compromises.

It is the easy to see the downfall of Babylon, but often we fail to see how it compares to our lives.  Babylon was described as immoral, wealthy, proud and luxurious.  These words describe most Americans I know and there is no better time to observe this than Christmas.

The opposite of Babylon is pure, poor, humble and basic.  Rarely does that describe any American.  This is a humbling chapter to pounder the day before Christmas.

Focus of Christ at Christmas!

Read it here.

Rv17

It is heartbreaking to see people running hard away from God and toward their own self destruction.  What is the lure of sin?  God help us.

In this chapter, we are approaching the end of humanity as we know it.  People are still motivated to worship anything but the one true God, and to pursue their own evil desires.  From a distance it is unbelievable to read!

Yet, when you consider your life, how much do you truly live for Christ?  I know in my life, it still is easy to minimize all God is calling me to do while I pursue the things I want.  Sometimes those things are NOT what God would want for me.

Maybe it is not so unbelievable after all.

Read it here.

Rv16

I continue to be amazed at the response of people in the middle of God's judgement.  Why not repent?

Enormous 100 pound hailstones are falling from the sky as a direct expression of God's wrath. There is no question where they are coming from.  Instead of crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness...they continue to blaspheme God!

How do you respond to God's choices.  I am certain I have never seen anything close to this kind of thing, nor have I ever heard of anyone experiencing this type judgement.  Yet, I have encountered many different responses to God's choices in the lives of others.  Some almost expect their lives to be perfect or they will complain.  Others give God praise regardless of what happens in their lives.

What type of person are you.  Worship God in every situation.

Read it here.

Rv15

This world is so broken...so amazing, and beautiful and broken.  What will be my response to seeing Jesus in his full might? 

For some reason, I love Revelation.  I was driving home from a meeting last night crazy full of emotion, some good, some not.  I felt so disconnected from God, but the patience he shows me each and every day is amazing.  I find comfort in the book of Revelation (I know that sounds kooky) and the coming of his clear Kingship.  This world is so broken...so amazing, and beautiful and broken. 

What will be my response to seeing Jesus in his full might?  God on his righteous throne?  I'm sure nothing short of fear and weakness...and to think that Jesus has already picked me up, stood before the Almighty King, and declared my pure in his eyes!!!  Wow.  

Read it here.

Rv14

Imagine the sound of the mighty angel proclaiming the eternal gospel in a loud voice, "Fear God and give HIm glory!"

Today we have the privilege of proclaiming that same gospel to anyone who we know or have audience with.  It is our joy to know Jesus and the "good news" of His salvation.  I am shocked that so many don't have a clue.  I am even more shocked that those of us who do, tell so few.

With the events of Sandy Hook School, my heart is re-gripped by the need to share with everyone I love how they can experience the love and hope that only comes through Jesus.  For those who lost their lives who knew Jesus, there is hope.  For those who didn't know, there is such hopelessness.

Christmas is a season for hope.  Help people know Jesus, the reason for Christmas today.

Read it here.

Rv13

All of life is oriented around worship.  We will worship someone or something!  Direct your worship toward the One true God.

This chapter is full of profound imagery and graphic symbols.  The most profound thing for me is how all of it is directed toward who or what people will worship.  Either the beast or God Himself.

Those who worship the beast will do it out of fear, convenience or just foolish chooses.  Those who worship God will have to do it out of faith and perseverance.  It will be difficult.  It won't be easy.

What do you worship?  Who do you worship?  When things aren't going your way, do you tend to lose your heart for worshipping God?  Maybe this chapter should call us to purer authentic worship.

Read it here.

Rv12

Are you feeling slandered and accused today?  Just know the source of that is Satan himself!  He lives to bring charges against God's children.

The battle is raging but the war is already won.  Jesus has overcome the enemy for us, but his days are not yet over.  Every day Satan lives to  bring havoc on God's people and tempt them to walk in disobedience to God.

Notice the conquering formula the believers exercised in this chapter.  They conquered Satan by the blood of Jesus, the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives even if faced with death!  They lived to please Jesus.

Make it your goal today.

Rv11

If there seems to be craziness going on around you that you don't understand, choose worship!  God is in control and He is always worthy of our worship.

If you think this chapter is confusing, try reading the commentaries on this chapter!  In God's time we will see exactly what is meant by these things.

As I read I am continually struck by the craziness of all that is described.  No chapter even compares to this one in my mind.  God raises up powerful prophets who prophesy His truth. The beast emerges from the abyss and conquers them.  People leave them dead in the open streets and rejoice over their death.  They lay there over 3 days and then are resurrected.  After that God calls them to heaven.

What was the response to all this?  Again, amazing worship in heaven.  

Read it here.

Rv10

Just reading Revelation can give a person chills!  Experiencing its reality would be even more terrifying!

What happens in your heart when you read this book?  It is a difficult one to understand and there is so much of it that is symbolic.  As a result, Revelation is often read, but rarely understood.

Bottom line is that it is written to draw us to Jesus.  It was inspired to lead us to the One who has everything under control.  Jesus is the One who is, who was and who is coming.

As we seek to follow Him and trust in Him, all these things will be clear in time.  Enjoy the mystery.

Read it here.

Rv9

Does anyone else get freaked out when you read the book of Revelation?  If not, I don't think you are envisioning what you're reading!

Billowing from the abyss come freakish LOCUST that bite and sting!  They have gold crowns, faces like men, women's hair, teeth like lions, iron plated chests, huge wings and tails like scorpions WITH STINGERS!!!  And their job is to attack people to hurt them but not kill them.  In fact, people will want to die, but death will escape them.

And then....the rest of chapter 9.  Giant angels emerge and destroy 1/3rd of all humanity!  The description of these angels is even more freakish than that of the locust.  Are you reading this?

And what did the people do?  The text says, "they still did not repent of the works of their hands to stop worshiping demons and things of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood".  Wow, wow, wow.

Read it here.

Rv8

Silence is a discipline that is all but lost in this age of technology! Turn off everything today and spend 30 minutes in silence, listening to God.

Heaven stood in silence for half an hour.  It was the quiet before the storm of destruction was unleashed on the earth.  As the trumpets blew, the wrath of God was being poured out.

It is a horrible thing to be the object of a wrathful God.  I am so grateful that because of Jesus, we can be objects of His love and grace.

Read it here. 

Rv7

Believers today rarely worships with "all their hearts, crying out to God".  What would our gatherings be like if we purely decided to give everything we had to express our sincere gratitude to God?

Imagine a countless number of people from all over the world singing with one voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne!"  I can't wait to hear it.  I can't wait to join in with all my voice.

John continues to describe heaven with unimaginable realities!  I have had times in my life when I was caught up in worship with others, but never like this.  The scene is gripping to my heart and I would love for God's people to be better practicers of heavenly realities!

Read it here.

__________________________________________

Troy Nesbitt, Lead Pastor

515.232.5488 | troynesbitt@gmail.com

Cornerstone Church of Ames | www.cornerstonelife.com

a local church with a global vision

56829 U.S. Highway 30 | Ames, IA 50010

Rv6

Today the invitation from God is open to all of us.  He says, "Come to Me and you will have life."  A time is coming, when the invitation will not be to life but only to wrath.

In this chapter the powerful angels invite John to "Come" and see.  When he looked, he saw what would soon happen as God began to pour out his judgement.  What he saw was overwhelming!

Jesus also said, "Come".  His invitation is not to see the future wrath, but rather, to experience life and forgiveness.  He offers purpose and meaning in this life.  His invitation is now.

Everyone will respond to an invitation.  Either they will intentionally accept Jesus' invitation to "Come" to Him, or they will eventually experience the invitation to the wrath of God.  Choose the former.

Read it here.

Rv5

Heaven will not be about us!  It will be about Jesus.  Try to make today more like heaven by focusing on Jesus and not yourself.

Can you imagine this scene in heaven? Imagine yourself adding your voice to all those singing: "the Lamb is worthy!"

When MercyMe wrote the song, "I can only imagine", I wonder if they had Rev. 4 & 5 in their minds as the backdrop?  This scene in heaven causes me to tremble every time I think or read about it.  It will truly be awesome.

I love the image of Jesus being described both as a Lion and a Lamb.  As a Lion He conquered sin for all of us who believe.  As a Lamb He paid the price for our sin by His sacrifice on the cross.  He is both the Lion and the Lamb. 

Read it here.

Rv4

Heaven will be unlike anything we have ever seen or imagined!  It will be a wonderfully scary place!

John saw and heard things that were amazing, beautiful and scary at the same time.  His description of heaven has nothing to do with chubby babies with wings looking all cute.  In fact, his vision could be the furthest thing from that!

These amazing beings never stop saying: "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is and who is coming."  They continually worship God.  One thing is for sure... God is to be worshiped and He doesn't seem to mind repetition.

Try to imagine heaven today.  Try to worship God continuously today.  It would be good practice.

Read it here.

Rv.3

Have you ever stopped to think that your opinion of yourself might be WRONG!  In fact, generally people actually don't have an accurate perception of themselves.

Having a misperception of self before others is bad.  Having a misperception about yourself before God is dangerous.  Sometimes eternally dangerous!  In this chapter, God is challenging the readers to see themselves from His perspective.  They were totally missing it, and really in danger.

If you want to know what is true about you from God's perspective seek the truth in His word.  Believe what it says.  Embrace the truth about God and yourself.  It is life changing.

If you want to have an accurate perception of how others see you.  Ask several trusted friends to share how you could improve your character.  If they are honest, you will learn tons.  Be careful, it might hurt.

Read it here.