Begin at the finish line and win the race with focus and boldness

In my corporate days, I have taught a useful leadership management topic called, “Begin at the end”. What it means is that when you know your finish line, you will run with focus, boldness, and even ease. How do we know what the finish line of our life is? The Bible is our plume line. When we know what God uses to measure our lives, and what resources and abilities He has richly given us, we know the finish line.

I cannot think of a more essential strategic book to read than the Book of Revelation* in December 2020. In the early 1980s when first baptized in the Spirit and started to feel the hunger pang for God’s words, I was posted by my company to a town with only one evangelical church and the pastor, a fervent missionary, who decided to teach the handful of us the book of Revelation in nightly Bible classes! Imagine suddenly throwing someone who cannot swim overboard into the vast ocean. That was exactly what happened to me that winter. Looking back, I still remember listening and reading the unimaginable words and phrases night after night, with my mouth wide-opened in awe, and it turned out to be one of the best years for a “novice” in Christ. Unlike what many Christians may think, the book of Revelation is not a book of bad news for us. I believe that after one learns to swim proficiently in this vast ocean, there will be great rejoicing reading any other Book of the Bible (including the Leviticus)! For those who are familiar with this Book, it is still good to meditate on it and prepare for the year 2021. Begin at the finish line and you will not go astray.

The Book of Revelation is the finish line for mankind, including believers and none believers of Jesus Christ. There are already many easily accessible good online teachings and free Bible study tools for anyone interested. I would only share some of my notes on a few passages. Today I am led to look at three passages in chapter one: 1:1, 1:3, and 1:10 which speak to me.

What does Jesus mean by telling John in the three passages, highlighting:

“the events that must soon take place”, “for the time is near”, and “write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches”?

1:1 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John,

3 God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

The watchman’s notes:

1. The apostle John was worshiping in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when he saw and heard Jesus talking to him and revealing to him the future events about mankind. 1:10
2. John describes the Jesus he saw and what he heard in 1:10-20. he summarized what he understood who Jesus really is in 1:5-7. Briefly, Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. And He is coming again, and every eye will see Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
3. What are the events that must soon take place? They are all recorded down by John in the Book of Revelation. How soon will they take place? John wrote this book while in exile on the Patmos Island around 95AD. The message of Revelation is about what is to come. John is writing in two spaces: what was happening then and what would happen in the future. The book gives a picture of what will happen as we close the doors on human history as we know it and we look forward with anticipation to Jesus’ second coming.
4. What does it mean by “must soon take place”? When we read the Bible we can note that there is an emphasis on time, which reminds us that God does things in His time, the right time. From the definition of the word “soon” from Strong’s Greek 5034: Quickness, speed; hastily, immediately, it would appear in God’s view it would not be delayed when that right time comes. With God, a thousand years is like a day. In Matthew 24, Jesus Himself gave some answers to His disciples about the Jesus’ second coming and of the end of the age, and what will be the signs to watch. (Also read Mark 13; Daniel 9:23-27)
5. There are many teachings on how to interpret Matthew 24. I have noted two clues in 24:7-12, verse 10 for Christians, “Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” How can this be? Yes, it is happening today, sadly, even among Christians and “believers” of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Verse 9 gives another frightening clue, “you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Verse 8 concludes what these mean when they happen, “All these are the beginnings of sorrows.”
6. The development and rise of influencers’ power through media (communication) via the internet and digital technology has accelerated the speed and spread of information and shaping of the mind (attitude, value and belief). It also means that “all nations” can access to big information, including hate speeches/news almost simultaneously.
7. The above development and clear signs mean that “the time is near“. Revelation 1:3
8. What shall Christians do when we read, hear, understand these words? Do what John was asked to do. Obey. Spread the words and help others to understand.
9. Jesus came to this planet with a clear and focused mission, to save mankind from the power of sins and bondages and eternal damnation. And He did His part before He left earth. What did He tell tell His followers to do before He left? Matthew 28:17-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:44-49; John 21:15-17; Acts 1:7-8.
10. Take note that 1:10-11 clearly states that the Book of Revelation is for the Christians to read, listen and obey, and the Lord Jesus singles out seven kinds of condition a conglomerate of Christians could be under.

Revelation 22:6 6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”

Jesus Is Coming

Revelation 22:7 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Revelation (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)

an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times ( Hebrews 1:1 ) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF GOD .) The Scriptures are not merely the “record” of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth.

Revelation and inspiration differ. Revelation is the supernatural communication of truth to the mind; inspiration (q.v.) secures to the teacher or writer infallibility in communicating that truth to others. It renders its subject the spokesman or prophet of God in such a sense that everything he asserts to be true, whether fact or doctrine or moral principle, is true, infallibly true.

Kainotes, 12/03/2020

healthy aging: brevity of life, longevity factor, ever presence of my God

My dear brethren, when asked once, in his mid-60s, what surprised him most in his old age, Billy Graham answered without hesitation: “the brevity of life.” The brevity of life has caught up with even centenarians. Looking back this watchman too is shocked at the speed of time. After walking with the Lord for a long long time how did Enoch feel? What did he talk to God about? I sometimes ask. 365 years seem a long time to us. But most men lived long before the flood. Adam lived 930 years. Methuselah lived 969 years old. Noah lived 950 years. God talked to them. They talked to God. After the flood, some men lived to over a hundred years though not as long. Abraham 175 (born 1946 years after Adam), Isaac 180.

One thing that stands out is the relationship they had with God. Being able to hear God and talk to God is something that we all need today. Can we? Yes. God has given every born again believer the Holy Spirit who lives in us and talks to us. We are joined to the Lord and one spirit with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:17) There are many teachings on how we can hear God today. We can enjoy the longevity of life span on earth and not miss out our daily walk with God engaging in friendly two way conversation with Him, just as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and many others did. God called Abraham His friend.

To live to such old age one needs to be healthy and youthful. God has set man’s life to be one hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3) Moses lived to 120. His eyes were not dimmed nor his natural vigor diminished. (Deuteronomy 34:7) David testified in his psalm that his youth was renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:5) Sarah lived until 127 and died. After that Abraham (137 and above) married again and had other sons.

One man that stood out was Caleb. Caleb was known for his strength in his spirit, soul (mind and will) and body wholly. God described Caleb this way, “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.” (Numbers 14:24) At 85 Caleb was as strong as he was at forty including his strength for war, going out and coming in, because he wholly followed God and held fast to God’s promises spoken to him through Moses. (Joshua 14:6-14)

When we sum up the lives of all these men of faith in the Bible, we can see that the significance of life is the “quantity in terms of quality”. Quality can only come from their relationship with God. They had lived in the presence of God.

My first spiritual breakthrough after being born again for thirty years was knowing God in the spirit just as Jesus has emphasized that God is Spirit (John 4:24). Since then I have walked with a new passion and assurance in the spiritual reality of God and the truthfulness of His words which are spirit and life (John 6:63). Looking at all the past miracles God has done in my life I too hold fast to the promises and prophecies that the Lord has spoken. I am looking forward to this year with increasingly renewed strength to live in the ever presence of my God. I pray that you too, expect the same with confident hope. Age is no excuse.

Bible verses Joshua 14:6-14
6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. 12 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim).

Then the land had rest from war.

Zechariah 1: God spoke good, even comfortable words

In our previous day’s post' (please refer to: http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/zechariah-1-return-to-me-and-i-will-return-to-you/ )

 

we read the Bible verse from the book of Zechariah in New Living Translation. Today we read Zechariah 1 American Standard Version (ASV). This prophecy is for the Americans too. God spoke about the past and the future of the children of Israel, the children of Abraham by faith, and the children of America today too. Let us review what God spoke yesterday. (quoting in excerpts)

___________________________________

² Jehovah was sore displeased with your fathers.

³ Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts.

⁵ Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

⁶ But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

___________________________________

Yesterday God told us how He felt about our fathers, those who turned away from God. He spoke further on this subject and what He intended to do. He is speaking to a new generation now.

Today we continue reading as follows: Zechariah listened and pondered. Three months later he received further messages accompanied by visions from the Lord.

a summary for pondering and meditation like Zechariah did.

1. Zechariah saw an angel riding upon a red horse, standing among the myrtle trees at the valley. He was not surprised at the supernatural. He spoke to the angel. What was Zechariah doing there? He was led in the spirit to go out in the middle of the night to the valley where the myrtle trees were. If he had stayed in his bed and slept on, he would have missed God’s messenger and the whole night of eight visions!
2. He asked the angel what each vision meant. An honest and humble prophet (watchman) of God.
3. The angel was not surprised that Zechariah saw him and he replied him. Hebrews 1:14 “Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?”
4. The angel was actually doing his work: watching the other angels who were sent out on assignments to patrol the earth, then came back and reported to the one who talked to Zechariah.
5. The angel who spoke to Zechariah interceded to God and asked about the timing of intervention from God for the happenings to God’s elect people on earth. (The angel knew God’s intention and he spoke to God about fulfillment of the timing).
6. God actually replied and told what He intended to do and why. (In verse 16, God used the present tense ‘I am returned’ to put a time to the physical application of his intention.)
7. God gave a positive message (good and comfortable words) to the prophet: “My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity; and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” Wow, what a merciful and awesome God to His people!

__________________________

 

⁸ I saw in the night, and, behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were horses, red, sorrel, and white.

⁹ Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these are.

¹⁰ And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, These are they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

¹¹ And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

¹² Then the angel of Jehovah answered and said, O Jehovah of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

¹³ And Jehovah answered the angel that talked with me with good words, even comfortable words.

¹⁴ So the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

¹⁵ And I am very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem.

¹⁷ Cry yet again, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity; and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

¹⁸ And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, four horns.

¹⁹ And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

²⁰ And Jehovah showed me four smiths.

²¹ Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.

How to live end time? A brief manual

How to live our end time days? This is today’s question. Now that some Christians know and believe that the Lord is returning soon, how may we live, as apostle Peter had asked. “since everything around us is to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, …but we looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:11, 13)
Many hope to be raised before the really difficult times start. Yet many are preparing to face the tough times in case we are not raised at the beginning and may go through the first half or even the entire tribulation.
So, today we ask, what shall I do now to prepare? Let us read God’s words for answers.
1. The fact that Jesus would not leave us alone to feign for ourselves. He has sent His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) to be with us forever. So we have the Holy Spirit to ask any point of time. We can ask God for every decision.
2. Because we are still in the world, God’s words which do not fail will always protect us as God sends His words to heal and deliver and prosper and defend us. We have God’s words which Jesus says, are life and spirit.
3. Because we are not of the world, when all the world is being hit by ‘plagues’ in religion, war (security), economy, sickness and death, we shall be sustained in a specially designated land (field/ground) where God has ensured protection and provision to continue flowing so we may continue to bring people to the salvation of Jesus.
4. What shall we do? Sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit and when we keep focusing on the Lord Jesus Himself, we shall live His mind, His life in us, Wisdom (who is Christ Himself). We shall continue to know what land or field to buy and produce what God’s people need, both physical and spiritual. We shall continue to live in divine healing and health and youthful fitness just as God has promised in His words and which we have already practiced in our years of walking with Jesus, by faith, anchoring in His words and His Spirit.
Action points: pray and ask the Lord where you are now assigned to. What5 land to buy? What gift to use? what to sell and what to buy?  What to start doing and what to stop doing. There is really little time if you still hang on to a lot of baggage. The key words : “SELL ALL’.
AS JESUS IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD.
Your only end time life goal: Testify for Jesus. Bring many to righteousness. Shine like stars.
(To those who are led by the Lord to come and read this post: you know from where all the Bible verses the above brief is drawn. Please read them. )