The Daily Scroll - Deliverance

 So many suffer and die from war. Around the world conflict after conflict continues. In some places God’s people suffer the most. Many are martyred for their faith in Christ. But they have  hope that’s real. They will enter heaven in the realm of Jesus Christ and His Father almighty God. The apostle John wrote what he saw in the Spirit…

“These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:14-17)

So if you are a Christian in danger, know that your Heavenly Father knows, and cares. He will give you strength to bare it, and welcome you home afterward. 

The Daily Scroll - Lead It

William was a young worship leader trying to do his best in a church unaccustomed to extravagant praise and worship. They were very conservative, formal, and low key. They produced beautiful music but it all seemed too professional, and without a lot of heart. 

One morning while he was preparing for service, he paused and prayed. He confessed to the Lord that he, as well, was holding back his true feeling and exuberance. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit gave him a vision, a glimpse of heaven, and the worship around the throne. William had read about it in the Bible, but never could he imagine what it was really like until that moment. 

Something changed within him and he had a totally new outlook on the praise and worship service. Later that Sunday morning, the service began slow and methodical as usual, then the Spirit hit William, as he led and sang, and he began to dance. He jumped off the stage, into the altar area, and danced like King David going to the Temple. Soon others in the choir couldn’t contain themselves either and joined William off the stage dancing and singing unabashedly before the Lord. Others joined from the congregation and that church would never be the same! 

What William saw in the Spirit was described by the Apostle John in the Bible.

“Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” (Revelation 5:11-13)

The Daily Scroll - Worship

 The Apostle John saw heaven while praying in the Spirit. In the throne room, in heaven, there were those who gather around the throne while continuously offering praise to God. He saw and heard this…

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” (Revelation 4:8,11)

Pure worship to the pure and Holy God. When offering praise and worship to God in our earthly services, we add to, and join, those in heaven offering their praise to God. How wonderful to be part of such a grand gesture. 

The Daily Scroll - Kept

 Freddie was an orphan who was shuttled from one foster home to another his whole life. Every time he had to leave he asked himself, “Why won’t anyone keep me?”

When he became an adult and married, he and his wife searched foster homes and orphanages to find a boy like himself. A boy who had been shuttled around and was all alone. They found little Freddie, seven years old, and knew immediately that he was to be their son. After lots of paperwork it became true. Little Freddie was kept by his new dad big Freddie. And so it was, both Freddie’s kept one another for the rest of their lives. 

“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.“ (Jude 25-25)

The Daily Scroll - Don’t Go

 Don’t Go

From the time I was a young boy I attended church with my family. I still remember the Sunday school classes, the vacation Bible schools, the music and singing, and the many admonitions from the pulpit. 

I remember the Wednesday night services before Thanksgiving. Often we, as a church, celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday with a play, (Once I was a Pilgrim), and a time of giving thanks to God for the many gifts and blessings He had given us. 

Sitting in that same church many decades later, I look around and the memories flood my mind. I especially remember the people who were there but now are gone. So many family and friends have passed and gone on to be with the Lord, whom we worshipped together, and I know they are happy now in heavenly bliss. But I ask myself the question, where are the others.

Where are all the kids and teens who I grew up with. Some have moved away and live their lives elsewhere, but many have simply fallen away. The cares of this life, and family situations have taken them from us. Some would still claim a strong belief and love of the Lord, but yet they leave and don't come back. 

I believe it’s heartbreaking to the Lord to have so many of His children living lives of solitude away from their Christian family. I know a man who is a very devout Christian, but has one excuse after another to not attend church, and if you knew him you'd be shocked. 

Many who leave do not make a firm decision to not come back, they just drift away. We live in such a fast paced and busy world that we just don't take the time. The Bible warns us in Hebrews chapter two not to drift away.

It reads in verse 1, “We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”  

Verse 3-4 reads, “What makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

The same Lord who welcomes us into heaven welcomes us into His Church. There is so much growth that takes place in Church. There's blessing and rejuvenation that takes place in church. And there's family. A church family.

I have a friend who had severe chest pains and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on a Sunday. Immediately as one person learned of the situation, Social media posts went out for prayer in a spontaneous prayer chain. Later, several members of the church left the Sunday night service and rushed to the emergency room for support and prayer. 

After test results showed that he was fine, the Doctor discharged him into the care of his church family. They returned with him to the church service and the congregation erupted into applause and praise to God for a miracle in their presence. Afterward the Pastor had him pray for others which he did one by one for nearly an hour! God brought him from the ER to the altar!

Please don’t  miss out on your blessings. If you have been disappointed or hurt by something or someone at a church in the past, try and put it behind you. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 2:18 spoke of Jesus this way, “since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”

He will help you and he does want you. The Bible says, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)

The enemy of your soul, the devil, says “DON’T GO…to Church.

The lover of your soul, Lord Jesus, says “DON’T GO…away from Church.

Which voice will you listen to?

The Daily Scroll - Get Jesus

 Two teenage boys were sitting outside on the church steps looking at the moon and the stars when one said to the other, “You think he’s coming tonight?” “Who?” Asked his friend. “ Why, Jesus,” he replied. The preacher in there said He could come any minute and that we he’d better get ready. How do I get ready?”

His friend asked him, “ Do you know Jesus?”

“Not really.” He answered. “So what do I do?”

His friend turned, looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Get Jesus!”

“How do I get Jesus?”

His friend said, “Pray this prayer with me.”

And so his friend led him in the sinners prayer and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Today there are many false teachings about how to get to heaven. The most egregious is the belief that there are many gods and many ways to heaven. Wrong. There’s only one way to heaven and Father God…GET JESUS!

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12)

The Daily Scroll - Keep Away

 Here’s a tricky one from the Bible…“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (I John 5:21)

Now on the surface that statement seems simple and straightforward. But if we sincerely check our hearts, and our life actions, do we really keep away? I’ll confess that there have been times in my own life where the competition for my heart from the world has snuck up on me. Beware because it can be gradual and seemingly innocent. Then suddenly it’s got you. 

Keep short accounts with God. Don’t let sin and the love of this world sneak in. As it has been said, we are in this world but as born again believers we are not of this world. Not any longer. Heaven is our home, God is our Father, and the Lord Jesus is our Savior and friend. And yes, the precious Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide. We are over-comers, so keep away. He’s coming soon.