Epaggelia

v3, Expressing heartfelt thankfulness to God, keeps us out of the center of our own attention and puts God where He should be in our heart. It is imperative to see that Paul only has God and other people in his heart and no possessions, or abilities or even his own self, v7.

v4, Paul encourages us all to share God’s love with all Christians, Eph. 1:15-16. Paul’s word for “joy” (chara) is akin to charis – grace in the Greek language. Do we really appreciate how good God is to sinners?

v5, The Philippian Christians shared God’s grace with Paul, from the beginning of their relationship in Christ, till the present time of writing this letter from prison. 1st Jn. 1:3, relates the fellowship apostles had with Jesus, and their desire to share that with us!

v6, being confident of this very thing, that He which began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Confidence brings eternal rewards, See Hebrews 10:35.

v7, How can being incarcerated for Christ be felt as ‘grace’?.

1st Peter 4:13. We may only understand this, by faith in Christ suffering with us. See Romans 6:17 where Paul places our heart at the center of obedience to God. If they had Paul in their heart, then they would have felt his pain. Never forget Hebrews 13:3.

v8, God not only sees our efforts, He is in our effort! See Romans 1:9, 1stThessalonians 2:5 & Acts 5:32.

v9, What are two gifts from God, which help our love grow? The knowledge of Christ we get from the Bible, and the discernment/wisdom we get from trying to prayerfully live out Christ’s knowledge in our daily life. This is a gift!

v10-11, Who gets praise and glory for our sincerity and righteousness? Only Jesus Christ.

1. TIME is a gift, you can’t earn it, or take it for granted. The average U.S. adult watches more than 4 hours of television a day. That’s 25 percent of waking time spent every day. Imagine if you suddenly had 25 percent more time — that’s three extra months per year! God says through Peter.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1st Peter 4:10

2. The time we lose while watching TV, means that we do not get to do what we really should be doing, this causes STRESS! When we feel overwhelmed, tired, and exhausted we don’t have energy for anything but — you guessed it — watch TV. It is a dreadful cycle. So take a break from TV for a week and see what happens to your life. Even Jesus needed time to rest. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31

3. Don’t believe the lie, that says we are relaxing when watching TV — your mind is still receiving stimuli from the TV, you are processing information and REACTING emotionally. Moderate exercise leads us to real relaxation. God says, “Bodily exercise profits little” and “godliness is great gain”, so get the most of life God gave us and live right. 1st Timothy 4:8 & 6:6.

4. The University of Massachusetts proved that people eat between 31 and 74 percent MORE CALORIES while watching TV. This could add, on average, about 300 calories extra per meal. When at least 40 percent of families watch TV while eating dinner. It becomes clear that TV is a big part of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and that TV, in fact, makes us gain weight!  God’s wisdom dictates that “moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power”.   Proverbs 16:32.

5. Many people have whole conversations that are recaps of TV programs, sporting events, etc, don’t let your life be fake. When asked about our REAL lives, there is little or nothing to report. Life is too interesting and wonderful to spend your time either watching TV or recapping television to your friends. Find something interesting to do: volunteer at church, read to a child, paint — anything but watch more TV. God says through Paul, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 2nd Thessalonians 3:7

6. Sitting together with someone and watching TV does not grow a RELATIONSHIP. Turn that TV off and find something to do together. Talk about reality! God says, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 2nd Corinthians 5:18.

7. Watching TV can isolate us. Nothing is going to change in our world if we are watching TV. Turn off the TV, go out into the world, talk to people, and see what happens! God can use us in a greater way. God says “…as you have opportunity, do good…” Galatians 6:10. But what if we are robbing ourselves of opportunities?

8. If the idea of giving up TV for a week is horrifying, you may be ADDICTED to television. TV addiction is a habit and can become like a physical addiction. We should be able to control it once you are aware of the problem and make a decision to change. God says that we should, “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,  2nd Corinthians 10:5.

9. By age 65, the average American has seen 2 million commercials. Need less, by watching less TV. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2nd Corinthians 9:8

10. A basic cable package costs $43 per month and many packages cost much more than that. That comes to at least $500 a year spent on TV. For that much money you could buy a membership to every zoo in Arizona, or donate more to church! If you invest it every year in a bank, you could have thousands! TV WASTES money! Can we afford to pretend that God doesn’t care about money?  God says “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with much pain. 1st Timothy 6:10.

Key Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34

The new covenant of Christ is not an after-thought from God.  He has planned and desired this since before the foundation of our world. Even after he established older covenants with Abraham & Moses, he declared that our heart was and is at the center of his covenant. Read Dueteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4 & 9:26, Romans 2:28-29 & Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11-12.

Jeremiah’s prophecy centered on the fact that God would write his law on human hearts, Jer. 31:33. The apostle Paul declared this was fulfilled and happening to Christians, 2nd Corinthians 3:3-8. The law of God is very powerful, his words created the world and his message or instructions written upon our heart can make a new creation, 2nd Corinthians 5:17 & Galatians 6:15. Since Jesus is the very word of God incarnate, it makes sense to expect him to enact the law of God in our hearts by His Spirit of Christ, Jn. 1:1,14 & Rom. 8:9. His Spirit writes His law upon our hearts. Do you believe this?

The better & superior covenant of Jesus is offered to all races, sexes and classes of people.  The necessary & authoritative command of baptism is not an option, it is a mandatory requirement in the new covenant of Jesus, offered and made available to us by God’s grace, so that we can be included in the covenant by faith when we are born again by water and the Spirit, John 3:3-5.  We are either inside the covenant of God’s grace or we are outside.  We all need to submit to God’s operating venue in baptism and be circumcised with the circumcision of Christ, made without hands, a spiritual cutting away, an inner cleansing of our heart or soul. Colossians 2:11-12, 1st Peter 3:21. There is a link between God’s intention in circumcision under the old covenant and God’s intention in baptism under the new covenant, offered to us today.  Baptism as immersion into the death & resurrection of Christ, is an act that God uses to cut away sin from your heart and add you to the list of souls being saved in the church, the Lamb’s book of life, Acts 2:38-47 & Romans 6:1-8 & Revelation 20:12-15 & 21:27.  Whether or not we have a real working fellowship in Christ with other Christians is entirely up to the new Christian after baptism. It is our own individual responsibility to continue steadfastly in the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers of the church, Acts 2:42.  Will we live out this law of faith in Christ with each other in the same church we have been baptised into, the body of Christ? Romans 3:27 & Colossians 1:18.

Covenants have consequences, the new covenant is consequential in a better way. The word “new” is in the Greek as, “Kainos”, meaning a newness which is in “form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old” –  from Vines Dictionary of New Testament Words.  This implies a unique prototype covenant. What is so special about it? The love from which it is made. It is a promise coming from and based on the love of God, now ours, but his love. To reject His covenant is to reject his love. Do you know what consequence that has? To reject God’s love, covenant, word and promise, is to reject him.  What is he promising? Forgiveness, Life and His Spirit, Acts 2:37-39. How can he make this covenant?  By His blood, Mt. 26:27-29.

Key Text: Revelation 19:11-16 

The Conquering Christ, v11, is named Faithful and True because his victory is real and dependable. No matter how large, evil and painful the enemy becomes, Christ’s victory is sure! For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done, Mt. 16:27 & Rev. 20:12, Rev. 22:12, Psa. 62:12, Jer. 17:10.

The Crowned Christ, v12, here in Revelation is very similar to what Daniel saw, Dan. 10:1-21, (emp. v6). Daniel’s term “Son of Man” was used most by Jesus himself. Christ had to keep this vision of victory emphasized in his life, speech and ministry. The many ‘diadem’ crowns above his head, must represent the many kingdoms Christ conquers, they are innumerable, Rev. 11:15 & Heb. 4:13 & Jer. 23:34.

The Slaughtering Word of God, v13. His clothing being bloody, is indicative of how victorious he rules in comparison to Roman generals of his day. They often wore cloaks of purple or scarlet. John is the only writer that assigns Jesus to be the very word of God, Jn. 1:1-3,14 & Isa. 63:3 & Isa. 11:4 & Heb. 4:12.

The Warring Leader, v14-15, of an army that also sits on white horses. Our battle is spiritual, not physical, Eph. 6:12-17.  Why? Because now, since the resurrection, Satan’s chief tool is defeated, so the closer Jesus comes into our life and into the world, more and more of Satan’s devices are defeated, until eventually everything including death will be conquered, 1st Cor. 15:22-28.  Read Mt. 25:31, 2Ths. 1:7-9, Jude 14-15.

 The Sovereign King, v16. We are “to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time–he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,  who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion.” 1Tm. 6:14-16. Pliny the Elder recorded in AD68 (Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 35. c. 9.), that Zeuxis had his name interwoven with gold into his garments on his thigh. Zeuxis was a general in the service of the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great (223–187 BC). He was engaged in 221 BC in the war with Molon, general of Media, whom he prevented from crossing the Tigris. He also took a prominent part in the siege of Seleucia on the Tigris. In the decisive battle with the Romans in 190 BC, Zeuxis was one of the commanders of the front line, and after the defeat of Antiochus IV, was one of the ambassadors sent to Scipio Asiaticus and Scipio Africanus to seek a treaty for peace, on which mission he proceeded to Rome. Never forget the first readers of Revelation would have these events as easily known and remembered, as we do 9/11. To them, Jesus was their victorious General, now turned King !   Read Rev. 1:5 & 17:14.

Key Text: Revelation 5:1 – 6:1 

His cousin John making the prophetic announcement is seen by his apostle John as fulfilled. A lamb slaughtered is what the apostle sees for all of us, needing to remember how and why we win in Jesus Christ. Isa. 53:7 & Acts 8:32 are stark reminders that the plan God had in mind, was fully executed for us, not Himself,  1st Pet. 1:20. There is no glory in a slaughtered lamb. Perhaps the reason Jesus is seen as a lamb, and not his crucified body, is that it represents his accomplished High Priesthood. This ugly sight is always reminding us of how well he qualifies as our empathizing intercessor for our sinfulness in a sacrifice, which has always been a substitution for us.

 John was banished to Patmos as an isolated prisoner. When no one is found worthy to take and open the scroll, he obviously feels hopeless despair and cries loudly, expressing his anxiety for the future. Even God the Father seems to be searching for help here, to open it and even John dare not attempt to take it, and neither can even the strongest angel of Heaven. All of God’s plans and the churches future needs opened, so suffering saints can be given hope and security of victory. Then appears the Lamb! The Lamb taking the scroll from the Father, was a sure indication that our future is in His hands. The Father on the Throne and the Son in the Lamb are equals in worthiness, but different in the accomplishment of our salvation.

 Horns are an obvious symbol of power, with 7 of them, reflecting perfect power. The Lamb with 7 eyes, is an obvious symbol of God’s omniscience in His Son. Of course the seven spirits before the Throne in Rv. 1:4, are now in the Lamb, being sent forth. There is no other name on earth by which humanity can be saved, and it is Christ’s Spirit that does the saving, Acts 4:12. God does not have 7 Spirits; it is simply a number that represents a truth, being perfection, or perfect salvation & knowledge. All numbers in the Revelation need to be treated as symbolic, and not literal.

 THREE ACTIONS OF A SLAUGHTERED LAMB ?

STANDING, 5:6, TAKING, 5:7, OPENING, 6:1

“He has prevailed to open the scroll”, v5. Conquering Sin, Eph. 1:7.   Conquering Death, all Rules and Powers, 1Cor. 15:24-26.  Conquering an evil World, Jn. 16:33.  Conquering Satan, Jn. 12:31.  Conquering Hell, Rev. 1:8.

 Believers WILL stand in the presence of The Lamb of God, 7:9

Believers WILL sing the song of the Lamb, 15:3

Believers WILL worship in the Lamb as the Temple, 21:22

4 Living Creatures, 24 Elders, Angels & the whole universe will worship the Lamb, 8-14.

 This Lamb is seen as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and Root of David, which means his looks may be weak & ugly, but his origin, character, ability and position are POWERFUL as a Lion.  PROPHESIED from Gen. 49:9-10.  PURE as a Lamb worthy enough for God Himself to offer for the sacrifice of our sins.

 The phrase, “root of David”, is from Isa. 11:1, and is possibly the only reference to Jesus being a Nazarene, as taught in Mt.2:23. The word has it’s origin in the word root or branch, depending on which version you read.

Key Text: Revelation 1:5-20 

Jesus is…

Christ, v1.  The anointed of God. This is a unique position for a divine role. Christians are IN The Christ, therefore we are in a unique position for a divine role. Eph. 2:5-6.

Faithful Witness, v5. Counted by God as consistently giving a true account.

First Begotten From The Dead, v5. His resurrection was unique & self-exonerating. Eternal Life overcoming Death, Repeating the same truth from verse 5, yet in a different way.  Key-holder of Hell & Death, v18. The only authority qualified to give us access to life from within Satan’s trap of death.

Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, v5. Jesus said, ALL authority had been given to him, Mt. 28:18. His Kingdom is alive and well, regardless of what the enemy does.  Alpha & Omega, v8. As equal to The Father in character, he is our beginning and end, origin & destination. Lord Almighty, v8. As equal to The Father in character, he is our power, Isa. 9:6 & 10:20-21. The Father is termed “mighty God” too.

Son of Man, v13. Daniel’s prophetic description of the Messiah. This is God’s way of saying He will help us from within our own humanity. Dan. 7:13 & Dan. 8:17.

A great voice similar to a trumpet (clarity) & waterfall (volume), v10 & 15.

Send it to…Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, v11. The order these towns are written in, is identical to their geographical location by road. Archaeology  verified by William Ramsey, documents the real way in which Jesus knew His saints location & lifestyle.

Seven Golden Candlesticks, v12. The lampstands are 7 congregations which support the light of the world, being Jesus Christ! Ex. 25:37. Seven may represent the global church, v20.

Seven Stars in his right hand, v16. The stars are 7 angels for each congregation, v20. They may represent evangelistic leaders in each congregation. As Jesus has an angel, his children do too, Mt. 18:10.

White hair, fiery eyes, bronze feet, v14-15. White is for pure wisdom, Dan. 9:7. Fire is for purity from trials and bronze represents a godly purpose in battle.

The Golden Sash around His chest, v13. This is clearly indicative of his High Priestly position. He now intercedes for all of God’s children as having the power and right to be our only mediator, 1st Tim. 2:5.

Two-edged sword from his mouth, v16. The word of God, Eph. 6:17.

His Angel,  Messenger, v1. This is probably Michael the archangel, Rev. 12:7, Jude 9. 

John is..

Servant, v1. The Greek word is Doulos, A SLAVE.

Record-bearer, v2, 11. What John wrote is living, active, powerful and promising, no one can afford to change it, Rev. 22:18-19.

Key Text:  Acts 7:54-60

When Christians are being persecuted or even simply mistreated because of our expression of faith in Jesus, we have the empathetic attention of Jesus. Whether we express our faith through current events or ancient scriptures, the truth is the truth, and it sometimes brings great pain when worldly people reject it. They are contributing to the afflictions of Christ, which we share in. Realize Colossians 1:24 can become a reality in our life.  Remember Stephen is preaching before the old High Priest, here we may suggest that this is another late attempt by God to help His enemies accept the truth, or be left to the destructive devices of the Roman Empire in just about 30 years.

Jesus is seen more clearly by ourselves when we grow with the Holy Spirit, bearing His fruit. We are also commanded to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, 2Pt. 3:18, Gal. 5:22-23. When we are growing spiritually, we see the Spirit of Christ. There are stories galore, that while martyrs are under pain of death, they often see visions of Christ, and there is no reason to suspect it’s a lie. Notice Stephen only sees Jesus, he doesn’t hear him or receive a new revelation. One day, we will all gaze upon his glory, Rev. 1:7.  Meanwhile, we should ensure that we are truly Christians by His presence in our heart, read, 2nd Cor. 13:4-6.  When Stephen announced the opening of Heaven, he offended the Jews, who believed no one could share God’s place in heaven. The phrase is a variation on Psalm 110:1.  The last time we saw the Heaven’s opened, was at the baptism of Jesus and no doubt they were opened when Jesus ascended, Mt. 3:16.  When Stephen calls Jesus the “Son of Man”, he is telling his enemies that their Messiah is victoriously glorified, see Psalm 80:17.  We too, have every right to proclaim Jesus as the only hope of winning in this life, to our neighbors and enemies.

 Since Jesus is standing when Stephen sees him, it may imply Christ is ready to receive Stephen into paradise, Lk. 16:22.  Christ promised to confess our name in heaven before the Father, whenever we confess His name before men on earth, Mt. 10:32. Therefore it is an honor that Jesus would stand in glory to receive us on the last day, 2nd Thess. 1:10.  When Stephen actually saw Jesus, he experienced a transcendent state that was probably similar to Ezekiel’s gaze upon Jerusalem from Babylon, Ezk. 8:1-8. But of course Stephen’s view was far more glorious. Why was his eyes not blinded, as Saul’s on the road to Damascus? Because Stephen was a saint and Saul was an enemy!

When we understand how offended and incredible the statements of Stephen are, to his enemies, we can appreciate how they would stop their own ears and rush to condemn him without any kind of trial, their angry rejection of the truth, spilled over into unjustified violence. Later after they calmed down when Stephen was dead, they could self-justify their execution as avenging God of Stephen’s blasphemy. Jesus prophesied this kind of behavior in John 16:2.

 Where did Stephen find the strength to pray like Jesus on the cross? By keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus. The Hebrew writer reminds us of this same duty that we have, Heb. 12:2.  The irony of this stoning, is that this crime is exactly what Stephen just preached to them about, which is condemning themselves, 7:52. One such Jew guilty of this condemnation was Saul, here Jesus sees Saul’s heart and knows it is being ‘goaded’, with the truth of Stephen’s message. The words of Jesus about being hard to kick against the goad, is only in a few manuscripts, (Arabic, Syriac, and 11th century Greek), but it reflects the omniscience of Jesus, he knew Saul’s heart, Stephen’s heart and ours.