We do our best to avoid the wilderness, but the man Jesus considered the greatest embraced an entire life in the wilderness. What would happen if we embraced his path? Are we too driven by non-biblical definitions of success to follow the ancient paths? If you are satisfied with influence,
In eternity past, there was nothing when, suddenly, divine desire shattered the darkness and created a cosmos filled with creatures. God formed the cosmos and one creature in particular to fulfill His divine desire. But what is that desire? What does God want? In eternity past, there was nothing when, suddenly, divine desire shattered
What do you behold? Whatever it is, you will be shaped into that image. What do you behold? Whatever it is, you will be shaped into that image. Discipleship is the primary task Jesus gave the church in this age, so every believer must answer two questions: Discipleship is often
¿Qué es lo que contemplas? Sea lo que sea, serás moldeado a esa imagen. LA GRAN NECESIDAD DE NUESTRA ERA ES UN PUEBLO QUE CONTEMPLE LA BELLEZA DE DIOS A TRAVÉS DE SU ESPÍRITU Y SE ENCUENTRE SATISFECHO EN ÉL. ¿Qué es lo que contemplas? Sea lo que sea, serás moldeado a
This is an excerpt from an upcoming book on discipleship. Far too many people think the book of Revelation is mostly about the beast and suffering. The book of Revelation does contain very sobering warnings that should be taken seriously, but this is not the main theme of the book.
Hebrews 11 lists some of the giants of the faith who surrendered much and suffered much for the promises of God. However, we are also told something shocking: though they endured tests, trials, and torments they did not receive the very things they suffered for.
Todo se Consumará EL REGRESO DE JESÚS ES UN TEMA CONFUSO PARA MUCHOS CREYENTES.Cuando oyen a alguien hablar acerca de los tiempos finales, se pueden sentir como si hubieran visto los últimos diez minutos de una película, sin haber visto la primera hora y media. El final de una historia siempre
God gives the apostle John two key phrases in Revelation 4:1 that relate to our eternal calling. This is a message on our eternal calling as priests before God to encounter the beauty of God, declare that beauty to the world, and create contexts where people can encounter God’s beauty.
There is a sense in which Revelation 4:1 is written over the doorpost of every church. In the same way that John was taken up to show him the things that must soon take place, the church is meant to be a place on the earth where people can enter and encounter the things to come.
The end of the Bible predicts heaven coming to earth as the heavenly city descends to earth. This means earth will ultimately reflect what heaven now is in many ways. Ephesians 1 tells us how this is going to happen – Jesus is going to unite things in heaven and earth.
The key transition between Revelation 4 and 5 is the revelation of the Lamb. The revelation of Jesus is what brings man into his eternal calling and what will fill the earth with the declaration of God’s beauty.
The gospel does not replace the priesthood; it enables the priesthood God always wanted. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus God’s eternal purpose of a nation of priests can go forward. Humans are uniquely created to encounter the beauty of God and declare that beauty in the earth.
In the same way the elders and living creatures in heaven stand before God and use their authority to make God’s beauty known in the heavens, so also man must stand before God and use his authority on the earth to make God’s beauty known on the earth. This is key to the plan of redemption.
Revelation 4 provides the first glimpse at “must take place.” The first step to understanding what must take place is understanding the heavenly pattern that God wants on the earth and how that partner show affect the way we build the church.
When we think of the book of Revelation we often think of many things, but the book declares itself first of all to be the “Revelation of Jesus.” Priestly ministry is first and foremost a response to that beauty.