Who is worthy?

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one seated on the throne. It had writing on the front and the back, and it was sealed with seven seals. I saw a powerful angel, who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. So I began to weep and weep, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look inside it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has emerged victorious so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then, in between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb, standing as if it had been slain. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are God’s seven spirits, sent out into the whole earth. He came forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each held a harp and gold bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They took up a new song, saying,
“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals,
        because you were slain,
        and by your blood you purchased for God
            persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
        and they will rule on earth.” (Revelation 5:1-10, CEB)

A lamb that was slain was standing there with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God? What are the seven spirits of God? How does this make sense?

The lion can open the seals and tell us what is on the scroll and give us the answers we seek.

God says the lamb is worthy because it was slain to open the seals.

Sometimes the scriptures do not make sense and when we say this is what it means we are conjecturing and trying to make something we do not understand fit into what we understand. Faith means we accept things we can not explain.

Know you are loved and in the end God and love win.

Loving People. Loving God.

Bait for People?

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

What is the bait you would use to catch people?

I mean when I think of fishing for people I get the mental image of someone casting a line and reeling in a person. So what would you use for bait?

For me it would be coffee, or bacon. Biscuits and gravy would work too. And after a couple recent trips to Disney World, Cheeseburger Spring Rolls would do the trick as well! But actually the fishing in these verses is not with a pole and line, but nets. The fish are dragged in and so is that how we are fishing for people?

Kind of. We need to cast our nets. And that isn’t going around playing finger cymbals. We cast a net of love to help people see that God already loves them as they are.

We show the world love and hope. Acceptance and grace. That is what God called us to do. Love.

Cast a net of love and fish for people.

Loving People. Loving God.

Kick against a spear

Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” So Paul gestured with his hand and began his defense. “King Agrippa, I consider myself especially fortunate that I stand before you today as I offer my defense concerning all the accusations the Jews have brought against me. This is because you understand well all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I ask you to listen to me patiently. Every Jew knows the way of life I have followed since my youth because, from the beginning, I was among my people and in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time. If they wanted to, they could testify that I followed the way of life set out by the most exacting group of our religion. I am a Pharisee. Today I am standing trial because of the hope in the promise God gave our ancestors. This is the promise our twelve tribes hope to receive as they earnestly worship night and day. The Jews are accusing me, King Agrippa, because of this hope! Why is it inconceivable to you that God raises the dead? “I really thought that I ought to oppose the name of Jesus the Nazarene in every way possible. And that’s exactly what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of God’s holy people in prison under the authority of the chief priests. When they were condemned to death, I voted against them. In one synagogue after another—indeed, in all the synagogues—I would often torture them, compelling them to slander God. My rage bordered on the hysterical as I pursued them, even to foreign cities. “On one such journey, I was going to Damascus with the full authority of the chief priests. While on the road at midday, King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven shining around me and my traveling companions. That light was brighter than the sun. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice that said to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me? It’s hard for you to kick against a spear.’ Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are harassing. Get up! Stand on your feet! I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as my servant and witness of what you have seen and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to open their eyes. Then they can turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, and receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are made holy by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:1-18, CEB)

It is hard for you to kick against a spear? What does that mean Jesus?

And notice that here when Paul gives his defense he says Jesus called him Saul. He was always Saul and also probably always Paul. One is a Jewish name and one is a Greek name.

I have a nick name Sarge which only people from the time I was given that name would know. One of my seminary professors calls me Wirt. These are names I am known by other than my given name. We all have names we go by with different groups. Paul was not given a new name when Jesus called him. Paul was given a new identity in Christ as we are all when we are called by Jesus.

We should not harass the body of Christ or kick the spear, but work to show God’s love in the world.

Don’t kick the spear. Show the love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Confused

After eating, he regained his strength. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?” But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers. (Acts 9:19b-31, CEB)

Have you ever heard the story about the person going to heaven and everyone was staring at them. They saw people they did not expect to see but everyone looked at them in wonder. They finally asked, “Why is everyone staring at me?” The response came, “No one expected you to be here.”

We are confused when we see someone acting in a way we don’t remember or expect. We think we know people and that they will never change.

Saul was met by Jesus and was changed. Saul no longer was looking to stop followers of the way, but now was a follower of the way. The disciples may not have heard of his transformation and that is why they were hesitant. But we always need to be open to God changing lives and people changing.

We all change as we grow deeper in our faith and love of God and are moved to love the world more like Jesus.

Be open to people changing.

God changed you. God can change others.

Loving People. Loving God.

Love like Peter…

Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus. Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” (John 21:1-19, CEB)

Here is the restoration of Simon Peter. Remember at the High Priest’s home Peter denied he knew Jesus three times. So here Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him.

But it really goes deeper than that. In English we have one word for love. Love covers all the different types of love. Romantic, friendship, unconditional. They all fall under the word love. But Greek has four different words for love. Eros, which is erotic love, not used in the New Testament. Storge which is familial love. Philos which is brotherly love. (Fun fact Philadelphia is the city of Brotherly Love and that is literally what Philadelphia means in Greek, Philo – Brotherly Love and Adelpho – city.) and the last word for love in the Greek if Agape – unconditional love. John 3:16 for God so Agaped the world. Unconditionally loved…

So in our text here what are the love words used?

Jesus asks Peter. Peter do you agape me? Peter replies yes Lord I philo you.

The second time Jesus asks, Peter do you agape me? Yes Lord you know I philo you.

The third time Jesus asks, Peter do you philo me? Yes lord you know I philo you.

Jesus asks if Peter loves him unconditionally but Peter can only reply he loves Jesus as a brother.

How do we love Jesus?

Know Jesus’ love is not dependent on ours for him.

Love like Jesus. And when you can’t do that, love like Peter.

Loving People. Loving God.

Who do you invite?

Then Jesus said to the person who had invited him, “When you host a lunch or dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers and sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they will invite you in return and that will be your reward. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind. And you will be blessed because they can’t repay you. Instead, you will be repaid when the just are resurrected.” (Luke 14:12-14, CEB)

When you have a dinner do you invite the people that can invite you back or those who no one else would invite?

We are supposed to give to those in need, the last, least, lost, and little, the ones everyone else ignores, but God sees and loves.

We do not need to be repaid here. For us showing love is what we are called to do.

So love and do not worry about receiving. For in giving, you shall receive.

Loving People. Loving God.

250502

After this I looked and there was a door that had been opened in heaven. The first voice that I had heard, which sounded like a trumpet, said to me, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in a Spirit-inspired trance and I saw a throne in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne. The one seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and surrounding the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Twenty-four thrones, with twenty-four elders seated upon them, surrounded the throne. The elders were dressed in white clothing and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came lightning, voices, and thunder. In front of the throne were seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne. In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives forever and always, the twenty-four elders fall before the one seated on the throne. They worship the one who lives forever and always. They throw down their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you created all things. It is by your will that they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:1-11, CEB)

I was in a spirit inspired trance? And the seven torches are the seven spirits of God?

The four living creatures were covered with eyes on their front and their backs.

A Lion covered in eyes.
An Ox covered in eyes.
A Human face covered in eyes.
An Eagle flying covered in eyes.

Is this supposed to bring me joy or peace, because this gives me the Willy’s and really creeps me out.

This is a vision of heaven, in a spirit inspired trance.

I honestly am not sure what to make of this. And I think anyone who thinks they completely understand this vision is making it fit into their world vision and not living in the reality of a spirit inspired trance.

Know we do not have to completely understand all of scripture to let it point us to who God is calling us to be in the world.

Love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

lukewarm

“Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth. After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3:14-22, CEB)

You think you have all the answers and know the right things to say and force everyone else to follow your ways and do things the way you think they should be done. You are Lukewarm and causing issues.

You got just enough understanding of how God calls us to live to think you know it all.

But your hearts are not changed and you are not actually loving like God asked you to, you are keeping the status quo in place.

Love radically and change the world. Do not keep normal in place.

Love like Jesus. Do not be lukewarm.

Loving People. Loving God.

fear

“I tell you, my friends, don’t be terrified by those who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more. I’ll show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after you have been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell. Indeed, I tell you, that’s the one you should fear. Aren’t five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is overlooked by God. Even the hairs on your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before humans, the Human One will acknowledge before God’s angels. But the one who rejects me before others will be rejected before God’s angels. Anyone who speaks a word against the Human One will be forgiven, but whoever insults the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what you should say. The Holy Spirit will tell you at that very moment what you must say.” (Luke 12:4-12, CEB)

Jesus tells us to fear God here. And I find that troubling. And the word in the original language is fear. One of the figurative extensions of the word is “to have profound reverence and respect for deity, with the implication of awe bordering on fear — ‘to reverence, to worship.’” God is a loving God who is patient to wait for all to see and understand the love, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Why would we fear this?

If it is awe or reverence, then that is different. Because God loves all of us and doesn’t want any to perish.

Reverence God and love all of creation.

Loving People. Loving God.

suffer

“Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna:
These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really Satan’s synagogue). Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11, CEB)

Do not be afraid of what you are going to suffer. People will say all sorts of things about you as you stand up for what God has called you to stand for. But you will emerge victorious. And those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death.

We might suffer for our faith, but death is not the end; it is a step to eternity with God. Know God is always with you.

Love like Jesus and always speak truth.

Loving People. Loving God.