But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
— 1 Corinthians 12:18

When I look at my life, I see that God has always put me in the right place to prepare me for my next step in ministry. For example, before Denise and I began our teaching ministry many years ago, God placed me under a pastor who taught the Word with great depth and authority, pulling insight from the original Greek text of the New Testament. Over the course of several years, I worked under him as his assistant, and he disciplined me and taught me how to dedicate myself to the serious study of the Word. God used that Bible-rich environment to prepare Denise and me for our itinerant teaching ministry, and it continues to impact our ministry today.

When Denise and I began traveling and teaching all over America, we made dear friends with pastors across the country who would later support us when we moved to the USSR. At the time, we had no idea that those men and women of God and their congregations would become our financial lifeline when we later pursued the call of God overseas. But if we hadn’t traveled and cultivated those relationships in those early years, we wouldn’t have had the connections to support God’s next assignment for our lives.

Being in the right place at the right time is vital to your preparation!

So what environment are you in? Are you where God placed you in the Body of Christ, or are you where you want to be? Remember, God knows what you need and is working a plan to fully develop the gifts He’s placed in you, but you have to allow Him to place you in the environment He knows is best.

First Corinthians 12:18 says, “Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” This word “set” is a translation of a form of the Greek word tithemi, which means to place, to arrange, or to position. This tells us that God knows where we need to be and when we need to be there. He has a plan for us to be in specific places at specific times in life. And First Corinthians 12:18 say that God has a plan and a place for “every one” of us! The words “every one” in Greek include every single believer, no one excluded!

It might be that God has asked you to go somewhere and you think, Lord, why in the world are You taking me there? Just relax and stay in the flow of the Holy Spirit’s leading each day. As you keep the ear of your spirit attentive to His voice, your steps will be ordered of the Lord (see Psalm 37:23)

Perhaps the Lord has told you that the place you’re at right now is a step toward fulfilling your destiny but not your final destination. If that’s the case, make sure you stay put until the Lord tells you to change direction. Your present position may be your personal training ground to prepare for the next season, helping you learn how to submit to authority and serve others.

Do you find it difficult to discern what direction the Holy Spirit is leading you? It may be that you’re too busy. Or there may be so much mental noise and clutter that you can’t easily hear what God is saying. Perhaps the influence of the people around you is hindering you from stepping out in a certain direction or from developing certain gifts. Or maybe you’re too comfortable where you are, and your own complacency is keeping you from taking a step that requires stretching your faith and totally depending on God. Regardless of your situation, it’s vital that you remain open to the place where God wants to position you. The right environment is a major key to finding and fulfilling His will for your life.

Don’t be afraid to obey the Lord. He’s not going to hurt you or mislead you. He’s trying to equip you. If you are careful always to be where you know God is leading you to be at any given time, He will use your experience in the present season to prepare you for the next step of your calling.

I encourage you to allow God to prepare you to do His will. Be flexible and pliable. Allow His Word to dwell richly in your life, and submit yourself to the leaders He has placed over you. You will find that by doing so, God will bring you into the fullness of His will, and you will see your next assignment through to completion!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Dear Father, as I walk through this time of transition, I know that You are preparing me for the next steps. I thank You, for I know that You are committed to preparing me for the next season of my life. You are helping me get ready by placing me with the right people in the right places to receive the training I need. Please help me yield to and follow Your leading. I fully trust You to order my steps according to what pleases You. My times are in Your hands, Father. Help me be flexible and pliable toward the work You are doing in me as You faithfully complete that which You have begun in me. I know that if I am obedient and follow Your voice, You will empower me to see and to fulfill the high calling You’ve placed on my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I know the voice of my Good Shepherd and the voice of a stranger I will not follow. My heavenly Father is ordering and directing my steps so that I will walk with the wise and be wise. As He positions me to stand among the right people, with great ease He is directing my steps to receive the training I need so I can do what the Lord has called me to do. I do not falter; I do not fear. He who has called, equipped, and justified me is near to me and has clothed me with His very own self. Therefore, having done all to stand in this time of testing, I will pass every test and stand fully approved before Him!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Has there been a time in your life when God was preparing you for a future assignment that you didn’t yet know about? When was that, and how did God use that time in your life to prepare you for the future?
  2. Can you think of a time when God put you under someone’s spiritual influence — or put you with a group of believers — and it was part of your training for what you were going to do later? When was that season of your life? In what way did their influence uniquely equip you for what God called you to do?
  3. Are you in that place of training and preparation right now? As you look at where you are and what you are doing, can you see the hand of God guiding and leading you to get you ready for the next phase of your life?

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
— James 3:16

During our early years in the former USSR, Denise and I were invited to minister at three European conferences in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, and I decided to bring our sons to give them the experience of ministering in Europe. When the day finally arrived for our long-anticipated trip, things got a little hectic, to say the least. The clock was ticking, and it was time for us to depart to the airport so we wouldn’t miss our flight. However, instead of getting ready, the boys were just poking around, and Denise hadn’t even finished packing. I knew that if we didn’t leave on time, we’d miss our flight. So in the midst of it all, I lost my temper and began to yell and threaten everyone to get downstairs immediately and pile in the car, or I was going to leave without them!

Our ministry administrator at that time had agreed to housesit for us while we were gone, and she had just arrived, bringing along her beautiful golden retriever who had never encountered our St. Bernard that lived outside in our yard. But that all changed in a moment’s time! When I couldn’t quite seem to get my family together to leave on time, I became furious that they were jeopardizing our flight — and in that angry moment, I threw open the front door to carry a few suitcases to the car. However, as I threw open that door, our administrator’s golden retriever darted out the door ahead of me — and in a split second, the two dogs started attacking one another. I watched as our St. Bernard wrapped its jaws around the neck of the golden retriever and bit down. I thought, Oh, great, not only are we going to be late for our flight, but our St. Bernard is also going to kill our administrator’s golden retriever!

I was already worked up into a frenzy over my family being late — and now we had a very ugly dogfight happening in our driveway. So in a moment when I was already angry, I jumped into the middle of the fray to try to pull the dogs apart from each other. But I stuck my right hand too close to the dogs’ mouths, and my own dog bit me! I lifted my right hand to see how badly I had been bitten, and all I could see was blood pouring from the tip of my ring finger.

I pulled the dogs apart, rushed into the house, and quickly put my finger under water to wash away the blood so I could assess how badly I was bitten. Looking down in disbelief, I saw that the entire tip of my finger had been bitten off, and blood was pouring out like an open hydrant. My family was finally ready to go to the airport, but I told Denise, “Forget the airport, because now we’re headed to the hospital!”

With my hand wrapped in blood-soaked towels, I was immediately admitted into the emergency room, and after examining me, the doctors on duty decided to check me into the hospital for a night. My family and I walked down the hallway to my assigned hospital room, which was a dismal affair in its own right. A single light bulb dangled precariously from a wire in the ceiling. The sink was barely bolted to the wall and looked like it could fall off at any moment. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls, and the windowpanes were cracked. And there I was — wounded, flustered, and wearing a tattered hospital gown for an overnight stay in this decrepit hospital. Denise graciously called the pastor in charge of the first conference to say we’d be a day late, while I waited for the chief physician to pay me a visit.

When the doctor in charge finally arrived, he asked me a question I didn’t anticipate. “Mr. Renner,” he said, “I understand that you were bitten by your own dog. Has your dog had rabies shots?” When I answered in the negative, the doctor replied, “Well, I regret to tell you that in this country, if you are bitten by a dog that has not had rabies shots, you must have rabies shots. That’s the law of the land.”

I lay in my hospital bed speechless as I realized that this doctor was preparing to give me the first of a series of rabies injections. He continued to say, “We used to give 30 of these shots in the stomach, but the French have come up with a strong new rabies vaccine that requires only seven injections — and we are going to give you your first injection right now.”

After instructing me to turn over so they could give me an injection in my backside, the doctor casually said, “There’s just one downside to this particular form of rabies vaccination. Once you start these injections, you have to take the following six injection right on schedule, or you will actually develop rabies!” I thought, That’s just great. If I’m a day late, I’ll end up as a rabid preacher, foaming at the mouth!

The next day, the nurse administered another rabies shot and then gave me a packet containing five more doses of the rabies vaccine along with a packet of syringes — and she firmly reminded me not to miss a single dose at the scheduled time or I would develop rabies.

Dismissed from the hospital, I went home to gather my family, and we flew to Europe where three conferences awaited us. At every conference I attended, I had to ask the pastor, “Excuse me, but do you have a nurse in your congregation who can give me a rabies injection?” I felt horribly humiliated by the entire ordeal.

However, I learned a big lesson from that experience. Strife throws open the door for the devil to attack in ways you never would have imagined. If I hadn’t allowed strife and anger to get me all worked up that day, I never would have flung open the door to the house in such thoughtless anger. The guest’s dog would have never run out before me, and the ugly dogfight would have never happened. That moment of rage and anger resulted in my getting bit and having to endure the debacle that followed.

And it only took seconds for things to get out of control that day! Can you think of a time when strife caused a situation in your life to quickly spiral out of control?

James wrote about the destructive potential of strife in James 3:16, saying, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” According to this verse, whenever a concoction of such attitudes is allowed to exist, it opens the door for “confusion and every evil work.”

The word “confusion” is the Greek word akatastasia, which originally described thorn bushes or prickly plants. Essentially, it calls to mind something that causes pain when someone becomes ensnared in it. Think of what an accurate description that is for the confusion caused by strife! It tells us that strife ensnares people and inevitably results in pain.

Eventually the word akatastasia developed to describe various situations that are filled with disorder, disturbance, or trouble. It portrayed such chaotic confusion that early authors occasionally used it in a political sense to depict riots and anarchy! Well, that’s a pretty good description of what happened in our house that morning when I lost my temper! Things quickly spun out of control and turned ugly!

James goes on to say that such attitudes result in every “evil” work. The word “evil” is phaulos, which means bad, foul, or vile. In addition to James 3:16, the word phaulos is used in John 3:20 and John 5:29 to describe evil behavior, and in Titus 2:8, it simply denotes something bad. In fact, this Greek word phaulos is where we get the English word foul — rightly depicting a behavior or situation that is appalling, atrocious, distasteful, sickening, or, simply put, really ugly. James’ usage of this word affirms that bad attitudes result in appalling bad behavior that often has hurtful consequences.

After losing the tip of my finger, I realized that I was personally responsible for the chaotic events of that day because I allowed an angry attitude to have a place in our home. God was gracious, and the end of my finger grew back. But my family resolved that from that day forward, we would have a “no strife” policy in our home. We learned the hard way that strife-filled attitudes can open the door to painful, chaotic confusion that results in hurtful consequences. It’s far better to never allow strife to rear its ugly head than it is to give in to it like I did and later have to repair the damage left in its wake.

Today I urge you to listen carefully and heed what you’ve read in this Sparkling Gem. Make a “no strife” policy for your life, refusing to get into strife on any issue. By being vigilant in this matter, you can protect yourself and your family from ugly situations that would have detrimental and painful results.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for instructing me so vividly about the consequences of strife and the confusion that will ensue. I can remember moments in my own life when I allowed strife to escalate and produce chaos and confusion in a foul situation that should have never been permitted. Thank You for reminding me how important it is to submit to the Holy Spirit and to resist the attempt of my own flesh to control me or those around me by giving place to strife. In moments when I am tempted to fall into a rage about something, help me remember that such attitudes open the door for the devil’s attack. Help me be controlled and vigilant about my attitudes so the devil cannot attack me and bring chaos into my life. Holy Spirit, I look to You for Your help!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I do not allow strife to throw me into moments that result in chaotic events or ugly situations. Strife simply has no place in my life, and I refuse to be a participant in anything that even hints of it. From this moment onward, I operate with a “no strife” policy in my life. When I am tempted to get into anger or to yield to an ugly, strife-filled attitude, I will turn from it before it releases negative consequences in my life. The Holy Spirit is at work inside me, and I choose to cooperate with Him in order to prevent this from occurring in my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of a time when you allowed strife to open a door to an attack from the devil in your life, the lives of family members, your business, or your local church? How could you have prevented that situation before it had a chance to start?
  2. I don’t want you to dwell on the past, but I do want you to really learn from past mistakes when you allowed strife to gain a foothold in your What happened when strife entered into the picture? Can you identify why you allowed that door to swing open so the devil could find an entrance to attack your life?
  3. As you regularly read your Bible and develop a prayer life, it will make you more sensitive to moments when your flesh is tempted to act ugly. What are you doing to develop your Bible reading and prayer time?

For through him we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
— Ephesians 2:18

In today’s technologically sophisticated, interconnected society, it’s so easy to pick up the phone, call anywhere in the world, and make an immediate connection to whomever you are calling. But when my family first moved to the Soviet Union to follow God’s call on our lives, placing an international phone call was quite a difficult task!

First of all, all international phone calls had to be “scheduled” and “ordered” in advance. In the city where we lived, it took three days to order a phone call to the United States. We would call the operator, tell her that we’d like to place a call to America, and give the number we wanted to call. The operator would respond, “Your call will come in three days” — however, she couldn’t tell us what time the call would be placed — so on that third day, we didn’t dare leave the house for any reason, because the call could come at any unknown minute.

If the call came through, and the number was busy, we couldn’t simply say, “Can we try another number?” That call was our only chance! If the line was busy, we had to schedule another call and wait for another three days. The connections were so horrible that often we had to yell and scream for our voices to be heard — if we actually connected to the person we were calling. Furthermore, special agents were on the phone line with us, listening to our conversations in order to monitor what we were saying. They were so obviously listening in that once I asked the agent to get off the phone, and he answered by telling me it was his job to listen!

Connecting was so difficult in those days! Finally, someone suggested that we purchase a satellite phone with a gigantic antenna. I would dial the call on a huge black box, and Denise would hold a gigantic antenna and point it this way and that way toward the sky, trying to figure out its optimal position so we could get the best possible connection. The antenna was huge! Denise and I must have looked like quite the sight as we stood in the front yard with a giant, umbrella-shaped antenna and a huge satellite phone, trying to figure out how to best connect with our families in the United States!

I’ve often thought of those difficult days of poor communication during my morning prayer times — when all I have to do is open my heart, express my faith, and I am instantly and effortlessly connected to Heaven! There are no three days of waiting and no waving of a giant antenna trying to find the correct “channel” that connects me to Heaven. All it takes is a single moment of faith, and an instant connection is made. I call it “instant access” to the throne of God.

This “instant access” is referred to in Ephesians 2:18, where the apostle Paul wrote that through Christ we have “access” by the Holy Spirit unto the Father. Today I want to talk to you about this word “access.”

The word “access” is the Greek word prosagoge. It is a Greek word that was used to describe individuals who had free entrance, access, or unhindered approach to a king’s court. There was no need for pleading or begging and no waiting in long lines to be recognized. It was an unhindered approach at any time and any moment. This means that when you are in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit provides a way for you to immediately connect with the Father at any time!

I don’t know the details of what you are facing today, but if you are in Christ Jesus, I can assuredly tell you that you have immediate access to the Father through the Spirit. Thank God, you don’t have to order a heavenly phone call and wait for three days to get through to the throne. You don’t have to worry that your connection will be put off again and again. Your position in Christ guarantees you instant, immediate access to the Father at any time and at every moment!|

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I give glory, honor, and praise to You that through Jesus Christ, I have instant, unhindered access to Your throne. Because Your Spirit lives inside me, the door to Heaven is open above me and Your ears are attentive to hear and answer me. Furthermore, because my heart is an open door to you, this same connection gives You access through me to others. Holy Spirit, teach me how to live every moment in an active, engaged faith that pleases You and keeps me continually aware of my connection with You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that my life is hidden with Christ in God. According to Ephesians 2:18, I have instant access to God through Christ Jesus. Furthermore, the Father has access through me to reach those around me because my heart is an open door to Him. I do not need to fear that God won’t hear me. I thank my God that He always hears me! When I pray in faith, the Holy Spirit enables me immediately to connect with the Father to access His wisdom and His power with no delay!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever had moments when you “felt” like you weren’t getting through to God in prayer? After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, do you now understand that if you are in Christ, you have instant access to the Father, regardless of what you may be feeling?
  2. How does the message you’ve read today affect you? Does it help give you assurance that God is listening and that you immediately connect to Him when you pray in faith?
  3. Can you rest in the Lord when you pray — confidently assured that He is listening to you? Or have you been hampered in your thoughts without understanding that you have unrestricted access to the throne of God?

…We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
— Romans 14:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
— 2 Corinthians 5:10

The fact is that soon everything in this world will pass away. Only those things that were done for Jesus — in obedience to Him — will last for eternity. In light of this truth, it’s imperative that we frequently examine our hearts to determine our real spiritual condition. If we find areas that need improvement, the Holy Spirit will help us correct those areas that are out of harmony with Him.

The Bible says that a day is coming when we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account for what we’ve done with His Word and with His plan for our lives. Romans 14:10 says, “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” And Second Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

It’s important to understand that this is not the Great White Throne Judgment (see Revelation 20:11), before which unbelievers will stand and give account to God for their lack of faith. The Judgment Seat of Christ speaks of the moment in God’s timeline when Christians will be rendered eternal rewards — or where they will discover that they have accumulated no eternal reward — according to their works in their lifetime.

The word “judgment seat” is a translation of the Greek word bema, a word that described an official place where judgments and rewards were rendered to those who stood before an official judge. Paul used this word to emphatically warn us that a time will come when each of us will stand before Christ, answer for what we have done, and be rewarded or not rewarded accordingly. The books will be opened and everything will be made known, including the motives of men’s hearts (see 1 Corinthians 4:5).

Since a day is coming when the truth will be revealed, wouldn’t it be better for you and me to take an honest look at ourselves right now so we can get things completely right in our hearts before that great day when we stand before Christ?

I’ve prepared the following questions to help you see areas of your spiritual life that may need attention. These are questions I regularly ask myself to keep my own heart open and pliable in the hands of the Holy Spirit. I pray they are as helpful to you as they are to me. They’re not meant to be condemning. I share them with you only to help you determine if there are areas in which you need divine assistance and change. I know that I will give account one day for the way I truthfully answer the following basic questions — so for me, this is a meaningful starting point to help me regularly make sure my heart is right.

Prayerfully consider asking these questions for yourself, bringing them before the Lord so He can help you keep your heart aligned with His and walk in the light of His truth for your life.

What do I give to God financially?

Does your giving show that the Kingdom of God and world missions are still your heartbeat — something you deeply value?

Since actions really do speak louder than words, it would be a healthy exercise for all of us to look at our financial giving and see what our giving reveals about our priorities.

What do my spending habits and my acquisition of personal possessions say about me and my character?

Do you spend money on possessions that you know should have been used in the expansion of the Gospel in places where its voice needs to be heard? If so, what changes do you need to make?

We can all mislead ourselves to think we’re more generous than we really are. But if God Himself gave His view of our spending habits, what would He say about us? Would He say that the propagation of the Gospel is the most important thing to us — or that our spending habits reveal that our own comforts are most important? We must be willing to allow Him to deal with us and then make changes as He lovingly touches those areas of our lives that need improvement.

What am I doing with my time?

How you use your time is a great indicator of what you really deem as import- ant. Do you spend time with God and His Word as a top priority in your life? Or do you somehow find time to watch television, go to the movies, or do other things you want to do while failing to find time to saturate your heart in the Word?

A good question we could ask ourselves is this: If God looked at our lives and measured what we love most by the things we give our time to, what would He say we loved the most in life?

Whom am I really serving with my talents?

An honest answer to this question will reveal the depth of your commitment to God and to the local church. Serving the Lord means that you have willingly given Him the final say about what you do with your time — and that you are willing to make time to serve in the local body He has set you in.

Is there anything you’re laying down or sacrificing in order to walk in obedience and service to God? Are you willing to be inconvenienced to help someone else or to serve in the church — to jeopardize your own comforts and pleasures to further the cause of Christ and make a difference in the lives of others?

Words are easily spoken, but actions prove a person’s sincerity. By looking at our lives — our talents, our gifts, and our time — would God say our actions prove we’re devoted mostly to ourselves and our own needs and interests, or would He say we’re truly living for the expansion of His Kingdom?

What do I spend most of my time praying about?

What does your prayer life reveal about you? Do you only pray about yourself, or do you pray for the needs of others also? It’s easy to think of your own needs and desires — because they’re your needs, and no one knows them like you do. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But how often do you focus on the needs of others when you pray? Does God hear you primarily praying for your- self, or does He hear you praying for other people too?

Would God say that your life reveals a willingness to pick up your cross to do what He asks you to? If God opened the books to reveal the sacrifices you’ve made in response to Him, would the records reveal that you care deeply about pleasing Him and living in obedience to His commands, both in His Word and His specific direction for your life?

I believe these questions, though basic, are a good starting point to examine ourselves to determine our spiritual gauge. If the needle points toward “empty” or even “half full,” we need to spend time in the presence of God to be refilled and resupplied. None of us wants to look ashamedly into the eyes of Jesus on that great day — on what should be one of the most wonderful days in our eternal lives!

I want to encourage you to take time to think over the questions in this Sparkling Gem and let the Holy Spirit shine His light upon your life. Then through time in prayer and in God’s Word, let Him tell you what action you need to take to bring correction and be fully refilled and resupplied!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, since the day is coming when I will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be rewarded or not rewarded according to my works, please help me take a serious look at my life now and evaluate where I need to make changes. On that glorious day, I do not want to look into Jesus’ eyes while feeling regret and sadness — I want to look into His eyes, knowing that I did all He asked of me to fulfill His plan for my life. Holy Spirit, help me examine my heart and my actions to see what I need to change now. And Holy Spirit, I ask You to remind me continually that a day is coming when I will stand before Christ to answer for my life. Please keep me in remembrance of this so that I will live at all times with eternity at the forefront of my mind.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I acknowledge that I live each day with an awareness that I will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ one day. As a result, I take a serious look at my life regularly to see where I need to make changes. I am determined that I will look into His eyes on that glorious day without regrets, knowing that I did my best to fulfill His plan for my life. Hence, I will live in obedience and yieldedness to the direction of the Holy Spirit so that I can be ready for that great and notable day.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever thought about the day when you will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? In what ways would your life change if you stayed more aware of that fact throughout each day?
  2. Have you ever heard a preacher or Bible teacher teach on this subject? If not, why do you think this subject has not had more attention when it deals with one of the most critical moments in our eternal existence?
  3. We will all stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. How does that thought personally impact your heart? Why does it affect you that way? What does your answer tell you about your own spiritual confidence and condition?

So that from his [Paul’s] body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
— Acts 19:12

As we saw in yesterday’s Sparkling Gem, a time came when God instructed the apostle Paul that it was time for him to start his ministry in the local school of Tyrannus. Rather than fight the opposition in the synagogue — unbelieving Jews who were raising their voices against him — Paul had the wisdom to know it was time to withdraw, break camp, and relocate to new territory. Although it looked like a significant door was closing, another door was opening for him that would prove to be even more significant. And at the moment that new door swung open, it would initiate the most wonderful season of miracles Paul had ever known in his ministry!

That next season in Paul’s life literally overflowed with the supernatural. Although God had performed a great number of miracles through Paul in different phases of the apostle’s ministry, the miracles that occurred in Acts 19 were simply spectacular. During this new season in Paul’s life, special miracles exploded in his ministry. God’s power was even being released through articles of his clothing when they were laid upon the sick and those oppressed by evil spirits.

Acts 19:12 refers to this supernatural phenomenon: “So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” The Greek word for “handkerchief ” is soudarion, a word used to describe a garment that is wrapped about one’s head, such as the richly decorated head garments men in the Middle East wear today.

In the First Century, it was customary for wealthier, sophisticated men to wear beautifully patterned pieces of material around their heads, especially if temperatures were hot. The headdress provided protection from the sun, kept the head cool in hot weather, and soaked up sweat that would otherwise stream down the brow and face. The word “handkerchief ” in all likelihood refers to such a headdress since that was the way this particular Greek word was most commonly used.

The word “apron” is simikinthion — and it depicts a decorative garment worn around the waist for wealthy, educated, and sophisticated men. Those who gathered near the School of Tyrannus — where Paul was conducting his ministry during this time — were sophisticated intellectuals who congregated to show off, to prove their wealth, to communicate new ideas and concepts, and to share new philosophical hypotheses with others of the same socioeconomic status.

The people who gathered in this section of the city were from the “upper crust” of society and dressed appropriately for their rank. In hot temperatures, the majority of these men wore stylish headdresses with brightly colored patterns and elegant wraps around their waists. This type of clothing was a status symbol for the rich and sophisticated. It is probable that Paul was likewise dressed suitably in an expensive headpiece with an elegant wrap tied about his waist.

Some have speculated these were workers’ rags that Paul might have worn from laboring in the leather industry. However, such common worker’s attire would be completely inappropriate for the prestigious corner of Ephesus where the School of Tyrannus was located. This view is very unlikely to be true. The facts seem to point to elegant clothes that Paul wore as he taught in one of the most prestigious schools in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods of Ephesus. This is my personal view, as I believe Paul would have been appropriately dressed for the audience he was trying to reach with his message. Few of those who were gathered would have had any interest in listening to a common worker in rags. This was simply unfitting for the vicinity near the School of Tyrannus.

But what is known about these garments — whatever kind of garments they were — is that they were saturated with the anointing of God! These articles of clothing, infused with divine power, were taken from Paul’s body to be laid upon people too ill to make the journey to where the apostle was ministering. Although the text doesn’t explicitly state the details, it seems logical to assume that these articles of clothing were cut into smaller pieces so they could be taken to larger numbers of sick, diseased, and demon-possessed people who lived throughout the city of Ephesus.

This is the only record of “prayer cloths” being used in the book of Acts, so there must be a logical reason as to why this particular manifestation of God’s power happened in Ephesus. When people in Ephesus visited a pagan temple, it was common for them to “take home a piece of the power” by purchasing a fetish. They believed objects carried power.

So it seems that God met these pagans at the point of their faith. Because they believed that objects could transmit power, they believed that if they could take home a piece of Paul’s clothing, they would “take home a piece of the power” that operated in his ministry. Consequently, it is probable that these pieces of clothing were cut into smaller pieces and shared among listeners, who took them home and laid them on the sick and diseased with outstanding results. Many were miraculously healed and delivered as evil spirits went out of them.

If Paul had remained in the synagogue — arguing and debating with people who opposed him — it is likely that this flow of divine power would have never manifested in his life. But after Paul took the big step of faith, withdrew from that environment, and stepped by faith into a new territory — that’s when God unleashed levels of power that Paul had never seen or experienced theretofore. Even his clothes carried the anointing of God to the sick, diseased, and demon-possessed — and they were healed!

Just think what could happen if you moved into the next season of your life where God is calling you! You may not see the miraculous results yet, but you could be getting ready to move into the most miraculous season of your life. Just as Paul would never have dreamed God would use his clothes to transmit the anointing, it may be that God has things planned for you that are beyond your wildest imagination. He simply needs you to be in the right place at the right time — and that depends on your willingness to follow and to obey!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I ask You for the grace to step out of my comfort zone and into the place You have designed for me. I’ve been reluctant to let go of what is known and comfortable — but without faith, it is impossible to please You! I know that You are calling me onward and upward. I receive the courage I need to release the familiar and to step out by faith to enter the next season of my life. And, Father, just as Paul experienced miracles he had never known once he obeyed, I pray that my life will explode with miraculous answers to prayer as I step forward to obey what You are telling me to do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess I have the grace to step out of my comfort zone and into the place God has designed for me. I am not afraid to let go of what is known and comfortable, because I know that God is calling me onward and upward. He gives me courage to step out in faith to enter the next season of my life. Just as Paul experienced miracles he had never known once he obeyed, my life will explode with the miraculous as I step forward to obey what the Holy Spirit is telling me to do.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever known individuals whose lives literally exploded with miraculous results once they moved from where they were to where God wanted them to be? Who were those individuals? What kind of miraculous results did they see and experience once they got into the right place?
  2. God worked unusual miracles through Paul — even saturating his clothing with His anointing so that His power to heal and deliver could be transferred onto the sick, diseased, and demon-possessed. What is the most unusual miracle you have ever heard of or observed in your life?
  3. Since we’re talking about God using articles of clothing to transmit the anointing, have you ever known someone who was healed as a result of a prayer cloth being laid upon him or her?

And he [Paul] went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
— Acts 19:8,9

One of the most difficult moments in life is when you realize one season has ended, and the time is right for you to move on to the next season. Perhaps you are in such a season now — when you are realizing it’s time for you to move on from where you are to the next period of your life. As you will see in today’s Sparkling Gem, this could possibly be the beginning of one of the most glorious times in your life. Let’s look at the life of the apostle Paul for an example of this kind of life transition.

When Paul’s ministry first began in Ephesus, it started out very successfully in the synagogue, but eventually a time came when that season ended, and it was time for him to move on. Acts 19:8 says that Paul entered the synagogue and “…spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

Paul’s manner was so compelling that many who heard him were convinced and won over by the message they heard him preach. Yet despite Paul’s success with some of his listeners, he didn’t have this same effect on all who heard him. When many Jews began converting to Jesus Christ, the hospitable atmosphere evaporated. Acts 19:9 says, “But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them…”

The phrase “spake evil” comes from the Greek word kakologeo, which is a compound of the words kakos and logos. The word kakos describes something evil, harmful, injurious, malevolent, malicious, spiteful, or mean. The word logos simply means words. But when the two words are com-pounded, they form the word kakologeo, which describes malicious words that are deliberately devised and spoken to produce harm, hurt, and injury.

These kakos words spoken by unbelieving Jews were cleverly designed words and preplanned statements intended to damage Paul’s reputation and ruin the impact of his message and ministry. Those hostile people were spewing out premeditated, sinister, and villainous allegations in hopes of shutting Paul down. And, unfortunately, they did it publicly! That is why the verse goes on to say they spoke these words “before the multitude.” The word “multitude” probably refers to those in the synagogue, which explains why Paul made the decision to leave the synagogue at the end of that three-month period.

The opposition became so intense that Paul knew his effectiveness in the synagogue had ceased. Every time he tried to raise his voice to speak to the crowd, the opposition was so vocal, loud, and nasty that he was unable to successfully carry on his ministry. Paul had the maturity to recognize when he had lost his effectiveness and it was no longer profitable to debate with this audience. Had he stayed and fought longer or harder, it wouldn’t have produced anything of lasting quality and may have created an even worse situation. He perceived that his season in the synagogue was coming to a close, and it was the right time for him to move on to the next season in his ministry.

Likewise, if we will listen to the Holy Spirit, He will show us when to speak and when to be quiet — when to stay and when to move on. We must learn to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit in every situation. Then we can know when we are to remain in the battle or when it is wiser for us to withdraw, break camp, and relocate to new territory where greater victories will be won. The Holy Spirit will lead us — if we will quiet our hearts and listen for His voice.

When Paul realized that the battle in the Ephesian synagogue was counter-productive and no longer worth the effort, the Bible tells us, “…he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9).

Every so often, occasions like this come to us in life — landmark moments when we must choose to make a break with where we are in order to move into the new place where God is calling us. Such moments can be difficult. However, just beyond our struggle is where we discover the greatest power of God. But once we are where God wants us and we surrender to the Holy Spirit, resurrection power is soon released in our lives. This is exactly what happened in Acts 19:9. It was only after Paul left the synagogue that God unleashed miracles in the city of Ephesus.

We don’t know how Paul felt when he left the synagogue. He may have had high hopes initially that the positive response he first received from this Jewish community would last. As he gathered his disciples and walked away from the synagogue to begin afresh in a new place, it’s possible that Paul felt heartbroken over the souls he had to leave behind. Perhaps he was tempted to feel discouraged or as if he had lost an important battle.

Regardless of how Paul may have felt, Acts 19:9 relates that he found an effective venue to continue preaching the Gospel as he “…disputed daily in the school of one Tyrannus.” It looked as if an important door for the Gospel were closing, but God had already prepared another, more effective place for Paul and his group of disciples to meet.

The same thing happens in our lives as we seek to obey God’s will. In moments when it looks like all is lost, we must remind ourselves that when a door closes, God is already behind the scenes, working to open another door. In Paul’s case, the door God opened was a place the Bible calls “the school of one Tyrannus.”

Paul’s entire stay in Ephesus lasted approximately three years. But regarding the apostle’s teaching ministry in the school of Tyrannus, Acts 19:10 states that Paul “…continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

The school of Tyrannus was located in the most prestigious areas of Ephesus — right in the central section of the city. Hour after hour, revelation and insight poured forth from the apostle for anyone who wished to listen. In fact, the verse goes on to say Paul’s teaching became so well known that “all they which dwelt in Asia” heard of it.

Of course, it was humanly impossible for Paul to personally preach to “all they which dwelt in Asia.” But Paul’s influence in Ephesus grew as he taught every day during those two years in this central location. Those who heard Paul’s teaching passed it along to others, and fellow team members were dispatched to start churches in other regions. As a result, the population of Asia was exposed to the Gospel in a very short period of time — a much greater result than if he had stayed in the synagogue, which provided the apostle a very limited audience. Although it seemed a great door had closed, it was actually the beginning of a glorious period in Paul’s ministry.

Today I want to tell you that if you sense a door is closing or a season is ending, it may turn out to be one of the best things that has ever happened to you. It may not be comfortable to go through this change, and it may be one of the most difficult things you’ve ever done. But if you put your eyes on the Lord and trust in Him, you’ll discover that He is working behind the scenes to prepare the next place for you.

Take that to heart today. Open your spiritual ears and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. He will show you when to stay and when to move on — when it is wiser to withdraw, break camp, and relocate to new territory where greater victories will be won. The Holy Spirit will lead you if you will quiet your heart and listen for His voice. One door may be closing, but another door is getting ready to open for you — and it could possibly be the most wonderful season of life you’ve ever known!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I needed this word today. I do feel that I’m beginning a new season in my life. Knowing how to move on has been the challenge for me. I ask You to give me wisdom to know what steps to take, discernment to know what to say and what not to say, and understanding as to how to do this in a manner pleasing to Jesus. For me to do this correctly, I need Your help and guidance. So, Holy Spirit, I open my spiritual ears to hear You, and I extend my hand for You to lead me through all the steps I need to take — until I land securely in the next place and the new season that You have ordained for my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that God, by His Spirit, is leading me into the next season of my life. Although it is difficult to leave the present season, I know and declare that God is opening a new door for me and that the next season will be the most wonderful time I have ever known in my life thus far. Because I lean upon the Holy Spirit and I follow His voice, He will show me what to say, what not to say, what steps to take, and how to transition from where I am to where I am headed. The Holy Spirit is speaking to me and leading me, and I will end up in the next God-ordained place for my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you sense that a door is closing in your life? Why do you think that is the case? How is it closing?
  2. Can you see where you are headed? Paul didn’t know where he was going to teach until he made the decision to leave the synagogue. Are you stepping out in faith before you have all the answers, as Paul was required to do?
  3. Have you ever done anything like this before? Have you considered seeking counsel before you take this step just to make sure you’re on the right course?

And he had in his right hand seven stars… The seven stars are the angels [messengers] of the seven churches…
— Revelation 1:16,20

Did you know that Jesus symbolically likened pastors to “stars?” That’s right — that’s what the Bible tells us in Revelation 1:16 and 20. Why did Christ liken pastors to “stars,” and what does this tell us about pastors? If you have a pastor, I think you’ll really enjoy reading this Sparkling Gem. I believe this discussion today will deepen your appreciation and esteem for the gift God placed in your life when He gave you your pastor. And I pray it will fuel your desire to consistently pray for your pastor so his light shines strong and burns long for Jesus Christ!

The word “stars” comes from the Greek word asteras, which simply means stars — the same word we would use to describe the stars in the universe. The meaning of these stars is found in Revelation 1:20, where Jesus explained, “…The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches….” The word “angels” is from the Greek word angelos, which, in this case, refers to human messengers. Specifically, it referred to the pastors of the churches Christ was addressing.

Why did Jesus use “stars” to describe the pastors He was addressing in the book of Revelation? What was the symbolic significance of this, and what does the scriptural use of this metaphor tell us about the ministry of a pastor?

Let’s begin by pondering the following scientific facts about stars. Then we’ll see how these facts relate to pastoral ministry and why Christ likened pastors to stars.

Now let’s consider how these scientific facts about stars help explain why Jesus symbolically and spiritually compares pastors to stars.

From the facts and symbolic comparisons we’ve read today, we can see there are many similarities between pastors and stars. It’s an understatement to say that Christ knew these facts a long time before science knew them — that’s why He used stars symbolically to describe pastoral ministry.

In light of what we’ve read in today’s Sparkling Gem, let’s commit to praying daily for our pastors: 1) that they become everything God intends them to be; 2) that they will possess a sustained supply of spiritual energy at their core and shine as God intended them to shine; and that they’ll be empowered to provide the necessary guiding light for their congregations and communities. Our prayers of faith will avail much, impacting for eternity not only our pastors’ lives, but also every place and every person they are called to reach with the truth of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Heavenly Father, I thank You for what I have learned today about pastoral ministry. I specifically pray for my pastor — that he will have sufficient spiritual fuel in the core of his being for a long-lasting ministry; that my pastor’s ministry will be more stable and strong the older he gets; that my pastor will take his unique role among all pastors; that he knows the “orbit” designed and laid out for his pastoral ministry; and that he will fulfill the divine destiny that You have planned for his life. I thank You for the way my pastor serves, and I ask You, Father, to bless him abundantly. Give him the wisdom, power, and strength that is needed for a long-term ministry that brings forth much fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


Today I release my faith for my pastor. I specifically confess that my pastor has sufficient spiritual fuel in the core of his being for a long-lasting ministry; that my pastor’s ministry will be stable and stronger the older he gets; that my pastor will take his unique role among all pastors; that my pastor knows the orbit designed for his pastoral ministry; and that he will fulfill the divine destiny that You have planned for his life. I confess that You, Father, give my pastor the wisdom, power, and strength that is needed for a long-term ministry that brings forth much fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Did you learn something new today about pastoral ministry? Of everything you read, what stood out above all else? What specifically will you carry with you from this Sparkling Gem?
  2. Not only does Jesus refer to pastors as stars, but also as Have you ever considered how your pastor is a God-sent angel to your church? What does this mean to you? What do you think of the Bible using this analogy to depict your pastor’s ministry?
  3. Do you regularly pray for your pastor? If the answer is no, maybe today would be a good day to add him or her to your prayer list and to begin regularly praying for your pastor to have the wisdom and strength to lead the church and give light to the community.

…His eyes were as a flame of fire.
— Revelation 1:14

In several previous Sparkling Gems, we studied the revelation of Jesus that John wrote while imprisoned on the island of Patmos (see January 27,28; March 15; August 22,31; September 6,8,21; November 10,11). Today I want us to focus on another important part of this supernatural vision. As John tried to focus his eyes on the brilliant image before him, one can only imagine how he might have strained to see through the bright light to the Person behind it. In Revelation 1:14, the apostle described the powerful moment when he finally gazed into the eyes of the risen Lord, declaring, “…His eyes were as a flame of fire.”

The words “his eyes” are a translation of the Greek phrase ophthalmoi autou. The word ophthalmoi is the plural Greek word for eyes, and it is where we get the word ophthalmology. The word autou simply means of him. When the two words are used together as one phrase, they carry a sense of wonder, as if to mean there was something about Jesus’ eyes that was unique and different from the eyes of all others. The Greek structure should literally be translated “the eyes of him” — emphasizing the fact that Jesus’ eyes were unequaled, unsurpassed, unmatched, and unlike anyone else’s eyes.

John says that when he looked into those eyes, they were “as a flame of fire.” The Greek word for “flame” is phloz, which describes swirling, whirling, flickering flames that bend, twist, turn, and arch upward. The word translated “fire” is puros, the Greek word for a burning fire. Thus, the phrase “flame of fire” depicts a brightly burning fire with flames swirling, whirling, flickering, twisting, turning, and arching upward toward the sky. This, then, is not a depiction of heat but of the character of fire.

Many readers misread this phrase and conclude that Jesus had real fire in His eyes. But John didn’t say that. He said that Jesus’ eyes were “as” a flame of fire. That word “as” means like, similar to, or with the same effect as fire. To understand what John was trying to communicate here, it is necessary to stop and think about the effect that a campfire or a fire in a fireplace has upon a person who stares at it for any length of time. The longer a person looks into a fire, the more the flickering flames have a magnetic, mesmerizing effect on his eyes, mind, and senses. Soon the person gazing into the fire gets lost in the swirling, turning, twisting flames that flicker back and forth as the wood crackles and pops and the flames reach upward and disappear out of sight. The fire has its own character, both captivating and sedating, drawing people near to watch the dance of its flames as it gives out its warmth.

These seem to be the qualities of fire that John thought of when he peered into Jesus’ eyes and became transfixed by what he saw. Although he had looked into those eyes thousands of times nearly 60 years earlier, something was different about these eyes. In the vision, Jesus’ eyes were compelling, irresistible, riveting, and gripping. They exuded intelligence and magnetism.

Like the flickering flames of a fire, those eyes drew John closer and captivated him completely. John must have been drawn by the warmth and love pouring forth from Jesus’ eyes. Yet that wasn’t all John saw, for Jesus’ eyes also burned with a searching gaze, looking intently into the seven churches in the book of Revelation to see and address their specific needs and problems.

“Fire” is an important symbol in Scripture and frequently represents purification and judgment. Which effect of divine fire we experience depends wholly on our response to God. If we as individuals, or as the Church at large, submit to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit and “hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” we will experience the first type of fire — a holy fire intended to purify and to make us more like Christ. The first fire is unavoidable for a Church that is submitted to the Lordship of Christ and to the dealings of the Holy Spirit; however, cooperating with this fire does not result in severe discipline.

On the other hand, if we resist the pleadings of the Holy Spirit and stubbornly continue to act in ways that are contrary to Christ’s character, there is a second type of fire that burns up chaff and consumes everything that stands opposed to God. Of course, God is merciful, and even this kind of fire is an act of His love and mercy. Consuming everything that is wrong and displeasing to Christ, this fire clears the way for genuine repentance so individuals or churches can rebuild with proper methods and behaviors that are compatible with Jesus’ nature.

Jesus’ intense, searching eyes, which seemed “as” a flame of fire, captivated John’s attention and signaled to the apostle that the Head of the Church had examined the seven churches in Asia and was preparing to deliver a potent message. Some of these churches were about to be encouraged by the words of Christ — such as the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, which received no correction at all. The other five churches — Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea — were about to be warned of impending judgment if they didn’t repent. As King and Head of the Church, Christ had every right to search the churches and require them to change.

This may explain why Jesus appeared to the apostle John first as King (see Revelation 1:5) and second as the Great High Priest (see Revelation 1:13). Five of the seven churches were on the verge of judgment, and Jesus, their Great High Priest, was interceding for them. The very fact that He came to warn them meant He did not want to judge them. If they were willing to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice and repent, they could avoid the fires that bring judgment. What happened next would depend on whether or not the churches chose to hear the Savior’s pleading and submit to His commands. The type of fire these churches experienced would depend on their response — but the fire of God was coming.

How we respond to the dealings of God determines which kind of fire we will experience. Will it be a fire that purifies and takes us to a higher level in the Lord, or will it be a fire that burns up the chaff in our lives that we haven’t been willing to surrender on our own? The choice is ours, but the fact is, that divine fire will come, whether we like it or not.

So today I urge you to willfully examine your heart. If you find that you have chaff that is destined to be burned, get rid of it yourself so that you can avoid the fire that burns up chaff — and prepare yourself to accept the holy fire that comes to purify and to take you higher in your walk with the Lord. I know that this is the deepest desire of your heart!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You that Your love for me is so intense that You want to burn up the chaff in my life. Your highest will is for me to surrender these problem areas to You so I do not have to experience that chaff-burning fire. Instead I would experience the holy fire that comes to purify me and take me higher in my walk in the Spirit. So today, Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me examine my heart and willfully surrender those chaff-areas of my life that do not reflect Your character or Your purpose for my life. Open my heart to Your holy, purifying fire, oh God, that I may be cleansed to ascend into the high places of Your glory!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I purpose in my heart to respond humbly to the dealing of God so that His fire that kindles upon me will ignite me into a burning flame for His glory. Daily I choose to walk before the Lord in a way that His holy fire will purify and take me to a higher level in Him. I know that the fire of God will burn up the chaff of self-willed works and ways that I wasn’t willing to surrender on my own. The choice is mine, and I choose to yield to the refining fire because I know that, whether I like it or not, divine fire will come. And when its fires try the metal of my life, I want all that remains of me through the flames to be found before Him as pure gold.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever had a time when the fire of God came to burn “chaff” out of your life? Can you describe what that experience was like? When did that happen? Is it something that you are going through right now?
  2. The holy purifying fire of God comes to make us ready for higher realms of God’s glory. Have you experienced that type of divine fire? Have you ever been in a church service where it felt like the holy, purifying, sanctifying fire of God fell upon the congregation?
  3. When you think of Jesus’ eyes being “as” a flame of fire, what does that mean to you?

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
— Revelation 1:13

When John received his vision of the exalted Christ while imprisoned on the island of Patmos, the elderly apostle took note of several prominent features of Jesus’ appearance. One such feature was His garment. In Revelation 1:13, he wrote that Christ was “…clothed with a garment down to the foot….” Today we will take a careful look at this phrase and see what it tells us about the Person of Jesus and why it matters to you as a child of God.

The word “clothed” is derived from the Greek word enduo, a term that referred to one who is dressed in a garment. But it must be noted that the Greek tense used in Revelation 1:13 implies that this particular garment was conferred upon Christ once and for all. He was given this garment by the Father and will be thus clothed forevermore. The Greek tense literally means Jesus was clothed; He is clothed; and He will always be clothed with this particular garment that reaches “down to the foot.”

The phrase “down to the foot” is a translation of poderes, a Greek word used only this one time in the entire New Testament. It describes a robe that flows all the way down to the ankles but leaves the feet exposed. The word poderes is also used seven times in the Old Testament Greek Septuagint to describe the attire of the high priest.

Perhaps the best example of this word poderes is found in Exodus 28, where God told Moses how to make “holy garments” for Aaron and his sons, who would serve as priests. The priestly garment was to be made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread and fine woven linen. It was to reach down to the ankles, exactly like the robe Christ was wearing in John’s vision. For this reason, one symbolic meaning of the garment Jesus wore in John’s vision was to portray Him in His role as our Great High Priest!

The ministry of Jesus Christ as our High Priest is one of the most important themes of the New Testament. Jesus was clothed with priestly garments; He is clothed with priestly garments; and He will always be clothed with priestly garments — because He is forever the High Priest of our confession.

The way Jesus was clothed when He appeared to John sent an extremely important message to the apostle and to the Church at large. John was about to receive Jesus’ messages for the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, some of which would contain correction and stern yet loving rebukes from Christ in response to wrong beliefs and behaviors that were emerging in these congregations. However, by appearing to John as High Priest, Jesus’ intercessory ministry was the prominent feature the apostle noticed before anything else. It proclaimed that Jesus was the Great High Priest who was praying for the churches.

We saw in the September 6 Sparkling Gem that Jesus revealed Himself in Revelation 1:5 first and foremost as the Prince and Supreme Sovereign of the kings of the earth. But in Revelation 1:13, He appeared as High Priest, thus affirming that He was standing in His priestly role, interceding for the churches He was about to discipline and correct. Before He appeared with feet of bronze, representing judgment, He appeared as the Great High Priest who was praying for them — that they might repent before He needed to apply His feet of judgment.

But John’s description of Jesus’ “garment down to the foot” also portrayed the intercessory ministry of Jesus, which will never change. This is an office that was once and for all conferred upon Christ and is unchangeable. Jesus was, is, and will always be interceding on behalf of the Church that He purchased with His own blood.

Hebrews 7:25 declares that Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Dressed in His high priestly garments, He sits in the holy presence of the Father and intercedes on our behalf.

That means Jesus is praying and interceding for you right now. So what is stopping you from coming to Him today with the needs and desires that are on your heart? Jesus was, is, and forever will be your Great High Priest. He is waiting for you to come boldly into His presence to present your needs and desires!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You that Jesus is in Your Presence as my Great High Priest, where He ever lives to make intercession for me and for those who belong to Him. I thank You that I have no need to be ashamed or embarrassed when I come to You through Him, because He has thrown open the door and invited me to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive help and assistance in my time of need. I am so thankful for this high priestly ministry of Jesus — that He was, is, and forever will be my Great High Priest!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that Jesus is my Great High Priest. Seated at the right hand of the Father, He lives to make intercession for me. Jesus, my High Priest, is touched with the feeling of my infirmity. I have no need to be ashamed or embarrassed when I come before the Father through Him, because He has given me unrestricted access and invited me to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain help in my time of need.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. What needs and desires should you boldly present to Jesus at the throne of grace? He is waiting for you — so what is stopping you from coming to Him with those needs and desires?
  2. Can you imagine Jesus dressed in high priestly garments in the presence of the Father, where He ever lives to make intercession for those who come to Him by faith? Why don’t you put everything on pause for a moment and try to mentally picture the image of Jesus in this capacity, waiting for you to come to Him?
  3. What does it mean to you when the Bible says we can “come boldly” to the throne of grace? What does the word “boldly” communicate to you?

 

…And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man….
— Revelation 1:12,13

We live in a day and hour when some people act as if they are embarrassed to be affiliated with the Church. Perhaps something happened at their church that disappointed them with that local body and its leadership. But regardless of the reason, they have distanced themselves from the Church.

But I want to tell you that even though the Church as a whole has many imperfections, Jesus is not ashamed of His Church!

We may be tempted to feel dismayed about the carnality that sometimes seem so pervasive in the contemporary Church, but it’s important for us to remember that Jesus paid the highest price of all for the Church, He loves His people, and He still remains in the midst of them. In fact, when the apostle John recorded the vision He had in the book of Revelation, he wrote that He saw Jesus standing right in the midst of the seven candlesticks, which were symbolic of the Church. This means Christ was standing right in the midst of the Church when John saw Him in this vision.

Revelation 1:12,13 says, “…And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man.…”

The word “midst” is the Greek word mesos, which can be translated as in the midst, in the middle, or in the center. Thus, this word portrays Jesus standing right in the very center of the Church. The seven churches in the book of Revelation were most likely the leading congregations of Asia. Yet despite their prominent status, these local churches had problems — some of which were of a very serious nature. Nevertheless, Jesus didn’t distance Himself from these churches. Regardless of their imperfections and problems, He stood right in the very midst of them.

This close proximity infers that Jesus is not ashamed of His Church, even though it is comprised of flawed human beings. In fact, having purchased their redemption through His death and resurrection, Jesus is delighted to abide in the midst of His blood-bought people!

In the vision, John saw Jesus standing like a Great Overseer in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, His eyes focused on them. This explains Jesus’ intimate knowledge about each of these seven congregations and the reason He would later say to each of them, “I know thy works” (see Revelation 2:2; 2:9; 2:13; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; 3:15).

This word “know” that appears in all these verses is the Greek word oida. It comes from a Greek root that means to see. Thus, the word oida in these scriptures describes what Jesus had seen personally, not what He had obtained from an outside source. This was knowledge based on personal observation. By standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks — or in the midst of those seven churches — Jesus was in a position to see everything that happened in those churches, both good and bad.

This should be taken as both an encouragement and a warning to the Church of every age. As the Head of the Church, Jesus stands in the midst of His people, lovingly overseeing everything that transpires, both positive and negative. He knows from personal observation every victory won, every misstep taken, every challenge faced, and every demonic attack withstood.

In every case I just noted, the word “see” in the corresponding verses is the Greek word oida — which is used seven times to affirm that Christ knew all of this by His personal observation of these local churches. Christ was so close — so centered on these congregations — that all of these conditions were visible to His eyes. But notice this: The blemishes did not turn Jesus away. He still stood in the midst of the Church, for He loved it enough to pay for it with His own blood.

Likewise, Jesus stands in the midst of His people today, overseeing all the activities that transpire among them. He sees both the good and the bad. He sees their love, faith, patience, and commitment. He also sees the actions that are out of line with His character and His plan for the Church. And as has been true throughout the centuries, if His people will listen, they will still hear the voice of Jesus, urging them to hear what He is saying to His Church and to repent wherever repentance is needed.

But Christ is not ashamed of His Church — He is standing right in the very middle of it! In spite of its imperfections, Christ loves His Church!

If you know those who are embarrassed of the Church (and maybe that describes you), help them remember — or remind yourself — that Christ in all His holiness and perfection is not ashamed. Rather, He draws near to oversee the Church, to pray for it, and to bring the correction that it needs. Jesus has not abandoned His Church, and He never will !

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for reminding me of Your great love for the Church in spite of all of its present blemishes, flaws, and imperfections. Forgive me — and forgive others — when we have been judgmental of Your precious Church and have been ashamed or embarrassed of it. We have actually been judgmental of ourselves because we are Your Body, the Church, members one of another. You are right in the midst of the Church; therefore, I refuse to criticize what You have given Your life for and invested Yourself in so completely. I thank You for bringing correction and encouragement to my heart today. I repent for any judgmental attitude about your Church or its leadership, and I receive Your forgiveness. Help me keep a right heart attitude.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly confess that I love the Church of Jesus Christ, and I am thankful to be a member of it. I regret holding a critical attitude, and I repent of it right now. I make the decision to change the way I see the Church and how I speak about the Church. Most of all, I make the decision to pray for the Church. Christ loves the Church as His own Body, therefore, I refuse to despise Christ Himself by ill-esteeming His own Body — of which I, too, am a part! Since Christ is in the midst of the Church, I set my affection and devotion in the midst of the Church. I acknowledge this, I accept it, and I conform my beliefs and my actions to this declaration of faith. With the help of God’s Spirit working in my heart and mind, I will maintain a good, positive, faith-filled attitude toward the Church and its leadership, especially when I see imperfections that seem glaringly obvious to me. Who am I to judge another man’s servant? Before his own master he rises or falls, but God is able to make him stand. My responsibility is to pray so that I am not judged in the same critical way.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you know anyone who got “turned off” by the Church, became critical of it, and, as a result, stopped going to church altogether? Who is that person? What can you do to woo that individual into fellowship with the saints again?
  2. Have you ever realized that as long as human beings are members of the Church — including you and me — it will be flawed? If you think about it, it’s a great work of grace that Jesus’ blood washed us and cleansed us and that He placed us inside His Church. He accepted us in the Beloved and made us a part of His Body. Isn’t that a miracle for us to ponder?
  3. If you’ve been negative about the Church and have spoken about it negatively to others, did you ever think about the ramifications that your negative words could have on others — how your remarks could also make them negative about the Church? If you’ve participated in such negative conversations, what should you do now to make it right?