The Silence of God

Posted on April 11, 2020 by shepherdbryan

Today, we ponder the silence of God. [At least to us (Jesus was actually making a triumphal pronouncement in Tartarus (1 Pet 3:18-20; 2 Pet 2:4)]

In the history of the disciples 2000 years ago, they had THE most discouraging day of their lives. They had spent several years with the Man they thought was the Messiah. He had said and done all the right things. They even watched the triumphal procession into Jerusalem just a few days before. The contact with the religious leaders of the Passover week was a crescendo. It was only a matter of moments in their view and He would reveal Himself as the Messiah to the world and they would be in on the Greatest Reversal of all time – the Jewish people under the thumb of Rome, paying taxes to Rome and giving allegiance to Rome – would be reversed!. Now was “their” moment when all of that would be changed!. The Romans would recognize Jesus as Messiah and they were in on the “ground floor”!

But then tragedy. Their hopes were dashed. Their leader was crucified the most heinous of deaths. Their adrenaline took a deep dive. Temporary depression set in. They were bewildered. “What happened?”

Has that ever happened to you?

On Saturday, the disciples would likely have been wondering, “What just happened? What do we do now? We left everything and the very thing we were hoping for, counting on and trusting in…was gone!”

Has that ever happened to you?

Indeed, God was silent to them. Sometimes God intentionally is silent, because He wants us to be silent. To meditate on the promises of God, the power of God and the presence of God, even when we can’t see it, experience it and to know we need to remember them.

The Sons of Korah wrote, Psalm 46. Verse ten says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! (Ps 46:10)” IN FACT, the rest of the Psalm is incredible for this day.

As you ponder anew the silence of God, and maybe you are experiencing the silence of God, consider what happened in just one more day 2000 years ago. The Silence of God means He is ready and able to do a truly Great Reversal!

Our hope is in Him! Always!

Revelation 1:1-9

Posted on March 1, 2020 by shepherdbryan

Revelation of Jesus Christ

This opening passage introduces us to the author, audience and what the book is about – the Revelation of Jesus Christ. While a small portion (Revelation 2-3) describes the audience – the church – the majority (Revelation 4-19) is about how God will complete His Covenants to Israel and the Second Coming of Jesus. It closes with the new heavens to come.

The Alpha and Omega – Rev 1:1-8

Genesis	Revelation
New Earth Gen. 1	New Heavens Rev. 21
Begins in Paradise Gen. 2	Paradise to come Rev. 21-22
Devil introduced Gen. 3:1-2	Devil doomed Rev. 20:10
God’s word questioned Gen 3:1-2	Word of God upheld Rev. 22:19
Man’s first rebellion Gen. 3:1-6	Man’s last rebellion Rev. 20:11-15
Satan’s head crushed promised 3:15	Satan’s head bruised and crushed Rev 20:2,10
Curse imposed Gen. 3:15-18	Curse removed Rev. 22:3
Tree of Life removed Gen. 3:24	Tree of Life awaits Rev. 22:2
Human Life murdered Gen. 4:8	Human life in Book of Life 21:27
Sorrow from sin begins Gen. 3,4	Sorrow removed Rev. 21:4
First death Gen. 4:8	No more death Rev. 21:4

Why study Revelation?

To reveal who Jesus Christ is 1:1
To reveal the course of future history 1:1; 22:6
To complete the testimony of John 1:2
To receive God’s blessing 1:3; Rev. 22:7
To warn believers to alertness 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:14-15; 1 Thes. 4:13-18

Three cautions

Do not say it cannot be understood.
Do not be overly dogmatic on the details.
Do not major only on Revelation.

1. The revelation of Jesus to John 1:1-3

1:1 Subject –
1:1 Source –
1:1 Scribe –
1:1 Speed –
1:2 Sight –
1:3 Spiritual Blessing –

2. John writing to the seven churches 1:4-9

1:4 Seven Churches
1:4 Salutation
1:4 Son – Who was, is, is to come
1:4 Seven Spirits –
1:5 Savior –
- His character 1:5
- His ministry 1:5-8
  - His present ministry –
  - His present work –
  - His future work –
  - His title –

SO WHAT?

God wants you to know what is ahead in the future.
God wants you to know what is ahead in your future.
He wants you to know that Jesus Christ is the future.

NOW WHAT?

I need to trust Him for my future.
I need to be content with His presence, not His presents, rewards, or blessings.
I need to build bridges to others to help them be content with His presence.
I need to share this material with two other people.

Questions

How is Revelation the capstone of the Bible?
Does God look at time the way we do? Why? and How so?
In what is the blessing found in this book?
Do people live for the present or the future? How so?
Why did/does God bless America?
What do I need to consider for my personal life related to the challenges in this passage?

Pray for Those who Wrong You: Insights

Posted on February 8, 2015 by shepherdbryan

The tongue is a slippery tool of the heart. The humble heart uses the tongue for blessing. The proud heart uses the tongue for cursing. It’s the same tongue, yet controlled by the heart. James does a brilliant job of addressing the tongue in James 3:1-12.

As I was reading through Scripture a couple months ago, my eyes jumped out looking at Job 42. Continue reading →

Country: Officer Angels

Posted on December 28, 2014 by shepherdbryan

Praise God for the police officers in New York City as well as every other city in the United States. Praise God for their willingness to submit to rules of engagement that put them at risk every day for our safety, security and blessing. Praise God that their families, who say good bye to their officer every day, not knowing if they will be home after their shift. Praise God for officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who served their lives as honorable police officers and whose lives were suddenly ended by a wicked Ismaaiyl Brinsley. Continue reading →

Truth: Canonicity Part 5

Posted on December 18, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is Part 5 of 9 parts answering the basic and very important question, “What does Canonicity mean and why is it important?” Parts 6-9 will be posted on succeeding days.

We have looked at the Lord Jesus’ view of the Old Testament and some of the guidelines men used to acknowledge which books were considered Canon. Let’s look at several examples of the Divine nature of the text and how God was consistent even while using different authors. Compare what Joshua said and a prophetic fulfillment of it, Continue reading →

Country: Justified Anger

Posted on November 27, 2014 by shepherdbryan

President Obama lectured America on the reality and right that there is a justified anger in America toward police officials that must be addressed city by city and state by state.¹ Yes, there have been problems in the past and there may be problems even in the present. But are there as many problems of the opposite issues – abuse and disrespect of the citizens toward the police authority? Continue reading →

Country: Lying Should Have Consequences

Posted on November 25, 2014 by shepherdbryan

As the prosecuting attorney for the Ferguson case, Robert McCulloch, explained the Grand Jury’s decision regarding the police officer who defended himself from the attack of the young man, he expressed that “some of the eyewitnesses” said they did not actually see the incident. They qualified themselves by saying that they passed on what they heard others say.¹ That is not only a lie, but a violation of due process of law. Continue reading →

Inisghts: Sometimes you need a big hammer!

Posted on November 12, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This morning I rented a Makita variable speed jack hammer. I used it last week to open up the area around the plumbing into the concrete basement floor. This time I needed to move a pipe 7″ so I could put it into a wall I’m building and then move the shower drain (actually, I have a plumber who is coming out to move them, but I broke up the floor to get it ready. It was four hours of sheer exhilaration and fun! Breaking through four inches of concrete is not a hammer and chisel option. You need something built for the task, hence the jack hammer. Continue reading →

Suffering: Who is the one who started the suffering that God allows? Part 5

Posted on April 27, 2014 by shepherdbryan

This is Part 5 of 5 parts answering the question, “Who is the one who started the suffering that God allows?” of the larger question, “Why does a loving God allow suffering?”

God’s Judgment on Satan

When Satan thought those things in his heart, God cast him out of heaven and the most likely place is what Scripture says. Isaiah recorded,

Continue reading →

Q&A: Train Your Replacements: How to Discern Truth: 1 Tim. 4:1-2

Posted on March 25, 2014 by shepherdbryan

These Message Based Discussion Question answers are provided as a stimulus to thinking through the questions. They are not to replace thinking, but assist for your deeper thoughts. The message was presented on March 23, 2014.

John 18:33-38; 14:6

Why disciple to His Truth?