Probably not, but then again, you may be positioned like Moses or Esther “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14 KJV). Christ’s Body is the Church. Each of us has our gifts and calling, but all for the benefit of the Body. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will” (1Corinthians 12:11). No doubt there is a moral vacuum in society. Not all have been motivated or led to step into the place of secular government or leadership. If God has led you, then clothe yourself with power from the Holy Spirit to be that Daniel, who cared more about pleasing God than garnering votes, maintaining political capital, or purchasing political favor to use at a future time. “I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for He is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:26-27). LORD, raise up Your Moses, Daniel, and Esther for such a time as this; but, whether we find that one or not, may we serve You with all our heart, come what may. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Author: Ken
Help, LORD (Psalm 12:1)
We are always a prayer away from help. God’s “throne of grace” is ever open to us in our “time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). Thrice, God rapidly responds, “I will help thee” (Isaiah 45:10, 13, 14). When our crisis is deepest, His help is closest. He knows we are then most open to a dramatic application of change in our teachable moment. Trust, try, and “prove Me now” (Malachi 3:10) is our Lord’s call to action. What thing in the back of our mind has the Spirit of God been whispering, “Change”? You, fill in the blank. “Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke [of man’s traditions], the putting forth of the finger [in scornfully pointing out those who do not comply with those traditions], and speaking vanity [using those false traditions]” (Isaiah 58:9). When the Spirit of God has sufficiently arrested our attention about whatever change He wants, He then challenges us, “Prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). The surest path is “straight forward” (Ezekiel 1:9, 12), and we know the outcome will bring us safely Home. LORD, You are our help. Come to our aid. Supply what we have not. Open our eyes to receive the understanding we need. Thank You, and may Your name be praised evermore. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen.
Be Watchful and Strengthen (Revelation 3:1)
If the Church of Sardis could be compared to the stage of Church History known as the 16th century Protestant Reformation, which ended the Middle Ages, then Christ reproves even those Reformers. “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:1-2 KJV). Sardis must repent of dead orthodoxy to be truly alive. “O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2 KJV). Amen.
If Children Won’t Obey Their Parents
If children won’t obey their parents, they would only repeat what Adam and Eve did to their Great Father in the Garden of Eden, when they did not trust Him. The serpent said, “God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5 KJV). Their Creator fashioned them in His image, not for the sport of bossing them around, but to commune with them. Not as equals in authority, but equals in placement to embrace righteousness and shun evil. Just as our Heavenly Father punished Adam and Eve by inflicting pain, suffering, and death to restore them, His motivation was always love. Hence, wisdom understands, “The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him” (Proverbs 13:24 NET). LORD, may our Christian parents fear You more than the devil our adversary. Honor the willingness of parents insisting upon the obedience of their children, as unto the LORD. Cast out from our families the spirit of disobedience that inhabits this earth. May we be headed for Heaven, and may our children meet us there. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
That Woman Jezebel (Revelation 2:18)
Thyatira embodies collaboration with the enemy, since Jezebel cooperated in teaching the Church to worship false gods dressed as idols. If the Church of Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) represents the center and bulk of Church History, then only one, universal church could be intended, which would correspond to “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots” (Revelation 17:5 KJV), who sits upon “Seven Hills” (17:9 NIV). Christ condemns our ecumenism, if it allows us to embrace spiritual adultery, whose sacerdotal practices pay homage to idols. “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20 KJV). Since Jezebel now controls Thyatira, it is more appropriate to “come out from among them” (2Corinthians 6:17) and be separate from Thyatira’s adulterous practices. LORD, for those still practicing Jezebel’s ways, open their eyes and show them they are sleeping with the real enemy of their soul! Turn them from such shameful conduct. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.
Reproducibility of Love
The scientific method requires experimental results to be replicated with a high degree of reliability using the same methodology before the results can be recognized as scientific knowledge. The love of God must similarly be reproducible and transmissible to be regarded as sacred knowledge for us. “God is love” (1John 4:8,16 KJV). At its source, it has been revealed love comes from God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Love was transmitted to humanity through the sacrificial death of the Son of God for the transgressions of man against God and man. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1John 4:19). Our capacity to return love to God is engendered in us through His Spirit working in us. Once we discover in us “dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18), then it becomes apparent that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Accounting the Spirit of God to be the author of the love that comes from us, while we are fully engaged in willing and practicing it, is to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (Ephesians 5:2). “And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it” (2John 1:6). LORD, work Your love in us, that we would have the practicing kind of religion that Alvin York (10:54) had. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Where Satan Dwelleth (Revelation 2:12)
Pergamos was a church, who compromised her holiness to get along in the world. If the Church of Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17) was also representative of Church History following Constantine’s embracing of the Cross by which he would conquer (312 AD), then the Church was losing its focus on Christ and was becoming confused about its supernatural enemy. Whenever we see only the earthly circumstance and don’t realize it is Spiritual Warfare on the highest level, we are underestimating the enemy. “Thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” (Revelation 2:13-14 KJV). Again, the Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 representing seven stages of Church History from beginning to end is figurative and speculative, but we interpret Bible Prophecy as literal as we can, until we can’t. Balaam taught that Israel should be seduced to intermarry with the surrounding heathen, bringing them idolatry and looser sexual morals. Only God’s Spirit working in us can prevent, preserve, and cure iniquity in the Church (John 16:9). “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). This is only one aspect of the Gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). LORD, preserve us by Your Spirit from the same sins, which plagued Pergamos. May we learn from their past mistakes. May we put more confidence in Your Spirit’s sin preventing power than confidence in ourselves. May we resist sin in our flesh and the sin which does so easily beset us, but trust Your Spirit to not let us give in to the temptation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Try A Little Kindness
When was the last time you were accused of being kind? “Love is kind [Greek, chrēsteuomai, obliging, willing to help]” (1Corinthians 13:4 NET). I noticed a clip from a television show, where a doctor was speaking rather abruptly to a very young patient. I immediately thought of the expression “kindly doctor” as what we would rather see in a physician’s bedside manner. How often do we see people in public, who seem to have a scowl on their face, like the sun’s in their eyes? But, do we do that, too, so others won’t think they can run over us, or that we smile for no reason and are senile? I ran across a great grandmother volunteering at a food distribution center. She had a kindly face, and I don’t think she was senile. Kindness is not a look, but a heart attitude, which truly “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1Corinthians 13:5 KJV). Only the Spirit of God can work that in a human heart! LORD, make it so in me through the power of Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tribulation Ten Days (Revelation 2:8)
If the Church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) was also representative of early Church History immediately after the Apostolic age, then suffering purified Christ’s Church. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10 KJV). Possibly the Lord giving a specific number of days for Smyrna’s suffering indicates a limit to their suffering, which would give hope. And, just as our Lord “learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8), Smyrna was accounted worthy to also suffer shame for His name. LORD, make us to be worthy as Smyrna, and to fear You more than the limited suffering that purifies us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What’s Real, What’s Not?
With generative-AI tools, our ability to determine genuine content online or on social media is becoming increasingly difficult. Finding content on this blog, Tik Tok, or Wikipedia does not establish its veracity or truthfulness. We are required by God, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1Thessalonians 5:21 KJV). Government agencies, internet search engines, or social media gatekeepers may be entrusted to filter the garbage or trash, but it will come with the inevitable cost of limiting free speech. Compare everything to Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The Word of God is the tool Christ has given to filter everything. “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (17:17). God has given us His Spirit to determine what’s real. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1John 4:1). If we leave the determination simply to human gatekeepers, then we will inevitably be deceived and deserve whatever we get. LORD, raise up Your people as truth speakers and discerners of the truth. Create in us a willingness to actively engage You the Truth that we will be able to discern what is false. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
We Need A Miracle 
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