Larry (not his real name) lived across the street during high school. We played on the golf team together, but Larry was a much better golfer. After I trusted Christ, I share the good news with Larry. He called me soon afterward and said, “Mark, I placed my faith in Christ and am so excited. Can I see you?”
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 How are you inspired to preach the gospel of the kingdom? Rev. 6-8 explains the need to prepare for end time events knowing Satan's plan, recognize God's sovereignty in death and martyr of believers, expect cosmic disruption, embrace Christ as shepherd, let devastating events lead you to fervent prayer and recognize God's judgment in disrupting comfort.
Prepare for End Time Events Knowing Satan's Plan When John watched the Lamb open the first of seven seals, he saw a white horse whose rider held a bow, given a crown and rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. When the Lamb opened the second seal, a fiery red horse came out whose rider was given power and a large sword to take peace from the earth and make men kill others. When the Lamb opened the third seal, a black horse came out whose rider held a pair of scales in his hand. John heard a voice from four living creatures saying a quart of wheat and three quarts of barley for a day's wages without damaging the oil and wine (Rev. 6:1-6). Prepare for end time events knowing Satan inspires the antichrist to unleash devastating wars, famine and calamities on earth. Recognize God's Sovereignty in Death and Martyr of Believers When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, a pale horse had a rider named Death and Hades followed close behind. They were given power over 25 percent of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague and wild beasts. After opening the fifth seal, John saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the word of God and their testimony. They asked in a loud voice how long until the Sovereign Lord would judge and avenge their blood. Each was given a white robe and told to wait a little longer until their fellow servants and brothers were killed (Rev. 6:7-11). Recognize God's sovereignty in the death and martyr of believers during the great tribulation because of God's word and their testimony. Expect Cosmic Disruption in Heaven and Earth After opening the sixth seal, a great earthquake occurred, the sun turned black, moon turned blood red and the stars fell to the earth. The sky receded like a scroll and every mountain and island were removed from its place. Everyone, including the powerful elite, hid in caves and mountains. They called on them to fall and hide them from the one who sat on the throne and from the great wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:12-17). Expect cosmic disruption in heaven and on earth as sign of God's wrath. Inspire Preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom Before the End An angel with God's seal told the four angels not to harm the land, sea or trees until they sealed 144,000 Israelites. A great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language stood before the throne in front of the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches crying out that salvation belonged to God who sat on the throne and to the Lamb (Rev. 7:1-10; Matt. 24:14). Inspire the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom in the whole world before the end comes. Embrace Christ as Shepherd to Lead You to Springs of Living Water The angels fell down before the throne and worshiped God saying praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength to Him forever. Those in white robes came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, made them white in the blood of the Lamb and served Him day and night in His temple before God's throne. He who sat on the throne spread His tent so they never hungered, thirsted and experienced scorching heat. The Lamb at the center of the throne was their shepherd and led them to springs of living water. God wiped every tear from their eyes (Rev. 7:11-17). Embrace Christ as shepherd to lead you to springs of living water including wisdom, power and strength. Let Devastating Events Lead You to Fervent Prayer When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about 30 minutes. An angel with a golden censer offered much incense with prayers of all believers on the golden altar before the throne. The incense smoke and believers' prayers went up before God. The angel filled the censer with fire from the altar and hurled it on the earth (Rev. 8:1-5). Let devastating events lead you to fervent prayer in hastening Jesus' return. Recognize God's Judgment in Disrupting Comfort The first angel sounded his trumpet so hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled upon the earth. A third of the earth and trees were burned up, including the green grass. The second angel sounded his trumpet and something like a huge mountain was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet and a great star fell from the sky so a third of the rivers and springs of water turned bitter with many people dying. The fourth angel sounded his trumpet and a third of the sun, moon, stars, day and night turned dark. An eagle said woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the trumpet blasts by the other three angels (Rev. 8:6-13). Recognize God's judgment in disrupting the ordinary means of comfort and created order. Inspire yourself and others to preach the gospel of the kingdom by preparing for end time events knowing Satan's plan and God's judgment to disrupt comfort, allow God's sovereignty in the death and martyr of believers to lead you to fervent prayer and let future cosmic disruption cause you to embrace Christ as shepherd.  God wants your heart and not your labor. Anything profitable comes from a pure heart motivated by the Holy Spirit. It's tempting to rely on our efforts instead of being empowered by God as the He leads you through His word. Israel leaving Egypt during the Passover tested their heart and belief in the blood of the lamb prefiguring Christ's death for you. The following paragraphs are tests whether God is working in your heart.
The Lord said to Moses to take a one-year-old unblemished male lamb in the first month from the tenth to fourteenth day and kill it at twilight. Put its blood on two doorposts and the lintel of the houses. Eat the flesh roasted with fire, unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Eat the Lord's Passover with loins girded, sandals on feet, staff in hand and in haste. The Lord would strike down every first-born in Egypt and execute judgment against all Egypt's gods. When God saw the blood (sign), He would pass over so no plague came to destroy them. It would be celebrated as a permanent ordinance (Ex. 12:1-14). Applying Christ's blood to your heart in prayer protects you from destruction. Eat unleavened bread for seven days, but on first day remove leaven from houses. On first and seventh day, have holy assembly where no work is done except to prepare food. Observe Feast of Unleavened Bread to signify very day God brought them out of Egypt in first month, on 14th day until 21st day by eating only unleavened bread (Ex. 12:15-20). Walking with a pure heart protects you from sin's destruction. Moses called for elders of Israel to slay the Passover lamb and apply its blood to lintel and two doorposts. The Lord would pass through to smite the Egyptians. When He saw blood on doorposts and lintel, He would not allow destroyer to smite them. Children would say it is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of sons of Israel when He smote Egyptians and spared their houses (Ex. 12:21-28). Church and community leaders apply the blood of Christ in their prayer for others. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron to get out, bless him and worship the Lord after the first-born of Egypt died. The Egyptians urged to people leave the land in haste for they said, "We shall all be dead." The people took their dough before it was leavened and requested articles of silver and gold along with clothing from the Egyptians as Moses had commanded. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians and they plundered them (Ex. 12:29-36). Ceasing from labor and trusting God's word shows that God is your provider. About 600,000 men journeyed on foot from Rameses to Succoth. A mixed multitude went up with them and baked the dough they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. It had not become leavened since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay. They prepared no provisions for themselves (Ex. 12:37-39). God loves to put you situations outside your comfort zone where you are not in control. At the end of 430 years to the very day all the hosts of the Lord left Egypt. It was a night to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations (Ex. 12:40-42). Remember key events in your life when God delivered from slavery to sin. No foreigner is to eat the Passover but only circumcised males. This law applied to the native and stranger who sojourned among them (Ex. 12:43-51). Men lead spiritually as God works mightily in their hearts. Answer the following questions as a test whether God is working mightily in your heart: 1. Have you applied Christ's blood to your heart? 2. Do you walk with a pure heart? 3. Are you applying Christ' blood in your prayer for others? 4. Have you stopped laboring and trusting God's word for provision? 5. Are you in a situation beyond your control and outside your comfort zone? 6. Do you remember situations when God delivered you from slavery to sin? |
 Mark Pomeroy My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God. Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future. Overview Sync pilot lesson 1 Sync YouTube  
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