Tuesday Devotion: Genie or Storm Chaser

Thursday July 15, 2010
Read Mark 4:26-29

My family and I built garden boxes this year. It was a great family
project in which I helped each one to build his or her own box. Then
mother Mary, being the gardening genius she is, guided us through the
planting process.
It’s amazing to see what has been happening. While we are sleeping at
night and going about our business during the day those boxes are bursting
with life giving food. We have potatoes, beans, cucumbers, and the
tomatoes are not far behind. What truly amazes me is how little we
actually have to do with the whole process. We plant, nurture, and
harvest. That’s it. The real miracle working takes place under the ground
and in the air, water and sunshine God provides. Forces far beyond our
control are at work while we sleep and run around the hills of Bethel
camp. Aside from a few battles with bugs and weeds we have precious little
to do with the process of growing our food. But what a joy it is to be
involved in partnership with God as amateur farmers!
I think that’s the main idea of Jesus’ parable of the seed. The farmer
scatters seed and God takes care of the rest. While he sleeps and rises,
not really knowing how the earth is producing, things happen, then when
the harvest is fully mature he gets to reap the blessing. This is how the
kingdom of God works. God allows us to plant the seeds of his love and
grace all around us. Then while we go about the business of serving him
the seeds we plant are watered and nurtured by the Spirit of God in ways
we cannot understand. Then one day, to our surprise, we look and see what
God has done with seed we forgot we had planted.
I remember one of my first attempts at gardening I planted the seed and
then just as it began to produce I harvested the crop…before it was fully
mature. What a disaster! I tried to make things happen on my time table
instead of letting nature finish the job. Sometimes we do that with God’s
work. We plant seeds and want a quick harvest. But we must remember that
even in evangelism the process of conversion often takes time, as does the
process of spiritual growth.
Maybe today you are thinking God isn’t using you. You haven’t seen any
visible results from long hours of scattering seed. This is especially
true of pastors, but can happen to anyone. Friend, don’t give up. Ministry
takes time and the majority of it is done by the mysterious underground
work of the Spirit. Precious little depends on you. Your job is to plant,
protect, nurture and harvest when the time is right. Leave the rest to
God.
Challenge: Go scatter some seed today. Ask God to lead you to someone who
just needs a word of love and hope, or an act of kindness. Don’t look for
results, just opportunities. Tonight thank God for letting you partner
with him. Water your seeds with daily prayer until you see a harvest. It
will come. And what a joy that will be!

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday July 14, 2010
Read Mark 4:21-25  Sanctified Ignorance?
Today we remember two important truths about truth. First, God only hides
things from us so that we can discover them. There are many things your
heart longs to understand about the ways of God but now they seem hidden
from your sight. Don’t settle for that. God wouldn’t have you be so
satisfied with the light you have now that you don’t long for more.
Contrary to the spirit of religion God wants you to question and seek and
wonder. “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your
heart.” Jeremiah tells us. The problem with too many of us is that we are
too satisfied to sit in sanctified ignorance. We are proud of what we
don’t know. But the hidden things of God are hidden only that they might
be revealed to those who seek them. Hosea warns us that “my people perish
for lack of knowledge.” Second, we are responsible for what we do with
what we know. “For the one who has more will be given, and from the one
who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Truth has a short shelf
life. If you do not use it you will lose it. How many things of God have
you learned that now you no longer remember? Did you use the things God
showed you or just tuck them away in your religious memory box? Many
wonder why they can get no new revelation from the Lord. He will not give
you anything new until you have been a faithful steward of what you know
now. Are you walking in the light you have now? Then get ready for more to
come from your heavenly father. He is not intimidated by his children
learning. He has no fear of intelligent and thoughtful believers. Your
questions do not offend him and your doubts, if prayed through, can become
a doorway into knowing him more. God has plenty of light to give to those
who will seek it and put it to use for his kingdom.
Challenge:  Go to your bookshelf and take a look at all the Bible Studies
that you have done, go over all the Bible verses you have highlighted, and
ask yourself if you are using the things you learned.  Remember truth
neglected is blessing rejected.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill

Tuesday June 8, 2010
Read Mark 1:16-20 The gospel according to Jesus. pt. 4
“And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (v.18)
“And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the
boat with the hired servants and followed him.” (20)
The immediacy of things here is very striking. It’s hard to imagine these
men dropping everything to follow someone like that. I can’t help this
mental image of old Zebedee working hard at mending nets and probably
chatting away about the day’s events. Maybe he was telling James and John
about those crazy guys down the coast who he heard had just walked away
from their fishing business to follow some rabbi. “I tell you boys, it’s
hard to find good workers anymore. These young people just don’t
understand the importance of hard work. Why when I was your age…uh boys,
are you listening to me?! Boys? Now where did they go?” Zebedee looks up
to see his boys scurrying off behind some rabbi. He just stands there
scratching his head. “Young people! Humph”
What was it about Jesus that caused fishermen to walk away from their
life’s work, and a tax collector to abandon a lucrative business and a bad
woman to abandon her escort service all at the sound of a simple call to
follow? No infomercials, no sales pitch, no clever ad campaign. Jesus just
walks up and says, “Follow me” and they leave everything. What could
possess them to do such a thing? Maybe there is a clue in Jesus’ promise;
“Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” In essence he was
saying to these fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you become more than
you ever imagined.” Jesus was offering these men more than a religion. He
was offering them a life purpose, a mission that would prove to be greater
than anything they could have ever dreamed. This is what Jesus offers
anyone who dares to drop everything and follow him. He didn’t come simply
to tell us how to behave and how to be nice people with good morals. He
came to call us into a quest. He came to initiate the invasion of heaven
into earth. He came to take simple ordinary people and transform them into
revolutionaries for the kingdom of God. He came to change fishermen into
Apostles, prostitutes into princesses, and demoniacs into diplomats.
Whatever the reason for so many to drop everything and follow Jesus, one
thing is clear. Those who believed in Jesus became more than fans. They
became followers.
Jesus did not go around asking people to simply agree with him. He didn’t
go up to James and John and ask them to fill out a form or sign a
statement of faith declaring their position on who he was. He called them
to drop everything and follow. Friends the gospel according to Jesus
includes a call not simply to agree with him, but to go after him. Too
many of us live under the delusion that being a Christian simply means
that we agree with him. We accept the tenets of Christianity and that
makes us Christian. Well, it may make you a Christian in the academic
sense but it will not make you a follower of Jesus. His call is to drop
your net, walk away from your tax table, drop your water pot at the well,
and come after him. Until you do that you have not responded to the Gospel
according to Jesus. His call is simple; Repent, Believe, Follow and
Become. Too many would be disciples are still tangled up in their nets and
stuck behind the table to follow Jesus. Today why not abandon your own
life and take up his. Go beyond your beliefs and make it your ambition to
be a follower of Jesus. Leave your dead Christianity behind and take up
the cause of his kingdom.
Challenge: Today practice the discipline of immediacy. Whenever you see a
need or feel the tug of the spirit to help someone in any way, drop
whatever you are doing and respond immediately. Don’t wait till later.
Drop your net and go. No planning or pondering, just do it.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Monday June 7, 2010
Read Mark 1: 15 The Gospel According to Jesus. Pt.3
 The Sin of Repentance
Repentance without faith is an exercise in pride. There are those who
spend their whole lives in repentance and never experience the joy and
freedom of a forgiven life. They toil each day under the blazing heat of
sorrow and guilt constantly reminding themselves of how unworthy they are.
We all know such people. They live with a perpetual frown and a dark
preoccupation with their own faults. They are living in a sort of
half-gospel, which is really no gospel at all. The danger of living in a
half- gospel is that it can lead to a dark religious pride. It can lead to
a false humility that seeks to impress people, and maybe even God, with
loud groans of “I’m so unworthy!” There is a kind of “Glory in their
shame” (Philippians 3:19) taking place in the person who is always getting
saved again, always recommitting, always learning but never coming to a
knowledge of the truth. They drain the energy of caring fellow believers
with their endless need to be re-affirmed and reassured. This lifestyle
looks humble on the outside. But it is no different in the eyes of our
Lord than the Pharisee who disfigures his face with a pious pout so
everyone will know he is fasting. The goal is the same; I want people to
focus on me. There is then, a point in which even repentance becomes
sinful. It becomes sinful when it refuses to believe the good news and
walk in forgiveness. Jesus calls his followers to repent of their sin and
believe the good news. Perhaps today there are those of us who need to
simply repent of our repentance. Our constant preoccupation with our
unworthiness has become an idol. We have gloried in our shame long enough
and now it is time to put both oars in the water and stop going in
circles. It is time to get your eyes out of your spiritual belly button
and start walking by faith into the purpose God has for you. Anything less
than faith is sin. Believe the good news today. You are forgiven, so get
going for God.
Challenge: Refuse to pray for or dwell on yourself today. Just for today
every time you begin to think about yourself pray for or do something for
someone else. Be as outward as you can.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Friday June 4, 2010
Read Mark 1:15  The gospel according to Jesus pt.2
So I guess you heard about the umpire who made a bad call last week that
ruined a perfect record for a player. I hope you saw the story of the two
guys coming together in healing. I wonder if you have been watching the
commercials of the BP exec. apologizing for the oil spill. Were they
repentant?  What is repentance? This is the first thing Jesus tells us to
do as we step by faith into his kingdom. It is also a way of life for the
believer. In fact I would venture to say that if you have to look far into
the past to find a time when you last repented of sin either you don’t get
out much or have some serious things to discuss with God. It is a fallacy
to think that repentance is a one time thing for the believer. We are
continually turning from our way to God’s way. That is essentially what
repentance is. (See 2 Cor. 5:15) Following Jesus means that I am daily
laying aside the values and things of this world, and crucifying my old
life so that I may walk in the new life of Jesus. ( see Gal. 2:20)
Today I want to look at the elements of repentance using the word itself.
What is involved in true Biblical repentance? When was the last time you
did this? When I repent I……..
Recognize- Repentance begins when I recognize a wrong action or attitude
for what it is. I am honest about my responsibility and my need for a
change. I don’t blame others, or excuse myself because of my childhood. I
face my sin and deal with it as it is.
Express- I must express a sincere desire to change. Most confession falls
short of this. Often people confess with no intention to change. They just
want off the hook. Like the husband who tries to charm his wife with a
cool apology with no real intention to alter his behavior. True repentance
must include a desire to do things differently.
Perspective- Repentance is more than changing behavior it is a change in
how I view something. I cannot truly repent unless I begin to see my sin
as something that needs to change. As long as I still think it’s cool to
gossip, for example, I will not really change. No one repents while
wearing a grin.
Evaluate- Repentance is thoughtful work. It involves taking a serious look
at my life patterns and priorities. Just because I cry at the altar does
not mean I am repentant. True repentance says, how can I alter my
lifestyle in order to avoid this sin in the future?
Navigate- Repentance continues to bear fruit as I practice making wiser
choices and decisions. It is much like navigating a ship through murky
waters. I have to seriously seek the Lord’s guidance and grace as I seek
to live the new way. I may need to call on friends to pray for me and keep
me accountable.
Trust- Trust is important on at least two levels. First, I cannot repent
at all unless I place my complete trust in Jesus Christ and his death on
the cross. Second, I can trust my savior to give me all the power I need
to overcome sin. He alone can give me victory. I must draw his power, for
without him I can do nothing.
Challenge: Today and every day, ask God to search your heart for sinful
actions or attitudes that need his healing power. Seriously and
thoughtfully repent of it. Stop justifying, and start living free. (John
8:31-36)

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Thursday June 3, 2010
Read: Mark 1:14-15  The gospel according to Jesus. pt. 1
What is the gospel according to Jesus and how does our gospel line up with
it? For the next couple of days I want to take a look at just what it was
that made up Jesus’ basic gospel message. As we do I fear that we may come
to the realization that the gospel many of us have cut our teeth on does
not quite match what Jesus said. This of course may be what has led to a
kind of cultural Christianity that looks nothing like the kind of
Christianity we are called to live out. In other words our biggest problem
may not be that Christians today don’t practice what they preach. The
bigger problem in some cases is that many DO practice what they preach.
But what they preach has little or no resemblance to Jesus’ message. Let’s
take some time, as we reconsider what it means to be followers of Jesus to
ask ourselves what it was Jesus preached and how it compares with what we
preach today. Hopefully this will enable us to see more clearly how to get
in step with our Lord.
1. “The Time is fulfilled”
     Jesus came preaching a message whose time had come. Centuries of
prophets and kings, battles, and exiles, all under the sovereign
rule of God, had been leading up to the appearing of Jesus Christ.
The gospel he preached was not a last ditch effort to save the world
as much preaching implies. This new covenant between God and
humanity had been planned from the before the beginning of time and
was now unfolding just as God had designed. The gospel is a message
of fulfillment. It is a now message. Jesus did not preach a gospel
that invites people to come “whenever you are ready.” Jesus’ gospel
says, ready or not the time has come. It is not a gospel of
convenience. It is a call to drop what you’re doing and seek the
Lord while he may be found. God comes to us all in the fullness of
time and bids us respond. Whether it is to salvation or service,
when God calls that is the time to respond. Are we preaching and
living a gospel that honors God’s timetable? Are we dropping our
nets, leaving the tax office, and putting down the water pot when
the Lord of time calls? Or are we asking people to check their
calendars and see if there is room for God?
2. “The Kingdom of God is at hand”
      The gospel Jesus preached is not only about fulfillment of time,
but the creating of a kingdom on the earth. The kingdom, or rule of
God, was the heart of Jesus’ preaching. Most of his teaching
revolved around the idea of God’s kingdom. Jesus did not come to
create a new religion so much as to establish a heavenly culture.
The crucial difference between religion and Christianity is this;
Religion is humanity’s attempt to get to heaven. Christianity is
the manifestation of the kingdom of heaven on earth. The
religionist seeks to find a way to heaven while the believer in
Jesus seeks to live out heaven’s reality right now. It is a kingdom
where love is the rule, sins are forgiven, healing is normal, and
holiness is the norm. It is a living breathing culture where the
refugee has a home, the hungry are satisfied, the sick are made
well and the sinner finds forgiveness. It is a reality on earth
that reflects the glory of heaven. While we certainly look forward
to heaven after we die, the heart of the believer is to manifest
the kingdom of heaven at home, in school, at work, and maybe even
in church. The prayer “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven…” is more than a sentimental wish uttered from
pious lips on Sunday morning. It is a radical plea for God’s rule
to be made real where you and I live right now. (Insert shouts
here)
Tomorrow we will move further into the first steps of the kingdom. But for
now let us think seriously about the immediacy of Jesus gospel. It is a
now gospel of a now kingdom.
 Challenge: It has been said that whenever you see a problem somewhere
that is not God’s invitation for you to criticize, but to intercede or
work for change. In light of that, try this;
Throughout the day, whenever you run into a bad situation or see something
that upsets or frustrates you make this your heartfelt prayer;
“Your kingdom come, you will be done in____________ as it is in heaven.”
Fill in the blank with the appropriate word. Try to do this all day rather
than just getting upset.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Wednesday June 2, 2010
Read Mark 1:12-13  Are we really Spirit led?
Today I want to talk about being Spirit led. We all want to be Spirit led,
don’t we? Our Christian culture passes that phrase around a lot. We have
Spirit led churches with cool dove logos on the sign out front. We have
Spirit led music, Spirit led bibles (as opposed to?) Spirit led cruises
with all you can eat buffets, and even Spirit led dating services. Wow!
But I fear that in all this talk of spirit-led stuff we may have forgotten
what it really means. In some cases we may have begun to be led by a
different spirit. In our overeating, overspending, and under serving
Christian culture do we even have any idea of what it means to be led by
the Holy Spirit as Jesus was?
One of the keys to following Jesus is a willingness to walk in step with
the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ life was characterized by this. He only did what
he saw his father doing (John 5:19) and said the words given to him (John
12:49). He made it clear to Nicodemus that those who are born again live
by the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). As believers we understand
that we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into God’s will daily. But
what happens when the Holy Spirit leads us into the wilderness filled with
devils and wild animals?  Do we still want to be Spirit-led? Or is it only
when He leads us to buy a new car?
 It’s interesting that after Jesus’ baptism the Spirit leads him
immediately into a place of testing and difficulty. “The Spirit
immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” There he spent forty
grueling days and nights.  There he was forced to face two enemies we all
must face. He had to face the devil and he had to face himself. If he had
lost this crucial battle the rest of his ministry would have been
crippled. Thankfully he won over both the temptations of Satan and the
tyranny of the self. When was the last time you heard a “Spirit-filled”
mega church guru challenge you to do that?
 It’s a good thing Jesus was not brought up in many of our 21rst century
churches in the west. If he had been he may have skipped the desert and
gone to the beach instead. In our day we have this idea that the Holy
Spirit only wants to lead us into comfortable and safe places. We love to
follow the Spirit to concerts and conferences where we can receive a holy
massage from an entertaining speaker and buy lots of spiritual books and
music to clutter our shelves with. But the moment many of us find
ourselves facing anything that threatens our plastic Garden of Eden we
tell ourselves this can’t be of God. We ask God to use us so he lands us
in a job filled with mean spirited, ungodly co workers. We suffer through
each day like refugees in a foreign land and cry to God at night, “How
could you put me here! I want to be in your will!” meaning “I want to be
in a nice Christian environment with lots of praise music and spiritually
cool friends who all go to cool churches and eat lunch together at cool
Christian restaurants every day where we can laugh and talk about our
nice Christian lives. We want to be in God’s will as long as we don’t
have to come face to face with the devil or with ourselves. You see in
the office full of meanies we come to terms with who we are and how much
we need God. We battle temptation and trial so as to become more like
Jesus. It is there in the desert place we truly begin to be Spirit led.
But too often we bail out and look for a nice Christian bubble to hide
in. We want a safe place where we can be saved from trial, saved from
temptation, saved from God. We forget that Jesus said, “If anyone serves
me he must follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also…”
(John 12:26) The Biblical pattern for following the Spirit is quite
different from what most of us have been taught.  Today we need to
rethink our idea of what it means to be Spirit led. When you commit
yourself to following the Lord, be prepared for times of desert duty. Get
ready to face the devil head on and to face yourself. This is the first
stop in the journey of the Spirit. Self must be crucified and Satan must
be defeated before we can go on with the Spirit. The cruise will just
have to wait.
Challenge: Look around your community for a desert place. It may be a
neighborhood or a workplace that appears to be spiritually needy. Adopt
that place as a weekly place of prayer. Begin to pray over that place
asking God to show you what he wants to do there. You may invite someone
to do weekly prayer walks with you. What might God want you to do there?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Tuesday June 1, 2010
Read Mark 1:4-11  Getting off on the right foot.
What family has not at least one memory of the vacation from you know
where? Ours happened in Birmingham Alabama. We traveled for several hours
assuming that strange sound coming from our van was nothing too serious.
Then upon entering the city of Birmingham our van let out a roar as thick
black smoke poured from the engine. To make a long story short we ended up
having to get a new engine and had a miserable drive back home. If you
start any journey making the wrong assumptions you can end up in trouble
down the road. This is also true in our Journey of following Jesus.
Looking at the beginning verses of Mark’s gospel we see some foundational
things we need to understand lest we get off on the wrong foot and find
ourselves paying for it later. If we are going to go where Jesus went and
do what Jesus did we must begin where Jesus began. Let us then consider
some basic assumptions about following Jesus that will help us down the
road.
1.       Dripping with the Holy Spirit…or something else?
The Pharisees had been baptized in legalism, dripping with rules and
regulations. The Sadducees had been immersed in tradition. These parties
began their careers with misguided assumptions. They believed that
righteousness could be attained by keeping a series of human traditions
and laws. This idea guided their entire lives. Legalism and traditionalism
led them down a long road of shallow religion that eventually made them
blind to the Son of God. It’s tragic today to see Christians who are
immersed in everything except the Holy Spirit. They have been baptized in
denominational tradition, dunked in legalism, and are dripping with the
opinions of their forefathers. But they have no room for the Spirit of
God. To be followers of Jesus, however we must be immersed in the Holy
Spirit. We must allow the Lord to drown us in his power and presence.
Jesus himself began his ministry here and we must do the same daily.
2.      God has spoken over you.
As the Spirit washed over our Lord, a voice from heaven said of him: “You
are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” One of the great
tragedies of faith is to see so many who have believed in the Lord Jesus
but who still do not know where they stand with him. They often spend
their lives in anxiety about their relationship with God. Never quite sure
they are quite forgiven enough they spend each day trying to convince
themselves they are saved. This leads to a shaky and self focused form of
religion that can be heavy to bear. Jesus began his ministry knowing he
had his father’s seal of approval. Often he expressed confidence in his
father’s love for him. I wonder how many times Jesus, in times of
struggle, looked back at his baptism, remembering his father’s words
spoken over him. Before Jesus had really done anything his father was
already proud of him. You may have had people speak judgments over you.
You may have even been labeled by religious people in negative terms.
Jesus was called a drunk, a demon, and a liar by the religious
authorities. But he refused to wear those labels. He just remembered what
his father had spoken over him in the beginning. That carried him through
it all. To be a follower of Jesus will require that you know what your
father has spoken over you and live by that rather than by what others
will want to speak over you at times. Even before the journey begins your
father in heaven has already spoken his love over you.
Challenge: Spend one hour today listening to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to
speak to you about anything. No talking, just listening. Write down
thoughts and impressions that come to mind. Consider doing this daily.
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten by the word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian
resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
Copyright 2009 R. Mark Driskill
Feel free to copy and use in any way that will bring glory to God and his
kingdom.

Begotten by the Word Summer Devotions 2010
Following Jesus: Challenges from Jesus’ life and words.
Writing from the Gospel of Mark
May 31, 2010
Read Mark 1: 1-3   Clear the way for the Holy Hurry!
When we were small children we grew up hearing people tell us to “hurry up”. I remember my older siblings expressing frustration with me when we would be walking somewhere. I would often lag behind until they would say in exasperation, “Mark, Hurry up!” Even as an adult I find myself trying to hurry up and meet deadlines and fulfill expectations. It seems like we are all in a hurry for everything, except to follow Christ. We rush to work and school, fly like mad to get the kids to the game, and break our necks to get to the meetings. But when Jesus calls we sometimes lag behind. We nod sleepily in church as the sermon beckons us to follow our Lord. He is walking way out front while we sit in our pews. Friends we are living in days when we can no longer afford the luxury of lagging behind. The Lord is calling us to hurry up and get into the fields while it is day, “for night is coming when no one can work.” John the Baptist was sent to a people much like us, in a hurry for everything except God. He was sent to light a fire under the people of God and tell them to hurry up. He called them to a Holy Hurry!
The gospel of Mark is often described as “The Gospel of the Holy Hurry” because of its emphasis on the immediacy of Jesus’ actions. You can find it used 18 times in some translations. Mark is a gospel of action as Jesus demonstrates his power in a multitude of ways. This summer I have been prompted (Thanks Miranda) to seriously consider what Jesus did and said and how as a believer I am to live accordingly. To find the heart of what it really means to follow in Jesus’ steps has always been a longing of mine, although I must confess to my inadequacy in pursuing his life. Friends I feel challenged to, once again, to look beyond the religious trappings in my life, by which I have learned to make myself comfortable as a Christian, and wake myself to the reality of true discipleship. I don’t want to spend my life blindly sailing the calm seas of complacent religion, going through the motions, as the song says, and miss the call of Jesus to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow him. So this summer I am going to walk prayerfully through the gospel of Mark and seek to hurry myself out of complacency and try to catch up with my Lord. I hope you will join me. Each devotion will end with a challenge to do something specific and stretching that day in response. So if you are looking for a nice devotion that only speaks in cozy generalities and a nice “crochetable” thought for the day I hope to disappoint you. I also hope to offend  some of our religious sensibilities that have been constructed to keep us from following Jesus in the past. That is my hope.  I hope I will not settle down or back down when things get too edgy as has been my tendency at times. So pray for me. I am not the expert coming to tell you how to follow Jesus. I am on a journey and am asking you to get in a holy hurry and follow with me. Jesus is way out ahead of us and it’s time we got up off the couch and hurry after him.
Today’s challenge: Just to get warmed up. Read through the Gospel of Mark today and ask Jesus to teach you how to follow him. Oh and do your reading intentionally in place of something you would normally be hurrying to accomplish. Cancel or postpone something just this once as an offering to God. Be in a holy hurry to find him.
 
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Driskill Family Ministry Update: May 2010
It’s hard to believe that summer is here and camp begins tomorrow!  We’ve been hard at working finishing up the spring semester of ministry and preparing for the summer.
Oakdale:  Mark finished up the semester with the senior play, two Spanish classes, one Bible class and a church history class.  He continues to have opportunities to preach and witness.  Many times in church history, the students would ask questions which opened the door for explaining the Christian faith.  In the Bible class, three students accepted Christ this semester.  He was able to meet with them several times for discipleship. Two of those three students were baptized a few weeks ago.  Pray for the staff and students who will be at Oakdale for the summer term and for Mark as he prepares for fall semester.
Emmanuel Fellowship: We continue to see growth—in babies!  We’ve had several newborns this year and have one expectant couple due in July.  We can’t take any credit for this baby boom, but sure are enjoying the sounds of gurgling babies.  We baptized two believers today and have several more who have indicated a desire for baptism.  Our Youth Drama Team performed three times this semester and did a really great job.  We continue to participate with Helping Hands Ministries in senior adult food distribution; joined several youth groups for a monthly free skate night and devotion where several decisions were made when Mark spoke; Mark writes his weekly newspaper column, daily online devotions and monthly radio broadcast.
Bethel Camp:  Special Needs week begins Tuesday and Team Driskill will be ready.  Mark will serve as Bible Speaker most every week and M&M will be directors for one week of camp. Kate and Jack will serve alongside us again this year as part of the camp staff working as counselors, worship leader and recreation director during the summer.  Mark and the boys will attend Boy Scout Camp in June while the girls and Mary continue to work at camp.  Jack is on track for Eagle Scout this year and John’s right behind him.  Pray for us as we minister to campers this summer and for the wisdom, creativity and energy needed for the next eight weeks.
Personal Notes:  Mark is also preparing for a mission trip to Kenya in August.  He will be working with local pastors training and equipping them for ministry.  Pray that he will secure the funds needed for the trip ($3000) and for safety.  Pray that he will be prepared for the tasks at hand.  Mary is completing her certification as a yoga instructor which she started in January.  The 200-hour training has been quite challenging and has offered her many opportunities. Her prayer is that she has been able to present a positive Christian witness and that her certification would open doors for further ministry through health and wholeness teaching.  Kate will be serving with a mission team in late July working with urban ministries in Tampa, Florida.  She is going with her Campus Ministries group and has been raising her support for the trip as well.  Please keep us each in your prayers as we seek to serve Christ through many avenues and for courage, boldness, and compassion as we serve.  If you’d like to help us in any of these endeavors, please send your support to: Driskill, P. O. Box 1159, Jackson, KY 41339.
Laborer’s Together With Christ—Mark, Mary, Kate, Jack, John, and Grace Driskill

Day Seven: Junior II, July 12-17

This camp is for students completing grades 6-8 and runs Monday afternoon through Saturday morning.

Prayer Focus: “…and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”

Pray that campers will realize the power of God to keep us from evil and the wisdom of God’s plan for holy lives lived in submission to his Word.  Pray that campers will realize how vital a tool the Word of God is in resisting temptation and the importance of Christian fellowship in keeping your faith strong and growing.  Pray that the staff will have meaningful conversations about victorious Christian living and how campers can stand up to the pressures of the world around them.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they challenge the campers with the Word of God and how to apply it to everyday life.  Pray that the staff will support one another as they seek to live authentic lives of faith. Pray for safety and a spirit of cooperation among the campers and staff.

Day Eight: Youth II, July 19-24

This last week of camp is for students completing grades 9-12 and runs Monday afternoon through Saturday morning.

Prayer Focus: “…for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”

It’s fitting that this last phrase, not found in Matthew or Luke’s account, but used throughout the Christian community, is added as an affirmation of faith, a pledge of allegiance to the Lord, for this youth camp.  Pray that in a similar way, this group of campers would be able to apply the truths they discover at camp to their own life, their own community, their own world.  Pray that if they do not know Christ, this would be the week they begin that relationship.  Pray that if they already walk with the Lord, this week would challenge them to live out their lives for God’s glory, for God’s kingdom, for the rest of their lives.  Pray that as they make decisions that will affect the rest of their lives, they will seek first the Lord and his way.  Pray for the many staffers who will be campers this last week and that God’s work would be completed in their lives.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they speak truth, love and godliness.  Pray for the continued impact of one week of camp in the lives of teenagers and for the eternal influence Bethel Camp has in the lives of campers every summer.

Day Six: Junior I, July 5-9

This camp is for students in grades 4-6 and runs Monday afternoon through Friday morning.

Prayer Focus: “…and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…”

Pray that these campers see the relationship between God’s passion and forgiveness for us available through Christ and our willingness to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.  Pray that campers understand that the way we treat others affects our relationship with God.  Pray they learn how to live as examples of God’s love to their families, friends and neighbors. Pray that they understand how Christ took our punishment so we might have forgiveness. Pray for the staff as they live out forgiveness and love.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they proclaim forgiveness through Jesus Christ and right relationships between us.

Thursday May 27, 2010 – Read Revelation 22:12-21  Is your heart ready?

I remember one of my  young children reacting to a sign which read, “Jesus is coming soon”. The child, who will kill me if I reveal the name, said fearfully, “Mom, Dad, Is he coming today? Are we all going together? What will happen to our house? Where will we live? What about my friends at church?” This young child was seriously considering the reality of Christ’s coming and how it would impact our lives as a family. This child loved Jesus but their heart wasn’t quite ready for everything to change so dramatically.

Is your heart ready for Jesus Christ to return? The classic answer is “Sure I’m saved. So yeah, I’m ready.” But is your heart ready? If most of us were completely honest we would say something like I heard from a young believer not long ago: “I love Jesus and all but I have things to do first.” Haven’t we all felt that way at times? One guy said “I would be kinda disappointed if he came while I’m still a virgin…” Many of us have said “I have family members who aren’t ready.” We all have, if we are honest, mixed feelings about being suddenly swept away from this life, not because we don’t want to be with Jesus but because of ties we have to people and things in this world. Some have to confess lingering sin that we have not yet forsaken. What a terrible thing for many who will be in the midst of secret sin when Christ returns. Our hearts are so tied to this life that we often feel hesitant about the Lord returning.

It is understandable for the believer who seriously thinks about the Lord’s return to think this way from time to time. As much as we want our Lord to come there is some apprehension about what that will mean practically. How can our hearts be ready, really ready for Christ to return? How can we get in a position where we truly can say, without any reservation, “Come Lord Jesus.” ?  The answer is simply to live by faith.

1. By faith I repent of sin and seek to walk in ever increasing godliness rather than compromise. By faith I put away resentments and unforgiveness knowing that I cannot be forgiven if I do not forgive. By faith I seek deliverance from besetting sin rather than just rationalizing it.

2. By faith I trust that nothing in this world that I want to experience can compare with what the Lord has prepared for me in heaven. Whatever I have not done in this life will be swallowed up by the incredible experiences that wait. By faith I hold loosely to the things of this world and seek to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

2. By faith I trust that God is aware of my loved ones and wants them in heaven more than I. By faith I pray and work for their salvation. I agonize in prayer and live in a way that reflects Christ. I share my faith with them in love.

3. By faith I trust that God has eternity well in hand and “the one who trusts in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11)

As we close this study of Revelation let us come to the living water and drink without price. Let us wash our robes in the blood of the lamb. Let us put all our faith in the Lord Jesus and with ready hearts say, “Even so come Lord Jesus!”

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Day Six: Junior I, July 5-9

This camp is for students in grades 4-6 and runs Monday afternoon through Friday morning.

Prayer Focus: “…and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…”

Pray that these campers see the relationship between God’s passion and forgiveness for us available through Christ and our willingness to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.  Pray that campers understand that the way we treat others affects our relationship with God.  Pray they learn how to live as examples of God’s love to their families, friends and neighbors. Pray that they understand how Christ took our punishment so we might have forgiveness. Pray for the staff as they live out forgiveness and love.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they proclaim forgiveness through Jesus Christ and right relationships between us.

Wednesday May 26, 2010 – Read Revelation  22:6-11 The Point of no Return

“Let the evil doer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” (v.11)

Some things in life just can’t be undone. You can’t unspeak a spoken word. You can’t unbake a baked cake. You can’t unshoot a bullet from a fired weapon. Once those decisions are made there is no way to unmake them. In eternity it is the same. There comes a point where it is impossible to start over or make a change. Once the line between this life and the next is crossed destiny is fixed and cannot be undone. There are those who wrongly imagine that when the time comes to stand before God then they will be able to repent of their sins and find forgiveness. But God’s word is clear. “It is appointed for man to die once, then after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) There is no recycling of the soul into another life, no post death chance to change your mind, no coming back to earth to earn your wings. We must make our choice about eternity while in this life. You say you have no concern about eternity? You say you have too much going on now to be bothered with such things? What happens if this life ends today? When you find yourself facing infinity unable to change, unable to go back and try again what will you have from this life to hold on to? Will the choices you are making today be worth the price of eternity?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday May 25, 2010 – Revelation 22:1-5  Three Trees of Life.

In the creation story of Genesis we first see the tree of life. It is planted in the Garden of Eden along side the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The two trees there represent a choice humanity would be asked to make. The choice would be between faith and unbelief, obedience and rebellion, life and death. Adam and Eve were tempted and chose the forbidden fruit. The rest is history. It’s a long history of humans standing between the same two trees basically making the same choice. We continue to eat from the tree of unbelief, choosing to compete with God rather than trust him.

In the New Testament we read of another tree of life and death. In the cross we see the sinless Son of God bearing the weight of human rebellion on a cruel cross. At the cross good and evil, faith and unbelief, life and death wrestle for supremacy. But with the words, “it is finished!” The cross of death becomes a tree of life. As in the first story, the rest is history. It’s a long history of people coming to a fork in the road of life. There a choice is made to trust in the saving work of Christ on the cross, or to continue competing with God rather than trust.

When we get to heaven there is yet another tree of life. It bears fruit all year round and its leaves are for the healing of nations. Only in this scene there is no more choice to be made. Death and sin will be gone. We who have stood at the fork in the road and taken from the second tree of life will live in the presence of God. His face will finally be visible and in his light we will walk forever. And we will reign with him forever and ever.

God has offered humanity the tree of life freely. The first tree was rejected in the garden. The second tree is still extending the invitation and those who, by placing faith in Christ and turning from sin, receive its life giving fruit. At the end of the age the tree of life will be the only tree standing. Will you be eating from it?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Day Five: Day Camp, June 28-July 2

This camp is for students completing 1-3 grades and runs daily from 9:00 until 3:00. There is an optional “stay all night” on Thursday evening.

Prayer Focus: “…give us this day, our daily bread…”

Pray that these young campers will come to understand that God cares for their daily needs.  Pray that they will learn the basics of Christian faith, trusting that God is able to provide for and care for them and their families.  Pray that the eyes of these campers would be opened to come to know the marvelous grace of our heavenly father and his great compassion and love for all the children.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they present God’s love and plan for caring for the world through Christ, the Bread of Life.  Pray for gentleness and patience for the staff as they minister to the needs of these young campers.

Day Four: Youth I Camp, June 21-26

This camp is for students completing grades 9-12 and runs Monday afternoon through Saturday morning.

Prayer Focus: “….on earth as it is in heaven…”

Pray that these senior high school students would grow in their understanding of what it means to live a Godly life in this world, being mindful that we are citizens of heaven while here on earth.  Pray that the campers who don’t know Christ would be challenged by the gospel and would recognize the connection between the way we live in the world and the eternal results of that life style.  Pray for those campers who are already Christians that they would grow in their awareness of the needs of the world around them and step into their calling as ambassadors for Christ in a fallen world.  Pray that they would become prayer warriors for this generation, bridging the gap between the earthly and heavenly realms, bringing the needs of the world before our heavenly father. Pray for the Bible speakers that they would speak blessing into the lives of the campers and preach the word with power. Pray for the staff, that they would be kingdom minded examples for the youth in their cabins.

Monday May 24, 2010 – Read Revelation 21:22-27  Will there be sushi in heaven?

“They will bring into it the glory of the nations.” (v.26)

There is something intriguing about the idea that the glory of the nations will somehow be brought into the kingdom of heaven. Imagine a place where the purest and best of every nation is somehow interwoven into the fabric of eternity. Does this mean that heaven will include elements of earth’s cultures? Will it be possible, for example, as we walk through the heavenly city, to see architecture of ancient cultures that brought glory to God on the earth? Will we hear the sounds ancient earthly symphonies being played in honor and praise of God? What does all this suggest about the heart of God?

First of all, whatever we will see in regard to the nations, it will bear witness to God’s heart for people of all nations, tribes and languages. The fact that God would somehow preserve forever those things from all nations that brought him glory on earth, suggests that the variety of cultures and races is part of God’s plan for this life and the next. God desires to see people from all nations in his heaven, giving him glory forever. This should, at the very least, encourage us to go into the entire world with the good news of Jesus so that all may know him.

I once was sharing my faith with a young girl from Japan. She told me at one point; “I cannot become a Christian because I am not American.” She thought of Christianity as an exclusively American faith. I tried to explain to her that, while there is a rich Christian heritage in our country, Christianity was not born here. The gospel is a faith for all nations. It comes from a God who has a heart for all nations. If God intends for heaven to reflect his love for people of all cultures then it stands to reason that his people should do the same. I dare you today to reach out in the love of Christ to someone from a nation other than your own. Lord make my heart as big as your heaven.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Day Three: Junior II Camp, June 14-19

This camp is designed for students completing grades 6-8 and runs Monday afternoon through Saturday morning.

Prayer Focus: “…your kingdom come, your will be done…”

Pray that these junior high students will come to understand the sovereignty of God in their lives and the submission of their will to God’s plans and purposes in their lives.  Pray that they will grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Christ and put his ways before our own.  Pray that the staff will be submissive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and demonstrate servant hearts in their activities with both camper and staff. Pray for the Bible speakers as they speak truth into the lives of the campers.  Pray that they would seek first the kingdom of God as they seek to enrich and challenge the lives of the campers. Pray for safety and cooperation among the camp.

Day Two: Junior I Camp, June 7-11

This camp is for students completing grades 4-6 and runs from Monday afternoon through Friday morning.

Prayer Focus: “……hallowed be your Name…”

Pray that these young campers will get a glimpse of the holiness of God and the role holiness should play in their lives.  Pray that the staff will model a lifestyle of Godly holiness and total surrender to the Lordship of Christ in their lives and would be able to share that with the campers.  Pray for a spirit of repentance and sincere longing for the things of God in the lives of the campers and staff during this week.  Pray that first time campers would feel safe and supported enough to overcome any homesickness they may feel.  Pray for the Bible speakers as they preach and teach God’s holy word.  Pray that lives will be changed for the kingdom.

Day One: Special Needs Camp, June 1-5

This camp has been directed by Martha Maust for more than thirty summers and focuses on meeting the needs of special needs youth and adults.

Prayer Focus: “Our Father in heaven….”

These campers need to know the love of Father God and the welcome of the Christian family of faith.  Pray for the staff who will minister to campers this week, and for the campers to know God in a powerful way.  Pray for transportation and communication between the camp and the families of the campers.  Pray for Martha as she visits the homes of the campers and renews friendships of many years. Pray that all our special needs friends will come to know the love of God and the fellowship of the Christian community.

Friday May 21, 2010 – Read Revelation 21:9-14  The Glory is coming.

When I was a child I used to hear preachers say of the church; “The church will become a thing of the past before Christ returns.” They would describe the last days bride of Christ as a worn out, burned out, neglected wife rather than the glorious bride revelation describes. The description here is admittedly the bride, or the church , in heaven, but it appears that as the Lord’s return draws closer the bride will take the gospel to the whole world before his return (Matthew 24:14). In order for that to happen the bride of Christ will have to be more like Christ not less. I believe the last days church will be the most glorious she has ever been. The Bride of the Lamb is described in this way at the end of the age;

1. “Having the glory of God, it’s radiance like a most rare jewel…clear as crystal.” The church will literally manifest the glory of God. As light flows freely through clear crystal so the light of the presence and power of God will shine through the church. She will reflect the love and purity of the lamb clearly with no obstructions. At the end of the age the church will mirror his majesty.

2. “The names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed.” Many today live in the delusion that God has forgotten or replaced Israel. But here we see a different story. God has not forgotten his beloved Israel and her destiny will be seen as woven into the destiny of the church (see Romans 10 and 11). The last days church will see the fulfillment of God’s promise to save his people Israel through Jesus Christ. God has not forgotten his covenant with Abraham. He has fulfilled it in Christ. At the end of the age she will confirm the covenant.

3. “On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.”  Gates on all sides of the bride signify access to God. Often we tend to turn the church into a fortress where only a chosen few may enter. Often we place restrictions on the gospel which are not Biblical, only cultural. The last days church will be more concerned with who we can bring in than who we can keep out. Jesus’ heart is always to seek and save the lost. At the end of the age she will share his heart.

4. “Twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the lamb.” The church, according to Paul was built on the “foundation of the apostles and prophets” (eph.4) which means she has an apostolic and prophetic calling in the world. In our attempts to meld into the culture and be accepted by the world we have to some degree lost sight of our prophetic and apostolic calling. Prophets confront the culture and apostles cross boundaries with the gospel. But the church in the west has often opted to coddle the culture and keep the gospel to ourselves. This has never been our calling as God’s people. The last days church will reclaim her apostolic and prophetic foundation. She will reclaim her apostolic passion. She will take the gospel into all the world.

Friends as the days of trouble increase in our world we as the bride of Christ must grow in strength and beauty so that an ever darkening world will see the glory of our Lord in us. Darkness will get darker and the gospel will shine brighter. May that begin in each of us today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday May 20, 2010 – Read Revelation 21:1-8 How Big is Your Forever?

Is your vision of eternity big enough to get you through today? I find that many believers have so little victory in this life because they have a God and a heaven that are way too small as well as a Satan and a Hell that are incidental. In our attempt to avoid becoming too heavenly minded we have gone to the opposite extreme. While I as much as you want to avoid becoming escapist, just sitting around thinking of heaven while the world around me perishes, I fear that many of us have lost our ability to hope because we no longer have any vision of eternity. We have become so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good. In throwing out any concern for the next life we are losing our sense of hope in this one. Secondly, we must not only have a clear vision of heaven to keep us hopeful, we need a clear vision of hell to keep us humble. Hell is a concept most of us, including this writer, would rather not discuss. We all want it to go away. We want to say of everyone who passes away, “they are in a better place.” This idea that everyone somehow is going to heaven has made the church a passive feel good club where we trade stories and sing songs, but have no sense of urgency. The fact is, according to the Bible those who die in their sins are not going to a better place, no matter how highly we think of them. To put it bluntly our heaven isn’t big enough and our hell isn’t hot enough to move us anymore.

The Bible on the other hand casts a compelling vision for eternity that demands a response. In order to live effectively in this life we must have a clear vision of the next. When the apostles wrote of heaven, they described a reality to come that “far outweighs” today’s afflictions. Paul tells us that the troubles of today can’t even compare to the glory that is to come (Romans 8:18).  And when Jesus spoke of hell he didn’t speak of a place where little devils in pajamas poke you with pitchforks. His hell was eternal and dark and full of despair. It was the only place in the universe devoid of God and hope. In the Bible heaven and hell are larger than life. Both realities are enough to keep the believer hopeful and humble. Friends, the size of your eternity will impact the quality of your daily life. How big is your eternity today?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday May 19, 2010 – Read Revelation 20:11-15  When the books are opened.

One of the most tragic mistakes of human life is that too many of us live as if there were no connection between how we live now and how we will live in the next life. In today’s passage we see the final judgment. On that day of all days in which time comes to an end and the eternal phase of life begins all that we have lived for will become clear. We will see the connection between what we do today and how we spend eternity.

1. “From his presence earth and sky fled away.”- At the final judgment everything of this life will be gone forever. The last vestiges of mortal existence will vanish in the face of eternity. The forests we tried to save will disappear along with the cities we built as monuments to ourselves. National borders carved out over centuries of wars and treaties will fade into oblivion. No one will be texting, sending emails or posting on facebook. Humanity will stand face to face with deity with nothing in between to distract or deter. We will see clearly what was important and what wasn’t.

2. “And I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne and the books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. ”- On that day of all days the novel of your life will be read before the heavenly court. Whether your life story reads like an adventure or tragedy, a comedy or romance it will be read page by page, chapter by chapter. Not a word will be omitted or glossed over. After all the stories are read in that timeless realm one final book will be opened. The book of life will declare each persons destiny. Those who have repented of their sins and placed faith in Jesus will find their names inscribed in his blood.

3. “Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them…”- It will be the end of death and the grave. Death will become a forgotten thing swallowed in one final gulp by the sovereign mercy of God. No more cancer ribbons. No more crosses on the highway. No more memorial gardens. Life takes over from here. Every tear shed in grief will be healed. Every scar of tragedy will be removed. Every step of faith taken through the valley of the shadow of death will be rewarded. We will see just how temporary death is.

4. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” – When the last name is read from the roll call of eternity God will shed his final tears. Many will rush to the throne insisting there must be some mistake. Religious people who spent their lives following their own path will stand in shock, beside the morally neutral who spent their lives mocking the message of salvation. The most tragic scene may be the church goers who “prayed the prayer” but never repented and believed. They will cry out “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not go on mission trips and teach Sunday school? Did we not sit on church boards and dance to praise music? Didn’t we…?”  With a broken heart the savior will say to them, “depart from me, I never knew you.” They will weep as they pass into eternity without God. Why? It’s because in all the pages of their life story, his name was left out completely. Not one page is given to the savior. They had no need for him, no desire for him, and no room for him in their book. Should there be any surprise then that their names are left out of his?

Friends if we would find our names in his book tomorrow, let us make sure his name is being written in our book today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday May 17, 2010

Read Revelation 20:1-10   The Deceiver of Nations

One honest look at the history of the nations of the world ought to convince anyone of two things; the deceptive work of Satan, and the sovereign grace of God.

When you take a look at all the leaders and governments that have been at the helm of the nations for at least the last twenty centuries it is a wonder that we are all still here. The roll call of delusional crazies who have ruled  makes ones mind spin with wonder. Satan has done a masterful job of deceiving the nations into a long history of wars, genocide, economic oppression and environmental destruction. Many of these things have even been done in the name of God. Even today we have delusional leaders whose narrow perception of reality puts us all at risk. Satan uses basically two things to deceive the nations: Fear and Pride. People are deceived when they give ear to these two sources of evil. When the tower of Babel was constructed as an attempt to reach heaven the motive for building it was a combination of both: “Let us make a name for ourselves lest we be scattered over the earth.” (Genesis 11:4) They were deceived by the pride of becoming their own gods, and the fear of being scattered and losing control. This is the basic fear that has shaped much of the tragedy of human history. Genocides, world wars and economic injustice are just a few witnesses to the work of the deceiver of nations. Even in our own personal lives we find that our worst actions arise from some fear or source of pride in our lives.

On the other hand we see in history the sovereign grace of God. He has, throughout history given us many who have taken a different route than pride and fear. Our world has been blessed by those who have chosen, rather, to live by faith. Instead of looking to themselves as the source of hope they look to God and place their trust in him. This is perhaps why when Christ reigns for 1000 years he brings with him the people of faith to rule at his side. Fear and pride will no longer be the rule by which the world is run. Rather it will be by faith in Christ.

In a dangerous and frightening world it is always better to live by faith, than by pride and fear. In light of this, how will you live today?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Friday May 14, 2010

Read Revelation 19:11-21 A Lamb with an Attitude.

Here is the place where we put to death our religious ideas of the Lamb of God. Whatever fairytale images of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Barbie doll savior we may have been given over the years must die a cruel death as we read this description of our returning king. When Jesus returns he returns, not as a golden boy rock star or a glorified good fairy but as the conquering king. He came the first time as the suffering servant. But now he comes as Lord and master. As we look at the contrast between how Jesus came the first time and how he will come very soon we are given a clearer revelation of who Jesus is and how he reflects the heart of the father.

1. He is humble healer and conquering king.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem he rode in “Gentle and riding on a colt” as foretold by the prophets. Many rejected him because he did not come in on a white stallion and take Jerusalem by storm. When he comes again he will come to conquer and judge the nations. He will come to make the final war on evil putting an end to it forever.

2. He is King of the Jews and King of the world.

“His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.”

When Jesus came the first time he was known as king of the Jews. No one had any idea that he was coming to save the whole world and return one days as Lord of all nations. I find it interesting that he has a name that no one knows but him. In other words he will not come as the mascot or sponsor for any one group who can claim to have a handle on him. He comes unfettered and unhindered. His people will have already been gathered to him and he will not need the endorsement of anyone. He is King of the Jews, Lord of the church and Master of all nations.

3. He is the first word and the final word.

“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God.”

In John’s gospel we read that he was the word of God from the beginning of time, who became flesh and dwelt among us. The emphasis was on his origin. “He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:2) Now he comes as the word of God for time to come. He is the eternal word of God for infinity. The one who was and is will always be. Jesus is coming to exist forever as the final and complete living word of God.

As we anticipate our Lord’s return let us remember that we are not awaiting the coming of anything less than the greatest king earth will ever see. In light of that how should we prepare? How should we live as we look to the sky for him?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday May 13, 2010

Read Revelation 19:1-10   Is the Bride Sitting on the Couch?

You can usually tell what kind of marriage a couple will have by the preparation they put into the wedding. This is not to say that all weddings should be expensive and extravagant, but they should be prepared for. What you put into a wedding often gives a hint of what you are putting into the marriage. I was once counseling a young couple who were preparing to wed. The groom to be told me he wanted me to hurry through and just get it over with so he could get to the reception. I kindly informed him, to his dismay that this would not happen. Within two years his marriage was over.

A wedding makes a statement about a marriage. Generally a thoughtless, hurried wedding reflects the same kind of marriage, with rare exception.

As believers we are preparing for our marriage to the Lamb of God. For eternity we will be bound to the one who saved us by his blood. Are we preparing ourselves for this wedding? What are we putting into this great union as we await his coming? As we reflect on our passage today let us consider three important truths about the wedding we anticipate.

1. It will come whether we are ready or not.

“For the marriage of the Lamb has come…” – Some day, some day will no longer be some day. It will be today. The church has been awaiting the return of Christ for centuries. For over two millennia we have been looking toward the eastern sky telling ourselves, “someday there will be a great marriage supper of the lamb and his bride.” My wife, Mary often says of our wedding that she never really felt nervous about the whole thing until the moment before walking the aisle, when someone in the wedding party said, “Mary, it’s time.” At that moment someday became now. We must keep in mind that there will be a day when we literally stand with Jesus and walk into eternity. Whether you die before he returns, or you are among the privileged that will see him coming in the clouds, someday will become today.

2. We are called to make ourselves ready.

“and his bride has made herself ready…”- It would have been very sad on my wedding day if my bride had lagged around the house watching television and failed to prepare herself for the wedding. What if she had said, “Oh well, the wedding is gonna happen eventually so why worry about getting ready?” Thankfully she took time to prepare instead of hoping somehow she would be magically turned into a bride at the final moment while she sat on the couch. Sadly this is how many believers think about the Lord’s return. They sit on the couch of grace distracted by the things of this world, telling themselves they need not prepare because Jesus will make it alright. This passive view of life is contrary to what Jesus said. Repeatedly he tells us to watch and pray, keep your lights burning, and be found ready when he returns. So how do we prepare ourselves for the wedding?

3. What we do matters more than most of us think.

“For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”- While we do not seek to earn salvation by our deeds, we are called to demonstrate it that way. According to the parable of the talents, it is the wicked, lazy slave who buries his talents and waits around listlessly for the master to return. He is not rewarded, but punished for doing nothing with his faith. When Jesus separates the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25) He separates them based, not on their feelings, but on their actions-“In as much as you have done it…” he says. He doesn’t commend the sheep for intentions or feelings, but for actions. Friends, we are saved by grace through faith, but faith without works is dead. When we stand before our Lord we will be clothed in his righteousness alone for salvation, but we will also be adorned in the deeds done by faith and love which bear witness to the one who has saved us. Deeds do not make us a bride anymore than a wedding gown made Mary my wife. But like the beautiful veil and flowing dress, they show that our hearts are truly his. How can I say I love my savior when I have not lived one moment in obedience to his commands? Are we prepared for his coming? Are we dressing ourselves in righteous deeds done by faith so that when he comes we will have made ourselves ready? Or are we sitting on the couch wasting time?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday May 12, 2010 – Read Revelation 18:1-24  It takes faith to be free.

Jake had been on death row for twenty seven years. But today the unthinkable was about to happen. He cowered in the corner of his cell listening to the haunting steps echoing waves of terror in his direction. Muttering voices from weary guards sent tremors through his weakening heart. After seven years his great dread would be realized. He had received the news the preceding night and didn’t sleep a wink knowing what was about to happen.

The buzz of gates opening and closing dragged on for eternity. Finally the sound of a key turning in his gut made him sick with terror. Then the guard spoke the words he had feared all night. “Jake, you have been pardoned. It’s time to go. You are a free man.”  This was what he was afraid of. You would expect him to rejoice at the news of freedom, but after 27 years of predictable, secure prison life the thought of living out there terrified him. He had sought freedom for 27 years, but when it came suddenly he wasn’t sure he could handle it. “At least in prison I know where I am going to sleep and what I’m going to eat.” But the freedom he longed for carried with it all sorts of fears and uncertainties. A person can become so used to bondage that the idea of freedom frightens them. This because bondage is easy. It requires nothing more than going along with its demands mindlessly bowing to the power of whatever is controlling you. Whether it is a drug, and abusive husband, an immoral lifestyle, or an oppressive government.

Freedom, on the other hand requires faith. Living in the boundlessness of free choice and victory requires that we risk getting hurt, making mistakes, and falling down on our faces.

Perhaps this is why in Revelation 18 when Babylon, the center of evil on the world falls and it’s oppression is removed, the kings, and merchants of the earth are found weeping. You can almost hear them saying: “What will we do now?” For a moment the fear of living without the familiar chains of satanic bondage made them forget just how awful it was to live as the slaves of an oppressor. Sometimes when a person begins to see the light of freedom from sin they begin to feel the same fear; “How will I cope?”

Paul chided the Galatians who had found freedom in Christ, for sneaking back toward the bondage of the law; “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (3:1) they were so afraid of the unpredictable, unfettered, joy of living in the freedom of the Spirit that they began to long for the familiar chains of the law. He warned then that bondage may be easy but it always leads to death. Many people today hide from God not because they are afraid he will not help them get free…but because they are afraid he will. It takes faith to believe that the God who sets you free will stay with you and show you how to walk in freedom. It takes faith to chart a new course trusting the captain of the sea to guide you safely home. It takes faith to be free. This is why in our country we cannot afford to live as if there is no God. We dare not continue down the path of extricating him from our lives. Any nation that has thrown faith out the door has regretted it. Let us cherish faith and freedom for they truly walk hand in hand.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday May 11, 2010

Read Revelation 17:1-18  A Bride or a Whore?

In the children’s story, “the Little Mermaid” a young mermaid is given the chance to become human, falls in love with a prince, and agrees to marry him. However an evil witch, Ursula, poses as the bride and seeks to steal the prince for herself. In the end of course Ursula is destroyed and Ariel is joined with her prince. (I must have watched this movie with my children a zillion times back in the day.) It would be a pretty creepy story if somehow the prince were to wed both.  Some kind of part time marriage with a girlfriend on the side arrangement may work in the filth of television and movies but it will not fly in children’s story books or more importantly in eternity. God will not allow us to play the bride and the whore at the same time. We have to choose which we will be, especially in these days when we can almost hear the angel warming up the trumpet of Christ’s return.

One of the most striking things in the book of Revelation is the stark contrast between good and evil. One is either part of the New Jerusalem or the New Babylon for example. In Chapters 12 and 17 we see the contrast between the woman clothed with the sun, representing the people of God, and the whore of Babylon, who represents the enemy of God. In the last days she may be the false one world religion or government. In either case she seduces the nations into opposing God and persecuting his people.

In the last days we see these two women in clear opposition to each other, each having a separate destiny. The bride of Christ may be persecuted and pursued by the devil, but she is ultimately rescued by her husband and Lord. The false bride is judged and destroyed by the same.

The temptation we face today is to tell ourselves that we can follow Christ as his bride without having to separate ourselves from the lifestyle and values of this world. I fear that we have handed the world a gospel full of loopholes and exceptions that give the false impression that we can follow Christ without really having to make any changes in our lifestyle. We’ve told them, “Just pray this prayer and you’re saved.” In so doing we have taught a whole generation how to dress like a bride by day and walk the streets at night. Without a clean break from our old life of sin and a decision to follow Christ faithfully there is no salvation.

Let us remember today what verse 14 tells us: “He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and those who are with him are called and chosen and faithful.” If we are to be with our prince forever we must live as those who are called- called out of the values of this world, Chosen- chosen to walk with him in holiness, and faithful- staying close to him in all our ways with no compromise. Let us remember today that our Lord is coming for a bride, not a girlfriend. He is coming for one committed to him forever, not a live in for the moment. He will not allow us to dine at his table by day while we walk the streets of Babylon at night. He will not invite you to have a home in the New Jerusalem while you lease an apartment in Babylon. Choose this day who you will serve. Let the world see in you the radiance of his called, chosen, and faithful bride.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry

Monday Devotion: Good Grief It’s Mother’s day 5-10-2010

I know by the time you read this Mother’s day will be a memory. But this was written the day after. Sometimes on this great day when we honor those who gave birth to us, and are always there for us I feel like Charlie Brown at Christmas. He was found struggling with the meaning of it all and while everyone else was enjoying themselves he was muttering “good grief!” I feel the same way on Father’s day. In the midst of all the flowers, dressy clothes, and well intentioned gifts and gestures I sometimes want to scream out, “Why are we doing this?” Please forgive my slight cynicism but sometimes it seems these two days are filled with pretense and guilt for everybody involved. It’s not that we don’t mean it when we tell our parents and spouses how much we love them. And it’s not that we don’t appreciate the bizarre gifts and gestures our families give to us when it’s our special day. It’s just that no matter how sincere we are something seems very put on. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m, just going through some kind of mid life thingy where you begin to understand the words of Ecclesiastes; “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.”

Honestly I think the main reason these holidays bug me is that I try in one day to do and say all the things I have been too preoccupied with my own concerns to do over the past 364 days. Why do I wait until one day in May and June to tell the people in my life how important they are to me? Why not wear a flower on my lapel to honor my late mother in December or August? Why do I wait until June to thank all the fathers in my life for how they have blessed me and shaped my life? Shouldn’t my wife have more days in which we all take over the laundry and insist, to her slight frustration, that she not do anything? I guess the thing that bugs me most about Mother’s day and Fathers day is that both holidays remind me of what a completely selfish and thoughtless person I am at the core of my sinful nature. Like Paul I cry out: “Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) The good news, however is, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:25) He never gives up on us. He is ever loving and gracious showing us day by day, year by year, how to love one another like He does. So while I may spend the rest of my life stumbling over myself on special holidays trying awkwardly to make up for lost time, I know that my Lord is using those things to change me into his image. I have the hope that one day, preferably on this side of eternity, I will daily show the people in my life how special they are to me. One day Mother’s day, Fathers, day, Valentines Day, Christmas and even Easter will seem like ordinary days because I will have been living them out the whole year long. Now that’s what it means to be like Jesus.

Friday May 7, 2010  Read Revelation 16: 1-20   Resent or Repent?

“They cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent or give him glory.” (Rev. 16:9)

When God confronts us with the consequences of our sins do we repent or resent?  I fear that we are seeing the beginnings of a generation that is so devoid of any moral compass that it no longer has the ability to experience true repentance. That generation is described here in Revelation 16. Paul also describes the last generation in this way:

“People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying it’s power…” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

In short the lat days will see a generation so full of itself that it cannot even imagine deserving to be punished for sin. When judgments come they are the ones found saying: “How can God let this happen to us?” while they stand soaking in immorality, greed, deception, and other sin. We are a generation even now that resents correction from anyone. We live any way we want then resent God when he corrects us. The girl sleeping with her boyfriend rages at God for letting her get pregnant. They boy drinking and driving can’t understand why God didn’t stop him from killing his best friend in an accident. If someone dares to suggest that we need to change our behavior we resent them for “being judgmental”.  Friends we must remember that Jesus did not go to the cross to excuse us from consequences but to deliver us from sin. On the cross we see not only the love of God for humanity, but also the wrath of God against our sin. Have we become so full of ourselves that we can no longer see our sin as something that truly offends God?

In today’s passage we hear the heavenly altar speak: “Yes Lord God almighty, true and just are your judgments.” (v.7)

The question we must ask ourselves is, do we agree with that? Do we believe that God has a right to correct us? Or have we bought into the lie that we have evolved beyond our need for God and his direction in our lives? A generation that wants to be its own god will resent any judgment or correction. But those who recognize that God is holy love will receive it in repentance and faith. So the next time you hear a convicting message or you face the consequences of wrong actions will you resent or repent?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry

Thursday May 6, 2010 – Read Revelation 15:1-8  God’s  Redeeming Wrath

Even the wrath of God carries with it the purpose of redemption. In the book of Exodus we read of God executing a clearly planned series of judgments against Egypt. This was not an angry father having a wild tantrum until he got it out of his system. Rather it was a loving father calling Israel to trust him and Egypt to repentance. Notice what God says before parting the Red Sea; “I will get glory over Pharoah and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” (Exodus 14:4) Even in wrath God was seeking to reveal himself to the nations. Again in Revelation we see this as the angels prepare to bring a final series of plagues on the entire world. “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Rev. 15:4) The next chapters show a step by step well planned series of judgments having a set beginning and ending. God measures his wrath with a redemptive purpose. This is no pagan deity throwing lighting bolts until he feels better or an abusive father throwing furniture around the house to vent his frustration. God brings judgments with the purpose of delivering his people, calling for repentance, and finally punishing evil.

In our world today we see many things that appear chaotic: Natural disasters, oil wells threatening the coastline, terrorists seeking to make war on cities, disease, economic instability etc. But if we look closely enough at the kinds of things that are happening they aren’t too foreign to the redemptive judgments of God in the scripture. Step by step God is taking away the things we have relied upon during our decades of rebellion against him. The gods of materialism and power are being shaken as our father seeks to redeem his people and reveal himself to his enemies. Are we paying attention to the times? In judgment God is usually calling his people to trust him and calling his opponents to repent. What is God saying to you today?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday May 5, 2010

Read Revelation 14:14-20  The Plan C Generation?

In today’s passage the message is very clear. First the Son of man comes and reaps the final harvest of redeemed souls from the earth. Then the angels come and reap the harvest of those who are still under the wrath of God. This is the summing up of human history. There will be a day when the Lord Jesus comes to bring to heaven those who have turned from their sins and trusted in him for salvation. Then those who have not been saved will experience God’s just punishment for their sins forever. A reaping of life and a reaping of death will wrap up the end of mortal history. Life and death are the only two options our creator has given to us. Throughout scripture we see this decision placed before us. “Choose you this day…” Joshua says.

Many today live as if they expect a third reaping to take place. They keep holding out for plan C. There is a growing attitude that you can be spiritual without having to make any real decisions or commitments. God is seen as an accessory or an energy force that can enhance your life without really requiring anything of you. You can pray, sing, and be happy without any commands to obey or commission to follow. There is no fear of God at all. Just enjoy life and mind your own business. While there may be an appeal to this on the surface if you look deeper it is the most self centered lifestyle of all. It gives you a sense of being good without having to think about anyone but yourself. You can live in the ecstasy of indecision, living in a shallow peace with everyone, and never have to think about right and wrong or good and evil. You need not be concerned with the morality of your actions because in your mind you are accountable to no one. In a very real sense you have become your own god or goddess. The problem is no matter how you try to live this way there will always be a nagging sense way down deep that things just aren’t quite complete. You can try all sorts of things to fill that empty place in your soul but sooner or later you will have to admit that a life lived with you as the center is empty and meaningless. Plan C may look good on the surface but ultimately it will leave you disappointed and eternally lost.

God created you to love and serve him and to enjoy him forever. He sent his only Son Jesus to take away the sin that keeps you from living fully in Him and give you eternal life. It is only through a personal relationship with Jesus that true life begins and eternal life is possible. Friend, plan C will fail you in this life and in eternity. You are given a choice today, life or death. There is no in between.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry

I often tell my students that one way to weigh a decision is to ask yourself, “At the end of the day will I be able to look in the mirror and honestly say to myself that I’m glad I made that decision.”  Sometimes in all the hurriedness of life we find ourselves making choices without much thought for where they will lead. The third angel gives a warning along the same line, only this decision has eternal implications;

“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath…” (v. 9)

In Revelation we are told that many will take the mark of the Beast in order to buy food. They will be deceived into thinking their lives are dependent upon him rather than God and will give in to this lie with devastating consequences which will last forever. Most of us comfort ourselves at this point by saying, “oh I will never receive that mark…” But if we only interpret this in its most literal sense we miss the point. You see the Beast also represents the system of Satan that is at work in our present day. Many today, who will never even see a literal mark of the beast are already marking themselves by living an antichrist lifestyle right now.

The apostle John tells us, “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”

(I John 2:22)

To live a life that is opposed to the leadership of Jesus Christ is to live with an antichrist spirit. You can go to church, sing the songs, and agree with every sermon and still be anti-Christ, simply because you refuse to obey him as Lord and savior. I shudder to think of all those in our churches who are lost because they prayed a sinners prayer once years ago and have even been baptized but have never allowed the Lord to lead them. They have never surrendered their will. They have never crucified the old lifestyle. They have never taken their cross and followed in real faith. They just keep consoling themselves with a childhood memory: “Oh yes I got saved when I was twelve, it’s all good.” But underneath that self satisfied smile there is a mark of antichrist that reads, “I will do as I please.”

Friend, if I have described you today, and you know in your heart who you are living for, you do well to heed the warning of the third angel. The Bible is clear that those who claim to believe but do not turn from sin are liars and the wrath of God remains on them. You cannot get by singing the songs of heaven while doing the dances of hell. You cannot wear the mark of the lamb and the mark of the beast at the same time. If you will repent of your sin and commit your lifestyle to God he will cover you with forgiveness and mercy. He will heal your broken life. He will restore you and give you eternal life.

So let me ask you. If your life ends today will you be able to look into the face of Jesus and say. “I’m glad I lived this way.”  Or will you regret having thrown away eternity for a scrap of bread?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday April 29, 2010 – Read: Revelation 14:8  “You’ve Got Mail.” (Part Two)

“Babylon the great is fallen!” says the second heavenly messenger. This biblical city represents the center of evil. It stands for the kingdom of all that opposes God. The angel proclaims Babylon is a fallen kingdom. This brings to mind the words of Paul, as he describes the effect of the cross on Satan’s kingdom. “…by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:14-15)

Today the angel proclaims that through Christ the kingdom of darkness has been defeated. While we have yet to see the finality of this victory with our own eyes, by faith we can live in the reality of it. Satan’s kingdom is fallen and we await the full manifestation of the kingdom of heaven. As believers we live in the knowledge that all of Satan’s raging against God and against his people is futile. If you are living in the kingdom of God you live in the realm of victory, not defeat.

All around us today we hear the desperate echoes of fallen Babylon. Like ghosts in a deserted town they seek to instill fear in our hearts and beckon us to return to the sins of the past. They scream at us from the dark ruins in hopes we will give in to fear. We can hear them cursing our days of prayer, and threatening to censor our witness in the world. They cry out from shadowy corners accusing us of hate whenever we speak of holiness. They pour into our homes through the myriad of screens and earphones that we live behind, hoping to lure us into the ruins of a fallen kingdom where we can be held captive by guilt and shame. But for the believer who knows that Babylon is fallen and the kingdom of heaven is at hand these phantom voices are dust in the wind. They are voices best ignored.

You have mail today. There is an angel flying overhead to remind you that the kingdom of Satan, for all it’s glitzy pretenses is a dead kingdom as are all those who dwell in it. They live in a false reality. We must not live as if Babylon were still part of our lives. Paul tells us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12) Live as a victor, not a victim today. Don’t just believe in God. Believe God, and see the difference it makes when you walk by faith, not by sight. Live in him today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday April 28, 2010 – Read: Revelation 14: 6-7 “You’ve got mail.” Part one

The first angel flies overhead with the gospel for all nations. What is the message this gospel angel brings to the world?

“Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Is this the same gospel you and I are hearing and telling today? As I ponder these words from the gospel angel I see some striking qualities of the gospel that challenge me.

First, it is a totally God-centered gospel. There are no quick steps to improving your love life, or improving your self esteem. Nothing is said about how Jesus can help you get a better job or nicer house. It’s all about God. He is proclaimed as judge, creator, and redeemer. Is my gospel about God or about me primarily? While there are clear benefits to the life that is surrendered to Jesus, there is also something wrong with a gospel that has me as the center. Yet much preaching today sounds more like secular pop psychology with Bible verses than a God centered message of repentance and faith.

Second, it is an urgent message. The angel says the hour is upon us, just as Jesus and the Apostles would proclaim; “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Years ago my mother looked out her window one day and noticed smoke pouring from the attic of our neighbor’s house. She ran over and banged urgently on the door telling the occupants; “Get out! Your house is on fire!” They did and the fire was contained before it was too late. We’re all glad that she didn’t write them a note and send it in the mail telling them that:”Your house may have smoke coming from the roof, but who am I to judge? If you have the time you may want to investigate. Sincerely, Your friend…” Is my Gospel urgent or complacent? It just may be that the culture belittles our gospel because we don’t act like it is very important. How can anyone feel the urgency of our message when they see no urgency in us?

Today I am challenged to make sure that my gospel is not a contradiction to the gospel of the angel. May it be as God centered and urgent so the angel doesn’t have to start from scratch.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday April 27, 2010
Read: Revelation 14:1-5  Forget the number and learn the song!
When I was much younger I used to hear much speculation about the 144,000. Numerous cults have claimed that the number was referring to their membership. I think it was a kind of humorous judgment that God would allow their membership to exceed 144,000 just to expose their foolish presumption. I think when we try to figure out what group is the 144,000 we totally miss the point. When we see the description of these glad worshippers who have a new song we may discover something deeper is being said here. Who are those blessed ones who will dance before the throne of God singing a song that only they can know? Who is allowed to approach the throne of the lamb with such intimacy? Those who will sing the new song in heaven must be learning the words now by pursuing consecration, Commitment and Character. Who’s song are you learning today? Either you are going through life singing the death song of this world or humming the new chords of the kingdom. Your lifestyle tells the story. Look at this description of the 144,000. See the song they learned on earth and will forever sing in heaven.
1. Consecration.  “It is those who have not defiled themselves…” These followers put the love of Christ above their own earthly desires. This is not so much a call to celibacy as a call to purity. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Those who would live close to the throne must come with a life that is dedicated to God above all things. While on earth they learned the song of purity.
2. Commitment.  “It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.”     Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me, that where I am my servant shall also be.” (John 12:26) God’s singing saints are those who are committed to going wherever Jesus goes. They don’t go where they want in life, and then ask God to bless it. They ask God to lead and then go as he directs. They adjust whatever they are doing to follow when God calls. They never say, “I would love to follow but first let me bury my father.” They drop their nets at the sound of the master’s voice and immediately follow him. They learned the song of commitment.

3. Character. “In their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.”
These elite servants of God have put away pretentious religion, seeking only to please the savior who bought them with his blood. They will not compromise the truth in order to get along in this world. They say with Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) They want to know the truth and live in it. There is no room in their hearts for the things of this world. They fear only sin and want only God. They learned the song of Character.
Finally these saints are only able to live this way because they have been “redeemed from the earth”. It is only through faith in Jesus as we repent of sin and put our trust in him, that we can approach the throne singing the new song. When we turn by faith to Jesus he writes his name on our foreheads. Then all our lives as we follow him he begins teaching us the words to the new song of heaven. Have you started your singing lessons yet? The way you live today determines the song you will sing in eternity. Who’s tune fills your heart today?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday April 21, 2010
Read Revelation 12:7-12  Checkmate!
In our battle against the powers of evil we must remember that Satan is operating out of fear and desperation rather than any delusion that he could possibly win. “Because he knows that his time is short.” He is lashing out like a huge serpent writhing in pain with the base of a cross impaling his heart. He operates from a position of defeat; “Now the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down…” (v.10)
When I was a child I saw in a Bible story book a picture of Jesus and Satan playing a game of chess. This is how many wrongly view their Christian life. They see it as two equal opponents facing off in a game. Truly our faith would be a mere game if that were the case. But the scripture makes it clear that all of Satan’s activity is futility. Yet so many Christians live as if Satan just might win this conflict. They are more conscious of the devil’s ability to deceive than of God’s ability to guide. They live in dark superstitions cloaked as discernment. There is no joy, no real hope; only a slippery hanging on to the edge of forgiveness as if it could be lost at any second. God has handed them the kingdom but they are afraid to roam it’s streets for fear that the devil may get them. Sins are confessed and re-confessed, but forgiveness is never accepted. They are never convinced that the cross was enough to set them free, so they spend their lives saying “taste not, touch not, and handle not.” They live with a religious spirit that seeks to appease God (and in some cases the devil) with a myriad of self constructed regulations, (usually hand-picked from the book of Leviticus). They see a demon under very rock and behind every tree, but they never seem to find God. They are “ever learning but never coming to knowledge of the truth.”
The truth is that Satan is a defeated foe trying to convince you that he still has a chance. His screams are screams of terror, not power. Our wrestling against spiritual forces is from a position of victory, not defeat. We resist the evil one out of faith, not fear. In our spiritual warfare we are not fighting for our survival but for the salvation of those who have not yet embraced the victory. It is they who are in danger. We fight for their freedom, not ours. How powerful it is when we realize the victory has been won on the cross and we are called to live it out daily. We live in that victory, not by perpetuating our bondage but in the way described here: “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (v.11)  Are you living a forgiven life with a living testimony and an undying devotion to Jesus? Then you are living as a victor rather than a victim. Walk in victory today. It is finished.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday April 26, 2010 / Read Revelation 3:11-18  A Dragon in Sheep’s clothing.

Whenever Satan seeks to bring people under control he often begins with compromise, leading to deception and ending with enslavement. In our text today we see the second beast rising up “with horns like a lamb and the voice of a dragon.” What a combination; the slight appearance of a lamb with the voice of a dragon. The beast will come looking just enough like Jesus to attract us but enough of like Devil to tantalize us. This false religion will combine the best and worst of all religions so the world will be swept away. This compromise of light and darkness always leads to the next step, deception. “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of the people.” As the world falls in love with the counterfeit miracles, like those performed by Pharaoh’s magicians, the world will think surely God is pleased with our brave new world. “Finally”, many will say, “we have the kingdom of God.” Then as the strings of deception are drawn tighter and the world is seduced by this lie demands will be made. “ Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless she has the mark, that is the name of the beast  or the number of his name.” There is always a time in which the devil stops playing nice and begins making demands.  The horns of the lamb fall off and the trap of control closes. Gone are the words of tolerance and inclusiveness. Finished is all the talk of love and peace. Now it’s all about control. This is the way the devil has worked for centuries. Compromise, leading to deception ending in slavery. Today let us put away our compromises with sin, guard our hearts against deception and walk in freedom with our eyes on the real savior of the world; Jesus Christ.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Friday April 23, 2010 / Read: Revelation 13:1-10 “A call for endurance and faith.”

The dragon stands on the shore waiting. He weakly smiles at the beast rising from the ocean; His final act of futile rage is about to come upon the earth. A monstrous ruler spitting out obscenities and ravaging the remaining believers, he appears unstoppable in his quest for power and control. This is the one Paul described; “who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)

Prophecy usually has an immediate fulfillment as well as an ultimate fulfillment. Like a sword with a double edge, it speaks to an immediate or soon coming event and also later and greater fulfillment. At the writing of this John felt the looming shadow of the Roman Empire who was ravaging the earth and persecuting the saints as described here. He was warning the saints to prepare for great persecution. But it is a mistake to limit this prophecy to that period only. Throughout history there have been many antichrists seeking to strike out at the church, and there is certainly persecution in many places on the earth today, but there has not been worldwide persecution to the degree described here since the time of Rome. Jesus pointed to a time when the church will face unprecedented worldwide persecution and deception. (Matthew 24:15-25)

Even today we see a growing intolerance for the work and message of Christianity. We see a world, which ironically in the name of tolerance, is moving rapidly down the slope toward Global government, Global religion, and Global economy and sees Christianity as one of the greater obstacles to those objectives. You can hear the seductive voices of this brave new world in the rhetoric of world leaders and teachers. So how do we live in days when we can hear the monster making his way to the surface of history’s ocean? John tells us what he told the saints of the first century; “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”

In times of trouble this is always the call; Faith and endurance. This is no time for panic and fear. It is certainly no time for wrath and violence, nor is it a time to be passive and say listlessly: “Whatever will be, will be.” God’s people are called to watch and pray and obey. In times of persecution we must be patient and faithful. The tendency is to lash out in anger or hide our faith in fear. Neither of these is acceptable to God. He is calling us to be people of bold faith and patient assurance no matter what we must face for our Lord. Today you may feel you are facing a beast of your own. A family member is taunting you, or an employer is demeaning you. This is God’s way of teaching you to stand firm in faith when the real trouble begins, and it will sooner than you may imagine. The great news is we have read the book and we know who wins. Live in patient endurance today. You have the victory.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday April 22, 2010 / Read Revelation 12:13-17  You are not Dragon food.

What a powerful image of God’s deliverance! As the dragon pursues the woman she is given wings so she can find a place of rest and restoration. Then as Satan launches an attack on her offspring the earth itself opens up and swallows the torrent. Enraged at what the woman has brought into the earth, Satan attempts to destroy her and her offspring. But God lifts her up on eagles’ wings and gives his beloved a place of rest and protection. Then he commands the earth to open up and swallow the flood sent by the dragon. God did not send her to the earth to be consumed by the dragon. In your time of trouble remember you were not meant to be dragon food either. God will not abandon you to Satan’s devices.

Some days I feel like dragon food. When I have done my best for God it seems like I’m being punished for it. I can just feel the hot breath of my soul’s bitter enemy as it singes my neck hairs. The song of celebration is muffled by the sound of opposition rushing toward me like a menacing flood. My body feels the pinch of trouble from all sides closing in upon me like a cruel vice. There seems to be no escape. Then about the time the first drops of despair splatter on my face the Lord miraculously opens the earth before me as I ascend skyward on the wings of hope and faith. Do you ever wish you could put on wings and fly away from the troubles of this life? Or do you ever dream of the earth opening up and swallowing your problems in one moment?

Perhaps today you feel like you are about to be served up on the dragons table with an apple in your mouth. In the same way the woman has given birth to God’s purpose and is now being persecuted for it, you feel like you have done your best for God and are now being attacked. You may think it unfair that after doing a good thing God is allowing trouble to come upon you. It is important to understand that whenever you are used by God to do something for his kingdom, there is an enemy who will want to punish you for it. Peter tells us “don’t be surprised at the fiery trial…” But the other thing to remember is that when the enemy comes God will make a way for you. As in this description he will either give you wings or he will swallow the river, or both. The wings represent a way of escape God gives to his people. Sometimes God does just that. He doesn’t take away the trouble he just lifts you up and enables you to soar above it all. In other situations He opens up the earth, or removes the problem entirely. Today if you are facing trouble, especially for doing the right thing, commit yourself into God’s hands and wait for his deliverance. Keep being faithful even when all seems lost. At the right time God will do amazing things on your behalf. He will not leave you to the dragon. He will not abandon you in the flood. You will not become Dragon food.

“They that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) Live in this promise today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday April 21, 2010 / Read Revelation 12:7-12  Checkmate!

In our battle against the powers of evil we must remember that Satan is operating out of fear and desperation rather than any delusion that he could possibly win. “Because he knows that his time is short.” He is lashing out like a huge serpent writhing in pain with the base of a cross impaling his heart. He operates from a position of defeat; “Now the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down…” (v.10)

When I was a child I saw in a Bible story book a picture of Jesus and Satan playing a game of chess. This is how many wrongly view their Christian life. They see it as two equal opponents facing off in a game. Truly our faith would be a mere game if that were the case. But the scripture makes it clear that all of Satan’s activity is futility. Yet so many Christians live as if Satan just might win this conflict. They are more conscious of the devil’s ability to deceive than of God’s ability to guide. They live in dark superstitions cloaked as discernment. There is no joy, no real hope; only a slippery hanging on to the edge of forgiveness as if it could be lost at any second. God has handed them the kingdom but they are afraid to roam it’s streets for fear that the devil may get them. Sins are confessed and re-confessed, but forgiveness is never accepted. They are never convinced that the cross was enough to set them free, so they spend their lives saying “taste not, touch not, and handle not.” They live with a religious spirit that seeks to appease God (and in some cases the devil) with a myriad of self constructed regulations, (usually hand-picked from the book of Leviticus). They see a demon under very rock and behind every tree, but they never seem to find God. They are “ever learning but never coming to knowledge of the truth.”

The truth is that Satan is a defeated foe trying to convince you that he still has a chance. His screams are screams of terror, not power. Our wrestling against spiritual forces is from a position of victory, not defeat. We resist the evil one out of faith, not fear. In our spiritual warfare we are not fighting for our survival but for the salvation of those who have not yet embraced the victory. It is they who are in danger. We fight for their freedom, not ours. How powerful it is when we realize the victory has been won on the cross and we are called to live it out daily. We live in that victory, not by perpetuating our bondage but in the way described here: “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (v.11)  Are you living a forgiven life with a living testimony and an undying devotion to Jesus? Then you are living as a victor rather than a victim. Walk in victory today. It is finished.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday April 20, 2010 / Read Revelation 12:1-6  It’s almost time to push!

How do I know God is birthing something of his kingdom in my life? In this account of the woman clothed with the sun we see some things that often are part of the package when a “God thing” is being brought forth in us.

“She was pregnant and was crying out…” Often when God is about to bring about his will in my life there is a time of crying out on my part. I find myself burdened with a longing for it, anguish if you will. Has a longing for something of God begun to rise up within you? As in labor, this longing can often be painful as God begins to shift you out of your comfort zone with an unexplainable desire for this new thing. It just may be, for example that the restlessness you feel right now in your work is not simple discontent but rather the stirring of the spirit of God within you, as he prepares to send your spirit into early labor pains.

“And another sign appeared in heaven; behold a great red dragon…”  A second hint of this new thing is the appearance of opposition from the devil. In this account the dragon appears in order to devour the newborn. As you begin to desire something from God the enemy is surely poised to resist and devour it. This resistance may come through people who want to talk you down from seeking God. They will insist that you need to settle down, be balanced, and take it easy. Why, they ask, is all this anguish necessary? Beware of the soothing words of those who want you to stay in your comfort zone. Or the resistance may come from intimidation. You may look at the size of a problem in front of you and it may make you feel like a woman in labor facing off with a dragon. You may fall into fear that this vision is too great for you. You may feel like David as he went head to head with Goliath. Just remember, no matter how great the enemy, the battle belongs to the Lord.

“The wilderness…a place prepared by God.” Often time when God is about to bring a new thing of his kingdom into your life there is a time of wilderness wandering which God himself has prepared for you. John the Baptist, Elijah, David, and even Jesus all did a tour if desert duty so that God could prepare, protect, and provide for them until the time of delivery. The Labor room may look like a job loss, a time of sickness and recovery, or some other difficulty in which our hearts are refined and our vision is clarified. In those times we feel God has left us when in fact God is closer than ever. Desert duty is usually a prerequisite for a God thing.

Today if you find yourself breathing out in anguish from a lonely place, with a dragon or two breathing down your neck, take heart. God may just be about to bring forth something amazing. Just hold on and keep breathing.  It’s almost time to push. Delivery will come. Joy will return. And new life will spring forth.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday April 19, 2010 – Read Revelation 11:15-19  Parallel Kingdoms?

“The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever.” (v. 15) -One of the main objectives of following Jesus is that my kingdom will become his kingdom. There will come a time in history when the continual struggle between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God will be finished and the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of God. God has no desire for the two kingdoms to coexist forever. History is marked with self inflicted scars giving testimony to our attempts to live in two parallel kingdoms. Since the Garden of Eden we have been attempting to do this. It seems we have never gotten over our desire to eat from the tree of life and from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil at the same time. We want to party with Jezebel while calling down fire with Elijah. We want a home in Jerusalem and an apartment in Babylon. Whenever we have tried to blend the kingdoms in that way, the result has been holy wars, inquisitions, crusades, and other travesties.  However the great crisis of today takes the opposite path. The prevailing mindset today seeks to blend all faiths into some meaningless spiritual goop in which God has no name, or will, except to enhance our personal lives. The cry is for all faiths to pretend we are heading for the same goal and worship the same god, when an honest look at each faith will betray that lie quickly. This is a very sly attempt at creating our own kingdom. We want to feel spiritual without really having to be accountable to anyone but ourselves. God becomes nothing more than an accessory. This attempt to blend light and darkness with fail as well. When will we learn that we cannot serve two masters? On a more personal level when we try to live with one foot each kingdom, seeking to please the Flesh and the Spirit at the same time, we find ourselves frustrated and powerless. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “If I were seeking to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

Today let us remember that God is moving humanity toward the rule of one kingdom. It is the kingdom of God. And he shall reign forever and ever.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Friday April 16, 2010 – Read Revelation 11:1-14 When the Church lies dead in the street.

For three and a half days the whole world celebrates. They exchange gifts and pour each other drinks while demonically inspired music blares from rooftops. It’s a global “party gras” to beat all others. Sinners dance in the streets of Jerusalem while the world watches in high definition. Two corpses lie stiff and cold on the sidewalk, with only a few flies to mourn for them. The brave new world dances itself into a drunken frenzy, exhausted with mindless ecstasy. The last two prophets the earth will ever see are gone. No more preaching. No more troubling the conscious with ancient laws of God. No more worrying about right and wrong. We can create our own truth now. We can get back to building that ancient tower of Babel and exalt ourselves to the heavens. God has called for his children one last time and the kids have hung up the phone. Like a runaway teen in the big city the world screams out in rebellion; “We’re all grown up now! And we aren’t coming home!”

The world has always had a love hate relationship with prophets. We love to look at them from a distance, and may even admire them briefly as we marvel at their perception of tomorrow. But deep down we want them dead.

Like the people of Isaiah’s day we like to be entertained by them as they dazzle us with predictions, and we kind of enjoy the tingling sensation we get when they prick our consciences-like watching a scary movie- we get a little scared but tell ourselves it’s not real, then go on with our lives as usual. When the prophets hit too close to home we tell them;

“Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy one of Israel.” (Isaiah 30:10-11)

We live in a world that is increasingly hostile to truth, as it seeks to become its own god. Can you not hear the adolescent voices of pop culture even now as they seek to silence the people of God? Do you not see government leaders, celebrities, and intellectual gurus, and even pastors calling us away from the truth of God with promises of a better world? Even now you can hear the demonic whisper of political correctness calling for the death of the prophets. “Let’s break off the chains of faithfulness”, they cry, “and let us run free. Stop telling us we can’t have what we want when we want it. Stop telling us we can’t sleep with whoever we want, take what ever we want, and even kill whoever we want. We’d rather worship the earth than manage it. This is our world now and we are ready to party.”

Church we cannot afford to sleep in the light while God’s truth is pushed aside like an outgrown garment. We cannot continue to sit passively as our freedom to proclaim truth is chipped way by those who are applying for God’s job. We cannot keep telling our sons and daughters its okay to live by their own rules. We cannot afford to be prayerless, passionless, and burdenless. Today I am troubled, but to be quite honest I am not as troubled by the condition of this world as I am by my own lack of anguish. I awoke this morning realizing that I have allowed my own heart to get used to the lukewarm conditions within me and around me. What bothers me is that it doesn’t really bother me. Oh God rip open my calloused heart! Trouble me!  Break my heart! Kill my complacency! Take everything away that keeps me asleep in the light! Oh God I don’t want to be part of the party! I would rather lie dead in the street with your prophets than dance to the music of a lost world. The time is far past for each of us to decide who we will serve. Oh God make our hearts burn for you again. Tear the plastic religious rationalizing from our conscience so we may once again feel your heartbeat. Remind us that the party only lasts a short time, then the ground will shake and the sky will open. The demonic party will be crashed and the banquet of the Bride and the lamb will begin.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday April 14, 2010
Read: Revelation 10:1-11  When God makes you sick.
“And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. ” (Rev. 10:10)
Has God made you sick yet? Or are you walking around with a mouth full of honey?
John received a word from God about the future. He was told to eat it. Just as Jeremiah and Ezekiel had been told centuries earlier, and it tasted as sweet as honey in their mouths. But in John’s case it goes a little further. The sweet taste of God’s word landed in his stomach like a cannon ball. It was heavy, and made him sick. At first when he received God’s word it was great. Savoring the truth of God was not unlike eating something deliciously sweet to the mouth. It was a joy to receive at first. Haven’t we all had moments when a great sermon or devotion comes to us so filled with truth that it makes us want to sing for joy? But then as John allows the word to sink in the implications of the prophecy begin to make him sick. He begins to allow God’s truth about things to come work its way into his heart and mind and it’s no longer a joy. He lets this prophecy of fire breathing prophets, dead bodies and massive earthquakes to hit home and it grieves him to the point of sickness.
It unnerves me how glibly God’s people talk about the last days and judgment. We talk about tribulation and war and people being marked by an evil antichrist and spending eternity in a lake of fire with no more concern than if we were discussing the weather. We even shout “amen” when the preacher talks about things to come on the earth. But our hearts are not yet moved with compassion for those facing this awful time to come. I think the reason may be that most of us are walking around with mouths full of honey. We haven’t really allowed the truth to work its way past our mouths and into our hearts. In other words we love to talk about the last days, but we fail to really think about what those days will mean for God’s people and for the lost. We put bumper stickers on our cars;”Warning in case of rapture this car will become unmanned.” But are we concerned for the people that car may run into? Do we realize that we have loved ones…and even hated ones who could very well find themselves standing with the goats on judgment day? In all of our charts and timelines about the last days have we found a time to weep? Have we gotten sick yet? Or are we content to spend our days spitting our honey on each other in church while the lost perish? Friends it’s time to get a little heart sick. Even as I write this I stand in need of God’s help to let the honey of expectation create in me a stomach full of compassion for others. I don’t want to spend my time on earth thinking only about what a great day it will be for me when Jesus returns. I want to have a broken heart for those who don’t even know what honey tastes like. Lord, make me sick so others may become whole.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday April 13, 2010
Read: Revelation 8:6-13 and 9:1-21 Exodus on steroids.
If I were going to give this chapter and a half a title I would call it “Exodus on steroids.” I would name it that for two reasons. First, I would call it that because the plagues that hit the earth are reminiscent of the plagues sent on Egypt only worse in scope and severity. Second, the response to these plagues is not unlike Pharaoh’s response in Egypt. Like the demented king of Egypt the people who survived the wrath of God, “did not repent of the works of their hands…” Third, in both cases God’s aim in the plagues is the same, as in all times of judgment. When God brings judgment on a people he is not simply lashing out in anger like an angry father going ballistic until he feels better. His judgments are planned, and methodical with a definite purpose. God brings judgment in order to a.) Awaken us to the glory of his name.  b.) Bring about repentance and or deliverance for his people. c.) Correct or put an end to a specific evil.
In our western desire to domesticate God into some kind of jolly old cosmic home boy who just wants us all to get along, we have forgotten that He is holy and righteous. He has every right to deal with this earth in whatever way is necessary to bring about his kingdom and righteousness. He is the God of the universe and we are His people. He has mercifully judged our sin on the cross thereby giving us a way to repent and believe, and begin walking in his love and righteousness. Yet so often like Pharaoh and the people in Revelation we refuse to repent of our sin and honor him for who he is. We want to have our spiritual cake and eat it too. But in every generation there are times when God brings corrective judgment to restore the glory of his name, bring his people to repentance and deliverance, and to correct a long standing evil in the world. Is God doing that in our lives today? As we look at the world around us can we see how God is calling to us? What is he saying to us through the events in our world today? Are we getting the message or are we continuing to run blindly down the wide path that leads to destruction? In my own life is God seeking to awaken, bring repentance, or correct something? If so how will I respond?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Friday April 9, 2010 – Read: Revelation 7:15-17  “On earth as it is in heaven?”

In my Bible class I often have students ask about heaven. They want to know what it will be like to exist forever. “Will we have boyfriends and girlfriends?” they ask “Will we eat?” and “Will we get bored?” These are among the many questions I hear. For most of those we can only speculate.  For others the Bible gives us clear understanding. Is it important to think about heaven? Or is that just some diversion from the daily work of the Lord here on earth? While I would resist the temptation to become so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good, I can see at least one good reason to think seriously about what heaven is like. It is found in these words from the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  For the Christian heaven is not only our destination when we die, it is our design while here on earth. Religious people spend their lives trying to get to heaven. Christ’s followers live as if they are already there. This is because they have received the life of Christ into their lives and now live as citizens of heaven on a brief tour of planet earth. (Philippians 3:20-21) In our text today we see a glimpse of eternity that ought to shape how we live here on earth. It is a clear picture of the quality of life in heaven. What if we sought to live this way as God’s people on earth?

1. “They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.”

What if we lived in his presence daily? What if we served the Lord day and night while he sheltered us with his presence? As believers we already have his presence in our lives. In heaven we will be constantly aware of it. We should practice living in his presence now. How would you carry yourself if you could look up and see your heavenly father watching over you in his love? What would you say to people? What would you watch on television? How would you act on a date?

2. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.”

In heaven there is constant provision and protection from our father. Do we live today in faith that God will supply all of our needs? Or do we complain and groan at the slightest inconvenience? In heaven Gods children are cared for. Are we making that a reality by making sure those less fortunate are being protected and cared for? Or are we too busy securing bounty for ourselves, going back for seconds while millions are still reaching for firsts?

3. “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

In heaven we live in perfect fellowship with Jesus Christ. He guides us and fills us with the Holy Spirit. He heals our hurts and wipes our tears. He exists in the center of the throne. Is he the center of the throne in your life today? Or is something or someone else keeping you from the closeness he desires with you. In heaven there are no hindrances or distractions to interfere with our relationship with Jesus. No dark secrets. No pet sins. Many today try to live halfway for Jesus and wonder why they don’t have his guidance and care in their lives. The moment we completely surrender to him and place him back in the center of the throne we will find him leading us to living water and wiping away our tears.

Friends I hope you see today that heaven is not a fantasy to help us escape from reality. On the contrary, it is a reality that will destroy all our fantasies. If we truly live as citizens of this wonderful kingdom we will finally see life as it truly is. “Your kingdom come, your will be done in me as it is in heaven.”  May this be the desire of all our hearts today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday April 8. 2010 – Read Revelation 7:9-14  “Who are they?”

Stand with John and catch a glimpse of the greatest worship service ever held. Unimaginable billions gathered from every epoch of human history and every place on the earth. Listen as all the languages that have ever been spoken are woven together in a glorious chorus of praise to God. Refugees and slaves join hands with kings and prophets as faith becomes sight and hope becomes reality. Listen as they sing together, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Does your heart not burst with anticipation and longing for that day?

John must have been swimming in ecstasy when the elder shook him with the question, “Who are these?” John answers, “You know who they are.”

The elder goes on to tell John who makes up this mighty chorus. Funny thing about this; the elder never mentions their names, places of origin, positions in life, or even the name of the church they attended. He doesn’t point out who was a pastor, a plumber, or an emperor. He says nothing about income or accomplishments. In this eternal chorus he identifies them simply by saying, “They are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.” This is all the identification they need. They have come through the trials of life and have found salvation in Jesus Christ.  The elder does not point out into the crowd to name celebrities or saints. He says nothing of church growth records, terms in office, or family lines. All that matters in the eternal chorus is what they did with Jesus. This is the single most important issue of your life: What are you doing with Jesus Christ? Are you trusting him or ignoring him? Are you putting him off or inviting him in? Will you be in that mighty chorus or will you lose it for the things of this world? You cannot have both.

You are invited to attend the greatest worship service in history. It is coming sooner than you or I expect. If you would enter into life there is only one way. Wash your robe in the blood of the Lamb. This means you turn from your sins and place your faith in Jesus Christ. Will you answer his invitation? Or will you spend eternity wishing you had?

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday 4-7-10 devotion: The Lord Knows those who are his. – Read Revelation 7:1-8  The Lord knows those who are his.
The angels stand at the four corners of the earth awaiting the command. Their job is simple; execute divine wrath on the earth. As they prepare to draw their swords another angel says to them, “Wait! Don’t start until we identify the servants of God.” A seal is placed on the foreheads of God’s people, beginning with his chosen of the house of Israel, followed by the multitudes from all nations. This seal does not mean they will not suffer but that in the time of judgment they will be preserved and kept by the power of God. In Ezekiel chapter 9 we see a similar thing. As God prepares to judge his people for their gross idolatry he first places an identification mark on everyone “who sigh and groan over Israel for all the abominations committed…” (v.4) Before judgment God takes note of those who are his and, while they may endure the effects of wrath on the earth they will be kept in his hands whatever comes.
So what does this mean for us today?
Let us rejoice today that God knows those who are his. In the days of judgment the people of God are not swept away but are held fast in his hands. We can “have confidence in the day of judgment.” Because whatever comes our Lord has identified us as his own and will keep us to the end. Whatever hardships you may enter into today remember that God has placed his seal on you through the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life (Ephesians 1:13-14). That seal is your guarantee of his constant care and protection in the midst of trouble. You have not been forgotten. He knows your name. He will keep you in all circumstances. Ten thousand may fall at your right side and on your left, but it will not come near you. The mountains may fall into the sea, but God will not remove his love from you. He has you carved into the palms of his hands. You are his today.
Also let us weep and work for those who do not yet know him. For, when God brings judgment it will be swift and complete. Of all the people in your life which ones are you willing to lose forever? Who do you know that doesn’t need God’s mercy? Friends we cannot, as the song says, “pick and choose who should come.”  The time is shorter than we realize, and we must work for the master who has sealed us with his love.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday 4-6-10 Devotion :”Who can stand?” – Read Revelation 6:1-17 “Who can stand?”
War, economic failure, famine, death, the voices of martyrs crying out for justice, then a great earthquake such as the world has never seen are all shown here as the final precursors to Christ’s return. This horrific scene has even the world leaders hiding in caves crying out to the rocks, “fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”  John predicts a terrible time of global distress and fear in which even the most powerful on the earth are unable to stand before the Lamb of God. They ask a good question: “Who can stand?”  Who could possibly stand when the world is falling apart at the seams?
This brings to mind the words of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel: “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory….” But then he says an interesting thing. While the world is hiding in the hills saying “who can stand?”  Our Lord tells his followers, in Luke’s passage, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” (See Luke 21:25-28) When the world is running for cover, asking “who can stand?” they will see the followers of the Lamb standing up with heads uplifted awaiting their coming king.
One group runs for cover while the other looks to the sky in hope. The difference between those who can stand in difficult times and those who run for cover is simple; only those who have their hope fixed on Jesus Christ are able to stand in fearful times. As we see in our own world a foreshadowing of things to come are you running for cover or standing in hope? It all comes down to where you have your trust. If you are trusting in the things of this world you will mourn when they fall apart. But if you trust in Christ you will become unshakable.
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday 4-5-10 Devotion: When the well runs dry. – “Jesus said to her, ‘Go call you husband and come here.’ The woman answered, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband.’ for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.’” (John 4:16-17)
She never planned for things to happen this way. Six relationships ago she thought she had found the love of her life. She was hanging out at the well when he walked up. His eyes and his voice drew her in like a moth to a flame. She was sure she had found true love. So she married him. But, eventually it fell apart, we can only guess what happened; was he abusive? Unfaithful? Or did she just decide she wasn’t happy? Whatever the case she found herself back at the well looking for love again and soon stumbled into the arms of another man, then another, then another. Finally, after five failed marriages she decided that it’s just easier to move in with her boyfriend rather than risk another divorce. She was tired of going through the heartache and humiliation of being left so she decided to keep this next relationship open, just in case things got ugly again. “Why go through all the formality of marriage if it’s just going to end anyway. Right?”
By the time Jesus met her at the well she was burned out on love and was just looking for a place to stay and someone to keep her relatively safe and secure, but with no strings attached. If the boyfriend turns out to be a bad one she can take the kids and move out without all the paperwork of a divorce. To her it just made sense. It was convenient. By pass all the formality of marriage and spend her life telling herself she is just as committed to her boyfriend as any of those married people. “It’s just a piece of paper.” She kept telling herself.
But still, while her boyfriend slept, she was back at the well again, looking for love. Somehow her plan, for all it’s convenience was leaving her empty inside. Her plan for convenient happiness left her thirsty for true love. That’s when Jesus walked up to her and said; “Can I have a drink of water?” After a few moments she finds herself dropping her water pot, the prop she had used every day to help her pose by the well looking for Mr. Right, and running into town telling everyone about Jesus. “Come see a man who told me everything I have ever done!” She said. Translation: “Come see the first man in my life that has ever seen beyond my makeup.”
She discovered that her broken heart could not be cured by bouncing from one man to the next, or by living in a sinful relationship with a boyfriend, but by putting her life in the hands of God and letting him show her what love really is.
So many young men and women are just like her.  They are looking for the perfect relationship, or just a convenient one without too much commitment. They will take hold of anyone who will make them feel valued for just a little while. But many, even after finding that special someone are back out at the well again, still thirsty inside. Another husband. Another boyfriend. Another shot at happiness. Maybe the next one will do the trick. But it never works. The emptiness in the heart can only be filled by your creator, who gave his life on a cross to prove his love for you. Would your boyfriend do that for you?
If you are looking for love today listen to the words of Jesus as he spoke to the woman at the well.
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up into eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
You can spend the rest of your life standing by the well looking for love and never really find it until you look to the one who created you for himself. Put down your water pot and find true love in Christ.

Friday 4-2-10 Devotion: Mark 15:37-39 – Todays Reading: ” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘ Truly this man was the Son of God!’” Mark 15:37-39

Thursday 4-1-10  devotion: Matthew 26:39 -Today’s Reading: ” And going on a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’” Matthew 26:39

Wednesday 3-31-2010 Devotion: John 13:8-9 – Todays reading: “Peter said to him, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him,’ Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.’” John 13:8-9

Tuesday 3-30-2010 Devotion: Luke 20:46-47 – Today’s Reading: “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows houses and for pretense make long prayers. They will recieve a greater condemnation.” Luke 20:46-47

Monday 3-29-2010 Devotion: Mark 11:15-16 – “And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.” Mark 11:15-16

Thursday 3-25-2010 Devotion: Thursday Devotion: Colossians 2:6-7 – Todays reading: “Therefore as you have recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

Wednesday 3-24-2010 Devotion: Wednesday Devotion: Luke 19:40 – “He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’” Luke 19:40

Tuesday 3-23-10 Devotion: Mark 10:21 – Todays Reading: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” Mark 10:21

Monday 3-22-10 Devotion: Matthew 18:19-20 – “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20

Driskill Family Ministry Update: Spring 2010

It’s hard to believe the “new year” is already through the first quarter and that we haven’t sent anything out since the first of the year greeting.  That may give you some idea of just how busy things have been around here, despite the very snowy winter.
After recovering from “technical difficulties” during the holidays (being without electricity and water for a week before Christmas) and bracing for the forecasted snowy winter, we met the New Year thankful for our woodstove and enjoying the larger-than-normal and much more frequent snowfall totals.  Silly us to think that would slow things down!  Working at a boarding school means no snow days for Mark or us homeschoolers and we were just defiant enough to vow not to cancel church services as long as we could get down our own driveway, so we didn’t slow down much this winter.  Now that spring has officially arrived, the pace is only picking up speed as we head into the “busy” ministry season.
Oakdale Christian Academy continues to provide opportunities for sharing faith with students and we are celebrating some of the fruits of that labor with two students accepting Christ just this week.  The campus has been through some normal student drama and trauma, but Christ is faithful and is opening doors despite the distractions that accompany working with teenagers.  Pray for Mark’s continued inspiration as he teaches Bible class and Introduction to Christianity particularly, as many of the conversations that lead to a decision stem from the classroom discussion.  Pray for the two students who’ve made decisions and for the entire staff as they disciple them.  Mary continues to work with the co-op among staff children and Jack, John and Grace enjoy being part of that community.
Emmanuel Fellowship Church has experienced an explosion of babies!  Three have been born in the last six months and another is on the way this summer.  We are blessed to have young couples in our midst and have welcomed a youth leader to help out with youth ministries in addition to our existing Youth Drama team and regular Sunday school and mid-week Bible study.  Pray that God would continue to open doors of ministry and for two of the young couples who are looking for work and experiencing some health crises.  As you know, this area is not abundant in employment options, but we know we serve a mighty God who is able to supply for our needs.  Pray for these young families and for our developing leaders.
Bethel Camp hosted a Young Adult Retreat in February and had a really good crowd.  Although it was during a rare “off” weekend,  touching base with former staffers and renewing conversations about what God is doing in the lives of former campers and staffers is way too tempting to let go by!  We are preparing for the summer already with volunteer staff and Bible speakers selections and planning as well as retreat season getting underway.  Youth retreat is this weekend and Jr. Youth retreat is set after Easter.  We are developing plans to have another week set aside for pray for each of the eight weeks of summer camp and for an eight-hour prayer vigil the last Saturday in May.  It’s hard to believe that summer camp season is only ten weeks away!  Pray with us even now, for an awesome summer of ministry to campers!
Kate is planning to participate in a summer mission trip to Alaska with the Hindman Student Ministries group through college.  She is in the process of raising money to cover the expected $1400 cost of the week-long mission trip scheduled for July.  She also hopes to serve at camp this summer, along with her parents and brother, Jack.  She is completing her sophomore year at Alice Lloyd and comes back today from Spring Break choir tour with Voices of Appalachia. If you would like to send support for Katie’s  mission trip send it to our address, made out to Katie Driskill. Make a note that it is for her trip please.
Jack starts soccer refereeing in April, which he enjoys and gives him a little spending money.  He is hoping to take his learner’s permit driver test this week.  Here we go……and he’s praying about what to do after his senior year and high school graduation which is in 2011 and coming up way too fast!
 
John and Grace are keeping busy as well and helping with all our ministry activities.  We are truly blessed to have kids who enjoy each other and the lifestyle of ministry.
Mark continues to write for the newspaper and for online devotions and picks up speaking engagements from time to time at youth rallies, area churches and of course, at camp.  Just this past week, he spoke at an area youth skate event and had three teens accept Christ!  Mary is pursuing her 200-hour yoga instructor certification, which has been quite a challenge and has opened up lots of other possibilities for ministry and potential income.  In all our spare time, we keep the homestead going and are in the midst of spring planting.
In all these things, God continues to provide, many times through you in both your prayers and giving.  For that we are eternally grateful and pray to be good stewards of the time and resources entrusted to us.  If you are interested in becoming one of our financial supporters please let us know. Anything you are able to do will be greatly appreciated. All gifts and donations should be sent to Bethel Camp. All checks should be made out to the camp as well. The address is:
                                          Bethel Mennonite Camp
                                           2773 Bethel Church Rd.
                                           Clayhole, Ky. 41317
Finally, for more information on the work here check out the following websites:
www.bethelcamp.org
www.oakdalechristian.org
www.efellowshipjackson.blogspot.com
Thanks for your love, prayers and support. They mean more than you know. Blessings to you as you seek the kingdom alongside us.  Mark and Mary Driskill

Friday devotion: John 10:27 – Todays Reading: “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Thursday devotion: Luke 19:9-10 – Todays reading: ” And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house , since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.’” Luke 19:9-10

Monday devotion: John 7: 37-38 – Todays reading: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me , as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

Friday devotion: Luke 14:34 – Todays reading: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its taste how shall its saltiness be restored?” Luke 14:34

Thursday devotion: Mark 9:19 – Todays reading: “And he said to them, ‘ O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.’ ” Mark 9:19

Wednesday devotion: Matthew 15:34 – Todays reading; “And Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’” Matthew 15:34

Tuesday Devotion: John 6:28-29 – Todays reading: “Then they said to him, ‘what must we do to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them,’ This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” John 6:28-29

Monday Devotion: John 8:31-32 – Todays reading: ” So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘ If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’ ” John 8:31-32

You can go “in the Spirit” to any nation on earth. You can touch an
unreached people while on your knees. Indeed, your secret closet may become the
headquarters for a movement of God’s Spirit over an entire nation.

I think of Abraham’s example. He prayed over godless, wicked Sodom. The Lord
answered him, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I
will spare all the place for their sakes” (Genesis 18:26).

When Abraham heard this, he began to negotiate with the Lord. He asked, “(If)
there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for
lack of five?” (18:28). Abraham was asking, “Lord, what if there are
forty-five righteous people among those fifty believers? What if only that many
are praying seekers? Or, what if there are only ten upright people who seek you?
If only ten call on you, will you spare the city?” God answered Abraham, “I
will not destroy it for ten’s sake” (18:32).

This passage tells us something about the Lord. He is willing to save entire
societies if he can find a band of righteous people within them. This speaks of
people who seek his face for the sake of their nation.

God goes even further on this issue than he did with Abraham. In Ezekiel 22,
God speaks of finding just one praying believer who will stand in the gap: “I
sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap
before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none”
(Ezekiel 22:30).

At the time of Ezekiel’s prophecy, Israel was polluted spiritually. The
prophets were profane, violating God’s law left and right. And the people
were oppressed, vexed on all sides, full of lust, robbing one another. Not one
person among them cried out to the Lord. Nobody stood in the gap to intercede.
Yet God would have saved the entire nation for the sake of just one
intercessor.

If you cannot physically go to the nations, you can be part of the support body
of intercessors. And we are to assist those who have given themselves to go to
the nations. When Paul writes of his journeys, he mentions not only Timothy and
Titus as his helpers, but also Lydia and the other precious women who aided him.
These were all devoted servants whose assistance helped touch entire nations
with the gospel.

Thursday devotion: Matthew 14:27 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘ Take heart.; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” Matthew 14:27

Wednesday Devotion: John 5:19 Todays Reading: “So Jesus said to them, ‘ Truly, truly I say to you, the Son of man can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.’” John 5:19

Tuesday Devotion: Luke 6:12-13  Todays reading: “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles.” 

Monday Devotion: Mark 3:1-5  Todays Reading: “Agin He enetered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus to see wheteher He would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come here.’ And he said to them, ‘ Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?’ But they were silent.”

 Thursday February 25th, 2010 – Todays reading:
Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink.’ You would have asked and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010  WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE   Christ’s church has never been approved or accepted by the world. And it never will be. If you live for Jesus, you won’t have to separate yourself
from other’s company; they’ll do it for you. All you have to do is live for
him. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself reproached, rejected, called evil: “Men
shall hate you, and…they shall separate you from their company, and shall
reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake”
(Luke 6:22).

Yet, Jesus adds, this is the path to true fulfillment. “Whosoever will save
his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
it” (Matthew 16:25). In other words: “The only way you find meaning in life
is by selling out your all for me. Then you’ll find true joy, peace and
satisfaction.” Christ tells us, “My church is without spot or wrinkle. So,
when you come to me, you must be willing to lay down all sins. You must
surrender all to me, die completely to self, ungodly ambition and ego. By
faith, you’ll be buried with me. But I will raise you up into new life.”

Think about what it means to be without spot or wrinkle. We know a spot is a
stain. But what about a wrinkle? Have you ever heard the phrase, “a new
wrinkle”? It means adding a new idea to an existing concept. A wrinkle, in
that sense, applies to those who try to improve on the gospel. It suggests an
easy way to attain heaven, without full surrender to Christ.

That’s the kind of gospel that’s being preached in many churches today. The
sermons are aimed only at meeting people’s needs. As I read Jesus’ words, I
see that this kind of preaching will not work. It doesn’t accomplish the true
work of the gospel.Don’t misunderstand: I’m not against preaching comfort and strength to
God’s people. As a shepherd of the Lord, I’m called to do exactly that. But
if I preach only to people’s needs, and ignore Christ’s call to lay down our
lives, then true needs will never be met. Jesus’ words are clear: Our needs
are met by dying to ourselves and taking up his cross. Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/7655

Todays Reading: “As Jesus walked beside the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18

Thursday 2-18-2010 -For the next forty days, in preparation for Easter, I will be sending passages from the life and teachings of Jesus. There will be no comments as you are encouraged to simply reflect on the scripture and allow God to speak to you. Blessings to you as you walk with the Lord in this journey to the cross and the resurrection.
 
Today’s passage:
 
             “In those days John the baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent for the kingdom of 
                heaven is at hand.’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
               ‘The voice of  one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
                                                                                                                                               Matthew 3:1-3

Wednesday February 17, 2010
Read Revelation 5:11-14 Jesus the light or Jesus lite?
To call Jesus less than He called Himself is the highest blasphemy. Yet everywhere we look there are those who want to turn Jesus the light into Jesus lite. Let’s laud him for his words of love and peace. Let’s curtsy before him as a nice teacher and prophet. We can even give a shout out to him as a great role model for others to follow. But we stop short of calling Him Lord and master.
As the Lord Jesus prepares to break the seven seals, he stands at the center of the throne room. It’s an awesome scene where all beings in heaven and earth fall down on their knees to give glory to the one who conquered sin and death by His blood. John foresees a time like Paul described when “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess… that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
We see in this scene a revelation of Jesus that far exceeds how much of the world views our Lord. Every major religion on earth has a kind of respect for Jesus. To them he is a prophet or teacher. To them he is a step on the way to God. I have heard often those who would attempt to show respect in calling Jesus a great teacher, but they fall short of calling Him what He called Himself. If you tell them that Jesus claimed to be the savior of the world they quickly run for cover and say “but how do we know He really said that?” Funny isn’t it, how we never doubt what Jesus said about love and peace, but when He gets out of our comfort zone we suddenly aren’t so sure about His words. If we can trust His words of love and peace why then can’t we trust what he said about Himself? We have to understand friends that to believe in Jesus means far more than to accept him as a teacher, then pick and choose which teachings we want to believe. To call Jesus less than who He has revealed himself to be is to dishonor Him. A day is soon coming when all  will have to kneel before Him and confess that He is more than a prophet or teacher. He is the spirit of prophecy and the center of true teaching. He is more than a step on the ladder to God. He is the ladder. He is more than a revolutionary. He is the revolution. In John’s revelation we see Jesus for who He is standing at the center of the universe being worshipped as the Lamb of God who is worthy to receive glory and honor and power. To see Him as anything less is a lie. He said of Himself “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” Do you believe His words today or will you water Him down to something less? Is He Jesus the light or Jesus lite?Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday February 16, 2010
Read Revelation 5:6-10  He is coming so you should be going.
At the center of the throne room between the throne and the four creatures and among the elders stands the savior of the world. He holds the scroll of destiny in His pierced hands. All of heaven falls down before the one with seven eyes, and seven horns, symbolizing all authority in heaven and earth let’s begin this morning by thanking God that our Lord Jesus has all authority and power. While nations frantically run back and forth trying to negotiate or terrorize their way to a new world order the Lamb of God alone holds the future in His hands. We should join the heavenly beings in their new song;
 “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth.”
Amazing. The one who has been given all authority has ransomed people to walk in it. He has saved us and made us a kingdom of priests who will reign on the earth. Now let’s not be silly and water this down to some kind of worldly political power thing. This is about walking in the authority and power of Jesus for the sake of spreading the gospel to all the nations and declaring His glory. Are you and I walking in the power of Jesus as His priests? As we move into the last days before our Lord will return our job is not to sit around trying to figure out dates and times but to go out into all the world and make disciples of all nations. In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go into all the world and make disciples…”
Today let us remember that as we begin to see the signs of our Lords return coming more into focus we have been saved to serve. We must go out and preach the good news in the authority and power of the Lamb who takes way the sins of the world.
 
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday February 15, 2010
Read Revelation 5:1-5  Lord of Whatever Comes.
John wept because no one was worthy to open the scroll. Inscribed on front and back was the destiny of all nations. His heart sunk into despair that the future seemed locked away. But then one of the elders spoke to him: “Don’t weep; John there is one who is worthy to open the scroll of destiny. The Lion of Judah is worthy for He has conquered.”  What a joy it must have been to see that the Lamb of God is able to release the future as well as heal the past. No one else in all of heaven; No prophet, king or wise person could ever be worthy to do such a thing. But the Son of God who has saved us from our past is able to open up the scroll of our future.
 Jesus is Lord of your past having forgiven all your sins. But He is also the one who holds your destiny in His hands. He holds the keys to all your tomorrows.  We spend so much time trying to secure futures for ourselves. Our minds become weighed down with questions about what is to come and which direction we should take.  We see the signs of the times flashing across the screens and tremors of apprehension shake our peace. We lie awake at night with images from apocalyptic movies haunting our dreams. Where are we headed? What is to come? Will our children and grandchildren be alright?
 Friends today I want to remind each of us that the one who healed our past has our future in His hands. If you trust your savior with the sins of yesterday then rest in His promise for tomorrow. As we will see in this chapter Jesus is the one who breaks open each seal releasing future events. What does this mean for us? It means that Jesus opens the future. Whatever comes in your life tomorrow is under His control. Even the most tragic and inexplicable happenings are played out under His supervision. Difficulty and even disaster will come and go. But in the midst of it all He is Lord and He is victorious over it. You will face nothing today that your Lord is not prepared to handle. Keep your eyes on the one who holds eternity in His pierced hands. 
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday February 11, 2010
Read Revelation 4:1-8  “Come up here and I will show you…”
What an incredible sight this must have been for John. None of us can even imagine the power of suddenly being transported into the very throne room of God! Even John’s description uses the phrases “it was like” or it “had the appearance of” to show that what John saw could not be adequately described except to compare it to things like Jasper, Emeralds and Crystal. John was trying to describe the indescribable. But what strikes me as even more amazing than the visual images is the beginning words of this chapter. “I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven…and the first voice said ‘Come up here and I will show you…’”
There is an open door to Gods throne room. In our world most leaders are kept sequestered off in privacy. Security demands that we keep them behind locked doors and security cameras. But the door to God’s inner chamber is standing open. Through the blood of Jesus we all have access to the throne room of God himself. This is why the believer can go boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need. No security checks, no armed guards, and no waiting for an audience. If the fact that we have such access to God were all, that would be enough to make us stand in awe of God’s mercy. But there’s more.
We have a standing invitation to enter in. “Come up here and I will show you.” the voice spoke to John. Without even having a chance to answer the invitation John was suddenly transported in the Spirit into the presence of the Holy one. God invites us to come up to where He is and see what He has in store for us. The only requirement is that we come up. This idea of coming up is worthy of reflection. John could not stay where he was and see the throne room at the same time. He had to come up, or ascend from his earthly position and get up where God was. In other words he could not stay where he was and go where God was at the same time. Neither can you or I. If we are going to answer God’s invitation to his presence we have to get our eyes, hearts and minds onto the things of God. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth.” There are times when I must lay aside the concerns of this life and ascend into the throne room of God through worship and adoration, as described in the rest of Revelation 4. When was the last time you went up? When was the last time you spent time worshipping the Lord and ministering to him? If it was last Sunday or Wednesday it was too long ago. Hey friend, God has opened the door and issued an invitation for you to seek His presence. If a celebrity or dignitary invited you to a banquet you would surely make every effort to attend. Today the king of kings invites you to come up and see Him. Why not stop by today? Your father has something He wants to show you.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Wednesday February 10, 2010
Read Revelation 3:14-22 Life in the land of good enough.
The church of Laodicea was living in the land of good enough. In the land of good enough there is no need for anything. Everybody is just fine with their okay lives and they all just mindlessly go about minding their own business which consists of nothing more than maintaining the status quo. In the land of good enough you have no idea that there may be more to your life in God than being the well behaved moral robots that your religious traditions have trained you to be. You see no need to pursue anything in life beyond your normal comforts and cannot imagine ever needing to repent of anything. Prayers are well crafted poems recited in perfect drudgery. Daily devotions are designed to fit nicely into the plans we already have for our lives. We avoid those disturbing passages which may threaten to undo our sense of fragile peace. All of our relationships are with fine people who live fine lives in fine neighborhoods with fine homes. We are careful not to associate with those who aren’t quite as okay as we are so as to preserve our fine witness. Then on Sunday morning we all gather together in our nice church with our nice pastor who gives us a nice sermon (not too long) on how to maintain our niceness so that we all are okay enough to waltz into paradise some day. Then we all shake hands and repeat the mantra “I’m just fine, how about you?” In the first church of good enough everybody is just fine and if anyone appears to not be fine they are kindly shown the door. In a polite way of course and we are sure to pray for them.  This is life in the land of good enough.
 The only problem with the land of good enough is that good enough isn’t good enough in the kingdom of God. Jesus tells the people of good enough that their sense of okayness makes him sick to the point of throwing up. He tells them that they don’t realize how blind, sick and naked they are. Once you lose sight of your need for grace you begin to wander out of the kingdom of heaven into the land of good enough. What is good enough in God’s kingdom? “It is enough for the student to become like his teacher.” (Matthew 10:25) Until we reach Christlikeness we are in need of grace and help. Jesus said the one who overcomes self satisfaction will “sit with me on my throne.” So it seems we have a choice. We can pursue an easy chair or a throne, but we cannot have both. Which will you pursue today?Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday February 9, 2010
Read: Revelation 3:7-13 Jesus is Holding the Door.
Today we are reminded of Gods favor toward those who walk by faith and keep His word. In Psalms it says: “He surrounds us with favor like a shield.” And Jesus told His disciples in John 12:26 “My father will honor the one who serves me.” One way He honors us is by holding the door of opportunities for us so we can walk through them.
Here are some things that happen when Jesus holds the door for us.
1. “Which no one else can shut.” – You know the Lord has opened the door when the enemy tries to close it and it stays open anyway. When the door of opportunity has been opened by the Lord the devil will try to block your entrance through difficulty or a delay along the way. But when the smokescreen of deception clears the door will still be open. Just be patient and wait on the Lord.
2. “I will make them bow down at your feet.” – When the Lord is opening a door for you there will be those who oppose you even disguising themselves as God’s messengers. They will tell you God is not in it or that you are missing His will. But there will come a time when they will have to admit that they were wrong. God vindicates his children in the eyes of the opposition. So when the critics come with their expert opinions just smile and keep walking into your destiny.
3.  “I will keep you from the hour of trial.” – When God is holding the door for His children they are protected in times of disaster or distress. There are times when you see trouble around you and you wonder why you are still standing unscathed. Give thanks to God for His favor. He is holding the door for you.
4. “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” – When God holds the door He makes His children pillars in the temple. He uses them to build His church and shows the world His glory through them. God has a destiny for those who obey Him. He wants to establish you and give you a name that lasts forever.
So the next time you face difficulty in doing God’s will and the enemy seems to be blocking your way just look up to heaven and remember Jesus is holding the door for you. When He holds the door no one can shut it.
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday February 8, 2010
Read Revelation 3:1 The Danger of a Good Reputation
Yesterday’s obedience can’t make up for today’s compromises. The church in Sardis was sleeping on the obedience of the past. At some point they had been a faithful church. They had been faithful enough to develop a reputation in the community. But over time they became comfortable simply basking in the warm glow of yesterdays victories. One of the dangers of  having a good reputation is the temptation to become complacent. You begin to say to yourself: “Those were the good old days. I don’t need to try so hard now; after all I’ve done some good things in my life.” Then like the church in Sardis, you begin to let things slip. “I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”  Jesus told them. You begin to tell yourself that a little giving in to the darkness is okay because of all you have accomplished in the past. Many a great ministry had fallen this way, and many a Christian has wandered off the trail because they are content to live on their reputation rather than pressing on for the prize. Remember King Saul started out as a superstar, but ended up a reject because he thought his reputation gave him the right to disobey God. King David committed a horrible sin with Bathsheba because he stayed at home, congratulating himself when the others went off to battle. Friends let us keep pressing on to prize. Remember on the cross Jesus did not say “I am finished.” He said “It is finished.” Let us not say to ourselves “Well done, good and faithful servant.” while there is still work to do for the kingdom. Wait for Jesus to say it, and then we can rest from our labors. Keep pressing on.
Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Thursday February 4, 2010
Read Revelation 2:25     S.T.O.P.
There are times in our walk with Jesus that His command is simply to hold on until He comes. While we don’t want to spend our whole lives just holding on to what we have and never venturing out in acts of love and faith, there are times when God calls us simply to make our stand and wait for him to break through for us. He tells us to S.T.O.P. – Stand Tall on (His) Promises.
 To the faithful ones in Thyatira it was such a time. Jesus told them “Just hold fast what you have until I come.” The presence of evil in the church was growing and a time of great judgment was on the way. In that time the faithful were told to take cover in the grace and power of the Lord and His promises, and wait until He came to make things right again. In every battle it is crucial that you know when to advance and when to take cover and wait for reinforcements. Perhaps today you find yourself in a tough spot where it seems the enemy is all around you. Sometimes you are so overwhelmed by the temptations and threats to your faith that you feel like defeat is inevitable. There are days when I look around at the apathy and despair in so many people that I want to drop my sword and walk wearily off the battlefield. I just don’t know if I can lift my shield of faith again. In such times I have often heard the master whisper into the depths of my fatigued spirit; “Just hold on to what you have until I come.” In other words just continue to be who you are right now in God and wait for Him to ride in to your situation. Friend, it may feel today like all you are doing for the kingdom is in vain. All you see around you is pain and sorrow. You have prayed everything you know to pray, said everything you know to say, and done everything you can imagine to gain a victory. You eyes are tired of crying. You have claimed every promise, rebuked every demon, tried every approach to victory but things still look the same as when you started the battle. The world hasn’t changed after all. But take heart, God hasn’t changed either. Just stop. Take your stand. Don’t try to fix anything. Don’t make any new plans. Just stop. Don’t quit. Stop. Stand Tall On (His) Promises.
 Stand in the faith you have however small it feels. Just be who you are in Christ. Hold on to what you know of His grace and mercy. Wait for Him to come in His time in His way. Remember this is not your battle. You don’t have to convince God how important it is. This is His kingdom, His plan, His responsibility. Right now your job is just to stand in faith. At the right time He will come. Oh yes, He will come. And it will be glorious when you see Him.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

February 3, 2010
Read Revelation 2:24 Plumbing the depths of disaster.
It probably started out innocently enough. At first her teaching was reasonable. She said to her little following; “You have to know your enemy if you are going to defeat him.” These unsuspecting members of the Jezebel teachers Sunday school class wanted to know how to overcome the schemes of the devil and so they listened eagerly to her insights. Eagerly they took notes and drank in her teaching which was sprinkled with half truths from parts of Bible verses taken out of context. They were increasingly impressed with her knowledge of the ways of Satan. It wasn’t long before they found themselves looking for demons under every rock. Superstition began to replace faith as they found themselves seeking the devil more often than seeking God. Legalism mistaken for holiness caused them to withdraw more and more from normal daily activities out of fear that the devil may be lurking in the laundry basket. Family members were getting concerned as they saw the joy of the Holy Spirit seep out of Jezebels recruits and become replaced by a dark preoccupation with what their teacher called “the deep things of Satan.” It wasn’t long before there was talk of a group of Jezebels followers meeting late at night offering sacrifices to demonic spirits in order to appease them.  Friends there are two dangers we can run into regarding Satan. The first is to live blindly as if the forces of darkness are not real. But the second, as seen in Thyatira, is to become so preoccupied with the devil that we end up inadvertently worshipping him. The best way to overcome the enemy of our soul is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ who “disarmed the authorities and powers (of Satan)” on the cross. Paul tells us that we “wrestle against spiritual forces of darkness in heavenly places” and so we must recognize the reality of the demonic. But some of us have allowed our selves to become tangled up in our wrestling match with the devil so that we no longer seek the Lord. All we see are demons in our laundry basket, and in our closet, and behind the curtain. We have become so conscious of what Satan is up to that we have replaced our faith with superstition and legalism. “Don’t touch that, don’t go here, don’t say that, or Satan might get you.” Let me ask you this. When you have a problem or a crisis what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think “Oh the devil is trying to…” or do you think “Oh the Lord must be showing me…”? Who are you more focused on today, the father of lies or the Father of truth? Instead of studying the deep things of Satan sign up to learn the deep things of God. Then you will find true victory.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Tuesday February 2, 2010
Read Revelation 2:21-23 Game Over
Her time had run out. The false prophetess, teaching under the influence of the ancient Jezebel, had been poisoning the Thyatyrian church for a period of time, perhaps several years. The Lord had given her time to repent of her sin but apparently she mistook God’s patience as approval. Now the time was fast approaching when the curtain would close on her religious game. She would be thrown into affliction along with all who followed her in her sin. Jesus says of her judgment; “And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” A cleansing was about to come to this church of misguided tolerance. This church which thought it best to stand idly by watching the weeds grow up alongside the wheat rather than cause any sort of conflict was about to be introduced to Jesus’ zero tolerance policy on immorality and false teaching. We see in Jesus’ words what happens when He steps in to root out such things in a church or the life of a Christian.
1. “I will throw her on a sickbed….tribulation.” – The false teacher and her partners are exposed and punished. How many times have we seen scandals in churches exposed after many years? Mighty empires built over decades fall publicly and their leaders lose it all when the Lord brings His judgment.
2. “I will strike her children dead.” – Children here probably means spiritual children. Those who follow false teaching will face a harsh judgment as well. Remember these followers were in the church where they had access to the truth, but they had joined this little group within the fellowship that was creating its own version of truth. Sadly many a church has at least one little sub group who thinks they know more than everyone else. They pull away from solid biblical teaching and start meeting in a huddle under one who simply wants to create a following for themselves. Those who willfully walk into such things best take heed.
3. “And all the churches will know that I am the one…” – When the Lord brings correction upon a believer or a church He does it in such a way that everyone looking around learns who He really is. God is jealous for the glory of His name and for the well being of His church. He will deal with false teachers in such a way as to make sure everyone else learns from their error. Whenever you see a false ministry exposed, don’t despair. It simply affirms the fact that God is Holy and He is purifying His bride so that the entire world can see who she really is.
Friends let us be diligent today to walk in the light of the truth of God’s word. Our Lord is passionate about His bride. His desire is to see her holy and radiant. Though the world plays its games with tolerance we will walk in Holy love. Let us be as passionate for the truth as He is for us.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw

Monday February 1, 2010

(Click image to enlarge)

Read Revelation 2:18-20 When Tolerance Becomes Intolerable.
As you read each of these letters to the churches you can see that as the Lord addresses each church He reveals Himself as that particular body needs. For example to the church in Ephesus he is the one who walks among the lampstands. To the church in Pergamum He is the one with the two edged sword and so on. Here in Thyatira, a church that was being poisoned from within by false teaching, he is the one with eyes of fire and feet of bronze. I’m thankful that our Lord knows us well enough to reveal that part of His infinite nature that is most needed for our growth in Him. The church at Thyatira, as I said, was facing the Lord’s judgment for her willingness to tolerate heresy. No doubt they would have preferred to have Jesus come as the humble shepherd, cuddling His sheep in a beautiful meadow. But the Lord does not come to us as we expect or necessarily want Him to appear. He comes as He sees best to get us where we need to be in His kingdom. In Thyatira he came with fire in his eyes and feet ready to trample down the idols. The all seeing master was able to burn beyond the surface of good religious deeds to the core of heresy that was taking root in behind the scenes.  There was a false teacher who was leading believers into immorality, idolatry, and witchcraft. This letter was a warning that the Lord of the church sees all and is prepared to trample the idols that are draining the life out of His bride. How important this image of Jesus is in a church climate that wants to tolerate the intolerable. We have a generation of teens growing up in church thinking it’s normal to have a baby before marriage, if marriage happens at all. We have members who think nothing of living grossly materialistic lives while billion starve spiritually and physically. We also have a generation that is perfectly willing to incorporate occultic activities like psychic readings, channeling, and blatant witchcraft with their pseudo Christian faith. In our desire to be tolerant we are in danger of forsaking holiness within the body of Christ. It is interesting that the charge Jesus brings against this church is made using the buzzword of our century; “You tolerate that woman Jezebel…” Friends let us remember as we stand before the one with fire in his eyes and feet of bronze that there are some things we are called not to tolerate, at the very least within the body of Christ. Let us purify our hearts and lives so that what he sees on the inside matches what we say on the outside.Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten by the word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw