Today in church I spoke about the book of Revelation...
How that John the apostle, who penned the words to it, was first banished to a remote island known as Patmos as punishment for preaching the gospel. Yet in such a lonely and forlorn place John was given a vision of heaven where he received words from the Lord Jesus himself as told to him by an angel.
That it is often when we are alone and find ourselves in the bleakest and darkest of circumstances, that God will show himself in ways we could not imagine. He did this with John, and He will do it for us too. The Lord also did this for the prophet Jeremiah. Centuries before, John the Jewish prophet was locked up in a prison cell for proclaiming God's coming judgment upon a backslidden and rebellious people. Yet deep within that prison, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, saying, "CaIl unto Me, and I will answer thee. I will show you great and mighty things which will leave you amazed" (Jeremiah 33:1-3) .*
Therefore, if we allow Him to, the Lord will likewise speak to us during our difficult times and seasons. Maybe not as dramatically as He did for both John and Jeremiah, but because He loves us, God will give us words of hope to help lift His children from despair. He will speak to our hearts with words of strength and encouragement. He did this in biblical times, and He does it today.
D. B.
*This was my paraphrase.
That it is often when we are alone and find ourselves in the bleakest and darkest of circumstances, that God will show himself in ways we could not imagine. He did this with John, and He will do it for us too. The Lord also did this for the prophet Jeremiah. Centuries before, John the Jewish prophet was locked up in a prison cell for proclaiming God's coming judgment upon a backslidden and rebellious people. Yet deep within that prison, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah, saying, "CaIl unto Me, and I will answer thee. I will show you great and mighty things which will leave you amazed" (Jeremiah 33:1-3) .*
Therefore, if we allow Him to, the Lord will likewise speak to us during our difficult times and seasons. Maybe not as dramatically as He did for both John and Jeremiah, but because He loves us, God will give us words of hope to help lift His children from despair. He will speak to our hearts with words of strength and encouragement. He did this in biblical times, and He does it today.
D. B.
*This was my paraphrase.
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