Revelation

  • What few things does He have against us? (the church in Pergamum)

    And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

    –Revelation 2:12-17

    Lord Jesus, You who have the sharp two-edged sword. Though You do commend us today in some things, we ask that You give us ears to hear what the Your Spirit is saying to each one of us today regarding our sin. May Your kindness lead us to repentance.

    Where are we holding to the teaching of Balaam?
    How are we worshiping other gods?
    How are we not making Your Lord of all?
    How are we trying to serve two masters?
    How are we holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans?
    How are we taking the liberty we have in Christ turning it into licentiousness?

    By Your Word, O God, show us these things. We are deaf to our sin apart from Your opening our ears. We are blind to our sin apart from Your opening our eyes.

    Your Word, O God, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from Your sight, but all of us are naked and exposed to the eyes of You to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:14-16, adapted)

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess that we often hold to the teaching of Balaam.
    We confess we worship other gods.
    Your Body was torn so we might eat of You alone.
    Forgive us, O God of gods, when we go to eat elsewhere,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We confess we lust after and gorge ourselves with earthly food rather than feeding upon the angels' food You provide, Your heavenly manna.
    We confess we don't see Your food as sufficient for us.
    We confess we don't see Your food as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
    We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
    We confess we eat food sacrificed to idols.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Bread of Life,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we do not make You Lord of all.
    We make ourselves lords of our lives.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lord of lords,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we try to serve two masters.
    We try to serve our lusts and serve You.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Master of our souls,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We know we must give account to You.
    We confess we hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
    We confess we worship our own lusts.
    You loved us and freed us so we might worship You and You alone.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls, when we play the harlot,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    We confess we lust after and covet after earthly joys rather than being satisfied with the pleasures forevermore available to us in Your presence.
    We confess we don't see Your presence as sufficient for us.
    We confess we don't see Your presence as good, so we covet and crave lesser, carnal things.
    We confess we are not content with Your provision for us.
    We confess we follow after our own lusts.
    Forgive us our iniquity, O Lover of our souls,
    Though we have tested and provoked You,
    Be full of compassion and merciful to us for Jesus' sake.
    Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Create a new heart in us.

    Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2 O my soul , thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

    –Psalm 16, KJV

    (Please also read Psalm 78.)

    Turn us back to You so we might abide in You. As we dwell in Your presence, as we follow Your path of life, You will provide fullness of joy to us and satisfaction abounding. No earthly joys can compare to You. Lead us to back to You once more and taste and see that You are good. We confess we are prone to wander. Guard us and keep us in Your care, O Good Shepherd. Amen.

    Please ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and add your prayers here as He leads...

  • we can endure only when we seek You and seek help from You (Jehoshaphat)

    Please read Jesus' words to the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia in Revelation 2:8-11 and 3:7-12.

    After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

    –II Chronicles 20:1-4 (please continue reading through verse 30)


    For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

    I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.


    20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

    –I Corinthians 1:17-31

    O Lord our God,

    As Your children, since we are in Your Kingdom, we are now all enlisted in the battle against the devil and the powers of darkness. You call us to patiently endure, to be faithful and steadfast unto death. How can we do so if we do not seek You and seek help from You the way Jehoshaphat and Judah did?

    We keep trying to put on Saul's armor and use worldly weapons.
    We confess we have made idols our of worldly weapons.
    We confess we are tempted to fight this battle in our own power.
    We confess we have tried to fight this battle in our own power.
    Forgive us, O Lord, for fighting in our own power.
    Our power avails nothing in the battle.
    Help us to fight this battle in the power You provide.
    Help us to cast off the armor of Saul and to put on the armor of David.
    Help us to cast off the weapons of this world and to put on the weapons of Your warfare.
    Help us to seek You alone.
    Help us to seek help from You alone.
    For Christ alone is the power of God.
    When we go in Your power, You, Lord, will deliver us from the hand of our enemies.

    We keep trying to put on Saul's armor and use worldly weapons.
    We confess we have made idols our of worldly weapons.
    We confess we are tempted to fight in our own strength.
    We confess we have tried to fight this battle in our own strength.
    Forgive us, O Lord, for resorting to our own strength.
    We only come to know your strength through our weakness.
    Help us to fight this battle in the strength You provide.
    Help us to cast off the armor of Saul and to put on the armor of David.
    Help us to cast off the weapons of this world and to put on the weapons of Your warfare.
    Help us to seek You alone.
    Help us to seek help from You alone.
    For Christ alone is the strength of God.
    When we go in Your strength, You, Lord, will deliver us from the hand of our enemies.

    We keep trying to put on Saul's armor and use worldly weapons.
    We confess we have made idols our of worldly weapons.
    We confess we are tempted to fight using our own wisdom.
    We confess we have tried to fight this battle using our own wisdom.
    But You have chosen the foolish things to confound the wise.
    Forgive us, O Lord, for leaning on our own wisdom.
    Help us to fight this battle with Your wisdom.
    Help us to cast of the armor of Saul and to put on the armor of David.
    Help us to cast off the weapons of this world and to put on the weapons of Your warfare.
    Help us to seek You alone.
    Help us to seek help from You alone.
    Christ alone is the wisdom of God.
    When we go in Your wisdom, You, Lord, will deliver us from the hand of our enemies.

    Amen.

    Please add Your prayers here as His Holy Spirit leads you.

  • Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.

    And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

    –Revelation 2:8-11


    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    –Revelation 3:7-13

    Cast your bread upon the waters,
    for you will find it after many days.
    2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
    for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
    3 If the clouds are full of rain,
    they empty themselves on the earth,
    and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
    4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
    and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
    5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.


    –Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

    Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
    –James 5:7-11



    The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.


    –I Corinthians 15:56-58
    Dear Father,

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our arms of mercy and grace stretched out to the lost.
    Your arms were stretched out all day long to us while we were lost sheep who had gone astray.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our arms strong to carry Gospel seed to the ends of the earth.
    You sent Your Son from heaven to earth so unworthy sinners like us might be reconciled to You.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our strength renewed so we might mount up like eagles and go where You send us to sow Gospel seed.
    You sent Your Son from heaven to earth so unworthy sinners like us might be reconciled to You.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our hands and feet strong so we might faithfully persevere in sowing Gospel seed.
    You graciously and freely sowed Your Gospel seed in our hearts.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our arms diligently sowing Your Gospel seed in desert places.
    Your Gospel seed came and quickened our dead souls together with Christ.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our lips declaring the mystery of Christ even when none seem to understand.
    You opened our hostile minds to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our mouths diligently sowing Your Gospel seed to deaf ears.
    Your Gospel message came to us with power and opened our ears to hear.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our mouths diligently casting Your Gospel bread upon the waters.
    Your Spirit breathes and moves as You will to bring the second birth to once-born souls.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our hearts patiently waiting for the later rains to come after we've sowed Your Gospel seed.
    You baptize us once more with Your Spirit's power to us when we are dry and in need of refreshing.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times when we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our faith strong and believing You can bear fruit in barren wombs.
    Your Holy Spirit moved and came to dwell in our once-barren wombs.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times when we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our eyes fixed on the city without foundations when all around us is crumbling.
    You will continue to build Your Church and the gates of hell will not prevail.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times when we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our ears open to the great cloud of witnesses when we hear calls to give up working.
    Your Holy Spirit kept these men and women faithful, steadfast and patient.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    At those times we are tempted to give up,
    Keep our hearts patiently looking to the day we will bring our sheaves with us with rejoicing.
    You have sealed us and given us the firstfruits of Your Spirit.
    Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
    O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.

    Amen.

    As His Holy Spirit leads you, please add your prayers for persevering faith.

    May He keep us steadfast, immovable and always abounding in His work of sowing Gospel seed
    for we know our labor in Him is not in vain.

tent_of_meeting

"he called it the tent of meeting..."

I am burdened to pray to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the reformation and reviving of Christ's church.

The phrase tent of meeting comes from Exodus 33:7: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.

This site is devoted to God first and foremost. In all that is done here, my prayer is that God is glorified and His Name magnified and Christ and Him crucified is lifted up so He might be preeminent and God might receive all the praise, honor and glory due His Holy Name. All who have come to a saving knowledge of our Father by grace through faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are welcome to enter this tent of meeting to seek the Lord.

This blog is a place for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to come and seek God's face for revival. My intention is for this tent of meeting to be a holy place where we can enter into PRAYER together to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit leads you, please enter into prayer either here (think of "comments" as prayers) or on your own.

Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

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