V.O.W (verse of the week)

Romans 12:10

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

The word of focus is preferring. It is Greek word 4285 in the Greek/Hebrew concordance. It is translated as leading the way for others. We as Christians are to love, be affectionate and pick each other up when we are down. We are to be examples for others to follow with our good works and lifestyle. Being a good example will lead others to Christ and salvation. Are you being that example for others to follow?

Humble and Blessed

As we near the end, God tells us things will become much worse before it gets better. In those times of trouble it is important we know where our security comes from. We are to humble ourselves before God, and when we do that He strengthens and blesses us; this allows us the ability to overcome all the evil that may try and hinder us. We are starting in Psalm 10. This Psalm deals with those who are oppressed by godless men and the lawless one. It deals with those that find strength in God by humbling themselves before Him.

Psalm 10:1-18

10:1 (compare: Psalm 9:9). God doesn’t hide Himself from His children. This is written to strengthen us; men of the earth are not humbling themselves before God.

10:2 wicked H 7563; morally wrong, a bad person. Devices H 4209; a plan (usually evil), wicked intention. Poor H 6041; humble. David (the one who penned this Psalm) wants the wicked to be caught in the evil traps they would set for those that are humble before God.

10:3 in the original text, this verse read: “the covetous man (or robber) blasphemes, yea, abhorreth Jehovah”.  Those that seek after evil and those ways are against the ways of God.

10:4 the wicked think they have all they need and care not for God. Remember in Matthew 5:5, that the meek will inherit the earth.

10:5 puffeth H 6315; despise. To serve God is to be the enemy of the wicked and their ways.

10:6-7 (compare: Romans 3:14). Pride, if unchecked can be a terrible thing. These are the things the wicked fill themselves with.

10:8-9 (compare: Mark 7:13).  Allowing the wicked to lead you away from God will be certain death. Stick with the word of God, and don’t be fooled into following a lie. Men’s traditions often times make the word of God of none effect.

10:10 (compare: Matt 7:15, 2 Cor 11:13-15).  The wicked will do all they can to imitate good, but are really ravenous wolves.

10:11-12 God never forgets, and He sees all. The wicked will be paid what they deserve.

10:13-14 contemn H 5006; to scorn, abhor. God helps His own against the wicked and perverse.

10:15 God avenges the humble, and will cleanse the earth of all evil.

10:16-18 God prepares the humble to receive truth. The lawless one and those who follow him don’t have much more time left. Events are coming to pass very rapidly, be prepared and stick to the truth of God.

Psalm 37:1-20/34

37:1 this is an acrostic Psalm. Verses 7, 20 and 34 have a special meaning. Don’t envy the wicked or want to trade places with them.

37:2-3 the humble and upright are fed truth, while the wicked starve and are cut off. Are you well fed?

37:4-5 God won’t give you things that will hurt or take you away from Him. Your desires should be the desires of God. If you need anything to further His cause, it will be given.

37:6 the next verse is set apart from the rest of the Psalm by the acrostic. We are to watch and learn.

37:7 do we trust God? Then don’t envy or mimic those who prosper in their wickedness. They shall receive their just reward, in the lake of fire.

37:8-10 what side do you want to be on? Praise God, the wicked will be gone forever.

37:11-12 (compare: Matt 5:5). The wicked will do and say all they can to put down Christians, to try and get them to stray form the Faith. Don’t be one of those! Don’t be ashamed, stick with God, we win.

37:13-14 if the Lord laughs at the enemy, so should we! The wicked shall be repaid for their sins.

37:15 the evil plans the wicked have for you shall fall back upon them. Trust in God!

37:16 real treasures cannot be measured by earthly possessions. The elect will inherit God Himself (compare: Ezekiel 44:28).

37:17-19 (compare: Amos 8:11). The famine of the end times is not for bread or water but for hearing truth. The humble are not hungry and need not be ashamed. Verse 20 is part of the acrostic and tells why the wicked don’t get ahead.

37:20 as the fat is burned up and consumed, so shall the wicked and their ways become.

37:34 have patience and wait on the Lord.

Psalm 112:1-10

112:1-2 humble yourself before the Lord and be blessed.

112:3-4 (compare: John 9:5). Christ is the light of the world and we are in Him.

112:5-6 these are the characteristics of a righteous person. How do we measure up?

112:7-8 do we fear what others can do to us? We shouldn’t! Have Faith in God!

112:9-10 God uses the humble to accomplish His will. We are to plant seeds of truth to those who are lost and in need of comfort. Be humble before God and be blessed.

Revelation ch 9

We are now going to get into the Woe trumps. These are not good and all should pay attention to what happens during this time. We are given the description and events that bring the anti-Christ to earth. We are also informed that those that have the seal of God in their forehead cannot be harmed!

Ch.9

9:1 (compare: Isa 14:12, Luke 10:18). You see here that Satan is released on earth (this is why it’s a woe trump). Bottomless pit G 12/5421; the abyss, the deep. Remember, we have nothing to worry about!

9:2 these events will make many people think the true Christ has returned (very convincing). Don’t let things cloud or darken your judgment. Take the seal of God in your forehead (the truth).

9:3 (compare: Luke 10:19, Joel 2:25). These are not literal locust or scorpions; they are analogies and examples of how it will be and what this army will do. The locusts are used so we are aware of the 4 stages of the locust (Satan’s tricks and methods). The scorpion is used because of the power they utilize. The scorpion uses its venom to digest its prey in order to eat it. This is how Satan operates, by turning us to mush with his lies and deception.

9:4 (compare: Joel 2:25-32, Ezekiel 9:4-6. Acts 2). This verse tells us for a fact that God is not speaking of an actual insect but using an analogy, because insects don’t hunt for men. They can only hurt those that don’t have the truth in their mind!! If you have the seal of God in your mind then you will know who the fallen star is and how this army operates.

Joel 2:25-29

2:25 this is the army of revelation. These are the 4 stages of the locust. God sent them for a purpose; we are not to be afraid because we have power over them.

2:26 we will not be ashamed because we will serve the true God and not be deceived (many will wish for the rocks to fall on them because they were deceived).

2:27-32 this is the end when the Spirit will fall on us and we will prophecy for a witness (do not premeditate what you will say).  These are the same events we are studying in Revelation.

Continue Revelation 9

9:5 they have no power to take life, only to deceive. Those without the seal of God will be turned to “mush” by the deception of Satan. The time is shortened to 5 months. The time of the locust is May through September (5 months). The word torment usually has a connection with demons.

9:6 those that followed after the fake will wish for death once they realize what they have done (many will be supposed Christians).

9:7 these would appear to be royalty and are workers of Satan.

9:8 (compare: Joel 1:6-20). They are gentle as women (sweet, gentle, kind, trusting), but have teeth to tear and shred like lions do. They have great ability to deceive and make people trust them. Remember Satan is coming back claiming to be Jesus!

9:9 these breastplates are not the same as the priest’s breastplates but fakes. They will appear in vehicles that are different from what we are used to seeing. Acting as preachers and priests of Satan (who is acting like Jesus), don’t be deceived!

9:10 (Mark 13:20) this is the 5 month period, not 7 years!

9:11 Abaddon H 11; the destroyer. Apollyon G 623; the destroyer. This is what Satan does to those people and families who let him rule their lives (he destroys). God gives us the name of him in the old and New Testament so we can identify the destroyer. (Compare: 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 2 Corinthians 2:13-15, Dan
8:24-25, Dan 9:26, Dan 11:44).

9:13 horns: signifies power. These are voices from the very altar of God.

9:14 (compare: Jer 46:4-10). The river Euphrates is the border between Babylon (confusion) and the true children of God.

9:15 slay: this is speaking of a spiritual death; remember they are not allowed to take life. When you see hour, day, month and year together it signifies in an instant.

9:16 too many to count. This is our enemy coming. Remember God allows it and they cannot touch those that have the seal of God in their forehead. Don’t let fear creep in!

9:17 they were issuing out lies and deception!

9:18 fire, smoke and brimstone: signifies the lies and miracles that will deceive those that don’t know the difference between the fake and real Christ. Remember God is a consuming fire. Satan always mimics God and comes to act like he is Him. All three of these things (fire, smoke, brimstone) come from the mouth. Out of the anti-Christ, locust army and the demons come this deception (fire, smoke and brimstone).

9:19 their mouths will issue forth lies and deception. Remember they are coming disguised as workers of the church (preachers, teachers and so on). The power is in the mouth not weapons! Many claim to come in the name of Christ, but He did not send them.

9:20-21 these did not know any better. They followed after a lie and material things in place of the true God. They use many things to push their agenda (drugs, things that feel good to the flesh). We are to remain a virgin to the true Christ and not jump in the sack with the false!