Short Devotions: King of kings - Revelation 17 v 14

Revelation 17:14 “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Before I became a US citizen, I was a subject of the UK. This literally meant that I was under the authority Queen Elizabeth II’s government and subject to the laws which her Government decreed. Living under a monarchy is not the same as being a free citizen of a Republic. Before any laws are fully passed in Britain, they must be signed by the Queen. Without her signature, the laws are null and void. If the Queen ever refused to sign a law, then a Constitutional crisis would occur that would probably bring about the end of the British monarchy.

I sometimes wonder what free born, free-spirited and independently minded Americans think when they read about Jesus being called “Lord of lords and King of kings.” Those terms are so alien to American culture that I wonder if they can really imagine what is being related to them. Lordship and Kingship are ancient terms of autocratic power. To call Jesus “Lord” is to submit your whole self to His commands. To accept Him as “King,” is to place Him at the top and at the center of our lives. There is no such thing as lip-service to a Lord or carefree service to a King. It’s all or nothing. It’s His ways, His Words, and His Works that we honor and glorify.

So today, let’s all ponder what it truly means to call Jesus our Lord and to accept Him as our King. And then let’s try to apply that meaning in our lives.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You rule over the Earth and are the Sovereign of the Universe. You are the Holy Son of God and the King of all Creation. Help us to humbly submit our hearts and lives to You alone. Grant us the faith to live under Your Everlasting Monarchy and Eternal Rule. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess drawings. It’s called “Battle Scarred” and features several chess pieces on a board. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6117600335_1c11500f3d_b.jpg

Church Devotions: Changing Swords - Isaiah 2:4

Isaiah 2:4        He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Two weeks ago I was at a conference in Duluth, Georgia. It was taking place at the world renowned Crosspointe Church and I felt refreshed and renewed in my spirit. I enjoyed the worship and the preaching, the testimonies and faith sharing. It was a very uplifting time and I am now looking forward to next year’s conference.

On the last day of the conference, I was listening to a conversation by one of the deacons at the church. He was explaining to a visitor that the church building used to be a Sidewinder missile factory thirty years ago during President Reagan’s administration. After the taking down of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent thawing of the Cold War, the factory was no longer needed. Eventually, the growing Crosspointe congregation bought the building and converted it into an amazing church space, where thousands of people gather each week to praise the Lord. Instead of a place of death and destruction, it has become a house of peace and prayer. The Lord has truly turned swords into plowshares!

In our own lives, we go through times of conflict and argument, disagreement and trouble. We fall out with family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Our hearts become hardened and our tongues fire verbal missiles that are meant to hurt, anger, or upset other people.

God wants to turn the swords of our spirits into plowshares of peace. As always, He has the power to make those changes, but we need to begin the process by swallowing our pride, humbling ourselves, and acting upon God’s guidance.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace to our planet and the Healer of the Nations. We pray that You will help us overcome the conflicts and disputes in our lives by leading us with Your Spirit to resolve the differences and disagreements we have with others. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, or ask a question about it, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest stained glass designs of a Siochain – a Celtic Peace Cross. If you would like to view a larger version of it, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6113973739_53680e29ee_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotion: Red Letter Day - Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

I haven’t written a devotional in about two weeks. A lot of things have been going on in my life – some good, some bad, some really sad. It’s been about the rockiest two weeks that I have known in a long while.

I guess I’m still affected by the decisions that took place in the PCUSA this summer. I’ve tried to come to terms with it and have sought to understand what occurred, but honestly, I have not had any real peace. It’s hard place for a leader to be in because if I lose my sense of God’s Spirit, then how can I know the right path to take on behalf of the people I shepherd?

My style is usually to retreat and get back to the basics. It’s like getting lost and then trying to retrace your steps in order to reach the point where things went wrong. In this case, I go right back to God’s grace, my need for repentance, and Christ’s love. Those are the points where my faith sprung from, so those seem to me to be the very places that I spiritually need to revisit.

In today’s verse from Isaiah, God is once again taking the initiative by allowing His people to turn from their sinful ways in order to rediscover their salvation. Even though their sins are as brazen as scarlet, God’s grace can clean and purify them completely. That’s where I need to be; that’s where we all need to be; at that wonderful moment of true grace where our sins are completely forgiven.

It’s from that turning point, at the foot of Christ’s Cross, that we can all begin again. That’s where I am this morning; are you here too?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of our souls because Your sacrificial blood from the Cross has washed, cleansed and purified us. We are made holy through Your sacredness; we are restored to God’s favor through Your righteousness. Help us today to kneel before Your Cross and to begin our faith journey anew. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also the author of three new devotional ebooks which are available on Amazon.com. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Peace of Christ.” It features a lion and a lamb lying together in peace as symbols of Christ’s Coming Reign. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6142730168_4352b42b62_b.jpg

Church Devotional - No Hurry - Revelation 10:6

Revelation 10:6           And he swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and the angel said, “There will be no more delay!”

There’s an old story told about three apprentice devils who were taking their final exam in front of Satan.

“Before I let you loose in the world,” Old Nick said, “I need to know what deceitful message you are going to whisper in the ears of people so that they end up here in hell.”

“That’s easy,” said the first devil. “I’ll tell them there is no heaven.”

“That won’t work,” said Satan. “Whenever people look at the beauty of the earth and feel the wonders of creation, they know that heaven exists. FAIL!”

“I’ll tell them that there’s no hell,” said the second devil.

“That won’t work either,” said Satan. “The world is full of so much pain and suffering, injustice and cruelty that people know hell exists as a place of punishment for the unrepentant and wicked. FAIL!”

The third devil thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll tell them that there’s no hurry.”

“EXCELLENT!” Satan declared. “People will be fooled into believing that there’s plenty of time to change. Hell will overflow with lost souls! PASS!”

And the angel said: “There will be no more delay!”

Are we ready for Christ’s Return if He comes back today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, our lives are precious gifts which are meant to be spent serving God and enjoying His Creation. We get distracted at times by what’s going on around us instead of paying attention to what’s happening inside our souls. Help us to take this day as a means of strengthening our faith, serving You, and sharing Your love, so that we and others will be ready for Your Return. In Your Holy Name, we wait and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make a comment about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is called “Death by Dali” and is John’s crayon depiction of the Crucifixion based upon Salvador Dali’s masterpiece “Christ of St. John of the Cross.” If you would like to see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5630260156_4cd6a2e7b5_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotions: Changing the Outcome - Revelation 9:20-21

Revelation 9:20-21     The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

 

When I read the Book of Revelation, I find some parts of it very sad. Today’s chosen verses make me feel that way because, according to John the Visionary, even after the terrible plagues and destruction that falls upon the Earth during the Time of Judgment, people will not repent or change their ways.

You would think that after losing a third of the planet’s population that people would wake up to reality and change their ways; instead they defiantly follow their own sinful ways and foolish paths. In Revelation, Christ’s Return is imminent and God’s wrath is being poured out upon the Earth, but humankind still persists in doing its own thing. In the Last Days idolatry, hedonism, immorality and dishonesty still abound. The human condition still wallows in its own misery despite what God is doing. It’s a last act of free will defiance and lifestyle libertinism. God is powerless to change the proud, stubborn hard-heartedness of sinful, stupid people.

That’s why I find reading Revelation so sad. Even when faced with the ultimate truth and End of Time reality, people are dooming themselves to damnation because they think that they know and are better than God. They tolerate all forms of wickedness and expect God to accept their ways. They brazenly ignore His warnings and reject any signs of Christ’s Return. They glorify themselves and end up in Hell because they do nothing to change their lives.

Yesterday, after Hurricane Irene had passed through the Eastern Seaboard, the Director of FEMA was asked if all of the warnings, evacuations and preparations had been unnecessary. The Director brilliantly answered, “You can’t change the outcome if you’re not ready.” In other words, without any preparations, more lives would have been lost.

My work as a preacher is to try to get people prepared for the End of Days. It gets harder every year because people are becoming more obsessed with their own lifestyle choices rather than choosing what God wants. Community tolerance has replaced Christ’s Teaching. Living for today has overcome looking for God. And getting our own way is more desirable to us instead of following The Way. As a sinful society, we are now more distant from God and more unready for Christ’s Return than we ever have been, despite having the scriptures and the truth of Christ’s Teaching available to us at any second of the night or day.

When Judgment comes, we will only have Christ to thank or ourselves to blame. The final destination for our everlasting souls will depend upon how much we’re willing to change and how ready we will be.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, the Bible gives us many strong warnings to repent of our sinful choices, to change our godless ways, and to prepare ourselves for Your Return. Sadly many of us will not heed Your uncompromising words and will fool ourselves into Hell. Our pride will make us push back against any challenge to our ways. Our love of self will set us adrift from Your salvation. Forgive our foolishness, O Lord, and reclaim our souls before it is too late. In Your Holy Name, we fearfully and faithfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is presently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask any questions or make any comments about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest simple digital glass drawing from the Book of Psalms. It features a verse from Psalm 108. If you would like to view a larger version of the picture, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6081117737_388de7259d_b.jpg

Opening Devotions: Expecting the Unexpected - Revelation 8:5

Revelation 8:5             Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

This week’s earthquake in Virginia took a lot of people by surprise. People felt high buildings shake and thought it was another terrorist attack. The Washington Monument cracked and was shut down. The National Cathedral in DC suffered millions of dollars of damage. It was completely unexpected and lots of people were left frightened and stunned.

Records, however, show that earthquakes have taken in this region before. In fact, if you look at a map and check out the North Eastern seaboard terrain, you soon realize that earthquakes have been happening in this region for millions of years. Everyone was caught by surprise this week because of a false notion that large earthquakes take place on the West Coast and not the Eastern Seaboard. We have fooled ourselves into believing that the whole region was off limits to substantial seismological activity.

We are good at deluding ourselves biblically too. Take some of the passages in Revelation. We hardly ever think about them and cast them aside as ancient mythology. We reckon that it’s been almost 2000 years since the apocalyptic prophecies were written, so why do we need to bother about them now?

However, we also casually forget that we are almost 2000 years nearer to the day when these events will occur. Just like the “unexpected” earthquake in Virginia, the Lord will return one day and angels will hurl hail and fire which will burn up a third of the Earth. Will we look at one another in deep shock and surprise if it happens in our lifetime? Will we sadly remember that this “unexpected” return was not so unexpected after all? Will we continually live our lives as if these cataclysmic events will happen only after we’re dead and gone?

If we honestly think about it, everyday has the potential of being our last day on Earth. The serious question that we need to ask ourselves is this: will it also be our first day in Christ’s Everlasting Kingdom? The gift of free will still applies, so the choice of where we end up eternally is still ours to make on this side of Life.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, prevent us from fooling ourselves about Your Second Coming. Keep us aware and alert to the signs of the times and the Biblical warnings that You have given to us. Help us to stay focused on our faith in You and enable to attract our loved ones to You before it is too late. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask questions, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image John’s simple stained glass design of Christ’s Return. It’s called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2432537217_e82364bff8_b.jpg

Church Devotions: Pat Summitt - A Courageous Lady - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Ecclesiastes 12:1         Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"

Like everyone else in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was shocked yesterday to learn the sad news that our Lady Vols basketball coach has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Pat Summitt is a remarkable woman and an exceptionally talented coach. She has risen up from humble beginnings and is one of the most successful leaders in American College Sports. She is a fierce competitor and a magnificent teacher. Tennessee fans adore her and this news has rocked us all.

But Pat Summitt is a courageous person. Yesterday she went on television to broadcast the news to her fans everywhere, in order to personally tell them of her disease. As always, she did this with great dignity and resolve, letting her supporters, players, and team coaches know that she is determined to continue leading the basketball team, while fighting the disease that is progressing within her. In Pat’s words, she intends to do this “as long as the Good Lord is willing.”

I have no doubt that Pat Summitt will prevail. I am also certain that she will become an important spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association. If ever a person was destined to become a national advocate to seek a cure for this devastating disease, Pat Summit is truly the one.  

Every true Tennessean and sports fan across the United States supports Pat in her new battle. And our prayers go with her in the hope that the Good Lord will extend her life and diminish this disease.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we pray for families everywhere who are experiencing the effects of Alzheimer’s in their homes and among their loved ones. We ask that You will surround them with supportive and compassionate friends. We pray also for Pat Summitt and thank You for her bravery and tenacity. Grant her the strength that she needs to continue leading her team and give her many opportunities to advocate on behalf of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Pat Summitt’s video announcing the news can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DsXfInhkF8

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s Knoxville picture called “Sunsphere City.” It features the world famous Sunsphere which is situated in the World’s Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5095209018_cf3f00de0f_b.jpg