ONE MESSAGE. ONE FAITH.

How do you think you'd feel to have a personal invitation from a King to come closer to him? John receives such an invitation in Revelation 4, and he is captivated by all he sees. His record is so vivid as he depicts the throne, the one on the throne, and the sights around it. "Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said,  “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” (NLT)    And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald ."(KJV) - Revelation 4:1-3  First I take note of the open door. Isn't that a beautiful reminder of the veil between God and man that was torn? Jesus invites us personally to the throne of God. Second John lets us kn...

Mark 2:1-2 KJV And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. So Why the gathering? Because the presence of God comes in the house at the gathering of believers. Matthew 18:20 Because we are healed in the gathering of believers. Luke 6:19 Because the Word is preached in the gathering of believers. Mark 2:2 Because we are commanded- for instruction, for edification, for encouragement- to gather even more as the day of the Lord approaches, with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 Because, consider a lone body part; we cannot, I repeat, cannot grow, separated from gathering with other believers. Ephesians 4:11-15 We MUST gather. Hebrews 10:24-26 CEV 24  And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds.   25  Don’t s...

"When praises go up blessings come down."  I searched the bible and came up a little disappointed when this verse did not appear.  While I may not have found this specific scripture in the Word, I was instead reminded  that He is enthroned in the praises of his people (it says Israel in the bible).  Psalm 22:3. In other words, when I praise it results in an abiding place for the presence of God!  I believe wholeheartedly that God's presence is the greatest of blessings, and mighty things happen in the Holy presence of God. Paul and Silas can attest to what praises can do.  Acts 16:25-26. Indeed we can conclude,  miracles are blessings as well. So instead of focusing on praising God to get blessings (which we tend to denote as material or physical in many aspects) let's praise God for, or because of,  his blessings he's already given us: the blessing of new mercies,  unfailing love,  salvation through His name, and too many more to...