Wednesday, September 28, 2011

PCUSA devotions: The Second Death - Revelation 20:6

Revelation 20:6          Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

There’s a second death which preachers don’t often talk about these days because people don’t want to hear or accept it. It takes place after the Final Resurrection when everyone will be brought before God in the Time of Judgment. Those who truly believed in Christ and lived their lives according to His ways will live forever. Those who didn’t won’t and they will experience death a second time.

I hear many people talk about life beyond death, but I never hear anyone talking about death beyond death. Because we’ve forgotten about this coming event, we live our lives as if it doesn’t matter to God. We delude ourselves into thinking that our lifestyle choices have no bearing on what the outcome will be when we die on Earth. But that is a demonic lie which is sending people towards that second death from which they will never escape.

This summer, our denomination made a mistake which I believe will end up ruining the church, but much more seriously than that, will end up sending people to the doom of a second death. Even if I were to preach that a hundred times each Sunday from the pulpit for two years, there would be those who would still say, “That’s only your opinion” or “That’s being narrow minded” or “That’s not what I believe” or “This is the 21st century, so get with it Preacher.”

We believe that we are so right, and yet we are totally wrong. The Second Death exists and it is the true Church’s mission to help people of all persuasions, life style choices, and beliefs to avoid it. Wishful thinking about the after-life will lead to the Second Death. Only real repentance will lead us to everlasting life. Teaching tolerance may be good for earthly societies, but it does nothing to avert the Second Death. When we tolerate sin, we send people the wrong message and put them on the wrong path to perdition.

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, we are all guilty of making excuses for our sins and setting aside the Eternal Truths about life and death, life after death, and even death after death. Forgive us for thinking that we are better and more enlightened than the generations of Christians before us. Save us from ourselves! Save us from the Second Death! 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 John’s latest drawing in his Psalms series. It’s based upon a verse from Psalm 109. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6170833393_3829d1b0e9_b.jpg

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Presbyterian 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



Monday, September 19, 2011

Peacemaking Devotion: 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

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Presbyterian Devotions: 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