Crown – Praying Pint

34.l. “Prepared waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God”

Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 3:2    “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2 Timothy 4:8     Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Peter 3:12-13   waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The Gospel church state; See Gill on Matthew 13:24 either as it would be a little before the coming of the son of man to take vengeance on the Jews; or as it will be a little before his second coming to judgment: for the parable is manifestly connected with, and refers to the preceding chapter, which chiefly treats of Jerusalem’s destruction: but though the Jews were in great security before their utter ruin, yet it does not appear that the Christian church was then in such a lukewarm, drowsy, and sleepy condition, as this parable represents; and since, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, there are some hints of Christ’s second and last coming; when the servant found doing his Lord’s will, will be greatly honoured, and the wicked, cruel, and licentious servant will be severely punished; and since, at the close of this and the following parable, there is a very lively description given of the last judgment; as also, because it appears elsewhere, that such will be the formal, lukewarm, cold, indifferent, secure, and sleepy state of the church, before the second coming of Christ: it seems right and best to understand this parable, and the following, as having respect to that: and that the design of it is to show, what will be the case of professors at that time; the difference between nominal and real Christians; how far persons may go in a profession of religion, and yet, at last, be shut out of heaven: as also the suddenness of Christ’s coming; the necessity of being ready for it; and how watchful the saints should be, that they be not surprised with it. Now some time before this, the Gospel church state, or the body of professing Christians, will be likened unto ten virgins; to “virgins” for quality; being betrothed ones to Christ, at least in profession. All his elect will be prepared for him, beautified and adorned as a bride for her husband; when he will come and take them home to himself, and will avow them to be his before his Father, and his holy angels: and which will be a time of great glory, and great joy. (Gill)

Our (lamp) hearts and souls can be either filled with the oil of grace, mercy, and love (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) or they can be empty even though our outward appearance can seem as though we are prepared for the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ). Having an outward appearance of being ready for His return and being ready for His return is the theme of this parable. One is ready and looking, continually expectant, with their lamp ready. The other is dressed and appears ready but their lamp is empty.

Beware, there is a huge difference between having a visible outward appearance and profession of religion and exercising faith on/in Jesus and in His coming, with earnest and expectancy of the heart and soul. I fear many will be found with empty lamps as their faith is more in line with an outward appearance than conversion of their heart and soul.

If your lamp is filled with grace and mercy (the gospel of Jesus Christ) Prais God – keep looking for His soon return with eager urgent expectancy. If you are unsure what your lamp is filled with, ask God to open the eyes of your heart and soul to what it means to truly repent, believe, trust, rely on, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.

7.l. And a great sign appeared in heaven:

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Who is this woman identified in verse 1? The woman is the nation of Israel. Genesis 37: 9 “Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Joseph had this dream. Clearly there is a reference here that has to be taken seriously. There are a few other thoughts out there claiming the “Woman” represents the “Church or the Virgin Mary. The Great Red Dragon is none other than Satan Wanting to devour the child that was to come out of Israel. God has granted to Satan great power of activity on earth. Jesus said that Satan was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The Dragon description emphasizes his intense cruelty. There is much to come in future chapters that give a more clear understanding of 7 heads and 10 horns. Just know that these give us understanding to the antichrist, the nations that become his tool against Christ, and the indwelling and rule of Satan over the antichrist.

I read a comment on this chapter by Theodore Epp which seems to be worth sharing. “Only a small portion of chapter 12 fits into the sequence of events during the Tribulation. The chapter is really an inset providing necessary information about the past, present and future events concerning Christ, Israel, and Satan. One cannot understand the entire Book of the Revelation unless he understands the 12th chapter. The truth revealed in Revelation 12 reaches backward to Abraham and forward to the end of the Tribulation. The chapter needs to be where it is in the book so the reader might understand the future unfolding events of the Tribulation.”

Know this: Satan is the father of all lies, is a roaring lion seeking those whom he can destroy, and is the great deceiver. If we think about how he is able to lead many down paths of self-centered, speed-satisfying, and self-reliant lives how much more so when the church (people who have chosen to give all their heart, mind, soul, and strength – and believed in, trusted, followed, and obeyed Jesus Christ) is raptured out of earth and is no longer present with the Holy Spirit) The time is coming and is now here when people will no longer give thought to the need of salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. They will see no need because they have been deceived into thinking God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are nothing more than a fairy tale and only the weak need something like this in their life. There awaits a shocking reality to these people upon their death when they enter eternity (forever) in a place of torment awaiting the final judgment of God where they are cast into the Lake of Fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. Now is the Day of Salvation.

6.s. And I looked, and behold, a white horse!

Revelation 6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

The rider on this white horse is not to be confused with Jesus Christ in chapter 19. This rider is released with the removal of the first seal. This rider is given might (bow) and power (crown). He will come out waging war (conquering) and will win those wars and battles (and to conquer). This is a time on earth when the tribulation will start and will continue in increasing measure until the return of Jesus Christ.

The White horse given to this rider seems to indicate that he will have the ability to deceive people and make them think he is something more than what he is, an agent of Jesus Christ’s judgment on the earth and to those who have rejected salvation through His sacrifice.

When we talk of Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy, and love (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever should believe in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life”) many don’t give enough thought to this and what it means to believe. Believing means; clinging too, relying on, and trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their sins. They give little to the thought of their sin and need for salvation but rather just on the gift of everlasting life. With this thought, they truly do not see the fullness of their sin and because of this, they do not fully see a need to cling too, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ. “Wide is the path that leads to hell and narrow is the door that leads to everlasting life”. Those that are remaining on earth during the time of this first seal being released will be those who flat out deny the need of Jesus Christ and as well those who do not deny the need but have not given their whole heart, mind, and soul to cling too, rely on, and trust in Him. Many are going to find their place on earth during this time without hope, without peace, without rest and it will only get worse. There is no better time than right now to make an intentional choice to fully believe in Jesus Christ, confess you are a sinner, lost and without hope, repent and turn away from sinful ways, and cling too, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ with your whole heart, mind, and soul.

6.i. I have set before you an open door

Revelation 3:8 “‘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. 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. 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. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Colossians 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ,

1 Corinthians 16:9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

“I have set before you an open door”. How many times do we miss the opened door? Why is it the door to serving Christ seems wide open to others and not you? The open door must be seen and trusted in through faith. It is with faith eyes that we see doors/opportunities of serving and honoring Jesus Christ in our daily walk. “Faith is the substance hoped for and evidence of things not seen”. Only by faith can we attest to the open door before us. We can miss opportunities if our faiths complacent and we neglect God’s Word. We can miss open door opportunities if our eyes have been blinded by the bright shiny things of this world. We can miss open door opportunities if our hears are deaf to the whispers of the Holy Spirit to our soul. We can miss open door opportunities if we are not expecting and looking for them. Sometimes we need to wait and not try to force open a door that is closed before us. Other times we need to walk through that door full steam ahead. How can we know which is right, wait or walkthrough? Faith is in-line with God’s word. Seeking and desiring to honor and serve Jesus Christ more than self. Praying and asking God to confirm within us to wait or walkthrough. We must set aside our self-reliance and self-centered ways. People would like to think that an open door from Christ will mean prosperity, ease, and life without trials and troubles. This is not true. Sometimes our open door is walking into a lion’s den, or facing the Red Sea, or carrying our own cross. The thing that matters is that the door we walk through is that we are not walking through on our own. Christ is there in all of His power and will never leave us. He is all-knowing so there are no surprises that He is not in control of. He is ever-present and will accomplish His plans and purposes. Spend time thinking about how many open door opportunities Jesus Christ has given to you today to serve, honor, and glorify Him.

Look carefully then how you walk

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?”

Psalms 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Psalms 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Deuteronomy 15:7-10 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Job 31:16-20 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

Proverbs 24:30-34 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 18:9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

There a few of points I take home from today’s verses. Use time wisely. Give thought and prepare for the tasks at hand. Take care of what God has provided. Look carefully at our walk (application of God’s word in our life). Give to the needy. Be generous. Serve the Lord. Help the poor, fatherless, and widow. We need to be mindful of how we spend our time, resources, and what we spend it on. If it is only about gaining riches, we fail. If it is only about what can be gained with the least amount of effort, it’s a waste. If it is not with the intent to humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow and obey God, it is to our destruction. Listen to what God says to your heart and mind in His word. Desire and learn to hear His quiet small voice of leading and directing you for His honor.

Waiting beside My doors

Psalms 95:4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalms 135:6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

Psalms 65:6 the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Genesis 1:9-10 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Proverbs 8:29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Jeremiah 5:22 Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.

Psalms 97:5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

Micah 1:4 And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire

Job 9:5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,

Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.

We take a piece of wood and make something out of it – our creation. God made the micro cellular seed structure for every tree species, the means for nutrients, the means for respiration, photosynthesis ( and while we think of this He made the sun and the earth too). We look at what we or others have put together as something creative and maybe inspiring. Some architects even go down in history as leaders of their time. Books are written about them. And yet we only need to open our eyes to God’s creation to see the awe inspiring magnitude of Him. We are a creation of His. He has given us life and free will to choose to praise, honor, serve, follow and obey Him. Those who choose this path, He gives life (eternal). Those that choose to reject Him, He gives death and torment eternal. “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Sheep of His pasture

“ Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

“for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.”

“ And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”

Zechariah 9:16 On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!

Isaiah 62:3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Isaiah 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Ezekiel 34:22-26 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.

Ezekiel 34:31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

Micah 5:4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

Luke 12:32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psalms 31:19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

In Ezekiel – And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.” what does it mean to be His sheep? God’s word says that His sheep hear his voice and follow Him. How do we hear His voice and follow what God is saying? A good place to start is in His word with a heart and soul deep desire to hear Him speak truth into your life. Another place is to be in fellowship with others who have this desire. There are so many things in this word that pull us away and water down our commitment to listen and follow Him. It takes strength and courage and commitment (Desire) to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him. Like they say when is the best time to plant a tree – 30 years ago, the second best time is today. Today is a good day to fully commit to Him.

Salvation

” On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.”

“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

Psalms 21:1 O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalms 62:7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Psalms 20:4-5 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

Psalms 3:3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

We often are confident in the fact that our salvation is anchored in and on God. Him alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. David speaks of blessings and security in knowing this and rejoices that God has allowed/directed all of it and made it known to him. Do we lose sight of this sometime? Do we forget the great cost of our salvation at the expense of Christ on the cross? If there is thanksgiving in our heart for this everyday wouldn’t our lives be lived out differently? Do we realize that for the “JOY” set before Him Jesus endured the cross? Look at what is says in Isaiah: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Salvation of mankind has been God’s plan since the fall of Adam and Eve. Yet in this salvation is a qualifier – You must believe. Therefore if we believe, there should be both an outward and inward difference in our lives. There should be a desire to honor and glorify and humbly serve and worship and praise and thank God our rock, refuge and author of our salvation.

Excellent Wife

“An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.”

Judges 14:19 And he said to them,“If you had not plowed with my heifer,you would not have found out my riddle.”And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house. And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

Ruth 3:9 And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.

Proverbs 12:4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

Samson went to marry his foreign bride. During the 7 day feast he made a bet with 30 of the men from the city about solving a riddle. His wife had little choice – find out the answer to the riddle or you and your fathers house will all burn. In the end her and her family were all killed however not at this time. I am reminded of what is said in Proverbs – “An excellent wife is hard to find” – “An excellent wife is a precious jewel” – “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband”. I wonder how many times I don’t see my wife as my crown, a precious jewel, and my blessing from God. When our eyes are off of God and His blessings in our life we so easily lose sight of them. A crown we would display proudly and wear it with confidence. A precious jewel we would cherish and protect it with all our might. A blessing we would live with a never ending thankful heart.

Think about what you put first before your wife.

Crown of Christ

I wonder if I am crown of beauty or living like one of the thorns in the crown of Christ at the time of his crucifixion. Thank God it is not based on what I do but what He has done. I must remember to choose to let His light shine in and through me rather than leaving the light of ME on. I find this easy some days but others it is not so, however in His great love He sends someone into my day that His light is shining through. Choose to be the light He uses to take away the darkness some are in.

Isaiah 62:3

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God

Zechariah 9:16

On that day the Lord their God will save them,

as the flock of his people;

for like the jewels of a crown

they shall shine on his land.

For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty

Psalms 100:3

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations