“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” – Revelation 22:3-4

The late Peter Marshall, an eloquent speaker and for several years the chaplain of the United States Senate, used to love to tell the story of "The Keeper of the Springs," a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes of the Alps.

“The old gentle man had been hired many years earlier by a young town council to clear away the debris from the pools of water that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town. With faithful, silent regularity he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt from the fresh flow of water. By and by, the village became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque.

Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semiannual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man's eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, "Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? For all we know he is doing us no good. He isn't necessary any longer!" By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man's services.

For several weeks nothing changed. By early autumn the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A couple days later the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks and a foul odor was detected. The millwheels moved slower, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left as did the tourists. Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village.

Embarrassed, the council called a special meeting. Realizing their gross error in judgment, they hired back the old keeper of the springs . . . and within a few weeks, the river began to clear up.”

What the keeper of the springs meant to the village, Christian servants mean to our world. We are to serve God and keep His springs alive.  

Serving the Lord throughout eternity will be a constant joy. It will be an abundant life where we will feel honored and privilege to serve our great God. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for eternal life you have in Him and serve Him gladly all day long.

“My heaven is to please God and glorify him, and to give all to him, and to be wholly devoted to his glory; that is the heaven I long for.” – David Brainerd

God’s Word: “Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.’” – Revelation 7:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

William R. Bouknight is Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. He wrote the following about “Coping With Grief”:

“It has been 21 years since our son Aaron died. He was just eight years old when a brain tumor took him from us. In the months that followed his death, numerous people told me how his life and death had brought them closer to Christ. I recall a man who worked on the air-conditioning system of our church. He approached me about six months after Aaron’s death and said, ‘I used to have no interest in religion or church. But when your son died, I suddenly realized that death can strike people of all ages. I have three small children. I tried to imagine how I would cope if one of my kids died. I knew that I could not unless I got closer to Christ. So I invited him to be my personal Savior and Lord, and then my entire family made the same commitment. We are now in church almost every Sunday.’”

In Heaven, all of our tears will be turned to joy when we are found with our Savior. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He will turn our tears to joy.

"You're amazing God, You're amazing God

You can bear the weight of every heavy heart

You can heal the pain, You can clean the stain

You can turn our tears into songs of praise

You're amazing God!" - Brenton Brown

God’s Word: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” – Revelation 7:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

"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." - Revelation 17:14

Samuel Adams was a Founding Father of America. He was a member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a leading proponent of colonial independence from Great Britain. After the Revolutionary War, Adams served four terms as Governor of Massachusetts.

He said the following about Jesus Christ:

“I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world . . . that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace.”

Jesus Christ is the “King of Kings” and He changes lives. Today in prayer, give praise to the King of Kings.

"And He shall reign forever and ever,

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

And He shall reign forever and ever,

King of kings! and Lord of lords!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" - Georg Friedrich Handel

God's Word: "to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords" - 1 Timothy 6:14-15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” – Revelation 20:11-12

In 1992, Dennis Lee Curtis was arrested for armed robbery in Rapid City, South Dakota.  In his wallet, police found a list of rules Curtis had written for himself – guidelines for his robberies.  For example, he wrote:

“I will not kill anyone unless I have to.”

“I will take cash and food stamps — no checks.”

“I will not rob mini-marts.”

“If I get chased by cops on foot, I will get away.  If chased by vehicle, I will not put the lives of innocent civilians on the line.”

“I will rob only seven months out of the year.”

“I will enjoy robbing from the rich to give to the poor.”

This may seem odd but Dennis Lee Curtis was a thief with some standards.  But when he stood before the court, the judge did not consult Curtis’ list of rules.  He pulled out the laws of the state by which to judge him, by which to convict him.

In the same way, when we stand before God, He won’t consult man-made rules and standards. Jesus Christ will have the final word when He judges our lives. Today in prayer, Praise the Lord that when you trust your life to Jesus, your name appears in the book of life!

“Tomorrow’s history has already been written. At the name of Jesus every knee must bow.” – E. Kauffman

God’s Word: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” – Matthew 16:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God" - Revelation 19:1

“I had been in conflict, I had been to Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, I had seen the– worst of the worst,” recalls Nick Lee, “I had seen so much death and so much nastiness in third world countries, I didn’t see God as a positive light in my life. I-I just never thought of– any type of God would allow something so horrific to happen.” Nick Lee served in several military combat tours with the US Marines and Army between 1997 and 2006. After his discharge, undiagnosed PTSD made it difficult for Nick to return to civilian life.

He says, “I still catch myself scanning. I’m always on alert” he said.  In 2009 nick married Fresca, the woman who’d had his son twelve years earlier. She had since become a Christian, and when they married she didn’t know about his PTSD or his anger toward God.

Nick pretended to be a Christian, but the anger and violence of his PTSD could not be masked over. The couple divorced and Nick began to drink heavier than before.

One night after a failed suicide attempt, Nick heard God speak to him: “You must stop this. You need to stop the way you're living. You're going to die if you continue to live this way.  Follow Me.”

Nick surrendered his life to Jesus. He gives his testimony to Jesus: “I'm sure there's a reason why I'm still here. And I'm – give my life to Him because He saved this one.”

God is in the rescue business. He hears our cries for help, and saved us with His finished work on the Cross. Today in prayer, praise Jesus Christ that He is your Savior!

"Seek not to explore the heights of the divine majesty, but to find salvation in the saving deeds of God our Savior." - William of St. Thierry

God's Word: "And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." - Revelation 7:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” – Revelation 16:21

In August 2019, Colorado was hit by multiple reports of tornadoes and giant hail — including one stone that broke the record for the largest in the state. The stone fell near Burlington in the small town of Bethune.

The massive hailstone, with a diameter of nearly 5 inches, beat out the previous state record of 4.5 inches.

One truck driver drove through an intense hailstorm in Frederick, Colorado. The truck driver, Brittney Richardson, expressed concern while in the back of her truck cabin.

"I heard kind of a bang and I thought somebody hit the truck," Richardson said. "The truck started rocking and we have large hail coming down."

She feared the truck would be “totaled” by the large hail and said the experience was “absolutely terrifying.”

In the end days, the hailstorm described in Revelation 16, will be larger than any previous storm ever recorded. But with this coming event comes the good news that a New Heaven is coming. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He uses nature to drive us into His loving arms and in Him we can find peace in the storm.

“Jesus taught men to see the operation of God in the regular and the normal – in the rising of the sun and falling of the rain and growth of plants.”  – William Temple

God’s Word: “Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” – Revelation 11:19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.’” – Revelation 15:3

The Christian song, “Glorious Day” sung by the group Passion is all about what God has done for us said Kristian Stanfill, their lead singer. “When you start singing about that and singing about coming back to life and our dead heart beating the life of Jesus, it really brings a joy out of people,” Kristian said.

Kristian wrote the song in 2017.  Going a little deeper into the song, the guys from Passion said, “What I like so much about God is that He didn’t stop at saving us… In the bridge, that’s what we start singing about… We start claiming things about our lives. That we were dead, but now we’re alive! And we may have felt alone, but we’ve actually been invited to be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven! So, the future is bright.”

All of the Lord’s marvelous works are to bring us to salvation and restored fellowship with Him.  Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His love towards you.

“You called my name And I ran out of that grave Out of the darkness Into Your glorious day” – Kristian Stanfill

God’s Word: “And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” – Revelation 5:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.” – Revelation 14:19

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and musician in the early 1700’s during the Baroque period. Many of his compositions were centered on Biblical texts.

There are more than 1000 pieces of his music that have survived. One of his lesser-known works is known as “Christ in the Wine Press.” It is an allegory of the suffering Savior. The bass aria with trumpet of the Ascension cantata by Bach celebrates in song the 63rd chapter of Isaiah.

The translation of Bach’s lyrics is:  

“It is He, who completely alone has trod upon the winepress full of sorrow, torment and pain, to save the lost ones through a precious purchase. You Thrones, stir yourselves, and set a wreath upon Him!”

Bach's word-painting is combined with the music from a trumpet and bass solo, with the numerous leaps that represent the jumping up and down of Christ as he tramples the grapes in order to redeem mankind.

Through the troubles of this earth, we must realize that the Lord is returning and bringing a new Heaven to those who eagerly await Him. Today in prayer, praise Jesus Christ for His love towards us. Praise Him that He was crushed for our sin and He is coming again!

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me: As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on.” – Julia Howe

God’s Word: “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.” – Isaiah 63:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” – Revelation 13:16-17

When Patrick McMullan wants a Diet Dr Pepper while he’s at work, he pays for it with a wave of his hand. McMullan has a microchip implanted between his thumb and forefinger, and the vending machine immediately deducts money from his account. At his office, he’s one of dozens of employees who have been doing likewise since 2017.

McMullan is the president of Three Square Market, a technology company that provides self-service mini-markets to hospitals, hotels, and company break rooms. In August 2017, he became one of roughly 50 employees at its headquarters in River Falls, Wisconsin, who volunteered to have a chip injected into their hand.

The idea came about in early 2017 when he was on a business trip to Sweden—a country where some people are getting subcutaneous microchips to do things like entering secure buildings or booking train tickets. It’s one of the very few places where chip implants, which have been around for quite a while, have taken off in some fashion.

The chips he and his employees got are about the size of a very large grain of rice. They’re intended to make it a little easier to do things like get into the office, log on to computers, and buy food and drinks in the company cafeteria. Like many RFID chips, they are passive—they don’t have batteries, and instead get their power from an RFID reader when it requests data from the chip.

Steve Kassekert, vice president of finance, is so used to using his hand to pay for a soda at work that he was annoyed when the RFID reader on the vending machine went down a couple of months ago.

“It’s just become such a part of my routine,” he said.

Christians need to live by faith that only God will provide and not any implanted RFID chip. Today in prayer, ask the Lord for wisdom and fully give Him your heart this day.

“The seal of God marks out people belonging to him, and so for preservation for his kingdom. The mark of the beast similarly identifies men as his servants, and this mark they cannot live.” – G.R. Beasley-Murray

God’s Word: “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.” – Revelation 14:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” – Revelation 12:10

Robert Henry Best was born in Sumter, South Carolina, a son of Rev. Albert Hartwell Best, a Methodist minister. After graduating from Wofford College in 1916, he joined the Coast Artillery in October 1917. He was commissioned in 1918 and stayed in the U.S. Army until 1920. Then he went to the School of Journalism at Columbia University, graduating in 1922.

He went to Germany and soon fell under the influence of the Nazis. When World War II began, Best began delivering radio propaganda broadcasts for the Nazis. Best's broadcasts continued to blast the alleged enemies of Germany with unbridled vehemence. He ranted against 'funny Frankie,' FDR, as the dupe of America's Jewish interest. Best was arrested on January 29, 1946 by British forces in Carinthia, Austria and handed over to the US Army. He was then flown to the United States to stand trial for treason. He was found guilty and served the rest of his days in federal prison. He was buried in South Carolina, next to his sister Louise Best. She was a long-time Methodist missionary and honorary citizen of Brazil.

Satan, the Great Accuser, has been hurled down through Christ’s victory on the Cross. Today in prayer, rejoice and praise God that He is Lord of all and the Great Accuser has been vanquished.

“His (Satan’s) accusations against the righteous continue day and night. But by the virtue of the death of Christ he is unable successfully to lodge a charge against God’s elect.” – Robert H. Mounce

God’s Word: “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.” – Zechariah 3:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“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.” – Revelation 9:20-21

Some of the final acts of World War II were the trials at Nuremberg against the Nazis who committed war crimes. On 16 October 1946, 10 Nazi leaders were condemned to death by hanging in the bomb-blasted gymnasium of the prison.

The first to hang was Joachim von Ribbentrop, who was Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany. He shouted his final words "I believe in Germany!" – as he fell to his death.

Next was Julius Streicher who was a member of the Nazi Party. He was the founder and publisher of a virulently anti-Semitic newspaper. He too was unrepentant to the end.

Only one man, Hans Frank, was repentant. Hans was known as the “butcher of Poland”. He was the Nazi appointed Governor-General of the occupied Polish territories. During his tenure, he instituted a reign of terror against the civilian population and became directly involved in the mass murder of Jews.

But while in prison, Frank gave his life to Jesus Christ. His last words were spoken in a quiet tone: “I am thankful for the kind treatment during my captivity and I ask God to accept me with mercy.”

Unrepentant sin cannot only harden our hearts, but it can give us a false sense of self-identity. Today in prayer, confess and repent of any sin in your life and thank the Lord for His gift of grace.

“A noble mind disdains not to repent.” – Alexander Pope

God’s Word: “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.” – Revelation 2:21

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.” – Revelation 9:3

In November 2019, the United Nations (UN) reported that if an Ethiopian locust infestation is not brought under control then the crop-devouring insect could "invade" neighboring countries.

The Ethiopian government has called for "immediate action" to deal with the problem affecting four of the country's nine states, a UN statement said.

In northern Amhara state some farmers have lost "nearly 100%" of their crop of the staple grain, teff, it added.

Efforts to control the infestation have so far not been effective.

"We need to act fast and mobilize the required resources urgently to scale up control and preventive measures," FAO Ethiopia representative Fatouma Seid said.

Overall, the desert locusts have devoured crops and pasture across a swathe of land covering parts of the Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and Somali regional states.

The FAO estimated that the insects were eating 1.8 million tons of vegetation a day across 135 square miles of the country.

If additional control measures fail then the locusts "could continue moving within Ethiopia and invade" northeastern Kenya, parts of Eritrea, and Sudan's southern coast, the FAO said.

The locusts are thought to have spread from Yemen.

During natural calamities, Christ is still Lord of all. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that no matter what calamity may occur, God is always in control.

“Oh! For a spirit that bows always before the sovereignty of God.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt.” – Exodus 10:18-19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” – Revelation 8:7

Australia is being ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades, with large swathes of the country devastated since the fire season began in late July 2019.

A total of 28 people have died nationwide, and in the state of New South Wales (NSW) alone, more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. State and federal authorities are struggling to contain the massive blazes, even with firefighting assistance from other countries, including the United States.

There have been fires in every Australian state, but New South Wales has been hardest hit.

Blazes have torn through bushland, wooded areas, and national parks like the Blue Mountains. Some of Australia's largest cities have also been affected, including Melbourne and Sydney -- where fires have damaged homes in the outer suburbs and thick plumes of smoke have blanketed the urban center. Earlier in December, the smoke was so bad in Sydney that air quality measured 11 times the "hazardous" level.

In total, more than 7.3 million hectares (17.9 million acres) have been burned across Australia's six states. In comparison in California, which is known for its deadly wildfires, just over 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) burned in 2019, and about 404,680 hectares (1 million acres) in 2018.

Horrific events continue to occur, but in these tragedies Jesus can be found. Today in prayer, pray those who have been through a terrible event so they may find comfort when they place their faith in Christ.

“In this picture of terror John has the vision of God using the elemental forces of nature to warn man of the final destruction to come.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire.” – Revelation 16:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9

In 1983, Braulia Riberiro was a 19-year-old missionary and part of a team of four Brazilian young people that planted a mission station among the Paumarí in a remote part of the Amazon jungle. 

Braulia could speak to the Paumarí in their language. The first person the team met was an older woman. They engaged in some basic niceties about the missionaries’ trip.

Then the woman asked why they had come.

“We are missionaries,” Braulia said. “We want to help you to know Jesus, the Son of God, and if you want, we can also help to set up a school to teach everyone to read.” The lady looked at me with a puzzled expression and started shouting for her grandson, Danilo. “Come over, Danilo. The missionaries have arrived. Take them to their home.”

“Our home?” Braulia asked. She pointed to an empty tall hut nearby. “Danilo and I built this hut two summers ago, preparing for your arrival. We heard in the radio about the Creator God, and how his Son, Jesus, wants to help us. I said, ‘If that is true, he will send us his people.’ So we built the hut for you.”

The team stayed six months and many in the community gave their lives to Jesus Christ.

There will be believers from every tribe and nation in heaven. Today in prayer, give thanks that the Gospel is traveling throughout the earth. Pray for those who are delivering its eternal message of Good News. 

“God had only one Son – and He was a missionary.” – David Livingstone

God’s Word: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” – Revelation 6:9

In 2013, there were some 2,100 Christians killed for faith-related reasons across the globe. In 2015, that number rose to at least 7,100, according to a recent report from an advocacy group.

“The persecution of Christians is getting worse – in every region in which we work – and it’s getting worse fast,” said Lisa Pearce, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland. “Many countries have dropped down the list, not because persecution there is decreasing, but simply because others are getting worse faster. And it wasn’t good three years ago.”

Pearce continued: “There is always hope, and yet we are in unmarked territory – the pace and scale of persecution of Christians is unprecedented and growing fast.  We should not expect that to change unless we are part of changing the situation.”

She found hope in areas where Christian churches grow despite persecution. In countries like Syria, Christian communities care for their Muslim neighbors. In places like Mandera, Kenya, Muslims opposed anti-Christian attackers, saying, “You kill all of us or none of us.”

Many Christians throughout history have suffered and died for their faith in Christ. Today in prayer, give thanks to those faithful Christians who have died for the faith. Pray for those who today are facing persecution in the world.

“You can kill us, but you cannot hurt us.” – Justin Martyr

God’s Word: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:22

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” – Revelation 5:12

In August 2009, a Scottish sheep owner paid £231,000 ($369,000) for one lamb. It is the world’s most expensive sale of a sheep.

Jimmy Douglas paid the large sum for an eight-month-old Texel tup (uncastrated), named “Deveronvale Perfection”, in Lanark, Scotland. Bred in nearby Banffshire by sheep farmer Graham Morrison, this very valuable sheep was used for breeding purposes.

Douglas bought the sheep in the hope of more than recouping the purchase price.

The high price has been put down to the lamb's strong physical attributes.

Seller Morrison said the price was beyond his “wildest dreams”.

However, he said the sheep lived up to his name and was indeed “perfection”.

“Breeders are looking at the decades of sheep that this bloodline can produce,” said British Texel Sheep Society Chief Executive, John Yates. “When breeders see the 'Perfect' Ram, they will stop at nothing,” said British Texel Sheep Society Chief Executive, John Yates.

Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God, who has taken away our sins by His death on the Cross. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for His triumph over sin and death.

“The precious Lamb of God gave up his precious fleece for us.” – Christopher Nesse

God’s Word: “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” – Revelation 5:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say” – Revelation 4:10

William Temple was an English Anglican priest, who rose to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury. He worked for improved social conditions for workers and for closer ties with other Christian Churches. On the subject of worship, Temple wrote:

“For worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose -- all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.”

We need to look to Jesus and respond to Him in worship. Today in prayer, actively worship the Lord, adoring Him as Lord of all.

“Here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You're my God You're altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me.” – Tim Hughes

God’s Word: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” – Psalm 95:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

Coral Castle is located in Leisure City Florida and was constructed by Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin. The 5’, 110 lb. man was able to single-handedly over the course of 28 years carve a Coral Castle from the ground up. No one knows exactly how it was constructed because Ed kept his methods a secret.  

One of the most interesting features of the castle is its door. The door to enter the castle is a huge rear-swinging gate he built into the back wall

The door to the Coral Castle is nothing more than a single coral block. At nine tons, 80” wide, 92” tall and 21” thick, it’s strange enough how it got there, but how it opens is even weirder. With the gentlest fingertip push from a child, the coral block swings open.

The door to our heart can only be opened with the slightest of ease if we yield to Christ’s knock. Today, open your heart and let Jesus live and reign in you. 

“True conversion will involve the mind, the affection, and the will.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” – John 14:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” – Revelation 3:17

Lisa Arcand of Lawrence, Massachusetts was a single mother when she won $1 million in the lottery in April 2004.

Soon after winning, Arcand said she was aggressively pursued by Stone Street Capital, a financial services company that offered her a lump sum of money up front in return for all or a portion of her $35,000-a-year lottery proceeds. “They call people who hit the lottery and offer to buy the ticket off you,” she said. “The offer was less than half the cash value. But I sold a piece of it — $15,000 a year, and I got $200,000 up front.” The up-front money helped her buy some of the things she’d never been able to afford, but it also put her in a higher tax bracket, leading to a further erosion of her winnings.

She took the lump sum from her winnings and bought a house and new furniture, went on a couple of vacations, enrolled her son in Central Catholic School and opened a restaurant. Then reality struck. The restaurant failed and she lost all of her savings less than four years after striking it rich. “I emptied my savings to get this place,” she said. “Now I’m behind on my bills.”

“Winning the lottery is not all it’s cracked up to be,” said Arcand. “Actually, it’s been very depressing.”

Money does not make us rich. Knowing Jesus Christ makes us truly wealthy. Today in prayer, confess any sin that takes your heart away from Jesus and seek Him in all that you do.  

“Temporal prosperity is very unfavorable for spiritual development.” – Charles Simeon

God’s Word: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” – Revelation 3:10

The Hawaiian translation of the Bible remains the largest single volume ever printed in Hawaiian, with over 1,400 densely packed pages.

It is probably also the largest and most demanding single literary project since Hawaiian became a written language, requiring the active involvement of at least nine regular participants (four American ministers and five Native scholars) and numerous others who contributed to a lesser, but significant, degree over a period of more than ten years.

Despite the complexities of the Hawaiian language, New England Christian missionary Reverend Hiram Bingham completed the translation of Matthew in just three weeks. With the help of others, the team was able to complete translation of the four Gospel accounts in 1828. The team patiently endured and completed the New Testament in 1932. It would take another seven years to complete the entire Old Testament in 1839.  

The Lord calls us to endure patiently. Today in prayer, look to Jesus and patiently endure any hardship in your life.

“He deserves not the name of patient who is only willing to suffer as much as he thinks proper, and for whom he pleases. The truly patient man asks (nothing) from whom he suffers, (whether) his superior, his equal, or his inferior...But from whomever, or how much, or how often wrong is done to him, he accepts it all as from the hand of God, and counts it gain!” - Thomas a Kempis

God’s Word: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” – Ecclesiastes 7:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” – Revelation 2:10

In December 2019, Pastor Wang Yi from Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Sichuan, China was sentenced to nine years in prison for “subversion of state power” and “illegal business operations.”

In 2005, he gave his life to Christ, was baptized, and started to serve in the house church movement. He was among the few pioneering Christian human-rights attorneys in China.

Wang Yi met with President George W. Bush at the White House in 2006, with other Chinese human rights attorneys, to discuss religious freedom in China.

Wang’s lawyer, Zhang Peihong, who has been prevented from representing him, commented online about Wang’s nine year sentence, “Woe to you, for you see evil as kindness and see kindness as evil. You are not sending a criminal to prison, [instead], you are crowning a righteous man.”

Christians still face persecution in this world. Today in prayer, pray for believers that face persecution that they may be faithful to Jesus.

“The servant of Christ must never be surprised if he has to drink of the same cup with his Lord.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” – 2 Timothy 3:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” – Revelation 2:5

On Sunday, 30 June 2019, thousands of cyclists competed in the HSBC National Championships in Great Britain. The men’s 120-mile road race began in Norfolk and took the riders through Norwich city centre after cycling along the coastline.

In the village of Hoveton, hundreds of cyclists took a wrong turn during the race.

Spectactor Dave Wilson managed to capture the exact moment the bike racers accidentally went down the wrong track before turning and pedaling back.

Dave said he rode out to watch them race pass through Hoveton. 

“The leaders had formed a break away group of three riders and they managed to follow the (correct) route,” he said.

“But the peloton, a group of riders, followed about 30 seconds later and accidentally made an unscheduled turn before the marshals could correct them. This just caused a chaotic scene.”

When you take the wrong road, it is best to backtrack and get on the right one. The Lord desires us to repent of our sins. The sooner we turn away from our sins, the quicker we are restored to fellowship with Christ. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life, repent and turn away from sin and follow Jesus.

“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne” – Revelation 1:4

On the subject of grace, Pastor J. Vernon McGee wrote:

“I have said this again and again: God is overloaded with grace. You and I just don’t know how gracious He is. He has an abundance of grace. Grace has been defined as unmerited favor, but I call it love in action. God didn’t save us by love. He gave His Son, and it is by His grace that we are saved. He has so much of it. You may say, ‘Oh, I am so wrong on the inside, so sinful.’ Go to Him and tell Him you are wrong on the inside, and ask Him for grace to overcome it. He will give you grace. He is the living Christ, interceding at God’s right hand for you. Now some may doubt the surplus of His grace. May I say to you, all the medicine in the world cannot cure the sick; the remedy must be taken. Likewise, God has the grace, my friend; lay hold of it! It is possible for a man to die of thirst with a pure spring of water right before him. He has to drink of it; he has to appropriate it before it can save his life. You don’t blame soap and water for the fact that there are dirty people in the world, do you? There is plenty of soap and water to clean you up, my friend. ‘God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’ This is the kind of container that the grace of God must be carried in; it must be carried in an humble individual.”

There is no greater gift than God’s grace! Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His Amazing Grace to you.

“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

God’s Word: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS