“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

Evangelist Billy Graham was asked: “I really want to serve God, but I don't know how. Just showing up at church doesn't seem like much, but what else should I be doing?”

Billy replied: “Just showing up at church” may not seem like much to you – but it shows others that God is important to you, and is a good example to them. It also gives you an opportunity to learn more about God’s plan for your life, and to grow in your faith in Christ.

But your church is important for another reason: It’s a good place to find opportunities to serve God. Almost every church I know depends on volunteers to help carry on its ministry – from singing in the choir or keeping the nursery, to leading a Bible study or helping in the church office. Your church may be involved in community projects also that need volunteers. Check your church bulletin for openings, and let your pastor know also of your willingness to help.

But you can serve God in other ways also. All around you are people who need Christ, and need to be touched by His love. Are you praying for them, and are you asking God to help you reach out to them? A sick neighbor … a young person who needs encouraging … a lonely elderly person – the list is almost endless. The Bible says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Ask God to show you the gifts and abilities He has given you. Then Him to show you how He wants you to use them – and He will.”

We have the joy and opportunity not only to serve Jesus in this life, but also in Heaven. 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 2017, 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

On December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of the French. In five years, he expanded his empire to include most of Western Europe.

But after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was banished to the Island of Helena for the remainder of his life. It was at Helena where Napoleon called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count declined to respond. Napoleon countered: “Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions will die for Him. . . . I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man; none else is like Him: Jesus Christ was more than a man. . . . I have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me . . . but to do this is was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lightened up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts. . . . Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barriers of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all others difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philosopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thought of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ.”

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 2017, 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 1984, a nine-year-old girl in Rosedale, Maryland was brutally raped and murdered. Kirk Bloodsworth, an honorably discharged former Marine and Maryland resident was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder. Even though five eyewitnesses had placed him with the victim, he continued to maintain his innocence throughout his trial and subsequent incarceration. In 1992, while in prison, Bloodsworth read an account of how DNA fingerprinting had led to the conviction of Colin Pitchfork in the killings of Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann; hoping to prove his innocence, he pushed to have the evidence against him tested by the then-novel method. Testing of the evidence did prove that the DNA did not match Bloodsworth's DNA profile. In 1993, Bloodsworth was released; by that time, he had spent almost nine years in prison, two of them on death row.

There are many injustices in this world, but 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 2017, 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

Anneshia Freeman was born into a home with an absent father and a mother with paranoid schizophrenia.

By high school, Anneshia found solace in drugs and alcohol. Her grades dropped as she looked for way to pay for her addictions.

“When I was 13, I looked like I was 21 or 22,” she said. “I resembled an adult woman. I didn’t really think I was prostituting then, but it was. I was exchanging sexual favors for drugs and alcohol.”

Anneshia ran from her home life after her high school graduation.

“I was living in Chicago when my addiction kicked into high gear. I had been smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, and occasionally snorting cocaine. I stopped paying bills. All of my money started going towards cocaine. Eventually my job sent me to rehab. I had to admit I had a problem, but I came home and got high the day after rehab,” she says. “The addiction got so bad, and I went back to Detroit. That’s when I got introduced to the crack cocaine subculture, and I started hanging out in the crack houses.”

She stayed on the streets for 12 years, the victim of physical beatings and rapes.

After so much abuse, she went outside to the nearest bus stop.

“I had no plans to get on that bus. I was going to commit suicide. I had a made up mind, and I was timing my leap into the street. A gentleman walked up behind me and stopped and said, ‘Don’t you dare give up.’ I believe that man was an angel. I don’t know if he was or if he was just somebody used right then in that point, because I was getting ready to leave here.

“I was like, wow! You mean, there’s a God out there that cared whether or not a prostitute and crack addict is getting ready to take her life and He would speak to me through somebody who didn’t know me and didn’t know what I was about to do?”

Shortly after that day at the bus stop, Anneshia made the decision to let God change her life.

“I was walking away from a crack motel, and I heard God say in my spirit, ‘Choose you this day who you will serve.’ It was like not only had God shown me Himself, but He had shown me Satan’s kingdom uncut and raw. I knew right then in my spirit if I didn’t leave at that particular moment, I would die there. That was August 7, 2000, and I have not used another drug, any type of mood-altering substance, including alcohol. I haven’t used anything since that day.”

Anneshia started going to church and completed several addiction programs.

“God has given me this gift,” she says. “He has set me free, and he’s using me to help other women. So it’s amazing. I would say that if you think you’re too fargone. That is a lie straight from the pit of hell. No matter what you have done, God can turn your life around, and He’s not going to just turn it around a little bit. He can turn it all around until you don’t even recognize your life.”

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 2017, 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

On April 12, 2016, San Antonio, Texas was barraged with a hailstorm. Stones up to 4.5 inches in diameter, or the size of grapefruits rained on the city. More than 110,000 vehicles were damaged, and thousands of homes suffered roof damage. Police said the hailstorm led to windshield damage for several of their cruisers.

The loss was projected at $1.4 billion in estimated insured losses, making it the costliest hailstorm in the Texas’ history.

Insured losses to automobiles from the April 12 storm reached $560 million, while damage to homes approached $800 million. More than 110,000 vehicles were damaged, and thousands of homes suffered roof damage.

If that wasn’t bad enough, San Antonio was struck again with hailstorms on April 17 and 25.

Total losses from commercial businesses, including schools, retailers and office buildings from the three storms exceeded $2 billion.

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 2017, 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

Charles Gabriel grew up on an Iowa farm during the 1800’s. He learned music by playing the reed organ in his home. He became one of the most prolific composers of gospel songs in history. He is credited with between 7000 and 8000 songs, thirty-five gospel song collections, Sunday school songbooks, collections for men's and women’s choirs, numerous cantatas, including 41 Christmas cantatas, and music education texts.

In 1905 he wrote the words and music of "I Stand Amazed." The circumstances surrounding the inspiration of the hymn are unknown. The Rev. Carlton R. Young, editor of The United Methodist Hymnal, notes: "This song of gratitude and praise for the atoning death of Jesus is a personal and Adventist interpretation of Luke's account of Jesus' sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, a portion of the passion narrative not included in the other Gospels."

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.

"O how marvelous! O how wonderful!

And my song shall ever be:

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!

Is my Savior's love for me!" – Charles Gabriel

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 2017, 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

The symbol of the winepress is used in Biblical teachings of goodness and prosperity – as well as corruption due to irresponsibility.

In December 2016, in preparation for the building of a new school in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) conducted a survey at the site and uncovered a 2,100 year old wine press and, what appears to be, a warehouse.

The square press, which is in very good condition, consists of a flat surface where the grapes could be trampled and a pit into which the juice would flow. The sides of the press were covered in a thick layer of white plaster mixed with seashells.

Next to the press a building was discovered which appears to have been a storage facility where jugs and amphora would be kept, as well as providing some basic accommodation for the workers.

As Ilan Peretz, the excavation director, said: “Although we knew that there had been extensive agricultural activity, especially wine production, in the area during Roman and Byzantine times, we are now seeing evidence that the farming activity began much earlier than that.”

The IAA said it intended to preserve the press and incorporate it into the new school in some way, with the pupils being encouraged to take part in the preservation efforts.

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: “The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” – Hebrews 13:11-12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2017, 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

The Roman historian Vegetius reports that before being entered into the records of the legion a soldier was given the 'military mark'. There was a Roman decree in AD 398 that ordered the branding of workers in the imperial armament factories, suggesting that by that time the practice of branding new soldiers was widespread. For it states that the 'national mark' should be branded onto the arms of these workers, 'in imitation of the branding of recruits'. It is most likely that the 'national mark' the text refers to would have been the famous letters SPQR that signified the Roman state.

The brand indicated loyalty and love of Caesar. It entitled the bearer to food and provisions that others were not accorded.

We are sealed by the Holy Spirit and Jesus should be our first love. Christians need to live by faith that only God will provide and not any “national mark.” 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 2017, 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

In the dying days of the Nazi occupation of France, propagandist Philippe Henriot lit up the airwaves with a series of pro-German radio broadcasts aimed at pacifying the French resistance. The French-born Henriot was a right wing firebrand who had eagerly aligned himself with the collaborationist Vichy government. In January 1944, he was appointed as the regime’s chief propagandist and spin-doctor.

An eloquent speaker, Henriot played on the anxieties of the French people by arguing that the hardships they faced stemmed from their continued association with the Allies and native resistance groups, whom he labeled “terrorists.” He falsely accused the Allies of many atrocities in order to aid the Nazi cause.

He also used his radio programs as a platform to counter the arguments espoused by the Free French Forces, who were then broadcasting in exile from the BBC in London. Henriot’s twice-daily radio shows were appointment listening for the French public—many of whom called him the “French Goebbels.” It was said that: "Henriot is listened to by everyone, enemies or supporters. Families shift their meal times so as not to miss him. There is no-one left in the street at the time he speaks.”

However, his influence was ultimately short-lived. In June 1944, French resistance fighters assassinated him in a targeted hit.

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 2017, 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

In July 2011, Anders Breivik became Norway’s most dangerous man. He committed two crimes that led to mass murder. The first involved a car bomb outside a government building in Oslo that killed eight people, and the second saw Breivik, disguised as a policeman, kill 69 others by opening fire at a youth camp on the Utøya island.

Breivik, who describes himself as a neo-Nazi and prays to the Viking god Odin, has never shown any remorse for his actions, saying during his original trial that the attack was “necessary” and that he “would do it again.”

In January 2017, Breivik was in court again, but this time to overthrow the government’s decision to keep him in solitary confinement.

The unrepentant Brevik entered the courtroom and raised his right hand in a Nazi salute.

Attorney General Fredrik Sejersted outlined the government’s case, asserting Breivik is even more dangerous now than he was before.

“Before July 22 [2011], Anders Behring Breivik was Norway’s most dangerous man. It is difficult to know how dangerous he is today, and even more difficult to know how dangerous he will be tomorrow, next year or in 10 years,” Sejersted said, adding: “But he has strengthened his right-wing beliefs. He is still a far-right extremist.”

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 2017, 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 January 2016, farmers in Argentina experienced a plague of locusts. 

“It’s the worst explosion in the last 60 years,” Diego Quiroga, chief of vegetative protection for the government’s agriculture inspection agency. “It’s impossible to eradicate; the plague has already established itself. We’re just acting to make sure it’s the smallest it can be and does the least damage possible.”

The locusts first appeared in small areas in June and then spread, aided by a mild winter, making it more difficult for officials to control their impact. Farmers last year reported locust clouds over four miles long and nearly two miles high.

It only takes 10 days from hatching for locusts grow to about two inches and mature into voracious flying swarms in search of food.

There have been over one hundred outbreaks of locusts that have affected over an area of 700,000 hectares (roughly 2700 square miles).

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 2017, 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

It’s remembered in Australia as “The Black Saturday bushfires.” On February 7, 2009, a series of some 400 bushfires were ignited across the Australian state of Victoria. Strong winds whipped the fires and temperatures exceeded 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The Black Saturday Bushfires killed 173 people, injured 414 people, destroyed 2,100 homes and displaced 7,562 people.

The energy that the Black Saturday bushfires released was equivalent to one thousand five hundred of the atomic bombs that struck Hiroshima. It took five weeks and more than 5000 firefighters to control the blaze. Over 1.1 million acres of land was burned and flames were recorded as high as 300 feet. Over 1 million animals perished in its flames.

In the first 10 days of the fire, over ten billion liters of water had been shifted out of affected dams into others.

In early March 2009, smoke from the fires was discovered in the atmosphere over Antarctica at record altitudes.

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 2017, 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

Chipaya is a remote village in the mountains of Bolivia.  In 2001 it had a population of 363. The Chipaya have been resisting the influence of outsiders for centuries. In 1961, Ron and Fran Olson, one of the first North American visitors to Chipaya, arrived there to translate the Bible into the Chipaya language for Wycliffe Bible Translators.

"It's a complex language grammatically," Olson says. "You have to sharpen your ears."

It was the Olsons who first made Chipaya a written language as well as a spoken one. Using the Spanish alphabet, they assigned letters to the sounds of the Chipaya language in the 1960s.

It wasn't easy: the Chipaya had more sounds than the alphabet had letters, including a variety of ways to pronounce the letters S and K.

But today the Chipaya have a Bible translated into their language, and many in the village have become Christians.

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 2017, 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

On March 9, 2016, the Knights of Columbus and the humanitarian group In Defense of Christians submitted a report entitled “Genocide Against Christians in the Middle East” to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. The report documented that between 2003 and June 9, 2014, at least 1,131 Christians – identified by name and place of death – had been murdered by the radical Muslims that comprise the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

Eight days later, March 17, Secretary Kerry officially declared that ISIS’s ongoing actions against Christians, Yazidis, and other religious minorities constituted genocide.

“Murder of Christians is commonplace” in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, states the report. “Many have been killed in front of their own families. The Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, many of whose flock lived on the Ninevah plain or in Syria, reports that 500 people were killed by ISIS during its takeover of Mosul and the surrounding region.”

The 1,131 martyrs are specifically documented from the period 2003 to June 9, 2014.  More Christians reportedly were murdered in 2015 and 2016 but names and places of death have yet to be compiled in one document.

In addition to the list of known martyrs, the report lists 125 Christian churches known to have been attacked by ISIS.

Many Christians throughout history have suffered and died for the Gospel. 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 2017, 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

Most countries have a coat of arms. For many, the central figure is an animal of strength such as a lion or an eagle. But Puerto Rico stands alone; the Lamb of God is central on their coat of arms. The Spanish Crown first granted the Puerto Rican coat of arms in 1511, making it the oldest heraldic achievement still currently in use in the Americas. After several years of not having an official heraldry, a Puerto Rican law was passed in 1905 that re-established the historical armorial bearings as the arms of the territory; after numerous investigations and amendments, the current version was adopted in 1976.

In the center of the heraldry is a shield with a green background representing the island's lush vegetation. The Lamb of God is lying down on a book, which represents John’s Book of Revelation. And from the pages of the book are the seven seals, unbroken as long as the Lamb of God sits on the closed book.

Jesus is the Lamb of God and He is also our lamb who takes 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 2017, 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

In 1999 while still in college, Tim Hughes sat down to craft a musical response to his reading of Philippians 2:5, which says, "Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus."  And from the start, he had the humility part mastered.

"I was playing around with my guitar when the verse just came out," he modestly recalled.  "However, I couldn't get a chorus that I was happy with.  The original one was embarrassingly bad!"

Tim recorded the verse into his Dictaphone, and months later during a quiet creative time, he patched it together with another strong melody idea and brought "Here I Am To Worship" to fruition.

"I'd been reading about the cross and thinking through Jesus' amazing sacrifice," Tim said of the lyrical theme.  "Sometimes when God meets with us we don't quite know how to respond properly.  It's often too much for us to take in.  Hopefully in a small way the chorus captures that: '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, worthy, wonderful.'" 

Christians enthusiastically embraced “Here I Am To Worship.”

“People have seemed to really connect with it, and we've had some special times in worship using the song," Tim admitted.  "I remember one time at the end of a Worship Together conference in San Diego when we'd been performing the song.  The band stopped, and then the congregation just kept singing the chorus for about 15 minutes."

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 2017, 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

Number 10 Downing Street is the home of the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister. Situated on Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London, Number 10 is over 300 years old and contains approximately 100 rooms. A private residence occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basement. The other floors contain offices and conference, reception, sitting and dining rooms where the Prime Minister works, and where government ministers, national leaders and foreign dignitaries are met and entertained. At the rear of the home is an interior courtyard and a terrace overlooking a garden of 0.5 acres. Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is near Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British monarch, and the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of both Houses of Parliament.

One of the interesting architectural features of the home is the front door cannot be opened from the outside because it has no handle. One has to knock on the door from the outside and then someone on the inside has to open the door for an outsider to enter the building.

Similar to Number 10, the door to our heart can only be opened from the inside by us. Christ Jesus is continually knocking on the door of our hearts so that we would open our hearts to Him. 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 2017, 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

In 1993, Janite Lee won a lottery worth $18 million. The 52-year-old South Korean immigrant gave much of the spoils to charity. Although Lee did move into a million-dollar house in St. Louis, the city where she'd previously operated a wig shop, she focused on helping others.

With $620,000 a year winnings, Lee's charitable efforts included sizable donations to Washington University School of Law. She also donated hundreds of thousands to presidential political campaigns, which earned her tableside seating with Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Unfortunately, while she was giving away her lottery earnings, Lee was protecting a financial secret, an expensive mortgage on the million-dollar house.

Instead of buying it with her lottery windfall, Lee purchased it on payments. In addition to this mortgage, she leased luxury cars and reportedly borrowed millions more from banks and credit cards. Even when she tried to make financially savvy moves, such as paying off a loan ahead of schedule, she ended up deeper in debt by owing $750,000 in early payoff penalties.

By 2001, less than 8 years after she won the lottery, Lee sold the rights to future lottery payments and filed for bankruptcy. She was $2.5 million in debt.

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 2017, 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

For Mission Aviation Fellowship pilot Kevin Borror, patience isn’t just a virtue––it’s a decision that forever changed the course of one young girl’s life.

Maria was an orphan and a sponsored child through the Compassion International program. Kevin received a request to pick her up and take her to the hospital in Shell, Ecuador. He was told to make sure an adult accompanied her. And if he couldn’t find someone, Kevin was instructed to leave her there.

Upon arriving at the airstrip, he patiently waited a few minutes before spotting the girl walking toward the plane, carrying her backpack, all by herself. He started asking around, “Who can come with her to Shell?” But no one wanted to come.

Looking at Maria, now waiting patiently to go, Kevin could not tell that she was severely ill. “I just sensed that the Lord was telling me to wait a little longer. I didn’t have anything pressing to do, so I just waited. Then I kind of pushed, ‘Somebody, one of you can come out!’”

Finally, an extended family member agreed to go. At the hospital in Shell, doctors discovered that Maria had kidney failure and other major health issues. She barely survived the night. She spent weeks on dialysis and eventually received a kidney transplant. Today, Maria is a healthy 19-year-old young woman who knows the Lord.

All because one man decided to be patient and wait.

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 2017, 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

Kenji Goto was a Japanese Christian freelance video journalist who came to know the Lord in 1997. He covered wars and conflicts, refugees, poverty, AIDS, and child education around the world. In October 2014, he was captured and held hostage by Islamic State (ISIL) militants after entering Syria in the hopes of rescuing Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa. On 30 January 2015, following the breakdown of negotiations for his release, both Kenji and Haruna were beheaded by their captors.

Freelance journalist Toshi Maeda said the following about Kenji: "He just wants to meet children in conflicted areas and tell the rest of the world their suffering. As he follows their stories, he ends up in war zones." 

In an interview in May 2014, Kenji said the following about his faith: "I have seen horrible places and have risked my life, but I know that somehow God will always save me."

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 2017, 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

In August of 1892, Miss Marietta J. Reeside, a graduate of the Female Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, went to Elk Creek in Oklahoma to work with the Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma.

Marietta was the first woman missionary to the Kiowa. After she had been with the tribe long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian they gave her a new name. They called her “Aim-day-co.” Chief Bigtree, in explaining this name, said, “When we Kiowas see anyone on the wrong road we call out, ‘Aim-day-co’ (“turn this way”). Our sister came to us from a far land, and found us all on the wrong road and in great danger. She stood in a new road and called to us and said, ‘Turn this way,’ and showed us the Jesus road. God bless Aim-day-co.”

The Lord desires us to repent of our sins. The sooner we turn away from our sins, the quicker we are relieved of the guilt of sin and restored to fellowship with Christ and others. 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 2017, 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

Christian author Phil Yancey shared a story of grace: “I met my friend Tom, whom I hadn’t seen in fifteen years.  Tom was a hard-drinking, lovable partygoer who stopped going to church soon after college.  Last year his live-in girlfriend decided she wanted to attend church because of some crisis she was going through.  Tom reluctantly agreed.  That morning he sat down and started playing his guitar.  Thinking of church, he resurrected three hymns from his distant memory.  “Those are beautiful—what’s the music?” his girlfriend asked.  Tom explained the words to the hymns.

They chose a church out of the phone book, and to Tom’s utter astonishment, that Sunday the congregation sang all three of those hymns.  It so rattled Tom that he completely turned his life around.  Listening to him tell the story, I couldn’t help laughing in surprised joy.  I have a memory of Tom so drunk that he fell over while trying to roll a ball down a bowling alley; we had to pull him away from the ball return channel.  And now here he was, weeping, telling me how God had changed his life.  Think of the “coincidence” of those three hymns being played the one Sunday that Tom dropped in to church.  Was that a miracle?  It was certainly grace.”

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 2017, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN REVELATIONS