Tag Archives: John

What will your check look like? (Revelation 22:12-13), May 22, 2017

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Everyone likes payday. What will your check look like when Jesus comes?
Scripture
1. Revelation 22:12-13
2. The Anointed One: See, I am coming soon, and I will bring My reward with Me. I will pay back every person according to the deeds he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First One and the Last One, the beginning and the end.
Devotional
1. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like payday.
  1. Gets confusing
    1. Retirement comes on one day
    2. Part-time work on another
    3. Consulting work comes at odd times
  2. Never get the days straight and it just appears since most of them are direct deposit into my accounts
2. We like to get paid what we expect to be paid
  1. First check was a disappointment
    1. Taxes
    2. Social security
    3. medicare/medicaid contribution
    4. Insurance
  2. Seemed like other people got more of my check than I did after working for two weeks
  3. Tax Freedom Day this year was April 23, the day the average American earned enough to pay his or her taxes
  4. Jesus told a parable about some workers in a vineyard who agreed to wages and then thought they had been gypped because they didn’t get more than what they agreed
  5. We’re like that sometimes
    1. Put in extra effort
    2. Come up with more efficient ways to do things and reduce the time required and reduce our hours
    3. Want recognition, award, strokes
3. Jesus is coming back
  1. We have a payday coming
  2. We will receive what we earned
  3. Payday based on our deeds Jesus says
  4. I used to wonder how our whole past could be recorded for all to see
  5. With the advent of video, iPhones, security cameras everywhere, digital storage, I’m not longer surprised that our whole life could be stored somewhere
  6. Jesus knows our deeds
  7. We’re just now smart enough to think He could really know everything
  8. He can play it back for all to see
4. Payday is coming. What will your check look like?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What does it take to make you happy? (Revelation 22:7), May 21, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
What does it take to make you happy? Think about that for a second.
Scripture
1. Revelation 22:7
2. The Anointed One: Look now, I am coming soon! The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed.
Devotional
1. What does it take to make you happy?
  1. Harvest Ministries says this about the word blessed:
  2. So what does it mean to be blessed? The word blessed Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount is from the Greek word makarios, which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The Greeks called the Island of Cyprus “the happy isle.” They believed that because of its geographical location, perfect climate, and fertile soil that anyone who lived on Cyprus had it made in the shade. And the term they associated with the island was makarios. They believed everything you needed to be happy was right there on Cyprus.
  3. If only…
    1. Lived on Cyprus
    2. Lived in the right neighborhood
    3. Had more money
    4. Had a different job
    5. Had a different spouse
2. World says something here can make us happy
  1. All these things around us can make us happy
  2. They don’t
  3. They take time away from us
  4. They add responsibility and worry
  5. They make us want more because we find they just don’t satisfy
3. Jesus tells us how we can be happy, though.
  1. Right here in Revelation 22:7. “The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed.”
  2. Just keep the words in the book
  3. What have they said?
  4. Follow Him
  5. Remain faithful to Him
4. The Greeks thought you could be happy and blissful if you could move to Cyprus.We can’t all move to Cyprus, but our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ.
5. So you want to be happy? You want to be blessed? Just follow Jesus.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What have you done to prepare? (Revelation 16:15), May 20, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
They tell us home invasion is on the rise. What have you done to prepare?
Scripture
1. Revelation 16:15
2. A Voice: See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the person who watches and waits, dressed and ready to go, so as not to wander about naked, exposed to disgrace.
Devotional
1. I remember the days when people didn’t lock their doors at night.
  1. Went on vacation once and forgot to lock the door, but really didn’t worry about it
  2. Then started locking the doors when we left but not when we were home
  3. Then started locking the doors at night
  4. Then started putting gates around our communities
  5. Community watch
  6. Now alarms systems, cameras, guns under mattresses
  7. Prepared for thieves that might try to slip through the gate
2. If we knew thief was coming
  1. We’d be ready
  2. Doors and windows locked
  3. Cameras recording
  4. Police at the door
  5. Valuables secured
  6. Thief wouldn’t have a chance
  7. Captured and arrested
3. Thief doesn’t come when we are prepared
  1. Comes when least expected
  2. Comes when our guard is down
  3. Comes at his convenience, not ours
4. Jesus says He will come like a thief in the night
  1. Be ready
  2. Like the Jews prepared for the first passover
  3. Dressed and ready for a journey
  4. Shoes on their feet, staff in their hand
  5. Everything they need to take packed and ready to go
5. I attended a funeral just this week for a friend
  1. He was getting ready to take his wife to the hospital for surgery the next day
  2. Instead he had a massive stroke and never regained consciousness
  3. We don’t know how long we have
  4. We don’t know when our next breath will be our last
  5. We may live until Jesus returns to take His bride away
  6. We may be victims of a car wreck or some random act of violence or a freak accident or an illness or any number of things
  7. The message is we need to be ready
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

What does the future hold? (Revelation 4:1), May 19, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Wouldn’t it be nice to look into the future and know what was going to happen in the next few days or weeks? Then you could prepare for it and maybe even avoid some of the crises that are headed you way. Well, we do not what happens next if we will pay attention to Jesus’ words.
Scripture
1. Rev 4:1
2. A Voice: Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.
Devotional
1. I like Chinese restaurants
  1. Décor
  2. Food
  3. Fortune cookies
    1. Disappointed if they don’t give them to you at the end of the meal
    2. Usually don’t say anything worthwhile
    3. Always want to see what they say, though
2. We want to know what’s ahead
  1. Card readers
  2. Palm readers
  3. Fortune tellers
  4. Horoscopes
  5. Astrologers
  6. Psychics and mediums
  7. $2 billion industry
3. Interesting that not a large percentage of those spending those $2 billion spend much time looking into the book that tells them what the future will really be like
  1. Every prophecy laid out in scripture has come true in its time
  2. Read through the Old Testament and watch all those prophecies come to pass the prophets gave the kings
  3. Red the prophecies about Jesus and see them fulfilled in the New Testament
  4. Now Jesus gives this vision to John as he sits in exile on the Isle of Patmos
  5. If all the other prophecies have come to pass, why wouldn’t we think the things Jesus tells John in this book will not take place?
4. We want to know the future
  1. It’s good to be prepared for contingencies
  2. It’s good to know a little of what will happen so we’re not surprised
  3. It’s good to know God knows what is happening so we are assured He has everything under control
  4. It’s good to know none of the brokenness that continues to fracture this world shakes the Eternal from His throne
  5. It’s good to know God will stand with us and live in us to help us through the roughest times of life when we give ourselves to Him
5. We don’t need psychics and mediums, palm readers and fortune cookies to tell us about tomorrow
  1. In plain sight for us if we just read God’s word
  2. He tells us what to expect and how to prepare for it
  3. His book isn’t that long, but making it the volume you go to everyday as your number one self-help book, will certainly change you more than anything else you could do
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Laodicea, today’s church? (Revelation 3:14-22), May 18, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Many say the letter to the church at Laodicea describes the church today. What do you think?
Scripture
1. Revelation 3:14-22
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Laodicea. “These are the words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation:

I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. So here is what I suggest you do: buy true gold from Me (gold refined by fire so that you can be truly rich), white garments (to cover you so that you can keep the shame of your nakedness from showing), and eye ointment (to treat your eyes so that you may see clearly).

“Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.

“The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death I will place next to Me on My throne, just as I Myself conquered and took a place of honor with My Father on His throne.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Devotional
1. Remember The story of the King who had no clothes?
  1. Tailors fooled him into accepting a fine suit of clothes made from such fine cloth that only the wisest could see it.
  2. No one would tell the king they couldn’t see he was naked for fear they would be thought unwise.
  3. Finally a child looked up and asked why the king was parading through the street naked and all in the crowd, including the king, recognized he had been duped.
2. That’s what’s happening to many churches today
  1. God’s word isn’t true
  2. He doesn’t really mean what He says
  3. Surely He wouldn’t send anyone to hell for disobeying if He really loved us
  4. God doesn’t really care what we do
  5. We can always ask forgiveness at the end of life and everything will be okay
3. We have lost the fire and passion of the early church
  1. No sacrifice
  2. Leftover time
  3. Leftover money
  4. Leftover worship
  5. God takes something other than first place
  6. We’re lukewarm in devotion
4. The result – He’ll vomit us out of His mouth and out of His kingdom
  1. Lukewarm doesn’t cut it.
  2. Think we’re okay
  3. But just going through motions
5. What’s your spiritual temperature?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Opportunity knocks but once (Revelation 3:7-13), May 17, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
We’ve heard it, opportunity knocks but once. But is it true? I’m glad God doesn’t feel that way.
Scripture
1. Revelation 3:7-13
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia. “These are the words of the holy One, the true One, and the One who possesses the key of David, which opens the possibilities so that no one can shut them. The One who closes all options so that no one can open:

“I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. I have done this because you have limited strength, yet you have obeyed My word and have not denied My name. Watch, and I will make those of the congregation of Satan—those who call themselves ‘Jews’ but are not because they lie—come before you penitent, falling at your feet. Then they will know how much I have loved you. Because you have obeyed My instructions to endure and be patient, I will protect you from the time of trial which will come upon the whole earth and put everyone in it to the test. I will soon return. Hold tight to what you have so that no one can take away your victor’s wreath.

“As for the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will plant that person as a pillar in the temple of My God, and that person will never have to leave the presence of God. Moreover, I will inscribe this person with the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, New Jerusalem—which descends out of heaven from My God—and My own new name.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Devotional
1. We’ve heard the idiom
  1. Opportunity knocks but once
  2. You only get once chance to achieve what you really want to do
  3. Don’t pass up the opportunity when it comes, you might not get another
2. Sometimes it is true
  1. Perhaps in financial opportunities
  2. Stocks go up and down and if you get in at the right time you make money if you don’t you lose money
  3. Businesses come and go and timing is often critical to their success or failure
3. But God comes to us again and again
  1. Never gives up on us
  2. Keeps calling us to repentance
  3. Wants us to join Him in eternity
  4. God gives us ample opportunity to say yes to His calling
4. We can still refuse, but God keeps asking us to accept His gift of salvation
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Complete the journey (Revelation 3:1-6), May 16, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
It’s true that every journey starts with the first step, but if that’s the only step you take, you never get to your destination. The journey will never be complete.
Scripture
1. Revelation 3:1-6
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Sardis. “These are the words of the One who has the seven Spirits of God, the Perfect Spirit, and the One who holds the seven stars:

“I know the things you do—you’ve claimed a reputation of life, but you are actually dead. Wake up from your death-sleep, and strengthen what remains of the life you have been given that is in danger of death. I have judged your deeds as far from complete in the sight of My God. Therefore, remember what you have received and heard; it’s time to keep these instructions and turn back from your ways. If you do not wake up from this sleep, I will come in judgment. I will creep up on you like a thief—you will have no way of knowing when I will come. But there are a few in Sardis who don’t have the stain of evil works on their clothes. They will walk alongside Me in white, spotless garments because they have been proven worthy.

“The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will be clothed in white garments, and I will certainly not erase that person’s name from the book of life. I will acknowledge this person’s name before My Father and before His heavenly messengers.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Devotional
1. For a few years I served as the senior medical observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
  1. Fancy title. Responsible for helping train medical units prepare to do provide their medical support in regions of conflict
  2. Need to be able to perform their medical mission to care for sick and wounded soldiers
  3. Also needed to defend themselves against an enemy that didn’t care about the Geneva Conventions
  4. Discovered it’s difficult to do either one and extremely difficult to do both at the same time
2. Many units concentrated on one or the other
  1. Got overwhelmed with patients and forgot about their vulnerability against an armed force
  2. Protected against an enemy but forgot they needed to treat patients at the same time
  3. Most often defense is what went by the wayside as they executed their primary mission of patient care
3. Put up what might look like a defense to some
  1. Razor wire around the facility, but not enough
  2. Guards at various points, but not looking at the right places
  3. Checks of vehicles coming in, but not checking well when chaos broke loose with several patients coming in at once
  4. Their work started but wasn’t complete
  5. It didn’t make the grade
4. That’s what happened in Sardis
  1. They started
  2. They were excited at the beginning
  3. They set to work and looked good
  4. It got hard and they stopped before the work was done
  5. They let their defenses down
  6. The enemy broke in and stole their momentum, their enthusiasm, their life
5. Jesus says, stay faithful, walk beside Him, He’ll acknowledge you before the Father and clothe you in spotless garments of white
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

How do you measure up? (Revelation 2:18-29), May 15, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Thyatira gets commendation and condemnation for what they do. How do you measure up in God’s balances?
Scripture
1. Revelation 2:18-29
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the Son of God, the One whose eyes blaze like flames of fire and whose feet gleam like brightly polished bronze:

“I know your deeds, love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your labors greatly increase in quality as you travel along this journey.

“However, I have this against you: you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who is a self-anointed prophetess and who misleads My followers to commit immoral sexual acts and to eat food prepared for idol worship. I have provided her enough time to turn away from her indecency, but she refuses to turn from these immoral acts. Watch; I will throw her back into her sickbed with those who committed adultery with her, and I will make them a bed of great affliction if they do not abandon her indiscretions and turn to follow Me. I will punish her by striking her children dead. Through this all the churches will know I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart, and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts.

“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan, I will not burden you with anything more. Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return.

“And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain,

I will give them authority over the nations.

And they will rule the nations with an iron scepter,

as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces.

As I received this authority from My Father, I will bestow the morning star to the victor.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Devotional
1. Wouldn’t you like to hear the first words Jesus says to the church in Thyatira?
  1. I know your deeds
  2. Love
  3. Faithfulness
  4. Service
  5. Endurance
  6. Labor increases in quality along the journey
2. Sounds like what has happened with improvement in standard of living
  1. Technology
  2. Agriculture
  3. Many things we think of as progress today
3. At what cost
  1. Like Thyatira
    1. Focus on material things
    2. Sexual promiscuity
    3. Disregard for teachings of Christ
    4. Dabble in teachings of Satan
  2. Reward for the faithful; authority over the nations; people will listen to them?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Sex sells, but there are consequences (Revelation 2:12-17), May 14, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Sex sells they say and so we see it everywhere. It was also a problem in Pergamum. Jesus talked about it and told John to write about it.
Scripture
1. Revelation 2:12-17
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Pergamum. “These are the words of the One with the sharp double-edged sword:

“I know your deeds and where you live. It is where Satan, the adversary, has established his throne. You have stayed true to My name, and you did not deny your trust in Me even in the eventful days of My faithful witness, Antipas. He was killed among you in that place where Satan dwells.

“However, I have a few matters against you: some who live among you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel. As a result, some among you are eating food prepared for idol worship and committing immoral sexual acts. You have others who are holding firm to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore, change your ways and turn to Me. If you do not, I will quickly come to where you live and will battle them with the sword of My mouth.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.”

Devotional
1. Where can you go today and not be bombarded by sexual innuendos?
  1. Not very many places
  2. Advertising
  3. Television shows
  4. Books
  5. Movies
  6. Everywhere
  7. Sex sells, goes after our most base desires for intimate relationships
2. Problem in Pergamum as Nicolaitans infiltrated the church
  1. False teachers who believed promiscuity was okay
  2. Temple prostitutes were okay
  3. Sexual rituals used in worship
  4. Violated the Jewish laws and the teachings of the Apostles handed down from Jesus
3. Some remained true to Jesus’ teaching; some fell away and led other astray
  1. Consequences if we do not follow His ways
  2. He’ll return with a sword
  3. When we follow His ways, He promises hidden manna and a new name
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Real riches (Revelation 2:8-11), May 13, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Are you rich or poor? Do you really know what poverty is? Jesus did, He shares some information with us about poverty and real riches.
Scripture
1. Revelation 2:8-11
2. The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Smyrna. “These are the words of the First and the Last, the One who was dead and returned to life:

“I know your deeds and the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty, although you are actually rich. I am aware of the offensive accusations preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be; they are actually the congregation of Satan. In the face of suffering, do not fear. Watch; the devil will throw some of you into prison shortly so that you might be tested, and you will endure great affliction for 10 days. Be faithful throughout your life, until the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s wreath of life.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will escape the second death.”

Devotional
1. In this country, we are obsessed with wealth.
  1. TV show, “Lives of the Rich and Famous”
  2. Drive for promotion, salary increases, better jobs
  3. Get upset about Social Security or changes in interest rates
  4. Looking for quick returns on investments
  5. Lotteries everywhere for quick wins
2. We think we understand poverty in this country, but we don’t
  1. The poverty guidelines for 2017, $24,600 for family of 4
  2. Average income in the United States $61,248
  3. Average income in Qatar $105,091
  4. Average income in Congo $394
  5. Nine countries less than $1,000 per anum income
  6. $35-$100 a month isn’t even enough to survive as evidenced by the malnutrition and high death rate among children in those countries
3. If you are listening to this podcast, you probably have a smartphone or a computer you’re listening on. Luxuries most of the world cannot afford. We are materially very wealthy in this country
  1. Probably had breakfast or chose not to, but it was available if you wanted it
  2. Probably have more than one television in your home
  3. Probably have more than one car in your drive
  4. Probably have several pair of shoes and several outfits to choose from as you dress each morning
  5. Probably don’t worry about drinking water or water to bath in each day
  6. Although you may live in an apartment, you probably don’t share your home with several families in the same apartment
  7. We really don’t know poverty in this country
4. Church at Smyrna understood poverty
  1. As Christians they couldn’t buy food in the market
  2. Lost their jobs
  3. Lost their homes
  4. Lost their families
  5. Lost whatever support systems they had except the church and everyone in the church was under the same pressure
  6. They did not know where their next meal would come from
  7. To win their material fortune back, all they had to do was renounce their faith
5. Jesus said although they were in poverty, they were really rich
  1. Why?
  2. They shed the burden of unforgiven sin
  3. They had Him in their life
  4. They had eternal life
  5. What is that worth? It’s priceless
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”