Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for December 9

“It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast” (Revelation 1:10 NLT)

From: December 9, 2014

The apostle John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for preaching the gospel. There, on a Sunday, the revelation of Jesus Christ came to him while he was in worship. The early church fathers reported that John was in a cave on Patmos when the Lord spoke to him. Was John singing worship songs? He had no hymnbook nor choir. Was he sitting under preaching? There was no preacher. Was he reading Scripture? He probably had no access to his scrolls and parchments. How was he worshiping? “In the Spirit,” he said. You could beat him, boil him in oil or exile him from his fellow believers on a rock in the Mediterranean Sea, but you couldn’t keep him from worshiping Jesus. It was on that day that Jesus called to John in a voice as loud and penetrating as a trumpet. It was on that day that Jesus gave His revelation to John.

“God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3)

From: December 9, 2013

The book of Revelation contains a multifaceted promise: 1) That the one who reads it to the church will be blessed, 2) that the listener will be blessed, 3) that the one who obeys its instruction will be blessed, and 4) that the time of the end is near. I had the privilege of reading chapter one of this book aloud to a group of believers on the island of Patmos. Together, we experienced a taste of this promise.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave'” (Revelation 1:17-18)

From: December 9, 2012

John had a vision of the Lord Jesus in all His glory on a Sunday morning while exiled on the Isle of Patmos. This happened while John was worshiping on the Lord’s Day. May we encounter Christ in our worship this Sunday morning too!

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near” (Revelation 1:3)

From: December 9, 2011

Proverbs promises wisdom to its readers. This book promises blessing. Jesus unveils the things to come to John. Revelation isn’t just the last book in the Bible. It reveals last things.