Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Ecclesiastes 4-6; Revelation 11
Devotional Thought:
God has always declared the glorious message of salvation through people who have experienced the transforming power of the gospel. At the rapture, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, seen during the church age, will be gone, and His work will be seen as He comes upon certain people to do the works of God. Such is the case here in Revelation 11. The Spirit of God comes upon two witnesses who are given power to do tremendous miracles to substantiate the validity of their message. The Bible says in verse 10 that these witnesses “tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” The convicting power of the truth torments the selfish, wicked heart of man. Hebrews 4:12 likens the power of the truth to be that of a two edged sword that penetrates to the very core of man. The word of God exposes man’s thoughts and intents as it does its convicting work. Man becomes very uncomfortable while dealing with conviction. God allows Satan to come against these two witnesses and he slays them. After lying there dead in the street for three and a half days, the Spirit of life from God enters into them and they stand to their feet. God certainly has power over life and death. Satan tried rebelling against his created role in order to usurp God’s position and he was cast out of heaven. He must have rejoiced in seeing Christ dead on the cross. I am sure Satan, all his demons, and the unsaved religious leaders of the day were rejoicing as they witness the dead body of Christ being placed in the tomb. However, I can only imagine the panic that entered their hearts as they saw the empty tomb and Jesus walking around, alive, talking to people. Satan, the demons, and rebellious people of the tribulation likewise, rejoiced to see these two servants of God dead in the street. The Bible says they were so happy that they gave gifts to each other. However, as God gives life back to these two witnesses, panic and fear grip the hearts of all who were partying. God slowly raptures these two faithful servants into heaven as the naysayers watch in fear. Oh the confidence a passage like this gives to me. God never loses control and He is working all things according to the counsel of His own will. (Eph. 1:11) God sometimes allows Satan to accomplish the things he is trying to do, only to see that God uses the situation to bring glory to the name of Christ. I must trust my Lord, and although it seems at times that sin is running rampant and carnality is winning I can keep trusting my Lord. He is calling upon me to be a shining light of His grace and of His character. God will always vindicate His children and accomplish His plan of promoting His preeminence and power. It looked like Satan had won, but God always has the last word… VICTORY!
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to trust you even when it looks like wickedness is prevailing. Help me to remember you have the last word.
• Lord, thank you for demonstrating your power over death. I know that I will live forever with you because of this power. Thank you for showing your control over all the earth. Thank you for the power of the resurrection.
• Lord, please help me to be useful to you during difficult times. I want people to see Jesus in me. I want you to use me to show people your grace and mercy during difficult times.
• Lord, thank you for the convicting power of the word of God and the Spirit of God. Thank you for your grace you show even through conviction.