This morning, I listened to Corey Stark's message on eternal rewards that the Lord reveals to his followers in Revelation, for those 'who overcome'.
This overcoming must happen by partnership with the Holy Spirit, because we are weak in our own efforts, and are dependent on His work in us to remain faithful to Christ/God/his Gospel message to us through our entire lives.
As I listened, I remembered my time at International House of Prayer, and am so thankful for the in-depth teaching from the leadership there. They constantly search Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, praying/speaking with the Lord for understanding, attempt to live out what he shows them, and then share it with others, for my growth.
One of my favorite teachings during my 3-month Intro internship was by Corey Stark on the book of Revelation. Many times, people try to figure out exact countries and timelines and dates, based on current events. That may have it's place. But what I like about Corey's teaching is that he spent many years just listening to audio readings of the book of Revelation, and asked the Lord to give him understanding. Then he would take parts of Revelation and study parallel or similar-referenced passages throughout the entire Bible to put together a fuller picture of understanding of the message within Revelation. So it is a Bible interpreting Bible explanation of Revelation, partnered with the Holy Spirit unveiling connections and giving understanding of what He inspired through these human writers, versus looking at one book and making predictions of the content.
So in this morning's sermon, Corey talked about eternal rewards. He made a clear distinction that salvation, being born again, inheriting eternal life, is completely a gift of God, bought by the work of Christ Jesus on the cross, offered to all mankind, but received by some, rejected by others; their choice, partnered with God's mercy. (God, open our eyes to see your gift of salvation, and let us not pass it by. My mom said, when I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my life, to forgive my sins, the wrong things I did against God and others, and asked to be a part of His family; receiving freely the gift He purchased for me; that was the most important decision of my life. May 7, just celebrated my spiritual birthday!)
So now that I've received that gift, Corey says Jesus talks about rewards, in addition to salvation, that I can receive based on my obedience to the Lord, with the right heart attitude, often done in secret, for the glory of the Father, and yet I benefit, too.
The teaching awakened a real challenge for me to walk in this light, so that I may receive all that God has available for me. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus tells (not empty promises, but real rewards available) the churches that there are rewards for those who overcome. A few are: to get to eat from the Tree of Life (yes, please); to be given a new name by the Lord (names indicate our character and ability/function: Abraham, father of nations, etc.; some major followers of the Lord in the Bible received new names at significant points in their life; Saul to Paul, Cephas to Peter, Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel; and those were not 'frivilous name changes because they sounded better' but real meaning-functioning-partnering with God changes of name); etc.
Corey encouraged us to research (by looking up cross-references or other places in the Bible that refer to similar concepts or say the same things), to give us fuller understanding of what God offers to us 'who overcome'.
The other thing this does is remind me that I might not overcome, or that it's possible to not overcome. So it gives me A LOT of motivation to realize I really, really need the grace of the Lord to be successful in the Christian walk, following Christ, his example of relating to the Heavenly Father while he walked on earth, as revealed in Scripture (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). So it takes complacency out of the picture and makes me really press in to the Lord and cry out for understanding and help to live His way and not my way (if/where they differ). And I know his way is the best way. He wants me to overcome. I know because He revealed it to me through Scripture. Only Jesus lived a perfect life on earth, and the Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who receive the gift of salvation through faith in Christ's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins; that we might walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, and thus overcome.
Ok, so back to the fat bird.
While I listened to the teaching, there was a bird who perched on the grill outside my window. And this bird was really fat. It looked like a robin, but it's chest was excessively pooched out, almost looking like it's already tiny legs couldn't hold it too well.
I couldn't get out of my mind how fat this bird was. Why is it this way? Is there some double-meaning that the Lord wants me to know?
At the end of the teaching, I googled, Why are birds fat? And found a blog that shared
Bird fat is GOOD, as a strong source of energy for life, day and night, and when birds get ready to migrate, they need to have enough energy/fat stored.
But bird fat is BAD when it's too much and it keeps them from flying when predators come to attack.
So, God, please help me have the right amount of fat stored on my body, and oil in my spirit. (Fat and oil are similar, as protection, and stored-reserved energy, able to be burned when necessary, so I drew the parallel.) Please allow me to have energy to live the way you want me to, and I'm ready to migrate when you say Go. (Jeremiah 8:7 says, "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD." God, you've provided everything we need to walk in partnership with you. Please deliver us from fear and keep us from temptation. Let us follow you with all our hearts. Please give me discernment to know how to live and follow you, in my current assignment.)
But please help me not store up too much, if that's possible in a spiritual sense. I don't want to get caught by predators or be hindered in my ability to fly. Excess fat that's not used, but stored . . . Holy Spirit is our constant source of oil, virgins who bought the excess oil was a good thing versus those who did not. God, let me have what I need to have when I need it.
Other parallels? What is your message to me today?
Thank you, Lord, for your leadership, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to yield to your direction, through fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in my life today. Give me success in you for the plans and purposes you have ordained for me. And help me to access all the rewards you have available, through Jesus Christ. Thank you that you are my exceedingly great Reward. In Jesus' Name, amen!
Here's the link to the blog by Katie Fuller; very helpful article on bird fat:
Blog on Bird Fat = Bird's Friend, until it's too much.
This overcoming must happen by partnership with the Holy Spirit, because we are weak in our own efforts, and are dependent on His work in us to remain faithful to Christ/God/his Gospel message to us through our entire lives.
As I listened, I remembered my time at International House of Prayer, and am so thankful for the in-depth teaching from the leadership there. They constantly search Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, praying/speaking with the Lord for understanding, attempt to live out what he shows them, and then share it with others, for my growth.
One of my favorite teachings during my 3-month Intro internship was by Corey Stark on the book of Revelation. Many times, people try to figure out exact countries and timelines and dates, based on current events. That may have it's place. But what I like about Corey's teaching is that he spent many years just listening to audio readings of the book of Revelation, and asked the Lord to give him understanding. Then he would take parts of Revelation and study parallel or similar-referenced passages throughout the entire Bible to put together a fuller picture of understanding of the message within Revelation. So it is a Bible interpreting Bible explanation of Revelation, partnered with the Holy Spirit unveiling connections and giving understanding of what He inspired through these human writers, versus looking at one book and making predictions of the content.
So in this morning's sermon, Corey talked about eternal rewards. He made a clear distinction that salvation, being born again, inheriting eternal life, is completely a gift of God, bought by the work of Christ Jesus on the cross, offered to all mankind, but received by some, rejected by others; their choice, partnered with God's mercy. (God, open our eyes to see your gift of salvation, and let us not pass it by. My mom said, when I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my life, to forgive my sins, the wrong things I did against God and others, and asked to be a part of His family; receiving freely the gift He purchased for me; that was the most important decision of my life. May 7, just celebrated my spiritual birthday!)
So now that I've received that gift, Corey says Jesus talks about rewards, in addition to salvation, that I can receive based on my obedience to the Lord, with the right heart attitude, often done in secret, for the glory of the Father, and yet I benefit, too.
The teaching awakened a real challenge for me to walk in this light, so that I may receive all that God has available for me. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus tells (not empty promises, but real rewards available) the churches that there are rewards for those who overcome. A few are: to get to eat from the Tree of Life (yes, please); to be given a new name by the Lord (names indicate our character and ability/function: Abraham, father of nations, etc.; some major followers of the Lord in the Bible received new names at significant points in their life; Saul to Paul, Cephas to Peter, Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel; and those were not 'frivilous name changes because they sounded better' but real meaning-functioning-partnering with God changes of name); etc.
Corey encouraged us to research (by looking up cross-references or other places in the Bible that refer to similar concepts or say the same things), to give us fuller understanding of what God offers to us 'who overcome'.
The other thing this does is remind me that I might not overcome, or that it's possible to not overcome. So it gives me A LOT of motivation to realize I really, really need the grace of the Lord to be successful in the Christian walk, following Christ, his example of relating to the Heavenly Father while he walked on earth, as revealed in Scripture (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). So it takes complacency out of the picture and makes me really press in to the Lord and cry out for understanding and help to live His way and not my way (if/where they differ). And I know his way is the best way. He wants me to overcome. I know because He revealed it to me through Scripture. Only Jesus lived a perfect life on earth, and the Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who receive the gift of salvation through faith in Christ's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins; that we might walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, and thus overcome.
Ok, so back to the fat bird.
While I listened to the teaching, there was a bird who perched on the grill outside my window. And this bird was really fat. It looked like a robin, but it's chest was excessively pooched out, almost looking like it's already tiny legs couldn't hold it too well.
I couldn't get out of my mind how fat this bird was. Why is it this way? Is there some double-meaning that the Lord wants me to know?
At the end of the teaching, I googled, Why are birds fat? And found a blog that shared
Bird fat is GOOD, as a strong source of energy for life, day and night, and when birds get ready to migrate, they need to have enough energy/fat stored.
But bird fat is BAD when it's too much and it keeps them from flying when predators come to attack.
So, God, please help me have the right amount of fat stored on my body, and oil in my spirit. (Fat and oil are similar, as protection, and stored-reserved energy, able to be burned when necessary, so I drew the parallel.) Please allow me to have energy to live the way you want me to, and I'm ready to migrate when you say Go. (Jeremiah 8:7 says, "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD." God, you've provided everything we need to walk in partnership with you. Please deliver us from fear and keep us from temptation. Let us follow you with all our hearts. Please give me discernment to know how to live and follow you, in my current assignment.)
But please help me not store up too much, if that's possible in a spiritual sense. I don't want to get caught by predators or be hindered in my ability to fly. Excess fat that's not used, but stored . . . Holy Spirit is our constant source of oil, virgins who bought the excess oil was a good thing versus those who did not. God, let me have what I need to have when I need it.
Other parallels? What is your message to me today?
Thank you, Lord, for your leadership, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to yield to your direction, through fellowship with the Holy Spirit, in my life today. Give me success in you for the plans and purposes you have ordained for me. And help me to access all the rewards you have available, through Jesus Christ. Thank you that you are my exceedingly great Reward. In Jesus' Name, amen!
Here's the link to the blog by Katie Fuller; very helpful article on bird fat:
Blog on Bird Fat = Bird's Friend, until it's too much.
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