Revelation 2:1-11

Wednesday July 27th 2017

key verse: 10c

BE FAITHFUL TO DEATH

Jesus makes John write to the churches. Today let's study the letters written for the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. 

1. You have forsaken the first love (1-5)

Jesus who holds the seven stars in his hand says that he knows the works of the Ephesians. They are strong in revealing the falsity of the false teachers. They are courageous in countering the evil. But they have a point to reproach and a point to appreciate. Incrementally that they fight the ennemy, gradually their heart seems to cool down. Jesus says that they have forsaken the first love. They have forsaken the feeling of the first time when they have encountered Jesus who had spread out his blood to purify all their sins. How is lost love to be restored ? There are not 36 solutions. Jesus says: repent, knowing from whence you are fallen lest the gold lampstand be taken. A positive point is repeated: they were hard warriors against the falsity of the doctrine of the loosening of the morals. 

2. Be faithful to death (6-11)

Jesus, the alpha and the omega, the redeemer and vanquisher of death, says to John to write to the church of Smyrna. The church of Smyrna is a chuch of tribulations. They are seemingly rich but they are poor in spirit. God blesses their humble heart. There are false believers who say that they are Jews but who aren't, they are a synagogue. We must be careful about the false believers who brandish God's word but their god is their stomach. They always attack the people who want to live in obedience to God's word. But Jesus says that he will triumph if they persevere in the tribulations. Jesus says "be faithful to death, and I will gave you the crown of life". It's an unchangeable promise for the believers. They will not be hurt by the second death (11).

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember and come back to your first love. Help me to be faithful to death. Make me repent from my sin everyday and diligently work for you.

Bottom line: be faithful to death

Monday July 24th 2017

REVELATION

INTRODUCTION

When John, the presumed author of the Gospel of John, was in captivity on the island of Patmos, he was taken up to Heaven and saw a divine vision. So he wrote: "the revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave to him... and that God made known through his angel". He wrote about A.D. 96 when the emperor Domitian began a wave of very violent persecution to eradicate Christianity, making the worship of the emperor an obligation. Some say that the prophecies only concern the time of the apostle (the preterists), some say that they concern all history, as the persecution of Rome for example (the reformists), or that they concern eschatology, the sign of the last days (the Evangelicals), and some say that it's only poetry about God's power over evil. But the author glimpses, through the worship of the emperor, the inevitable consequence of history: the culmination of the trends which already exist: that mankind will be separated between obedience to Christ and to the antichrist. So, beyond the setting of his time, the prophet depictes the great crisis of the world which looks like the crisis of the last days. As the church was devastated by the Roman persecution, the church of the last days will suffer a great opposition from the dominant secular power. Coming from this great fight, Christ will appear in his glory and he will establish God's kingdom in power. It seems that the author says that the advent is imminent, but we can't plan the date of his coming, it's unknown to mankind and kept in secret by God under his authority (Ac 1:6)

Revelation 1:1-8

key verse: 8

I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA

John writes about the hapiness of the obedient people and about the great character of the Messiah. 

1. Happy is he that reads (1-3)

In his ecstasy on the island of exile, John receives a divine vision. An angel sent by God reveals to him the mystery of heaven. Paul was caught up into the third heaven whereas for John God sends an angel to reveal to him the secret of his providence about what will soon follow. According to the revelation, apostasy is imminent. But God considers a thousand years like a day. That will happen very soon. John speaks as a witness who doesn't miss any of these things that he saw, but who announces all. He speaks about hapiness in the reading of the holy papers. This hapiness is for those who read it and also who keep his instructions with obedience. Their house is solid, build on rock (Mt 7:24).

2. I am the alpha and the omega (4-8)

The author salutes the readers from the Sent. He wishes mercy. Who sends him ? First it's Jesus. He is the one who is, who was and who is to come. He is God, Shepherd and Judge. Then, the spirits before the throne send him. They are the elders. They also can refer to the Holy Spirit. Finally, Jesus with another attribute, as a faithful witness, sends him. Jesus is the sovereign of history, who uses the kings of the world and who overcomes evil and Satan by his resurrection. If we deeply and personally remain in this character of the Lord, we naturally receive his unchanging mercy. Therefore, we must receive his testimony that is his word, the power of his resurrection, his sovereignty in our life and in history. Then, John speaks about the object of praise of the believers: on one hand the redemptive love towards the sinners, and on the other hand the divine call for his kingdom. Who is this redeemer and this sovereign ? He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. He is all for all. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to read and obey your world. Help me to receive your mercy and your great call for me a miserable sinner. You are my all and you are all for the world. 

Bottom line: the alpha and the omega is the Lord Jesus

Psalm 40: 1-18 (DB of 21/7/2017)

HERE I COME WITH THE ROLLER*

Verse Key 40: 6b
This psalm tells us what God wants of us, as his people of a party and the prayer of the psalmist for his salvation, in the midst of his calamity of enemies and his own sins, on the other hand.
1. What God Wants From Us Really (1-11)
The psalmist puts his hope and confidence in God. God removes him from the pit and puts in him a new joyful song. On seeing him, many follow his example. In the middle of the mud, how easy it is to complain of life. But the confidence in the continual God has a great consequence: God never ceases to reveal to him his marvels without number. What pleases God? Neither holocaust nor offering, he wills. Only he wants the man to come to him with the scrolls, that is, the Bible. Then we understand his will. It is written for him, says the psalmist. It is like John who considers himself the disciple whom Jesus loves. God speaks to us by His holy word and the psalmist announces the good news to fulfill His will in the assembly.
2. Make haste to deliver me (12-18)
The author is assailed by the feeling of condemnation. When he thinks of his many sins, he is almost crushed. But he makes sure that God is so good that he will not refuse his compassion. He will restore his soul because he is his God and his deliverer. He prays that he can not wait to come and rescue him. Not only from the enemy's hand, but also from the feeling of condemnation. In his prayer, he does not wish for the defeat of the enemy, but wants God to bring joy to the hearts of his people. May God be exalted and those who seek him may be glorified in him are two principal subjects of prayer.
Prayer: Lord, make me offer my life as a living sacrifice according to your will. To do this, let me study the Bible, I ignorant. Deliver me from all interference in and out.
One word: A scroll written for me.
* google version

ALL MAN IS A BREATH*

Psalm 39: 1-14
Verse Key 39: 6b
This psalm is the continuation of Psalm 38. He speaks of the mutism that the author has chosen in his life. If anger is a choice (Ps 37), silence is also a choice.
1. Lest I sin by my tongue (1-6)
David chose to remain silent. When the enemy slanders, he is tempted to utter defensive and offensive words. But he struggles in the interior by renouncing his desire to speak. It is like a devouring fire that burns the heart. Then comes the speech in his language. It is not language that comes from men, but it is a language given by God. He who expects God thus struggles by holding on to the tongue until God gives his own word. Then comes knowledge. The ecclesiast saw that all that is on earth and under heaven is vanity. God gives knowledge about the life of man. It is only a width of one hand. Every standing man is only a breath (6b).
2. Do not be deaf to my crying (7-14)
The author contemplates his life still in depth. The more he thinks about it, the more it recognizes that it is fragile (5b). Man is like a shadow. He agitates and picks up, but he disappears without taking anything from it. All this resembles a judgment of God towards man. He chastises the man and gnaws all his possession and carries him away like the wind. Man is truly an ephemeral existence. In the overwhelmed feeling, nevertheless, the psalmist raises his head to contemplate God. He finds that the word remains eternally. He finds that God does not abandon his followers in the gulf of death. Hence his persevering prayer. He does not know when God recalls him, but his desire is that before he goes, he is delivered from the judgment of God and assured of eternal salvation. Then the face lights up, for he sees further from death.
Prayer: Lord, make me keep my tongue cleanly, lest you sin against you. In life so ephemeral, I expect you and pray: save me.
One Word: Listen to My Prayer
* google version

Psalm 38:1-23 (DB of 19/7/2017)

Wednesday July 19th 2017

key verse: 4

THERE IS NO SOUNDNESS IN MY FLESH*

The psalmist moans in pain because of his sin and because of his enemies' hatred. He cries out to God. We can pray for all our anguishes and God listens to us.

1. There is no soundness in my flesh (1-9)

David has committed a sin in public, what causes an immeasurable pain in his heart. His bones are waxed because of his groan. The feeling of God's punishment invades his heart. As David  confesses before the prophet Nathan, it's a sin before God, which is related only with God and not with humans. The wounded relationship with God is painful. Many people are numbed in their conscience, but David's sensitivity was touched so all his body is sick and his mind is morbid.

2. All my will is before you (10-23)

In spite of the deep suffering because of sin, David has a burning desire to be restored by God. Many enemies mock him because of his weakness and his actions. It's a question of a close relationship with God, but the people who meddle in the affairs of others lift up their heel against David and criticize his faults. He did only good for them. But they pursue him with traps and slander. Therefore David only waits for God. He waits for God to heal his disease of sin and the weakness of his body, and save him from the traps of the enemis and their destructive words.

Prayer: Lord, my bones are waxed because of my sins. I fully desire to be restored. Come without delay to my aid. Yes, I believe that you saved me by Jesus' blood

Bottom line: God saves us from ourselves and from our enemies.
* translator: Emmanuelle Arcier

What? "selection to fail?" This term is used for French university admission system. So many candidates compared to the places in universities. 87000 bechelors are now on the waiting list. In the world not so many places to satisfy all candidates. Hence, many anxiety in the youth psychology now and it's not only the French students' problem. We recall John 5 on the Bethesda's infirm. But God's Kingdom has many places. Jesus said, "there is many places in the Father's house." And he showed the way to go there. "I'm the way, the truth and the life."
Our CCU church must prepare for our futur bachelor during this year. They are the God's selected, but in the world, we must do our best to be selected, because if we are selected by Him, it's also to live for the glory of God in our society.

There is the very strict relation between words and thougts. The author of psalm says that he - this one who said why fear Lord - meditate the falseness. We must take attention to our thoughts above all in the night. Spread your love said the author. We must not demand the spirit - he is already There - we must increase him.

Psalm 37: 1-40 (DB of 18/7/2017)

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD*

Key Verse 37: 5
The psalmist teaches us how to behave in time full of wickedness. We are at the bifurcation of feeling and knowledge. Salvation comes from God. Hence our commitment of our way to the Lord.
1. Do not fret (1-13)
The reaction to the bad people who often succeed must not irritate. To be angry means the use of our justice. The recommendation of the experienced psalmist is that the righteous keeps silent, he sets his fate in the LORD, and strives to do good. When the righteous is persecuted by the wicked, he must follow this advice. Then the LORD will do justice by himself. In his time he will bring forth his righteousness. The humble will inherit the land. Irritation is a corollary of impatience. He must therefore be expected in his trials.
2. The blessing of God for the righteous and his descendants (14-40)
The final fate is opposed between the righteous and the wicked. The former will enjoy eternal inheritance and abundance to lend and give, while the latter will suffer the entrenchments and failure to borrow. This will apply not only the protagonists, but their descendants. Who is the righteous? He is the one who keeps the law in the heart (31). The wicked prosperous and powerful and resembles the green tree. He spies and seeks to destroy the righteous. But the psalmist proposes to observe (25:37). The righteous never misses bread. He is a peacemaker and God gives him the vision of the future. The conclusion of the psalmist is that salvation does not come from man, but from God. We have only to take refuge in him.
Prayer: Lord, you are righteous, therefore in the face of evil, make me not to be angry, but to put the fate in you. Make me refuge in you, and strive to practice good. Thank you that salvation does not come from my possession, but comes from you alone.
One word: God is the only righteous judge.
* version google

Psalm 36: 1-13 (DB of 17/7/2017)

Monday July 17th 2017

Psalm 36:1-13

key verse: 6

YOUR FAITHFULNESS REACHES TO THE SKIES*

There is a high contrast between the wicked and the good. God punishes the first and blesses the second. God has a double aspect: love and judgment.

1. Their mouth and their bed  (1-5)

The words of the wicked seem to have deeply hurt David's heart (2). They justify to their evil acts by their mouth. Their bad words come from their meditations. They meditate evil in bed, that means during the night. Their heart is filled with fraud and deception.

2. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies (6-13)

The scale of God's faithfulness and loyalty is immeasurable. David says that it reaches to the skies. His justice reaches to the mountains, and his judgment reaches to the deep abysses. God has this double aspect. Mankind must enjoy his faithfulness but also must fear his formidable judgment according to his invariable justice. Nevertheless, David knows that God saves mankind, it's his will. Therefore, the first aspect is a thousand of times more great than the second. Anyone who commits sin and comes repenting and takes refuge in him receives mercy as a torrent of delights. The psalmist knows that so he says, "Treat us with your faithfulness...". But he can't see that his faithfulness reaches to the wicked. They will be overturned and they will not recover (13). 

Prayer: Lord, your faithfulness is high like the skies. The abundance of your house is unimaginable. Make me rejoice with it and thank you for it, without forgetting to fear your judgment.

Bottom line: God faithful and formidable 

* traducteur: Emmanuelle Arcier

Psalm 30:1-13 (DB of 10/7/2017)

Monday July 10th 2017

key verse: 12

YOU BRACE ME WITH JOY*

David praises God who takes away sadness and braces him with joy. Our God is a joyful God. 

1. O Lord, you raise me up (1-6)

In discouragement David prays, or rather he cries out to God. So God comes to him and heals him, because he is sick. The deep abyss drowns him, but God hears him and saves him. God makes him come back from Sheol. David blesses his people in the midst of the psalm (5), whereas he usually does it at the end of this other psalms. He urges them to psalmody for the Eternal God. The reason ? Because God's anger takes a moment but his favour is eternal. We tend to prolong the time of suffering and shorten the time of happiness. But God wants us to fully enjoy his kindness, everyday and to constantly sing to him. Our God changes our situation, so that shortly after our deep suffering he raises us up. 

2. O Lord, you change my life (7-13)

David decides to keep his faith without ever faltering. But the ferocious animals surround him again, so God hides his face. The enemies are at his door, shortly he will be their victim. But he doesn't despair, he begs God again. He argues that his loss will be God's loss. If he is fallen, so God is deprived of a well-qualified worshipper. Therefore, God has a good reason to listen to his prayer and deliver him from the enemies. Our God is mighty to change our situation even now. The enemies who enjoy can fall in a total defeat. The sadness of this people also can be changed into an indescribable joy in just a moment or two. God braces his people with an immutable joy. Now David urges himself with the same exhortation that he previously addressed to the people: my soul psalmodies to the Eternal God.

Prayer: Lord, help me rejoice in you because your anger is short-lived and after, you pour your favor and joy over me.

Bottom line: O God, you brace me with joy 

* translator: Emmanuelle Arcier

Psalm 29: 1-11 (DB of 8/7/2017)

THE VOICE OF GOD EVERYWHERE AND IN THE BOOK*Key Verse 29: 11
David contemplates and marvels at the power of God manifested everywhere in nature. It is the voice of God. God also sends His word as His powerful voice. It's Jesus.
1. The Powerful Voice of God (1-9)
If we lend our ears, we can hear the voice of God everywhere. It is so powerful that it is like a wind that flows over the waters. It is so powerful that it scolds the storm. When it rings, the forest shakes and the Lebanon Cedar falls and even jumps like a doe. The Hermon Mountain (Sirion) moves or jumps into the air. When Jesus speaks, the fig tree dries up. This voice is nothing but the voice of the Creator. We must have fear and trembling when it comes to strike our eardrums. The volcano, the natural fire of the forest, and the meticulous movement of the procreative animals are all the echoes of the voice of God, so that everything is written: Glory! Men want to change the divine current, but they will not carry on the voice of God who reveals his will. The voice of God is awaited.
2. God gives power (10-11)
Again David concluded his psalm with the divine blessing to his people. This powerful voice of God is resounding on earth and the people are fortified. But when David says, "Jehovah will give power to his people," surely it is the power of the word of God. The word incarnate Jesus gives by His word to the people an immeasurable power. Not only power, but it gives deep peace in the people of God. What a wonderful grace. May many souls be won over by the power of the Gospel and find the peace of the kingdom of God that is incomparable to that of the world.
Prayer: Lord, help me to contemplate your nature and hear your voice. Then, help me to clothe myself with the power of the word of God to win victory over the enemy and save souls.
One word: Jesus, the divine voice of God.
*google version

Psalm 28:1-9 (DB of 7/7/2017)

Friday July 7th 2017

key verse: 8

THE ETERNAL GOD IS A STRENGTH

David cries out to God and God listens to him. The unjust will be punished by God because of their wickedness, but the righteous continually are strengthened.

1. I call to you (1-7)

This part reveales what is David's attitude of prayer. God remains silent sometimes. David fears that God departs from him (1b). David is afraid of being treated by God like the wicked. The wicked are hypocritical because in spite of their appearance they are full of malice in their heart. David's imprecation isn't caused by revenge but by his desire to see God's justice reign on their earth full of malice. But David knows that their ignominy is because they don't recognize God's sovereign hand which works in the world. This hand reverses all the wickedness of the world. Whom shall I fear ? says David. He has many enemies. But David's prayers finally receive God's answer. The Eternal God is his strength. His groan turns into a song of joy.

2. Save your people (8-9)

Several times, David finishes his prayer with a divine blessing. He doesn't experience only for himself that the Eternal God is his strength, but he fully wishes that God be the strength of his people (8). He prays that God saves his people, blesses them like his heritage, and be their shepherd and support forever (9).

Prayer: Lord, help me to not doubt in spite of your silence and continually trust you. I pray that you bless your people as their shepherd and that you always support them.

A word: pray to the Eternal God because he will listen to you 

One of articles on french speaking magazine says: On June 24th, in Bois-le-Duc in the Netherlands, will take place the "rose Saturday", annual parade LGBT. This year, it was in the cathedral of Brabant, and presided by Bishop De Korte, that the ecumenical celebration was to take place that opens this march. Under the pressure of priests and faithful, the bishop reversed his decision. However, far from making an honorable amendment and acknowledging his mistake, Bishop De Korte thinks that this revolt of his flock came from a misunderstanding. A communication problem. (end quotation) The real problem of our times seems to be a communication problem and they attribute all to this. But what is a real problem? We must say all comes from not studying the Bible. We must go back to the Bible. And God open our eyes.  

Psalm 26:1-12 (DB of 5/7/2017)

Wednesday July 5th 2017

key verse: 2

THE ETERNAL GOD SEARCHES THE HEARTS

The Eternal God searches mankind's heart and judges according to truth. When we are reassured about ourselves we can expect God's blessing. David did it.

1. The Eternal God judges and searches (1-3)

The Eternal God is he who judges and searches. David knows that, but he wants to be proven so that God deeply judges and searches him. Who would hold before God's glance ? But David demands that God judges and searches him. He trusts God and he walks righteously and in integrity (11). Therefore he doesn't fear God's judgment. Our Lord Jesus is our justification. He covers all our failures and make us live for his justice.

2. I don't sit down with the wicked (4-12)

David moves away from the wicked people who act as they see fit. David doesn't walk with them (2 Co 6:14).Bad friends corrupt morals (1 Co 15:33). Therefore we must move away from wicked people and aspire to holiness. David likes what is holy like the altar and the temple. He looks around the temple and enjoys remaining there. What a joy to remain in God's house and among the assembly. When a Christian is personally honest, it helps to aspire to meld into God's people, because the communion increases the joy even more (12).

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in integrity, I recognize that it's by Jesus' blood that it's possible. Make me avoid wicked friends and worship you among the assembly. 

A word:  I walk rigtheously and I am no longer ashamed

For thé Subject of pma (médically assistanted procréation) one french politician of extreme right wing said that it would be the most happy to have two Mother, but without à child's agreement we must addion his difficulties. I think his point of view is correct. Spiritually speaking her words can be interpreted as they will be in a supplementary difficulty to be converted as they will have the embryonic unbelief. From where more heavy task for God's servants.

Psalm 24:1-10 (DB of 3/7/2017)

Monday July 3rd 2017

key verse: 10

THE ETERNAL GOD, KING OF GLORY

The Eternal God has this name "king of glory" among others. Even if David is the king of the nation, he trusts in the king of glory.

1. All belong to him (1-2)

The Eternal God our God is the creator. He is the sovereign of the universe. All the creatures and all creation belong to him. He drew a line between land and see and he filled the sea with things. The world and the land stand on sea, but they firmly hold. God puts down the foundation. All mankind also has a foundation: it's him. The man who holds on to his world is not undermined. Glory to God.

2. All run to him (3-6)

David says: "who will go up to God's mountain ?". In Sion there is God's justice, truth, and blessing flows over the world. Those who benefit from it are those who have a pure heart and innocent hands and who don't indulge in vanity and deception. They are those who search for truth like the three wise men from east came from far away. 

3. Raise your door lintels (7-10)

David speaks to Jerusalem's door to open up so that the Eternal God enters. David entered the city with a triumphant army. The people cheered the triumphant king. But David knows that it's God who gave him all these victories. Indeed, God wants to enter among the people and in the heart of each person to be the owner of their life. If we fully welcome the Eternal God our king, he gives his mercy and demonstrates his power in favor of us. We must be founded on him, go up to him and vastly open our heart. So God gives blessing and also a resounding victory in each fight. He is the king of glory.

Prayer: Lord, make me be founded on your word and go up to see you face-to-face, and open my heart for you at any time. 

A word: welcome the king of glory, the victory will be for you 

Today on Sunday we learned Jésus the bread of life. Eating him is not the ceremonial act but remembering his death and resurrection. Thank God for the coming of Peter and Nicolas in our worship service. May the french people eat the bread of life Jesus and have new life in him.