Latest / The Daily Word / September 8 – Look Beyond What You See
Transcript
- Brandon: Well, welcome once again to the Daily Word Podcast. So thrilled today that you have chosen to jump in and join us for another episode. I just can't say it enough. We're so privileged, so honored that you would take time to join us. And I probably say it every time, if not every time, most of the time, but we really are excited about helping as many people as possible to get God's word in their heart. To be encouraged and challenged and maybe even corrected in areas by God's word, ultimately to experience and discover who Jesus is and become all that God's called Him to be. And so we're thankful that you're here, but also like, subscribe, share, help us get the word out to reach as many people as possible with this podcast. Now, that being said, if it is your first time, welcome to daily podcast where we're simply taking the New Testament reading. In our life journal reading plans, the Bible reading plan that we use as a church. We're taking that and just sharing our thoughts from it each day. We have this habit as a church. We do our Bible reading and journaling. We believe that not only do we read the Bible for inspiration, but we're asking God, speak to us on an everyday basis and help us to little by little get better, become more of who you've called us to be. And we journal that. It's one of our Bible study tools, simply taking time to write down the scripture, the observation, the application, the prayer, what we're getting out of that passage. Hey, what scripture did you get today? What's the observation? What does it say? What does it mean? What's the application? How how do you actually apply that to your life? And what is your prayer or your response? It is a SOAP acronym. And so we're taking time on this podcast just to literally share our SOAP scripture, observation, application, prayer with you. That being said, today is September the 8th, and we are in the book of Revelation. We're in Revelation chapter 13 today. And I want to read to you from verses 8 all the way through. Well, we'll just go verse 9, verses 8 and 9. That sounds like a good place for us to go. But here's what it says it says all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of. Of a life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Now I've been saying this each time I share on the Daily Word podcast, but the book of Revelation can be a very difficult book to understand. there's a lot of just study and nuance and imagery, and just it's just there's so much that goes into it, and to make matters even more complicated. There are so many theologians who have committed their whole life to the study of the scripture and yet they disagree. And so the book of Revelation can be a hard book to really study and really even get something out of on an everyday basis. And yet we believe that all of Scripture is inspired and speaks to us. And so I want to share with you from from these scriptures and kind of really just what stuck out to me and I'll say the God thought I had today. this is the God thought. This is what the Holy Spirit just nudged me with. If you read verses one through seven, it's it's describing the beast from the sea, the beast from the sea. and it is a a a creature that comes forth. I'll read you some of the descriptives. like here's here's verse three, and I saw on His head as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. Now let me just keep reading, verse four. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? Verse five. And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth and blasphemy against God to blasphemy his name, his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. I'll just pause right there. The the reason I wanted to to to read to you some descriptives from from from this is because when I read this passage, I like here here's here's where where my mind goes. If we were to literally see this beast from the sea, this dragon. And the way it's described in the scripture, it'd be like a horror film. We would be absolutely running the other direction, screaming in terror, like, my gosh, what is that? What is happening? Get the kids run the other direction. It's it's a pretty grotesque, horrific description of this dragon, this beast from the sea. And yet, what's kind of perplexing to me. Is that it says that all who dwell on the earth, those who have not given their life to Jesus, those whose names have not been written in the book of life, that all who dwell on the earth will worship him. They will be drawn to him, they will be attracted to him, they will worship him, and they will give a place for for for this creature in their life. And it makes me go, What how how does that happen? Like this picture you're describing, most people would be absolutely horrified of. How is it that the world Will worship the beast. And here here's the here's the God thought that I had today. Can't promise you this is one thousand percent theological, doctrinal, correct interpretation. But here's the God thought I had today. Because oftentimes The spirit driving something is evil and grotesque, like the descriptive we read about. And yet the outside looks pleasant. I mean, th this is kind of just turning a corner, giving it another just a a different thought, but a different example. But like I think about like l like sexual immorality, lust, adultery, pornography, the The the outside image seems very appealing. The outside image can seem, you know, very appetizing to to the flesh. That's why so many people fall into things like adultery, sexual immorality, they get addicted to pornography because on the outside it looks good, and yet we know the spirit. That's driving those things, is evil, is demonic, is grotesque. It absolutely will destroy your life. And and yet we we we take the bait, or or I shouldn't say we, but so many people take the bait. Why? Because the outside looks good and they get deceived into taking the bait, not realizing that while with their eyes it looks good, the spirit behind it is disgusting. Verse verse 10, or I'm sorry, verse 9 rather, it's that if anybody has ears to hear, let him hear. Here, here's what I heard this morning. Here's what I was reminded of. We have to be so careful as to not just look at things with our eyes, but to judge them with our spirit. The Bible says you gotta test things. That sounds good, that seems good, that looks good, that feels good. That seems appetizing and appealing and yet and and and yet there's a spirit driving it. That that that that that if if you could see the spirit, it's gross. It's it's a beast from the sea, it's a dragon that is disgusting and grotesque and evil and horrific even. And he who has ears to hear, let him hear. Here's what I am taking away from today, my application. I have to live by the spirit and judge everything. I gotta by my spirit test everything and and go, okay, hold hold hold on for a second. I this is this seems appealing to my flesh. This seems appealing and and and yet, and yet. It th that this is not godly, this is not okay. And I have to allow the Holy Spirit to sensitize my heart and to to not buy into what the world would say is is worthy to be worshipped, but to see the spirit behind it, to take heed and and to reject it and give myself only to the things of God and the things that are that are good and pleasing and lovely because they are the things of God. That's that's that's my my takeaway today. And even though it may not be the eschalatogical, theological, doctrinal, cur it's like, man, I as I'm reading, again, just a reminder, we're we're trying to we're trying to get God ideas. God, what are you saying to me? What what I see in this is all right, I don't wanna I don't wanna fall for this. I wanna see the spirit behind stuff and and and take heed that that that I might not buy into anything that would be destructive to my life. It's it's it's you know 10 minutes. I'm out of time here on the podcast. but I hope that's an encouragement to you, and I hope today you're able to take that and it and it frames the way you look at and think about the life you're living and that which you're letting in. Hey, I love you so much. I will be praying for you. I'm not gonna pray because we're out of time, but I'll be praying for you. And we'll see you again tomorrow on another episode of the Daily Word podcast. You're awesome, you're amazing. Have an awesome day.