NT90 Concludes!

90 days in the Word of God!

Congratulations to the many who completed the journey; no doubt your time spent was well worth it.  We’d like to ask that if you completed NT90 (regardless of the pace in which you did so) to please leave a comment to this post, so as to serve as a record of the many who made the trek through the New Testament.  If you desire, you may also share a summary of your time spent; how you grew, were challenged, moved closer to God, etc.

While NT90 as a program is finished, our time in God’s Word is on going.  Continue to read and discover and digest and grow.

Blessings,

-Your Pastors

NT90 Day #90 – Revelation 21-22

Our passage for today was shared aloud during service, as we listened together. What did you hear? What spoke to you? Feel free to share your thoughts.

NT90 Day #89 – Revelation 19-20

While I don’t fully understand all that John is reporting having seen here in this section of Revelation, I do feel a connection to chapter 19 and the praise chorus of Hallelujahs offered to God.  The reality is this; God is ever deserving of our praise as He does so very much for us.  I know, because I live, that life at times has the weight enough to crush us.  Yet, God still reigns.  God still loves us.  God still cares and is still in total control.  And while we sometimes feel lost and alone and left to fend for ourselves; I believe we can see from the pictures painted for us in Revelation that nothing could be further from the truth… Praise our God, all you his servants, All you who fear him, small and great!

Some time today I encourage you to take time to praise God–really praise Him from your core.  God is good and his love endures forever.

-Pastor Ryan

NT90 Day #88 – Revelation 16-18

As I read through the passage of our reading for today I couldn’t help but think about the fleetingness of our sinfulness.  It’s amazing how each of us struggle in various ways with various sins and yet in the end it all falls to waist by the power of God.  Yet, we cling to our sins, are held captive by our sins at times feeling as though we’re powerless to break free.  Yet in the end everything we live for is gone!  While each of us struggle to break free of the bondage that is sin; remember and hold on to the truth that there will come a day when we will forever be free of the sin that entangles our lives.  God will see to it that sin is done away with and his children are free forever.  What a day that will be!

What spoke to you out of the reading for today?

-Pastor Ryan

NT90 Day #87 – Revelation 14-15

Even so, Lord, quickly come to Thy final harvest-home;

 Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin;

There, forever purified, In Thy presence to abide:

Come, with all Thine angels, come – Raise the glorious harvest-home.

This final stanza of the hymn “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” along with its preceding stanza, has been sung just about every Thanksgiving season that I can remember. But how many of us have realized that we have been singing boisterously and thankfully about the passage for today from Revelation 14 & 15?

There is a sense of awe (in one sense) as we see the full impact of God’s wrath upon sin unleashed. But also a sense of awe (in a glorious sense) at the majesty and glory of our Lord. Oh the praise and worship that are pictured here – I can’t wait to join in! Each one of these chapters begins with glorious, wonderful, powerful corporate worship that is the goal through each of the hard times. May we focus on the prize, may we be first-fruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb!

- Pastor Tom

NT90 – Day #86 – Revelation 11-13

I am enjoying the “story”. I put story in quotes so as not to give the impression that I don’t think these events  are real. I think they will be very real – isn’t it mind-boggling to think that we are here reading a “play-by-play account of a showdown that hasn’t even happened yet”! (quoting a man by the name of  Todd Temple). That is so incredible.

I am blessed as I read as just when events are so horrific, the Lord reveals Himself and worship breaks out. These interludes of praise are so important. Do you think there is something there in the midst of our current struggles we can apply?

I am challenged. There are several instances of times when life and witness for the people of God is hard. But God continually shares with us the ultimate hope and the blessing of staying true to the Living God. I was so impacted by Rev. 13:10c – “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” (NIV) – or as rendered in the Message, “Meanwhile, God’s holy people passionately and faithfully stand their ground.” what a challenge…and what an opportunity.

No matter what happens, let us side with the Victor.

What are you learning as you read today?

- Pastor Tom

NT90 Day #85 Revelation 8-10

Does your brain hurt yet?  There is so much that is going on here.  As I made my way through these 3 chapters it was something very subtle that captured my attention.  In chapter 10, verse 4 it says, “When the Seven Thunders spoke, I started to write it all down, but a voice out of Heaven stopped me, saying, “Seal with silence the Seven Thunders; don’t write a word.”

“Keep silent” says the voice from heaven.  While John was asked to write this vision down he also witnessed things that were better left unsaid.  In the midst of all the descriptive detail of this vision there are still many intentional mystery’s.   To me it is just another reminder that Revelation is to remind us of Christ’s imminent return and give us a context for His arrival, but much of what will transpire will remain a mystery until the ordained time when God chooses to complete it all. 

Be warned, encouraged, awe struck, and humbled by all that God has said to us through this powerful book!  Some things are intended to be a mystery while one thing definitly is not…God is in control and He knows what He is doing!

- Pastor Bart

NT90 Day #84 Revelation 6-7

Is this stuff crazy or what!?!  The imagery here is bone chilling.  It is hard to imagine being in John’s shoes as he experienced this wonderfully odd vision of what’s to come.  So what are we to take from all of this?  Not to discount all the depth that is contained within the pages of Revelation but a friend of mine shared this quote with me.  I think it does a solid job of summing up Revelation and the profound mystery that we find within it. 

“Everything will be ok in the end.  If it’s not ok, it’s not the end.” 

Not to shabby, huh?  There will be a lot of turmoil, no doubt, but ultimately God wins!  It is our responsibility to be a mature and ready bride for when he does return.  This is an epic story that we will all take part in, one way or another.  And if you haven’t yet caught the underlying them of Revelation is is unquestionably about worship.  All creation will cry out to the One who made them,

“Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!”

May our lives begin to sing that song even now.  He is worthy!

-Pastor Bart

NT90 Day #83 – Revelation 4-5

Our passage for today was shared aloud during service, as we listened together. What did you hear? What spoke to you? Feel free to share your thoughts.

NT90 Day #82 – Revelation 1-3

Did you notice how Revelation begins?  A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah.  God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. Talk about getting lost in translation.  Somewhere, somehow we’ve missed the message of this book and that’s frightening as it says, How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words.

My prayer for us as we read through the book of Revelation; which for some will be for the very first time, is that we don’t read into the Scripture what isn’t there.  That we don’t dump onto the words of this book thoughts, ideas and speculations we’ve picked up over the years regading it.  Rather, we allow the words of the book to saturate our hearts with the message of Christ for his bride.

God, may you open us up to the truth of your Revelation and allow us to hear and to know and to understand what it is you intend for us. Amen!

-Pastor Ryan