Revelation 22 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Why Are You Fearful? Receive Peace – Pray For God’s Guidance

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

God is always faithful! His never-changing and comforting promise of continuous peace is revealed only in the lives of those who anchor their faith in Jesus Christ, The Rock.

“You will keep him in perfect peace” is also a reward: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

“The Hebrew word for peace here is Shalom, that does not imply an absence of trouble, but a [spiritual state] of absolute completeness in Christ, which produces wholeness, and an unshakable well-being.”

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4, ESV).

From praying and not relying on risky human thoughts and strategies, instead of facing unknown outcomes and consequences, we receive the blessings of God’s guidance, peace, and contentment.

Always trust God! Whether we are facing life’s toughest challenges, or daily routine obstacles, if we use our faith to pray, ask for Help, believing in God’s Power, He will give us victorious outcomes. Yes and Amen!

Consistent prayer gives us direct access to God’s Plans, Thoughts, and Directions. Consistent prayer also prevents thoughts of uncertainty, anxiety, and worry, which disrupts our gift of Jesus’ Perfect Peace.

“A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.” (Proverbs 16:9, Amplified Bible).

Praying for God’s Guidance, waiting for His answer, and obeying His directives reveals our love, loyalty, and the willingness to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who deserves our commitment of total faith and trust.

True Sanctification requires every believer to have the mindset of Christ, and to live as He lived: A Faithful, Humble, and Obedient Life.

Jesus proclaimed: “And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29, Amplified Bible).

Jesus’ Peace and Eternal Life are rewards for the righteous, who abide in Jesus by following Him on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

Living a life of self-denial means that we control our emotions and desires. We live a quiet, spiritually disciplined life by keeping our focus on Jesus’ Promises in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.

When we perceive ourselves as the Redeemed Sons and Daughters of God, and the Righteous Heirs of Jesus’ Eternal Kingdom, we easily acknowledge and worship our Triumphant King with total surrender and obedience.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

Those who proclaim to be Christians, but exclude Christ by following their own thoughts and strategies, possess hearts that are unconverted and filled with self-love and self-reliance.

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the LORD.'” (Jeremiah 17:5, Amplified Bible).

The warning is strong, but disobedience is rebellion, which separates us from God, for which there is no Heavenly reward.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23). With humility, the Prophet Jeremiah acknowledges God’s Sovereign Authority over humanity.

We acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority, not from fear [fear in the Scriptures means reverence], but because we love Him.

Total surrender and obedience reveals our appreciation and gratitude for our life-saving gift of Jesus redeeming and saving us from the penalty of the second and final death. [Malachi 4].

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).

God’s Divine Guidance and Protection are limited to those who follow Jesus Christ, their Shepherd with unwavering faith and obedience.

The Bible, Our Spiritual Treasure Map, Reveals God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible is Spiritually All-Inclusive. Asking for wisdom and discernment invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the deepest understanding of God’s Love, Grace, and His One and Only Abiding Truth!

Ask for Strength: “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The Holy Spirit also gives us Jesus’ Divine Strength to pursue holiness, keeping us on the Narrow Path that leads to Eternal Life.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Consistent Bible Study reveals our willingness to surrender to Jesus’ Authority as our Sovereign Ruler, and acknowledges our need to be taught by God.

From Genesis to Revelation God reveals His Loving Character, Divine Thoughts and Higher Ways. Yes, God is a Loving Heavenly Father, but we must also remember, God is also the Righteous Judge of humanity.

God warns us, “I do not change!” The Holy Scriptures provide absolute proof of God’s expectations: The righteous must serve Him with faithful obedience.

“If you love Me keep my Commandments.” (John 14:15). We were created with a free will choice. God never coerces us to surrender, pray, or obey His guidance.

But when our hearts are truly converted, it is not a burden to obey our Loving Shepherd. Following Jesus is the best decision, we will ever make!

From studying the Bible, we find that righteous believers always honored and revered God with steadfast faith: There was never any doubt or question in their mind that serving and honoring God required faith, trust, and obedience.

King David: “Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Job: “Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:10-14).

From aligning ourselves with God’s Will and Plans, Jesus promises: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24).

Jesus’ Promise refers to praying and making requests that lead to spiritual growth and transformation. We need Spiritual wisdom, discernment, patience, contentment, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to receive our Crown of Life.

From abiding in Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a consecrated life of Holiness. Surrender, Self-Denial, and Faithful Obedience, which are the characteristics of those who follow Jesus, distinguishing Jesus’ Loyal Sheep from the pretenders.

Yes, in our earthly lives, we can expect to suffer adversity (John 16:33); but the righteous can rejoice! Jesus has promised to give us His Spiritual Gifts of Strength, Joy, Happiness, and Peace, and to lead us from Earth to Heaven.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Hold On To Jesus!

“For, ‘In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.'” (Hebrews 10:37, BSB).

Following Jesus Christ requires walking through life on bended knees, living a life of self-denial, and praying continuously [with steadfast faith and courage] for Divine Guidance.

God, the Father, and God, the Son honors and rewards their faithful and loyal sons and daughters with all of our necessities, and at times, fulfills a few of our desires. Why? There is no need for us to get attached to this Earth’s money and material possessions.

Soon, King Jesus’ Gift of Eternity will come to fruition: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21). Yes and Amen!

We are Temporary Travelers Living on a Temporary Earth, who are preparing for the Greatest Event this world will ever witness:

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He judges and makes war. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11, 16).

Prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Number 6:24- 26). Amen.

Represent God’s Righteous Integrity In Everything You Do

Last week, I was chatting with the maintenance supervisor in our complex, who stated that he finally has a crew of people who care, have high standards, and do quality work; yes, they refuse to compromise by taking shortcuts.

In Genesis Chapter 1, The Story of Creation, every day, God, Jesus Christ, who made all things [John Chapter 1] critiques the results of His spoken words: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear;’ and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:9-10).

Integrity: In the beginning, Christ established a guiding principle for everyday Christian living; He emphasizes that our beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions must completely align with His Perfect Righteousness:

“It is written, ‘Be holy, for I am Holy.'” (1 Peter 1:16). When Jesus looks at our heart and mind, examining our thoughts, beliefs, words, and actions, He should be able to say, “It is good.”

The Apostle Paul taught his new believers in the early churches: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17).

“As followers of Christ, righteous integrity must be practiced in everything we do, even the ordinary, daily tasks. Yes, every action should be done as an act of worship to honor God.”

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8).

God reminds us that His Righteous thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and strategies, which requires us to pray, asking for His plans to be revealed.

God tells us that He does not change. If we rely on His thoughts and ways, learning His Character and how He intervenes, then we will remain spiritually stable, despite the planet Earth’s declined morals, values, and ever-changing beliefs and practices.

Because we were created with free will, we must choose to do what is right. And that is increasingly more difficult, not only due to corrupt societies, but also because we inherited sinful hearts that easily compromise [Jeremiah 17:9].

Yet, God gave us the Holy Scriptures to learn how He defines what is right and wrong. And through daily personal worship, we pray for Divine Guidance, which is given to us by God, the Holy Spirit.

We study, commit to memory, obey, and live a life that reflects God’s Righteous Principles. To love God is to put Him first! The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live holy and guides in our daily spiritual journey on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NIV).

Always doing what is right is the choice that invites the Holy Spirit to convert our heart, guide our decisions, and transform our mind, character, and personality to reflect Christ’s Righteousness [Sanctification].

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

From obeying God’s Commands, our hearts are spiritually connected to Jesus’ Pure and Holy Heart. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, empowering us to let go of old habits, behaviors, unbelieving friends, and former lifestyles.

When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we begin to think differently, perceiving life through spiritual eyes. Not only do our habits and lifestyles reflect Christ Righteousness, but day by day, we prepare ourselves to receive our Triumphant King’s Promises in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.

The pure heart is filled with Righteous Integrity and is a powerful witness of God’s Holy Standards of “Perfect Love, Obedience, and a Mindset of No Compromise.” These values constitute acts of worship, revealing that loving and obeying Christ does make a difference in one’s life.

Overcoming Satan’s Covert Deceptions

Satan is very devious and subtle with his temptations. Because we were created a little lower than the angels, we must remember that Satan is still a fallen angel; and his intellect and wisdom supersedes our intellect.

Divine Command: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Covert Deceptions: When a temptation is presented that fulfills one of our heart’s desires, if we fail to pray, it is impossible for us to discern Satan’s diabolical schemes.

Without prayer, we will fall! Yes, we can repent, receive forgiveness, and apologize to those who were impacted, but Sin always leaves its Mark, and often irreversible consequences.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). We must never cooperate with Satan, by letting our feelings override our sound mind [self-control and discipline].

Always pray and wait for God’s answer before making a decision that will easily compromise your integrity and right standing with God: Pray, Wait, and Obey!

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake…” (Philippians 1:29, ESV).

Always doing what is right eventually requires a cost: To say No to an “Offer of Compromise” may result in the loss of our jobs, friends, family, a marriage, and what appears to be the world’s best solutions and greatest financial rewards.

When a situation arises, demanding that we compromise our integrity, or even if we are unsure and have a conflict within our mind, we immediately breathe a prayer for strength and ask God, “Will a decision of Yes, honor You?”

Do not let your feelings overwhelm or control you! There is no reason to be upset, Offers of Compromise are part of Satan’s continuous Spiritual Warfare [Ephesians 6].

From placing our faith and trust in God and His Saving Power, we remain calm and courageous by maintaining our faith and trust in God, by simply stating, “No, I cannot do that,” and walk away.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV).

We should never say, “I am sorry that I cannot do that.” We leave the door open for Satan to present the same compromise, using a more devious strategy. Never apologize for upholding God’s Righteous Standards.

God’s Action Plan To Honor The Faithful

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV).

If your decision results in loss, remain steadfast in your faith. Always trust God! We can only see life through natural eyes, but God tells us to redirect our focus to the Heavenly Realm, where the concept of impossible has never existed!

“Behold, I am YAHWEH, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, BLB).

God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so, He already knows every trial and temptation, we will face. Remain loyal to God by using your faith to pray, believe, and trust in His Promises and Mighty Power.

We Must Walk Through Life On Bended Knees – Build Your Life On Prayers of Faith

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).

God, the Father has promised to give us our needs through God, His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray, Prayers of Faith and Gratitude, thanking God in advance for giving you the victory and supplying your needs.

Keep your faith and focus on God and His Promises by not looking at the circumstances. Even in the time of waiting, remain steadfast with prayers and praises of gratitude!

Remain courageous: “Wait on the Lord.” Place your confidence in Jesus Christ, Who is Yahweh Yireh, The God Who Provides. He has already designed your personal Plan of Victory!

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind” [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]…(Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible).

Yes, shortcuts, and hidden practices requiring the compromise of one’s integrity is the world’s standard, but our allegiance to God requires that we uphold God’s Holy Principles.

We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the decision to uphold the Righteous Standards of a Righteous God demonstrates our love and loyalty to Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, for which we will be greatly rewarded.

Brothers and Sisters, it’s just a matter of time! Sooner than we think, “He that shall come will come” and one day, we will hear King Jesus say to us, “Well done,” and He will give us our Crown of Life. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Your Promises in the Holy Scriptures, and the open invitation to come to Your Throne of Grace in time of need. Lord, we realize that we are always in need, so we ask You to bless us spiritually, and to increase our faith that we may remain steadfast when facing temptations. We ask for the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize Satan schemes, and the strength to overcome. And Lord, we also ask You to please be our Strength. In love and faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Yahweh Yireh, our Provider, Amen.

Practical Messages For Living In Impractical Times