Friday | 18 October 2024
The Lord extended His right hand, which contained the seven stars, to John. As He did this, He said to John, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.’ Rev 1:17-19. Through this initiative from His hand, in which resided the presbyteries of the seven lampstand churches, the Son of Man ministered faith to John, enabling him to stand in his name. Rev 1:20. He then declared to John the works that belonged to his obedience; that is, John was to write the things which he had ‘seen’, the things that ‘are’, and the things that were ‘to come’.
The proceeding word that is ministered to a person who is going astray brings conviction, illuminating them to their sin. It calls them to turn to meet the Lord and to obtain repentance by obeying the word of direction that is being given to them. This direction is summed up by the command, ‘This is the way, walk in it’. Isa 30:21.
A person begins to mourn as they turn to the lordship of the Spirit and are enlightened by this word. 2Co 3:16-18. The darkness of their delusion and self-righteousness is dispelled, illuminating to them the knowledge of their transgression. Their response, as exemplified by King David when Nathan the prophet exposed his adultery and murder, is, ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.’ Psa 51:1-3.
Further Study:
PSALM 51
References:
Rev 1:17-20
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.’
Isa 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
2Co 3:16-18
Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Psa 51:1-3
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.