Bourland Family Blog

“But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.  [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].  For [it is] better to suffer [unjustly] for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than to suffer [justly] for doing wrong.” 1 Peter 3:15-17  ->me:  Today we had the 4th instance of our weekly TALK | EAT | FELLOWSHIP lunch at work and we had 2 new attendees.  We had a wonderful time talking and discussing our mission field -> our offices.  I can’t remember if it was Rob, Jason, or Nick who said it but they referenced these verses when we talking about being bold in our witness.  I had read these verses before but they hit me in a new practical way today.  As I prepare to go to Mexico tomorrow with 15 other men, I am humbled by these verses and reminded of the witness we carry with us whether we are walking through an airport or walking door to evangelizing – ‘in my heart set Christ apart as holy’ – and be ready to have a good answer as to why I have the hope that is in me; do it in a way that I have a clear conscience.  I am challenged to be ready, to carry myself in a nonthreatening and respectful way, and to behave as Christ even if it might mean I might suffer unjustly.

“Then I [looked and I] saw a solitary eagle flying in midheaven, and as it flew I heard it crying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the rest of the trumpet blasts which the three angels are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13 ->me: Ok, I am in the thick of it now…I just got done reading about the first 4 trumpets -> 1) Storm of hail and fire mixed with blood that burns up a third of the earth, trees, and grass. 2) Something resembling a giant mountain being hurled into the sea wiping out a third of the sea life and ships as well as turning a third of the sea to blood. 3) Huge star from heaven (looking like a burning torch) dropping and contaminating a third of the rivers and springs with bitterness (wormwood) where many people die that drink it. 4) A third of the sun, moon, and starlight smitten. To me this sounds like a volcano, followed by an asteroid, followed by an contaminated icy comet, and then light obstructed by fallout from these things blowing up and crashing into the earth. Then, we have this single eagle shouting 3 woes announcing the remaining 3 trumpets. My prayer tonight was not to understand the true meanings of this vision (I am not sure we are supposed to know other than that 7 terrible things will happen), but that the Lord would help me understand what He wants me to take away from this passage. Will surprise you that I see God’s grace here? He could just wipe the whole earth out at once and be done with it and onto establishing His new Kingdom – No, He gives, time and time again, warnings to win more people to Himself as well as execute His justice on the wicked. Isn’t true of our own lives? God could have smote me down after the 6th time I chose an idol over Him, but no He relented and gave me 26 more times before I surrendered to Him. I don’t deserve even the life I have, I should be thankful everyday for the next breath He gives and await the triumphant return of His Son.

“So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it upon the earth. Then there followed peals of thunder and loud rumblings and blasts and noises, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:5 ->me:  Wow, more on the power prayer today.  The fire came from the very same altar on which the prayers of the saints were offered.  This could mean that our prayers play a part in the ushering in of the judgements of God.  The real and true master-powers behind the world and secrets of our own destiny are the prayers of the saints and the fire of God!  That means that more potent and more powerful, than all the dark and might powers let loose in the world, more powerful than anything else, is the power of prayer set ablaze by the fire of God cast upon the earth.  I can not take this for granted!  I must kneel before the Lord on high with this in mind; that, in the Body of Christ, I likely play a part with bringing in the end times, the time where God brings punishment upon the earth for its wickedness.  I believe this could be in my lifetime so I must also have that be a reminder of the immediacy that I need to execute my witness in bringing all those I can into the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And another angel came and stood over the altar. He had a golden censer, and he was given very much incense (fragrant spices and gums which exhale perfume when burned), that he might mingle it with the prayers of all the people of God (the saints) upon the golden altar before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense (the perfume) arose in the presence of God, with the prayers of the people of God (the saints), from the hand of the angel.” Revelation 8:3-4 ->me:  A lot happens at this altar – the martyred saints rest at the foot of this altar and the prayers of the saints emanate from it.  Here, the angel mixes/offers up incense (which he is given) in conjunction with the prayers of the saints.  As you all know prayer has been an extra focus this month and my 2 commitments in application regarding prayer have been 1) to be deliberate, serious, reverent, respectful, and fearful in my personal prayer…never giving God the leftovers of my time.  2) Use prayer in our Life Group as a means of encouraging the men around me to connect with their Heavenly Father in ways maybe not experienced before.  So, when I have been reading these passages on the prayers of the saints in heaven I cannot help but use these scriptures to help reinforce the importance and gravity of our prayers.  This altar is golden and it is before the throne of God – these stress the importance of our prayers and their place in heaven.  Just the fact that ‘an altar’ is part of this whole picture leads me to believe that there is something sacrificial about prayer…further enforcing that my time with God should supplant those times that I might not otherwise pray…when it may not be convenient, when I might be embarrassed in my prayer posture, or even praying before I eat when I am surrounded by worldly co-workers.

“For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:15-17 ->me: ‘This reason’ – they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. Look at the benefits of membership!  Access to the throne of God! Ability to serve/worship Him day and night in the Temple, we will be hidden in the shelter of His sacred tent, we will have no need to thirst or be hungry, protected from unbearable circumstances, the Lamb of God will be our Shepherd Who will lead us to living water…we won’t ever cry again. God, I want this time right now!  Please come back Lord!