CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 21, 2022 : TOPIC – THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN (II)
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Sunday, August 21, 2022.
(International Day of Remembrance & Tribute to the victims of Terrorism)
TOPIC: THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN (II)
READ: Revelation 21:7-27
[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
[9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
[10] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
[11] Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
[12] And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
[13] On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
[14] And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
[15] And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
[16] And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
[17] And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
[18] And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
[19] And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
[20] The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
[21] And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
[22] And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
[23] And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
[24] And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
[25] And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
[26] And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
[27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
MEMORISE:
Having the glory of God. Her light a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal (Revelation 21:11).
EXPOSITION
Yesterday, it was emphasised that Christ’s heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (Rev. 21:2). Who are the prepared? Those who painstakingly cooperate with God in Christ, and by His Spirit, to overcome Satan, sin, worldliness, the flesh and hell. These are the ones God promises to be their God, and they will be His sons and daughters (v. 7). Unfortunately, there will be no room for those on the other side, there. They will land in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone-the second death (v. 8). Don’t wait until then to accept Christ’s lordship; it will be too late.
Verses 9-21 describe in human terms the glamour of the New Jerusalem, the city made of pure and wonderful pearls. The truth is, words cannot sufficiently describe it. We shall understand it bye and bye (cf. 1 Jn. 3:2). Will your name be mentioned in that city of gold? (cf. vv. 12,14)
You know why you can’t afford to miss that city? It needs no temple, because of the full presence of God Himself (v. 22; cf. 1 Jn. 3:2). He fully possesses everything. It needs no sun or moon, because it is eternity; no more time or season, and God’s glory illuminates everywhere. No more insecurity-terrorism even as today commemorates International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the victims of Terrorism, fundamentalism, kidnapping, murder, etc., despite that, the gates shall not be shut at all (vv. 25-27).
Will you be part of those to walk in the Light of that beautiful city (v.24)? No uncleanness will be allowed therein (v. 27; cf. v. 8). So, deal with sin, NOW, and be ever prepared for Christ’s coming, purify yourself by God’s Word, blood, Spirit (1 Jn. 3:3; cf. Eph. 5:26), don’t love the world (Jas. 4:4,5; 1 Jn. 2:15-17), but focus on heaven (Col. 3:1ff; Heb. 12:2). Heaven at last!
PRAYER POINTS
1. I have once again studied the beauty of Your heaven, O Lord, help me to fill my heart and life with only things that would prepare me for it.
2. Lord Jesus, I refuse to miss heaven; I refuse to land in hell.
3. Pray that God should mercifully help out those jolly-riding on their way to hell.
HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 957
1. In the land of fadeless day
Lies the “city four-square,”
It shall never pass away,
And there is “no night there,”
God shall “wipe away all tears,”
There’s no death, no pain, nor fears;
And they count not time by years,
For there is no “night there.”
2. All the gates of pearl are made
In that “city four-square,”
All the streets with gold are laid,
And there is “no night there.”
3. And the gates shall never close
To the “city four-square,”
There life’s crystal river flows,
And there is ‘no right there.”
4. There they need no sunshine bright,
In that “city four-square,”
For the lamb is all the light,
And there is “no night there.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Jeremiah 46 – 48
AUTHOR
C. A. C. Worldwide
Remain blessed