picture this | Revelations From The Road

Taste and See

January 21, 2016 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given January 21, 2016

The devil disguises his offerings to us to make them look tantalizing and tempting. In fact, he changes himself to fool us, “… for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). So, I want you to picture this scene:

You’re going through the line at a cafeteria. All the food choices are laid out there for you to choose from and they all look so tasty! Then you glance up to see the cooks who have prepared and are serving the food; they are all demons! It sort of scares you to think of what they might be offering you but the dishes look and smell so good. (Sometimes we know the devil is trying to deceive us.) So, you go ahead and take some of this and some of that. You get to your table and sit down and begin eating. After the first bite, you notice the food feels different in your mouth, but it looks and tastes so good that you continue eating but you notice that uncomfortable feeling you had in line continues inside of you. So, you’re almost finished as you look down at your plate to get the last bite and you are horrified at what you see. The last bite of that great looking and smelling food is now manure on your plate! A look of fear comes over your face as you look over at the cafeteria line and see the “servers” who are laughing and pointing at you with joy. Then, in your stomach and in your Spirit, you feel the flush of nausea as the consequences of your choices begin to materialize.

The moral of this story is this; Don’t be tricked into eating at this place again! Don’t partake of anything the devil offers you no matter how good it looks. However there is a solution; forgiveness. Confess you mistake of believing the devil, repent and ask God to forgive you. He will and will take care of that problem in your Spirit. So what’s the alternative? “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8). “Thou prepar
est a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:” (Psalm 23:5). That’s where you want to go eat!

The Final Countdown

October 10, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given October 9, 2015

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only….Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:36, 44)

I saw a commercial recently where the 80s rock band Europe was singing the song, “The Final Countdown”. It made me think of our day and time. Many Bible scholars are saying we are in the last days and the signs of the times seem to back up that assessment. So, I envisioned this scene in my mind:

God has set the final countdown, the clock is ticking, and Satan and his cohorts see it and Satan says, “Oh no!” “It’s about to be over and we’re doomed!” “Go out and drag as many as you can down with us before our time runs out.” “Look for those who are weak, lukewarm, and afraid.” “Remind them of their past and convince them there’s no hope.” “Don’t bother with those sinners though, they’re already with us.” “But now be careful, don’t waste your time with those who have on this Armour of God stuff, they’re strong and are aware of their power and we can’t mess with them.” “Ok, guys, go out and get ‘em!”

The final countdown. It may be ticking away for you, we don’t really know. But we do know how to be ready when it hits zero. If you’re a sinner or one of those weak, lukewarm people, you can decide to put on the Armour today. The devil is out to get you and take you down to Hell with him. Don’t let him! Stand up, come forward and get your armour.

Picture This – Let’s Go!

September 27, 2015 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 22, 2015

I want you to imagine this scene in your mind.

A person is in a big room. They are burdened down with lots of “stuff”, they are worried, and they are depressed with their situation. Now, look over to the other side of the room. You see Jesus standing there with a host of angels who have “resources”. Jesus and His entourage are watching the person. An angel says, “Let’s go help them.” Jesus replies, “Wait, they’re thinking of how they can handle their own problems by themselves.”

Then Jesus speaks in a small, still whisper toward the person, “Draw near to Me and I’ll draw near to you.” (James 4:8). The person hears it and looks up then turns their head to see Jesus and His angels. It’s decision time; do they continue trying to do things on their own or do they allow Jesus to take over?

Jesus tells His group, “Watch and let’s see what they decide.” The person looks at Jesus, and with a smile of relief coming across their face, they turn and take a step toward Jesus. Jesus says, “That’s it guys, let’s go!” And Jesus, His angels and all their resources move toward the person, surround them and begin meeting their needs.

Could you be that person this morning? Listen to that small, still voice urging you to “draw near”. Stop trying to handle it yourself. Jesus has the answers and He is very willing to help you. He loves you! Take that first step today.

How God Sees People

July 27, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 26, 2014

I was walking through my house one morning a few years ago thinking about how Osama Bin Laden couldn’t be found our military couldn’t do anything with him. I prayed, “God you know exactly where he is, why don’t YOU just take him out?” Immediately, in my spirit, I heard, “I love him and want him to repent and be saved.” This floored me but made me realize how God sees people differently than I do. This started me putting together thoughts about how we see people versus how God sees them. Think about it; how do you see old people, young people, poor/rich people, gay people, handicapped people? How do you see people of another race, city people, country people, people in jail, lost people, church people, politicians, movie stars, athletes? Do you really see these people or are you just looking on the outside? “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).

In the story of David and Goliath, how did David’s brother see him when he came to bring their lunch on the battlefield? “But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” (1 Samuel 17:28). How did King Saul see him? “You can’t go out against this Philistine and fight him. You’re only a boy.” (v. 33). How did Goliath see him? “he looked down on David with disgust. He said, “Do you think I am a dog that you come at me with a stick?“ (v. 42, 43). How did God see him? “David ran quickly to meet him. He took a stone from his bag, put it into his sling, and slung it. The stone hit the Philistine and went deep into his forehead, and Goliath fell facedown on the ground.” (v. 48-49). God sees people differently than we do.

Think about it…when you see people this week like the ones mentioned in the first paragraph, look a little closer with your Spirit and think how God might see them. And, ask yourself, “How does God see me?”

The Chair

July 21, 2014 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 19, 2014

Picture this: You have committed a terrible crime, punishable by death, and are in a prison awaiting your certain fate, the electric chair. As you sit on the bed in your bare cell, you think of the crime you committed and how sorry you are for your actions. You wish you could go back and change your life and have a chance to do things over. Certainly you would do things differently and take a different direction in your life. You remember some things you were taught in Sunday school and whisper, “God, I’m sorry”. But now you sit here in this cell realizing you have no other chances, fearing what death will bring.

Suddenly, the single light bulb hanging from the ceiling in your cell and the lights in the hallway go dim for a few seconds. You recognize this event as the result of the switch being thrown on the electric chair. Someone has just been executed! You feel sorry for the person and their family but know that you are next.

You hear footsteps coming down the hall and think, “Here we go, my time is up”. The warden puts his key in your cell lock, opens the door and says, “Come on, let’s go get your things, you’re being released, you’re free to go.” “What?” “Free to go?” “What happened?” The warden says, “Someone took your place, paid for your crime, and we just executed him.” “So now you’re free to go.” In wonderment, you think, “Can this be true?”

In shock, you are led outside the gates of the prison to a waiting limousine. You’re taken to a mansion and told this is where you live now. The driver says, “The owner of this place heard you whisper that you were sorry and sent His son to take your place today; to die for you.” That prayer in my cell! “You now have another chance to make something good of your life.” ” But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

The limo is waiting – don’t choose the chair!