Revelation 2: How Is Your First Love?
Verse of the Day: (V4) “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

1. First (V1-7)
V1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”

God through John revealed His judgment on the seven churches or golden candlesticks and - the first church to be judged was - the church at Ephesus. They had left their first love which was the most important proof of their faith in God. They had done everything right - they preached God’s Word and cast out false preachers - yet God rebuked them for leaving their first love. God warned them that He shall remove the golden candlestick or His glory from them, unless they would repent of their hypocrisy, and return to their first love. Indeed, the church can be serving God, but if they are doing everything mechanically and routinely, and without sincerity and truth - they have left their first love!

2. Fear (V8-17)
V10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

God commended the second church - the church at Smyrna - because they were faithful amid intense persecution and even death. God encouraged them to fear not suffering, persecution or even death, because He shall be with them in life and in death, and one day He shall reward them with crowns of life in His home in glorious heaven. God then judged the third church - the church at Pergamos. Though they had faith in God yet they had subscribed to the doctrine of Balaam - the sins of idolatry - and also the doctrine of the Nicolaitans - the sins of the flesh. In other words, they were living double lives - on one hand, they seemed to be Christians as they attended and worshipped God in church, yet on the other hand, they seemed to be unbelievers as they lived in sins and wickedness.  
 
3. Faith (V18-29)
V19 “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.”

God judged the fourth church – the church at Thyatira – and found them guilty. Though they had works, love, service, faith and patience – yet they had not complete faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - they had actually allowed Jezebel, a female false prophetess, to teach and lead them to immorality and idolatry. God warned them to repent of their sins, otherwise they were reaped the severe consequences of His wrath and judgement on them.

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always keep my first love with You now and forever.

Revelation 1: Do You Know Alpha & Omega?
Verse of the Day: (V8) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

1. Alpha (V1-10)
V9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The Almighty God revealed to Apostle John - at the island of Patmos which he was there as a prisoner because of his faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Word - of the manifold blessings as well as fiery judgments that shall come to mankind. It was a great encouragement to John as he realised that God was in control of everything – the past, the present and the future – because He is Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end, and He exists from everlasting to everlasting. However, John also got a fearful glimpse of the impending judgment and punishment for those who reject and curse God - fiery hell.

2. Asia (V11-17)
V11 “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

The Alpha and Omega through Apostle John sent a book of His judgment and assessment on the 7 churches in Asia and only 2 out of the 7 churches, namely - Smyrna and Philadelphia - were commended for their faithfulness and labour of love, while the rest of them - Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea - were judged and found unfaithful and disobedient. Let us pray and ponder as we search our hearts and the spirituality of our church that we be commended - like Smyrna and Philadelphia – to be found obedient to God and His Word, and are faithful to death or till His glorious return.  

3. Amen (V18-20)
V18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Amen means – Let it be done. We can never outsmart and outwit God, because He is our Creator who holds the keys to glorious heaven and fiery hell. Though men time and again think that we are smarter and wiser than God, yet it shall come a time of reckoning and judgment that we are nothing but creatures in the hand of our Creator. The vital question is - Are we in the hand of a loving God because we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord? Or - Are we in the hand of an angry God because we reject and curse Jesus, and He shall punish us for our unbelief and rebellion? The choice is yours!

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I know You, Alpha & Omega, my Saviour & Lord.

Jude 1: Twice Dead
Verse of the Day: (V12) “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”

1. Denying (V1-11)
V3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

God’s servant, Jude, urged Christians to earnestly contend for the faith in Jesus Christ amid false preachers, who had crept in as grievous wolves in sheep clothing, denying the Lord Jesus, and destroying the faith of many, and turning God’s grace to man’s lusts.

V4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. Dead (V12-19)
V12 “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”

These false preachers are eloquent and impressive in man’s eyes, but they are ungodly and deceitful in God’s eyes as they lead many to eternal condemnation. They are like fruits that look delicious but are actually poisonous. Indeed, Christians are borne twice – physical and spiritual birth - but they die only once – physical death - as they shall live with God forever. On the other hand, the unbelievers are born only once – physical birth - but they die twice – physical and spiritual death as they shall be condemned in fiery hell.

V15 “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

3. Difference (V20-25)
V21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Let us keep ourselves in God’s love by demonstrating our compassion for others so that people can see we are truly different from this unloving world, and that Jesus lives in us!

V22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am borne twice but die only once and live forever.

3 John 1: Are You A Doer Of God’s Word?
Verse of the Day: (V5) “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;”

1. Doer (V1-8)
V1 “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”

Apostle John expressed his love in the truth for Gaius, and wished him materially, physically and spiritually well, because he was truly a doer of God’s holy Word. Gaius would faithfully and diligently do and fulfil God’s Word and commands as he demonstrated his great love and hospitality to God’s preachers, people and even strangers.

V2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

2. Diotrephes (V9-11)
V9 “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.”

Do not be surprised and shocked when your church leaders behaved badly as Diotrephes was an example of an ungodly leader who was proud and unfriendly, and he was only a hearer, but not a doer of God’s Word. Indeed, we may wonder why a righteous God allow such wicked leaders in the church, but let us be assured that He shall eventually judge the church and her people if it is truly His church and His people. Let us not be weary in well doing as the churches and their people shall eventually reap what we sow.

V10 “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”

3. Demetrius (V12-14)
V12 “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.”

Indeed, there are always godly and ungodly churches and leaders. Demetrius was a godly leader as he demonstrated his love and hospitality for God’s preachers, people and even strangers. Let us also learn from Apostle John that the best communication is close and personal, and the best way to show our love and care for others is to know their names.

V14 “But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be a doer, and not just a hearer of Your holy Word.

2 John 1: Are You Loving In Truth?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;”

1. Truth (V1-8)
V7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

God is Love and the Truth, and both are inseparable - in other words - you cannot love without the truth, and you cannot have the truth without love. This is why the elder or Apostle John expressed his love in the truth for the elect lady and her children who demonstrated their love and hospitality to all visiting preachers that God shall reward them for their good works. He warned them never to entertain antichrists or false preachers who would come to them lest they fall into their heresies that Jesus did not come as a man. This is indeed the cornerstone of Christianity – Jesus, God’s begotten Son, came as a man to live, and die, and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world!

V8 “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

2. Transgress (V9-11)
V9 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”

When we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord, and trust and obey His doctrine or the Bible, we shall have both God and Christ, and the Holy Spirit shall dwell in us. If any preacher does not preach Christ as God’s Son, and the whole counsel of the Bible, he transgresses and sins against God and do not entertain him.

V10 “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”

3. Trust (V12-13)
V12 “Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”

John conveyed the greetings of the children of the elect lady’s sister, and trusted to see her face to face than writing to her so that they could enjoy the warm fellowship. Indeed, when we all get to heaven, what a day it shall be - when we shall see Jesus face to face!

V13 “The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to love all in truth, and to look forward to see You soon.

1 John 5: Are You Praying In God’s Will?
Verse of the Day: (V14) “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”

1. Water (V1-8)
V6 “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are the Trinity who witnessed Jesus coming to earth by both water and blood. Jesus is indeed Water because water represents God’s Word, the Bible. Jesus is also Blood because He left the splendour of heaven to live, minister and eventually gave His life on earth and shed His blood for the sins of the world. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven.  

V7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

2. Witness (V9-12)
V9 “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”

In the court of the law, the judges base their verdicts on evidences and eye-witnesses, and sometimes they do err because of corruption or even human error. However, in Christianity, God is our Judge and Witness and He shall never err because He is God, the Truth. Therefore no one, not even the Devil, can dispute God when He testifies that He gave His Son, Jesus, to live, minister and eventually die for the sins of the whole world.

V10 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”

3. Will (V13-21)
V15 “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

God shall answer all our prayers only when they are according to His perfect will. This is why our hearts must be in tune with God’s heart so that all our prayers are in fulfilment of His will. Let us therefore flee from idols, or anyone, or anything that shall hinder us from worshipping God, and doing His will, so that all our prayers shall be answered.

V21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from idols, and pray according to Your will.

1 John 4: Do You Love God?
Verse of the Day: (V19) “We love him, because he first loved us.”

1. False (V1-2)
V1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

To really know the true currencies from the false, we must study the characteristics of the true currency as well as handle it daily so that when the false ones come, we immediately can discern and detect that they are counterfeits. This especially applies to the discernment of God’s preachers. To discern the false preachers, we must truly know and daily apply God’s Word in our lives, so that when false ones come, we immediately know that they are false. One of the most common false teachings is when they deny Jesus as the very man of man, and the very God of God, though He truly is God’s Son.

V2 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

2. Flesh (V3-6)
V3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

Besides denying that Jesus is not come in the flesh, many of the false preachers either add to or subtract from God’s Word and thus leading many souls to eternal condemnation. Let us pray that God’s true preachers and Christians shall share the gospel of Jesus Christ that He died on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world and whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven.

V6 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

3. Fear (V7-21)
V8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

We love God because He is love and He first loves us, and we shall also love all including our enemies who hurt and harm us. Indeed, God’s perfect love cast out all fears, and let us stay in His perfect love, and we shall fear nothing not even death, and no one not even the Devil, and shall always enjoy this life on earth as well as life everlasting!

V18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I love You because You first love me as You are love.

1 John 3: Do You Have Compassion?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1. Compassion (V1-18)
V16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrated to us that real love demands real action as He loved the world so much that He laid down His life on the cross for the sins of the whole world - for yours and mine. Indeed, we know we are God’s children by our love for others. Just like an apple tree produces apples, and so the God of love produces His children of love!

V18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

2. Confidence (V19-22)
V21 “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”

We shall have confidence in God and know that He answers our prayers when we truly love others and do what is right before Him. This is why many times we lack confidence in God and our prayers are not answered because we fail to demonstrate our compassion and love for others. When people offend and hurt us, we get angry and bitter, and fail to forgive and love them as Jesus would have done. Indeed, how can we say we are the children of the God of love when we cannot even love all including our enemies? Before Jesus died, He demonstrated His love for His enemies when He prayed to God, His Father, to forgive those who persecuted and eventually crucified Him. Let us therefore be like Jesus, our Saviour and Lord, to truly love all including those who hurt and harm us!

V22 “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

3. Commandment (V23-24)
V23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

Loving others is not just God’s commandment, but it is the evidence that we are His children. When we truly love others we shall know that we dwell in God and He dwells in us. Indeed, once we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour the Spirit of love indwells in us!

V24 “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I have compassion because Your Spirit indwells in me.

1 John 2: Will You Abide In God?
Verse of the Day: (V6) “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

1. Advocate (V1-5)
V1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

What a privilege and honour to know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is our Advocate and Comforter in time of our troubles and trials, and even when we sin, He shall plead with God, His Father, to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Indeed, we may not be sinless, but let us sin less, as we trust and obey God and His Word.

V5 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

2. Abide (V6-19)
V14 “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

Let us abide in God, and let God and His Spirit abide in us by studying and applying His Word in our lives. Many professing Christians fail God because they do not truly believe in Him with their hearts and have never abide in His Word and Spirit. Let us therefore, whether we are young or old, truly abide in God and His Word, and do His will, so that He shall bless, protect and keep us from the Devil and the lusts of our eyes and flesh.

V17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

3. Anointing (V20-29)
V20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

The Holy Spirit shall anoint and teach us His holy Word as we abide in God. Indeed, only the Spirit who indwells in us can truly illuminate and enlighten us so that we can fully understand His Word and apply them in our lives. Though we have anointed pastors and preachers to teach and minister to us, yet without the unction from the Spirit, we can never have the spiritual insights, understanding and application of His Word in our lives.

V27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to abide in You as You are my Advocate and Anointing.

1 John 1: Is Your Joy Full?
Verse of the Day: (V4) “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

1. Full (V1-6)
V3 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

Our joy can only be full when we walk in close fellowship with God, who is the Light, who brightens our lives in this world of darkness that is filled with sins and wickedness. Today, there are many in this world who have no real joy in them, because they do not believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and are living day by day without purpose and meaning in life. Though they seem to enjoy life as they eat, study, work and sleep, yet deep down in their lives they know that their lives are empty and hollow. Indeed, the only way to have a meaningful and purposeful life is to know Christ, and to make Him known to all.

V5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

2. Fellowship (V7-8)
V7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Indeed, our joy can only be full, and we can have great fellowship with God and His people, when we confess and repent our sins and wrongdoings, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. However, many in this world refuse to admit and acknowledge that they have sinned or done anything wrong though we have inherited our sinful and depraved nature since the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve.

V8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

3. Faithful (V9-10)
V9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Let us confess and repent our sins, and let Jesus come into our lives, so that our joy may be full, because only He can forgive our sins, and only He can give us the real joy in this life and for all eternity. Let us therefore come boldly to Jesus daily confessing our sins, because He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all wrongdoings.  

V10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to confess and repent my sins so that my joy is full.