‘And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.’ (Revelation 5:6) We have already drawn attention to the meaning of the horns symbolising strength and power, in this case seven horns signifying perfect power. The eyes denote Jesus’ all seeing capacity; note again the number seven, his knowledge is perfect and complete...
Apr 21, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 79
‘He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.’ (Jn. 16:14). The main focus throughout the Book of Revelation inspired by the sevenfold Spirit is on the Lord Jesus himself. The Spirit’s primary work is to get God’s people to fix their hearts and minds upon Christ. Hence, we have these magnificent, awe-inspiring introductions to the churches, ‘These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lam...
Apr 20, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 78
The late British Anglican theologian John Webster once wrote: ‘The gospel’s God is eloquent: He does not remain locked in silence, but speaks.’ This is one of the primary roles of the sevenfold Spirit-to speak eloquently to his world. The apostle John is in exile on the isle of Patmos far removed from the presence of the ascended Christ who is bodily in heaven. However, he is somehow caught up to heaven by the Holy Spirit. Four times John says he was carried away ‘in the Spirit’. To speak of bei...
Apr 19, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 77
From what we have had the privilege of seeing so far with John as we have glimpsed the throne room which lies at the heart of the universe, we might be excused for thinking that God is rather distant and remote. After all, God is presented as the One who occupies the throne and so making his dwelling place in heaven, not on earth (chapter 4). Jesus the Lamb is certainly victorious through his death on the cross, but he too now shares his Father’s throne in glory (chapter 5). Therefore, if God is...
Apr 16, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 75
The moment the Lamb takes the scroll to enact God’s will there is spontaneous and unsolicited worship, 5:8ff: ‘…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and yo...
Apr 15, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 74
The Lion who is the Lamb God has to deal with the fundamental cause of the rot in his world, which is sin. As the Puritan, Richard Sibbes wrote, ‘Sin defiles our souls and takes away the sweet communion with God. It puts a sting in all our troubles, grieves the Spirit of God and does more harm that everything else in the world – nothing hurts us but sin, because nothing but sin separates us from God.’ This vision, and especially that of the ‘bloodied Lamb’, should bring home to us the seriousnes...
Apr 14, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Revelation 5 ‘Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth.’ (5:6) There are two things to note in particular with regards the Lamb. First, it is a sacrificial lamb (‘looking as if it had been slain’), like the ones used during the Exodus to ensure that the Angel of Death passed over God’s pe...
Apr 13, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Revelation 5 It is the voice of one of the elders (the higher order of angels) which provides the reassuring answer to the angelic cry for one to put into effect the will of God, ‘And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”’ (5:5). John being familiar with his Old Testament would have immediately known who the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, was. Gene...
Apr 12, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Bishop Festo Kivengere of Uganda was known as the ‘Billy Graham of Africa’. He once said: ‘Please don’t be shocked if you hear that there is a revolution in Burundi, Uganda or Zaire. This is Africa! It’s nothing when young countries get revolution. They are going to get some more. But that doesn’t mean that the Man of Galilee has vacated the throne! Christianity has never been scared of a revolution. Satan can roar like a lion, but he has no authority to shake the throne on which Jesus is sittin...
Apr 09, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 70
‘And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.’ (4:6b-7) Often ancient thrones were constructed so they looked as if they rested on creatures. For example, King Solomon had lions’ heads protruding from his throne (1 Kings 10:20), and we see something...
Apr 08, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 69
The awe-inspiring transcendence of God is depicted by the following images, ‘From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.’ (4:5-6) First, there is the lightning and the thunder . In the days before the nuclear bomb what would have been the most powerful, destructive force the ancients could have re...
Apr 07, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 68
The Bible never defines holiness as such, especially when applied to God; rather, it is a term which in many respects signifies the otherness of God, the Godness of God if you will - how he is so utterly and wholly unlike us in his divine attributes. It speaks of the uniqueness of his being. It is a term often associated with the radiance of God (Shekinah) which far outshines anything we could imagine. It is sometimes linked to ‘glory’, the weight of God (kabod), which outweighs the entire cosmo...
Apr 06, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 67
‘After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.’ (4:1-3) God is never described as such, because, a...
Apr 05, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 66
After the unimaginable slaughter of the First World War, W. B. Yeats wrote a poem entitled, ‘The Second Coming’ which began: ‘Turning and turning in the widening gyre, The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.’ That appears to be an accurate description of our world. When there is no centre to hold things together, things simply fall apart. They fall apart in a country if there is no effective government. They fall apart in a family if there are no parents. ...
Apr 02, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 65
The Book of Revelation is one of the most richly pastorally orientated books in the Bible. Rather than a letter to confound Christians, it is a prophecy designed to comfort them. Immediately at the outset we encounter the one true God who exists within his own being in the eternally free, joyful fellowship of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Apr 01, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 64
We have spent this month reflecting on the importance Scripture places on investing in the next generation, on discipling our children and youth. We have followed salvation history from Genesis 1 through the Old Testament, the gospels and the rest of the New Testament. And we conclude our reflective journey today in Psalm 8. Psalm 8? Is this where it ends? Surely, we should conclude in John’s Revelation of the new heavens and the new earth! Come with me to Psalm 8, a psalm of lofty praise amid d...
Mar 30, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 63
It might seem like an unlikely contestant in the fight for favourite Bible passages, but Titus 2 is one of my favourite chapters in the Bible. There are two things I love about it: the image of intergenerational discipleship and the challenge of ‘Who am I?’. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from Anglican Youthworks in Australia. Today’s devotion was written by Kate Haggar. You can find more of Youth...
Mar 29, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 62
While welcoming a new family into our church, the conversation turned to why they were seeking a move from their previous congregation. I knew this other church to be led by a great team who were faithful in their preaching and strove towards developing a Christ-centred culture in their community. Why would this family want to leave? The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from Anglican Youthworks in Austr...
Mar 28, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this passage we see Paul address the responsibilities, in the light of the gospel, of children and fathers. He has previously urged the Ephesian readers to “live as children of light” (5:8) and “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18). The implications of these exhortations are explored in relational terms as Paul teaches wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters. While not a comprehensive picture, the overall impression is given that there is no relationship that we are involved...
Mar 25, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 60
My youngest son often declares that he loves me much more than I love him. Sometimes we joke about it, comparing the extravagant extent of our love. Other times I let it go with a smile at his immature grasp of how great a parent’s love for their child is. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from Anglican Youthworks in Australia. Today’s devotion was written by Annemarie Rivers. You can find more of Yo...
Mar 24, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 59
It is startling when something you expect to be restricted to an exclusive few, is made available to the many. Imagine a celebrity wedding banquet where children are suddenly invited, or an expensive concert that becomes free for everyone. The shock can be overwhelming. “Can I really go? Is this really for me?”. This was the reaction many people had when meeting Jesus. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagu...
Mar 23, 2021•6 min•Season 1Ep. 58
From the moment of birth, we are on a journey towards independence and self-reliance. We celebrate milestones of independence like learning to walk, learning to talk, and learning to drive. Now we can move ourselves, communicate by ourselves, travel by ourselves. We measure our worth—our greatness—by our capacity to do things without help, whether solving a problem, earning a living, or moving something heavy. And while the journey towards independence and self-reliance is an important part of a...
Mar 22, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 57
At this point in Mark, the central turning point has already been reached when Jesus announced his forthcoming death and the way of discipleship (Mark 8:31-38). The way of Christian discipleship is the way of the cross: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” – Mark 8:34-35 The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the m...
Mar 21, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 56
This is a special passage because we know so little about Jesus’ life before the age of 30. It reminds us of the miracle of the incarnation, that he was truly a human being as well as truly God. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from Anglican Youthworks in Australia. Today’s devotion was written by Ruth Lukabyo. You can find more of Youthworks excellent resources here ....
Mar 18, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Most children I know love the game of hide-and-eek. My own children love finding places to hide in our apartment, or love returning to spots that they have worked out to stump each other. The joy in the game is not just the hiding, nor the seeking, but in the anticipation of being found. Children want to play the game because they want to be discovered. They delight in finding a good spot to sit and wait, but they delight even more in being sought after by whichever sibling, parent, or friend th...
Mar 17, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Have you ever pondered what legacy you might leave behind you? Most of us are likely too rushed to indulge such grandiose questions. However, in Psalm 127 it is a question that Solomon, son of King David, was pondering. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from Anglican Youthworks in Australia. Today’s devotion was written by Janet Simpson. You can find more of Youthworks excellent resources here ....
Mar 16, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Psalm 78 is the second longest Psalm in the Psalter and opens with a prophetic call to listen as the speaker opens their mouth in a parable. The word translated parable here has the sense of a hidden truth; something that might not be immediately obvious and which will require thought and concentration. We are being encouraged to pay attention! The parable is the story of God’s dealings with his people and starts in verse 9. But before that, the writer tells us why we should listen and why they ...
Mar 15, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 80
When faced with turbulent times and struggles in life, most of us, in our heart of hearts, yearn for a father to set things right for us. One who will comfort, guide, protect, and teach us, who will never abandon us and never cease to pursue relationship with his children. A father who will go to any length and pay any price to ensure that we are safe from harm. The Lift Up Your Hearts devotional series for the month of March 2021 are provided by Canon Craig Roberts, CEO, and his colleagues from...
Mar 14, 2021•5 min•Season 1Ep. 50
The book of Hosea is known for its confronting portrayal of Israel’s idolatry as spiritual adultery. The prophet Hosea’s words—and his own marriage—show that the relationship of God and Israel was in dire straits. The people of God had become ‘worldly’ as they conformed to the nations around them. They sought success and prosperity through the idolatrous worship of their neighbours’ gods. The prophet Hosea declared that such conduct was no trivial matter and was grounds for “divorce” (or exile)....
Mar 11, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 49
The story of David and Goliath is a Sunday School favourite. There is a problem (verse 1), a villain (verse 4) and an unlikely hero (verse 32) who wins the day (verse 50). We know the story of God’s people being under attack from the Philistines; taunted by a giant champion in Goliath; the boy, David, shrugging off King Saul’s armour because it was too big and heavy for him; David selecting five smooth stones from a stream and successfully confronting Goliath with nothing more than an unswerving...
Mar 09, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 47
