Happy Dead Witnesses Day
Revelation 11:1-19

In Revelation 11, Pastor Stu walks us through one of the most sobering and ultimately triumphant passages in Scripture. Through the measuring of the temple, the ministry of the two witnesses, the rage of the beast, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, we are confronted with a truth that changes everything: God's sovereign plan cannot be stopped, and His faithful servants will not be forgotten. The church faces real opposition, persecution, and even death in this age — but God promises resurrection, vindication, and final victory. The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord.

Takeaways

• God's sovereign plan marches on despite all opposition, and sinful humanity only has its say for a day.
• The church is called to faithful witness — in sackcloth if necessary, in the power of the Spirit always.
• Persecution for telling the truth is not a sign of God's absence but a mark of faithful discipleship.
• God will honor every act of faithful service, and His kingdom will come without fail.

This week, let Revelation 11 be your anchor. You are not forgotten by God. Your witness matters, even when the world hates it. Like Bonhoeffer, like the two witnesses, like Jim Elliot — remain faithful to the Word and faithful in your witness. God's payday is coming. Press on.

Devotional 1: God's Plan Cannot Be Stopped
Revelation 11:1-2 - Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Reflection Question: When you look at the opposition the church faces today, what does it mean to you personally that God has already measured and claimed His people as His own?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, remind us that opposition does not mean abandonment. You own Your church and You protect what is Yours. Give us the peace that comes from knowing Your plan cannot be stopped — not by any power in this world or under it. Amen.

Devotional 2: Shine Like a Lampstand
Matthew 5:15-16 - Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Reflection Question: In what specific area of your life is God calling you to be a brighter, bolder witness for Him this week?
Prayer Prompt: Father, fill us afresh with the oil of Your Spirit so that our light does not grow dim. May our lives be lampstands in dark places. May what people see in us cause them to look past us and glorify You. Amen.

Devotional 3: Immortal Until Our Work Is Done
John 15:18-20 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
Reflection Question: How does the reality of the world's hostility toward Jesus shape the way you face hostility or rejection in your own life right now?
Prayer Prompt: Jesus, thank You for warning us and not leaving us blindsided. When the world hates us because it hated You first, strengthen us to hold fast and not shrink back. We are Yours, and no opposition can change that. Amen.

Devotional 4: He Shall Reign Forever and Ever
Revelation 11:15 - Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
Reflection Question: How does the certainty of Christ's coming reign change the way you approach discouragement or fear today?
Prayer Prompt: Lord God Almighty, You are and You were, and Your kingdom is coming. When we grow weary or wonder if any of it matters, remind us of this moment — the trumpet will sound and You will reign. Help us live today in light of that certain and glorious victory. Amen

Revelation 11:1-19
Luke 21:24
John 2:19-22
1 Corinthians 3:16
Ephesians 2:21-22
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Matthew 5:15-16
John 15:18-20
Romans 12:19
Ezekiel 37
Psalm 2:10-12
Matthew 6:10
1 John 2; 4
2 John 7

Listening to Moms, Building Stronger Communities

At The FORGE, we believe the best way to serve our community is to first listen to it.

As part of our ongoing community research efforts, we are hosting a Moms Focus Group to gain deeper insight into the real-life needs, challenges, and opportunities facing families in our area. Mothers often have a unique perspective on what is happening within the home, making their voices invaluable as we seek to better understand our community.

To ensure meaningful and unbiased conversations, an experienced outside consulting professional will facilitate the focus group. This allows participants to openly share their experiences while helping us gather valuable information that will guide future programs, resources, and partnerships.

The Moms Focus Group is a foundational step in helping The FORGE identify how we can best support families and fulfill our vision of seeing people flourish and hope restored through a caring community.

By listening first, we can build solutions that truly meet the needs of those we serve.

Hiding God's Word in Our Children's Hearts

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is helping them know and love God's Word. Scripture memory is more than simply learning words—it is writing God's truth on their hearts so that it can guide, encourage, and strengthen them throughout their lives.

The Bible reminds us in Psalm 119:11, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." When children memorize Scripture, they are building a foundation of truth that the Holy Spirit can bring to mind in moments of joy, difficulty, temptation, and uncertainty.

As parents, we have a wonderful opportunity to reinforce these truths throughout the week. Consider practicing the memory verse together at mealtimes, during bedtime routines, or while driving in the car. Even a few minutes each day can have a lasting impact.

This week's memory verse comes from Ephesians 4:32 and reminds us of God's call to kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

Younger Children:
"Be kind to one another." — Ephesians 4:32
Older Children:
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32

As we memorize this verse together, let's encourage our children not only to know God's Word but also to live it out by showing kindness and forgiveness to those around them.
Thank you for partnering with us as we seek to raise young disciples who know, love, and follow Jesus.

Revelation 10

Earlier this year, two friends found themselves sitting at Ball Arena among nearly 20,000 fans for a Nuggets game. In a crowd like that, it's pretty easy to feel insignificant — like one more anonymous face in a sea of strangers. Identity blurs. You start to wonder whether you matter at all.

It's a feeling the Apostle John may have understood. By the time we reach Revelation 10, John has been recording scene after overwhelming scene: multitudes worshipping before God's throne, seals broken, trumpets sounding, demonic forces unleashed across the earth. In comparison to the scale of it all, one man with a pen in his hand could easily feel very small.

But then something remarkable happens. Heaven pauses.

Not to deliver more prophecy. Not to reveal another seal or sound another trumpet. But to deal personally — tenderly — with one man. In the middle of history's most sweeping drama, God stops to love on John, to encourage him, and to give him a fresh mandate. And in doing so, He reveals something that reaches far beyond the first century and speaks directly to us today.

You Are Significant to God
Revelation can give the impression that God is so occupied with the grand movements of history — redeeming nations, judging wickedness, fulfilling ancient prophecies — that the individual gets lost in the shuffle. The book is full of numbers. Hardly anyone is named.
But chapter 10 is an interlude, and it's a personal one. Just as God paused in chapter 7 to seal His servants before the trumpet judgments, here He pauses again — this time, not to reveal more information, but simply to meet with John one-on-one.

This is a pattern of grace that runs through the entire Bible. God doesn't need people to carry out His purposes. But He calls them anyway. He uses a murderer with a speech impediment — Moses — to confront the most powerful ruler in the world. He uses a prostitute named Rahab to hide Israelite spies and protect the mission of His people. He chooses the overlooked, the broken, the ordinary.

If you are a follower of Christ, that same logic applies to you. God has placed you exactly where He wants you. He has given you every tool you need. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11–13 that the gifts He distributes are for "the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ" — and that calling extends to every believer, not just those on a church staff. Each of us is significant. Each of us has kingdom work to do.

Your Relationship with Jesus Is Developed by Feeding on the Word of God
The strangest and most striking image in this passage is also the most instructive: John is handed a little scroll by a mighty angel — and told to eat it.

This isn't as bizarre as it sounds. Ezekiel received the same command (Ezekiel 3:1–3), and Jeremiah described God's Word as something he found and devoured (Jeremiah 15:16). Eating the scroll is a picture of deep assimilation — not a quick skim, not a cursory glance, but the kind of engagement that takes something outside of you and makes it part of you.
Think about eating something you really enjoy. You slow down. You savor it. You let it nourish you. That's exactly the posture God's Word deserves. The Bible calls this meditation — chewing on Scripture, sitting with it, letting it work its way into your thinking and your heart.


To dwell means to take up permanent residence — not to visit occasionally. Sunday morning, however rich, is not enough to carry us through a full week. We need God's Word on a daily basis, savoring what He is revealing and letting it shape who we are becoming.

Your Obedience to His Word Identifies You as a True Disciple of Jesus
In Revelation 10, John is given four commands in rapid succession: seal up the thunder, take the scroll, eat it, prophesy again. And John simply — obeys. No pushback. No negotiating. No request for more details.

Obedience is not always easy. Jesus himself described the cost of it plainly in John 4:34: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." Paul traces that obedience all the way to the cross in Philippians 2:8, where Christ "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

What distinguishes a true disciple is not a statement of belief but a pattern of life. Jesus draws a direct line between love and obedience in John 14:15 and again in John 14:21: "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me." Loving Jesus is not a feeling we report — it's a direction we walk. And it's that obedience, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that marks us as His and becomes a witness to the world around us.

We can claim to be Christians all we want. But the true test is whether we obey — even when it's costly, even when we don't have all the answers, even when the path ahead isn't clear.

Being a Christian Is a Bittersweet Experience
John ate the scroll. In his mouth, it was sweet as honey. Then it made his stomach bitter.
Isn't that a perfect description of the Christian life?

The sweetness is real. Forgiveness. Adoption into God's family. The presence of the Holy Spirit. Peace that doesn't make sense given the circumstances. Hope that holds even in grief. All of it flows from feeding on the Word, and all of it is genuinely, deeply sweet.

But God's Word also does something harder. It reproves and corrects (2 Timothy 3:16). It shines a light into places we'd rather keep dark. It asks us to change. Two of the four purposes of Scripture — reproof and correction — can be painful. It's never easy to have our faults named and have to do something about them.

And then there is a bitterness that goes even deeper. As John watched God's plans of judgment unfold before him, he became physically sick — not from the scroll itself, but from what it revealed about the fate of those who refuse to repent. The Bible is clear that those who harden their hearts against God face an eternal consequence. That knowledge, held alongside genuine love for the people around us, should do something to us. It should break our hearts.

And that heartbreak — that holy bitterness — is precisely what fuels the final truth.

What We Have Been Given Must Be Passed On to Others
After John eats the scroll — sweet taste, bitter stomach — he receives one more word: "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings" (Revelation 10:11). The Word he was given wasn't for him alone. It never is.

God is going to give the peoples of the world one last opportunity to come to Him before final judgment arrives. We don't know exactly when Jesus will return. We don't know how many days God has ordained for the people in our lives who don't yet know Him. But we do know this: that day is one day closer than it was yesterday.

If there is someone on your heart who doesn't know Jesus, keep praying for them. But take it further — ask God to give you wisdom, to open doors for meaningful contact, to help you build a closer relationship with that person. Ask Him to make you ready when the moment comes.

The Day of the Lord approaches. We don't know when Jesus will return. We live one life, and then we are judged. Let's have a heart for the lost. It's God's will for us. Jesus is the only answer. The ramifications are eternal.

A Personal Word
Heaven paused for John — not because he was extraordinary, but because God sees each of His people as individuals worth stopping for. The same God who froze the action of cosmic history to encourage one faithful servant sees you today.

Feed on His Word. Obey what He says. Let the sweetness of the gospel fill you. Let the bitterness of a world without Christ move you. And pass on what you've been given — because the mystery of God's redemption, fully revealed in Jesus, was never meant to stop with you.


▶  Watch the full sermon: A Mighty Angel and His Little Scroll — Revelation 10:1–11

A Mighty Angel and His Little Scroll
Revelation 10:1-11

In Revelation 10, God pauses the thunder of seals and trumpets to reach personally into John's life — to love on him and encourage him. Through the image of a mighty angel, John receives four commands: seal what the seven thunders said, take the scroll, eat it, and prophesy again. The scroll is sweet in John's mouth but bitter in his stomach — a picture of the Christian life itself. God's Word is rich and sweet, but it also confronts us, corrects us, and breaks our hearts for those headed toward eternity without Jesus. This passage gives us four anchoring truths: we are significant to God, our relationship with Jesus is fed by His Word, our obedience identifies us as His disciples, and what we have received must be passed on.

Takeaways

1. You are not lost in the crowd — God sees you, knows you, and has a specific role for you in His plan.
2. Feeding deeply on God's Word is the foundation of a growing relationship with Jesus.
3. True discipleship is measured not by what we claim but by what we obey.
4. The message of redemption we have received is not ours to keep — it belongs to the world.

Application for the week
This week, let the interlude of Revelation 10 remind you that God's grand plan of history has your name written into it. You are not a spectator. You have been placed where you are on purpose, equipped for a purpose, and called to pass on what you have been given. Ask God for one opportunity this week to speak of Jesus to someone who needs to hear.

Devotional 1: You Are Significant to God
Ephesians 4:11-12 - And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
Reflection Question: When you look at the grand scope of God's plan — nations, history, eternity — do you struggle to believe that He sees you personally? What does it mean to you that God paused the entire narrative of Revelation to deal one-on-one with John?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, forgive me for the times I have felt invisible or unimportant to You. Thank You that You are a God who calls ordinary, broken people by name and places them exactly where You want them. Help me to believe today that I am significant to You — not because of what I have done, but because of who You are. Amen.

Devotional 2: Feeding on the Word of God
Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Reflection Question: Is your time in God's Word more like a quick glance in a mirror or a deep, unhurried meal? What would it look like this week to truly chew on and savor what God is saying to you in Scripture?
Prayer Prompt: Father, I confess that I too often approach Your Word out of habit rather than hunger. Cultivate in me a genuine appetite for Scripture. Let Your Word take up permanent residence in my heart — not just on Sunday, but every day of the week. Teach me, correct me, and feed me through it. Amen.

Devotional 3: Obedience Identifies You as a True Disciple
John 14:21 - Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
Reflection Question: Is there an area of your life right now where you know what God is calling you to do but you haven't yet obeyed? What is making obedience feel costly, and what would it look like to trust Him and take that step?
Prayer Prompt: Jesus, You were obedient to the point of death on a cross. I am humbled by that. Where I have been reluctant to obey — afraid of the cost, waiting for perfect conditions — give me the courage to say yes to You. Help my obedience be a witness to the world that I belong to You. Amen.

Devotional 4: What We Have Been Given Must Be Passed On
Ephesians 5:15-16 - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Reflection Question: Who is one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus? Are you actively praying for them and asking God to give you opportunities to go deeper in relationship with them? What is one step you could take this week?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, give me a heart that breaks for the lost the way Yours does. I don't know how many days the people around me have, and I don't know when You will return. Help me to make the best use of the time I have been given. Give me wisdom, boldness, and open doors to share the sweetness of the gospel with those who need to hear it. Amen.

Revelation 10:1-11
Revelation 11:15
John 14:15-17
John 14:21
John 4:34
Romans 16:25-26
Ephesians 4:11-13
Ephesians 5:15-17
Colossians 3:16
Philippians 2:8 2
Timothy 3:16
Ezekiel 3:1-3
Jeremiah 15:16

Martin Luther once said, "The Devil is still God's Devil." It's a phrase worth sitting with — because the more you turn it over, the more it becomes one of the most stabilizing truths a Christian can hold onto, especially when the world feels like it's coming apart at the seams.

This past Sunday, the message came from Revelation 9:1-21 — and it's not an easy passage. It's dark. It's intense. It's the kind of text that makes you want to look away. But what waits on the other side of that discomfort is something worth fighting for: a God who is absolutely, completely, unshakably in control.

Nothing Happens Outside God's Sovereign Determination
Before getting into the locusts and the armies and the destruction, there's a foundational truth to anchor to: ultimately, nothing happens apart from the sovereign determination of God.

Not a rogue demon. Not a runaway nation. Not even Satan himself. They are all, in some mysterious and terrifying way, operating within the boundaries God has set. He is not the author of evil — James 1:13 makes that crystal clear. But He is sovereign over it. He allows it. He directs it. And He uses it for purposes that are entirely His own.

That's not a small thing. For those living in a moment that feels increasingly chaotic, it might be the most important thing.

Spiritual Warfare Is Real — and It's Intense
Revelation 9 opens with the fifth trumpet, and what follows is a picture of demonic activity that is frankly hard to put into human words. Locusts from the bottomless pit with scorpion-like power. A darkness that fills the air. And people so overwhelmed by torment that they actually long for death — only to find that death won't have them (v. 6).

This is apocalyptic writing, and it's meant to convey something beyond what normal language can carry. But the point is unmistakable: the spiritual battle happening in our community, our nation, and our world — it is real, and it is beyond our wildest imagination.

The good news? Verse 4. The demonic locusts are told not to touch those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). The enemy has a mission. But he has limits. And those limits are set by God.

When God Removes His Restraining Grace
The sixth trumpet brings something even more staggering — a demonic army of incomprehensible size, released at a precise moment in history: the hour, the day, the month, and the year (v. 15). God's timing is that specific.

A third of mankind is killed. The scale of it is almost incomprehensible. But the theological weight of this moment is clear: this army can only do what God permits. God is not the author of evil — but He directs and determines what evil does. He is sovereign over every atom of the universe, past, present, and future.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1 that one of the most sobering expressions of God's wrath is simply letting people go — handing them over to the consequences of their own rejection of Him. What Revelation 9 shows is that principle playing out on a cosmic scale.
When God removes His restraining grace, hell, in a very real sense, comes to earth.

The Utter Depravity of the Human Heart
This is where the passage becomes the most heartbreaking.

After all of it — the torment, the death, the destruction — Revelation 9:20-21 tells us that the rest of mankind still did not repent. They kept worshiping idols. They kept on with their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, their thefts.

W.A. Criswell said it well:
John Calvin put it another way:

Paul tells us in Romans 1:22 that those who claim to be wise by doing this become fools. And Revelation 9 shows us the terrible, logical end of a worldview built without Christ — unimaginable suffering and a heart that, left to itself, only hardens further.

Sin gets easier with practice. It doesn't lead people to repentance — it leads them deeper in.

So What Do We Do With This?
God is always on His throne.

Satan, demons, and evil are real and powerful — and if you're alive right now, you know it. But they are on a divine leash. God, in His grace, imposes limits on what even the powers of darkness are permitted to do. The difference between the total depravity of humanity and the utter depravity we could descend to is nothing less than the restraining grace of God.

The question this passage ultimately raises isn't about demons or armies or trumpets. It's simpler and more personal than that: Are we listening? We are made to worship. Every one of us will worship something. The question is whether it's the Creator — or His creation.

If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, this passage is a warning and an invitation wrapped in one. The gospel is particularly comforting when hell comes to earth. There is a seal of protection for those who belong to Him — and no protection outside of Him.

The Devil may be active. But he is still God's Devil.

God Uses Evil to Judge Evil
Revelation 9:1–21

In Revelation 9, God pulls back the curtain on the intensifying judgments of history, and what we see is both terrifying and clarifying: God is sovereign even over Satan, demons, and the destructive chaos of human evil. As the fifth and sixth trumpets sound, demonic forces are unleashed upon a rebellious world — not because God has lost control, but because He is actively governing all things toward His righteous end. As Pastor Stu reminded us, "The Devil is still God's Devil." Nothing happens outside the sovereign determination of God. And yet, with breathtaking sadness, the passage closes with humanity still refusing to repent. This is the indictment of our age — and the urgent call to the church to preach the gospel.

Takeaways

1. Ultimately, nothing happens apart from the sovereign determination of God.
2. Spiritual warfare is real, intense, and aimed especially at those without the seal of God.
3. When God removes His restraining grace, the consequences of human sin become catastrophic.
4. The depravity of the human heart is so deep that even divine judgment does not produce repentance — only the gospel of grace can change a human heart.

Application for this week
God uses this week as a call to alertness and faithfulness. The same spiritual warfare described in Revelation 9 is at work in our community today. Keep your eyes open. Stay rooted in the Word. Pray for those around you who are still under the wrath of God — they need the gospel, not more judgment. And rest in the truth that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Devotional 1: The Sovereign God Over All Evil
 James 1:13–15 - Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Reflection Question: When you look at the evil and chaos in the world around you, do you find yourself questioning God's control — or resting in His sovereignty? What does it mean practically to trust that "ultimately nothing happens apart from the sovereign determination of God"?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, when evil seems to be winning, remind me that You are never off Your throne. Anchor my heart in Your sovereignty, and give me peace that surpasses understanding even in the face of darkness.

Devotional 2: The Seal That Protects
Ephesians 1:13–14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Reflection Question: Revelation 9:4 tells us that the demonic locusts could not harm those who had the seal of God on their foreheads. How does knowing you are sealed by the Holy Spirit shape the way you face spiritual opposition this week?
Prayer Prompt: Father, thank You that I am not left unprotected. Remind me today that I am sealed by Your Spirit, and help me to walk in the confidence that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

Devotional 3: When Restraint Is Removed
Romans 1:24 - Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
Reflection Question: The greatest expression of God's wrath in Romans 1 is God giving people over to their own desires. What areas of your life are you trusting God's restraining grace to guard? How do you respond when you see that grace being removed in the culture around you?
Prayer Prompt: God, I am sobered by what happens when Your restraining grace is removed. Keep me close to You. Protect my heart from the idols and desires that would lead me away from You, and make me grateful for every mercy You extend.

Devotional 4: Only the Gospel Changes Hearts
Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Reflection Question: Revelation 9:20–21 reveals that even devastating judgment did not move the unrepentant to turn to God. W.A. Criswell wrote, "A man is really changed only by the Gospel of the grace of the Son of God." Who in your life needs to hear that gospel this week?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, break my heart for those who are hardening themselves against You even now. Give me courage to share the gospel, and remind me that it is Your kindness — not just Your judgment — that leads people to repentance.

Join Us for the Grand Opening of Alpha & Omega Outfitters!

The wait is almost over! We are thrilled to invite our community to the Grand Opening of Alpha & Omega Outfitters this weekend, June 6-7 at the Elvis Cinema Theater 2.

This exciting new thrift store is the result of a partnership between The FORGE and Alpha & Omega Outfitters, created with a shared vision of serving families, strengthening our community, and providing affordable access to quality items for every season of life.

Shoppers will discover a wide selection of gently used and new clothing, household goods, décor, accessories, and much more. Whether you're searching for a great bargain, a unique treasure, or simply want to support a meaningful community initiative, Alpha & Omega Outfitters has something for everyone.

Revelation 8:1-12

When Heaven Falls Silent
Few spiritual disciplines are more difficult to cultivate than prayer. We know prayer matters, yet many believers struggle to make it a consistent part of their lives. Prayer can feel like hard work, and often we do not immediately see the results.

Revelation 8 opens with a surprising scene. As the Lamb opens the seventh seal, heaven falls silent for about half an hour (Revelation 8:1-2). Throughout Revelation, heaven has been filled with worship, praise, and celebration. Suddenly, everything stops.
The silence is significant. It is the calm before the storm. It is a dramatic pause before God acts in judgment and justice.

For believers, this moment serves as a reminder that God's silence should never be mistaken for God's absence. Even when we cannot see Him working, He is accomplishing His purposes.

The Prayers of God's People
The next scene reveals one of the most encouraging pictures of prayer in all of Scripture.
An angel approaches the altar with a golden censer and offers incense together with "the prayers of all the saints" before the throne of God (Revelation 8:3-4).
The image is powerful. Every prayer offered in faith rises before God. Every cry for help, every request for wisdom, every plea for justice, and every prayer for God's kingdom to come is heard.

For generations, believers have prayed the words Jesus taught:

Matthew 6:9-13

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Revelation 8 reminds us that those prayers are not forgotten. They are gathered before the throne of God.

Prayer is far more than a religious activity. It is participation in the work of God. It is one of the primary ways believers engage in spiritual warfare and align themselves with God's purposes.

Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
The Bible consistently connects prayer with spiritual battle.
In Ephesians 6:18-20, believers are instructed to pray at all times and remain alert with perseverance. The Christian life is not lived in neutral territory. Scripture teaches that there is an ongoing conflict between the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of darkness.
That reality makes prayer essential.

Prayer strengthens believers, advances God's kingdom, and reminds us that our ultimate dependence is not on our abilities, strategies, resources, or programs. Our dependence is on God Himself.

When God's people pray, they acknowledge that He alone has the power to transform lives, save souls, and accomplish His will.

When Prayers Become Part of God's Answer
One of the most striking moments in Revelation 8 occurs when the angel fills the censer with fire from the altar and throws it upon the earth.
Immediately, there are peals of thunder, flashes of lightning, rumblings, and an earthquake (Revelation 8:5).

The picture is unmistakable. The prayers that rose before God now become connected to His response on earth.

This should encourage every believer who has ever wondered whether prayer matters.

God hears.

God remembers.

God responds.

His timing is perfect, even when it differs from our own.

As Romans 12:19 reminds us, believers do not need to take vengeance into their own hands. God is just, and He will make all things right.

The Trumpet Judgments
The first four trumpet judgments demonstrate God's sovereignty over every part of creation.

God Is Sovereign Over the Earth
Revelation 8:7

The first trumpet brings hail and fire upon the earth, recalling the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:13-35; Joel 2:31; Acts 2:19).

God Is Sovereign Over the Seas
Revelation 8:8-9

A great burning object is cast into the sea. A third of the sea becomes blood, sea life dies, and ships are destroyed.

God Is Sovereign Over Rivers and Springs
Revelation 8:10-11

A star named Wormwood falls from heaven, poisoning a third of the fresh water and bringing bitterness and death.

God Is Sovereign Over the Heavens
Revelation 8:12

A third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened, affecting both day and night.
Each judgment reveals the same truth: God rules over every aspect of creation.

Where Is Your Hope?
The trumpet judgments expose the fragility of everything people often trust.

Human achievement cannot save.

Government cannot save.

Wealth cannot save.

Technology cannot save.

Even creation itself is temporary.

The purpose of these judgments is not merely destruction. They reveal the futility of false gods and false hopes while pointing people back to the One who truly reigns.

Christ alone is on the throne.

Christ alone is worthy of worship.

Christ alone is able to save.

The Power of Prayer
One of the most remarkable truths in Revelation 8 is that God chooses to involve the prayers of His people in His sovereign plan.

Prayer is an action of finite and sinful people that God mysteriously uses to accomplish His perfect purposes.

Prayer moves believers closer to God's heart.

Prayer advances His kingdom.

Prayer strengthens His church.

Prayer becomes one of the means God uses to bring justice, mercy, salvation, and transformation.

The eternal impact of prayer is far greater than we can currently understand.

Salvation Is As Near As a Prayer
The chapter concludes with a reminder that judgment is real, but so is God's mercy.

Scripture teaches that one day every person will stand before God. The good news is that salvation is available to all who call upon Him.

Romans 10:12-13 reminds us:
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

That invitation remains open today.

No matter your past, your failures, or your struggles, Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life.

Revelation 8 ultimately reminds us that while judgment is coming, grace is available now.
So pray.

Pray with confidence.

Pray with perseverance.

Pray for revival.

And pray knowing that the God who hears is also the God who acts.

May 30 & 31, 2026
Prayers Above and Judgment Below
Scripture: Revelation 8:1-12

God responds to the prayers of His people by bringing judgment on the earth that
vindicates their faithfulness and demonstrates His sovereignty.

Prayers Above and Judgment Below
Revelation 8:1-12

Revelation 8 reveals the powerful connection between the prayers of God’s people and the sovereign purposes of God. As the seventh seal is opened, heaven falls silent and the prayers of the saints rise before God like incense. Those prayers are not forgotten or ignored. Instead, God uses them as part of His unfolding plan to bring justice, vindicate His people, and accomplish His will on earth. The trumpet judgments remind us that Christ is sovereign over creation, history, and judgment. In a world that often seems chaotic, believers can take comfort knowing that God hears every prayer and acts according to His perfect wisdom and timing.

Takeaways

• Prayer is not preparation for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.
• God hears and treasures the prayers of His people.
• Prayer is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare.
• Christ is sovereign over all creation and all history.

Application for This Week
When life feels uncertain or when heaven seems silent, continue to pray. Revelation 8 reminds us that every prayer offered in faith rises before God. Trust Him to work in His timing, for His glory and your good. Keep praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.

Devotional 1: The Silence of Heaven
Revelation 8:1  - When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Reflection Question
How do you respond when God seems silent in your circumstances?
Prayer Prompt
Ask God to strengthen your trust during seasons when His answers seem delayed or unclear.

Devotional 2: Prayers Before the Throne
Revelation 8:4 - And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
Reflection Question
How does knowing that your prayers rise before God encourage your prayer life?
Prayer Prompt
Thank God that He hears every prayer and ask Him to deepen your dependence upon Him.

Devotional 3: Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:18 (ESV) - Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Reflection Question
What spiritual battles in your life need to be brought before God in prayer today?
Prayer Prompt
Pray for perseverance, discernment, and faithfulness in the spiritual battles you face.

Devotional 4: Salvation Is Near
Romans 10:13 (ESV) - For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Reflection Question
Who in your life needs to hear the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ?
Prayer Prompt
Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and for hearts to respond to Christ in faith.

Ephesians 6:18-20
Romans 12:19
Romans 10:12-13
Matthew 6:9-13
Habakkuk 2:20
Zechariah 2:13
Daniel 10
Numbers 10
Exodus 30
2 Kings 6
Hebrews 9
Exodus 9:13-35
Joel 2:31
Acts 2:19
Romans 8:22
Genesis 3
Exodus 7
Exodus 10
Amos 5:18
Luke 21:25-28

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Family Sunday takes place on the last Sunday of every month, and it’s one of our favorite ways to worship together as a church family. On these Sundays, we invite our children to join us in the full worship service as we gather, learn, and grow side by side.

There will be no Kids Sunday School on Family Sunday; instead, children are welcome in service with their families. To help them stay engaged, we’ll provide activity bags for use during the service. Childcare will continue to be available for newborns through age three.

Family Sunday is a meaningful opportunity for our children to experience what it looks like to worship together across generations. They stand alongside us in worship, listen to the full sermon, practice taking notes, and learn how to engage with God’s Word. They also have the opportunity to learn about the beauty, value, and meaning of the sacrament of communion as we partake together.

The Antichrist of Legalism
Acts 15:1-11 

There is a universal truth woven through all of Scripture that shapes our lives, our relationships, and our walk with God: The good things that God makes, Satan counterfeits.

This Sunday, Pastor Stu took us to Acts 15 — a pivotal moment in the early church — to expose one of the most subtle and persistent counterfeits in the history of Christianity: legalism.

The Crisis in the Early Church
The church was alive with momentum. The Holy Spirit had moved powerfully. Gentiles were coming to faith. There were dramatic conversions, healings, and miracles. Joy was everywhere.

Then a group of Jewish believers from Jerusalem arrived with a different message. These men came from the party of the Pharisees, and while they had accepted Christ, they were insisting on something more: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1).

It sounds religious. It sounds devout. But it is a dangerous distortion of the Gospel — and the apostles knew it. After much debate, Peter stood and cut straight to the heart of the matter: "We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:11).

That's the whole story. Grace alone. Faith alone. Christ alone.

Jesus Plus Anything Ruins Everything
Legalism is not a problem from the ancient past. It is alive in the church today.

At its core, legalism adds something to the finished work of Jesus. It says: Faith is not enough. You also need to perform, conform, and comply. But the moment you add anything to Jesus — any rule, any ritual, any requirement for salvation — you have distorted the Gospel entirely. As Pastor Stu put it plainly: Jesus plus anything is anti-Christ, because Jesus did it all.

The law has a purpose. God's moral law is good, true, and right — like honey on our lips (Psalm 119). But the law was also given to show us that we cannot perfectly follow it, and therefore we need a Savior. Jesus didn't come to make the law easier — He made it harder (Matthew 5). He raised the standard to show us we need grace, not performance.

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." — Titus 3:5-6

Three Ways Legalism Distorts the Christian Life

1. Legalism turns a relationship of love into a religion of laws.
God's design has always been a covenant relationship — intimate, personal, and transforming. The Gospel lifts the yoke of the law (Acts 15:10) and invites us into a living relationship with the Father through faith in Jesus. But legalism mistakes the gift of relationship for a code of conduct. It turns the Christian life into a checklist rather than a love story. As Paul warned the Colossians, rule-keeping has "an appearance of wisdom," but it has no power to actually change the heart (Colossians 2:20-23).

2. Legalism turns people from encouragers into fault-finders.
When rules become the measure of faithfulness, people become critics rather than servants. The church becomes unsafe — a place where people wear masks, perform for approval, and are afraid to be known. James' word in Acts 15:19 still applies: "We should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God." Don't make it harder for people to come to Jesus. The badge of the Christian is not a spirit of judgment — it is the joy of the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone" (Philippians 4:4-5). And Jesus warned us directly about the hypocrisy of trying to remove the speck from someone else's eye while ignoring the log in our own (Matthew 7:3-5).

3. Legalism emphasizes outward conformity rather than inner transformation.
This is the deepest problem. Legalism completely misses the point of what God is doing. God is not trying to modify your behavior — He is transforming your heart. The New Covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:33 is stunning: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." God's purpose has always been an inside job. He foreknew us, called us, and is conforming us into the image of His Son. Outward rule-keeping can never accomplish what only the Spirit of God can do. As the old hymn goes, "In my hand no price I bring; simply to thy cross I cling."

The Heart of the Gospel
Jesus was not crucified so that we would have a better moral system to follow. He came so that sinners could be reconciled to God — forgiven, adopted, and transformed. He is not interested in your outward conformity to a code. He is interested in your heart.

Jesus reserved His sharpest words for the Pharisees — the legalists of His day. He called them whitewashed tombs and sons of Satan (Matthew 23:3-4). Not because they were too serious about God, but because they had replaced the living God with a system of rules that neither they nor anyone else could bear.

Pastor Stu called us to respond the same way the early church did — with grace, truth, and love. Not as religious police. Not as fault-finders. But as people who have been set free by the Gospel and who invite others into that same freedom.

A Word for You Today
You are not saved by never sinning. You are saved by admitting your sin and receiving God's forgiveness as a free gift — made possible by the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
And if you are a Christian, let that truth shape how you treat others. Speak truth in love. Serve in grace. Keep your eyes on Jesus — not on everyone else's performance.
Let us always have a heart of gratitude for God's work alone, and be gracious to everybody, speaking truth in love and serving others in love, always with a heart of mercy and grace.

The Antichrist of Legalism
Acts 15:1-11

In Acts 15, the early church faced one of its first major doctrinal battles: whether salvation required faith in Jesus alone or faith plus obedience to the Law of Moses. Pastor Stu explains that legalism is anti-Christ because it adds human effort to the finished work of Jesus. While God’s moral law is good and loving, it was never meant to save us. Legalism turns a relationship of grace into a religion of rules, transforms encouragers into fault-finders, and focuses on outward conformity instead of inward transformation. The Gospel declares that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and true obedience flows from a transformed heart.

Takeaways

• Jesus plus anything ruins everything.
• Legalism burdens people instead of leading them to Christ.
• God desires inward heart transformation, not mere outward conformity.
• Christians are called to speak truth with grace, mercy, and joy.

Applying This Week
This week, examine your heart carefully. Are you trusting in Christ alone, or subtly relying on your own performance, morality, or rule-keeping? Ask God to deepen your love for Him so that obedience becomes a joyful response to grace rather than an attempt to earn acceptance. Let your interactions with others reflect the mercy and kindness Christ has shown to you.

Devotional 1 — Grace Alone
Acts 15:11 - But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
Reflection Question
What are some ways you are tempted to add “Jesus plus something” to salvation?
Prayer Prompt
Lord Jesus, thank You that salvation is a free gift of grace. Help me rest fully in Your finished work and not in my own efforts.

Devotional 2 — The Purpose of the Law
Galatians 3:24 - So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Reflection Question
How has God used His law to reveal your need for a Savior?
Prayer Prompt
Father, thank You for showing me my need for Christ. Help me treasure Your grace more deeply each day.

Devotional 3 — Heart Transformation
Jeremiah 31:33 - For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Reflection Question
Where do you need God to continue transforming your heart from the inside out?
Prayer Prompt
Holy Spirit, continue Your transforming work in me. Shape my desires so that I delight in following You.

Devotional 4 — Truth in Love
Philippians 4:4-5 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.
Reflection Question
Would others describe your Christianity as joyful, gracious, and encouraging?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, make me someone who reflects Your grace and joy to others. Help me encourage people toward Jesus instead of placing burdens on them.

Acts 15:1-11
Colossians 2:20-23
Philippians 4:4-5
Acts 15:19
Matthew 7:3-5
Jeremiah 31:33
Titus 3:5-6
Matthew 23:3-4
Matthew 12

May 23-24, 2026
The Antichrist of Legalism
Scripture: Acts 15:1-11

The scourge of legalism takes the good things of God  and destructively counterfeits them. Legalism turns a relationship of love into a burdensome religion of rules. It turns people from encouragers to fault-finders. It emphasizes outward conformity rather than inward transformation. There is a solution: The One who came to fulfill the law.

People can now find The FORGE on Facebook, Instagram, Google, and more! We are excited to continue expanding our reach so more individuals and families in our community can connect with the support, encouragement, and resources available through The FORGE.

One of the easiest and most impactful ways you can support this mission is by following The FORGE on social media and sharing our story with others. Every post shared helps us reach more individuals and families who may be searching for hope, encouragement, or resources they didn’t know existed.

We especially want to encourage you to share our latest post about the Southwest Jefferson County Mass Survey. This survey is a huge opportunity for our community to have a voice in shaping the future of local support programs, partnerships, and services. The information gathered will help us better understand the greatest physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs in our area so we can respond in meaningful and effective ways.

Together, we can help create a stronger, healthier, and more connected community. Thank you for helping spread the word and being part of the mission of The FORGE!

KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 145:9

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.

CHRIST CONNECTION: The people of Judah continued to sin and were destroyed by
Babylon. Even though God was patient, all sin deserves judgment. God’s patience is meant to lead us to repentance. Those who repent and trust in Jesus will escape God’s judgment.

STORY POINT: The people’s consequence for disobeying God was exile to Babylon.

AT HOME:

1. What is the ultimate consequence people face for sin if they don't trust in Jesus? Read Matt. 25:46
2. Why was it loving for God to not ignore the people's sin? Read Rom. 2:4
3. How did God's promise to bring the people home after 70 years give them hope? Read Heb. 10:23

Ephesians 1:11-14

Whether people realize it or not, every human being is searching for purpose. The self-help world offers its answers — find your passion, be true to yourself, ask what makes you happy. These aren't bad questions, but they are pointed in the wrong direction. They are questions that orbit around us. And the problem with making ourselves the center of our own story is that we were never meant to be.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, written in 1647, opens with the most important question a person can ask: What is the chief end of man? The answer is both simple and staggering: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever (1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 11:36; Psalm 73:25-28).

That single sentence reorients everything.

Glorify God and Enjoy Him — At the Same Time
Here's where many Christians quietly get stuck. We know in our minds that we are supposed to glorify God. And yet, if we're honest, what we really want — what we can't seem to stop wanting — is to be happy. These two desires can feel like they're in tension with each other.

They're not.

Glorifying God and enjoying God are not competing pursuits. They are the same pursuit. As John Piper has written, the goal is "a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all spheres of life." He goes further: if we display the excellence of God without joy, we slide into legalism and hypocrisy. If we claim to enjoy God but nothing of Him overflows into our lives and outward to others, that too is a kind of hypocrisy. We must enjoy and display at the same time.

Jesus promised abundant life to those who follow Him (John 10:10), and the psalmist knew this satisfaction firsthand, declaring that there was nothing in heaven or earth he desired besides God (Psalm 73:25). Abundant life is not found by chasing it. It is found in Him.

What It Actually Means to Glorify God
There is a common misunderstanding worth clearing up: when we glorify God, we are not making Him more glorious. God cannot be improved. He cannot be made more beautiful, more powerful, more worthy. He is already all of those things perfectly and infinitely. Even creation itself cannot stay silent about it (Luke 19:40).

So what does it mean to glorify Him?

Think about standing at the top of a Colorado 14er. If you pull out a magnifying glass and start examining the square yard of dirt and rock at your feet, you are technically magnifying — but you're missing everything. Now imagine pulling out a pair of binoculars. Suddenly, an unimaginably vast and beautiful landscape comes into clearer view — and yet, the more you see, the more you realize there is so much more to see than you can possibly take in.
That is what it means to glorify God. Our lives are meant to be binoculars — helping the people around us see glimpses of a glory that is already there, already infinite, already breathtaking. We don't create His glory. We display it.

And when we actually see it for what it is, the response is awe. We take pictures that don't do it justice. We try to explain it to people who weren't there. We know full well that they won't fully understand until they see it for themselves. That is the invitation of the Christian life — not just to have seen the view, but to bring others to the top of the mountain.

The Danger of the Mirror
Now consider a different scenario on that same 14er: instead of binoculars, you ask for a mirror. Surrounded by mirrors, you can only see yourself. The view is still there — vast and glorious — but you have no desire to look beyond your own reflection.

This is what sin does. It turns us inward. It convinces us that love is about making us feel good about ourselves, that life is about what's in it for us, that God exists to serve our comfort. It is a man-centered gospel, and much of what passes for Christianity in America today is exactly that — a substitute product that looks and sounds similar but fails to produce deep reverence, true repentance, genuine humility, or any real giving of glory to God.

The truth is harder and better: God is more concerned with our growth than our comfort. He is the center — not us. And paradoxically, it is only when we embrace that reality that we find what we were looking for all along. A God-centered view of life is not one that diminishes us — it is the one that rightly orients us, reminding us that we are fallen, that we need salvation, and that the same God our sin offends is the One who loved us enough to provide a way out.

In Him — Everything
Paul makes the case for all of this in Ephesians 1. Notice how many times he uses the phrase in Him or in Christ across just a few verses. It is relentless and intentional. And look at what those "in Hims" bring: every spiritual blessing, being chosen, redemption through His blood, restoration, an inheritance, hope, the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and the seal of the Holy Spirit.

All of it — every blessing — flows from being in Him. And then Paul tells us twice why (Ephesians 1:12, 14): everything is to the praise of His glory.

We were not an afterthought. God's sovereign plan — worked out according to the counsel of His own will — leads to this: His glory praised, His children blessed, His name honored throughout all of history and into eternity.

The picture of heaven in Revelation says it all. The four living creatures never cease declaring the holiness of God (Revelation 4:8-11). The angels, elders, and living creatures fall on their faces in worship, ascribing blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might to God forever (Revelation 7:11-12). That is where all of history is headed. That is the crescendo the whole story is building toward.

The Question Worth Asking
So here is the question the Westminster Catechism drives us back to, and the question Ephesians 1 answers: What are you living for?

If the honest answer is mostly yourself — your comfort, your reputation, your happiness — then the invitation today is to fix your center. Not because God needs your glory, but because you need to give it. Because in glorifying Him, you find the abundant life Jesus promised. Because the joy that overflows from truly knowing Him is the very thing your neighbors, your coworkers, and your family are desperate to see.

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

These are not two things. They are one. And they are yours — in Him.

May 16 & 17, 2026
The Praise of His Glory
Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-14

What is the true purpose of life? In this message from Ephesians 1:11–14, Jason Painter (elder) explores how God created us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Far from opposing joy and worship, Scripture reveals that true happiness is found in living for the praise of God’s glory. This sermon challenges the self-centered mindset so common in our culture and calls believers back to a God-centered view of life, salvation, and identity. Through powerful illustrations, deep Biblical truth, and practical application, you will be encouraged to see how every spiritual blessing “In Him” leads us to awe, worship, joy, and purpose.

The Praise of His Glory
Ephesians 1:11–14

Paul reminds us that the purpose of our salvation is ultimately “to the praise of His glory.” In a world constantly telling us to pursue self-fulfillment and happiness above all else, Scripture calls us to something far greater — to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Pastor Stu challenged us to see that these are not competing goals. True joy is actually found in knowing, worshiping, and magnifying God. As we live “In Him,” we receive every spiritual blessing, redemption through Christ, hope, salvation, and the Holy Spirit. Our lives are meant to point beyond ourselves and magnify the greatness of God to the world around us.

Takeaways

• The chief purpose of life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
• True joy is found when we are God-centered rather than self-centered.
• We do not make God more glorious; we magnify the glory He already possesses.
• Every spiritual blessing we receive “In Him” should lead us to worship and praise.

Application for This Week
Living for the glory of God changes how we see everything — our suffering, our joy, our purpose, and even our identity. This week, ask God to help you take your eyes off yourself and fix them more fully on Him. As you behold His greatness, may your heart overflow with awe, worship, and joy that points others to Christ.

Devotional 1 — Created for His Glory
1 Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Reflection Question:
What areas of your life are hardest to fully surrender to God’s glory?
Prayer Prompt:
Lord, help me live every part of my life in a way that reflects Your greatness and goodness.

Devotional 2 — True Satisfaction
Psalm 73:25–26 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Reflection Question:
Where are you tempted to seek satisfaction apart from God?
Prayer Prompt:
Father, teach my heart to find joy, strength, and satisfaction in You alone.

Devotional 3 — Abundant Life in Christ
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Reflection Question:
How does Jesus redefine what “abundant life” truly means?
Prayer Prompt:
Jesus, help me pursue the abundant life found in knowing and following You rather than chasing temporary comforts.

Devotional 4 — Worthy of Glory
Revelation 4:11 - Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Reflection Question:
What does it mean practically for your life to declare that God alone is worthy?
Prayer Prompt:
God, remind me daily that You alone are worthy of worship, honor, and praise.

Ephesians 1:11–14
1 Corinthians 10:31
Romans 11:33–36
Psalm 73:25–28
John 10:10
Luke 19:40
Revelation 4:8–11
Revelation 7:11–12

KEY PASSAGE: Psalm 145:9

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: What is God like? God is holy, good, and loving.

CHRIST CONNECTION: Like God’s people, we all have sinful hearts that do not obey God
or love Him rightly. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God made a new covenant. Those who trust in Jesus have their sin forgiven and have the law written on their hearts.

STORY POINT: God promised His people a new covenant and forgiveness of sin forever.

AT HOME:

1. Why do Christians desire to obey God's commands? Read Ps. 119:127-128
2. Have you ever heard the saying ‘trust your heart?’ Is this good advice? What does the Bible say about trusting our heart? Read Mark 7:21-22
3. Why is the new covenant good news? Read Gal. 3:23-24

In a world where suffering seems relentless and persecution of believers continues across the globe, we desperately need assurance. We need to know that our faith isn't in vain, that there's a purpose behind our trials, and that someone greater than our circumstances is in control.

Revelation 7 offers exactly this kind of hope—not the false hope of a pain‑free life, but something far more substantial: the promise of divine preservation through whatever storms may come (Revelation 7:1–17).

The Promises God Actually Makes
We often misunderstand what God has promised us. In a culture saturated with prosperity‑gospel messages, many Christians expect God to shield them from all physical harm, financial difficulty, and emotional pain. When suffering inevitably arrives, they feel betrayed, as though God has broken His word.

But Scripture is clear: God never promised that His children would be insulated from the devastating consequences of physical harm or persecution in this world (cf. John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12). In fact, Jesus explicitly told us to pick up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)—and the cross is an instrument of excruciating torture, not a minor inconvenience.

What God does promise is far better than temporary physical comfort.


This means God never lets Christians down because He takes even the worst tragedies and transforms them into instruments of our spiritual growth and His glory.

Joseph understood this when he told his brothers,


The same God who orchestrated Joseph's redemption from the pit and the prison is still weaving the threads of our lives into a beautiful tapestry, even when all we can see is the tangled underside.

Sealed and Protected by the Lamb
Revelation 7 opens with a powerful image:


Before judgment falls, another angel appears with “the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2), commanding that God's servants be marked on their foreheads before any harm comes to the earth (Revelation 7:3).

Who are these sealed ones?

The passage describes 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4–8)—twelve times twelve times one thousand, a number symbolizing completeness and totality. Judah, the tribe of the Messianic King (Genesis 49; 1 Chronicles 5), is listed first, pointing us to Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). Dan and Ephraim are absent (Judges 18; 1 Kings 12; Hosea 4–14), with Joseph and Manasseh listed instead.

This is not a literal headcount of an exclusive group, but a symbolic representation of all believers who come from the Jewish people.

But the vision doesn’t stop there:


Together, these two groups—the numbered 144,000 from Israel and the innumerable multitude from every nation—represent the complete church of Jesus Christ: Jews and Gentiles united in faith, all marked by the seal of God (cf. Galatians 3:28; Romans 9–11; Ephesians 2:11–13).

What Is This Seal?
This seal is nothing less than the Holy Spirit Himself.


The Holy Spirit:


This seal doesn’t promise escape from physical suffering—many of the sealed ones in Revelation are martyrs (Revelation 6:9–11; 2:10; 19:9). It protects us from ultimate spiritual harm and guarantees that we will not be separated from Christ (Romans 8:37–39).

Satan, the great counterfeiter, mimics this reality. Later in Revelation, those who belong to the beast are marked on the forehead or hand (Revelation 13:16–18). This “mark of the beast” is a demonic parody of God’s seal, just as Satan constantly counterfeits what God creates as good—the rainbow of the Noahic covenant, for example (Genesis 9:8–17)—with twisted cultural symbols.

There are only two kingdoms: the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan (Colossians 1:13; John 8:44; 1 John 5:19). There is no third option.

Washed in the Blood of the Lamb
One of the elders in Revelation asks John about the multitude clothed in white robes:

“Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”
(Revelation 7:13)

The answer:How does blood make something white? This is the mystery and power of the cross.

At the cross of Calvary, the Son of God shed His blood so that scarlet‑stained sinners could be made clean. His blood:


Every Christian has been saved by blood that flows over our guilty stains like a cleansing flood.

The Lamb Who Is Our Shepherd
Perhaps the most beautiful turn in Revelation 7 is the transformation of imagery.

Earlier we see:
Now we see the Lamb who is our Shepherd:
This is:
The promised shepherd‑ruler of Micah 5:
What does this shepherd promise in Revelation 7?

“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.”
(Revelation 7:16)

No more hunger. No more thirst. No more scorching heat. No more tears.

These are future promises that will be fully realized in glory (Revelation 21–22), but they begin now—imperfectly, yet really—in the abundant life Jesus gives (John 10:10), even as we walk through suffering.

The Question That Matters
In a world of counterfeits, where Satan mimics and perverts everything good that God creates, we must ask a fundamental question:

Who is your shepherd?

Are you trying to shepherd yourself, relying on your own strength and wisdom?
Are you following the false shepherds of this world who promise comfort but deliver only emptiness (Jeremiah 2:13)?
Or have you surrendered to the good shepherd who gave His life for you (John 10:11)?

The reality is stark:

But here is the glorious news: no matter what you've done, no matter how far you've wandered, the good shepherd is calling you home. He stands ready to wash your robes white, to mark you as His own, to guide you to springs of living water (John 7:37–39).

Jesus wins.

That’s not just a future hope—it’s a present reality that should transform how we live today. Even in suffering, persecution, and cultural chaos, we can rest in the certainty that we belong to the good shepherd who will never let us go (John 10:27–29).

The question isn’t whether you’ll face trials. You will (John 16:33; 1 Peter 4:12–13).

The question is whether you’ll face them sealed and protected by the Lamb, washed in His blood, and shepherded by His unfailing love.

May 10, 2026
The Lamb Shepherds the Nations
Scripture: Revelation 7:1–17

In Revelation 7, we see the comforting and powerful truth that Jesus protects, preserves, and shepherds His people through every trial. Pastor Stu walks through the vision of the sealed 144,000, the countless multitude worshiping before the throne, and the promise that the Lamb Himself will wipe away every tear. This sermon explores suffering, perseverance, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the victory of Christ over evil. If you’ve ever wondered how Christians endure hardship in a broken world, this message will remind you that the Good Shepherd never abandons His people and always fulfills His promises.

The Lamb Shepherds the Nations
Revelation 7:1–17

Revelation 7 gives believers hope in the midst of suffering, persecution, and a world under judgment. Pastor Stu reminds us that God never promised Christians freedom from pain, but He does promise His presence, protection, and perseverance through it all. God seals His people through the Holy Spirit, preserving them in faith as they endure tribulation. The vision of the 144,000 and the great multitude reveals the complete redeemed people of God from every nation worshiping before the throne. Through the blood of the Lamb, believers are purified, protected, and shepherded by Jesus Himself—the Good Shepherd who wipes away every tear and leads His people safely home.

Takeaways

• God does not promise a life free from suffering, but He promises never to abandon His people.
• The Holy Spirit seals believers and preserves them through trials and persecution.
• Jesus saves and purifies people from every tribe, nation, and language through His blood.
• The Lamb who was slain is also our Shepherd-King who satisfies, protects, and leads His people forever.

Application for This Week
As followers of Jesus, we may often feel like exiles in a broken world, but Revelation 7 reminds us that we are not forgotten or abandoned. The Lamb who shed His blood for us now shepherds us with perfect care. No suffering, persecution, or hardship can separate us from His love. This week, rest in the assurance that Jesus holds His people securely and will one day wipe away every tear.

Devotional 1 — Sealed by the Spirit
Ephesians 1:13–14 - In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Reflection Question
How does knowing that God has sealed you with His Spirit strengthen your confidence during difficult seasons?
Prayer Prompt
Ask God to help you trust His preserving power and rest in the assurance that you belong to Him.

Devotional 2 — Washed White
Isaiah 1:18 - Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Reflection Question
What areas of guilt or shame do you need to surrender to the cleansing power of Christ?
Prayer Prompt
Thank Jesus for His blood that cleanses completely and ask Him to help you walk in freedom and holiness.

Devotional 3 — Nothing Can Separate Us
Romans 8:38–39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection Question
What fears or circumstances tempt you to doubt God’s love for you?
Prayer Prompt
Pray for faith to believe that Christ’s love remains constant even in suffering and uncertainty.

Devotional 4 — The Good Shepherd
John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Reflection Question
In what ways do you need Jesus to shepherd and guide you right now?
Prayer Prompt
Ask Jesus to lead you, provide for you, and help you follow His voice faithfully this week.

Revelation 7:1–17
Romans 8:28
Genesis 50:20
Romans 8:37–39
Ephesians 1:13–14
Revelation 9:4
Revelation 22:4
Ephesians 2:11–13
Romans 11:1–2, 7–8
Isaiah 1:18
John 10
Ezekiel 34
Micah 5:2–5