Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Read Revelation 6 - Passion Translation Read Revelation 6 - NIV The Seals 6 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. The Lamb (Jesus) opened the first seal, which was a portent of what was to come on the earth. One of the four living creatures (celestial beings with authority) whose voice was like thunder called a white horse to come out. The rider had a crown, which shows he was a saint who had received a crown for faithfulness. But his mission was one of conquest.  The breaking open of the seal allowed it to be read. (TPT) Horse signals victory and Jesus also appeared in white. (TPT) A bow could represent spiritual truth, not necessarily a miltary weapon. (TPT) Jesus came as a lamb but will come back as a conquering king. (TPT) If the ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Revelation 5 The Scroll and the Lamb 5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Since this letter written by John is called "Revelation", it makes sense that at the center of this book is the "revelation" of God's perfect future plan in writing. Because of the divine nature of the scroll, someone would have to have to have the proper authority to open it.  Literally no human perso...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Revelation 4   Click Here to Read the TPT (The Passion Translation) The Throne in Heaven 4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Whereas Jo...

revelation 3 All quotations in italics are from David Guzik's Enduring Word Commentary unless otherwise noted.  To the Church in Sardis 3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. The church in Sardis: At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet it was a wealthy city, situated at the junction of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money – easy money – was well known in the ancient world. This city w...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Revelation 2 Passion Translation Click On Bubbles to Read Study Notes (David Guzik) The letters to the seven churches share a similar structure. They each feature: · An address to a particular congregation. · An introduction of Jesus. · A statement regarding the condition of the church. · A verdict from Jesus regarding the condition of the church. · A command from Jesus to the church. · A general exhortation to all Christians. · A promise of reward. We can see the state of each of these seven churches – and the state of our own walk with Jesus – by looking at what Jesus has to say to each church in each section. To the Church in Ephesus 2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles b...

Overview of Revelation - Insight for Living Introduction to Revelation - TPT Click Here to Read or Listen Revelation 1 Prologue 1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. The word "revelation" is the same word for "apocalypse" or "unveiling". This author is the apostle John, the beloved disciple, who wrote the gospel of John and three epistles 1, 2, and 3 John. John was a lead pastor/elder at the church in Ephesus and oversaw many other churches in Asia Minor, which we will hear about in Revelation 2.  Notice this letter is a direct revelation of Jesus to John, who was in exile on ...

Introduction to Letter of Jude - Insight for Living Click Here to Read or LIsten to Jude 1 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude was the half-brother of Jesus. Jesus had four half-brothers according to the gospels. One of them is named "Judas". Most scholars assume Jude's formal name was Judas, whose name was shortened for obvious reasons. I.e. Not being associated with Judas the betrayer Jude's letter has many similarities with 2 Peter, so people assume he wrote around 64-67 A.D. His audience is " those who have been called ". This is why it is called a "general epistle" The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to...

Introduction to 3 John - Insight for Living Click Here to Read or Listen to 3 John 1 The elder,  To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.  2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Once again the author identifies himself as the "elder". This time he is writing to a specfic person, "Gaius" who is probably a leader in one of the churches in Asia Minor. This kind of greeting makes it pretty certain that the apostle John is the author. This letter is written around 90-100 A.D., so John would have been up in age maybe in his 90's. He was on the island of Patmos, where he also wrote the book of Revelation.  We can see a lot of the language he uses is very ...

Background on 2 John - Insight for Living Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 John 1 The elder,  To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:  3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. The elder was someone who oversaw the church. Historically people think this was the apostle John, although John identified himself in the gospel of John and 1 John, so not sure why he would do that here. Others think it is a leader of the church.  The "lady" is generally considered to be a personification of something or someone most likely the church. Paul called the church, "the bride of Christ", which is also feminine. John focuses again on the idea of "truth', which he emphasizes in all of his other letters too. This is the truth that John has been te...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 John 5 Faith in the Incarnate Son of God 5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. John again links believing in Jesus with obeying God's commands. Obeying his commands is one of the primary ways we show God we love him. You have heard a parent say, " If you love me you would obey me."  This can be manipulative but in essence it is true. If we know obeying God's commands pleases Him, then if we love God, we should want to obey His commands. And, it shows we trus...