GOD Morning! December 19 / Guilt Trip

GOD Morning!

December 19 / Guilt Trip

Revelation 10

10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, robed in a cloud, with a [halo like a] rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his feet (legs) were like columns of fire.

² He had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,

The angel was holding the Bible!

³ And he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring of a lion; and when he had shouted, the seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words.

⁴ And when the seven thunders had spoken (sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!

⁵ Then the [mighty] angel whom I had seen stationed on sea and land raised his right hand to heaven (the sky),

⁶ And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens (sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay,

⁷ But that when the days come when the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then God’s mystery (His secret design, His hidden purpose), as He had announced the glad tidings to His servants the prophets, should be fulfilled (accomplished, completed).

⁸ Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke again to me, saying, Go and take the little book (scroll) which is open on the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.

⁹ So I went up to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it. It will embitter your stomach, though in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.

¹⁰ So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was embittered.

The sweetness represents the beautiful gospel. The bitterness represents conviction and the judgment of God when the message is not received.

¹¹ Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy concerning many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings.

Yes, the Bible is refreshing to our soul! At first. But as we look into the mirror of God’s word, we sometimes don’t like what we see. The bitterness comes when we reject the conviction of God.

Then there’s a separation between us and God. An uncomfortable silence.

John 16:8 (NEB) "When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world, and show where right and wrong and judgment lie. He will convict them of wrong..."

Mat 10:34 (NAS) "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

2 Cor 2:15-16 (Phi) We Christians have the unmistakable "scent" of Christ, discernible alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death. To the latter it seems like the deathly smell of doom, to the former it has the refreshing fragrance of life itself.

Eph 5:11,13 (NIV) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose [YLT: convict] them... Everything exposed by the light becomes visible.

1 Jn 1:8-10 (Phi) If we refuse to admit that we are sinners, then we live in a world of illusion and the truth becomes a stranger to us. But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find him reliable and just--he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil. For if we say "we have not sinned", we are making him a liar and cut ourselves off from what he has to say to us.

All we need to do is repent… a guilt trip that is actually encouraged in God’s word!

2 Cor 7:8-11 (NIV) Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while--yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you...

Ezra 9:6 (NIV) "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens."

Luke 18:13-14 (Phi) "But the tax collector stood in a distant corner, scarcely daring to look up to Heaven, and with a gesture of despair, said, 'God, have mercy on a sinner like me.' I assure you that he was the man who went home justified in God's sight..."

Ecc 7:2-4 (NIV) It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Ps 13:1-2 (NIV) How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?...

The joy at the end of the guilt trip is sweeter than honey!

Jer 31:9,12-13 (NIV) "They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble... They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord... They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

Zeph 3:15-19 (NAS) The Lord has taken away His judgments against you... "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. The Lord your God is in your midst... He will exult over you with joy... He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy... I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth."

Isa 51:11-12,14 (NIV) "The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. I, even I, am he who comforts you... The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread."

Isa 60:1-2,4-5 (NIV) "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you... Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy..."

Isa 60:20 (NIV) Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Are you on a guilt trip? Don’t be afraid of this awful feeling. Embrace the pain of guilt. Bring your guilt to Jesus. Jesus encourages you to come and work it out with Him! Your shame plus His grace equals mercy and forgiveness!!! Plus indescribable joy!

Let’s pray together!

“Dear God, I am guilt tripping right now. At first, I was enjoying the sweetness of Your word. Suddenly, it became bitter. I started to feel sin sick. Please deliver me from this awful sickness. Make me clean. Transform me, Oh God! I want to be changed from the inside out! I desire intimacy with You once again. Make me whole! I want that first love joy back, O God! Please accept my humble repentance! In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.”