Revelation 4-5

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 28, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Revelation 4-5. These chapters cover a throne room scene where John beholds the worship of heaven and the worthy lamb. Representatives of all creation and all God’s people join in worship and bow down to the lamb who was slain. This scene is a blueprint for worship and the model for what all the earth will look like at the second coming of Jesus.

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Reflect

1. Are you willing to take Jesus’s invitation, and ask Him to show you the heavenly perspective of what is happening in your life and in the world around you?

2. The 24 elders on the 24 thrones represent all God’s people for all time. No one is stressed or worrying, but rather calm, seated and having total confidence in God. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal areas of your life in which you have allowed worry or stress to supersede your complete confidence in Him.

3. Those seated on their thrones rise up and cast down their crowns as an act of worship and surrender. What do you need to rise up from or cast down in order to worship the One True God?

4. In Revelation 5, the lamb is a representation of Jesus. He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross and set the example for His people to follow. Are you willing to humble yourself, be submitted to God’s authority and do what He asks of you?

5. Ask the Lord to give you the desire to be deeper in His word, spend time in prayer and seek to have His heavenly perspective. We must not make this world and it’s comforts our focus, but rather live with eternity in mind.

Revelation 3

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 21, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Revelation 3. This chapter includes the final three letters from Jesus to His church. Out of seven churches, only two are faithfully enduring in obedience to God’s Word. They are suffering persecution while the remaining five struggle with false teachers or drifting toward irrelevance. Jesus calls all His churches to turn from their sin and back to Him, but many are overwhelmed with success or false doctrine and ultimately refuse His knocking at their door.

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Reflect

1. Read Revelation chapter 3 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants to speak to you today. The beauty of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit who lives inside us is that we can read Scripture daily, and it becomes new each time. Not because we are reading something different, but because the Spirit who lives inside us reveals what we need when we need it.

2. Jesus’ assertion to the church of Sardis was they had a reputation of being alive, but He declared they were dead. Are there any ways you outwardly appear alive, but inwardly you are asleep?

3. Jesus’ message to the Church of Sardis was to remember what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. What is Christ speaking to you today? Where is He calling you to repent?

4. Jesus promises those who conquer will be clothed in white garments, and He will never blot their names out of the book of life. We are not called to prevail in our strength. Spend time in prayer asking God to empower you to walk in obedience, awake to what He is doing, and in complete surrender to His plan.

5. Read Isaiah 22:15-25 and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart to understand His Old Testament words in a new way; not a different way, but an exciting understanding of seeing Jesus from the very first word of Scripture, throughout the middle and to the very end.

6. Jesus’ assertion to the church of Laodicea was they were neither hot nor cold; they were lukewarm. Their identity was not from Jesus but their city. Where is your identity found? Are you trying to buy “healing” from the world or Jesus?

Revelation 2

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 14, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Revelation 2. This chapter includes four of the seven letters to the churches. Jesus commends the churches for staying faithful, walking in love, and enduring in persecution. However, some of the churches have given in to cultural pressure to compromise. Other churches have forsaken their first love. Jesus calls the churches to repent of their sin and overcome darkness.

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Reflect

1. The Lord knows and sees our hearts as we live out our daily lives. Pray and ask Him to reveal in you any area of your life that is not lining up with His word. Are your priorities in order?

2. Do you remember when you first met Jesus? Since that time, have you abandoned your first love?

3. Our obedience is out of our love for Him. We don’t get to choose what we obey or not obey. Selective obedience causes us to look like the world instead of Christ. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life where you have compromised your faith and witness by trying to be friends with this world.

4. Scripture teaches us that we will have tribulations and be tested in this life. Are you willing to live out your faith no matter the cost? Are you willing to be faithful to Christ, even unto death?

5. The church in Pergamum allowed false teachers to deceive them. Have you allowed the teachings of this world to lull you into idolatry? In what ways are you trying to “hold hands” with Jesus and the world?

6. The church in Thyatira was seduced into sexual immorality. Ask the Lord to reveal any areas where you have been seduced by the world to compromise and no longer see sexual sin as sin?

Revelation 1

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 7, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Revelation 1. In the late first century, the Apostle John was exiled to Patmos. Rome was persecuting Christians and the church was experiencing massive tribulation. An angel visited John and gave him a revelation of Jesus Christ, and instructed John to share the revelation with the church. Chapter one covers a robust theology of God from the Old Testament and a picture of Jesus as divine warrior. This image of Jesus is meant to comfort and convict the church. We serve a victorious God who instructs us to fear not.

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Reflect

1. In your quiet time this week, will you sit quietly in God's presence, letting the imagery of Jesus, as described by John in Revelation, fill your mind? Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart, eyes, and mind to Jesus. Not the Jesus the world describes, but Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of kings on earth, with hair like white wool, eyes like a flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze.

2. Will you surrender the thrones you have created and allow Jesus Christ to live and rule in your heart and life? Will you spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what those "thrones" are that need to be torn down?

3. Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written..." Are you reading the Word of God and keeping what is written?

4. If Jesus returned today, would He find you awake or asleep? Awake to His work, His Kingdom, or asleep, hiding in fear, looking for the comforts of life?

5. We conclude this week's devotion where we started, will you stare into the fiery eyes of Jesus and be undone? Meditate fully on the authority of Jesus and let that rule your mind.

Love and Discernment - 3 John

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 31, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 3 John. The Apostle John wrote this letter to a faithful church member named Gaius. This man’s love and hospitality became an example for everyone to follow. However, John mentions another man whose example was not worth following. These two examples helped the early church understand the virtue of discernment. Some men are worth following, but others are not. We need discernment to know who is walking with genuine faith, and we need discernment for healthy, Biblical correction.

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Reflect

1. Do you find yourself struggling with the ability to discern right from wrong? What issues or in what areas of your life are you experiencing this struggle?

2. Where are you seeking the answers? Are you spending time in God’s word each day to discern the truth?

3. In 3 John we see a man named Gaius who walked in the truth, filled others with joy and showed hospitality to others. What do you think others see when they look at your life?

4. John shows us the contrast between Gaius’ life and Diotrephes’ life. Diotrephes put himself first, spread rumors, wicked talk, was not hospitable, was condemning and manipulative. Do you find yourself struggling with any of these issues? If so, repent and ask God to guide your footsteps toward humility.

5. We must imitate God and not evil. We must not listen to, follow or imitate those who claim to follow Christ and do not reflect His character. Who are you listening to? Do you believe what others tell you or do you check it against God’s word?

6. Discernment shows us the difference between right and wrong and how to respond. There may be times when we are called to have tough conversations with another believer, and other times we are called to not speak. These conversations are best done privately. Pray and ask the Lord if there is someone He desires for you to talk with or if He is asking you to simply pray about the situation.

Love and Discernment - 2 John

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 24, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 John. The Apostle John wrote this letter at the end of the 1st century and his goal was to remind the church to walk in love. False teachers were trying to deceive the early church and bring division among the members. John’s letter encourages believers to love one another through faithful obedience to Jesus.

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Reflect

1. How will you discern what the real truth is? If we are not in the Word, we won’t be able to discern Biblical truth from false doctrine. How much time are you spending in God’s Word?

2. Out of the understanding of the real truth of who Jesus is – (“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE...” John 14:6), we are taught that truth and love are inseparable in the Christian life. We are instructed to love each other. In what ways is the Holy Spirit leading you to love Him and others?

3. John tells us that if we love God, we should obey Him and keep His commandments. In what ways is the Lord speaking to you about walking in His commandments? Is there an area in your life that needs to be surrendered to what He is asking you to do?

4. If we spend time in God’s Word, praying and seeking Him, we will better recognize the counterfeit when we encounter it. Pray and ask God to show you His truth in His Word, to love Him more, follow His commandments, love others with His love and give you the discernment to recognize false doctrine.

Psalms of Ascent | Psalm 132-134

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 17, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Psalm 132-134. These are the final chapters in the Psalms of Ascent. They cover the themes of identity, unity, and worship. These themes are tied together with the rich history of the Hebrew people and serve as an invitation to participate in this identity.

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1. David’s life’s goal was to find a place where God would be among His people. Prayerfully reflect on your life’s mission. Is it to be in a close relationship with God?

2. We see in this Psalm; that David’s actions prompted the entire nation to worship. Does your life influence others in this way?

3. Will you commit to going to God’s dwelling place and worshiping at His footstool? Worship is not meant for just Sunday corporate gatherings. Worship should fill our lives.

4. I love learning to pray through Scripture. Psalm 132:8-12 teaches us to pray. Will you pray this prayer over your family and Red Hills Church? O LORD, visit us with your presence again, clothe your priests in righteousness, let the people shout for joy!

5. Psalm 133 gives the imagery of unity as a precious oil running down the head, beard, collar, and robe; nothing it doesn’t touch. Do your life and actions bring unity or division? Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to any ways you are not walking in biblical unity, whether in your family or His church.

6. And as we closed this week’s service, I can’t think of a better way to complete this devotion than by spending time in unabandoned worship to our King Jesus! Will you worship Him in song and truth?

Psalms of Ascent | Psalm 130-131

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 10, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Psalm 130-131. These chapters continue the Psalms of Ascent and cover the themes of repentance and rest. The Psalmist gives us a picture of crying out to God in the middle of chaos and waiting for His steadfast love to cover him with forgiveness. The Psalmist also outlines the necessary steps to live a peaceful life before God. These steps include a heart not lifted up, eyes no raised too high, and a mind not occupied with the cares of this world.

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Reflect

1. Are there any blessings God has given you that has slowly transitioned into idols or validation trophies? Will you spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart, and as He leads, will you repent and lay those at the feet of Jesus?

2. What are the things you choose to meditate on? Do those things lead you to peace or chaos?

3. Are you waiting and hoping in the Lord, with the image of watchmen waiting in the night? Or is your hope in something or someone else?

4. Are you living in a way where you think more highly of yourself than you ought? Are you driven for more of this world?

5. Prayerfully reflect on where you spend your time; does it reflect what is in your scope following what Jesus has for you? Is there anything that is out of scope that you need to surrender and remove from your life?

6. Prayerfully reflect on who is modeling repentance and peaceful living in your life. Are you living this way? How can you invite others to follow in your footsteps?