Words of encouragement from the dealings of God with our soul, from Revelation chapter 11 at the Ness Glen, Loch Doon, Ayrshire. 

A part of the TruthTrek series of devotional medications from the book of Revelation

Dr J Stewart Gillespie reflects on the grace of God in Revelation chapter 11, as he examines the patience and persistence of a God who reaches out to mankind, time and time and again. 

A message presented in the shadow of the Falkirk Kelpies 

Stewart Gillespie shares a message from the black and white, life and death, contrasts of Revelation chapter 11, where men are called on to chose between good and evil, God and Satan. A message shared at the Falkirk Wheel.

In the pre TikTok days before men lived for likes and posed for popularity biblical revelation left it's human authors exposed not to fame and fortune but infamy, poverty and death. Men spoke even when the burden they had was deeply unpopular or just bizarre and outlandish in the social and economic context in which it was revelled. These men spoke not to gain followers nor build a religion but they signed their own death warrants at times because they were utterly convinced that through them God spoke. This resulted in many recorded revelations which at the time seemed contradictory and implausible. Revelation chapter 9 contains a prediction of global military conflict involving armies totalling 200 million men! At the time this was written the world population was short of this by about 20 million! Today however it is reckoned that the world could mobilise about 1 billion people to participate in a war effort and  China alone could muster an army of at least 200 million! 

In retrospect these ancient impossibilities have crystallised into fully fledged realities. A child born of a virgin (Isaiah chp 7), a ruler born who has always been (Micah 5) and God pierced and gazed upon (Zechariah 12) all make sense to us now with the birth, death and saving resurrection of God's Son Jesus Christ. These deep mysteries find their answer in the deepest mystery of all; Jesus Christ! Do you know Him? God's message is a person. God's salvation is in a person; Jesus Christ! 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

TruthTrek 

There was never a created being that exceeded the glory and power of Lucifer and there was never a fall that surpassed his from the heights of heaven to the depths of hell. No one can ever take solace in place nor position. No one is impervious to pride and the catastrophe which follows thereafter. Revelation chapter 9 describes Heaven's greatest disappointment with the fall of the morning star and earth experiences the impact at ground zero, an impact of death, disaster and destruction. Whilst Satan disappointed heaven he could not frustrate the purposes of God. The carnage and destruction he reeks on this world is the prelude to the establishment of God's Kingdom upon this earth. It is so often darkest before the storm. Let us take solace that darkness cannot defeat the light, nor can the smoke of hell choke out the life of God. If God can prove Himself sovereign over Satan, He is sovereign over all catastrophe, suffering and disappointment.

Dr J Stewart Gillespie @ graceinchrist.org

In the window period between birth and death our life's experience tells us that generally we get what we strive after. Life teaches us that there is no gain without pain, that respect has to be earned and wages must be worked for. Life also teaches us however that some goals will always be out with our reach. Ladders will take you so high but don't try and build one to the moon. Saving hard and working hard may fund the cost of a car or even a home but for almost all us Buckingham Palace will be well beyond our reach! Strangely a common religious philosophy pins it's hope on attaining the eternal and infinite by self effort! If some of earths material wealth is out with our reach how hard would we have to strive to gain eternal life and access to heaven? The religious logic here just doesn't add up! Jesus turns these philosophical ideas of religion upside down. It was Jesus who:

1. Raised the standard we aim for, "God only is good" the Lord Jesus told the young man striving to impress God! Goodness and perfection are scarce commodities when assessed by the eye of God.
2. Jesus forgive sins! Earning a right to heaven is hardly compatible with a need for forgiveness!
3. Jesus did not get what he deserved, He died the just and perfect for us the sinner. The assumption that we get what we deserve from God is unwarranted, His Son broke the rule here. 

The apostle Paul, brings these ideas together here in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. Sin has wages, earned and gained. Sin brings us to death. It is infinitely easier to bring a man from life to death than it is to bring a man from death to life! Such a movement in the opposite and unnatural direction depends on the grace of God. It is the "gift of God" that is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A video recorded on the banks of Loch Ken by Dr J Stewart Gillespie

A message preached at the Bible Stone, near Muirkirk and the Cairn Table by Dr J Stewart Gillespie from the text of Matthew chapter 11 verse 28; "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Filmed at the Covenanters Memorial to Richard Cameron and 8 others on the Cumnock to Muirkirk Road, Dr J Stewart Gillespie reflects on the history of faith, martyrdom and hope from Revelation chapter 9.

Psalm 23 on the banks of the Afton dam at the foot of Benbreoch and Cannock Hill

Tears are precious and powerful, sometimes our eyes are the most open when they are the firmly clouded by tears! It is the tears of God's people on Revelation chapter 7 that give them a profound insight and appreciation of Gods sovereign power and wisdom, worked out through history and in our lives personally. A message of hope preached on the banks of Loch Garry and on the foothills of Meall Na Leitreach.

Yours by God's Grace in Christ

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

A short message preached by J Stewart Gillespie from Matthew chapter 11 verse 28:

"Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest'"

Preached in the ruins of the Auld Kirk, New Cumnock which is the setting of the Robert Burns poem; 'The Kirk's Alarm' and the church of the Reverend James Young. 

Tragedy to Triumph by the Truth Route - JS Gillespie - a message for Easter

From the Corson Cone Hill, New Cumnock.

TruthTrek through Cairnsmore of Carsphairn 

TruthTrek through Cairnsmore of Carsphairn 

The other side of the throne of God is seen in Revelation chapter 6. We must chose how it is we want to know and experience God. As the righteous ruler? As the sacrifice for our sin? As one who understands and sympathises as man? As one who is able and willing to lift us up to the heights of Glory? Would we wish to reject God in all of His Grace and Glory and in His place chose tyranny and dictatorship? Chose slaughter and suffering? Chose the demonic that will drag us to the depths of hell? In reality every day is a decision and those decisions change our destiny. Let us be wise in the choice that we make. "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Let us choose Christ and choose life.

Dr J Stewart Gillespie @ graceinchrist.org