The Fruit of Your Patmos | Revelation or Woe

⁹ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 1:9

As unpleasant as it is to suffer, there are unique virtues & testimonies that can only be produced in the furnace of trials. _{James 1:12. 2 Cor 1:8-9, Rom 5:3-5}

It is always Christ’s hope that we ‘persevere’ (suffer well) in the season of divinely allotted trials bequeathed for us; that the Holy Spirit may from it chronicle the faithfulness and goodness of God corroborated in our speech, conduct and attitude toward others even in the midst of our pains.

John the beloved was exiled to suffer in the isle of Patmos and the fruit of his long-suffering was to chronicle the revelations of Jesus Christ in 22 chapters and release the letters to the 7 Churches.

Currently in your own Patmos experience, what Christ exalting fruit and life imparting revelation is being channeled through you?

Key questions John’s Patmos experience forces us to consider in the course of our long-suffering:

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

• In the midst of the trauma and pain, what records am i compiling in the journal of my heart? records of hurts? records of God’s visitations and comfort?

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

• What ‘words of my mouth & meditations of my heart’ are being recorded in the journal of my experiences?
• What does it confer on those who read the script of your life as they begin their own exile into Patmos? Will they draw strength from it or will it weaken them?

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

• Being set in the company of brethren narrating your ‘story so far’, is it water and blood oozing from my wounds or poison and bile? ^{John 19:34}

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

• Who do men behold when they hear my tales?: God? Satan? Flesh?
• What fruit does it birth in them? Awe of God? Fear of Satan? Pity of man?

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

• Do i remain a brother and companion among brethren? or have i become wholly consumed by my trial to the point of detachment?

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

• How often have I been ‘in the Spirit’ during these times of trial? Or have i been too often weighed down to ascend?!
• What voice(s) have i been hearkening to? the voice of condemnation? despair? hope?
• What spirit has predominantly gone forth from me? (In my words + conduct) ^{Job 26:4}

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

• Isolated like Moses on the mountain for 40 days, have i seen enough of Jesus to be more closely conformed to his image? that upon my emergence from this season of trial, brethren can behold the glory of God upon my face and likewise become more conformed?

SUMMATION

Are you suffering in waiting? Are you suffering in marriage? In ministry? In your career? In your family?.
It is part of the legacy Jesus bequeaths us in the path to glory. Paul calls it ‘the sufferings of the present time’.
For if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with him. Romans 8:17

When David suffered, the journals of His trials were presented as Psalms to the Chief Musician of Israel and became great pointers to the nature and goodness of God to a man and to His nation.

Have we seen places we need adjustment in our heart posture as we pass through the season of trials and tribulations?

May the Lord show us mercy and work out any tales of woe into glorious revelations of His nature.

Amen