Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong sing “Hallelujah”.

Scripture
Hallelujah! Revelation 19:1

Observation
There are two Bible words common across all languages on the globe. One is “amen” and the other is “hallelujah”. The second one, hallelujah, is so common that  we could easily think that it is freely sprinkled throughout the whole Bible. But it is not.

In fact, Jewish rabbis, teach that the word hallelujah was never used until the prophet Haggai. They consider him the author of Psalms 105-108, or the Hallelujah Collection.

The word does not pop up again in a prominent way until the last book of the Bible, Revelation.

This is where the story gets very interesting. Haggai and chapter 19 of Revelation have one thing in common: they are both written after the destruction of all that is precious yet in a time of hope that all will soon be rebuilt. Haggai is cheering on the construction of the second temple and Revelation 19 is all about the beautiful city that God will build out of the ashes of human civilization.

Application
So with both John and Haggai, the word “hallelujah” was saved as a fog horn of praise after the hardest events anyone can pass through. Here then is the hope for us: the best word to use at the end of a hard day is this word: hallelujah! It is the word that pierces through gloom and despondency and lets a ray of hope come through the grey skies. Hallelujah! Let that word punch through our days of discouragement. Hallelujah! Amen!

(It’s also interesting to note that this word is not just directed to the Lord in praise to him, it is also designed to have an effect on others. It is as much a command to others to get busy to praise the Lord as it is a shout of praise to Yahweh. Hallelujah should always be followed with an exclamation mark! If I make the choice to praise at the end of a hard day, they I will give permission for others to do the same.)

Prayer
Father, help me to remember that the last word after a hard day is this precious word, “Hallelujah”!

Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong United sing “Take it All” as you read today’s devotion on future young leaders.

Scripture
Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame. Revelation 14:1-5

Observation
Many suppose that as the world continually decomposes morally that there is little hope for the youth of today. Purity and innocence are a novelty. I heard a counsellor say just this past week, that she estimated 95% of Christian men are involved with porn to some degree. That shocked even me, and I thought I was hardened to reality. It would seem that the last generations before the return of Christ, even among Christians, will be the worst.

But the book of Revelation gives a more hopeful picture, for it seems God will save his best until last. In the inky blackness of the most debauch days on planet earth, he will select for himself a band unlike any around them. They are called the “144,000″. There is so much speculation about the number, but the emphasis in the passage is on their character.

First, they sing a wonderful new song with the sound of many harpists.
Second, they are sexually pure.
Third, they follow Jesus in everything.
Fourth, they speak the truth and do not lie.
Fifth, they are pure in intention.

The best will be saved until last. These select young leaders exist not because they are good, but because God desires to be glorified. He calls them out of the dark generation to serve him and so to give himself glory.

Application
This passage should give us hope that no matter how dark the moral climate may be that God will still be glorified from human lives, especially the young. The future is clear: the world is going to go from bad to worse, but the church will be shine better than ever. There is in this passage a call that I must make to the next generation of leaders to come out from the age around us and to embrace the call that Jesus has.

Prayer
Father, may it start here, today, at this table, where I am surrounded with so many young leaders. May they become those called out of darkness into your glorious light. Amen.