During the reign of Domitian, the Romans used the Isle of Patmos as a place of exile for those who committed crimes. Due to the preaching of the gospel of Christ, John, the beloved disciple, was exiled there. In the chaos of His circumstances, he was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Revelation 1:9-11 NIV
Today I spent my time shopping and because I usually love it, I found it strange that the last thing I wanted to do was be out anywhere. Still I went, and although no one could see it, the chaos of my soul was begging for time alone. So tonight after after we watched the Lorax by Dr. Suess, I headed for my room. My family was preparing for Cars 2 while I was reaching for my hymnal. I couldn’t believe the cries of my heart couldn’t be heard by others, and I needed my audience of One.
As I worshipped through the hymnal, I felt my soul was distracted, but still striving for peace I sang on. I sang for a good forty-five minutes until I had some measure of real worship coming from my heart. Then when my voice was tired, I just laid back and said, God I need thee. Here I am alone with you, and I need revelation about an audience of One.
Softly and tenderly He whispered over my heart the remembrance of John on the Isle of Patmos. There John was, in exile, with criminals who had committed all sorts of crimes, and John was there for preaching about Jesus Christ. Just imagine for a moment the idolotrous people he was surrounded by, and those who were criminally insane, imagine the circumstances surrounding Him. Yet, during this stay on an island, alone in a cave most likely, John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He was having church with an audience of One.
In that audience of One he obtained the revelation of Jesus Christ. This was a disciple who walked on the earth before Christ’s resurection. He ate, slept, and ministered alongside Jesus night and day for years, but the greatest revelation of His life was received on an island alone in a cave. In a place that must have been filled with utter chaos, He found a way into the presence of the audience of One.
Due to His diligence and faithfulness to worship during his exile regardless of others who did not, John was able to receive the disclosure of the One he worshipped. This disclosure was not only for Him, but for those of us who would come to believe, and for those who do not. Imagine how John’s witness changed that day. Imagine you were Him, and you were given this awesome enlightening about Jesus, and what was to come. He received encouragement for those of us who follow Christ, judgment for those who don’t, and an understanding that scared Him to life. He was told to share what was revealed, and yet he was also told not to share some of it.
Unlike John, you and I did not receive the book of Revelation, but we do receive revelation from God about who He is. We may at times receive encouragement, at times receive conviction from the One who judges, at times receive something to share, and at others, things we must keep to ourselves. We can do what John did to receive the disclosure. We just get alone with our audience of One, be faithful in worship regardless of our circumstances, and God says,
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
Well what did my chaotic soul do for me today? It drove me to my audience of One! When you are in a chaotic state of soul, go to the LORD, Beloved. He doesn’t cause that chaos, but He can use it to reveal mighty things you do not know. ❤ Melinda
Another Samaritan Woman 