Selah Session with Pastor Carlos

Psalm 34:18 is a well-known verse in the Bible that says,

The phrase "brokenhearted" refers to a state of deep

But Psalm 34:18 offers a message of hope and comfort. It

The verse also says that God saves those who are crushed in

Ultimately, Psalm 34:18 points us to the character of God as

vision of the sealing of the 144,000 and the great multitude that no one can number. In this study, we

will examine each of these chapters, seeking to understand their significance and application for our

lives today.

1. Revelation 4:1-11 - The Vision of the Throne Room of God

• What does John see in his vision of the throne room of God (vv. 2-6)?

• What is the significance of the creatures and elders worshiping around the throne (vv. 8-11)?

• How can we apply this vision of the throne room of God to our lives today?

2. Revelation 5:1-14 - The Vision of the Lamb Who Was Slain

• What is the significance of the scroll with seven seals (v. 1)?

• Who is worthy to open the scroll (v. 5)?

• What is the response of the creatures and elders to the Lamb who was slain (vv. 8-14)?

• How can we apply this vision of the Lamb who was slain to our lives today?

3. Revelation 6:1-17 - The Opening of the Seals

• What are the events that take place when the first four seals are opened (vv. 2-8)?

• What are the events that take place when the fifth seal is opened (vv. 9-11)?

• What are the events that take place when the sixth seal is opened (vv. 12-17)?

• How can we apply this vision of the opening of the seals to our lives today?

4. Revelation 7:1-8 - The Sealing of the 144,000

• Who are the 144,000 that are sealed (v. 4)?

• What is the significance of the sealing of the 144,000 (vv. 2-3, 9-10)?

• How can we apply this vision of the sealing of the 144,000 to our lives today?

5. Revelation 7:9-17 - The Great Multitude

• Who is the great multitude that John sees (vv. 9-10)?

• What is the significance of the great multitude (vv. 13-17)?

• How can we apply this vision of the great multitude to our lives today?

Conclusion:

The visions in Chapters 4-7 of Revelation provide a glimpse into the end times and the events that will

take place. They remind us of the majesty and power of God, the sacrificial work of the Lamb who was

slain, and the hope that we have in Him. As we seek to apply these visions to our lives today, may we be

encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, to live in readiness for His return, and to share the good news

of salvation with others.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

I grew up hearing that old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

What a lie! The kids in school always made fun of me because I was from the country. They made fun of me because I didn’t know how to speak English at the time. Sometimes, my nickname was “A racial slur.”

 Many times as Christians, we believe we should be “stronger than that.” Often from past teaching or from a lack of understanding, we are convinced that, as Christians, we should not come under the attack of depression or hopelessness. On the other hand, unbelievers sometimes feel as if they deserve to be in darkness because they don’t believe in a higher power or they are not “living right.” Sometimes we are embarrassed to talk about our feelings of sadness and despair and deep, deep depression. And to make matters worse, some of our Christian counterparts accuse us of not seeking God enough or of having sin in our life. 

I remember the night that I literally gave up. I had been doing much better with the depression and my wrecked life. I assumed I was okay, but I was not. That night, I lost the desire to fight. Curling down into a fetal position, I felt the darkness sinking in. Tears spilled over each eyelid and fiercely rolled down my cheeks and neck. I felt tight in my chest like something heavy was pressing against it. “It’s too much,” I thought to myself. “It’s too much.” It seemed as if I was no longer breathing, and why should I try? It was better this way. Someone would find me in the morning. I would die a natural death, depressed and alone.

Mental disorders are both common and disabling worldwide. They affect beliefs, emotions, identity, and relationships in such a way as to impact the very essence of the human experience. They are associated with stigma and prejudice, and they disproportionately affect those who are poor and those who belong to marginalized groups within society. Increasing attention has been given in recent years to the importance of spirituality for mental health, but in research, it is impossible to distinguish between spirituality and the psychological variables that it purports to influence. Those things that are identified as being the concerns of mental health professionals overlap significantly with the concerns of religion. This overlap is examined here in relationship to the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the mission, ministry, and teaching of Jesus. It is proposed that Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God was centrally concerned with things that we now consider to be the domain of mental health. For Christians, mental health may be understood as the ability to fulfill a vocation within the kingdom of God. A more critical theological understanding of mental health is needed to better inform the mission of the Church

One of the most often quoted and deeply treasured New Testament Bible verses is Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28, NLT).

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3