“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” [1]
The people wanted to make a name for themselves rather than to do as they were designed to do which was to glorify the Name of the Lord. They wanted to concentrate in one place rather than propagate as they were mandated by God to do: “Be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” [2]
It’s kind of like people living in rebellion against God and at the same time claiming the rainbow as a promise that He will not destroy the earth by flood again. No, He will not but He will destroy it by fire…
“For this they willfully forget: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” [3]
What became of the tower of rebellion that the people built? It’s gone. What was its fruit? Babel! “Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” [4]
Immediately following Babel, God provides for us an example of a man who left his homeland to spread out and fill the earth. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” [5]
Abram honored God and God honored him. God blessed him and promised to bless those who blessed him. In Abram, the families of the earth would be blessed. Why? Because one of his descendants is Jesus Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and …there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the Name of the Lord.” [6]
Abram honored the Lord. He did not want to make a name for himself. He wanted to glorify the Name of the Lord. Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” [7] God honors the one who serves Jesus. In fact, God honors communities and nations that serve Jesus.
The alternative to honoring and serving God is to serve the devil.
The devil is a thief and destroyer. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” [8]
Judas Iscariot was duped by the devil to betray Jesus. He also stole money from the Lord. He led a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, to arrest his Messiah. [9] In the end, he was destroyed.
Sadly, many choose to listen to the devil’s lies against the Lord. This was the case when our Lord was crucified. The religious leaders and their followers cried against Jesus saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.” [10]
Let us be like Abram and like the eleven disciples of Jesus who did not betray Him. Who were not duped by the devil! Let us ever walk with Jesus and follow His example pure.
[1] Genesis 11:1, 4
[2] Genesis 9:7
[3] 2 Peter 3:5-7
[4] Genesis 11:9
[5] Genesis 12:1-3
[6] Genesis 12:7-8
[7] John 12:26
[8] John 10:10
[9] John 12:6; 13:27, 18:3
[10] John 18:40
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Living Carefully and Care-filled
“He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.” [1]
Elisha wanted to see Elijah ascend to heaven so that he would receive a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. [2]
The disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. They waited for Jesus to give them His Spirit. He did. He filled them. [3]
The Lord says, “You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” [4]
We must have the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus lived in this world.
While on trial, Peter said to those who arrested him and John, “We are His [Jesus’] witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey Him.” [5]
The key to being filled with the Spirit is to live to propagate the Word of God and to give witness to the testimony of Jesus [His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coming again, His saving grace].
“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.” [6]
[1] Proverbs 19:16
[2] 2 Kings 2:9-15
[3] Luke 24:51; Acts 2:1-4
[4] Romans 8:9
[5] Acts 5:32
[6] Revelation 1:9
Elisha wanted to see Elijah ascend to heaven so that he would receive a double portion of Elijah’s Spirit. [2]
The disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. They waited for Jesus to give them His Spirit. He did. He filled them. [3]
The Lord says, “You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” [4]
We must have the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus lived in this world.
While on trial, Peter said to those who arrested him and John, “We are His [Jesus’] witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey Him.” [5]
The key to being filled with the Spirit is to live to propagate the Word of God and to give witness to the testimony of Jesus [His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coming again, His saving grace].
“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.” [6]
[1] Proverbs 19:16
[2] 2 Kings 2:9-15
[3] Luke 24:51; Acts 2:1-4
[4] Romans 8:9
[5] Acts 5:32
[6] Revelation 1:9
Monday, November 18, 2024
The Importance of Walking with God
“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” [1]
The name Enoch (חֲנוֹךְ Ḥănōḵ) in Hebrew means “dedicated,” “trained,” “disciplined,” “inaugurate,” or “initiate.” He was a disciple of the Lord.
“Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah.” [2]
“The exact meaning of Methuselah’s very ancient name is not certain. Bible scholar and scientist Dr. Henry Morris said it may mean, ‘When he dies, judgment’—referring to the worldwide flood judgment. Similarly, Cornwall and Smith say his name means, ‘When he is dead, it shall be sent’ (‘it’ referring to the Deluge).” [3]
Methuselah died in the year that the flood occurred. So, it seems that when Enoch named him, he was leaving behind a prophetic indication from the Lord for people to observe. Judgment was coming. God even allowed Methuselah to live longer than any other person on earth – 969 years.
Peter referred to the flood in his letter to Christians. Then, he wrote this, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a 1,000 years, and a 1,000 years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing, that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [4] Interestingly, the period of time between when Enoch named his son Methuselah and when the flood occurred was about 1,000 years. God gave the people ample time to change their minds about perishing or being saved.
In fact the Lord gave the world advance notice through His servant Noah. “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be 120 years.’” [5]
Enoch’s being taken by the Lord before a great global judgment is a foreshadowing of the rapture that will happen for those who walk with God before the great tribulation happens in the last days.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” [6]
Thus, it is good to walk with the Lord daily. No one on earth knows when the trumpet will be sounded, but Jesus did share with us “signs” of those days. He said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” [7]
Everyone except for Noah and his family were living for the moment. They were not thinking about God or about eternity. No one except Noah took the time to listen to God and act upon His Word.
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch.’” [8]
The problem with humanity was corruption and violence. To be corrupt is to be defiled or tainted, not pure. The people did not want to be like God. They were created to bear God’s image but were given free-will to choose otherwise. They chose to live otherwise, and their lives descended into the most vile kinds of violence against one another.
“Noah walked with God.” “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him.” “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” [9]
Peter commended those who were partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [10]
Partaking of the divine nature is the key to being taken by the Lord before the great tribulation.
“He [Jesus Christ] came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” [11]
Jesus Christ is the ark of God in these last days. We need to receive Him and believe in His Name. His Name means the Lord saves. He saves those who walk with Him and those who trust in Him.
[1] Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5
[2] Genesis 5:21
[3] Cornwall and Smith, Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names via ChristianAnswers.net
[4] 2 Peter 3:8-9
[5] Genesis 6:3
[6] 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
[7] Luke 17:26-27
[8] Genesis 6:11-14
[9] Genesis 6:9, 22; Hebrews 11:7
[10] 2 Peter 1:4
[11] John 1:11-13
The name Enoch (חֲנוֹךְ Ḥănōḵ) in Hebrew means “dedicated,” “trained,” “disciplined,” “inaugurate,” or “initiate.” He was a disciple of the Lord.
“Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah.” [2]
“The exact meaning of Methuselah’s very ancient name is not certain. Bible scholar and scientist Dr. Henry Morris said it may mean, ‘When he dies, judgment’—referring to the worldwide flood judgment. Similarly, Cornwall and Smith say his name means, ‘When he is dead, it shall be sent’ (‘it’ referring to the Deluge).” [3]
Methuselah died in the year that the flood occurred. So, it seems that when Enoch named him, he was leaving behind a prophetic indication from the Lord for people to observe. Judgment was coming. God even allowed Methuselah to live longer than any other person on earth – 969 years.
Peter referred to the flood in his letter to Christians. Then, he wrote this, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a 1,000 years, and a 1,000 years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing, that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [4] Interestingly, the period of time between when Enoch named his son Methuselah and when the flood occurred was about 1,000 years. God gave the people ample time to change their minds about perishing or being saved.
In fact the Lord gave the world advance notice through His servant Noah. “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be 120 years.’” [5]
Enoch’s being taken by the Lord before a great global judgment is a foreshadowing of the rapture that will happen for those who walk with God before the great tribulation happens in the last days.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” [6]
Thus, it is good to walk with the Lord daily. No one on earth knows when the trumpet will be sounded, but Jesus did share with us “signs” of those days. He said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” [7]
Everyone except for Noah and his family were living for the moment. They were not thinking about God or about eternity. No one except Noah took the time to listen to God and act upon His Word.
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch.’” [8]
The problem with humanity was corruption and violence. To be corrupt is to be defiled or tainted, not pure. The people did not want to be like God. They were created to bear God’s image but were given free-will to choose otherwise. They chose to live otherwise, and their lives descended into the most vile kinds of violence against one another.
“Noah walked with God.” “Noah did; according to all that God commanded him.” “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” [9]
Peter commended those who were partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [10]
Partaking of the divine nature is the key to being taken by the Lord before the great tribulation.
“He [Jesus Christ] came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” [11]
Jesus Christ is the ark of God in these last days. We need to receive Him and believe in His Name. His Name means the Lord saves. He saves those who walk with Him and those who trust in Him.
[1] Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5
[2] Genesis 5:21
[3] Cornwall and Smith, Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names via ChristianAnswers.net
[4] 2 Peter 3:8-9
[5] Genesis 6:3
[6] 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
[7] Luke 17:26-27
[8] Genesis 6:11-14
[9] Genesis 6:9, 22; Hebrews 11:7
[10] 2 Peter 1:4
[11] John 1:11-13
Sunday, November 17, 2024
The Lord is Coming [The Book of Malachi]
This morning, I was blessed by the Lord to read the words of His servant Malachi. The Lord gave Malachi words to prepare His people for His coming.
“I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My Name is to be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My Name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already because you do not take it to heart.” [1]
The Lord called His messengers to revere Him. To give God the glory! If they failed to do so, He promised to curse their ministries.
“My covenant was with him [Levi, their forefather], one of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear Me; so he feared Me and was reverent before My Name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the Law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” [2]
The Lord was pleased with His minister who revered His Name. He instructed His listeners with truth. He was fair. He turned His people away from iniquity, that is, unequal ways. The Law or Torah, which refers to God’s instruction, was in his mouth. He spoke as the Lord instructed him to speak.
“But you have departed from the way… therefore I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the Law.” [3]
The preachers actually loss respect because they did not instruct people as the Lord told them to do.
“He [the Lord] does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” [4]
Another issue that the Lord had with His spiritual leaders was with how they mistreated their wives and children. The family came before the Church. Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel were a group before there was a church group. God wants godly offspring. So, a pastor’s first congregation is his own wife and children, and then, his ministry spreads out to his congregation from there.
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple…” [5]
The one prepares people for the coming of the Lord speaks of His righteousness…
“He [the Lord] is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” [6]
The Lord purifies and cleanses His messengers.
He urges His people to bring their tithes and offerings into His house. Support the work of training people in God’s ways. Support the work of spreading the Gospel.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts; and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.” [7]
Don’t believe or profess what the devil says… “ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance.” [8]
The Lord says of those who fear the Him and meditate on His Name: “They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” [9]
It will not be well for those who disregard the Lord’s warning… “behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch.” [10]
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet [John the Baptist] before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” [11]
One key reform that the preparer of the Lord’s way will perform is to turn fathers to their children and their children to them. “Dear Heavenly Father, please help us who lead others to live in accordance with Your Word. For Your glory! For the sake of those who follow us.”
[1] Malachi 1:14-2:2
[2] Malachi 2:5-7
[3] Malachi 2:8-9
[4] Malachi 2:13-15
[5] Malachi 3:1
[6] Malachi 3:2-3
[7] Malachi 3:8-12
[8] Malachi 3:14
[9] Malachi 3:17-18
[10] Malachi 4:4
[11] Malachi 4:5-6
“I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My Name is to be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My Name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already because you do not take it to heart.” [1]
The Lord called His messengers to revere Him. To give God the glory! If they failed to do so, He promised to curse their ministries.
“My covenant was with him [Levi, their forefather], one of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear Me; so he feared Me and was reverent before My Name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity and turned many away from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the Law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” [2]
The Lord was pleased with His minister who revered His Name. He instructed His listeners with truth. He was fair. He turned His people away from iniquity, that is, unequal ways. The Law or Torah, which refers to God’s instruction, was in his mouth. He spoke as the Lord instructed him to speak.
“But you have departed from the way… therefore I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the Law.” [3]
The preachers actually loss respect because they did not instruct people as the Lord told them to do.
“He [the Lord] does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” [4]
Another issue that the Lord had with His spiritual leaders was with how they mistreated their wives and children. The family came before the Church. Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel were a group before there was a church group. God wants godly offspring. So, a pastor’s first congregation is his own wife and children, and then, his ministry spreads out to his congregation from there.
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple…” [5]
The one prepares people for the coming of the Lord speaks of His righteousness…
“He [the Lord] is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” [6]
The Lord purifies and cleanses His messengers.
He urges His people to bring their tithes and offerings into His house. Support the work of training people in God’s ways. Support the work of spreading the Gospel.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts; and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.” [7]
Don’t believe or profess what the devil says… “ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance.” [8]
The Lord says of those who fear the Him and meditate on His Name: “They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” [9]
It will not be well for those who disregard the Lord’s warning… “behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch.” [10]
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet [John the Baptist] before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” [11]
One key reform that the preparer of the Lord’s way will perform is to turn fathers to their children and their children to them. “Dear Heavenly Father, please help us who lead others to live in accordance with Your Word. For Your glory! For the sake of those who follow us.”
[1] Malachi 1:14-2:2
[2] Malachi 2:5-7
[3] Malachi 2:8-9
[4] Malachi 2:13-15
[5] Malachi 3:1
[6] Malachi 3:2-3
[7] Malachi 3:8-12
[8] Malachi 3:14
[9] Malachi 3:17-18
[10] Malachi 4:4
[11] Malachi 4:5-6
Friday, November 15, 2024
God’s Love
“I have declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26
Our Lord Jesus wants us to experience God’s love. A person without love is like a musical instrument with no music. “Heavenly Father, please fill us with Your love and help us to love as You love. In the Name of Your Son Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Our Lord Jesus wants us to experience God’s love. A person without love is like a musical instrument with no music. “Heavenly Father, please fill us with Your love and help us to love as You love. In the Name of Your Son Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Thursday, November 14, 2024
A Strong Heart
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” [1]
So often, it seems our problem with the Lord is not His problem but ours. Let us trust in His faithfulness to bring about His good promises to us! David did not lose heart because he believed that the Lord would do for him more than he could ask or imagine. He urged us in his Psalm to wait on the Lord. Be of good courage! The Lord shall strengthen your heart.
The Lord has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises...” [2]
Especially His promise to create a new heavens and a new earth.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” [3]
Jesus told the thief who believed in Him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” [4] That is a precious promise!
The writer of Hebrews gives us a glimpse of what awaits those of us who believe in Jesus. It is wonderful…
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” [5]
We cannot imagine now what shall be when the Lord creates a new heaven and new earth. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us via the Word of God.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [6]
Wait on the Lord! He will speak to you. He will encourage you. He will strengthen your heart.
[1] Psalm 27:13-14
[2] 2 Peter 1:4
[3] Revelation 21:1
[4] Luke 23:43
[5] Hebrews 12:22-24
[6] 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
So often, it seems our problem with the Lord is not His problem but ours. Let us trust in His faithfulness to bring about His good promises to us! David did not lose heart because he believed that the Lord would do for him more than he could ask or imagine. He urged us in his Psalm to wait on the Lord. Be of good courage! The Lord shall strengthen your heart.
The Lord has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises...” [2]
Especially His promise to create a new heavens and a new earth.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” [3]
Jesus told the thief who believed in Him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” [4] That is a precious promise!
The writer of Hebrews gives us a glimpse of what awaits those of us who believe in Jesus. It is wonderful…
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” [5]
We cannot imagine now what shall be when the Lord creates a new heaven and new earth. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us via the Word of God.
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [6]
Wait on the Lord! He will speak to you. He will encourage you. He will strengthen your heart.
[1] Psalm 27:13-14
[2] 2 Peter 1:4
[3] Revelation 21:1
[4] Luke 23:43
[5] Hebrews 12:22-24
[6] 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Running for a Crown of Life
The Word of the Lord is like a guard rail to keep the Lord’s runners on a reliable path to finish the race that He has called us to run.
“He who despises the Word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”
“The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.”
“Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored. A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” [1]
The Lord is willing and able to renew our minds so that we think as He designed us to think. A transformed mind yields a transformed runner.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” [2]
The Lord has promised a crown of life to those who run with His agenda.
“Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” [3]
[1] Proverbs 13:13-14, 18-19
[2] Romans 12:1-2
[3] 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
The Lord is Bigger than Bully Empires [The Book of Habakkuk]
The Lord laid on Habakkuk a burden to see bully empires humbled…
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. ‘O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, violence and You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround, the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” [1]
Evil bullies had a stranglehold on society so that it was impossible for any human being to enforce good laws. No judge was willing to condemn the guilty.
In these last days we have seen the rise and fall of bully nations. This evil will end when the Lord returns and vanquishes all who oppose Him, and who oppose His law of love.
Habakkuk reminds the Lord of who He is and asks Him to act in accordance with His holiness. Why? Because wicked people are feeding on righteous people as predatory animals tear apart their catches…
“Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” [2]
Those who are righteous before the Lord don’t achieve this status due to their own ingenuity or superior character, but because they place their faith in God…
“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” [3]
The Lord indicts bully nations:
“Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, he gathers to himself all nations and heaps up for himself all peoples.”
“…Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.”
“Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.”
“Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster!”
“Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity!”
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!”
“Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all.” [4]
The day is coming when earthly empires will no longer be able to deny the glory of the Lord…
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” [5]
“The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” [6]
The Lord has brought down bully nations in the past and He will do it again and again, as often is needed:
“You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah” [7]
Habakkuk did not let the current circumstances deter him from rejoicing in the Lord because the Lord was his strength in the meantime and in the end, the Lord saves all who trust in Him.
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills…” [8]
[1] Habakkuk 1:1-4
[2] Habakkuk 1:12-13
[3] Habakkuk 2:4
[4] Habakkuk 2:5-9, 12, 15, 19
[5] Habakkuk 2:14
[6] Habakkuk 2:20
[7] Habakkuk 3:12-13
[8] Habakkuk 3:17-19
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. ‘O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, violence and You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround, the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” [1]
Evil bullies had a stranglehold on society so that it was impossible for any human being to enforce good laws. No judge was willing to condemn the guilty.
In these last days we have seen the rise and fall of bully nations. This evil will end when the Lord returns and vanquishes all who oppose Him, and who oppose His law of love.
Habakkuk reminds the Lord of who He is and asks Him to act in accordance with His holiness. Why? Because wicked people are feeding on righteous people as predatory animals tear apart their catches…
“Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” [2]
Those who are righteous before the Lord don’t achieve this status due to their own ingenuity or superior character, but because they place their faith in God…
“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” [3]
The Lord indicts bully nations:
“Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, he gathers to himself all nations and heaps up for himself all peoples.”
“…Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.”
“Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.”
“Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster!”
“Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity!”
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!”
“Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all.” [4]
The day is coming when earthly empires will no longer be able to deny the glory of the Lord…
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” [5]
“The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” [6]
The Lord has brought down bully nations in the past and He will do it again and again, as often is needed:
“You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah” [7]
Habakkuk did not let the current circumstances deter him from rejoicing in the Lord because the Lord was his strength in the meantime and in the end, the Lord saves all who trust in Him.
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills…” [8]
[1] Habakkuk 1:1-4
[2] Habakkuk 1:12-13
[3] Habakkuk 2:4
[4] Habakkuk 2:5-9, 12, 15, 19
[5] Habakkuk 2:14
[6] Habakkuk 2:20
[7] Habakkuk 3:12-13
[8] Habakkuk 3:17-19
Repent or Perish [The Book of Nahum]
The people of Ninevah assumed the Lord God of Israel would do nothing in response to their provocations against Him, but the Lord gave His servant Nahum a Word for them…
“The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked.” [1]
This principle is true for every person. God will not acquit those who sin. We either bring our sin to the foot of the cross, and confess our need of God’s Savior, Jesus Messiah, or we perish in our sin.
Once people questioned Jesus about the especially horrible deaths of some people…
“There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” [2]
The Prophet David verified the everlasting judgment of those who fail to repent of wickedness..
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” [3]
Sin yields unwanted consequences. Our first parents were exiled from paradise. The Israelites were taken captive from their homeland into exile after they defiled the holy land by sacrificing their babies to idols and committing sins against the poor and weak among them.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its [the wicked one’s] place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.” [4]
The Lord hears the cries of those who pray to Him. He takes their affliction personally…
“What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.” [5]
Thankfully, the Lord is great enough and compelled enough to rescue His people from the wicked.
“Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings Good Tidings, who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.” [6]
The Lord’s Word to Nahum closes with a reminder to the King of Assyria about the extent of his wicked deed… “for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?” [7]
On a personal level, it is advisable for each of us to ask the Lord to make known to us where we have wronged Him and other people, and to ask Him and them to forgive us. Each of us need to realize and confess how much we need the atoning blood of Christ to wash away our sins so that we do not perish in them.
[1] Nahum 1:2-3
[2] Luke 13:1-3
[3] Psalm 9:17-18
[4] Nahum 1:7-8
[5] Nahum 1:9
[6] Nahum 1:15
[7] Nahum 3:19
“The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked.” [1]
This principle is true for every person. God will not acquit those who sin. We either bring our sin to the foot of the cross, and confess our need of God’s Savior, Jesus Messiah, or we perish in our sin.
Once people questioned Jesus about the especially horrible deaths of some people…
“There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” [2]
The Prophet David verified the everlasting judgment of those who fail to repent of wickedness..
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.” [3]
Sin yields unwanted consequences. Our first parents were exiled from paradise. The Israelites were taken captive from their homeland into exile after they defiled the holy land by sacrificing their babies to idols and committing sins against the poor and weak among them.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its [the wicked one’s] place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.” [4]
The Lord hears the cries of those who pray to Him. He takes their affliction personally…
“What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.” [5]
Thankfully, the Lord is great enough and compelled enough to rescue His people from the wicked.
“Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings Good Tidings, who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.” [6]
The Lord’s Word to Nahum closes with a reminder to the King of Assyria about the extent of his wicked deed… “for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?” [7]
On a personal level, it is advisable for each of us to ask the Lord to make known to us where we have wronged Him and other people, and to ask Him and them to forgive us. Each of us need to realize and confess how much we need the atoning blood of Christ to wash away our sins so that we do not perish in them.
[1] Nahum 1:2-3
[2] Luke 13:1-3
[3] Psalm 9:17-18
[4] Nahum 1:7-8
[5] Nahum 1:9
[6] Nahum 1:15
[7] Nahum 3:19
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Convictions, Judgments, Repentance, Restoration [The Book of Amos]
I am so glad that the Lord confronts and corrects nations even when we don’t ask for His help.
God loves people. He does not want us to perish in our sin. He does not want to live in a cesspool of sin and evil. He gives us His Word to shine His light into our darkness.
In Leviticus 26:16-44, Deuteronomy 28:15-64 and Revelation 8:1 – 16:9, the Lord levels judgments accompanied by punishments against sin. If the nation that sins, repents, good, but if not, another round of judgments are proclaimed and executed. Amos is true to this Biblical pattern.
The Lord spoke through His prophet Amos of punishment of people groups due to three and four transgressions that they committed. He uses the following format to address them… “Thus says the Lord: for three transgressions of _______, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they…”
Damascus – Amos 1:3
Gaza – Amos 1:6
Tyre – Amos 1:9
Edom – Amos 1:11
Ammon – Amos 1:13
Moab – Amos 2:3
Judah – Amos 2:4
His Word to Judah was, “They have despised the Law of the Lord and have not kept His commandments.”
Israel – Amos 2:7
His Word to Israel was, “They sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, and pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, to defile My holy Name. They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge and drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.” – Amos 2:6-8
The Lord reminded Judah and Israel that He destroyed the tall Amorites before them, brought them out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness for 40 years, and “raised up some of your sons as prophets, and some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel? says the Lord. But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’” – Amos 2:9-12
The Lord asked them, “ Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” – Amos 3:3
The Lord was ready to act on their wayward ways. He compelled His prophets to let them know it… “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” – Amos 3:7-8
The Lord God promised to raise up an adversary, “He shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered.” – Amos 3:11
Their leaders had become wealthy by exploiting the poor and weak, “I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, says the Lord.” – Amos 3:15
The Lord was going to increase their desire to return to Him by removing blessings from them: “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:6
“…I withheld rain… one part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered. So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, but they were not satisfied; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:7-8
“I blasted you[r] [plants] with blight and mildew… locust devoured them; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:9
“I sent among you a plague… your young men I killed with a sword… I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:10
“I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah… yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:11
“Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” – Amos 4:12
They turned, “justice to wormwood, and laid righteousness to rest in the earth!” – Amos 5:6-7
In response to Jerusalem’s sin, God said to them through His prophet Jeremiah, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.” (Jeremiah 9:15) Wormwood and gall are bitter. Bitter food and drink symbolize God’s distaste for sin. This is how their behavior tasted to God.
Jesus drank the bitter brew of sin. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to You. Please remove this cup from Me. However, not what I desire, but what You desire.” (Mark 14:36) The cup was full of God’s wrath against sin. After Jesus drank it, He experienced the bitterness of torture and death.
“They hated the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhorred the one who spoke uprightly.” “They afflicted the just and took bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate.” – Amos 5:10, 12
The wicked perhaps wondered why so many remained silent but it was because they knew they were hated and did so at the risk of their health, wealth and well-being, “The prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.” – Amos 5:13
The Lord urged them with His Word, “Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” – Amos 5:15
The Lord warned those who were waiting on the Lord to punish the wicked that it would not be a good day for them either, “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! …It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him!” – Amos 5:18-19
“The Lord wanted reformation more than feast days, holy gatherings, offerings, songs and music. He wanted justice to run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” – Amos 5:21-24
They had “turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.” – Amos 6:12 Denying themselves on behalf of others was deemed gross and taking advantage of other was considered sweet.
Twice, the Lord showed Amos a coming judgment, and twice Amos interceded for the people, saying, “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!” So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord.” – Amos 7:2-3, 5
Rather than appreciate Amos for his efforts to turn God’s people from their sin, Amaziah the priest falsely accused him before the king of conspiring against the king. “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive from their own land.’” – Amos 7:10-11
Amaziah rebuked Amos, saying, “Never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.” – Amos 7:13
Amos told Amaziah: “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’” – Amos 7:15
The Lord gave Amos a word for Amaziah, “Hear the Word of the Lord: you who say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel… your wife shall be a harlot in the city; your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; your land shall be divided by survey line… Israel shall surely be led away captive...” – Amos 7:16-17
The Lord was judging the merchants and leaders for making food portions small and costs high for the purpose of enslaving people… “Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—even sell the bad wheat?’” Amos 8:5-6
“The Lord God said, “I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight [an eclipse].” – Amos 8:9
Worse than all judgments above, the Lord was going to take His Word from them, “I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro seeking the Word of the Lord but shall not find it.” – Amos 8:11-12
But they were a mighty nation. How would God do this? The Lord said, “Though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.” “I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.” “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord.” – Amos 9:2, 4, 8
The Lord was going to sift Israel, and then, raise up for them the tabernacle of David. – Amos 9:9, 11
The Lord speaks of “all the Gentiles who are called by My Name.”
The Lord speaks of “bringing back the captives of My people Israel,” of rebuilding, of replanting, of reestablishing His people in the holy land. – Amos 9:14-15
God loves people. He does not willing chastise us but when He does, His aim is to bring about a closer relationship with Him, as well as a better life and future for us.
God loves people. He does not want us to perish in our sin. He does not want to live in a cesspool of sin and evil. He gives us His Word to shine His light into our darkness.
In Leviticus 26:16-44, Deuteronomy 28:15-64 and Revelation 8:1 – 16:9, the Lord levels judgments accompanied by punishments against sin. If the nation that sins, repents, good, but if not, another round of judgments are proclaimed and executed. Amos is true to this Biblical pattern.
The Lord spoke through His prophet Amos of punishment of people groups due to three and four transgressions that they committed. He uses the following format to address them… “Thus says the Lord: for three transgressions of _______, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they…”
Damascus – Amos 1:3
Gaza – Amos 1:6
Tyre – Amos 1:9
Edom – Amos 1:11
Ammon – Amos 1:13
Moab – Amos 2:3
Judah – Amos 2:4
His Word to Judah was, “They have despised the Law of the Lord and have not kept His commandments.”
Israel – Amos 2:7
His Word to Israel was, “They sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, and pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, to defile My holy Name. They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge and drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.” – Amos 2:6-8
The Lord reminded Judah and Israel that He destroyed the tall Amorites before them, brought them out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness for 40 years, and “raised up some of your sons as prophets, and some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel? says the Lord. But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’” – Amos 2:9-12
The Lord asked them, “ Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” – Amos 3:3
The Lord was ready to act on their wayward ways. He compelled His prophets to let them know it… “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” – Amos 3:7-8
The Lord God promised to raise up an adversary, “He shall sap your strength from you, and your palaces shall be plundered.” – Amos 3:11
Their leaders had become wealthy by exploiting the poor and weak, “I will destroy the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, says the Lord.” – Amos 3:15
The Lord was going to increase their desire to return to Him by removing blessings from them: “I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:6
“…I withheld rain… one part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered. So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, but they were not satisfied; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:7-8
“I blasted you[r] [plants] with blight and mildew… locust devoured them; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:9
“I sent among you a plague… your young men I killed with a sword… I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:10
“I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah… yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord.” – Amos 4:11
“Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” – Amos 4:12
They turned, “justice to wormwood, and laid righteousness to rest in the earth!” – Amos 5:6-7
In response to Jerusalem’s sin, God said to them through His prophet Jeremiah, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink.” (Jeremiah 9:15) Wormwood and gall are bitter. Bitter food and drink symbolize God’s distaste for sin. This is how their behavior tasted to God.
Jesus drank the bitter brew of sin. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to You. Please remove this cup from Me. However, not what I desire, but what You desire.” (Mark 14:36) The cup was full of God’s wrath against sin. After Jesus drank it, He experienced the bitterness of torture and death.
“They hated the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhorred the one who spoke uprightly.” “They afflicted the just and took bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate.” – Amos 5:10, 12
The wicked perhaps wondered why so many remained silent but it was because they knew they were hated and did so at the risk of their health, wealth and well-being, “The prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.” – Amos 5:13
The Lord urged them with His Word, “Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” – Amos 5:15
The Lord warned those who were waiting on the Lord to punish the wicked that it would not be a good day for them either, “Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! …It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him!” – Amos 5:18-19
“The Lord wanted reformation more than feast days, holy gatherings, offerings, songs and music. He wanted justice to run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” – Amos 5:21-24
They had “turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood.” – Amos 6:12 Denying themselves on behalf of others was deemed gross and taking advantage of other was considered sweet.
Twice, the Lord showed Amos a coming judgment, and twice Amos interceded for the people, saying, “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!” So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord.” – Amos 7:2-3, 5
Rather than appreciate Amos for his efforts to turn God’s people from their sin, Amaziah the priest falsely accused him before the king of conspiring against the king. “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive from their own land.’” – Amos 7:10-11
Amaziah rebuked Amos, saying, “Never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the royal residence.” – Amos 7:13
Amos told Amaziah: “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’” – Amos 7:15
The Lord gave Amos a word for Amaziah, “Hear the Word of the Lord: you who say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel… your wife shall be a harlot in the city; your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; your land shall be divided by survey line… Israel shall surely be led away captive...” – Amos 7:16-17
The Lord was judging the merchants and leaders for making food portions small and costs high for the purpose of enslaving people… “Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—even sell the bad wheat?’” Amos 8:5-6
“The Lord God said, “I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight [an eclipse].” – Amos 8:9
Worse than all judgments above, the Lord was going to take His Word from them, “I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro seeking the Word of the Lord but shall not find it.” – Amos 8:11-12
But they were a mighty nation. How would God do this? The Lord said, “Though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.” “I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.” “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the Lord.” – Amos 9:2, 4, 8
The Lord was going to sift Israel, and then, raise up for them the tabernacle of David. – Amos 9:9, 11
The Lord speaks of “all the Gentiles who are called by My Name.”
The Lord speaks of “bringing back the captives of My people Israel,” of rebuilding, of replanting, of reestablishing His people in the holy land. – Amos 9:14-15
God loves people. He does not willing chastise us but when He does, His aim is to bring about a closer relationship with Him, as well as a better life and future for us.
Monday, November 4, 2024
Do you believe in God’s Son?
“Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him...
‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’
He answered and said, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’
Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.’
Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him.” [1]
Some question the deity of Christ, but in this verse He told the man who was born blind, whom He healed, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” The man responded to the declaration of Jesus by calling Jesus Lord and worshipping Him, which would have been an act of blasphemy if Jesus were not Divine.
Jesus told His detractors, “For if you do not believe that I am He [the Messiah], you will die in your sins.” [2]
To be saved from hell and to enter the kingdom of God you and I and everyone else needs to believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and profess Him as our Savior from sin otherwise we will perish in our sins and not enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [3]
Jesus is the only God who lived in human flesh, died and resurrected from the dead, and left behind an empty tomb. No other religious teacher did that.
[1] John 9:35-37
[2] John 8:24
[3] John 14:6
‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’
He answered and said, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’
Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.’
Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him.” [1]
Some question the deity of Christ, but in this verse He told the man who was born blind, whom He healed, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” The man responded to the declaration of Jesus by calling Jesus Lord and worshipping Him, which would have been an act of blasphemy if Jesus were not Divine.
Jesus told His detractors, “For if you do not believe that I am He [the Messiah], you will die in your sins.” [2]
To be saved from hell and to enter the kingdom of God you and I and everyone else needs to believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and profess Him as our Savior from sin otherwise we will perish in our sins and not enter God’s kingdom.
Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [3]
Jesus is the only God who lived in human flesh, died and resurrected from the dead, and left behind an empty tomb. No other religious teacher did that.
[1] John 9:35-37
[2] John 8:24
[3] John 14:6
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Salvation on Judgment Day
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing.” [1]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” [2]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“By the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.” [3]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“I have also spoken by the prophets and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.” [4]
It is a good to read and live-by the writings of God’s prophetic writings that are recorded in the Bible because,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.” [5]
When the people of Ephraim turned from the Lord in the days of Hosea, the Lord let lose His lions on them. The Lord chastises those He loves. If He didn’t love them, He would have allowed them to keep spiraling down into depravity.
“For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” [6]
God described war-bent world empires as a lion, leopard and bear in Daniel 7:2-6 and He uses a similar metaphor in Hosea 13:7-8. He empowers these empires to bring judgment on nations so that they repent, believe in Him, and glorify Him.
“So I will be to them like a lion; like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.”
The Lord used this speech in the Book of Joel as well…
“A nation has come up against My land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine and ruined My fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white.” [7]
What is the change that is needed now?
“Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” [8]
Praying! Fasting! Gathering together in the Name of the Lord!
One of the sins that was especially disturbing to God was the trafficking of boys and girls, “They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.” [9]
A great war was coming. Multitudes of people are about to die.
“Let the nations be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great.” [10]
They should have made a decision to submit themselves to His guidance.
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The Lord also will roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” [11]
The key to victory is to be one of God’s people. Know Him! Trust Him! Testify for Him! He is a shelter to those who run to Him in the day of judgment. Bring others with you.
[1] Hosea 8:12
[2] Hosea 10:12
[3] Hosea 12:6
[4] Hosea 12:10; 13
[5] Proverbs 9:10-12
[6] Hosea 5:14-15
[7] Joel 1:6-7
[8] Joel 1:14
[9] Joel 3:3
[10] Joel 3:12-13
[11] Joel 3:14-16
“I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing.” [1]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” [2]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“By the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.” [3]
Something has to change when the Lord says,
“I have also spoken by the prophets and have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets. By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.” [4]
It is a good to read and live-by the writings of God’s prophetic writings that are recorded in the Bible because,
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.” [5]
When the people of Ephraim turned from the Lord in the days of Hosea, the Lord let lose His lions on them. The Lord chastises those He loves. If He didn’t love them, He would have allowed them to keep spiraling down into depravity.
“For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” [6]
God described war-bent world empires as a lion, leopard and bear in Daniel 7:2-6 and He uses a similar metaphor in Hosea 13:7-8. He empowers these empires to bring judgment on nations so that they repent, believe in Him, and glorify Him.
“So I will be to them like a lion; like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, and there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.”
The Lord used this speech in the Book of Joel as well…
“A nation has come up against My land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste My vine and ruined My fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white.” [7]
What is the change that is needed now?
“Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” [8]
Praying! Fasting! Gathering together in the Name of the Lord!
One of the sins that was especially disturbing to God was the trafficking of boys and girls, “They have cast lots for My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.” [9]
A great war was coming. Multitudes of people are about to die.
“Let the nations be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great.” [10]
They should have made a decision to submit themselves to His guidance.
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The Lord also will roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” [11]
The key to victory is to be one of God’s people. Know Him! Trust Him! Testify for Him! He is a shelter to those who run to Him in the day of judgment. Bring others with you.
[1] Hosea 8:12
[2] Hosea 10:12
[3] Hosea 12:6
[4] Hosea 12:10; 13
[5] Proverbs 9:10-12
[6] Hosea 5:14-15
[7] Joel 1:6-7
[8] Joel 1:14
[9] Joel 3:3
[10] Joel 3:12-13
[11] Joel 3:14-16
Friday, November 1, 2024
Rightly Representing God
The Lord says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image. Any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” [1]
The Lord opposes the creating, worshiping and serving of gods made by humans.
The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus come to mind. Why do some “Christians” allow these false images to infiltrate our services on holy days set aside for the worship of Christ’s resurrection and His incarnation? What about Halloween? It seems to be more eagerly and highly celebrated in the USA now than Christian holy days.
What about our modern images of Jesus Christ? Do they line up with Scripture?
This morning I read portions of Hosea’s prophecy and of John’s Gospel.
The Lord laments over His people’s religion saying, “They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.” [2] People were not consulting with God when it came to appointing people to lead them. God’s will for their lives was not included.
“They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the Lord.” “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me.” [3] The Lord paid a heavy price to redeem us from our sin. Are we as His representatives being careful to represent Him as He is?
“None among them calls upon Me.” Are we praying to Him? Are we repenting of our own ways, and asking for His ways? Are we saying like John the Baptist did, “He [Jesus] must increase, I must decrease.” [4]
“I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the Words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” “The world… hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” [5] God’s Word rightly spoken slays sin, and points to every person’s need for the Savior from sin.
“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” [6] Our Lord Jesus sought the glory of His Father. He judged righteously.
Some who heard Jesus speak, said of Him, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But those who were propagating a false narrative about God and Messiah accused Jesus of being a deceiver, and wanted to arrest, and kill Him. [7]
Jesus Christ is the rightful representation of God. “He is the image of the invisible God.” “[He is] the express image of His [God’s] person and upholding all things by the Word of His power.” “The testimony of Jesus is Spirit of prophecy.” [8]
Now is the time that each of us needs to ask the Lord to forgive us for the times that we have misrepresented Him and joined with others who are doing it flagrantly. Now is the time to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us just as He did to His holy prophets and apostles, and then, ask Him for the courage to stand with Him, and speak for Him, just as He did, and just as His disciples in the Bible did.
The Jesus that is revealed in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is One who warns against dead works, sin, and calls people to prepare for His everlasting kingdom which is destined to replace all the kingdoms of this world. [9]
It is good news that there is one way to the Father. There is no other name than the Name of Jesus by which we can be saved. He saves us by leading us to repent of our sins, believe in Him, and to receive His Holy Spirit. [10]
[1] Exodus 20:4-6
[2] Hosea 8:4
[3] Hosea 5:4; 7:13
[4] Hosea 7:7; John 3:30
[5] Hosea 6:5-6; John 7:7
[6] John 7:18; 24
[7] John 7:40-41; John 7:1, 12, 30
[8] Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 19:10
[9] Revelation 1:1; 11:15
[10] John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Acts 2:38-39
The Lord opposes the creating, worshiping and serving of gods made by humans.
The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus come to mind. Why do some “Christians” allow these false images to infiltrate our services on holy days set aside for the worship of Christ’s resurrection and His incarnation? What about Halloween? It seems to be more eagerly and highly celebrated in the USA now than Christian holy days.
What about our modern images of Jesus Christ? Do they line up with Scripture?
This morning I read portions of Hosea’s prophecy and of John’s Gospel.
The Lord laments over His people’s religion saying, “They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I did not acknowledge them.” [2] People were not consulting with God when it came to appointing people to lead them. God’s will for their lives was not included.
“They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the Lord.” “Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against Me.” [3] The Lord paid a heavy price to redeem us from our sin. Are we as His representatives being careful to represent Him as He is?
“None among them calls upon Me.” Are we praying to Him? Are we repenting of our own ways, and asking for His ways? Are we saying like John the Baptist did, “He [Jesus] must increase, I must decrease.” [4]
“I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the Words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth. For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” “The world… hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” [5] God’s Word rightly spoken slays sin, and points to every person’s need for the Savior from sin.
“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” [6] Our Lord Jesus sought the glory of His Father. He judged righteously.
Some who heard Jesus speak, said of Him, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But those who were propagating a false narrative about God and Messiah accused Jesus of being a deceiver, and wanted to arrest, and kill Him. [7]
Jesus Christ is the rightful representation of God. “He is the image of the invisible God.” “[He is] the express image of His [God’s] person and upholding all things by the Word of His power.” “The testimony of Jesus is Spirit of prophecy.” [8]
Now is the time that each of us needs to ask the Lord to forgive us for the times that we have misrepresented Him and joined with others who are doing it flagrantly. Now is the time to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us just as He did to His holy prophets and apostles, and then, ask Him for the courage to stand with Him, and speak for Him, just as He did, and just as His disciples in the Bible did.
The Jesus that is revealed in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is One who warns against dead works, sin, and calls people to prepare for His everlasting kingdom which is destined to replace all the kingdoms of this world. [9]
It is good news that there is one way to the Father. There is no other name than the Name of Jesus by which we can be saved. He saves us by leading us to repent of our sins, believe in Him, and to receive His Holy Spirit. [10]
[1] Exodus 20:4-6
[2] Hosea 8:4
[3] Hosea 5:4; 7:13
[4] Hosea 7:7; John 3:30
[5] Hosea 6:5-6; John 7:7
[6] John 7:18; 24
[7] John 7:40-41; John 7:1, 12, 30
[8] Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 19:10
[9] Revelation 1:1; 11:15
[10] John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Acts 2:38-39
Thursday, October 31, 2024
A Helper Corresponding to Him
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” – Genesis 2:18
(יח) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
The literal Hebrew translation of ‘a helper comparable to him’ is made up of two words: ezer, which means ‘help,’ and k’negdo, which means ‘suitable’ or ‘corresponding to.’ The word, ezer, conveys strength and the ability to rescue others, rather than a subordinate role. The phrase k’negdo literally means ‘according to the opposite of him.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“God often describes Himself with the word, ‘ezer.’ See Psalm 33:20; Psalm 70:5; and Psalm 115:9.” – John Piper
In Hebrew, “whenever one confronts someone of equal power, moral and ethical weight, such a confrontation is termed נגד (neged). It is a head-on collision of will. When the two parties disagreeing are not of equal power, or moral/ethical weight, the confrontation is termed as one being עולה [‘ascending (above)’] or יורד [‘descending (below)’], one of the adversaries either prevailing or losing in such an encounter.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“If he is unworthy she shall be opposed to him, to fight him (Yevamot 63a).”
“Humanity needs a partner and opponent. We need help in confronting ourselves if we hope to learn and become all that we have the potential to know and be. The Hebrew words, עזר כנגדו do not explicitly say ‘woman’ in any direct sense. It says, “a help that is equal to and across from him.” And the word ‘adam’ is not, per se, a proper name, but rather generally refers to humanity. Thus, we might render the passage in question as follows: ‘It is not good for humans to be alone. I (God) will configure humanity such that individuals might find help in another that suits them, that meets them where they are, that stands in opposition to them on equal footing to reign each other in, to teach each other, to question each other, to care for each other, that they might not lose themselves in their own delusions and imaginations, nor face themselves alone without the caring assistance of a friend and devoted partner.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“By extension, we might also argue that God intended us to have peers in general to stand with and against us in love. The real meat of this principle is not that we would have a help that simply stands with us (עזר איתו = a help WITH him), but rather the contradiction or paradox of a help AGAINST us. Thus, by implication, Torah does not suggest that true loyalty is to never question or confront, but rather that the loyalty that God intended from the beginning was to assist and support each other through opposition, questioning and providing limits. We are to be a ‘help AGAINST each other.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“At work and in school, the most productive relationships are between those who question us in kindness, who point out our errors, weaknesses or flaws, and then help us overcome them. Our most helpful relationships are with people that we can bounce ideas off of, tell them what we are thinking and get critical feedback in return, reflecting back to us what we didn't know we were saying or filling in gaps we might have overlooked.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Spouses and siblings, friends and fellows in our community and places of worship best serve and help us when they NOT ONLY rally around us and cheer us on, but when, as needed, they question us or call us out and stand against us in love to support us, to provide checks and balances; when they stand in solidarity with our overarching goals and aspirations and ideals so much that they help channel us back into line when we are off base. They comfort us when we are discouraged, and they make us uncomfortable when we become complacent or self-absorbed. They both help us realize our dreams and bring us back to reality when we start to go adrift in our delusions. And they listen when we argue for why we are right and accommodate the things THEY hadn’t seen or thought of.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Incidentally, the same principle is the active mechanism that shapes civil society through democracy, checks and balances, legislative and community debate, and political parties who (should) rally together for the good of one another, even as they function as a backstop for the excesses of their counterparts.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Clearly, the principle of ‘helping against’ someone is a balancing act. Too much help and not enough against becomes permissive and enabling. Too much against and not enough help can become toxic, hurtful, humiliating, rancorous, bitter. Not all conflict is helpful. Not all solidarity is helpful. The truth of the paradox is found in the balance between support and opposition. There is probably no formula that dictates when the relationship needs more support and less opposition or vice versa. The wisdom is found in knowing that we can and should dynamically apply both to our relationships to bring them into balance when they start to run amok.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“I’m my own best friend when I can both comfort and confront myself.” – Joshua Rodriguez
Explaining “the curse” of a woman’s desire being towards her husband.
“To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” Genesis 3:16
“Scholars have offered various interpretations of this subtle Hebrew phrasing. Most interpret this to mean that the woman would desire to be in control of her husband, but he would be the master. Others see this as implying that the woman’s desire for her husband would be frustrated by his role as an authority in her life.” – Bibleref.com
“Male headship in the marriage relationship is not part of the curse and this idea is not implied here. On the contrary, God’s response to this incident proves that Adam’s role as leader and protector was intended before sin entered the world. The New Testament makes clear that God’s design for human marriage, with husband as the self-sacrificing head, is meant to be a beautiful picture of Christ and the church.” See Ephesians 5:22–33 – Bibleref.com
“This curse involves conflict over the God-given marriage roles. Each spouse fails to live up to God’s design for selfless love and respect between husbands and wives.” – Bibleref.com
The prophets spoke of the relationship between God and His people as a marriage.
“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
“Return, O backsliding children, says the Lord; for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Jeremiah 3:14
“You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband.” Ezekiel 16:32
“I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
Marriage is symbolic of Christ and His Church.
Paul says of marriage in Ephesians 5:32, “This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church.”
“Human marriage is the earthly image of this divine plan. As God willed for Christ and the church to become one body (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13), so He willed for marriage to reflect this pattern—that the husband and wife become one flesh. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’” (Genesis 2:24) – Bibleref.com
Jesus Christ quoted Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:4–5, and thus, reiterated that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman instituted by God. Jesus attended a wedding while on earth. See John 2.
“Geoffrey Bromiley is right when he says, “As God made man in His own image, so He made earthly marriage in the image of His own eternal marriage with His people” (God and Marriage, p. 43). The fall ruined the harmony of marriage because it twisted man’s loving headship into hostile domination in some men and lazy indifference in others. And it twisted woman’s intelligent, willing submission into manipulative obsequiousness in some women and brazen insubordination in others.” – John Piper
Bible verses that support the marriage covenant:
“When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.” Deuteronomy 24:5
“He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Ephesians 5:21-28
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4
Revelation 19:6–8 looks forward to a wonderful wedding day for those who belong to Jesus and become members of His Church.
For the full article by Joshua Rodriquez, please click on the following link: sefaria.org/sheets/333823.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
For the full article by John Piper, please click on the following link: desiringgod.org/articles/a-metaphor-of-christ-and-the-church
For the full article by Bibleref.com, please click on the following link: bibleref.com/Genesis/2/Genesis-2-18.html
(יח) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
The literal Hebrew translation of ‘a helper comparable to him’ is made up of two words: ezer, which means ‘help,’ and k’negdo, which means ‘suitable’ or ‘corresponding to.’ The word, ezer, conveys strength and the ability to rescue others, rather than a subordinate role. The phrase k’negdo literally means ‘according to the opposite of him.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“God often describes Himself with the word, ‘ezer.’ See Psalm 33:20; Psalm 70:5; and Psalm 115:9.” – John Piper
In Hebrew, “whenever one confronts someone of equal power, moral and ethical weight, such a confrontation is termed נגד (neged). It is a head-on collision of will. When the two parties disagreeing are not of equal power, or moral/ethical weight, the confrontation is termed as one being עולה [‘ascending (above)’] or יורד [‘descending (below)’], one of the adversaries either prevailing or losing in such an encounter.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“If he is unworthy she shall be opposed to him, to fight him (Yevamot 63a).”
“Humanity needs a partner and opponent. We need help in confronting ourselves if we hope to learn and become all that we have the potential to know and be. The Hebrew words, עזר כנגדו do not explicitly say ‘woman’ in any direct sense. It says, “a help that is equal to and across from him.” And the word ‘adam’ is not, per se, a proper name, but rather generally refers to humanity. Thus, we might render the passage in question as follows: ‘It is not good for humans to be alone. I (God) will configure humanity such that individuals might find help in another that suits them, that meets them where they are, that stands in opposition to them on equal footing to reign each other in, to teach each other, to question each other, to care for each other, that they might not lose themselves in their own delusions and imaginations, nor face themselves alone without the caring assistance of a friend and devoted partner.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“By extension, we might also argue that God intended us to have peers in general to stand with and against us in love. The real meat of this principle is not that we would have a help that simply stands with us (עזר איתו = a help WITH him), but rather the contradiction or paradox of a help AGAINST us. Thus, by implication, Torah does not suggest that true loyalty is to never question or confront, but rather that the loyalty that God intended from the beginning was to assist and support each other through opposition, questioning and providing limits. We are to be a ‘help AGAINST each other.’” – Joshua Rodriguez
“At work and in school, the most productive relationships are between those who question us in kindness, who point out our errors, weaknesses or flaws, and then help us overcome them. Our most helpful relationships are with people that we can bounce ideas off of, tell them what we are thinking and get critical feedback in return, reflecting back to us what we didn't know we were saying or filling in gaps we might have overlooked.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Spouses and siblings, friends and fellows in our community and places of worship best serve and help us when they NOT ONLY rally around us and cheer us on, but when, as needed, they question us or call us out and stand against us in love to support us, to provide checks and balances; when they stand in solidarity with our overarching goals and aspirations and ideals so much that they help channel us back into line when we are off base. They comfort us when we are discouraged, and they make us uncomfortable when we become complacent or self-absorbed. They both help us realize our dreams and bring us back to reality when we start to go adrift in our delusions. And they listen when we argue for why we are right and accommodate the things THEY hadn’t seen or thought of.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Incidentally, the same principle is the active mechanism that shapes civil society through democracy, checks and balances, legislative and community debate, and political parties who (should) rally together for the good of one another, even as they function as a backstop for the excesses of their counterparts.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“Clearly, the principle of ‘helping against’ someone is a balancing act. Too much help and not enough against becomes permissive and enabling. Too much against and not enough help can become toxic, hurtful, humiliating, rancorous, bitter. Not all conflict is helpful. Not all solidarity is helpful. The truth of the paradox is found in the balance between support and opposition. There is probably no formula that dictates when the relationship needs more support and less opposition or vice versa. The wisdom is found in knowing that we can and should dynamically apply both to our relationships to bring them into balance when they start to run amok.” – Joshua Rodriguez
“I’m my own best friend when I can both comfort and confront myself.” – Joshua Rodriguez
Explaining “the curse” of a woman’s desire being towards her husband.
“To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” Genesis 3:16
“Scholars have offered various interpretations of this subtle Hebrew phrasing. Most interpret this to mean that the woman would desire to be in control of her husband, but he would be the master. Others see this as implying that the woman’s desire for her husband would be frustrated by his role as an authority in her life.” – Bibleref.com
“Male headship in the marriage relationship is not part of the curse and this idea is not implied here. On the contrary, God’s response to this incident proves that Adam’s role as leader and protector was intended before sin entered the world. The New Testament makes clear that God’s design for human marriage, with husband as the self-sacrificing head, is meant to be a beautiful picture of Christ and the church.” See Ephesians 5:22–33 – Bibleref.com
“This curse involves conflict over the God-given marriage roles. Each spouse fails to live up to God’s design for selfless love and respect between husbands and wives.” – Bibleref.com
The prophets spoke of the relationship between God and His people as a marriage.
“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Isaiah 62:5
“Return, O backsliding children, says the Lord; for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Jeremiah 3:14
“You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband.” Ezekiel 16:32
“I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
Marriage is symbolic of Christ and His Church.
Paul says of marriage in Ephesians 5:32, “This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church.”
“Human marriage is the earthly image of this divine plan. As God willed for Christ and the church to become one body (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:13), so He willed for marriage to reflect this pattern—that the husband and wife become one flesh. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’” (Genesis 2:24) – Bibleref.com
Jesus Christ quoted Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:4–5, and thus, reiterated that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman instituted by God. Jesus attended a wedding while on earth. See John 2.
“Geoffrey Bromiley is right when he says, “As God made man in His own image, so He made earthly marriage in the image of His own eternal marriage with His people” (God and Marriage, p. 43). The fall ruined the harmony of marriage because it twisted man’s loving headship into hostile domination in some men and lazy indifference in others. And it twisted woman’s intelligent, willing submission into manipulative obsequiousness in some women and brazen insubordination in others.” – John Piper
Bible verses that support the marriage covenant:
“When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.” Deuteronomy 24:5
“He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Ephesians 5:21-28
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4
Revelation 19:6–8 looks forward to a wonderful wedding day for those who belong to Jesus and become members of His Church.
For the full article by Joshua Rodriquez, please click on the following link: sefaria.org/sheets/333823.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
For the full article by John Piper, please click on the following link: desiringgod.org/articles/a-metaphor-of-christ-and-the-church
For the full article by Bibleref.com, please click on the following link: bibleref.com/Genesis/2/Genesis-2-18.html
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The Last Antichrist Conquered by Christ
“In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.” [1]
Bad rulers are a symptom of this sin laden world. When good people do nothing to restrain the progress of a person with sinister schemes, that person with fierce features prevails.
“His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully and shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.” [2]
The last bad ruler of this sin laden world receives his power and might from the prince of darkness. He shall destroy mighty and holy people, reminiscent of the bad kings of Israel who slew God’s prophets for daring to challenge their treatment of God and of God’s people.
“Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.” [3]
He is a deceiver and a promoter of deception. He is deceived by the power that Satan gives him to assume that he is more powerful than the Prince of princes a reference to the Messiah. But he will be broken without human means.
“They [Gog and Magog] went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” [4]
The good news is Messiah and His followers win.
“I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn [antichrist] was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.”
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” [5]
“The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” [6]
“I was watching; and the same horn [the antichrist] was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” [7]
“The [heavenly] court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [8]
Our part, at this time is to proclaim faith in Christ, and convince as many as possible to embrace a personal relationship with Christ. Only He can save us, and He will do so gloriously.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” [9]
[1] Daniel 8:23
[2] Daniel 8:24
[3] Daniel 8:25
[4] Revelation 20:9-10
[5] Daniel 7:11-14
[6] Daniel 7:18
[7] Daniel 7:21-22
[8] Daniel 7:26-27
[9] John 16:33
Bad rulers are a symptom of this sin laden world. When good people do nothing to restrain the progress of a person with sinister schemes, that person with fierce features prevails.
“His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully and shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.” [2]
The last bad ruler of this sin laden world receives his power and might from the prince of darkness. He shall destroy mighty and holy people, reminiscent of the bad kings of Israel who slew God’s prophets for daring to challenge their treatment of God and of God’s people.
“Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.” [3]
He is a deceiver and a promoter of deception. He is deceived by the power that Satan gives him to assume that he is more powerful than the Prince of princes a reference to the Messiah. But he will be broken without human means.
“They [Gog and Magog] went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” [4]
The good news is Messiah and His followers win.
“I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn [antichrist] was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.”
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” [5]
“The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” [6]
“I was watching; and the same horn [the antichrist] was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.” [7]
“The [heavenly] court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [8]
Our part, at this time is to proclaim faith in Christ, and convince as many as possible to embrace a personal relationship with Christ. Only He can save us, and He will do so gloriously.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” [9]
[1] Daniel 8:23
[2] Daniel 8:24
[3] Daniel 8:25
[4] Revelation 20:9-10
[5] Daniel 7:11-14
[6] Daniel 7:18
[7] Daniel 7:21-22
[8] Daniel 7:26-27
[9] John 16:33
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Lions Love Lawfare
“We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” [1]
“So these governors and satraps [politicians] THRONGED before the king, and said thus to him: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors, and advisors, have consulted [conspired] together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for 30 days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.’ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.” [2]
How did Daniel respond to this decree? He prayed to God as he always had done. He was caught praying, he was arrested and he was thrown into the lions’ den. [3]
The king obeyed congress, but at the same time, expressed faith in Daniel’s God to rescue him: “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” [4]
The king also spent the night fasting. He arose very early in the morning to check on Daniel. He cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” [5]
Daniel testified to the king, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” [6]
“The king was exceedingly glad that “no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” The king sentenced those waged lawfare against Daniel to the lions. The lions loved it. Then King Darius decreed that “men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” [7]
“Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” [8]
Kings and a queen recognized that the Spirit of God was the One who empowered Daniel. “In him is the Spirit of the Holy God.” “Because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” “The Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” “Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent Spirit was in him.” [9]
Jesus told His disciples not to worry about what they were to say when brought before authorities because the Holy Spirit would provide the right words for them to speak. [10]
It is important to note that Daniel loved the Lord and was a reader of God’s Word. For example, he read the Book of Jeremiah. [11]
Daniel had a heart for God and a heart for people, and the Lord protected and prospered him.
[1] Daniel 6:5
[2] Daniel 6:6-9
[3] Daniel 6:10
[4] Daniel 6:16
[5] Daniel 6:18-20
[6] Daniel 6:22
[7] Daniel 6:23-27
[8] Daniel 6:28
[9] Daniel 4:8-9, 18; 5:11; 6:3
[10] Luke 12:11-12
[11] Daniel 9:2
“So these governors and satraps [politicians] THRONGED before the king, and said thus to him: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors, and advisors, have consulted [conspired] together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for 30 days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.’ Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.” [2]
How did Daniel respond to this decree? He prayed to God as he always had done. He was caught praying, he was arrested and he was thrown into the lions’ den. [3]
The king obeyed congress, but at the same time, expressed faith in Daniel’s God to rescue him: “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” [4]
The king also spent the night fasting. He arose very early in the morning to check on Daniel. He cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” [5]
Daniel testified to the king, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” [6]
“The king was exceedingly glad that “no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” The king sentenced those waged lawfare against Daniel to the lions. The lions loved it. Then King Darius decreed that “men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.” [7]
“Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” [8]
Kings and a queen recognized that the Spirit of God was the One who empowered Daniel. “In him is the Spirit of the Holy God.” “Because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” “The Spirit of the Holy God is in you.” “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” “Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent Spirit was in him.” [9]
Jesus told His disciples not to worry about what they were to say when brought before authorities because the Holy Spirit would provide the right words for them to speak. [10]
It is important to note that Daniel loved the Lord and was a reader of God’s Word. For example, he read the Book of Jeremiah. [11]
Daniel had a heart for God and a heart for people, and the Lord protected and prospered him.
[1] Daniel 6:5
[2] Daniel 6:6-9
[3] Daniel 6:10
[4] Daniel 6:16
[5] Daniel 6:18-20
[6] Daniel 6:22
[7] Daniel 6:23-27
[8] Daniel 6:28
[9] Daniel 4:8-9, 18; 5:11; 6:3
[10] Luke 12:11-12
[11] Daniel 9:2
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Compassion = 1; Competition = 2
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: for Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions. Then take another stick and write on it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions. Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.’” [1]
My wife asked me as she read this passage, “Could it be that the two sticks were put together in a crisscross manner so that they formed a cross?” I believe that the Lord would have led Ezekiel by His Spirit to do just that because He said that all Scripture points to Jesus Christ. It is in the cross of Christ that two become one.
“Then say to them, thus says the Lord God: surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” [2]
Compassion = one. Competition = two. The Lord brought His people to repentance of sin, and cleansed them from sinful appetites, and gave them an appetite for Him. He filled them by His Spirit with love for God and love for one another. Then, they became one people.
“David [Beloved] My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have One Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” [3]
The bringing together of people with God and with one another in love is the work of David, whose name means beloved. The Beloved One of God in whom we all find acceptance and peace with God, is Jesus Christ God’s Son. He tabernacles – dwells – remains with those who receive Him. He is the One who sanctifies us and makes us one.
[1] Ezekiel 37:15-17
[2] Ezekiel 37:21-23
[3] Ezekiel 37:24-28
My wife asked me as she read this passage, “Could it be that the two sticks were put together in a crisscross manner so that they formed a cross?” I believe that the Lord would have led Ezekiel by His Spirit to do just that because He said that all Scripture points to Jesus Christ. It is in the cross of Christ that two become one.
“Then say to them, thus says the Lord God: surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” [2]
Compassion = one. Competition = two. The Lord brought His people to repentance of sin, and cleansed them from sinful appetites, and gave them an appetite for Him. He filled them by His Spirit with love for God and love for one another. Then, they became one people.
“David [Beloved] My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have One Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” [3]
The bringing together of people with God and with one another in love is the work of David, whose name means beloved. The Beloved One of God in whom we all find acceptance and peace with God, is Jesus Christ God’s Son. He tabernacles – dwells – remains with those who receive Him. He is the One who sanctifies us and makes us one.
[1] Ezekiel 37:15-17
[2] Ezekiel 37:21-23
[3] Ezekiel 37:24-28
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Israel Reborn
One day, the Lord’s hand was on Ezekiel. In a sense, both of God’s hands were on him because the Spirit of the Lord and the Word of God came to him. The Spirit and the Word are like the two hands of the Heavenly Father to get His work done among us. The Lord showed him dry bones and asked him if the bones could live. His response was: “O Lord God, You know.” [1]
The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. The Lord’s Word to the bones was LIFE. God created the heavens and the earth by speaking words. When Ezekiel obeyed the Lord, and spoke His Word, flesh formed on the bones and breath came into them. They lived! They became an exceedingly great army. [2]
This passage reminds me of what the Lord said through His servant Paul, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” [3]
Israel had been saying, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” The Word of the Lord to them was God was going to resurrect them by His Spirit. [4]
Ezekiel told them by the Word of the Lord that God would gather them from the nations where they had been scattered and bring them back into their own land. They would be one nation undivided. The Lord promised to appoint one King to reign over them and that their nation would never be divided again. [5]
This is quite a miracle, but God promised something even greater than these things to them. He promised to take idolatry from their hearts and cleanse them so that they would be happy to be His people, and He to be their God. God promised them one King and one Shepherd to guide them. In other words, the government would not be fragmented between secular and spiritual leaders. David, which means the Beloved, would be their prince forever. His everlasting covenant with Israel is peace. He will be their sanctuary. He will tabernacle among them. His holy place will be in Israel, and all the nations will know it. This is a reference to Jesus their Messiah.
“I will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do them.” “My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” [6]
I believe this day is close at hand. The time of the Gentiles is almost fulfilled. The time in which we Gentiles were the Lord’s predominant people to carry the Gospel to the nations! Israel is about to be reborn. They will embrace Jesus Christ, the Son of God as their Messiah, they will become a major force in the earth to proclaim Him and serve Him with great joy. He will do great exploits through them. Praise the Lord!
[1] Ezekiel 37:1-3
[2] Ezekiel 37:4-10
[3] Ephesians 2:4-6
[4] Ezekiel 37:11-14
[5] Ezekiel 37:21-22
[6] Ezekiel 37:23-28
The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. The Lord’s Word to the bones was LIFE. God created the heavens and the earth by speaking words. When Ezekiel obeyed the Lord, and spoke His Word, flesh formed on the bones and breath came into them. They lived! They became an exceedingly great army. [2]
This passage reminds me of what the Lord said through His servant Paul, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” [3]
Israel had been saying, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” The Word of the Lord to them was God was going to resurrect them by His Spirit. [4]
Ezekiel told them by the Word of the Lord that God would gather them from the nations where they had been scattered and bring them back into their own land. They would be one nation undivided. The Lord promised to appoint one King to reign over them and that their nation would never be divided again. [5]
This is quite a miracle, but God promised something even greater than these things to them. He promised to take idolatry from their hearts and cleanse them so that they would be happy to be His people, and He to be their God. God promised them one King and one Shepherd to guide them. In other words, the government would not be fragmented between secular and spiritual leaders. David, which means the Beloved, would be their prince forever. His everlasting covenant with Israel is peace. He will be their sanctuary. He will tabernacle among them. His holy place will be in Israel, and all the nations will know it. This is a reference to Jesus their Messiah.
“I will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one Shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes and do them.” “My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” [6]
I believe this day is close at hand. The time of the Gentiles is almost fulfilled. The time in which we Gentiles were the Lord’s predominant people to carry the Gospel to the nations! Israel is about to be reborn. They will embrace Jesus Christ, the Son of God as their Messiah, they will become a major force in the earth to proclaim Him and serve Him with great joy. He will do great exploits through them. Praise the Lord!
[1] Ezekiel 37:1-3
[2] Ezekiel 37:4-10
[3] Ephesians 2:4-6
[4] Ezekiel 37:11-14
[5] Ezekiel 37:21-22
[6] Ezekiel 37:23-28
Thursday, October 24, 2024
God’s Great Name
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it.” [1]
Idolatry focuses people on self. What can I get in exchange for my homage? What can I avoid if I serve this entity? Self-worship carried to extreme levels results in bloodshed.
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” [2]
Bloodshed from covetousness! Bloodshed from the fear of the unknown such as in the case of abortion. The Law of God is, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” [3]
What did the Lord do with people who professed to others that they belonged to Him, and yet were in reality all about serving themselves?
“So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy Name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ But I had concern for My holy Name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.” [4]
The Lord took up the task that His people failed to do, namely, to restore honor to His Name.
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” [5]
The Lord’s plan was to cleanse His people from their self-worship. To give them a new heart and a new spirit so that they would have an appetite for His statues and judgments! To delight to be His people, and to have Him alone for their God.
“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” [6]
After His cleansing in their souls, He planned to bless the works of theirs hands so that their land produced abundantly. His lovingkindness, grace and forgiveness towards them would lead them to repentance and renewal.
“I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain, multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this, says the Lord God, let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!” [7]
In fact, we see the Lord already bringing abut a new day for Israel. They have developed a process to desalinate the Mediterranean salt water and use it to irrigate nonproductive lands so that now they are producing food in abundance.
“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” [8]
Ultimately, they will be a great people once again. They will be like a flock. A unified group of people who knows the Lord! Praise the Lord!
“Thus says the Lord God: I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” [9]
[1] Ezekiel 36:16-18
[2] James 4:1-2
[3] Genesis 9:6
[4] Ezekiel 36:19-21
[5] Ezekiel 36:22-23
[6] Ezekiel 36:24-28
[7] Ezekiel 36:29-32
[8] Ezekiel 36:33-36
[9] Ezekiel 36:37-38
Idolatry focuses people on self. What can I get in exchange for my homage? What can I avoid if I serve this entity? Self-worship carried to extreme levels results in bloodshed.
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” [2]
Bloodshed from covetousness! Bloodshed from the fear of the unknown such as in the case of abortion. The Law of God is, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” [3]
What did the Lord do with people who professed to others that they belonged to Him, and yet were in reality all about serving themselves?
“So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy Name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ But I had concern for My holy Name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.” [4]
The Lord took up the task that His people failed to do, namely, to restore honor to His Name.
“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” [5]
The Lord’s plan was to cleanse His people from their self-worship. To give them a new heart and a new spirit so that they would have an appetite for His statues and judgments! To delight to be His people, and to have Him alone for their God.
“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” [6]
After His cleansing in their souls, He planned to bless the works of theirs hands so that their land produced abundantly. His lovingkindness, grace and forgiveness towards them would lead them to repentance and renewal.
“I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain, multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this, says the Lord God, let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!” [7]
In fact, we see the Lord already bringing abut a new day for Israel. They have developed a process to desalinate the Mediterranean salt water and use it to irrigate nonproductive lands so that now they are producing food in abundance.
“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” [8]
Ultimately, they will be a great people once again. They will be like a flock. A unified group of people who knows the Lord! Praise the Lord!
“Thus says the Lord God: I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” [9]
[1] Ezekiel 36:16-18
[2] James 4:1-2
[3] Genesis 9:6
[4] Ezekiel 36:19-21
[5] Ezekiel 36:22-23
[6] Ezekiel 36:24-28
[7] Ezekiel 36:29-32
[8] Ezekiel 36:33-36
[9] Ezekiel 36:37-38
Monday, October 21, 2024
The Last Great Transfer of Power
In the past, the Lord spoke of Assyria as being a great and beautiful tree which could host a multitude of birds. “All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; and in its shadow all great nations made their home.” [1]
Later, the Lord spoke of the King of Babylon as such a tree, “You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave plenty of food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds. You saw that tree. King, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful. You are like the tall tree that touched the sky—your power reaches to the far parts of the earth.” [2]
Later, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as being such a tree. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” [3]
The Kingdom of Christ is destined to be the final and everlasting empire that rules the world, but until then, there are imposter kings and kingdoms that taut themselves to be the answer to the world’s problem, and to be the kingdom that cannot be destroyed, and people will flock to them, but be disappointed.
Jesus is God’s Messiah. He is the Only Savior. His kingdom has no end. His rule is based on righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Eventually, the kingdoms of this world will be His. “At the Name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [4]
Soon, an heavenly angel will sound a trumpet, and all this shall come to pass suddenly. “Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” [5] This event will be last great transfer of power from one government to another.
This will be a wonderful day for those who have placed their hope in Christ for a better kingdom than ones we see now, but not for those who have trusted in lies and disregarded the truth.
It is vital to come to Christ on a personal basis, ask His forgiveness of your sins, and to commit to trusting and professing Him as your Lord and Savior.
[1] Ezekiel 31:6
[2] Daniel 4:20-22
[3] Matthew 13:31-32
[4] Romans 14:17; Philippians 2:10-11
[5] Revelation 11:15
Later, the Lord spoke of the King of Babylon as such a tree, “You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave plenty of food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds. You saw that tree. King, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful. You are like the tall tree that touched the sky—your power reaches to the far parts of the earth.” [2]
Later, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as being such a tree. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” [3]
The Kingdom of Christ is destined to be the final and everlasting empire that rules the world, but until then, there are imposter kings and kingdoms that taut themselves to be the answer to the world’s problem, and to be the kingdom that cannot be destroyed, and people will flock to them, but be disappointed.
Jesus is God’s Messiah. He is the Only Savior. His kingdom has no end. His rule is based on righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Eventually, the kingdoms of this world will be His. “At the Name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [4]
Soon, an heavenly angel will sound a trumpet, and all this shall come to pass suddenly. “Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” [5] This event will be last great transfer of power from one government to another.
This will be a wonderful day for those who have placed their hope in Christ for a better kingdom than ones we see now, but not for those who have trusted in lies and disregarded the truth.
It is vital to come to Christ on a personal basis, ask His forgiveness of your sins, and to commit to trusting and professing Him as your Lord and Savior.
[1] Ezekiel 31:6
[2] Daniel 4:20-22
[3] Matthew 13:31-32
[4] Romans 14:17; Philippians 2:10-11
[5] Revelation 11:15
Sunday, October 20, 2024
God’s Word to an Arrogant Nation
The nation’s heart was lifted up in such a way that they began to believe the lie that they were a god. They thought that they had reached their position among the nations due to their superior wisdom. They thought that they knew every other nation’s secrets. They were rich because they were wise! But the truth was that they were getting their payments from the thief of thieves… Satan. They had built their economy using the devil’s blueprint for wealth. God declared to them through His prophet Ezekiel that they were about to be conquered and thrown into a pit.
“The Word of the Lord came to me again, saying, ‘Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, thus says the Lord God: because your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas,’ yet you are a man, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! With your wisdom and your understanding you have gained riches for yourself, and gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches), therefore, thus says the Lord God: because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall throw you down into the Pit, and you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas.’” [1]
The God who created and sustains the universe was declaring their downfall, and it would happen in due season. “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, in the hand of him who slays you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of aliens; for I have spoken, says the Lord God.” [2]
The Lord, in His Word, compares this nation with Satan. Iniquity was found in her. This nation which touted itself as egalitarian actually was the most unequal and most unjust nation of all.
“Moreover the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, thus says the Lord God: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” [3]
This nation valued consumerism more than God and people. The love of God and love of neighbor decreased to the point that caring people were deemed enemies of the state. “By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.” [4]
God removed her cosmetics, her fake beauty, so the nations could see what she really looked like, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.” [5]
The Lord brought judgment on her sanctuaries. Her faith places were also corrupted by the love of pleasure and consumerism. “You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you.” [6]
The Lord called Ezekiel to set his face against this wicked nation and prophesy against her, much like Jesus prophesied (later) against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. [7]
“Thus says the Lord God: behold, I am against you, O Sidon; I will be glorified in your midst; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her. For I will send pestilence upon her, and blood in her streets; the wounded shall be judged in her midst by the sword against her on every side; then they shall know that I am the Lord.” [8]
To His people of faith the Lord said, “They will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” [9]
All that shines is not gold. The nation that builds on a foundation other than on the foundation of the Lord’s blueprint, His Word, will discover that they were duped. Their fall will come suddenly. The Lord will winnow the chaff from the wheat.
“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 28:1-8
[2] Ezekiel 28:9-10
[3] Ezekiel 28:11-15
[4] Ezekiel 28:16
[5] Ezekiel 28:17
[6] Ezekiel 28:18
[7] Matthew 11:20-24
[8] Ezekiel 28:22-23
[9] Ezekiel 28:26
[10] Matthew 3:12
“The Word of the Lord came to me again, saying, ‘Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, thus says the Lord God: because your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas,’ yet you are a man, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! With your wisdom and your understanding you have gained riches for yourself, and gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches), therefore, thus says the Lord God: because you have set your heart as the heart of a god, Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. They shall throw you down into the Pit, and you shall die the death of the slain In the midst of the seas.’” [1]
The God who created and sustains the universe was declaring their downfall, and it would happen in due season. “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, in the hand of him who slays you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of aliens; for I have spoken, says the Lord God.” [2]
The Lord, in His Word, compares this nation with Satan. Iniquity was found in her. This nation which touted itself as egalitarian actually was the most unequal and most unjust nation of all.
“Moreover the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, thus says the Lord God: You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” [3]
This nation valued consumerism more than God and people. The love of God and love of neighbor decreased to the point that caring people were deemed enemies of the state. “By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.” [4]
God removed her cosmetics, her fake beauty, so the nations could see what she really looked like, “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.” [5]
The Lord brought judgment on her sanctuaries. Her faith places were also corrupted by the love of pleasure and consumerism. “You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; therefore I brought fire from your midst; it devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you.” [6]
The Lord called Ezekiel to set his face against this wicked nation and prophesy against her, much like Jesus prophesied (later) against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. [7]
“Thus says the Lord God: behold, I am against you, O Sidon; I will be glorified in your midst; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I execute judgments in her and am hallowed in her. For I will send pestilence upon her, and blood in her streets; the wounded shall be judged in her midst by the sword against her on every side; then they shall know that I am the Lord.” [8]
To His people of faith the Lord said, “They will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.” [9]
All that shines is not gold. The nation that builds on a foundation other than on the foundation of the Lord’s blueprint, His Word, will discover that they were duped. Their fall will come suddenly. The Lord will winnow the chaff from the wheat.
“His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 28:1-8
[2] Ezekiel 28:9-10
[3] Ezekiel 28:11-15
[4] Ezekiel 28:16
[5] Ezekiel 28:17
[6] Ezekiel 28:18
[7] Matthew 11:20-24
[8] Ezekiel 28:22-23
[9] Ezekiel 28:26
[10] Matthew 3:12
Friday, October 18, 2024
Jesus Christ Stands in the Gap
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, say to her: you are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.’” [1]
The conspiracy of her prophets… is like a roaring lion tearing the prey.” The Apostle Peter speaks of the devil as a roaring lion who seeks to devour people. The Apostle Paul speaks of the devil as one who transforms himself into an angel of light. [2]
The prophets in Ezekiel’s day were deceived by the devil to proclaim a message that was not from God, and they formed a conspiracy against anyone who dared to speak differently. The reason being, “They have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows.” They were after people’s money. Perhaps, they worked the husbands of the widows to death with their self-help messages.
“Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” [3]
Those who were to serve the congregation by teaching them to discern between what was pleasing to the Lord, and what was not, failed them. Thus, the people under them did not honor the Lord with their choices.
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” [4]
The politicians fleeced and slaughtered the sheep rather than served them.
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken.” [5]
The false prophets plastered them with words that gave them a sense of being right with God, but their words were distancing the people from a personal relationship with the Lord.
“The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.” [6]
The fruit of the failing prophets, failing priests and failing politicians was a nation of people that was skillful at defrauding people of their money, and great at taking advantage of vulnerable people, such as the newly arrived foreigners.
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads, says the Lord God.” [7]
The One stands in the gap for people in such a nation as the one described above is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He is perfect. He lived in flesh on this planet and never sinned. He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Salvation by His grace is the only message that does not fail people. We all fail God and one another due to our sin. We have no idea how far off from God we are. Living in a sin stained world is our normal. We need someone from outside our world who is not tainted by the sin we live in to reveal to us our spiritual failings, and to forgive our sins against and people, and to give us new hearts that want to love God and our neighbor. Jesus Christ is the One who stands in the gap. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...” [8]
Christ is the answer for our world today! He is the One that true prophets of God testify of. [9]
He is the One of whom the Apostle Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized…” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 22:23-25
[2] 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14
[3] Ezekiel 22:26
[4] Ezekiel 22:27
[5] Ezekiel 22:28
[6] Ezekiel 22:29
[7] Ezekiel 22:30-31
[8] 1 Timothy 2:5–6
[9] Revelation 19:10
[10] Acts 2:38-40
The prophets in Ezekiel’s day were deceived by the devil to proclaim a message that was not from God, and they formed a conspiracy against anyone who dared to speak differently. The reason being, “They have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows.” They were after people’s money. Perhaps, they worked the husbands of the widows to death with their self-help messages.
“Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” [3]
Those who were to serve the congregation by teaching them to discern between what was pleasing to the Lord, and what was not, failed them. Thus, the people under them did not honor the Lord with their choices.
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” [4]
The politicians fleeced and slaughtered the sheep rather than served them.
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, thus says the Lord God, when the Lord had not spoken.” [5]
The false prophets plastered them with words that gave them a sense of being right with God, but their words were distancing the people from a personal relationship with the Lord.
“The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.” [6]
The fruit of the failing prophets, failing priests and failing politicians was a nation of people that was skillful at defrauding people of their money, and great at taking advantage of vulnerable people, such as the newly arrived foreigners.
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads, says the Lord God.” [7]
The One stands in the gap for people in such a nation as the one described above is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He is perfect. He lived in flesh on this planet and never sinned. He gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of all people. Salvation by His grace is the only message that does not fail people. We all fail God and one another due to our sin. We have no idea how far off from God we are. Living in a sin stained world is our normal. We need someone from outside our world who is not tainted by the sin we live in to reveal to us our spiritual failings, and to forgive our sins against and people, and to give us new hearts that want to love God and our neighbor. Jesus Christ is the One who stands in the gap. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all...” [8]
Christ is the answer for our world today! He is the One that true prophets of God testify of. [9]
He is the One of whom the Apostle Peter preached, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized…” [10]
[1] Ezekiel 22:23-25
[2] 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14
[3] Ezekiel 22:26
[4] Ezekiel 22:27
[5] Ezekiel 22:28
[6] Ezekiel 22:29
[7] Ezekiel 22:30-31
[8] 1 Timothy 2:5–6
[9] Revelation 19:10
[10] Acts 2:38-40
Thursday, October 17, 2024
I Wish We’d All Been Ready
Have you ever been treated poorly by someone that you made a sacrifice for?
Throughout the prophets, God draws people’s attention to the unfair treatment that He has recieved in return for all that He has done for us. We took His gifts, but did not love Him as He deserves.
The Lord brought Hebrews 10:29 to my mind this morning while in prayer, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
Revelation 1:7 also came to mind, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
When the people see Jesus Christ, they will mourn, perhaps because they will realize in that moment how insignificantly they treated Him. They did not regard the One who died on the cross to take away their sins, and resurrected from the dead to show them He is the One and Only Savior of humankind.
DC Talk recorded a song by Larry Norman entitled, “I Wish We’d all Been Ready.” That’s my prayer for you my friends, for me, and for the world this morning.
Throughout the prophets, God draws people’s attention to the unfair treatment that He has recieved in return for all that He has done for us. We took His gifts, but did not love Him as He deserves.
The Lord brought Hebrews 10:29 to my mind this morning while in prayer, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
Revelation 1:7 also came to mind, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
When the people see Jesus Christ, they will mourn, perhaps because they will realize in that moment how insignificantly they treated Him. They did not regard the One who died on the cross to take away their sins, and resurrected from the dead to show them He is the One and Only Savior of humankind.
DC Talk recorded a song by Larry Norman entitled, “I Wish We’d all Been Ready.” That’s my prayer for you my friends, for me, and for the world this morning.
https://youtu.be/wtwYhnGSBDQ?si=3K3FnVpM-rkAyAIU
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Jesus and The Prophets
Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” They answered Him, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ.’” [1]
How many of us in the Body of Christ have pictured Jesus in the image of one of the Old Testament prophets? Well, the people of Israel definitely connected Him to those who went before Him according to the passage above.
I am currently expanding my study and my testimonial writing about what the Lord has shown me in the Book of Jeremiah, but at the same time, looking into other books of prophecy to see Jesus in their writings. In the passages below, I share some connections between Jesus in the Gospel and Jesus in His revelation to John, with His Words to Israel via His Prophet Ezekiel.
“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore, turn and live!” [2]
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’” [3]
The good news of God via Ezekiel and Jesus is the same. Repent, turn to God, and God will save you from your sin and give you a new heart to be a citizen of His kingdom.
“…Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” that he went in and stood beside the wheels. And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out.” [4]
“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” [5]
The revelation of Jesus and the prophesy of Ezekiel both speak of fire from the heavenly altar being used by heavenly angels to bring about judgment on sin.
“Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.” [6]
“Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.” [7]
Ezekiel saw a similar vision of the four living creatures in heaven that Jesus revealed to John in Revelation. Perhaps, from a different chronological order and perspective, but similar creatures at the on-start of divine judgments on sin.
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel. Moreover the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Say now to the rebellious house: do you not know what these things mean?’” [8]
“He [Jesus] said to them, ‘To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’ And He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?’” [9]
“Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.’” [10]
How many of us in the Body of Christ have pictured Jesus in the image of one of the Old Testament prophets? Well, the people of Israel definitely connected Him to those who went before Him according to the passage above.
I am currently expanding my study and my testimonial writing about what the Lord has shown me in the Book of Jeremiah, but at the same time, looking into other books of prophecy to see Jesus in their writings. In the passages below, I share some connections between Jesus in the Gospel and Jesus in His revelation to John, with His Words to Israel via His Prophet Ezekiel.
“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die…? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore, turn and live!” [2]
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’” [3]
The good news of God via Ezekiel and Jesus is the same. Repent, turn to God, and God will save you from your sin and give you a new heart to be a citizen of His kingdom.
“…Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” that he went in and stood beside the wheels. And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out.” [4]
“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” [5]
The revelation of Jesus and the prophesy of Ezekiel both speak of fire from the heavenly altar being used by heavenly angels to bring about judgment on sin.
“Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim were lifted up. This was the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.” [6]
“Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.” [7]
Ezekiel saw a similar vision of the four living creatures in heaven that Jesus revealed to John in Revelation. Perhaps, from a different chronological order and perspective, but similar creatures at the on-start of divine judgments on sin.
“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel. Moreover the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Say now to the rebellious house: do you not know what these things mean?’” [8]
“He [Jesus] said to them, ‘To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’ And He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?’” [9]
“Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.’” [10]
God spoke parables through Ezekiel and Jesus. Both pointed to rebellion against God as the source of confusion amidst their listeners. If anyone will walk with Jesus, listen to Him and obey Him, He will reveal to them what they previously could not understand.
Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, is the Giver of these revelations into His Word…
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” [11]
I highly recommend studying the Old Testament prophets to better understand who Jesus is and what His message to us is from God. He puts all things into a rightful perspective and helps us to walk rightly with God and with those around us.
[1] Mark 10:27-29
[2] Ezekiel 18:30-32
[3] Mark 1:14-15
[4] Ezekiel 10:6-7
[5] Revelation 8:5
[6] Ezekiel 10:14-15
[7] Revelation 4:6-7
[8] Ezekiel 17:1-2, 11-12
[9] Mark 4:11-13
[10] Ezekiel 12:1-2
[11] Luke 24:44-45
Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God, is the Giver of these revelations into His Word…
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” [11]
I highly recommend studying the Old Testament prophets to better understand who Jesus is and what His message to us is from God. He puts all things into a rightful perspective and helps us to walk rightly with God and with those around us.
[1] Mark 10:27-29
[2] Ezekiel 18:30-32
[3] Mark 1:14-15
[4] Ezekiel 10:6-7
[5] Revelation 8:5
[6] Ezekiel 10:14-15
[7] Revelation 4:6-7
[8] Ezekiel 17:1-2, 11-12
[9] Mark 4:11-13
[10] Ezekiel 12:1-2
[11] Luke 24:44-45
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