Warn them from me

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 2; Galatians 6; Ezekiel 33; Psalms 81 & 82

Ezekiel 33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

The watchman sat in the tower with his eyes constantly scanning the horizon. He was looking for signs of danger coming upon the city. If an army was approaching, the watchman would see it and sound the horn loudly to make sure everyone was able to get ready for what was coming. Ezekiel was a watchman for the house of Israel. He was called by God to scan the horizon for danger and report to the people. He was not warning them of a coming army, but of the wrath of the LORD because of their infidelity to God.

Ezekiel 33:25-26 Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land? Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?

Israel had forgotten the Lord and was not walking in his ways. God appointed the watchman to warn them. If the watchman did his job and the people did not listen, it was their fault if disaster came upon them. But if the watchman did not warn the people and disaster came upon them he was held responsible. The watchman’s job is a very important one.

Are there watchmen appointed for today? Certainly – pastors and teachers are watchmen on the walls who scan the horizon looking for any sign of danger and warning the people of what is coming. They are scanning the culture and weighing it in light of the Bible to see what new apostasy is approaching the people of God. They sound the trumpet loudly when they see the danger and diligently warn the people. What the people do with the warning will determine if they are taken captive by the unbiblical philosophy of the day or not.

Watchmen also warn of wolves and false teachers who come against God’s people. We see Paul doing this in Ephesus:

Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

He instructed the Ephesian elders to “Watch”! Are you watching for those under your care? Are you listening to the watchmen that are on the walls? There is always danger and we must watch.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

In Christ,

Rody

The fruit of the Spirit

Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1; Galatians 5; Ezekiel 32; Psalm 80

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Holy Spirit moves into your life when you trust in Christ. Like a seed planted in a field the Holy Spirit begins to grow and bear fruit in the life of Christ-followers. Here is what comes from the Spirit of God.

Love – Since God is love (1 John 4:8) if he lives in you, love will come from you.

Joy – The realization of forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternity with Christ bring joy to even the most difficult circumstances.

Peace – The tranquility of spirit that God brings is supernatural. The follower of Jesus will have peace knowing that God is in control.

Longsuffering – The ability to put up with difficult circumstances and difficult people comes because of God’s longsuffering in us.

Gentleness – Like a horse that is gentle there is no loss of strength or power but a spirit of quiet obedience longing to do the Master’s will.

Goodness – Since God is good, the life of a believer will flow with goodness.

Faith – The humble walk day by day that trusts in Jesus for everything will be yours since the Holy Spirit lives in you.

Meekness – A humility that desires for Christ to be exalted and to have the glory for everything will permeate your walk.

Temperance – A life under control without excesses will be yours. The Holy Spirit will help you to exhibit control in your actions.

The great tragedy is when someone attempts to accomplish these things on their own. These are attributes of God that he manifests in us! We cannot do this on our own. The key is to abide in Christ.

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We are branches; Christ is the vine. We cannot bear fruit we can only be fruit bearers. The life giving sap of the vine flows from Jesus through us and produces the beautiful fruit that is so valuable to life. He is the producer. Apart from him we can do nothing. Abiding in him, he can accomplish in us everything he desires.

In Christ,

Rody

The children of promise

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 24; Galatians 4; Ezekiel 31; Psalm 79

Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

The narrative of Abraham and his family in the book of Genesis is very important to our understanding the New Testament. It has been said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” If you do not know what happened in the life of Abraham, you are going to have a hard time understanding the book of Galatians. Here the Bible tells us that we are as Isaac. If you remember what the Bible tells us about Abraham, he and his wife Sarah were not able to have a child. God had promised him that he would have a child and so they took the matter into their own hands. It was a custom of the people in their day to have a surrogate mother have a child for a barren woman so Sarah gave Abraham her handmaid, Hagar. Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, was born of Hagar, but God said that he was not the child that was promised. God then clarified that Sarah would have a child and thirteen years later, Isaac was born to Sarah! This was clearly a miracle because Sarah was ninety years old at the time and Abraham was one hundred! (Genesis 21)

Now the New Testament tells us that we are the children of promise like Isaac. First, that means that we are born again according to a promise. The Bible here is contrasting national Israel with those who are born again. Religion is the fleshly child born of the bondwoman. Those who rejected Christ were very religious people, but they were not born again. God promised a people to his son.

Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

This people include not only Jews, but Gentiles too. Those who hear the good news of Jesus Christ and believe are born again and are the children of promise! We are born into God’s family and become his children. If you belong to God it is not because of your religious rites. It is because you are born again. As a child of promise you will experience persecution from the religious!

Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, the true children of promise will experience persecution from the children of the bondwoman. Think of all the true believers who are persecuted by religious institutions around the world today. Just as Jesus was persecuted by the religious people of his day – we will be like our Master!

In Christ,

Rody

These be the names of the mighty men

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 23; Galatians 3; Ezekiel 30; Psalm 78:38-72

2 Samuel 23:8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

David was a mighty warrior. It took no time at all for him to gain this reputation among the people:

1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

As such a warrior, he led men and he had a unit that was designated as ‘mighty men’. These were David’s own men who fought side by side with him for years. There were varying levels of distinction among these men as they had distinguished themselves in battle. The first three were Adino, Eleazar and Shammah. Also highly distinguished in battle were Abishai and Benaiah. In all there were thirty-seven men designated as ‘David’s Mighty Men’.

There was a great respect for David among these men and once when they were in a hold and were fighting the Philistines, David longed for a drink of water from a well in Bethlehem where he was raised.

2 Samuel 23:16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

These were a band of brothers, battle hardened with a friendship forged in battle. They would have died for each other and had that opportunity many times. This is why it is so tragic to read of David’s activities when he was at home and his men were fighting in battle. He saw a woman bathing and desired her.

2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

This was not some random woman. David’s servants were quick to point out who her husband and her father were. The daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah – both mighty men! (2 Samuel 23:34, 39)

Not only was David committing adultery but he was stealing the wife and daughter of two of his mighty men! Friendship is a hard thing to come by. David’s sin is wicked on so many fronts and most especially against God. It is too bad that selfishness can lead to such infidelity. Guard your heart against lust!

In Christ,

Rody

Crucified with Christ

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 22; Galatians 2; Ezekiel 29; Psalm 78:1-37

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Something happened to you when Jesus died on the cross if you are in Him. Paul says that he is crucified ‘with Christ’. Yet, he was not dead when he wrote this…was he? Yes, he was! You are too if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

You are dead to sin: Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

You are dead to the law: Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

The old man that Paul used to be was crucified with Christ. That man who was alive to sin and the law was now dead. Now the new life that he had been given was the motivating factor of his life. Even though he was dead, he still lived. Christ was now living his life in Paul. Is Christ living in you? How do you live this ‘Christ life”?

According to the Bible you live it by the faith of the Son of God who loves you and gave himself for you! You believe this incredible truth! Jesus Christ loves you and he gave himself for you! If you will walk in him the same way you received him, you will experience Christ living in you!

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

The old man is dead and you are now a new creature in Christ. Walk in that new life each day by the faith of Jesus!

In Christ,

Rody