Bible Reading: Ezekiel 9-12
Ezekiel 12:21-23 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
The people of Ezekiel's day had come to a place where they no longer believed the Word of the Lord. They spoke of God's Word in a proverb saying that every vision had failed. The reason for this was the fact that it had been a long time since the prophet's had spoken. In other Words, they had heard the words of the prophets but since nothing had happened in a while, they said it would never happen.
God instructed Ezekiel to tell them, "The days are at hand!" God was going to do what he had said through the prophets and unfortunately for Judah that meant a great chastisement. They would be exiled to Babylon.
The same thing happens in our day. Peter told us it would come:
2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Don't be a part of this. Don't 'spiritualize' the Word of God and not believe that Jesus is coming again! We learn through a study of the Word of God that he is faithful to fulfill his promises. They take place in his time, not ours. Peter also tells us:
2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Time is very different to Jesus than it is to us! Don't get impatient, but realize that his delay is longsuffering and grace. He wants more to be saved! He is giving mankind time to repent and believe the gospel.
Never give up on the promises of God, but realize that all will be fulfilled in his time. You can rest in that!
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
They will not hearken unto me
Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-4
Ezekiel 3:7-8 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
Ezekiel's task was not an easy one. No prophet's is an easy task. People are like sheep the Bible says, and go their own way. When God wants to speak to them, many times they do not want to hear.
God knew that the Israelites would not listen to Ezekiel. God would give Ezekiel the words to say and he would tell the people. Since they would not listen to God, they would not listen to Ezekiel. However, God wanted to speak to them even though they would not listen.
It is important for the prophet to speak the word of God. Even when people do not hear, he must speak. He must offer the invitation to come to God and remind the people of God's grace and mercy. In order to do this, the prophet needs two things.
First, he needs to remember that he is speaking God's Word, not his own. This is imperative. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy and us all:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
No one has the right to find out what people want to hear and then preach that. As a matter of fact, Paul warned that was coming.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is the Word of God that has the power to change a life!
The second thing the prophet needs is a hard head. God told Ezekiel that he had made his forehead hard against theirs.
Ezekiel 3:9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
An adamant is hard like diamond. God says it is harder than flint! If the prophet is easily swayed, he will fear the people and give in to them. He will want popularity and will learn to tickle ears instead of simply being faithful to deliver the word of God.
We all need a forehead like adamant. We need to know the Word so well that we can share it in love with those around us. We also must not be swayed when people do not listen. If they reject the message of Jesus, they are not rejecting us, but him.
Some will hear. Let's go tell!
In Christ,
Rody
Ezekiel 3:7-8 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
Ezekiel's task was not an easy one. No prophet's is an easy task. People are like sheep the Bible says, and go their own way. When God wants to speak to them, many times they do not want to hear.
God knew that the Israelites would not listen to Ezekiel. God would give Ezekiel the words to say and he would tell the people. Since they would not listen to God, they would not listen to Ezekiel. However, God wanted to speak to them even though they would not listen.
It is important for the prophet to speak the word of God. Even when people do not hear, he must speak. He must offer the invitation to come to God and remind the people of God's grace and mercy. In order to do this, the prophet needs two things.
First, he needs to remember that he is speaking God's Word, not his own. This is imperative. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy and us all:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
No one has the right to find out what people want to hear and then preach that. As a matter of fact, Paul warned that was coming.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is the Word of God that has the power to change a life!
The second thing the prophet needs is a hard head. God told Ezekiel that he had made his forehead hard against theirs.
Ezekiel 3:9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
An adamant is hard like diamond. God says it is harder than flint! If the prophet is easily swayed, he will fear the people and give in to them. He will want popularity and will learn to tickle ears instead of simply being faithful to deliver the word of God.
We all need a forehead like adamant. We need to know the Word so well that we can share it in love with those around us. We also must not be swayed when people do not listen. If they reject the message of Jesus, they are not rejecting us, but him.
Some will hear. Let's go tell!
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I will not make a full end of thee
Jeremiah 46-48
Jeremiah 46:27-28 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
Jeremiah had a tough job. He had to declare to the people of Judah that they would be taken into captivity by the Babylonians. He had to call them to account for their idolatry and their lack of devotion to their Creator.
He also had the task of bringing the stinging message of God's wrath to many other nations around Judah, including announcing the fall of Babylon.
Jeremiah was not popular in his day, nor was his message well received. However, he also had the incredible privilege of announcing God's favor on Judah and the promise that he would bring them back into the land of their inheritance after a period of captivity. This would happen at the end of seventy years and God would 'save them from afar off'.
There is a great difference in the messages of Jeremiah to Judah and to the other nations. The other nations would come to an end, but God would not make an end of Judah. Their time of captivity would serve a purpose. They would be punished for their disobedience. However, God was with them.
As a loving heavenly Father, God will discipline his children. He will not let us get away with rebellion. There are consequences for our actions.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
If you receive the chastening of God, you can know that you are his child! He only chastens his sons. You can also know that God's chastening is for our good and God's glory.
Jesus says:
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Chastening is something that Jesus does because he loves his children and does not want us to wander in disobedience. He chastens us to bring us back to himself. Let his chastening have it's intended effect in your life!
In Christ,
Rody
Jeremiah 46:27-28 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
Jeremiah had a tough job. He had to declare to the people of Judah that they would be taken into captivity by the Babylonians. He had to call them to account for their idolatry and their lack of devotion to their Creator.
He also had the task of bringing the stinging message of God's wrath to many other nations around Judah, including announcing the fall of Babylon.
Jeremiah was not popular in his day, nor was his message well received. However, he also had the incredible privilege of announcing God's favor on Judah and the promise that he would bring them back into the land of their inheritance after a period of captivity. This would happen at the end of seventy years and God would 'save them from afar off'.
There is a great difference in the messages of Jeremiah to Judah and to the other nations. The other nations would come to an end, but God would not make an end of Judah. Their time of captivity would serve a purpose. They would be punished for their disobedience. However, God was with them.
As a loving heavenly Father, God will discipline his children. He will not let us get away with rebellion. There are consequences for our actions.
Hebrews 12:5-11 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
If you receive the chastening of God, you can know that you are his child! He only chastens his sons. You can also know that God's chastening is for our good and God's glory.
Jesus says:
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Chastening is something that Jesus does because he loves his children and does not want us to wander in disobedience. He chastens us to bring us back to himself. Let his chastening have it's intended effect in your life!
In Christ,
Rody
Friday, August 3, 2012
Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God
Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 32-33
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
The son of Hezekiah, Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah had ever had. He was an idolater and a murderer. He murdered his own children in a religious ceremony worshipping a false god! He practiced witchcraft and sorcery. He set up high places and altars to all the host of heaven. He even put a graven image of a false god in the temple in Jerusalem.
While Hezekiah was alive, the prophet told him that his son would rebel against God and would be taken into the custody of a foreign king.
2 Kings 20:17-18 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Because of his wickedness and rebellion, Manasseh was taken away to Babylon. However, when he was taken by the foreign powers, he began to seek the Lord! The Bible tells us that he humbled himself before God and prayed unto him. When this happened, Manasseh knew that the Lord was God!
Imagine that! The most wicked king that Judah ever had who led the people away from God into the false worship of demons finally repented and believed in the name of the God of his fathers. And God heard his prayer and restored him.
Don't ever give up on someone! God doesn't. If a person like Manasseh can repent, anyone can. Was he too far from God? No, and when he was afflicted, he called upon the name of the Lord. God is never far from any one of us. He is always near!
Romans 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Sometimes it takes affliction and difficult circumstances in our lives to bring us to a place where we can trust in God. It was so for David.
Psalms 119:67 & 71 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
The story of Manasseh is a great encouragement to me. Although his early years are a terrible show of idolatry and rebellion, his later repentance and knowledge of God reminds me that it is never too late. God is merciful and gracious. His grace is amazing and we should never forget that even the person who is farthest away from God can repent and trust in Jesus.
In Christ,
Rody
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
The son of Hezekiah, Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah had ever had. He was an idolater and a murderer. He murdered his own children in a religious ceremony worshipping a false god! He practiced witchcraft and sorcery. He set up high places and altars to all the host of heaven. He even put a graven image of a false god in the temple in Jerusalem.
While Hezekiah was alive, the prophet told him that his son would rebel against God and would be taken into the custody of a foreign king.
2 Kings 20:17-18 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Because of his wickedness and rebellion, Manasseh was taken away to Babylon. However, when he was taken by the foreign powers, he began to seek the Lord! The Bible tells us that he humbled himself before God and prayed unto him. When this happened, Manasseh knew that the Lord was God!
Imagine that! The most wicked king that Judah ever had who led the people away from God into the false worship of demons finally repented and believed in the name of the God of his fathers. And God heard his prayer and restored him.
Don't ever give up on someone! God doesn't. If a person like Manasseh can repent, anyone can. Was he too far from God? No, and when he was afflicted, he called upon the name of the Lord. God is never far from any one of us. He is always near!
Romans 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Sometimes it takes affliction and difficult circumstances in our lives to bring us to a place where we can trust in God. It was so for David.
Psalms 119:67 & 71 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
The story of Manasseh is a great encouragement to me. Although his early years are a terrible show of idolatry and rebellion, his later repentance and knowledge of God reminds me that it is never too late. God is merciful and gracious. His grace is amazing and we should never forget that even the person who is farthest away from God can repent and trust in Jesus.
In Christ,
Rody
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A contrite spirit
Bible Reading: Isaiah 64-66
Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
How do you get the attention of the Lord? The house of worship that Israel made was constructed as a house of prayer. However, the people had degraded in their devotion to God. They were going through the motions. They did religious things, but their hearts were far from God. Because of this, he was not impressed.
God is never impressed with our outward religious rituals. Our church going and sacrificial giving means little if it is not an outward show of the inward reality of God's love transforming our lives.
However, there is a person that God will look to. It is the person who is in the transformation process. The poor in spirit is the blessed man.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The broken heart is what God is looking for. David knew this and his prayer of confession to God helps us understand that God is looking at our hearts.
Psalms 51:16-17 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
God is looking for the person who trembles at the Word of God. When was the last time that you read your Bible and trembled as you thought of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man?
We get the attention of the Lord when we are genuine in our love for him. When his Word breaks our hearts and the poverty of spirit that we have makes us realize our desperate need of Jesus. Our own sin should break our hearts and the sin of our world should break it as well. Do you tremble at the thought of hell? I am not saying a believer in Jesus should fear going to hell. I am saying we should tremble at the thought of those who do not know Jesus going there.
Jesus said:
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
That makes me tremble. How 'bout you?
In Christ,
Rody
Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
How do you get the attention of the Lord? The house of worship that Israel made was constructed as a house of prayer. However, the people had degraded in their devotion to God. They were going through the motions. They did religious things, but their hearts were far from God. Because of this, he was not impressed.
God is never impressed with our outward religious rituals. Our church going and sacrificial giving means little if it is not an outward show of the inward reality of God's love transforming our lives.
However, there is a person that God will look to. It is the person who is in the transformation process. The poor in spirit is the blessed man.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The broken heart is what God is looking for. David knew this and his prayer of confession to God helps us understand that God is looking at our hearts.
Psalms 51:16-17 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
God is looking for the person who trembles at the Word of God. When was the last time that you read your Bible and trembled as you thought of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man?
We get the attention of the Lord when we are genuine in our love for him. When his Word breaks our hearts and the poverty of spirit that we have makes us realize our desperate need of Jesus. Our own sin should break our hearts and the sin of our world should break it as well. Do you tremble at the thought of hell? I am not saying a believer in Jesus should fear going to hell. I am saying we should tremble at the thought of those who do not know Jesus going there.
Jesus said:
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
That makes me tremble. How 'bout you?
In Christ,
Rody
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