In Ezekiel 22 the people of God were deeply involved in all sorts of immorality and lewd acts of hatred even murder for bribes. God spoke through Ezekiel in an attempt to bring His chosen people into obedience before He decided to act and purge the uncleanliness (vs.15). God's mercy is what keeps His wrath at bay. He called them the dross of silver. Dross is the impurities that are poured off of precious metals melted in the fire. 30"I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall (AE) and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, (AF) but I found no one. 31 So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads." (AG) [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." Who is God bringing into your life to stand in the gap for? Christ is doing that for us and wants you to be ambassadors of reconciliation for Him. 2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (NIV)... More later
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ezekiel 14-15; John 11:1-29 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
In Ezekiel 14 verse 1: "Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have put sinful stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I be consulted by them at all?" 4 "Therefore, speak to them and tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: When anyone from the house of Israel sets up idols in his heart, puts a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I, the LORD, will answer him appropriately. [I will answer him] according to his many idols, 5 so that I may take hold of the house of Israel by their hearts, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols."
What were they setting up as idols in their hearts? Idols can come in may forms. They can be anything from lust to other God's. It stems from a desire for something we do not have or for something we think we need. Israel became involved in different sins and did not consider or recognize them to be a problem. Discontent with the parameters God had established in their life and a desire for what others were involved in set God's face against them. Here is what the Lord says:
6 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Repent and turn away (E) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, [b] I, the LORD, will answer him Myself. 8 I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 "But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the LORD, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet— 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD .
The Lord's ways are always for restoration and reconciliation. He will stretch out his hand and bring judgment against an entire nation until we return to Him. The righteous will be spared vs 14 "even [if] these three men —Noah, Daniel, and Job —were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." In this case the four judgments are hunger, Dangerous animals, the sword (other people and nations rising up against us) or plague. Do we see signs of these today?
Ezekiel 15 tells us about the wood of the useless vine. It is not able to be used for anything productive so it is cut down and thrown into the fire as fuel. 6 "Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem. 7 I will turn against them. They may have escaped from the fire, but it will [still] consume them. And you will know that I am the LORD when I turn against them. 8 I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD ."
God wants our life to be useful to Him and for His desires. If we have given our life to Him we are to follow the Lord daily and He will guide our path. It is a life of servanthood that begins with obedience and includes all the promises and blessings God has throughuot scripture. At times we may expect to reap the promises of God without the the obedience of a servant. As we remain faithfully in Him and are content with where He has us, we have the peace that comes with obedience and the blessings of servanthood.
In John 11 we see a picture of this servanthood. Jesus is told of Lazarus' death (He was nearly stoned last time they were in Judea). He waited two days and said I'm going. vs. 16 Then Thomas (called "Twin") said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go so that we may die with Him." This is a real twist from when he said I will not believe unless I put my hand in His side. The difference is the first time He could see the Lord at work among them and the second time He was discouraged and grieving. He demanded to use sight instead of faith. This is so easy for any believer to do regardless of our closeness to the Savior. Lazareth's sister Martha is struggling with her belief in the Lord in this. 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?" Jesus does this for the glory of the father. Lets do something today to glorify the father.
What were they setting up as idols in their hearts? Idols can come in may forms. They can be anything from lust to other God's. It stems from a desire for something we do not have or for something we think we need. Israel became involved in different sins and did not consider or recognize them to be a problem. Discontent with the parameters God had established in their life and a desire for what others were involved in set God's face against them. Here is what the Lord says:
6 "Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Repent and turn away (E) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, [b] I, the LORD, will answer him Myself. 8 I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9 "But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the LORD, who deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet— 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD .
The Lord's ways are always for restoration and reconciliation. He will stretch out his hand and bring judgment against an entire nation until we return to Him. The righteous will be spared vs 14 "even [if] these three men —Noah, Daniel, and Job —were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD." In this case the four judgments are hunger, Dangerous animals, the sword (other people and nations rising up against us) or plague. Do we see signs of these today?
Ezekiel 15 tells us about the wood of the useless vine. It is not able to be used for anything productive so it is cut down and thrown into the fire as fuel. 6 "Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem. 7 I will turn against them. They may have escaped from the fire, but it will [still] consume them. And you will know that I am the LORD when I turn against them. 8 I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully." [This is] the declaration of the Lord GOD ."
God wants our life to be useful to Him and for His desires. If we have given our life to Him we are to follow the Lord daily and He will guide our path. It is a life of servanthood that begins with obedience and includes all the promises and blessings God has throughuot scripture. At times we may expect to reap the promises of God without the the obedience of a servant. As we remain faithfully in Him and are content with where He has us, we have the peace that comes with obedience and the blessings of servanthood.
In John 11 we see a picture of this servanthood. Jesus is told of Lazarus' death (He was nearly stoned last time they were in Judea). He waited two days and said I'm going. vs. 16 Then Thomas (called "Twin") said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go so that we may die with Him." This is a real twist from when he said I will not believe unless I put my hand in His side. The difference is the first time He could see the Lord at work among them and the second time He was discouraged and grieving. He demanded to use sight instead of faith. This is so easy for any believer to do regardless of our closeness to the Savior. Lazareth's sister Martha is struggling with her belief in the Lord in this. 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?" Jesus does this for the glory of the father. Lets do something today to glorify the father.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ezekiel 3-4; John 9:1-23
Ezekiel 3
1 And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."
10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.
Warning to Israel
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 4
Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized
1 "Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4 "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. [b] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
6 "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels [c] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin [d] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel." 13 The LORD said, "In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them."
14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
15 "Very well," he said, "I will let you bake your bread over cow manure instead of human excrement."
16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of [e] their sin.
Footnotes:
1. Ezekiel 3:18 Or in ; also in verses 19 and 20
2. Ezekiel 4:4 Or your side
3. Ezekiel 4:10 That is, about 8 ounces (about 0.2 kilogram)
4. Ezekiel 4:11 That is, about 2/3 quart (about 0.6 liter)
5. Ezekiel 4:17 Or away in
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
John 9:1-23
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
17Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."
The man replied, "He is a prophet."
18The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"
20"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
Tomorrow's intended reading: Ezekiel 5-7; John 9:24-41
1 And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."
10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound—May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- 13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. 15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.
Warning to Israel
16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 4
Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized
1 "Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2 Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. 3 Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
4 "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. [b] You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5 I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
6 "After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year. 7 Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8 I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
9 "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10 Weigh out twenty shekels [c] of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11 Also measure out a sixth of a hin [d] of water and drink it at set times. 12 Eat the food as you would a barley cake; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrement for fuel." 13 The LORD said, "In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them."
14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
15 "Very well," he said, "I will let you bake your bread over cow manure instead of human excrement."
16 He then said to me: "Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, 17 for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of [e] their sin.
Footnotes:
1. Ezekiel 3:18 Or in ; also in verses 19 and 20
2. Ezekiel 4:4 Or your side
3. Ezekiel 4:10 That is, about 8 ounces (about 0.2 kilogram)
4. Ezekiel 4:11 That is, about 2/3 quart (about 0.6 liter)
5. Ezekiel 4:17 Or away in
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
John 9:1-23
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was.
Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man."
10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him.
"I don't know," he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."
16Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."
But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.
17Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."
The man replied, "He is a prophet."
18The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19"Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?"
20"We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
Tomorrow's intended reading: Ezekiel 5-7; John 9:24-41
Friday, September 18, 2009
Amos 4-6; John 7:28-53
4:13 "He is here: the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, the One who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. Yahweh, the God of Hosts, is His name."(HCSB) The people of Israel had forsaken God. They were offering sacrifices and offerings for the wrong reasons (personal recognition). In Amos 4 God is pursuing them, doing all kinds of things to get their attention to bring them back to Him. Take a look at the spiritual condition of our lives and the spiritual condition of the nations from God’s perspective. What is God doing to bring me personally to Him and what is He doing to bring His people back?
5:4 "For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!"(HCSB) In Christ there is life. Apart from Him there are consequences of sin. When we wander He intercedes for us to the father to keep God's wrath from taking us out before the Holy Spirit has a chance to convict us and bring us back to the Lord. God is good and has provided the incredible provision of restoration in this way. The intent is always to bring us back to the Lord before we go too far. Seek Him and He will bring you back home to His loving arms. There is no better place to be!
Amos six starts out with the complacency we are apt to fall into. Please do not get caught up in this. It is so easy to fall into and not be who the Lord wants us to be. We are to often do a spiritual inventory to assure we are living out what we believe and make necessary adjustments so we can look forward to any encounter we will have with the Lord.
John 7; Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and give us overflowing joy and fullness in life. We are to share that joy as He has left us keys to living water in other lives. Let's introduce them to our Lord and He will do the same for them.
Posted by Dan Holley at 8:42 AM
5:4 "For the LORD says to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live!"(HCSB) In Christ there is life. Apart from Him there are consequences of sin. When we wander He intercedes for us to the father to keep God's wrath from taking us out before the Holy Spirit has a chance to convict us and bring us back to the Lord. God is good and has provided the incredible provision of restoration in this way. The intent is always to bring us back to the Lord before we go too far. Seek Him and He will bring you back home to His loving arms. There is no better place to be!
Amos six starts out with the complacency we are apt to fall into. Please do not get caught up in this. It is so easy to fall into and not be who the Lord wants us to be. We are to often do a spiritual inventory to assure we are living out what we believe and make necessary adjustments so we can look forward to any encounter we will have with the Lord.
John 7; Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to minister to us and give us overflowing joy and fullness in life. We are to share that joy as He has left us keys to living water in other lives. Let's introduce them to our Lord and He will do the same for them.
Posted by Dan Holley at 8:42 AM
Friday, September 11, 2009
Judges 11-12; John 4:31-54
In Judges 11 Jephthah is driven out of the land by his brothers because his mother was a prostitute. Then they later came to him and asked him to save them from the Ammonites. It shows us how God chooses the most unlikely people to use as His servant. And later we may have to take back some of the things we have thought or said as we understand who the Lord is using and chooses to lead us. God chooses whom He will for his purposes and when He lays His hand on them they can accomplish more than many under their own strength. 32 "Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands." The Lord used Jephthah to deliver the Israelites. How does the Lord intend to use you? Seek Him and put His plan before yours and He will make it plain.
In chapter 12 the men of Ephraim were upset at the way things happened. It was done without their input because they had not responded when called to help. Their discontent at the way things were handled pitted them against their brothers, drew them into war and were defeated. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Discontent at the way God chooses to accomplish His purposes has a great cost. Trusting Him in times our spirit is troubled is the biggest test of faith we may have. God's plan is always best. Let's all seek to put our plans aside and join Him in His plan. We will see life's struggles soon get easier.
In John 4 we see Jesus talking to His disciples about spiritual food. 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."... 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work...I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
We are all workers in the Lord's harvest. Many times we get caught up being concerned about personal needs and we get into a never-ending cycle that becomes concentrated on us. In Matt. 6:33 Jesus says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
I encourage you to concentrate on meeting the assignment of bringing in the harvest and the Lord promises our needs will be met in every way.
In chapter 12 the men of Ephraim were upset at the way things happened. It was done without their input because they had not responded when called to help. Their discontent at the way things were handled pitted them against their brothers, drew them into war and were defeated. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Discontent at the way God chooses to accomplish His purposes has a great cost. Trusting Him in times our spirit is troubled is the biggest test of faith we may have. God's plan is always best. Let's all seek to put our plans aside and join Him in His plan. We will see life's struggles soon get easier.
In John 4 we see Jesus talking to His disciples about spiritual food. 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."... 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work...I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
We are all workers in the Lord's harvest. Many times we get caught up being concerned about personal needs and we get into a never-ending cycle that becomes concentrated on us. In Matt. 6:33 Jesus says: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
I encourage you to concentrate on meeting the assignment of bringing in the harvest and the Lord promises our needs will be met in every way.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Psalm 140-142; 2 Corinthians 12
In Psalm 140 David is again asking for protection from those who would mean evil. It is something we should pray for. The Lord does hear our prayer and understands what we are going through. Cast your concerns on Him and let the Lord fight your battles and deliver you from the big and small things.
In Psalm 141 David asks the Lord to hear when He calls. Then He asks to "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. 5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it..."
He then goes on to pray that his heart would be open to the rebuke of a righteous man and be ready to accept it. It is important that we are always open to growing close to the Lord no matter what form the Lord brings it in.
In Psalms 142 David who is the most Loved and powerful king says he is desperate for deliverance. He needs the Lords help from the daily pressures He is facing. He feels like life has him trapped. "7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name." Has life made you feel penned in? 7b "Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me." Ask and the Lord will send his loved ones to minister to you.
More later
In Psalm 141 David asks the Lord to hear when He calls. Then He asks to "set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. 5 Let a righteous man [a] strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it..."
He then goes on to pray that his heart would be open to the rebuke of a righteous man and be ready to accept it. It is important that we are always open to growing close to the Lord no matter what form the Lord brings it in.
In Psalms 142 David who is the most Loved and powerful king says he is desperate for deliverance. He needs the Lords help from the daily pressures He is facing. He feels like life has him trapped. "7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name." Has life made you feel penned in? 7b "Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me." Ask and the Lord will send his loved ones to minister to you.
More later
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Psalm 135-136; 2nd Corinthians 11:1-15
Psalm 120-134 are "Psalms of Ascent" that were recited either on the annual journey as they ascended to Jerusalem or as they climbed the temple steps (there were 15 steps). 135:2 talks about standing in the courts of the Lord. This supports that view. We are part of the descendants of Jacob and all the blessings apply to the believers in Christ through the covenant of our Lord with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4).
Psalm 136 talks of the mercy of God. How can we fully understand His mercy? He remembers us in our low estate, He defends us daily to our opposition, He moves obstacles out of our way and has made every good thing for our daily provision. Spiritually we should get to the place where we spontaneously give thanks for the great things He has done.
2nd Corinthians 11 is a very difficult passage to relate, but it must be done. The Lord warns us to watch out for deception and things that have the appearance to be harmless and genuine on the surface, but like many things that we have encountered, they are not. Paul establishes the relationship set in place by the Lord. Others came in with another message that was dividing the fellowship and putting different ideas in their heads. This is an old tactic by Satan to cause strife among believers. Some are false apostles, deceitful workers who pose as workers of the Lord. Vs14 "That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. 15 So it doesn't surprise us that those who serve Satan pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they should." Many times we sin by doubting or trying to second-guess the Lord by letting the deceiver speak discontent to our hearts, and at times even a sense of exhaustion and helplessness. Sometimes, these feelings will come to us through "well meaning,” caring believers who may be trying to justify their own apathy or agenda. God's plan is to establish and grow loving relationships within the body of believers He has built as a church. Let's not let anything get in the way of what Christ intends to accomplish in His bride. Take comfort in the fact that our “Heavenly Father knows best!”
Psalm 136 talks of the mercy of God. How can we fully understand His mercy? He remembers us in our low estate, He defends us daily to our opposition, He moves obstacles out of our way and has made every good thing for our daily provision. Spiritually we should get to the place where we spontaneously give thanks for the great things He has done.
2nd Corinthians 11 is a very difficult passage to relate, but it must be done. The Lord warns us to watch out for deception and things that have the appearance to be harmless and genuine on the surface, but like many things that we have encountered, they are not. Paul establishes the relationship set in place by the Lord. Others came in with another message that was dividing the fellowship and putting different ideas in their heads. This is an old tactic by Satan to cause strife among believers. Some are false apostles, deceitful workers who pose as workers of the Lord. Vs14 "That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light. 15 So it doesn't surprise us that those who serve Satan pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they should." Many times we sin by doubting or trying to second-guess the Lord by letting the deceiver speak discontent to our hearts, and at times even a sense of exhaustion and helplessness. Sometimes, these feelings will come to us through "well meaning,” caring believers who may be trying to justify their own apathy or agenda. God's plan is to establish and grow loving relationships within the body of believers He has built as a church. Let's not let anything get in the way of what Christ intends to accomplish in His bride. Take comfort in the fact that our “Heavenly Father knows best!”
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