Job was a "blameless and upright man; he feared God and shunned evil."
He was rich and had a large family. All were removed from him in a day. Our 1st lesson from Job is that we should worship God no matter how much have - little or plenty. It is God's decision for His own purposes to determine how much prosperity we enjoy.
Job was healthy and then stricken very ill. Our 2nd lesson is that we should accept good and bad health from God and not curse Him for bad health. At some point, almost all of us will experience bad health.
Job was not flawless. he thought a righteous man should not be made to suffer. He will talk about the wicked not always suffering. we will all learn about what God says about this. Or not!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
September 7 Ezekiel 29; Daniel 4; Jeremiah 52 Humbled to Salvation
God is unable to reach us in our proud, self-sufficient state - when we are like Nebuchadnezzar on his rooftop - taking pride in all that we think we have accomplished on our own. So, God has to show us how little we really are in control and how sovereignly in control God is! Jesus' opening words in the Sermon on the Mount lay the right foundation - "Blessed are the poor in spirit." We must be there before we can give a hoot about God as Savior and Provider.
It is very interesting that after Nebuchadnezzar accepted God as the one in control, his kingdom was restored to be greater than before. When we are saved, our new life is always better than our former.
It is very interesting that after Nebuchadnezzar accepted God as the one in control, his kingdom was restored to be greater than before. When we are saved, our new life is always better than our former.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
September 6 Ezekiel 44-48 The LORD is There
The name of the new city of Jerusalem will be, "The LORD is There." The glory of the LORD left the city because of all of the idol worship as chronicled by Ezekiel. But the Jews can look forward to a time when His presence will return. The Israelites at that time will only celebrate Passover/Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles. Some think Rosh Hasannah will also be celebrated (vv. 45:18-20).
Passover will remind people of their cleansing and Tabernacles will remind the Jews of their restored position in God's salvation plan for the world. Since Tabernacles will be celebrated, I recommend people to understand this particular feast - both its past and future significance. It will be celebrated soon - beginning on sundown of September 18 this year.
Passover will remind people of their cleansing and Tabernacles will remind the Jews of their restored position in God's salvation plan for the world. Since Tabernacles will be celebrated, I recommend people to understand this particular feast - both its past and future significance. It will be celebrated soon - beginning on sundown of September 18 this year.
September 5 Ezekiel 40:1-44:3 Temple of the Future
This is the Temple that is yet to be built - most likely during the 1,000 year reign of Christ (Millennium). When it is built, the Presence of the LORD will be there forever.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
September 4 Daniel 3 False Concept of Many Gods
This passage was alluded to in the sermon that God used on the day that I received Christ as Savior. I was in a fiery furnace that day myself.
But I am intrigued that Nebuchadnezzar could witness the power of the LORD and not be drawn to worship this God. Oh yes, he respected God, but did not worship Him. Instead, Nebuchadnezzar went back to his powerless gods, although he probably thought that they gave him all of his past military victories.
Today, people respect other people's "gods" and either think they are the same god they believe in (I won't go so far to say worship) or they are a false god that gives the other people hope - and of course they want to be politically correct and so let them naively worship those false gods.
The concept of theological truth has escaped people. Conflicting beliefs systems can not both be true - either one is right and the other wrong OR they are both wrong. I met a liberal Jew yesterday and I don't think that he understood truth or is just politically correct or he has never examined the logic of his beliefs.
In your pursuit of theology, seek truth - not a belief system that you are comfortable with. Don't be a Nebuchadnezzar.
But I am intrigued that Nebuchadnezzar could witness the power of the LORD and not be drawn to worship this God. Oh yes, he respected God, but did not worship Him. Instead, Nebuchadnezzar went back to his powerless gods, although he probably thought that they gave him all of his past military victories.
Today, people respect other people's "gods" and either think they are the same god they believe in (I won't go so far to say worship) or they are a false god that gives the other people hope - and of course they want to be politically correct and so let them naively worship those false gods.
The concept of theological truth has escaped people. Conflicting beliefs systems can not both be true - either one is right and the other wrong OR they are both wrong. I met a liberal Jew yesterday and I don't think that he understood truth or is just politically correct or he has never examined the logic of his beliefs.
In your pursuit of theology, seek truth - not a belief system that you are comfortable with. Don't be a Nebuchadnezzar.
Monday, September 2, 2013
September 3 Ezekiel 32-33 Ezekiel's Watchman Principle Applied
God told Ezekiel that God would hold Ezekiel accountable for telling people about pending judgment. No matter what the people's response, Ezekiel would have done his job. However, if Ezekiel did not warn the people, then God would hold him accountable for not telling them.
I believe there is a principle for us about evangelizing others. God holds us accountable to tell others about the pending judgment. He doesn't hold us accountable for anyone's response - though we should hone our evangelizing skills and not ourselves be offensive or blundering.
I think we all should take this call to evangelize much more seriously. God will hold us accountable to warn those around us. It is my conviction that the closer that people are to us, the more that God will hold us accountable for telling them the Good and bad News. Please consider your neighbors, family, and closest friends and begin praying for them and then telling. Do it today.
In my opinion, the best times in my life were those times that I got to pray with someone when they received Jesus Christ as their personal savior. The more we preach the Good News, the more that this happens in our lives.
I believe there is a principle for us about evangelizing others. God holds us accountable to tell others about the pending judgment. He doesn't hold us accountable for anyone's response - though we should hone our evangelizing skills and not ourselves be offensive or blundering.
I think we all should take this call to evangelize much more seriously. God will hold us accountable to warn those around us. It is my conviction that the closer that people are to us, the more that God will hold us accountable for telling them the Good and bad News. Please consider your neighbors, family, and closest friends and begin praying for them and then telling. Do it today.
In my opinion, the best times in my life were those times that I got to pray with someone when they received Jesus Christ as their personal savior. The more we preach the Good News, the more that this happens in our lives.
September 2 Ezekiel 37-39 Battle Yet Far Future
Ok, when does this battle occur as described in Ezek 38-39. Some say before the Tribulation (mostly just prior to) and others say, it is the Battle at Armageddon. You need to do your own research to determine if you can be decisive - I can't. However, what is really important is that God will once again bring Israel into the land and let them live safely without fear - that is not the case right now - they are certainly walled, suspecting, and not in a state described in these chapters. At that time, a great force will come against them from the North - some say Russian-led - and God will supernaturally destroy the army. It will happen in such a way that there will be no doubt that the hand of God saved the people of Israel.
I used to be a great student of end-times prophecy and tried to determine precise orders of everything that would occur. The more that I studied, the more I became convinced that precise details were not as important theologically than staying focused on God and His big picture.
God is in control and will be through the end times. Know God's word - not the charts created by men - and be ready for what ever happens.
I used to be a great student of end-times prophecy and tried to determine precise orders of everything that would occur. The more that I studied, the more I became convinced that precise details were not as important theologically than staying focused on God and His big picture.
God is in control and will be through the end times. Know God's word - not the charts created by men - and be ready for what ever happens.
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