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23
Pentecost - Sunday |
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first posted
11/06/04 |
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Micah
1:1-9, Religious and political corruption
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| 23 Pentecost - Monday |
| first posted 11/07/04 |
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Micah
2:1-13, Woe to those who
oppress Revelation
7:1-8, Sealing the redeemed Luke
9:51-62 Heading to Woe to
those who use their power to oppress others. Woe to those who covet
houses and
fields and seize them; who oppress families and take away their
inheritances.
Therefore the Lord will bring judgment on those who do such things,
which they
will not be able to avoid or escape. They will be humbled. The Lord
will take
away the (spiritual) inheritance of those who have robbed others of
their
material inheritance. The Lord will give their material inheritance to
their
captors. They will have no representation in the assembly of the Lord. The
rebellious don’t want the prophet to preach warnings and judgment. The
word of
God does not oppose the righteous; it blesses them. But the rebellious
are the
enemies of God’s people; they are the ones who disturb the peace. The
rebellious are depriving God’s children of the blessings God intended
for them. Because of
her social and moral wickedness the nation will be held accountable to
punishment by the Lord. The nation seeks false preachers and false
prophets who
will bless her wicked behavior, instead of rebuking her and calling her
to
accountability. But God promises the
restoration of a remnant of This
vision in Revelation is of the sealing of God’s people from the coming
judgment. God’s people are protected from the judgment which is about
to be
executed upon Earth by the four angels. The explicit number of one
hundred
forty-four thousand is not literal but symbolizes completeness; none of
the
redeemed is missing. When the
time of Jesus’ crucifixion drew near, Jesus resolutely headed for
As they
proceeded on, a man came to Jesus and offered to follow Jesus wherever
Jesus
went, but Jesus told him that although the lowliest of animals had a
nest or
den, that the Messiah had no place he could consider home, or find
sanctuary.
Jesus invited another person to follow him, and that person was
willing, but
asked to attend to his father’s funeral first. Jesus told him to let
the
(spiritually) dead bury the physically dead, but that the person who
was
spiritually alive (through trust and obedience to Jesus) should go and
proclaim
the The Lord
condemns those who use their power to oppress and abuse others. The
Lord will
bring upon them punishment that they will not be able to avoid or
escape. Those
who rob others of blessings God intended for all will loose their own
material
and spiritual inheritance. The
rebellious don’t want to hear the prophet preach warnings and judgment.
The
nation seeks false preachers and false prophets who will bless her
wicked
behavior, instead of rebuking her and calling her to accountability
(compare 2
Timothy 4:3-4). That was the religious, political and social situation
in The
prophecy was fulfilled concerning The
passage in Revelation is a picture of that remnant, sealed in Jesus
Christ from
the coming judgment. As Jesus
headed for crucifixion in A remnant
of Jews intermarried with aliens brought in from other lands conquered
by the
Assyrians as a means of subjugating the conquered territories. The Jewish remnant intermarried with the
alien Gentiles and also mingled their religions, becoming the
Samaritans. The
Jews no longer considered There were
two kinds of people in Will we
refuse to receive Jesus and salvation because we want to worship God
(or not)
the way we want, regardless of God’s word? Do we think we can build our
own
churches to suit our own desires? Is Jesus
your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus?
Have
you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are
you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that
Jesus
commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will
spend
eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*
“Gerizim,” |
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23
Pentecost - Tuesday |
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first posted
11/08/04 |
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Micah 3:1-8,
Rulers and false prophets denounced
Revelation 7:9-17, The redeemed Luke 10:1-16 The mission of the seventy Micah warned the rulers and leaders of Israel that they would be accountable to the Lord for their injustice. They were like butchers who were devouring the people in their greed. Israel would cry to the Lord but he would not answer them because they had pursued evil. The Lord indicted his mercenary prophets (spokesmen of the Lord who didn’t proclaim God’s word, but instead prostituted their office by telling the people what the people wanted to hear in exchange for money). These false prophets lead the people astray. As long as they’re paid to do it they prophesy peace, but they prophesy war to those who do not pay them. Therefore the Lord declares that he will withhold revelation from them and they will be in darkness, without spiritual vision. Then the false seers and diviners will be disgraced, because they will have no answer from God. But Micah was filled with power and justice by the Spirit of the Lord so that he could declare to Israel their sins. Micah warned the political and religious leaders of Israel that they were doing injustice and perverting fairness; they had built Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrongdoing. The leaders give judgment for a bribe, the priests teach for hire, the prophets prophesy for money and yet they declare that the Lord is in their midst; they think that no evil will come upon them! “Therefore because of you Zion shall become a heap of ruins and the mountain of the house of the Lord a wooded height” (Micah 3:12). John (the revelator; the Apostle) saw a vision of the redeemed; a vast multitude which could not be numbered. They stood before the throne of the Lamb (Jesus) wearing white robes and holding palm branches. They declared that salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb. The entire assembly before the throne, including the angels, the elders and the four living creatures (Revelation 4) fell on their faces and worshiped God with sevenfold praise. Then one of the elders asked John who the people in white robes were. John deferred to the elder, who said that they were the redeemed who had been saved out of the great tribulation. Their robes had been cleaned and made white by the blood of the Lamb. So they are able to be in God’s presence continually; they serve God in his temple, and the Lord shelters them with his presence. They won’t hunger or thirst anymore, and will be protected from all discomfort. “The Lamb in the midst of the throne (i.e. “heart”) will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water” (Revelation 7:17). God will take away every sorrow. On his way to Jerusalem to what he knew would be his crucifixion (Luke 9: 44, 51) Jesus appointed seventy of his followers to go ahead of him, two by two, to the places to which he was about to come. He compared their ministry to a harvest. The potential harvest is vast; the need for harvesters is great. Disciples should pray that the Lord of the harvest (Jesus) would provide laborers. The disciples were being sent out like lambs into the midst of wolves. They were not to take any provisions for their journey, and they were not to get diverted along the way. They were to come in peace to those who are peaceable. They were to rely on God’s providence, and not try to promote their own welfare (by seeking to improve on what God had provided). They were to live on what the people provided, and they were to heal the sick and declare the coming of the kingdom of God. If any town refused to receive them the disciples were to tell that town that they refused to receive even the dust of that town on their feet, but that the kingdom of God had come near. Jesus said that on that day (the Day of Judgment; Matthew 11:24) those who did not receive the disciples would suffer a worse fate than that of Sodom (Genesis 19:24-28; compare Luke 9:53-54). Woe to Capernaum, and to Chorazin and Bethsaida, towns near Capernaum, where Jesus spent much of his time, and where he had done many great miracles (Luke 9:10-17; Mark 8:22; Matthew 8:5, 14, 15; 9:2-6; Mark 1:32-34, etc). Tyre and Sidon would have received Jesus’ message and repented if they had had the same opportunity. (Tyre was denounced by the prophets for her wickedness and idolatry, and her destruction predicted (Isaiah. 23:1; Jeremiah. 25:22; Ezekiel. 26; 28:1-19; Amos 1:9, 10; Zechariah. 9:2-4). Jesus declared that the fate of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida would be worse than the fate of Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment. Jesus declared that those who hear Jesus’ disciples hear Jesus; those who reject Jesus’ disciples reject Jesus, and those who reject Jesus reject God. Micah’s warning is just as relevant today to the World, but particularly to the Church and to America. Both the Church and America are individually the “New Zion,” the "New Israel," in the religious and political senses. (Zion was the plateau on which Jerusalem was built; it has been used in scripture to denote Jerusalem, God’s chosen Israel, the Church of God, and the Heavenly City). Aren’t there religious and political leaders today who allow self-interest to supplant truth and justice? Aren’t there religious and political “spokesmen of God” who “adjust” their message to suit their material self-interest? Aren’t there preachers who preach grace without discipleship; who preach salvation but not judgment; who preach Heaven, but not Hell? We need to take a long, unflinching, honest look at ourselves! The vision in Revelation is of “Zion;” the “harvest” of the redeemed; those who have responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in trust and obedience. These are those who have a personal relationship with Jesus (John 10:14); who have been “born-again” (John 3:3) who have been led by the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14); by the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11), the “spring of living water” (John 7:38-39) that Jesus promised to give to his disciples who keep his commandments (John 14:15-17, 21). Jesus’ mission is to gather the “harvest” of people into “Zion,” the eternal kingdom of God in Heaven. He commissioned his disciples to enter into the labor of harvesting (Matthew 28:18-20). [Seven is a number signifying completeness; thus the sevenfold praise in Revelation 7:12. The Seventy who were commissioned represent the fullness of disciples who would participate in the “harvest.”] Jesus instructed his disciples to depend upon God’s providence and not to try and manipulate circumstances to their personal benefit (Luke 10:7-8); not use their office to promote their personal ambitions. How are we doing? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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23
Pentecost - Wednesday |
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first posted
11/02/04 |
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| Micah 3:9-4:5,
Restoration of the Davidic kingdom Revelation 8:1-13, Trumpet judgments Luke 10:17-24 Return of the seventy The Lord indicts the rulers of Israel (“Jacob”) for perverting justice and equity; for building Zion with blood and with wrongdoing. Its leaders render judgment for their financial benefit. Its priests teach for wages, its prophets prophesy for money; and yet they claim that the Lord is in their midst; that no evil will happen to them. Because of these things, the Lord declares that Zion shall be plowed like a field, and that Jerusalem shall become a pile of ruble; the mountain (Mt. Zion) of the house (of the Lord; the temple) shall become a wooded height (i.e., abandoned for a long time). In latter days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall become the highest of the mountains; the other mountains will be insignificant hills by comparison. People and nations shall flock to the mountain of the Lord to be taught the Lord’s ways so that they may walk according to his will. God’s law will be proclaimed from Zion; God’s word will be declared from Jerusalem. The Lord will be the Judge of many people and lead many nations. The nations will redirect their military resources into food production; nation will no longer make war against nation. Each person will have adequate resources for daily living. The peoples of earth walk according to their “gods,” but we will walk eternally in trust and obedience to the Lord our God. The Lamb is Jesus, who alone is worthy to open the sealed scroll of God’s plan for eternity (Revelation 5:2, 5). In the vision of John, the revelator, of the coming judgment, the seventh seal is opened. Seven trumpets are given to seven angels. Another angel burns incense upon the altar, mingling with the prayers of the saints. Then the fire of the altar is placed in a censer and cast down upon the earth, causing great disturbances of nature. The first angel blows his trumpet and one third of the earth and its plants are consumed by fire from heaven. The second angel blows his trumpet and something like a huge mountain burning with fire falls into the sea and destroys one third of all sea creatures and ships, and pollutes one third of the water. The third angel blows his trumpet and a great blazing star falls from heaven and one third of the freshwater becomes bitter and poisonous. The fourth angel blows his trumpet and the light of the sun, moon and stars are reduced by one third, so that both day and night become one third darker. An eagle flies in midheaven, crying woe to those who dwell on earth, at the judgments which are about to be carried out at the next three trumpet blasts. Jesus had sent seventy of his disciples out to preach and heal (Luke 10:1-16). When they returned, they rejoiced that even demons had obeyed them in Jesus’ name. Jesus replied that he had seen Satan fall from heaven like lightening. Jesus declared that he has given his disciples authority and power over all the power of the enemy (Satan), and nothing shall hurt his disciples. Disciples are not to rejoice that they have power over spirits, but instead rejoice that they are counted among the redeemed. Jesus prayed in thanksgiving that God has hidden his wisdom from those who consider themselves smart and educated and reveals it to those who are innocent and trusting like young children (compare 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16). Jesus declared that God has given him authority over all things; no one really knows Jesus except God his Father, and no one truly knows God the Father except God’s only begotten Son, Jesus, and anyone to whom Jesus chooses to reveal God. God condemned Israel for religious and political corruption and for social, economic, and moral injustice. God’s word was fulfilled; The Northern Kingdom of Israel and the ten northern tribes effectively ceased to exist after conquest by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. The Southern Kingdom was later exiled to Babylon (587 B.C.) for seventy years, but was allowed to return afterwards (517 B. C.). They subsequently forgot the lessons of their history and were unprepared for the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. As a result they rejected Jesus and God’s judgment was again fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A. D. by the Romans. The Jews were scattered throughout the world. Judaism effectively ended at Jesus’ crucifixion. God’s word is eternal; it is fulfilled over and over. This should be a warning to the Church and to America; individually, each is in a sense the “New Israel;” the “New Zion” (Zion was the plateau on which Jerusalem was built; in scripture it is used to denote Jerusalem, God’s chosen Israel, the Church, and the Eternal City in Heaven). After God’s judgment has been carried out, he has promised to restore the Davidic (Messianic) kingdom. Jesus is the Son of David (Luke 2:4, Matthew 21:9), and the heir to the eternal throne of David (2 Samuel 7:11c-16). Jesus alone is worthy to carry out God’s eternal plan. Jesus was completely obedient to God’s will, and he gave his life for our salvation. He alone is worthy to judge the Earth (Revelation 5:9-10); he has been given that authority (John 5:27), and he has promised to return to accomplish that judgment (Matthew 25:31-46). That Judgment includes salvation and eternal life in Heaven with the Lord for those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus, and eternal death and destruction in Hell for those who have rejected Jesus and refused to obey Jesus. Jesus defeated Satan at the cross (John 12:31-33; Revelation 12:7-12). Jesus has given his people and his Church authority over evil spirits, but it is not preaching and healing in Jesus’ name that saves us. One can preach scripture, and do “good deeds” in Christ’s name without a personal relationship with Jesus; without the indwelling Holy Spirit; but that doesn’t mean that one is “saved” or in Christ (Matthew 7:21-24). Formal education in Theology does not confer divine wisdom. Only the risen Jesus, the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9c) can open the minds of disciples to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45; i.e., the risen Jesus). One cannot personally know Jesus unless Jesus reveals himself to him (John 14:15-17, 21-26) and one cannot truly know God or come to God except through Jesus Christ. Are you ready for Jesus' return? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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23
Pentecost - Thursday |
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first posted
11/03/04 |
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| Micah 5:1-4, 10-15,
The shepherd king Revelation 9:1-12, Plague of demonic locusts Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan Micah foresees tribulation for Israel in the near future. Israel will be under siege; the king will be struck. But from Bethlehem (Ephrathah is another name for Bethlehem; the city of David: 1 Samuel 17:12; the residents were called Ephrathites: Genesis 35:19) will come God’s chosen ruler of Israel, “whose origin is from ancient days” (or “from eternity;” Micah 5:2c). The Lord will allow Israel to experience travail (like childbirth) until the Messiah’s birth. Then the people will return to the Lord and be restored. The Shepherd will feed his flock in the strength and the name of the Lord. His flock will be secure, because he will be great to the end of the earth. This is (intended to give) peace (reassurance and consolation) to those who are about to be captured and deported by the Assyrians. The fifth trumpet judgment is a plague of demonic locusts with the sting of scorpions, coming forth from the bottomless pit. These locusts are not to damage plants, nor are they allowed to kill, but for five months are to torture humans who do not belong to God (Revelation 7:1-8). Those who are thus tortured will long for death but will not be allowed to die. The king of the locusts is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name is Abaddon (Hebrew for “Destruction;” in Greek: Apollyon, meaning “Destroyer”). This is the first of the last three great trumpet woes. A lawyer (an expert in the Law of Moses) referred to Jesus as “Teacher” and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked the lawyer what the law said, and the lawyer replied that one must love God with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind, and one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus commended him for his answer and told the lawyer to do as he had said and he would live. But the lawyer wanted to “justify himself” (show himself to be righteous and acceptable to God by his observance of the law; see Luke 18:9-14), so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor” (Luke 10:29)? In reply Jesus told a parable: A man going from Jerusalem to Jericho was robbed and beaten and left half-dead on the roadside. A priest saw him but passed by without giving aid; a Levite also saw the injured man but passed by without helping him. But a Samaritan passing by saw the injured man and stopped and treated his wounds and transported him to an inn where he could care for the injured man. The next day he paid the innkeeper to take care of the injured man until he recovered, promising to pay whatever additional expenses were incurred. Jesus asked the lawyer which of the three travelers proved to be neighbor to the injured man. The lawyer answered that the one who showed mercy on the injured man had been the man’s neighbor. Jesus told the lawyer to do likewise. The Lord allowed Israel to experience tribulation because they had disobeyed God and had ignored the prophets God sent to warn them to return to obedience of God’s word. God has had a plan from the beginning of creation to save and restore us from sin (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the descendant of David; he was born in Bethlehem Luke 2:4-7), he is the heir to the eternal throne of David (2 Samuel 7:11c-16), and he is the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy (Micah 5:2-4). In a sense we have all been conquered and carried off into captivity by sin, and it is only through Jesus that we can return to the Lord and be restored to eternal life in his kingdom. Those who are in Jesus are secure in the midst of tribulation; this is our peace and assurance in such times. There is great tribulation coming for those who are not in Christ; those who are not sealed unto God. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and that we have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Anyone who does not have the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9b). The Lord gives his Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17; Isaiah 42:5e). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a discernable experience; it is possible for one to know with certainty (Acts 19:2). On the Day of Judgment those who have rejected and have refused to obey Jesus will receive eternal destruction and eternal death in Hell; those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord (Matthew 25:31-46). The lawyer thought that he deserved God’s approval because of the lawyer’s narrowly self-defined good deeds. That’s why God’s plan of salvation is not based on good works (deeds), but on grace (free gift; unmerited favor) through faith (trust and obedience) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). It doesn’t mean that we can do whatever we please. Jesus’ answer to the lawyer shows that it’s not sufficient to know what is right if one doesn’t also do it. The priest represents the religious leaders. The Levite represents lay-associates of the priests. (The Levite can represent lay-workers in the Church, and also can represent believers who are leaders in government.) The Samaritan was regarded as a foreigner, religiously and genetically corrupted. The Jews regarded Judaism as the true religion and the Samaritan religion as a perversion, but it was the Samaritan who was doing what the Jewish religion taught. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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23
Pentecost - Friday |
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first posted
11/04/04 |
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| Micah 6:1-8,
The Lord’s dispute with us Revelation 9:13-21, The army of the Lord Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary The Lord has a dispute with his people. Israel has forgotten the Lord’s saving acts. The Lord has freed Israel from bondage to sin and death in Egypt. The Lord led them by Moses, Aaron and Miriam through the wilderness. When Balak, king of Moab attempted to have Balaam (the seer) curse Israel, Balaam blessed them instead (Numbers 22:15-20). Shittim was the place where Israel camped and Joshua sent forth scouts to scout Jericho. Gilgal was the first permanent camp in Israel. The crossing of the Jordan, the defeat of Jericho, and the reading of the Law in the Promised Land are the principle events which occurred between Shittim and Gilgal. How are we to come into the presence of the Lord (and be acceptable to him)? Do we imagine that even thousands of animals offered as sacrifice, even ten thousand rivers of oil would be sufficient to atone for our sins and make us acceptable to the Lord? Would even the sacrifice of our first born children atone for the sin of our souls? The Lord has shown us what is good; the sacrifice God requires of us is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. The sixth of the seven trumpet judgments will be carried out. The four angels which have been given power to harm earth and sea (Revelation 7:1-2) will be released. The angels' orders are to kill one third of mankind. Their power and resources will be overwhelming (Revelation 9:16). A third of the people of the World will be killed by fire, smoke and sulphur (poison gas; air pollution?). Despite all the plagues which will have occurred by this time, the remaining population still refuses to repent or give up their idolatry, their worship of gold and silver, or their demon-worship; nor will they repent of their murders, sorceries, immorality, or thefts (compare Exodus 8:19). Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha in Bethany (near Jerusalem). Martha was busy with the work of providing hospitality to the Lord, but her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching. Martha felt overwhelmed with the tasks of hosting and she went to the Lord and asked him to tell Mary to help her sister serve the meal. But Jesus replied that Martha was worried and distracted by many things (which weren’t really necessary); one thing was necessary (listening to and learning from the Lord). Mary had chosen to do what was most important, and she would not be prevented from doing that. God’s word is the historical facts of his dealing with Israel, but it is also prophecy; it is a parable; an allegory; a warning to us. Jesus is the “Moses” who leads us out of the “Egypt” of bondage to sin and death, through the “wilderness” of this world, and into the “Promised Land” of the kingdom of God in Heaven. (Aaron and Miriam represent God’s priests and prophets). In one sense, all of us are “God’s People,” because he is our creator (whether we acknowledge him or not). In another sense the Church is the “New Israel,” the “New People of God.” In another sense America is the “New Israel,” the “New Promised Land.” Jesus came not just to save Israel but to save the World. All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). God declares that the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn’t want us to perish eternally, so he sent Jesus to be our Savior (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). All who hear and believe (and act on) what God has done for us in Jesus are forgiven and restored to eternal life in Heaven with the Lord (Matthew 25:31-46). As God allowed Israel to suffer captivity by the Assyrians, exile in Babylon, and dispersion after the destruction of Jerusalem (see entries for November 9 through 11, 2004), there is a period of Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28) which will come upon the Earth before the final Day of Judgment. Today’s passage in Revelation is an illustration of a portion of that Great Tribulation. It is comparable to the plagues poured out on Pharaoh preceding the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Pharaoh refused God’s command to let God’s people go (Exodus 8:1-2). Like Pharaoh, in the Last Days people will refuse to repent and obey God (Revelation 9:20-21; compare Exodus 8:15). Jesus is coming to visit us like he visited Martha and Mary in Bethany. Will we be ready for his visit? Have we sat at his feet and learned from him, or have we been busy running around preoccupied with running our houses and pursuing our own lives, our careers and our interests? Both “Church People” and “American People” are forgetting the saving acts of God done on our behalf. We’re forgetting the blessings God has given us. Do we imagine that church attendance and financial contribution to the church offering can compensate for social, moral, or economic injustice; for religious or political corruption; for lack of obedience to God’s word? Will we refuse to listen to God’s dispute with his people? Will we refuse to repent and return to trust and obedience of the Lord? God wants us to obey his word and acknowledge him as our Lord and our God. If he is truly our Lord we will obediently do his will; expecting God to do our will is a form of idolatry which seems to be prevalent today. True Christianity is not a “religion” we can design to suit ourselves. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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23
Pentecost - Saturday |
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first posted
11/05/04 |
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| Micah 7:1-7,
The godly Revelation 10:1-11, The little scroll Luke 11:1-13 Teachings on prayer The prophet of the Lord is profoundly sad; he feels as barren as a gleaned field or vineyard. There is no fruit in the orchard to sustain him. The godly have perished from the earth. Everyone has turned from righteousness and has become self-centered and greedy. Each sets an ambush for his neighbor and ensnares his brother. They diligently pursue evil; the judges and politicians seek bribes and the rich and powerful seek the evil desires of their souls. They have become like a brier patch or a thorn hedge. The day of their judgment and punishment has come; they will be confounded. One cannot trust his neighbors, his friends, or even his own family. Children rise up and betray their parents. A person’s enemies are his own household (Compare Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:51-53). But the godly person will trust in the Lord and wait for God his savior, and God will hear him. An angel appeared to John and called out in a loud voice, but a voice from heaven commanded that what was said was to be sealed and not written down. The angel swore that there would be no more delay; that in the days of the seventh trumpet call, the mystery of God, which God had announced to his servants, would be fulfilled. The voice from heaven commanded John to eat a small scroll which the angel was holding. The angel told John that the scroll would taste like honey in his mouth, but would be bitter in his stomach. John ate the scroll and found the experience to be as the angel had said. Then John was told that he must again prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages and kings. Jesus had been praying, and when he finished, his disciples asked him to teach them to pray. Jesus gave them what we call the Lord’s Prayer (compare Matthew 6:9-13). The prayer acknowledges God as our creator and spiritual Father. We reverence his name (by our deeds as well as our words). We acknowledge him as our king, and acknowledge our desire and commitment to live under his reign. We ask him to provide daily for our needs; to forgive our sins as we forgive others; we ask that he would lead us and watch over us so that we will not submit to temptation. Jesus used an everyday example to illustrate persistence in prayer: A friend might not be willing, out of friendship, to lend us bread to provide for unexpected company if it were not convenient, but if we refuse to let him go until he helps us, he will ultimately give us what we need. God wants us to have what we need, so if we ask (in faith; i.e., trust and obedience) we will receive; if we seek, we will find; if we knock it will be opened to us. God is better than the best human parent. No good human parent whose child asks for food will intentionally give him something poisonous. God wants us to receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit; that is the best possible gift he can give us. The Holy Spirit will bless us and guide us. If we earnestly seek him, we will receive the Holy Spirit. At the time of Micah, Israel had turned from obedience to God to idolatry and the pursuit of self-interest. Israel as a religion and as a nation had failed to produce the fruit of righteousness as the People of God. Israel’s religious and political leaders were corrupt; they sought alliances with worldly powers rather that relying on God. Everyone pursued his own self-interest rather than God’s will. The Church and America are in a very similar position today. Proclaiming God’s word of judgment was not “fun” for Micah. God’s word divides people, as Jesus warned his disciples (Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:51-53). God hears those who trust and obey him (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right). The “mystery” of God is God’s eternal plan of salvation, which was once unknown by mankind, but which has now been revealed in Jesus Christ. The angel swore that with the seventh trumpet call the mystery of God, God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, would be fulfilled. John was commissioned to prophesy about the Final Judgment. John was given God’s word (Revelation 10:8-9; compare Ezekiel 2:8; 3:1-3). God’s word is sweet to the godly, but it is bitter because it contains terrible judgment upon the ungodly. God’s word of judgment applies to all people, nations, languages and rulers. The Lord loves us and wants to bless us. His ultimate blessing is our salvation and eternal life. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Jesus is God’s anointed eternal King. If we will trust and obey Jesus, we will receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate revealing of the mystery of God, which is Christ in us (Colossians 1: 26-27). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and that we have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16. It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal fellowship with the Lord. The Lord gives his Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and obey him (John 14:15-17; Isaiah 42:5e). It is the Holy Spirit who leads us and empowers us to resist temptation. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a discernable event; it is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself whether one has been filled with the Holy Spirit or not (Acts 19:2). The Lord’s Prayer is really the “Disciples’ Prayer.” God will not heed our prayers if we do not heed God’s word. We will never enter the eternal kingdom of God if we don’t serve Jesus as our king now. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |