TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 19-20 & Revelation 4

New Testament: Revelation 4- Heaven’s Door

Revelation 4:1
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”

John looked into the future of mankind and saw the day when the heavens will open, not to speak, but to call home all who have trusted in Christ for salvation. Paul explained that the dead in Christ would rise first, and we who are alive and remain will be caught up together in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). What a day that will be, when we are no longer looking through a glass dimly, but we are face to face with Christ (I Corinthians 13:12) steeped in His glory.

John gives us a glimpse of what we have to look forward to. He writes of a radiant throne, encircled by a rainbow, and surrounded by elders. In front of the throne, a sea like glass… Read More

Ezekiel 20:18
“But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

The Bible warns of the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children to the third and fourth generations. This does not mean that if my dad commits a crime I am liable, but that the behaviors of the parents are often repeated in the lives of their children. If you grew up in an environment where discipline was meted out with outbursts of anger then you are likely to discipline your children in like fashion. Statistically speaking children of alcoholic parents are more likely to abuse substances, not only for genetic reasons but because they have learned to use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. In the same way children of divorced parents are more likely to use divorce as a means to correct their marriage problems than those who have grown up with parents who chose to love each other, remain married and work through the difficult times.

Growing up without a godly example will certainly make navigating through life more difficult then it needs to be. As a result Ezekiel warns the people not to follow the example of their fathers. Because of the bond children have with their parents this is a vey difficult command to obey, and in some cases the older we get the harder it becomes. We can even feel as though going against the ways of our parents is somehow a violation against them. Nevertheless if we are going to break the legacy of bad decisions and actions that have been passed down from one generation to the next we have to be the one who decides that we are going to obey God even above the pattern set by our parents. For your sake and the sake of the generations that will follow you it is time to determine that above all else you will live to please the Lord and this will be reflected in your home.

Pastor Jim

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 17-18 & Revelation 3
Old Testament: Ezekiel 17- I’ll Take The Low Place
Ezekiel 17:24
“And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.”

The Bible is filled with seemingly paradoxical statements. Here God promises to bring the low… Read More

Ezekiel 18- The Blame Game

Ezekiel 18:14
“If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise, he shall surely live.”

It seems we have become a generation who blames our faults on others. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions. Attitudes of the heart, as well as sinful behavior, are often blamed on our upbringing or our genetics. As much as this may seem like a modern problem, Ezekiel reveals this is actually a… Read More

New Testament: Revelation 3- Amen

Revelation 3:14
“These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God”

What a beautiful and insightful way Jesus describes Himself to the church. He tells us three things about Himself.

First, He is the Amen. In the…Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 15-16 & Revelation 2
Old Testament: Ezekiel 15- I Heard It Through The Grape Vine

Ezekiel 15:2
“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?”

Recently, my wife and I went shopping for wood flooring. We were actually quite surprised by the number of choices available to us. We found cherry, oak, pine, bamboo and a plethora of other woods from which to choose. Upon reflection, however, I did not notice any grapevine flooring. As I recall, …Read More

Ezekiel 16- It’s Everlasting
Ezekiel 16:6
“Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.”

Ezekiel has gone to great lengths to explain the judgment Judah is under, because they had forsaken God and… Read More

New Testament: Revelation 2- First Love
Revelation 2:4-5
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

In a very poetic fashion,…Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 13-14 & Revelation 1
Old Testament: Ezekiel 13- Words

Ezekiel 13:2
“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘ Hear the word of the Lord!’”

The world never has a shortage of people who claim to have the answer to spiritual questions. It seems almost everyone has an opinion regarding the…Read More

Ezekiel 14- He Wants Your Heart
Ezekiel 14:5
“. . . that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.”

The people in Ezekiel’s day were facing the same struggles we face today, they were… Read More

New Testament: Revelation 1- The Key
Revelation 1:18
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

The final book of the Bible is aptly called Revelation, for it is a compilation of things that were revealed to John while banished to the Island of Patmos. In… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 11-12 & Jude
Old Testament: Ezekiel 11- Little Sanctuary

Ezekiel 11:16
“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”‘”

The children of Israel… Read More

Ezekiel 12- Rebellious
Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house.”

Rebellion is an interesting thing. Most people, who are in rebellion, don’t see themselves as rebels, but  have justification for their behavior. Children do it with … Read More

New Testament: Jude- True Grace

Jude 4
“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jude warns of those who turn grace into lewdness. The word lewd is somewhat outdated, but refers to something vulgar or obscene, especially that which is sexually immoral. Jude is referring to those who think the grace of… Read More

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 9-10 & 3 John
Old Testament: Ezekiel 9- Saved

Ezekiel 9:3-4
“Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who… Read More

Ezekiel 10- Departing
Ezekiel 10:18
“Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.”

The day Solomon’s Temple was built was one of the most glorious days in the history of Israel. It marked the completion of many of the promises God … Read More

New Testament: 3 John- Greatest Joy

3 John 4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

There are many things that fill us with joy. Some of them are quite simple, like seeing a rainbow, or when our team wins. Others are much deeper, like our wedding day, or the birth of a child. John lived a long life and, no doubt, had his share of experiences that produced joy, making his statement here all the more valuable. He states, of all the things that have brought a smile to his face, nothing can compare to knowing his children are walking with the… Read More

 

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 7-8 & 2 John
Old Testament: Ezekiel 7- Time’s Up

Ezekiel 7:2
“And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel:
‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.”

Ezekiel is declaring to Judah a message that everyone will one day hear. That message proclaimed the end of the road had been reached, and they must now give an account to the Lord for the lives they lived. For them, this day was a sorrowful one. All of the investments they had made were earthly and unable to provide deliverance from divine judgment. Like Belshazzar, they had been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Daniel 5:27).… Read More

 

Ezekiel 8- Secrets

Ezekiel 8:8-9
“Then He said to me,’Son of man, dig into the wall’; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. And He said to me, ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.’”

Some of the imagery… Read More

New Testament: 2 John- Love And Obey

2 John 1:6
“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”

Scripture teaches, the most important of all graces is love. Jesus said it was … Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: Ezekiel 5-6 & 1 John 5
Old Testament: Ezekiel 6-  Achilles’ Heel

Ezekiel 6:11
“Thus says the Lord God: ‘Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, “Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”‘”

When I read of the fall of Judah I am…Read More

New Testament- 1 John 5- Pray

1 John 5:16
“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” … Read More

Ezekiel 5:1-3
“And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment.”

Ezekiel’s message to Judah was not a new one. For years the prophets had been warning the people of the coming devastation upon Jerusalem if they did not turn back to God. The unique aspect of Ezekiel’s message was the way in which he declared it. In addition to traditional preaching, he used powerful visual aids. On this occasion he sharpened a sword, used it as a razor and shaved his head. Instead of sweeping up the hair and tossing it in with the rubbish, he divided it into three piles. Each of the piles were then used as props to help illustrate what would happen to the inhabitants of Jerusalem if they refused to surrender first to God and second to the Babylonian forces. The first pile of hair was burned while Ezekiel beat upon the second pile with his sword. These actions illustrated the fact that 2/3 of Jerusalem’s inhabitants would be killed in  battle against the Babylonia forces. Ezekiel then took the third and final pile and threw it up into the air allowing the wind to take it away. This pile was used to illustrate that those who do not die in battle will be taken captive and spread throughout the Babylonian empire where they will live as prisoners of war.

It is important to notice that while Ezekiel in no way changed the message he received from God he did alter the way it was delivered. It was so important to the prophet that the people understood what he was saying that he brought props into the pulpit but it was also important to Ezekiel that the message never change. There is great value in spending time reflecting upon creative ways to share the gospel with others or to instruct them in the ways of God. Those who minister to children will see huge returns when they wrap the messages of the Bible in packages that grab the attention of the children.

If you have attempted to share Christ with a colleague, family member or acquaintance only to find that the message seemed to fall on deaf ears perhaps it is time not to alter the message but to prayerfully consider if there is a better way to package the message so they are intrigued. It is pretty rare for a person to come to Christ the first time they hear the gospel. It is often a process. Sometimes that process can be aided by taking the time lovingly consider a more effective way to share with the.

Pastor Jim