Posts

I Cast it Aside

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Ezekiel 29-32; Revelation 11 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because it [a great cedar] towered on high, lifting its top above the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height, I handed it over to the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside…All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.” Ezekiel 31:10-12 God’s judgment of Egypt for her pride focused on Pharaoh as the symbol of Egypt. Like a towering cedar tree, Egypt offered shade to nations like Israel. God pointed to the example of once proud Assyria who had been cut down by Babylon to describe how he would deal with Egypt’s pride. Does God still judge nations today for their pride? Do proud nations, like towering trees, get cut down and handed over to the enemy for judgment? Will we intercede for our nation and its standing before God? As nations before God, will we humble ourselves before the Lord and repent for our nationalism, our p...
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Seal of Perfection

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Ezekiel 25-28, Revelation 10 “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you...’” Ezekiel 28:11-13 The spiritual power of Tyre was a being perfect in beauty, full of wisdom - the seal or model of perfection. Yet this being and those it inspired became proud of beauty and corrupted by wisdom so they lost their place with God their Creator. To be cut off from God is to be separated from the Source of beauty and wisdom. The Laodocian church also trusted in their wealth and fine clothing, yet they lacked the fellowship with God which was life itself. Pride blinds us to our need for God so that we trust in ourselves. Will we invite God’s perspective on our current state of being? Will we thank God for his creative design and gifts toward us? Will we aff...
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Sealed, Unto the Lord

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Ezekiel 22-24; Revelation 9   “And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” Revelation 9:3, 4 The seal of God sets apart those who belong to the Lord and preserves their lives in the midst of God’s judgment. Aaron the high priest was to wear on his forehead a gold plate with the words “Holy to the Lord” engraved on it like a seal. In the new covenant we are sealed, or marked, at salvation by the Holy Spirit. Others can see we are filled with the Holy Spirit and set apart as “Holy to the Lord”! The powers of darkness can see the seal of God on our foreheads; we belong to the Lord and have been atoned for and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. In these last days, the distinction between those who belong to the Lord and those who worship manmade idols of science, technology, ...
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Pondering God’s Works

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Ezekiel 20-21, Psalms 111; Revelation 8 “Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.” Psalm 111:2-5 Why has the Lord caused his wonders and miracles to be remembered? His desire is that people created in his image would desire relationship with him and covenant with him. Remembering the Lord’s works in our lives gives him glory and points others to also know the Lord. God’s wonders are pondered, or meditated on, by all who delight in them. Through God’s works we learn about God’s glory, majesty, righteousness, grace, and compassion. What wonders are we being prompted to remember? What aspects of God’s nature can we worship him for today? “Lord God your creativity, beauty, and faithfulness are evident in creation all aro...
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His Presence

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Ezekiel 17-19; Revelation 7   “…And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.’” Revelation 7:14, 15 Those who want the sheltering presence of God for all eternity will be pursuing his presence through the fire of testing here on earth. They have found freedom from sin through the cleansing blood of Christ. They serve the Lord day and night and one day will serve him in his temple. Living with self-indulgence, unrepentant sin, and pride will not lead to an eternity of shelter and service in the presence of the Lord. The fire of testing which God allows in every generation is meant to draw us into his presence, not destroy us. Our faith is refined and purified and our focus on eternity becomes clearer.   Does this describe our res...
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Under the Altar

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Ezekiel 15-16; Psalms 70; Revelation 6   “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’” Revelation 6:9, 10 Why are the martyrs seen under the altar? They have offered their lives as living sacrifices to God, and the blood of their sacrifice of service, obedience, and faithfulness to Jesus is precious to the Lord. Living on mission with Jesus the Lamb of God, was more valuable to them than their lives. Their value of the gospel, the Word of God, cost them their lives. What would we value enough to give our lives for? The gospel is not just a message we receive with gratitude, it is an example we follow and the most valuable thing we give our lives to. Wherever the gospel is received as a model to follow and not just a message to hea...
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Whitewash or Blood?

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Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5   “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ ...Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, ‘The Lord declares…because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash...’” Ezekiel 13:1, 2, 6, 10 It is a significant responsibility to declare the Word of the Lord! To speak words in God’s name that he has not sanctioned is to misrepresent God. Ezekiel was called by God to confront the false prophets who were using God’s word like “whitewash” to cover the idolatry and sin of the Israelites. They proclaimed peace when God had pronounced judgment on Israel for their rebellion. The prophet Isaiah predicted a suffering servant would atone for the sins of God’s people (Isaiah 53). He would be the “lamb who was slain” and with his blood “purchased men [people] for God from every trib...
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