Today’s Reading:  Ezek 34:1–35:15, Rev 17:1–18, Job 37:16–2

Today’s Theme: God’s Sheep

In today’s reading we read about Israel as God’s sheep, this applies to the church now too as Jesus called us sheep and as the Messiah is the Good Shepard. We read about good and bad leadership and are reminded to pray for our Shepherds / Pastors.

It is wonderful to know that we have been called and chosen as God’s sheep, with the assurance that he will take care of us and lead us home.

Ezekiel 34:1–35:15

The ministry of a Pastor

You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.(Ezekiel 34:3–4, ESV)

This outlines the ministry of a Pastor and includes feeding the sheep with the word of God, strengthening the weaker brothers, healing the sick through prayer, ministering to those in emotional pain, going after the straying sheep, reaching the lost ruling with gentleness. With this in mind say a prayer for our Pastors today.

Sheep need instruction

My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.(Ezekiel 34:6, ESV)

Sheep need guidance, we don’t just need to be led to Christ we need instruction of how to grow in Christ to full maturity

Sheep need to be led

Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.(Ezekiel 34:10, ESV)

Pray that Christian leaders would not devour the people but lead the people

God found us

As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.(Ezekiel 34:12, ESV)

We are sheep, we don’t seek God he seeks us so we give him all the glory for saving us.

God the good shepherd

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 34:15, ESV)

Thank you Lord that you are our good shepherd

Where leaders fail, God is faithful

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.(Ezekiel 34:16, ESV)

All that leaders fail to do God will do and God seeks the lost himself and the backslider and the hurting one

The Messiah as shepherd

And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.(Ezekiel 34:23, ESV)

This is the great shepherd our Lord Jesus Christ

Our deliverance brings knowledge of God

And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.(Ezekiel 34:27, ESV)

When we are delivered from the enslavement of sin we know that God is the Lord

Humans are sheep

And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 34:31, ESV)

God makes it very clear that we are the sheep

Flesh vs Spirit

Because you cherished perpetual enmity and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment,(Ezekiel 35:5, ESV)

like the flesh against the spirit

Don’t gloat

As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 35:15, ESV)

Never rejoice at someone else’s misfortune, it may become your own

Revelation 17:1–18,

Spiritual fornication

with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”(Revelation 17:2, ESV)

This sexual immortality is both political and religious

Only two religions

And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”(Revelation 17:5, ESV)

the core Babylonian religion behind all world religion. In a sense there are only two religions one is the true worship of Yahweh through Jesus, the other which comes in a variety of flavours is the worship of man (or mans ideas)

The book of life

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.(Revelation 17:8, ESV)

All our names are not in the book of life by default, God knows those who are his.

Called, Chosen and Faithful

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”(Revelation 17:14, ESV)

Thank you Jesus that we are called, and Chosen and Faithful and I will be with you on that great day

God is in control

for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.(Revelation 17:17, ESV)

God is sovereign over the enemy

Job 37:16–24

Perfect Knowledge

Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,(Job 37:16, ESV)

God is the only one with perfect knowledge

Clothed in Majesty

Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty.(Job 37:22, ESV)

God is clothed in majesty, wow

True wisdom

Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”(Job 37:24, ESV)

Lord keep us from being wise in my own eyes

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 32:1–33:33, Rev 16:1–21, Job 37:9–15

Today’s Theme: Open your eyes and rejoice

In today’s reading there is a call for us to open our eyes as God’s watchmen and open our mouths to warn other, to open our eyes to God’s will and not our own, to open our eyes to the reality of eternity, to open our eyes to the wonder of creation, to open our eyes to God in all these things and rejoice in and to his glory.

In opening our eyes to God we turn away from the allure of sin and the deceitfulness of the human heart. We need to open our eyes, see and repent.

Ezekiel 32:1–33:33

Superficial beauty

‘Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised.’(Ezekiel 32:19, ESV)

Temporal physical beauty is no defence against death

The conscious afterlife

They have made her a bed among the slain with all her multitude, her graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are placed among the slain.(Ezekiel 32:25, ESV)

“They have made” and “they bear” are active verbs, they are currently bearing the shame, they are still alive in the afterlife which shows there was an understanding of the afterlife in the OT

Called to be watchmen

then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.(Ezekiel 33:4, ESV)

We have greater responsibility when we have heard the truth, God has called us to be watchmen in our city, declaring that men should flee the wrath to come

The Gospel Trumpet

He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.(Ezekiel 33:5, ESV)

This mirrors the call to repent and flee the wrath to come preached in the Gospel. Blow the trumpet today.

A holy charge

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.(Ezekiel 33:6, ESV)

If we do not warn those we watch over then God requires the blood of that person at our hands. We must warn them.

Save yourself

But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.(Ezekiel 33:9, ESV)

Boldly declaring and defending the truth delivers our own souls.

1 Timothy 4:16 says “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Repentance can’t be forced

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?(Ezekiel 33:11, ESV)

God desires that all would repent, but in His wisdom he does not force it on all

NOW!

“And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins.(Ezekiel 33:12, ESV)

Our responsibility before God is not in the past or future, it is always in the now, our connection with eternity is NOW! so we can repent now and should persevere in righteousness now.

False vs True

Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.(Ezekiel 33:13, ESV)

God has not called us to false security in a false confession lived out in a false life but true eternal security through true confession with evidence shown in a joyfully sanctified life.

Repentance is required

if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.(Ezekiel 33:15, ESV)

God requires genuine repentance

Don’t blame God

“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just.(Ezekiel 33:17, ESV)

This is so true, this is the number one accusation thrown at God when he is in fact so gracious. Don’t shift blame for your own sin and unrighteousness on to God, humble yourself and repent by turning to the only one who can help you

Works will be judged

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”(Ezekiel 33:20, ESV)

Just like the church in Revelation, God knows and judges our works

God’s promises are conditional

Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat flesh with the blood and lift up your eyes to your idols and shed blood; shall you then possess the land?(Ezekiel 33:25, ESV)

We can not live like devils and then tap into or claim the promises of God. God’s promises are predicated on right relationship with him. Every promise of God has conditions in this way so they can not be abused.

God is not a fool, or just a force of Karma like Hinduism teaches, he is the true God with three distinct persons who seek and must be engaged through relationship… Not dry religion, principles or manipulation.

What is your heart set on?

And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.(Ezekiel 33:31, ESV)

What is the point in listening to God’s word and sitting under teaching if our hearts are not changed and our minds are bent on evil, sadly this is the picture of much of the church today. Some people just enjoy preaching.

As Pastor Dennis taught us a few days ago in Israel, we see through the eyes of our will and what the will has set it’s eyes on it will pursue, so unless we allow the word to change our desire to be God’s, we will never change.

Revelation 16:1–21

Ordained judgement

And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.(Revelation 16:5, ESV)

Remember these judgements are ordained by God, they can not be stopped.

Man’s wicked heart

They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.(Revelation 16:9, ESV)

The wicked, stubborn, prideful heart of man revealed

Be awake and ready

(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)(Revelation 16:15, ESV)

Lord help us to stay awake and be fully clothed for war

Job 37:9–15

Nature, God’s tool

Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.(Job 37:13, ESV)

This is insightful concerning the purpose of God using the natural elements

Open your eyes and rejoice

“Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.(Job 37:14, ESV)

We should all do this like Jonathan Edwards, Spurgeon and Lewis we should pause and consider the great works of God in creation. The theory of evolution has tried to kill off this joy and glorification of God but we are missing out if we don’t open our eyes to the richness of Gods general revelation in nature

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 30:1–31:18, Rev 14:14–15:8, Job 37:1–8

Today’s Theme: God’s Self Revelation

Today’s theme looks at one of the bible’s main overarching themes which is God’s self revelation. God reveals who he is to his honour and glory not only though his word, nature and the conscience but also through his acts of judgement and mercy.

Ezekiel 30:1–31:18

Worthless support

“Thus says the Lord: Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within her by the sword, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 30:6, ESV)

When judgement and destruction are declared, no worldly support system can help a nation

Proud might shall come to an end

At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark, when I break there the yoke bars of Egypt, and her proud might shall come to an end in her; she shall be covered by a cloud, and her daughters shall go into captivity.(Ezekiel 30:18, ESV)

All great nations including ours should take note

Then they will know I am the Lord

Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”(Ezekiel 30:19, ESV)

This is the recurring motivational and resultant theme in all the Ezekiel judgement passages

Is God against you

Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that was broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand.(Ezekiel 30:22, ESV)

This is the real God of the bible, not the Hollywood version which is the ultimate egalitarian entity with a narrow and naïve love complex, no, beware God is not against you (because of your rebellion), if he is you have no chance

God’s self revelation

And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”(Ezekiel 30:26, ESV)

The over arching theme of Gods self revelation. In this case shown through determining the outcome of battles and wars

Abundant water

So it towered high above all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches long from abundant water in its shoots.(Ezekiel 31:5, ESV)

We need the abundant water of the Holy Spirit to grow

We are mortal

“Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. “This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 31:18, ESV)

A reminder to great Pharaoh that he is a mere mortal and will soon die too

Revelation 14:14–15:8

Great judgement

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.(Revelation 14:20, ESV)

This is a great and terrible Judgement

To God be the glory

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”(Revelation 15:4, ESV)

The end game for God is to get the glory he so rightly deserves

Job 37:1–8

Passion for God

“At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.(Job 37:1, ESV)

This young man had a real passion for the Lord

God’s majesty

God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.(Job 37:5, ESV)

What a beautiful and poetic way to express Gods great majesty

God’s providence

Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.(Job 37:8, ESV)

Gods providence over all creation

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 28:1–29:21, Rev 13:11–14:13, Job 36:24–33

Today’s Theme: False gods go to hell

In today’s reading we encounter the fall of Satan and the reality of an eternal hell. God has provided a way of escape for us through his Son Yeshua (Jesus).

We are just men (mankind) and are not little gods, lets not be guilty of the same sin Satan was guilty of, let’s bow humbly and joyfully before the only God YHWH.

Demons and men who set themselves up against God as little false gods will go the hell for eternity. Even if you do not consciously call yourself a little god, you act as one by not submitting to the true God who is creator and sustainer of all life.

Ezekiel 28:1–29:21

You are not a god

“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god—(Ezekiel 28:2, ESV)

Lord, please keep us from this self deception. The Word of Faith movement teaches that we are little gods but this is ridiculous, only God is God.

You are just a man

Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?(Ezekiel 28:9, ESV)

Exactly, God says this to the new age today too who also teach that man is god. Men are just men, we stand in God’s mercy and grace and can in no way compare ourselves to the one and only almighty creator who made us.

Satan, the spirit behind the king of Tyre

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.(Ezekiel 28:13, ESV)

This has to be talking about Satan, the spirit behind the man, because the king of tyre was not in Eden.

The devil was not created evil

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.(Ezekiel 28:15, ESV)

Satan was simply not always evil, the story is more complex than that, he was once blameless.

The fall of Satan

In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.(Ezekiel 28:16, ESV)

A guardian Cherub is what Satan was, but he became enamoured with his own Glory. In some ways Satan’s life reflected that of the king of Tyree so what was Satan’s trade in heaven?

Security and peace

And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”(Ezekiel 28:26, ESV)

Jesus will bring security and peace to Israel one day. This is all part of Gods self revelation

The great Dragon

speak, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lies in the midst of his streams, that says, ‘My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.’(Ezekiel 29:3, ESV)

Satan was also the spirit behind Pharaoh

Rely on the Lord

Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord. “Because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel, when they grasped you with the hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke and made all their loins to shake.(Ezekiel 29:6–7, ESV)

The world is a bad and unreliable support system for us as Gods people, we should lean on the Lord

Pray for Egypt

And it shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel, recalling their iniquity, when they turn to them for aid. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.”(Ezekiel 29:16, ESV)

The restoration of Egypt although not to former glory shows that God had some kind of special relationship with them, we should remember this as we pray for Egypt today.

Israel was to know God as God, not Egypt.

God, sovereign over nations

I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 29:20, ESV)

God is sovereign over pagan nations even when their leaders are governed by evil spirits

Revelation 13:11–14:13

The restricted freedom of the enemy

and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(Revelation 13:14, ESV)

The second beast does not have free reign, God is sovereign so it is only allowed to do what it does.

We belong to God

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.(Revelation 14:1, ESV)

Belonging to God, as opposed to the mark of the beast

Gospel Essentials

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”(Revelation 14:7, ESV)

Here are some essential elements to the Gospel message like fearing God, worshiping him, being aware of his judgement and recognising him as the creator. This is why Evolution is antithetical to the Gospel.

Hell is eternal

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”(Revelation 14:11, ESV)

Hell is eternal punishment befitting those who have offend the king whose worth is infinite and so payment for his offence can not be measured in time. The following quote may be useful.

“…the seriousness of sin arises from what it says about God. God is infinitely worthy and honorable. But sin says the opposite. Sin says that other things are more desirable and more worthy. How serious is this? The seriousness of a crime is determined, in part, by the dignity of the person and the office being dishonored. If the person is infinitely worthy and infinitely honorable and infinitely desirable and holds an office of infinite dignity and authority, then rebuffing him is an infinitely outrageous crime. Therefore, it deserves an infinite punishment. The intensity of Jesus’ words about hell are not an overreaction to small offenses. They are a witness to the infinite worth of God and to the outrageous dishonor of human sin.”

Piper, J. (2006). What Jesus demands from the world (pp. 97–98). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Called to endure

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.(Revelation 14:12, ESV)

We are called to persevere and endure as saints

Your work is important

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”(Revelation 14:13, ESV)

Work is so important, this verse says our deeds follow us and in a way go before us to secure our rest

Job 36:24–33

All men can see there is a God through creation

All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar.(Job 36:25, ESV)

General revelation of who God is in creation

The bible is scientifically accurate

For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,(Job 36:27, ESV)

Amazing scientific insight of the time regarding the way rain is formed

The great provider

For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.(Job 36:31, ESV)

God is the great provider for all creation

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 26:1–27:36, Rev 13:1–10, Job 36:13–23

Today’s Theme: Sovereignty and Perseverance

Today’s theme looks at the sovereignty the Lord holds over the enemy, the Devil can only do what God allows within the enemies limited freedom. We also look at the perseverance of the saints which we are encouraged to pursue in the light of God’s sovereignty.

Ezekiel 26:1–27:36

God revealed in judgement

and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 26:6, ESV)

God can be revealed to us in blessing or in judgement… the choice is ours

Prophecy fulfilled

I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God.(Ezekiel 26:14, ESV)

This prophecy is fulfilled, tyre was ever rebuilt

The fall of Babylon

and down from their ships come all who handle the oar. The mariners and all the pilots of the sea stand on the land and shout aloud over you and cry out bitterly. They cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes;(Ezekiel 27:29–30, ESV)

Reminds us of when Babylon falls in revelation

Revelation 13:1–10

What God allows

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,(Revelation 13:7, ESV)

God Sovereignly allowed this, the devil can’t just do whatever he wants, only what he is allowed to do. So the devil’s freedom is limited and what God allows works within God’s wider plan to glorify his own name.

The perseverance of the saints

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.(Revelation 13:10, ESV)

We are called to persevere as saints, we must resist the devil

Job 36:13–23

Don’t cherish anger

“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.(Job 36:13, ESV)

We should not hold on to (cherish) anger, it is like holding a hot coal in our bare hands close to our chest… A really bad idea, it will only hurt us.

God can not be taught anything new

Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?(Job 36:23, ESV)

God is the great teacher, none of us can teach him anything, God never has to learn, Open Theism is wrong