22 December 2012
Isaiah 53
Fitting reading of Isaiah 53 that foretells of the Messiah 400+ years in the future. Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, would be the next one to hear from God. God's work is not always seen and heard. For over 400 years He was preparing the world for the Messiah. The fullness of time was not a contingency plan. It was planned before the foundation of the world. All for the Glory of God. And as a Christian, we get to be a part of it.
13 December 2012
Isaiah 31:1 - Isaiah 34:17
Isaia 34:2- the Lord is angry with ALL nations. He is coming with a sword not of peace, but a sword of blood. Those who are found unrighteous will be cut down.
Those who are found blameless before Him will be rescued. Only those who have Jesus as their mediator will be found blameless and rescued.
On a side note, a dear friend pass away last night after many years of battling cancer. Milbrey was one of my nurses at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, in Beaufort, South Carolina. We had much in common, two boys the same age, married the same year and graduated the same in high school and college.
She leave behind two sons and a husband. A sad day for the family, nothing can prepare a child for the death of their parent, no matter the age.
We will all miss Milbrey.
Those who are found blameless before Him will be rescued. Only those who have Jesus as their mediator will be found blameless and rescued.
On a side note, a dear friend pass away last night after many years of battling cancer. Milbrey was one of my nurses at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, in Beaufort, South Carolina. We had much in common, two boys the same age, married the same year and graduated the same in high school and college.
She leave behind two sons and a husband. A sad day for the family, nothing can prepare a child for the death of their parent, no matter the age.
We will all miss Milbrey.
12 December 2012
Hosea 8-14
Ephraim is the focus of Hoshea's prophecy.
8:11 appears to me to be one of the roots of their coming destruction. "Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning."
Our intentions come from a human mind and heart. Both of whom are fallen and cursed. Our purposes lead to destruction.
However, only when we submit to God's commands will He do a remarkable work in us. Our intentions are still rooted in Adam's sin; but as Christians, God gives us the ability to pray, worship and come close to Him where His thought become our thoughts. He reveals His will for our lives when He wants to and guides our steps.
8:11 appears to me to be one of the roots of their coming destruction. "Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning."
Our intentions come from a human mind and heart. Both of whom are fallen and cursed. Our purposes lead to destruction.
However, only when we submit to God's commands will He do a remarkable work in us. Our intentions are still rooted in Adam's sin; but as Christians, God gives us the ability to pray, worship and come close to Him where His thought become our thoughts. He reveals His will for our lives when He wants to and guides our steps.
06 December 2012
2 Chronicles 28 and 2 Kings 16 & 17
2 Kings 16 verse 15 is a copy of what we do today in our churches and it ultimately leads to people who are not saved who think they are.
Ahaz was the son of Jotham (good) and next in line for King of Judah. However, Ahaz "did evil in the sight of the Lord" and even sacrificed his son to his gods. Uriah was the Prophet of God at this time
Uriah built Ahaz a new altar for sacrifice based on an alter in a pagan land, Assyria. Ahaz further changed it. Why?
"He took away the Sabbath canopy that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria."
Who was Ahaz trying to please? A 'non-member'? Tiglath-Pileser was the King of Assyria and Ahaz was trying to please the Assyrian King. Not THE KING, the king.
This is what we do today. We change our worship to please church members. We change our worship hoping the latest 'gimmick' will bring people in. We change our worship so we do not offend people in the pews.
This leads to destruction. This lead to Judah and Israel's destruction by way of being conquered and carried off to distant lands. The Israelites had a false sense of security during this time by appeasing others. It was short lived.
They were destroyed
2 Kings 17:23 "They were exiled to Assyria, and they are still there."
2 Kings 17:41 "Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day, their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did."
Who is worship for? It is for God. NOT for the non-Christian, not for 'recruiting tithers', not for anyone but God. Not even for the Christian.
Who worships God? The one who claims that Jesus is Lord and Savior. No one else can, or is allowed, to bring praise to God. God only hears one thing from the non-Christian and that is a prayer of repentance and complete submission to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Ahaz was the son of Jotham (good) and next in line for King of Judah. However, Ahaz "did evil in the sight of the Lord" and even sacrificed his son to his gods. Uriah was the Prophet of God at this time
Uriah built Ahaz a new altar for sacrifice based on an alter in a pagan land, Assyria. Ahaz further changed it. Why?
"He took away the Sabbath canopy that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria."
Who was Ahaz trying to please? A 'non-member'? Tiglath-Pileser was the King of Assyria and Ahaz was trying to please the Assyrian King. Not THE KING, the king.
This is what we do today. We change our worship to please church members. We change our worship hoping the latest 'gimmick' will bring people in. We change our worship so we do not offend people in the pews.
This leads to destruction. This lead to Judah and Israel's destruction by way of being conquered and carried off to distant lands. The Israelites had a false sense of security during this time by appeasing others. It was short lived.
They were destroyed
2 Kings 17:23 "They were exiled to Assyria, and they are still there."
2 Kings 17:41 "Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day, their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did."
Who is worship for? It is for God. NOT for the non-Christian, not for 'recruiting tithers', not for anyone but God. Not even for the Christian.
Who worships God? The one who claims that Jesus is Lord and Savior. No one else can, or is allowed, to bring praise to God. God only hears one thing from the non-Christian and that is a prayer of repentance and complete submission to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
05 December 2012
Micah 1:1 - Micah 7:20
A word about those who falsely prophecy by ignoring God's promises (rebuking) yet claim unearned blessings.
Sounds familiar? Joel Osteen? Hmm...
Ch 3, v4 "They will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them becuase of the evil they have done."
I pray that my family will 'Walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.' (4:6)
Sounds familiar? Joel Osteen? Hmm...
Ch 3, v4 "They will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them becuase of the evil they have done."
I pray that my family will 'Walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.' (4:6)
04 December 2012
2 Chr 27:1-9 and Isa 9:1 - 12:6
King Jotham, son of Uzziah, did right in the sight of the Lord. But, unlike his father, he did not enter the temple of the Lord.
Regardless of our heart and what, and how, we want to worship, it must honor God. Our desires are sinful desires, as we are all fallen. We may 'feel' our worship is right, but it is according to our own opinions and desires. Uzziah's heart may have been right, in his own opinion, but he still disobeyed God's law regarding worship. The Bible, Old and New Testaments, are filled with great intentions, but God dealt harshly with those people.
God's does not lower his Righteouss standards because we 'feel' good about ourselves. Incense burned by our own standards is 'strange' and will be discarded by God and found not worthy.
King Jotham, son of Uzziah, did right in the sight of the Lord. But, unlike his father, he did not enter the temple of the Lord.
Regardless of our heart and what, and how, we want to worship, it must honor God. Our desires are sinful desires, as we are all fallen. We may 'feel' our worship is right, but it is according to our own opinions and desires. Uzziah's heart may have been right, in his own opinion, but he still disobeyed God's law regarding worship. The Bible, Old and New Testaments, are filled with great intentions, but God dealt harshly with those people.
God's does not lower his Righteouss standards because we 'feel' good about ourselves. Incense burned by our own standards is 'strange' and will be discarded by God and found not worthy.
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