Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Saturday September 11, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 37-39. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-11
Today's Message: The Resurrection
I remember when my nephew was smaller that whenever he did not obey he would say, “I wanna be good”. He knew he did wrong and that he was going to get punished so, he pleaded with us to forgive him and not punish him and swore that he would be good. As Christians, when we sin we often do the same thing, we plead with God to forgive us and say to Him, “I wanna be good” and promise not do it again. The amazing thing is that no matter how many times we do not obey, just like parents, God always forgives us, even if we do the same thing over again. However, that does not mean we will not face the consequences of those sins, but at least they will be less severe for admitting them. Praise God for His mercy and grace! It is only by His mercy and grace that we are even saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” - Ephesians 2:8. Praise God!
Perhaps one of the most controversial and often misunderstood topics of the Bible is the resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” - John 11:25,26. It is only by our faith in Jesus that we have eternal life and will be resurrected when He returns. I can say that I do not completely understand all that is going to happen when Jesus does return, I do not think that anyone does, but I can say that I do understand that Jesus is returning and that all will be resurrected at some point. Jesus said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” - John 5:26-29. When Jesus returns we all have to face Him. If you ever had to face a judge before you may know how this feels, he has the ultimate authority of your life. Well, Jesus is the judge who will decide whether or not we truly believed in Him or have been lying about it the whole time.
This topic is not something that we just learned about over the past 2000 years, it has been prophesied centuries before. God showed Ezekiel an amazing prophecy concerning the resurrection, “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:..Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” - Ezekiel 37:1-5,12-14. The vision that Ezekiel saw was one that foreseen a desolate nation coming back to life through the Power of God and all His people receiving a new, godly, spirit filled body. God is life and without God we have no life in us. The second we call on Jesus to save us God renews a new spirit within us and give life to our dead flesh. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:11,12.
When the Lord shall have mercy on the whole house of Israel, by converting them to Christianity, and when they shall have born the shame of being cast off for their sins, then the nations shall learn to know, worship, and serve God. “After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” -Ezekiel 39:26-29. Israel also shall know the Lord, as revealed in and by Christ. Past events do not answer to these predictions. The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that God's favor will continue. He will hide his face no more from those on whom He has poured out his Spirit. This is not also true for the people of Israel, but for all who believe in Him. Christ suffered on the cross for every person created by God and offers salvation to all, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” - Acts 26:23.
Since Christ suffered for everyone, that means He judges everyone, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” - Matthew 25: 31-36. Now, this is where all our good works help, we will receive our reward according to what we have done after we are saved. Most of all, the most important thing we can do and are commanded to do is to tell others about Christ. All should have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, even if they do not choose to accept it. Christ will show us opportunities that we missed concerning this. Above all, we are saved and will inherit the promised land that God will give to us. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Bible Study: Follow The Shepherd 09.10.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Friday September 10, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 33-36. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-10
Today's Message: Follow The Shepherd
As Christians, we can rejoice in the fact that we have someone watching over us in all that we do. That someone is none other than Jesus Christ. Praise God! Jesus is always with us, guiding us, and working in us, even when it seems like the storms in life have us right in the middle of them with no end in sight. When Jesus was up on a mountain praying His disciples were on a ship, and even though He was not with them, He was still watching over them. “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea...And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” - Matthew 14:23-25,28-32. Jesus never stops watching over us and is always there to catch us when we are sinking. Praise God! You know the difference between us and the Israelites of yesteryear is that they had to trust in God's Word before He sent the Savior and we have to trust in God's Word after He sent Him. Same, God, same Word, same Savior, just different ages.
God's Word is amazing, the incredible thing is that people make the mistake of thinking they know God's Word by reading the Bible one time of having someone tell them when it means. This is destructive and causes many problems not only for the one reading or hearing, but the one telling it. Those who live in the world will see God as having hatred for everyone that does not bow down to Him. That is completely false and whoever came up with that conclusion obviously has not read the entire Bible or more than once. No one can know everything that God is trying to tell us by reading a verse once. The truth is this, God does not cause the destruction, people do, God is just warning them of what is coming if they keep doing things the way that they are doing. This is not something new, God sent Ezekiel to warn the Israelites that they had a chance to escape from the destruction that was coming. Through Ezekiel, God says, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul....Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? ” - Ezekiel 33:2-5,11. God does not want us to suffer, He does not even want to see the wicked suffer, He just wants people to acknowledge Him and have some morals. God's watchman during that age was Ezekiel and he was to warn the people so they could have a chance to be saved. God has always used those who are saved to warn those who are not of the destruction that is coming. As Christians, we are required to tell the lost the Gospel, if not, the guilt of it will haunt us when they die, but all we can do is sow the seed, after that it is up to them.
Like I said earlier, the Israelites had to trust in God's Word that He was sending the Savior, Ezekiel gives a prophecy of our Savior coming as the shepherd who will watch over us. “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” - Ezekiel 34:23-26. Sheep need a shepherd, as long as they follow the shepherd and his commands they are safe, but when they get away from the shepherd they will unknowingly walk into danger and even get caught by their predators. People are like sheep, they will play follow the leader, and if they do not have a positive leader they will unknowingly walk into danger and get captured by the predator, none other that Satan.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11. God gives a promise to all who follow His shepherd, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” - Ezekiel 36:24-28. An amazing thing happens to all who follow the Good Shepherd, a new life literally begins, one that actually has life to it and is fulfilling. You no longer search for what the world has to offer, but what Jesus has to offer and I will tell you what, Jesus has much more to offer than anyone in the world ever can. Praise God! “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” - Romans 6:3-6. Because Christ is in us we are no longer subject to Satan and the sin that he had held us down with, we are now free and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and great weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Subscribe Here Through Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/im-following-jesus-
Today is Friday September 10, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 33-36. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-10
Today's Message: Follow The Shepherd
As Christians, we can rejoice in the fact that we have someone watching over us in all that we do. That someone is none other than Jesus Christ. Praise God! Jesus is always with us, guiding us, and working in us, even when it seems like the storms in life have us right in the middle of them with no end in sight. When Jesus was up on a mountain praying His disciples were on a ship, and even though He was not with them, He was still watching over them. “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea...And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” - Matthew 14:23-25,28-32. Jesus never stops watching over us and is always there to catch us when we are sinking. Praise God! You know the difference between us and the Israelites of yesteryear is that they had to trust in God's Word before He sent the Savior and we have to trust in God's Word after He sent Him. Same, God, same Word, same Savior, just different ages.
God's Word is amazing, the incredible thing is that people make the mistake of thinking they know God's Word by reading the Bible one time of having someone tell them when it means. This is destructive and causes many problems not only for the one reading or hearing, but the one telling it. Those who live in the world will see God as having hatred for everyone that does not bow down to Him. That is completely false and whoever came up with that conclusion obviously has not read the entire Bible or more than once. No one can know everything that God is trying to tell us by reading a verse once. The truth is this, God does not cause the destruction, people do, God is just warning them of what is coming if they keep doing things the way that they are doing. This is not something new, God sent Ezekiel to warn the Israelites that they had a chance to escape from the destruction that was coming. Through Ezekiel, God says, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul....Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? ” - Ezekiel 33:2-5,11. God does not want us to suffer, He does not even want to see the wicked suffer, He just wants people to acknowledge Him and have some morals. God's watchman during that age was Ezekiel and he was to warn the people so they could have a chance to be saved. God has always used those who are saved to warn those who are not of the destruction that is coming. As Christians, we are required to tell the lost the Gospel, if not, the guilt of it will haunt us when they die, but all we can do is sow the seed, after that it is up to them.
Like I said earlier, the Israelites had to trust in God's Word that He was sending the Savior, Ezekiel gives a prophecy of our Savior coming as the shepherd who will watch over us. “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” - Ezekiel 34:23-26. Sheep need a shepherd, as long as they follow the shepherd and his commands they are safe, but when they get away from the shepherd they will unknowingly walk into danger and even get caught by their predators. People are like sheep, they will play follow the leader, and if they do not have a positive leader they will unknowingly walk into danger and get captured by the predator, none other that Satan.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11. God gives a promise to all who follow His shepherd, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” - Ezekiel 36:24-28. An amazing thing happens to all who follow the Good Shepherd, a new life literally begins, one that actually has life to it and is fulfilling. You no longer search for what the world has to offer, but what Jesus has to offer and I will tell you what, Jesus has much more to offer than anyone in the world ever can. Praise God! “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” - Romans 6:3-6. Because Christ is in us we are no longer subject to Satan and the sin that he had held us down with, we are now free and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and great weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Subscribe Here Through Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/im-following-jesus-
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Bible Study: One Nation Under God 09.09.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Thursday September 09, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 29-32. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-9
Today's Message: One Nation Under God
America was founded on, “One nation under God,” little by little our leaders are trying to take God out of our nation, but the truth is, every nation is one under God and the sooner they realize that they better off we all will be. However, the bigger the ego, the more we suffer, that's right, the ego. Think about it. The more these leaders build their egos, the less they do for the people, the more they do for themselves. To prove my point, our leader has been on some kind of a vacation three times in the past month, while innocent lives are being lost since he pulled the troops out of Iraq. Jesus Said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” - John 5:30. In order for our nations to be blessed we as individuals need to take a stand and realize that we can not do this alone. We need God because it is only when we are in His will that we will be blessed. God's judgment is coming upon our own nation, which ever nation it may be, it is time that we prepare for the destruction and warn others as well before they get caught up in God's wrath.
Often nations strive off of the suffering of others, the smallest nation can become so large through power and money that it deems itself as indestructible and above God. At the time of the Exodus, Egypt had grown to be a magnificent world power and had become famous in commerce, art, literature, science, and military might. Egypt was a great nation that never seemed to grasp the fact that God was in still control of their great nation. You would think that the ten plagues that forced the Egyptians, the Pharaoh, and his counselors to acknowledge that their own gods were powerless against the One True God would have caused them to reject their idols and worship the One True God of creation? However, after all these centuries, they still refused to hearken to God, through Ezekiel, God foretold of the end of Egypt as a great nation. “Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt: Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales. And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. ” - Ezekiel 29:2-6. Nations can turn away from God all they want, but that does not change the fact that He is still in control and sooner or later He will make that fact known.
The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction, Nebuchadnezzar did not know that God was preparing him and his Babylonian armies to be His servants. Neither did he know that he was fulfilling prophecy even when he devastated Israel and then Egypt. “I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known. Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall. For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.” - Ezekiel 32:9-12. Babylon was not a God nation, but God used them anyway to serve His purpose. Sometimes God will allow heathen nations to cause destruction, even on God nations. Why? So, they will turn to Him. God brought judgment upon Israel, Judah, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and other nations to cause them to realize, “that I am the Lord.” Today, we already have heathen nations threatening our nation and sooner or later He will allow them to cause destruction so that we too will realize, “that I am the Lord.”
Although Egypt would no longer be a great powerful nation of the world, it would not be utterly destroyed. “Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 29:13-16. Still today, Egypt has never regained the status of a world empire. It remains as a witness to the supreme authority of God. Once day, all Christians, who are scattered all over the world, will come together and find habitation in the land that God promised us. “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it...And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” - Revelation 21:24,27. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Subscribe Here Through Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/im-following-jesus-
Today is Thursday September 09, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 29-32. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-9
Today's Message: One Nation Under God
America was founded on, “One nation under God,” little by little our leaders are trying to take God out of our nation, but the truth is, every nation is one under God and the sooner they realize that they better off we all will be. However, the bigger the ego, the more we suffer, that's right, the ego. Think about it. The more these leaders build their egos, the less they do for the people, the more they do for themselves. To prove my point, our leader has been on some kind of a vacation three times in the past month, while innocent lives are being lost since he pulled the troops out of Iraq. Jesus Said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” - John 5:30. In order for our nations to be blessed we as individuals need to take a stand and realize that we can not do this alone. We need God because it is only when we are in His will that we will be blessed. God's judgment is coming upon our own nation, which ever nation it may be, it is time that we prepare for the destruction and warn others as well before they get caught up in God's wrath.
Often nations strive off of the suffering of others, the smallest nation can become so large through power and money that it deems itself as indestructible and above God. At the time of the Exodus, Egypt had grown to be a magnificent world power and had become famous in commerce, art, literature, science, and military might. Egypt was a great nation that never seemed to grasp the fact that God was in still control of their great nation. You would think that the ten plagues that forced the Egyptians, the Pharaoh, and his counselors to acknowledge that their own gods were powerless against the One True God would have caused them to reject their idols and worship the One True God of creation? However, after all these centuries, they still refused to hearken to God, through Ezekiel, God foretold of the end of Egypt as a great nation. “Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt: Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales. And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven. And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. ” - Ezekiel 29:2-6. Nations can turn away from God all they want, but that does not change the fact that He is still in control and sooner or later He will make that fact known.
The king of Babylon and his army shall be instruments of this destruction, Nebuchadnezzar did not know that God was preparing him and his Babylonian armies to be His servants. Neither did he know that he was fulfilling prophecy even when he devastated Israel and then Egypt. “I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known. Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall. For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee. By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.” - Ezekiel 32:9-12. Babylon was not a God nation, but God used them anyway to serve His purpose. Sometimes God will allow heathen nations to cause destruction, even on God nations. Why? So, they will turn to Him. God brought judgment upon Israel, Judah, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt, and other nations to cause them to realize, “that I am the Lord.” Today, we already have heathen nations threatening our nation and sooner or later He will allow them to cause destruction so that we too will realize, “that I am the Lord.”
Although Egypt would no longer be a great powerful nation of the world, it would not be utterly destroyed. “Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 29:13-16. Still today, Egypt has never regained the status of a world empire. It remains as a witness to the supreme authority of God. Once day, all Christians, who are scattered all over the world, will come together and find habitation in the land that God promised us. “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it...And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” - Revelation 21:24,27. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
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Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bible Study: Power of God's Voice 09.08.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Wednesday September 08, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 25-28. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september
Today's Message: The Power of God's Voice
As I was driving home this morning I looked up at the sky and saw something amazing, it was as if part of the sky was erased, a perfect line went across the clouds, everything else was gray below the line, but above it was blue sky and clouds. Did you ever take a picture and part of the edge had been whited out? Well, this is what the sky looked like. It is incredible the power of God's voice, all He has to do is speak a command and instantly it happens. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” - Genesis 1:3. His voice is just as powerful when we call on Jesus to save us, the second we confess to God that we are sinners God is listening and by the time we say Amen, God says, “You now eternal life” Praise God! God loves His people and He truly does want the best for them, that is why He places circumstances before us and chastises us from time to time.
Since most of the Southern Kingdom of Israel was taken captive by Babylon it must have seemed like God was done with them, but He really wasn't, He was saving them from the destruction and preparing them for their return to the promised land. Now, because of the destruction that took place all the surrounding nations were gloating and mocking them over what was going on, the world loves to see a great God nation fall. Because of their behavior, God was now angry at them. Through Ezekiel, God said, “Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 25:2-7. It is evil and wicked to make fun of and rejoice over others judgment, especially of God's people. God will show His people and the heathen nations that He is still the God of Israel, though He suffers them for a time to be captives in Babylon. It is better to know Him, and to be poor, than to be rich and ignorant of him. Praise God!
The prophetic judgments against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia were comparatively short, but a detailed prophecy concerning the destruction of Tyre was given to Ezekiel by God, “Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up...And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 26:2,3,12-14. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years and fully destroyed the city, which was on the mainland. More than two centuries later, Alexander the Great also besieged the capital city of Tyre, which had been rebuilt on an island nearly half a mile from the mainland. Since Alexander had no fleet, his force used stones, timber, and dirt from the ruins of the first ancient walled city to build a causeway 200 feet wide to reach the island. After the Chaldean invasion under Nebuchadnezzar, Tyre never regained independence and was never again a prominent nation. Once again, God spoke and things happened.
God did not want to see Israel destroyed and all His people scattered everywhere, but as a nation, they refused to eliminate the heathens, gods, and idols that were an abomination to everything He stood for, so, He had no other choice, but to let them face the consequences of their actions. Here comes God's promise, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.” - Ezekiel 28:25,26. When God does chastise us, it does not last forever, and even though we may not understand the blessing at the time, we truly are blessed through it. Praise God!
At times it seems as though we are being chastised for no reason and that God is not listening and speaking with His voice, but the truth is He is always listening and speaking to us. Jesus constantly said this phrase in some form, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” - Mark 7:16. All we have to do to hear God is to listen for Him with our ears. It seems as though we can have selective hearing when it comes to God speaking to us though. I have a problem eating food that contains white flour in it. More often then none I catch myself saying, “One meal will not hurt” God warns me, “Do not eat it,” but I do anyway and even the tiniest bit consumed hurts me because He told me not to eat it in the first place. Praise God, that He is forgiving and does not punish me too much longer when I seek His forgiveness. He is not just that way with me, He is that way with everyone, especially if they are faithful to Him. God knows that we will sin from time to time, but He knows our hearts and as long as we keep our hearts right with Him, He will not only help us fix the sin, but bless us even more for being truthful and faithful to Him, even if we have sinned. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” - Colossians 2:12-14. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
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Today is Wednesday September 08, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 25-28. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september
Today's Message: The Power of God's Voice
As I was driving home this morning I looked up at the sky and saw something amazing, it was as if part of the sky was erased, a perfect line went across the clouds, everything else was gray below the line, but above it was blue sky and clouds. Did you ever take a picture and part of the edge had been whited out? Well, this is what the sky looked like. It is incredible the power of God's voice, all He has to do is speak a command and instantly it happens. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” - Genesis 1:3. His voice is just as powerful when we call on Jesus to save us, the second we confess to God that we are sinners God is listening and by the time we say Amen, God says, “You now eternal life” Praise God! God loves His people and He truly does want the best for them, that is why He places circumstances before us and chastises us from time to time.
Since most of the Southern Kingdom of Israel was taken captive by Babylon it must have seemed like God was done with them, but He really wasn't, He was saving them from the destruction and preparing them for their return to the promised land. Now, because of the destruction that took place all the surrounding nations were gloating and mocking them over what was going on, the world loves to see a great God nation fall. Because of their behavior, God was now angry at them. Through Ezekiel, God said, “Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them; And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk. And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel; Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 25:2-7. It is evil and wicked to make fun of and rejoice over others judgment, especially of God's people. God will show His people and the heathen nations that He is still the God of Israel, though He suffers them for a time to be captives in Babylon. It is better to know Him, and to be poor, than to be rich and ignorant of him. Praise God!
The prophetic judgments against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia were comparatively short, but a detailed prophecy concerning the destruction of Tyre was given to Ezekiel by God, “Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up...And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 26:2,3,12-14. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years and fully destroyed the city, which was on the mainland. More than two centuries later, Alexander the Great also besieged the capital city of Tyre, which had been rebuilt on an island nearly half a mile from the mainland. Since Alexander had no fleet, his force used stones, timber, and dirt from the ruins of the first ancient walled city to build a causeway 200 feet wide to reach the island. After the Chaldean invasion under Nebuchadnezzar, Tyre never regained independence and was never again a prominent nation. Once again, God spoke and things happened.
God did not want to see Israel destroyed and all His people scattered everywhere, but as a nation, they refused to eliminate the heathens, gods, and idols that were an abomination to everything He stood for, so, He had no other choice, but to let them face the consequences of their actions. Here comes God's promise, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.” - Ezekiel 28:25,26. When God does chastise us, it does not last forever, and even though we may not understand the blessing at the time, we truly are blessed through it. Praise God!
At times it seems as though we are being chastised for no reason and that God is not listening and speaking with His voice, but the truth is He is always listening and speaking to us. Jesus constantly said this phrase in some form, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” - Mark 7:16. All we have to do to hear God is to listen for Him with our ears. It seems as though we can have selective hearing when it comes to God speaking to us though. I have a problem eating food that contains white flour in it. More often then none I catch myself saying, “One meal will not hurt” God warns me, “Do not eat it,” but I do anyway and even the tiniest bit consumed hurts me because He told me not to eat it in the first place. Praise God, that He is forgiving and does not punish me too much longer when I seek His forgiveness. He is not just that way with me, He is that way with everyone, especially if they are faithful to Him. God knows that we will sin from time to time, but He knows our hearts and as long as we keep our hearts right with Him, He will not only help us fix the sin, but bless us even more for being truthful and faithful to Him, even if we have sinned. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” - Colossians 2:12-14. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
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Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Bible Study: Being Faithful to God 09.07.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Tuesday September 07, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 22-24. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-7
Today's Message: Being Faithful To God
As we read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts and enables us to live in the will of God, accept the chastening of God, and to give up the things in our lives that defile our minds, bodies, and souls. Satan is constantly seducing us with things that corrupt us and wreck our relationship with God. In order to keep from being seduced we must allow Christ to be the only Lord of our lives, then in the midst of all the destruction that is taking place we can be safe, secure, and protected knowing that Christ is always there to strengthen us and do His perfect will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.
For years Ezekiel had prophesied about the final destruction of Jerusalem. The time of judgment was now set and the destruction of the Holy City would be brought about, not by fate, as the world would see it, but as the result of their unfaithfulness to God. “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries. Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.” - Ezekiel 22:1-5. What God is saying here is that they (Israel) have been unfaithful, by worshiping the false gods that the heathens worshiped. The blood shed, man made idols, and the abominable acts they have committed were all an abomination to God. In addition their destruction they will be publicly known and mocked by all the heathen nations. Today, we too are being mocked by heathen nations as we continually defile our own, shed innocent blood shed, and worship man made idols. (e.g. Virgin Mary, Buddha). God is the God of the living, not the dead, therefore, we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, not a dead one. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” - Romans 12:1
God often explains things in parables, a parable is a short story that teaches a moral lesson. You will often hear of God using parables of adultery as describing unfaithfulness to Him. You see, the second we accept Christ as our Savior we enter into a relationship with Him, a spiritual marriage so to speak. Just like a husband and wife say vows that join them together as one, when we pray and ask Jesus to save us we say a vow to Him that joins us together as one. If you were ever in a relationship and found out that your mate was unfaithful to you it devastates you, you feel angry, ashamed, and betrayed. Well, this is how God feels whenever we do things that break our vow with Him. Now, once you are saved you are always saved, but that does not mean that you will not suffer the consequences for being unfaithful to God. No one escapes the consequences of being unfaithful. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:11.
Ezekiel's message was illustrated by a parable of two unfaithful sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, who were prostitutes. They were representing the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,...Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women. And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.” - Ezekiel 23:2-5,44-46. These two women represented the nations that seduced heathen nations and are now defiled by them. Aholah, which means, her own tabernacle, represents Samaria and Israel, these were man made places of worship devised of their own thinking. Aholibah, which means, my tabernacle is in her, represents Jerusalem and Judah, and these were place of worship which God himself had chosen to put his name there. America is supposed to be a nation under God, yet we are playing the harlot and falling right into Satan's trap each time we align ourselves with heathen nations.
Soon, the people realized that those who prophesied of prosperity and their soon return to Jerusalem had deceived them. The Israelites acceptance of false gods and indifference to their own sins had brought upon them the slaughter of their sons and daughters, just as it had been foretold by Jeremiah in Jerusalem and by Ezekiel in Babylon. They had been cast into "the furnace," so to speak, in order to purge them of idol worship and bring them into recognition of and submission to the Word of God. “ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed. She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire. In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.” - Ezekiel 24:9-13 . Silver must go through the refiner's fire several times before all impurities are removed. God's people are described as silver taken from the ground. It is only precious and valuable after worthless elements of the ground are removed.
Today, Christ is lovingly purifying His people and removing all the worthless elements from us as we remain faithful to Him. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” - Hebrews 12:6,7. Now, God is not saying that we have to worship Him 24/7, although from time to time that would be a good thing, but He does want us to remain faithful and worship only Him. Every time a game, hobby, or even a career is chosen over God we are worshiping it over Him. We do not have to stop doing these things, but we need to let God know that He comes first. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” - Psalm 37:4. God blesses faithfulness. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have and awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Subscribe Here Through Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/group/im-following-jesus-
Today is Tuesday September 07, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 22-24. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-7
Today's Message: Being Faithful To God
As we read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts and enables us to live in the will of God, accept the chastening of God, and to give up the things in our lives that defile our minds, bodies, and souls. Satan is constantly seducing us with things that corrupt us and wreck our relationship with God. In order to keep from being seduced we must allow Christ to be the only Lord of our lives, then in the midst of all the destruction that is taking place we can be safe, secure, and protected knowing that Christ is always there to strengthen us and do His perfect will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.
For years Ezekiel had prophesied about the final destruction of Jerusalem. The time of judgment was now set and the destruction of the Holy City would be brought about, not by fate, as the world would see it, but as the result of their unfaithfulness to God. “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations. Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself. Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries. Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.” - Ezekiel 22:1-5. What God is saying here is that they (Israel) have been unfaithful, by worshiping the false gods that the heathens worshiped. The blood shed, man made idols, and the abominable acts they have committed were all an abomination to God. In addition their destruction they will be publicly known and mocked by all the heathen nations. Today, we too are being mocked by heathen nations as we continually defile our own, shed innocent blood shed, and worship man made idols. (e.g. Virgin Mary, Buddha). God is the God of the living, not the dead, therefore, we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, not a dead one. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” - Romans 12:1
God often explains things in parables, a parable is a short story that teaches a moral lesson. You will often hear of God using parables of adultery as describing unfaithfulness to Him. You see, the second we accept Christ as our Savior we enter into a relationship with Him, a spiritual marriage so to speak. Just like a husband and wife say vows that join them together as one, when we pray and ask Jesus to save us we say a vow to Him that joins us together as one. If you were ever in a relationship and found out that your mate was unfaithful to you it devastates you, you feel angry, ashamed, and betrayed. Well, this is how God feels whenever we do things that break our vow with Him. Now, once you are saved you are always saved, but that does not mean that you will not suffer the consequences for being unfaithful to God. No one escapes the consequences of being unfaithful. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:11.
Ezekiel's message was illustrated by a parable of two unfaithful sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, who were prostitutes. They were representing the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,...Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women. And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.” - Ezekiel 23:2-5,44-46. These two women represented the nations that seduced heathen nations and are now defiled by them. Aholah, which means, her own tabernacle, represents Samaria and Israel, these were man made places of worship devised of their own thinking. Aholibah, which means, my tabernacle is in her, represents Jerusalem and Judah, and these were place of worship which God himself had chosen to put his name there. America is supposed to be a nation under God, yet we are playing the harlot and falling right into Satan's trap each time we align ourselves with heathen nations.
Soon, the people realized that those who prophesied of prosperity and their soon return to Jerusalem had deceived them. The Israelites acceptance of false gods and indifference to their own sins had brought upon them the slaughter of their sons and daughters, just as it had been foretold by Jeremiah in Jerusalem and by Ezekiel in Babylon. They had been cast into "the furnace," so to speak, in order to purge them of idol worship and bring them into recognition of and submission to the Word of God. “ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed. She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire. In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.” - Ezekiel 24:9-13 . Silver must go through the refiner's fire several times before all impurities are removed. God's people are described as silver taken from the ground. It is only precious and valuable after worthless elements of the ground are removed.
Today, Christ is lovingly purifying His people and removing all the worthless elements from us as we remain faithful to Him. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” - Hebrews 12:6,7. Now, God is not saying that we have to worship Him 24/7, although from time to time that would be a good thing, but He does want us to remain faithful and worship only Him. Every time a game, hobby, or even a career is chosen over God we are worshiping it over Him. We do not have to stop doing these things, but we need to let God know that He comes first. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” - Psalm 37:4. God blesses faithfulness. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have and awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Monday, September 6, 2010
Bible Study: God's Grace 09.06.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Monday September 06, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 20-21. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-6
Today's Message: God's Grace
God tells Christians over, and over, and over again to cast away the abominations that keep them from needless pain and suffering, yet many will continue to follow the sinful lives they are leading and wonder why they are having such a hard time in life and start blaming God. We are children of the living God saved by His grace through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. We are going to suffer some affliction from time to time because Satan is always on our backs, but as long as we hold on to God's grace than we will endure them and see blessings through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, no one can expect to endure affliction and God's blessings as long as they continue to live in sin. It is time for all backsliding Christians to stop blaming God and everyone else for their problems, fess up, get over it, and start serving God again. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,...By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ” - II Corinthians 6:1-4,7.
On three occasions the elders went to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord (8:1; 14:1; 20:1). On the first occasion, Ezekiel exposed their sins and foretold Jerusalem's destruction because of idolatry. At the second meeting, God revealed to Ezekiel that the elders were not sincere and had no desire to do His will. The third time, Ezekiel told them that the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation was certain. God declared that the real reason for the Israelites' failure, rebellion. “And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God; In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.” - Ezekiel 20:5-8. It was out of pure rebellion, disregarding His Word, and falling into the corruption of the heathen nations that God let them suffer. To inquire of the Lord without a sincere desire to put Him above all else in your life is foolish for God will not listen to anyone who rebels against Him.
Israel did not just volunteer to be God's people, they were chosen by Him personally. That alone should have been a blessing to them, but that fact never seemed to grasp their attention. God let it be known to them while they were in Egypt, that He was their God, loved them, even when they rebelled against them, but He was not about to let them get away with their disobedience. God showed them that love by the miracles He performed in bringing them out of their captivity there, yet, they continued to rebel against Him. “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 20:33-38. Morally, the Israelites had sunk to the corrupt conduct of the heathen nations around them. Because they disregarded His Word and lived like the world, God could not bless or protect them. God will not bless evil. However, He will bless those that repent and return to Him. God extends forgiving grace to every sinner who sincerely repents and turns to Christ as Savior and the Lord of his life. Praise God!
As Christians, we are not just volunteered to be God's people either, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” - John 15:16-20. We are chosen by Christ Himself to not only be witnesses, but and example to follow to show the world God's great grace. Because we are chosen we are going to suffer as Jesus did, but we should count all suffering as blessings because, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Galatians 1:3-5. Praise God! Hold on to God's grace, never let it go, He has plenty to give those who are willing to receive it.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have an awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
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Today is Monday September 06, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 20-21. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-6
Today's Message: God's Grace
God tells Christians over, and over, and over again to cast away the abominations that keep them from needless pain and suffering, yet many will continue to follow the sinful lives they are leading and wonder why they are having such a hard time in life and start blaming God. We are children of the living God saved by His grace through the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. We are going to suffer some affliction from time to time because Satan is always on our backs, but as long as we hold on to God's grace than we will endure them and see blessings through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, no one can expect to endure affliction and God's blessings as long as they continue to live in sin. It is time for all backsliding Christians to stop blaming God and everyone else for their problems, fess up, get over it, and start serving God again. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,...By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ” - II Corinthians 6:1-4,7.
On three occasions the elders went to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord (8:1; 14:1; 20:1). On the first occasion, Ezekiel exposed their sins and foretold Jerusalem's destruction because of idolatry. At the second meeting, God revealed to Ezekiel that the elders were not sincere and had no desire to do His will. The third time, Ezekiel told them that the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation was certain. God declared that the real reason for the Israelites' failure, rebellion. “And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God; In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.” - Ezekiel 20:5-8. It was out of pure rebellion, disregarding His Word, and falling into the corruption of the heathen nations that God let them suffer. To inquire of the Lord without a sincere desire to put Him above all else in your life is foolish for God will not listen to anyone who rebels against Him.
Israel did not just volunteer to be God's people, they were chosen by Him personally. That alone should have been a blessing to them, but that fact never seemed to grasp their attention. God let it be known to them while they were in Egypt, that He was their God, loved them, even when they rebelled against them, but He was not about to let them get away with their disobedience. God showed them that love by the miracles He performed in bringing them out of their captivity there, yet, they continued to rebel against Him. “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 20:33-38. Morally, the Israelites had sunk to the corrupt conduct of the heathen nations around them. Because they disregarded His Word and lived like the world, God could not bless or protect them. God will not bless evil. However, He will bless those that repent and return to Him. God extends forgiving grace to every sinner who sincerely repents and turns to Christ as Savior and the Lord of his life. Praise God!
As Christians, we are not just volunteered to be God's people either, Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” - John 15:16-20. We are chosen by Christ Himself to not only be witnesses, but and example to follow to show the world God's great grace. Because we are chosen we are going to suffer as Jesus did, but we should count all suffering as blessings because, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Galatians 1:3-5. Praise God! Hold on to God's grace, never let it go, He has plenty to give those who are willing to receive it.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have an awesome week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
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Sunday, September 5, 2010
Bible Study: Bring God's Blessing or Judgment
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Sunday September 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 17-19. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-5
Today's Message: Bring God's Blessings or Judgment
There is no better reward than the gift of eternal life as we believe in and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. Amazingly, once we get saved we are always saved, no matter how many times we sin. If you were to walk away from God right now, you would still see Him when you die because you are saved by grace not by works. Praise God! However, eternal life does not mean that a person living in sin will not face the consequences of those sins while here on earth. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - I Peter 4:15-19. It seems that many people think that if they accept Christ into their lives it makes them exempt from suffering the consequences of their continued sins. Just as obedience brings God's blessings, sin brings His judgment, no matter how many think they have escaped the consequences, they are always accountable for their actions.
During the final days before the destruction of Jerusalem, the people of Judah endured much suffering before they were taken as slaves into Babylon. They were bitter with God and could not understand why they were suffering and why He was not protecting them. Through Ezekiel, God answers their questions, “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” - Ezekiel 18:2-4. The House of Israel was putting the blame on everything that was happening to them on their forefathers, yet refused to justify their own actions. God is telling them that He is the creator and father of every living soul, even our children, and when a soul sins it dies. A soul is the core of a human being, without a soul we are dead, even though we may be alive physically, we are dead spiritually. However, when we repent and return to God the soul comes back to life.
The House of Israel are the Christian nations of today and many are bitter and angry with God. They are putting the blame of everything that is happening to them on God, churches, father's, mother's, or others instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. God addresses this as well, “Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, ….As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” - Ezekiel 18:14,18-21. Often we see other Christian's living in sin and never seem to suffer, yet whenever we sin, we seem to have endless suffering and are left with the question of why. However, no sin goes unpunished, we are accountable for all our actions. Things one thinks he/she has gotten away with, even forgotten, somehow always resurface and he/she will end up suffering for them. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” - I Corinthians 6:9,10.
My family just went through something similar to this, my father has three sons from another woman, all of them have been saved, but can care less about serving God. My father seems to always be there for them, yet we can go months without even talking to him. Last weekend he showed up driving a truck that I have been wanting and one of my half-brothers came along as well bragging about all these things that they have. When they left I felt a little discouraged and wondered why they were always getting blessed with the things that I have worked so hard for yet can not seem to get. A few days later my half brother was arrested, he was a fugitive and tried to impersonate himself as my younger brother (same father and mother). While we think that God may be allowing those who live in sin go free, He is not. He waits for just the right time and still protects those who remain faithful to Him. Praise God!
No one can escape the consequences of disobedience to the Word of God. God is the God of love, but He is also the God of perfect justice. The Israelite's suffered many horrible months of famine and pestilence before the city and Temple were destroyed. God said Himself that He does not want to see anyone die, but the truth is this, no one who lives a wicked life will live. “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.” - Ezekiel 18:23-27. Genuine repentance, turning to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness of all sins, is a sincere desire to faithfully do His will according to His Word. God is pleading with us here. He is telling us that He finds no pleasure in destroying our souls, and causing us to die. He is begging us to turn form our sins, to repent and to seek His ways. God offers us all eternal life and all we have to do to receive it is to accept Jesus Christ. It's that simple. Regardless of what state of wickedness anyone has lived, God has stated in these verses they are all forgiven, every last one of them and all we have to do is repent of them in Jesus Name. Jesus Christ's blood paid the price, and there is nothing that you can do except take what has been offered to you and in return, God offers us, by His Word, eternal life. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven? http://www.godsprice.com
Visit The I'm Following Jesus Website http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
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Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
Today is Sunday September 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 17-19. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-5
Today's Message: Bring God's Blessings or Judgment
There is no better reward than the gift of eternal life as we believe in and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. Amazingly, once we get saved we are always saved, no matter how many times we sin. If you were to walk away from God right now, you would still see Him when you die because you are saved by grace not by works. Praise God! However, eternal life does not mean that a person living in sin will not face the consequences of those sins while here on earth. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - I Peter 4:15-19. It seems that many people think that if they accept Christ into their lives it makes them exempt from suffering the consequences of their continued sins. Just as obedience brings God's blessings, sin brings His judgment, no matter how many think they have escaped the consequences, they are always accountable for their actions.
During the final days before the destruction of Jerusalem, the people of Judah endured much suffering before they were taken as slaves into Babylon. They were bitter with God and could not understand why they were suffering and why He was not protecting them. Through Ezekiel, God answers their questions, “What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” - Ezekiel 18:2-4. The House of Israel was putting the blame on everything that was happening to them on their forefathers, yet refused to justify their own actions. God is telling them that He is the creator and father of every living soul, even our children, and when a soul sins it dies. A soul is the core of a human being, without a soul we are dead, even though we may be alive physically, we are dead spiritually. However, when we repent and return to God the soul comes back to life.
The House of Israel are the Christian nations of today and many are bitter and angry with God. They are putting the blame of everything that is happening to them on God, churches, father's, mother's, or others instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. God addresses this as well, “Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, ….As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” - Ezekiel 18:14,18-21. Often we see other Christian's living in sin and never seem to suffer, yet whenever we sin, we seem to have endless suffering and are left with the question of why. However, no sin goes unpunished, we are accountable for all our actions. Things one thinks he/she has gotten away with, even forgotten, somehow always resurface and he/she will end up suffering for them. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” - I Corinthians 6:9,10.
My family just went through something similar to this, my father has three sons from another woman, all of them have been saved, but can care less about serving God. My father seems to always be there for them, yet we can go months without even talking to him. Last weekend he showed up driving a truck that I have been wanting and one of my half-brothers came along as well bragging about all these things that they have. When they left I felt a little discouraged and wondered why they were always getting blessed with the things that I have worked so hard for yet can not seem to get. A few days later my half brother was arrested, he was a fugitive and tried to impersonate himself as my younger brother (same father and mother). While we think that God may be allowing those who live in sin go free, He is not. He waits for just the right time and still protects those who remain faithful to Him. Praise God!
No one can escape the consequences of disobedience to the Word of God. God is the God of love, but He is also the God of perfect justice. The Israelite's suffered many horrible months of famine and pestilence before the city and Temple were destroyed. God said Himself that He does not want to see anyone die, but the truth is this, no one who lives a wicked life will live. “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.” - Ezekiel 18:23-27. Genuine repentance, turning to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness of all sins, is a sincere desire to faithfully do His will according to His Word. God is pleading with us here. He is telling us that He finds no pleasure in destroying our souls, and causing us to die. He is begging us to turn form our sins, to repent and to seek His ways. God offers us all eternal life and all we have to do to receive it is to accept Jesus Christ. It's that simple. Regardless of what state of wickedness anyone has lived, God has stated in these verses they are all forgiven, every last one of them and all we have to do is repent of them in Jesus Name. Jesus Christ's blood paid the price, and there is nothing that you can do except take what has been offered to you and in return, God offers us, by His Word, eternal life. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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