A Rich Beggar

Date: Saturday, August 30, 2014
Today's Chapters: Ezekiel 5-7
Message Title: A Rich Beggar
Hello My Friend,
Poverty, when you hear that word you imagine someone who is a beggar, no home, no job, and pretty much living in the worst conditions possible. The word poverty means, destitution or absence of property; indigence or nakedness; want of convenient means of subsistence or money. When you think about the actual meaning, we could be the richest person on earth and still be in poverty. God wants us to live the life of a king, but much too often we live the life or a beggar. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” - Proverbs 11:24,28.

Fourteen years had passed after Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah and taken the Jews captive and into Babylon. Ezekiel was one of those held captive in Babylon, but God miraculously used him to show the Jews there what was going on back in Jerusalem. Ezekiel saw some amazing, yet heartbreaking, visions of God leading him through Jerusalem were it was full ruin and corruption. It was then that God told Ezekiel of the judgments placed upon them. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations. Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity. So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.” - Ezekiel 5:8-9,11,15.
You know, as merciful and forgiving as God is, He is disgusted over His saved, born again children, living wicked lives and putting Him in the middle of it all. While we are all sinners save by the grace of God and still sin, this is riches gained by deception. They say God is in their lives, yet live wicked and immorally, they make up religions to justify what they are doing, change God's Word to hide their sin, and somehow convince the unknown to follow them. Amazingly, God is still merciful to His children, even if they never change their ways.
“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” - Revelation 2:9-11.
Yes, God is merciful to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior, we are not saved by works, nor are we required to live a righteous life to keep it, but will suffer here on earth. God gives hope to Ezekiel and all of us that while, many will die for their sins, a remnant will survive. “And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.” - Ezekiel 6:3,8-10.

Christ's judgment is coming, no amount of money, possessions, serving God, or people can save you, only Christ can save you! Too many religions are worshiping a false form of God, and stress the importance of these things, but they are all vain, and sadly, it is going to be too late when many realize that fact. “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” - Ephesians 5:6-8.
God gives Ezekiel a grim warning of the end of life as we know it, but also a glimpse of hope for those who will escape the judgment. “Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.” - Ezekiel 7:2-4,16.
There is going to be a time in every persons life when they realize that their wealth is worthless, and they are in fact, living in poverty, poverthy from God. Wealth itself is not sin and can be a means to bring about miracles with spiritual and eternal values, but wealth is never meant to be something we aim for. Sooner or later all who choose wealth over God will find out the hard way that they really need Him. Sadly, that is when it will be too late, but it is not too late now. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” - Luke 16:13,15.
Today's Prayer: God, We are weak and fearful people apart from Your Holy Spirit that makes us strong as we live for You. Our struggle is not physical, but spiritual, as the powers of a wicked and corrupt world draw us in every direction. Lord, this conflict will not end until we unite with You in heaven, so, keep us looking to You, ready, and prepared as we do battle with our enemy. You are the captain, and we will be victorious as we follow Your every command. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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