Sun.’s Devo - Israel’s Fate -

Read: Hosea 6:1-9:17; 3 John 1:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 29:12-14 Hosea begins with the good news. When they return to the Lord he will heal them and restore them to walk in his presence and know the Lord. *** God explains that he sent his prophets to destroy them with words and warn them of horrible judgments if they didn’t repent. But, they refused to listen to them or turn. The priests had become extortioners of their money and murderers who practiced every kind of sin. *** All Israel had turned to prostitution and spiritual adultery. They loved to bring burnt offerings to the Lord and eat them at the Temple while they also participated in pagan worship of many other gods. This hypocrisy and mixture had made them weak and aged them. God had made them strong yet they used that strength against him. Now they had become weak and foolish. *** In their distress, they had refused to ask for God’s help but went to Egypt and Assyria for help. So, now they will not have enough provision in their land and be sent to Egypt and Assyria where they will be forced to eat food that will make them unclean. They will not be allowed to observe their feasts. *** Hosea reminds them of what happened in Gibeah in Judges 19-20 - the story of the Levite’s concubine which almost led to the extinction of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul was from this town. *** The Lord said that their wickedness began at Gilgal. That was where the Lord began to hate them. Gilgal was where Saul was crowned king and he offered sacrifices himself while he was waiting for Samuel to arrive. It became a high place of unholy worship of pagan gods beginning when Uzziah was king. *** God’s sentence for his people was exile. They would be wanderers among the nations with no home. *** John addresses his letter to Gaius reporting the good things he heard about them from the traveling teachers. He puts in a good word for the teachers and encourages the church to support them. *** Apparently there is an influential man in their group named Diotrephes who loves to lead but is not a good example to follow. He does not support the traveling teachers and told the others to not help them. *** John speaks of another man named Demetrius who is a good example and follows the truth. John sends his love to all the members there. *** Lord, may it be said of us that we walked in the truth and were a good example for others to follow. Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to live. May we continue to walk with you in spirit and in truth.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Charge

Read: Hosea 4:1-5:15; 2 John 1:1-13; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 29:9-11 The Lord brought a charge against his people of Israel. He found them guilty of adultery, violence, murder and wickedness. He said there was no faithfulness, kindness or knowledge of God in the land. That is quite a statement. He told them they could not blame anyone but themselves. They were the guilty ones. They chose to listen to false prophets, worship false gods and forsake their God who had faithfully delivered them and given them everything. Their sentence would be total destruction. *** God brought down an sentence of judgement on the priests, the leaders, and the members of the royal family. Their arrogance had testified against them. They robbed the people of God of the truth and in their weakness, they turned to Assyria for help. They would not rescue them but devour them. God would stand back and let it happen until Israel admitted their guilt and turned to back to him. *** In John’s second letter, he commended the church in Jerusalem for her walk with the Lord. John had met some of her members and found them living in the truth. He wrote to remind them to continue to walk in love and obey the Lord. There was much false teaching out there, and he wanted to admonish them to walk in the things they had been taught from the beginning. *** I love what our Psalm says, “the wicked will not rule the land of the godly.” Amen. Lord, we stand on this promise and thank you for how you are leading our President and his administration. Continue to give them wisdom and keep them in your ways. Thank you for protecting our military and giving them victory after victory. Thank you that you are bringing peace and righteousness to the world for your name sake.

Fri.’s Devo - Hosea

Read: Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8 Now we go back to the time of the kings. Hosea prophesied through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. *** The first time God spoke to Hosea he told him to go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children would be born in prostitution. That means that her children might not have even been Hosea’s children. Hosea obeyed and married Gomer. She did become pregnant and had a son God named Jezreel. God was spot-lighting Jezreel, where King Ahab had Naboth murdered so he could steal his land. God wanted to avenge his blood. God was ending Israel’s independence and they would lose it in the Jezreel Valley. It would be here where Jehu would assassinate Jezebel. *** Gomer became pregnant again and had a daughter God named Lo-ruhaman which means “not loved.” God would no longer show love to the people of Israel, but he would to the people of Judah. He would free them, but not with traditional ways. *** Gomer became pregnant again and had a second son. The Lord named him Lo-ammi which means “not my people.” This was saying to Israel that they were no longer God’s people and he was no longer their God. *** Time would pass and Israel’s people would multiply and they would return and become the children of the living God. Then Judah and Israel would become one nation. They would return from exile and it would be called the day of Jezreel. God would once again plant them in their land. *** God told Hosea to charge Israel with being a prostitute. He was to tell her to get rid of her prostitute clothing or he would strip her of it. God will not love her children that were born while she was following other gods. Israel will be lost without help. No one would come to save her. She will lose everything she loved and treasured. *** Then, she will return to the Lord, the only one who loves her and can save her. When she returns, she will not call God her master, but her husband. She will forever give up her false gods. and be faithful to the Lord. God will bless her with rain in season and the earth will respond to her obedience. She will once again become God’s people. *** Hosea was told to go find Gomer and love her again even though she had left him for another man. Hosea bought her back for 15 pieces of silver. Fifteen means a test of grace. He told Gomer she was not to have relations with anyone for a time, not even him. This was to illustrate that Israel would go a long time without a king, prince, sacrifices, priests, or idols. But then, they will return and given themselves totally to the Lord and in the last days they would tremble in awe of the Lord and his goodness. *** First John talks about the time Hosea was referring to. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a child of God no matter if they are Jew or Gentile. Everyone in the family loves one another if they obey God’s commandments and love him. *** God introduced Jesus to the world at his baptism when he spoke from heaven telling everyone who he was. He also revealed to us who Christ was on the cross when he shed his blood. It is the water and the blood that testify who he is. The Spirit is the third witness to who Christ is. Through him we have eternal life. We also have confidence that he hears our prayers when we pray to him. *** We should pray for our fellow believers who fall into sin and pray they will walk in life and not death. This world is full of evil, but we are children of God and can walk in fellowship with Christ. Fellowship with Christ brings us to know God. *** Lord, may we stay away from anything that might take your place in our hearts. May we walk in fellowship with you always and may our light shine that others will want what we have.

Thurs.’s Devo - The End of Daniel’s Vision

Read: Daniel 11:36-12:13; 1 John 4:1-21; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 29:2-4 Antiochus Epiphanes was the seventh head of the 10-horned beast in Revelation 3:1-8. He was also the beast of Armageddon in Revelation 16:13,16, and 19:19. He identified himself as Jupiter Olympius. He worshipped the god of fortresses which was the worship of Jupiter Capitolinus, whose worship he imported from Rome. He introduced the worship of saints as protectors and erected a temple for the saint Mahazzim in Antioch. *** The war between the king of the south (Egypt) and the king of the north (Syria) found Judah sandwiched between them. Antiochus conquered Egypt with Judah’s help. He set up his military operations in Judah. He was a madman and the final Anti-christ of his day. *** On his way back to Syria, he stopped at Jerusalem and killed 50,000 and took another 40,000 as slaves. He entered the sanctuary blaspheming God. He stole the gold and silver vessels and sacrificed a pig on the altar. He sprinkled pig broth throughout the Temple, guided by the High Priest Menelaus. *** On his final visit to Jerusalem, he decreed with punishment of death that all should conform to Greek religion and constructed the temple to Jupiter Olympius, who he claimed to be. He wanted to make his religion the world religion and have everyone worship him. But, there was a remnant, the Maccabees who kept the truth of God and were sorely persecuted and taken advantage of. They refused to battle on the Sabbath so their enemies chose that day to fight them. They would have to run into caves to stay safe. Some of them were buried alive in this horrific persecution that lasted three years. In Chapter 12, Michael, the protector of God’s people stood up to rescue God’s people. It would be a time of great anguish on the earth. I have to believe that this must be talking about when Jesus died because people did rise out of their graves and walk the streets of Jerusalem. Daniel was instructed to seal this part until the time of the end. We can only speculate as to what it means. *** Daniel asked the two men who had shown him all this how long until these event would end and how it would all end. *** They told him that from the time the daily sacrifice was stoped and the temple defiled it would be 1,290 days. But the at the end of 1,335 days there would be a blessing. It was 1,290 days from the time Antiochus offered the pig on the altar till Judas Maccabeus restored the worship of God. It was 1,335 days from the time Antiochus offered the pig till he died. Blessed were those who made it till then. *** Daniel was told that he would “rest” until that time, then rise to receive his inheritance. *** In First John, he gives us the test of a New Testament prophet. It is not that his prophecy comes true, like the Old Testament prophets. It was if he professed that Jesus came in a real body to earth. That was the test that he was genuine. If he didn’t he had the spirit of Anti-christ. *** Because we believe Jesus came in the flesh, we have won over the people who don’t believe Jesus came in the flesh. The spirit that lives in us is greater than the spirit of the world. The spirit of truth comes from God. The spirit of deception comes from the world. *** Love is the greatest proof of God on the earth. Love is God and comes from God. It is what differentiates us from the world. Love pours out of us because God is in us. Our love will mature as we grow in the Lord. Love makes us not fear death or judgment. We are perfected in God’s love. God’s love enables us to love others. *** Lord, may we submit to your love and allow it to flow. May we grow in love for you and others.

Wed.’s Devo - Daniel is Told the Future Events

Read: Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 3:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1 Daniel 11 is the explanation that the angel gave Daniel about the vision he had seen. He explains what will happen when Egypt from the south comes against Syria in the north. It tells exactly what is going to happen. Cleopatra was the daughter of the king of the south. Alexander is the “mighty king” - the goat of Daniel 8:5-8. Antiochus Epiphanes was the despicable man in verses 21 to the end. *** What is so encouraging is that our timeline has already been written in heaven also, and God could give us a play by play of what is going to happen in the next hundred years because he is outside of time. He is in our yesterday, today and tomorrow and he promised to make everything work for our good because we know and love him. *** The last sentence tells us there will be many of us who are persecuted, but this will refine us and make us pure till the end. *** The past is repeated. This was the events that would happen before Jesus came the first time to walk on the earth. They will mirror the things that will happen before he comes again. *** First John explains that those who continue in sin do not belong to God, but to Satan. Jesus came to destroy his work. We, who are part of God’s kingdom and family do not continue in sin. We should live righteous lives and love our neighbors. Abel was killed for living righteously by his own brother, who was evil. So, we should not be surprised when the world hates us. *** If we hate our brother or sister then we have murder in our hearts and don’t have eternal life in us. Jesus showed us real love and how to love our brother who hates us. He forgave his enemies so we can too because he lives in us. Our love must be active and obvious in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us do this. *** Lord, may we love our enemies and do good to them. It is your kindness that leads others to repentance. We trust that our future is in your hands and it is good.

Tues.’s Devo - Anti-Christs

Read: Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28 Daniel learned that Jerusalem would lie desolate for 70 years while reading the words of the prophets. It was the first year of Darius’ rule. Daniel immediately went into intercession for the people of Israel. He repented for their sins and begged for God’s mercy. He realized all the curses of Deuteronomy had fallen on them for their faults. He asked for help even though he knew they didn’t deserve it. He also knew that God’s mercies were great. *** Even though they had no Temple to do sacrifices, Daniel would pray at the times they normally did sacrifices when they had a Temple. At the time of the evening sacrifice, Daniel was still praying when Gabriel came to him. He told Daniel how precious he was to the Lord and how God heard his prayers. He explained that there would be seventy sets of sevens that God had set apart to atone for their sins. Then sixty-two sets of seven would pass till the an anointed ruler would command to rebuild Jerusalem. This anointed ruler was Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1). He fulfilled this in Ezra 1. Jerusalem would be rebuilt with streets and walls. Cyrus would be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing. Then a ruler would arise and his armies would destroy the city and the Temple. It would end in a flood and war. This would continue until the end. This ruler would make a covenant with the people only to break the covenant halfway through and set up a sacrilegious object in the Temple. A terrible fate would come to this man. *** Antiochus Ephiphenes did all these things to Jerusalem. He offered a pig on the altar and desecrated the Temple. He was the anti-christ of his time. *** Cyrus was also a type of Christ who would also die and seem like nothing was accomplished, but we see all he has accomplished because we live in that future. His few years changed the world! *** Chapter 10 goes back to when Cyrus ruled. It tells of a vision Daniel had that he was standing on the bank of the Tigris River. He saw a man in linen with a gold belt. He shone with the glory of heaven. The men with Daniel couldn’t see anything, but they felt the fear of the Lord and ran. Daniel fainted and fell to the ground. He had to be lifted by the angel. He was told that from the day Daniel began to pray, he had been sent to tell him the interpretation of his dream. He had been fighting the prince of Persia for twenty-one days trying to get through to tell him. Michael came to his rescue who is the warrior angel over Jerusalem and all God’s children. *** Michael would war against this prince of Persia to bring the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece to power. The Angel of the Lord had been standing beside Michael to support him and give him strength since the first year of Darius’s reign. *** This story explains to us why our prayers don’t get answered immediately sometimes and how much warfare is needed to bring in a new kingdom. We are in the middle of that very event. We are closing the reign of evil Luciferians and bringing in God’s kingdom and it is taking much warfare and prayer. We must be patient and constant in our prayers. God’s will will be accomplished. *** In First John, he talks about the anti-christ’s of his day. They had belonged to the churches. They left because they couldn’t take the truth. God’s children know the difference between the truth and lies. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an anti-christ! That is a remarkable statement. Thank God, we have the Holy Spirit that leads us and keeps us in truth and we will not be deceived when we stay in fellowship with the Father and Christ. *** Lord, thank you that we are your children and when you appear, we will be like you. May we remain pure and holy eagerly awaiting your return.

Mon.’s Devo - Daniel’s Vision

Read: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalmn 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26 Daniel had another vision that he was at the fortress of Susa, standing beside the Ulai River. Babylon was to his west, Persia to his east and Media to the south. *** He saw a ram with two horns standing beside the river. They represented Media and the longer one, Persia which was the stronger of the two. The longer horn butted everything out of its way. Persian did push westward and captured Babylon, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Asia Minor. It also went northward and captured Armenia, Iberia and those that lived by the Caspian Sea. It went southward and captured Judea, Egypt, Libya, India under Darius. *** In Verse 5, a male goat came swiftly from the west with a huge horn and attacked the ram knocking him down and trampling him. This was Alexander the Great. At the height of his power, he died of a fever at Babylon. His brother and two sons Alexander and Hercules were killed in the next 15 months. Alexander was replaced by four horns: Selucus in the east, Casander in the west, Ptolemy in the south and Lysemachus in the north. *** In Verse 9, a small horn appeared who was Antiochus Epiphanes (an Anti-Christ) whose power reached to the heavens and attacked the heavenly army trampling some of them on the ground. He even challenged Michael by canceling the daily sacrifices on earth and destroying the Temple. The army in heaven was restrained during this time and truth was overcome. The horn was allowed to succeed in everything he did. *** Daniel overheard two of the heavenly angels asking how long this rebellion to stop the sacrifices was going to be allowed to last. The answer was 2,300 evenings (6 years and 110 days). Then the Temple would be made right again. *** Gabriel was told to tell Daniel the meaning of the dream. These were events that would happen at the end of time - in the time of wrath. He explained it to Daniel then Daniel was overcome and so troubled he couldn’t function for a while. When he could get up he was still confused to its meaning. *** In First John, John tells us the intent of his letter. It is so they would not choose to sin. If they did, they have an advocate or lawyer who was Jesus. He is the one who atones for our sins. *** John said, if we claim to know God, then we will show our love for him by obeying his commands. We should live our lives as Jesus did. Moses told us to love one another, so that is not a new commandment. *** We can not walk in the light and have enmity with our neighbors. If we hate others, then we are walking in darkness. Hate blinds us from the truth. Jesus came to save those walking in darkness and show them the light. *** John was not just writing this to the mature, but all God’s children so that they would win their battle against sin. He ended with telling them not to love the world and the things it offers but to love the Lord and all the things he offers which are more unseen than seen. *** Lord, give us eyes to see what the true riches of the kingdom are. They are not tangible but unchanging riches in the heavenlies that don’t wear out, rust or decay. May our lives sow seed into your soil and produce fruit that lasts.