Thurs’s Devo - The Kingdoms of the World

Read: Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153:176; Proverbs 28:23-24 Daniel had a dream and saw the same vision that Nebuchadnezzar had but saw things from a much different perspective. While Nebuchadnezzar saw the kingdoms as a great monument of different qualities of stone, Daniel sees the kingdoms as animals that kill, steal and destroy. *** He saw Babylon as a lion with its widespread take over depicted as wings. Nebuchadnezzar had become an animal until he repented and then could stand on his feet and run his nation like a human again. *** The second kingdom was the Medo-Persians. They were depicted as a bear who devours his prey. They were two kingdoms: the Medes who were in the south and more passive than the Persians who were in the north and extremely cruel. They were so cruel that if one person offended the king, his whole family and extended family were destroyed. The three ribs represented Media, Lidia and Babylon who were conquered by the Persians. *** The third kingdom were the Greeks. Alexander was their leader who swiftly like a leopard began taking and conquering kingdoms. Its four heads were: Cassandra who ruled Macedon and Greece; Lysimachus who rule Thrace and Bithynia; Ptolemy who ruled Egypt, and Sleucus who ruled Syria. *** The fourth kingdom was the Roman kingdom which is still in operation on the earth. No animal could describe its cruelty and strength. The ten kingdoms have changed over time but keep reforming. Now they look like the BRIKS nations, maybe. In the end a small leader will arise and take over three nations. He will boast arrogantly. *** It will then be time for God to judge. In the dream. the four kingdoms were taken down and someone like a son of man appeared before God with the witnesses of heaven. He was given authority over all the nations of the world. His rule is eternal and it will never end. *** The angel explained the whole thing to Daniel. In the end, the holy people will be given the kingdom and they will rule forever and ever. This is where we are right now! We have been under a one world government and it is becoming more and more obvious. But, we are becoming aware of it and are taking the kingdom back. The kingdom is being given to us to rule and reign. *** John wrote his first letter to give assurance to the believers of their eternal life in Christ. He also wrote to expose the false doctrines of people who had withdrawn from the church and gone back into the world. They were teaching heresy. *** John knew by personal experience that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus revealed the Father to us and taught us how to have fellowship with Him. God is light and has no fellowship with darkness. We have to walk in the light to fellowship with God. We can do this because Christ has cleansed us of our sin and given us access to God’s throne. *** Lord, thank you that we can come boldly before your throne of grace and have an audience with you. Thank you for forgiving our sins and accepting the blood of Christ to atone for us. We appropriate Jesus’ blood every day for our salvation.

Wed.’s Deco - Daniel’s Deliverance From Lions

Read: Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 28:21-22 Darius organized his kingdom into 120 provinces with three men in charge of them. One of the three was Daniel. Darius was planning to promote Daniel to be in charge over all of them. *** The other officers and high officials were jealous and looked for a way that Daniel would not be over them. They looked into all of his affairs and couldn’t find any fault with his works so they looked for a way they could attack him in his religion. *** They appealed to the king’s vanity and enticed him to make a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine our human except Darius should be thrown into the den of lions. They had him sign it so it could not be changed. *** When Daniel heard the law, he went about his praying as usual, praying to the only one who could help him. He had been set up and when he went up to pray according to his usual schedule, his enemies were waiting for him. *** They went straight to the king and reminded him of his law and how it can’t be revoked. Then they told him that they had caught Daniel praying to his God. The king was stuck and very upset. He realized he had been manipulated and worked all day to find a way to save Daniel. Darius fasted and prayed. That evening the men came to him and demanded he follow his own law. He finally gave the order to arrest Daniel and throw him into the lion’s den. He told Daniel when he was brought in, “May your god, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” *** That night, Darius couldn’t sleep. He ran to the lion’s den at the first light of day and called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God: Was your God whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” *** Daniel answered him. He told him that God had sent angels to shut the lion’s mouths so they never hurt him. Then he proclaimed his innocence. *** Darius was overjoyed and ordered Daniel to be lifted from the den. Then he ordered that Daniel’s accusers be thrown into the lion’s den along with their wives and children. The lions tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den. *** Then Darius sent out a message to the people of all his kingdom decreeing that everyone should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. This God is a living God and will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed and his rule will never end. *** Peter gives his reason for his letters and they are to stimulate our wholesome thinking and refresh our memory of what the holy prophets said long ago and what Jesus commanded through the apostles. *** He reminds us that in the last days scoffers would mock the truth, following their own desires. They will mock us with the fact that Christ hasn’t returned and that nothing new has happened. They forget that God made the heavens by the word of his commandant. he brought the earth out of the water and then surrounded it with water. He did this very thing again when he put the earth back into the flood. He destroyed the orderly arrangement of things with the flood and will cleanse the orderly arrangement of the earth in the end with fire. *** In a nut shell, at the right time, we are going to be given fresh skies and fresh soil because the chemical induced air and soil we have now will be burned up with God’s cleansing fire. We can take this as a picture of what he is doing in our lives and allow him to burn out all the impurities in our lives. *** Lord, you told us that you would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. We ask you to do that in us today. Make us pure vessels worthy to be your Temple.

Tues.’s Devo - The End of Belshazzar

Read: Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 28:19-20 A new king named Belshazzar had come to rule in Babylon. He gave a feast for 1000 of his nobles. He had his servants bring the gold cups that they had stolen from the Temple in Jerusalem. These were sacred cups that just the priests were to drink from. With them, they offered toasts to their gods. Suddenly a hand wrote a message on the wall: “Mene, mene, tekel, epharsin.” *** The king was frozen in fear and called for his magicians to interpret it. When they couldn’t do it, the queen ran in and told Belshazzar that she knew of a man who Nebuchadnezzar had used to solve his difficult mysteries. He had the spirit of the gods in him. *** They brought Daniel in and the king told him he would give him a purple robe and a gold chain for his neck and great honor if he could tell him what it meant. *** Daniel told the king he could keep his gifts, but he could tell him the answer. First he told him the story of what Nebuchadnezzar had to go through to learn that God was the Most High God who rules over the kingdoms of the world and he appoints whoever he desires to rule them. He, Belshazzar should have known this but instead chose to defy God by drinking from his sacred cups. *** The message meant that his days were numbered. God had judged his rule and it had not measured up to his standard so God was going to give his kingdom to the Medes and the Persians. *** Belshazzar gave Daniel the gifts he had promised, and that night Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Mede took over his kingdom. *** In Second Peter, Peter warns them of false teachers who teach destructive heresies and deny Jesus. They teach immorality and slander the truth. They are bringing judgment and destruction on themselves. *** God did not spare the angels when they rebelled but threw them into hell. He also did not spare the people during Noah’s day when he destroyed the earth with the flood. God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made all of these examples of his judgement on the ungodly. So, God will surely judge these unholy teachers. *** But, God also knows how to save his godly, like Lot who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness of the people in Sodom. He knows how to rescue his people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. *** They will be caught like the evil animals they are and their reward will be their destruction. The list of their evils is astounding. God calls them wells without water - useless. When they heard the truth, they couldn’t continue in it and went back to their own nature. *** Lord, help us to love our enemies but discern what is evil and stay away from it. We take shelter in your wings and rejoice in your ways.

Mon.’s Devo - God Rules the Kingdoms of the Earth

Read: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 28:17-18 Chapter 4:1-3 was written by Nebuchadnezzar after he experienced it so he begins with great humility. He tells the story of how he was enjoying the peace of his reign after all the wars and had a dream. In the dream he saw a great tree that reached to heavens and all the world could see it. He heard a holy man shout to cut the tree and let off its branches only leave the stump. Bound the stump with iron and bronze and let it stay in the wilderness with the wild animals for seven periods of time. Let it have the mind of an animal so that everyone may know that God rules the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses - even the lowliest of people. *** None of the wise men could tell him what the dream meant so he called for Daniel, Belteshazzar. Daniel explained humbly that the tree was Nebuchadnezzar and he would be driven from society and live in the fields with the wild animals for seven periods of time until he learned that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. Then he would be give him back his kingdom. He begged him to stop sinning and start doing what was right. Daniel suggested he start being merciful to the poor and maybe this wouldn’t happen. *** Obviously Nebuchadnezzar didn’t repent, and a year later when he was on his roof looking over his kingdom he proclaimed that by his own mighty power he had built this beautiful city to show forth his majestic splendor. Immediately he heard a voice from heaven saying that he was no longer the ruler of the kingdom. He was driven from society and had to live in the fields as an animal. His mind had left him and his hair grew long and his nails grew to be claws. He was there for seven periods of time. Then he looked up to heaven and his sanity returned. He was humbled and praised the Lord and was restored to greater honor than before. Now you can reread the first three verses and understand why he sounds so humbled. *** Peter reminds us that we have been given all we need to live a holy life. God has given us promises that enable us to share in his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. We do this by developing faith with moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance and godliness. Then we will have love for everyone. If we develop these characteristics, we will never fall away from grace. *** Lord, may we be productive and useful in your kingdom.

Sun.’s Devo - The Fiery Furnace

Read: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16 Daniel went the next morning to see the man who had been ordered to execute the wise men and told him he had the king’s answer. Arioch quickly got him an audience with the king. *** Daniel made sure that the king knew that no man could give him what he had asked, only God in heaven could reveal the secrets of what would happen in the future. *** Daniel then told him that his dream was of the future. He had seen a huge form of a man standing before him. His head was of gold, his breast and arms of silver and his belly and thighs of brass. His feet were made of iron mixed with clay. *** A stone not made by human hands smote the image on his feet that were of iron and clay and burst the whole image to pieces. The wind blew the pieces away and the rock became a great mountain that covered the whole earth. *** Then Daniel gave the interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. A second kingdom would take its place represented by the silver. A third kingdom would take its place which was represented by the bronze. The fourth kingdom would be the last strong as iron and the last was a combination of iron and baked clay. It would be divided and be both weak and strong. *** At that time, God would set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It would crush all these kingdoms and stand forever. *** When the king heard Daniel’s interpretation, he fell down in worship of Daniel and commanded that sacrifices be burned before him. He recognized that his God was the greatest of gods and the Lord over kings and a revealer of mysteries. He appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon as well as chief over all his wise men. Daniel requested that Shadrach. Meshach and Abednego be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king]s court. *** Nebuchadnezzar had a gold image made and had a huge ceremony to dedicate it. All the high officials were invited. It was 90 feet tall and nine feet wide. A proclamation was made that when the musical instruments played everyone was to bow to the ground to worship the King’s statue. If they didn’t, they would be thrown into the blazing furnace. *** The fact that Daniel’s three friends took the most valuable offices made many of the other astrologers mad. They set out to nail the three friends, so they turned them in for not bowing to the statue. *** Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were brought before the king. They were given another chance to show their loyalty to the king but they refused to bow. They told King Nebuchadnezzar that they didn’t need to defend themselves. their God whom they served was able to rescue them if he pleased. If he didn’t, they wanted to make it clear to him that they would never serve his gods or worship the gold statue. *** This made the king livid. He had the fire turned up seven time hotter and told his fittest men to throw them into the fire. When they did, they were killed by the flames but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were alive in the fire, walking with Jesus. *** The king saw the four walking among the flames and called them out. They had not one sign of burn on them and didn’t even smell of smoke. The king was so overcome he praised their God and decreed that if anyone spoke a word against their God they would be torn limb from limb, and their houses turned into heaps of rubble. He proclaimed that there was no god who could rescue like this. Instead of being killed, they were promoted even higher in the kingdom. *** Peter told the people that the end of all things was coming and they were to cover sin with love. They were to show hospitality and share their gifts with them. They were to glorify God in all they did. If you suffer for doing God’s will, you will be rewarded. *** Elders were encouraged to look after the flock and be good examples. *** Younger ones were to honor the elders and be humble. *** He warned us of our enemy, Satan who roams around seeking people to devour. We are to stand firm against him and be strong inner faith. God has called us to share in his glory. We are suffering only for a while, but we will be restored, supported and strengthened and placed on a firm foundation. *** Lord, may we boldly proclaim your kingdom and your power and not be afraid of death. May we be like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Sat.’s Devo - God is Greater

Read: Daniel 1;1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:8-4:6; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 28:14 Daniel’s book starts when King Nebuchadnezzar came to besiege Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim was still reigning in Judah. He gave King Nebuchadnezzar permission to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God back to Babylonia where he placed them in the treasure-house of his god. *** Nebuchadnezzar commanded his chief of staff, Ashkenazi to take the wisest and best of the captives and train them in the ways of their kingdom. They were to learn the language and literature of Babylon. They were also to eat the food of Babylon’s royalty. *** Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen to enter this education. They changed their names to Beltteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ***Daniel was determined not to defile himself with their food and wine so he asked the chief of staff permission to test him and his friends. He asked for 10 days of eating kosher food and then he could see if they were still strong. They proved themselves more healthy than the others so they were allowed to continue to eat kosher food. *** When the recruits had finished their training, they were brought before the king and Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego proved to be ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. *** One night, Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He clued for all his astrologers and commanded that they tell him his dream and what it meant. If they couldn’t tell him then their houses would be turned into heaps of rubble. If they could tell him then they would be given many wonderful fits and honors. *** They tried to get the king to tell them his dream but he refused. They told him how impossible and how no other king had asked this, but he wouldn’t budge. He was so mad, he ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be executed. So men came to kill Daniel and his friends. Daniel asked why they were ordered to die and Daniel was told the kings request. Daniel went to the king immediately and asked for more time to tell the king what he wanted and was granted more time. *** Daniel then went home to his friends and told them to pray with him that the God who knows everything would tell them. That night God told Daniel the dream and its interpretation. Daniel praised the Lord who controls the course of world events. *** It is important that we know this while navigating through our geo-political events. God controls the course of world events and removes kings and sets up other kings. *** Peter tells us to return a curse with a blessing because we are blessed. God uses our suffering for his purposes. *** Jesus suffered the cross then went to hell and preached to the spirits in heaven that disobeyed him on earth while Noah was building his boat. Those people got a chance to repent. God had saved 8 people in the flood and the flood represented their baptism. God’s baptism doesn’t just cleanse you from dirt but from a clear conscience.

Fri.’s Devo -Dividing the Land

Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13 Ezekiel was showed a river that led from the Temple on the east and southern borders. It got deeper and deeper and flowed to the Dead Sea bringing it life. Everywhere the river flowed, life was brought to the land. *** Once again, God divided up the land of Israel and gave each tribe a strip of land the same size. The order from north to south was Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah, then the area for the Levites and the Temple. Under it was land for Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun and Gad. Joseph was given two strips of land (Manasseh and Ephraim). *** The Temple was in the middle, with land beside it for the priests, the Levites and the Prince. Around the city were gates for each of the tribes to enter through to come to the Temple, Ephraim and Manasseh went through the gate of Joseph. *** Peter tells us that our worldly desires wage war against our very souls. If we live honorable lives, it will be a testimony to our unbelieving neighbors. *** For God’s sake, we are to submit to human authority. Our godly living will silence their lies about us. We have free will but we have chosen to become slaves to Christ so we should honor our king. *** We should honor and respect those we work for and work like we are working for the Lord, because we are. *** If those in authority over us are curial and we endure patiently it pleases God. Christ suffered in the same way and we are called to fellowship in his suffering. Christ didn’t retaliate when he was being treated unfairly. *** Peter tells the wives that they must be willing to suffer the same way if they had unbelieving husbands. Their kindness will speak to them and win them over. *** Beauty to the Lord is a gentle and quiet spirit. *** To the husbands, Peter tells them to honor their wives and treat them with understanding as an equal partner in God’s family. Then their prayers will not be hindered. *** Lord, help us to live our lives to honor your name.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Office of the Priests and the Prince

Read: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24; 1 Peter 1:13-2:10; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 28:11 Taxes were a set rate to be given to the prince and he was to use the money to buy all the offerings for all the religious celebrations, and holy days. They would once again celebrate God’s feasts. On the first day on the religious calendar the priest would put blood on the doorposts of the Temple and the four corners of the upper ledge of the altar and the gateposts of the entrance of the inner courtyard. *** The priest was to do this again on the seventh day of the first month to purify the Temple. On the fourteenth day of that month they must all celebrate the Passover for seven days. This is the celebration of Unleavened Bread. The prince would provide the flour and oil and the animals for the sacrifices. *** The prince would offer the animals for the seven day celebration during the fall festivals as well. *** The eastern gateway of the inner courtyard would be closed during the six workdays but open on the Sabbath and the days of the new moon celebration. The prince will enter through that gateway and stand by the gatepost where he will watch the offerings being performed by the priests. Then he would go out the way he came. The people would enter either the north or south gates and go out the opposite gate. We should never enter God’s presence and leave the same. *** A sacrifice must be offered every morning. *** The prince might give a gift of land to one of his sons. It will be his permanent inheritance. But if he gives land to one of his servants, he may keep it only until the Year of Jubilee. The prince could only give land from his own land. *** The man led Ezekiel to the west of the Temple and showed him where the priests were to cook the meat and bake the grain offerings into bread. Ezekiel was led to the outer courtyard and in each of the corners were fireplaces where they boiled the sacrifices. *** Peter encouraged us to prepare our minds to actively exercise self-control. We must remain holy as God is. Everyone will be judged or rewarded according to what they do. Our lives were paid for by the blood of Christ, so we are to love one another. *** We are not born again to die, but our new life will last forever because our salvation comes from the Word which is alive forever. We should cry out for the nourishment that comes from the Word of God. *** We trust in the cornerstone of God’s Temple, Jesus Christ. We are his royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession,. We are now God’s people and are called to be light in the dark world to bring others to the wonderful salvation we have received in Christ.

Wed.’s Devo - The Priesthood

Read: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Psalm 119:17-32; Procures 28:8-10 God brought Ezekiel back to the east gateway where the glory of God had entered the Temple, but now it was closed. God told him that the gate was to remain closed forever and only the prince himself could sit inside this gateway to feast in the Lord’s presence. But, he could go right up to the gate through the entry room. On the night that Jesus was going to be betrayed he went up to Gethsemene where he sat with a perfect view of that gate. *** God told Ezekiel to take special notice of the entrances and exits of this Temple and tell the people. They were not entering God’s Temple in the right way. They were carrying into the Temple so much sin in their hearts. The Levites who strayed from the Lord would have to pay the penalty for their unfaithfulness. The faithful family of Zadok will enter God’s sanctuary and serve him at his table. *** The priests would serve wearing only linen and nothing that would make them sweat. This is not a religion of works. They must take off their linen clothes when they leave the sanctuary so that they don’t transmit holiness to others through their clothing. *** The regulations of the priests about cutting their hair, drinking wine and who to marry was all to show the people the difference between what was common and what was holy. It was all to show that there were boundaries they had to stay within. *** The priests owned only what the people gave to the Lord. It was to be their first fruits, so the priests were given the best. This was their pay for ministering to the Lord for the people. *** Land closest to the Temple was to be left empty. The priests were to live in a special plot of land next to the empty land. Next to this land where the priests lived would be a section for the people. There would be a special section for the prince on both the east and west sides. This will be the end of the princes robbing the people out of their land. Everyone will have their own boundaries. Then the Lord gave Ezekiel a standard of measuring so that it would stop the dishonesty in business. *** The first letter of Peter’s was written to Christians living in parts of Asia Minor who were suffering persecution for their faith. He refers to them as “pilgrims of the Dispersion” which referred to the exiles of Israel in the Old Testament. They were like people without a country. These were mainly Gentiles who chose Jesus as their Savior. These were once hardened sinners who had became new creatures in Christ. *** Peter wrote to encourage them in their growth. He prayed for them to have more and more grace and peace. He reminded them of the prize which was an inheritance of heaven. Their faith was being tested through the fire of persecution but their faith was worth more than gold and silver to the Lord. Their reward was the salvation of their soul. Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you for your faithfulness to your Word.

Tues.’s Devo - The Holiness of God’s Temple

Read: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27; James 5:1-20; Psalm 119:1-16; Provers 28:6-7 Ezekiel was led out of the Temple courtyard through the north gateway into the outer courtyard. There were a wall of rooms opening toward the north. One row of rooms overlooked the inner courtyard and another lookin out onto the pavement of the outer courtyard. These two rows were built three levels high with a hall that ran between them. Each level was narrower than the other. This was duplicated on the south side. *** The rooms that overlooked the Temple on both sides were holy. This was where the priests who offered sacrifices would eat the offerings. The holy offerings were also stored in these rooms. The priests had to change out of their white linen clothes that they wore while ministering to the Lord because they were holy. *** Next Ezekiel was to measure the entire perimeter of the Temple area which was 500 cubits square or 875 feet. All the area was holy. When the angel brought Ezekiel back to the east gateway the glory of the Lord appeared from the east. He could hear it as it came like a rushing of waters and the whole landscape shone with God’s glory. When he saw the glory, he fell to the ground. *** The Spirit took Ezekiel to the inner courtyard and he saw the glory fill the Temple. He told him that this was the place of his throne and the place where he would rest his feet. The people and their kings would no longer defile his holy Temple. *** Ezekiel was to tell what he had seen so that the people would be ashamed of all their sins. He was to describe the entrances and exits and the decrees and laws. He was to write them down so they could remember them and follow them. The basic law of the Temple was holiness. *** Ezekiel was given the measurements of the altar with its gutter and ledges. There was a horn on the four corners and the top measured 21 feet square or 12 cubits square. To sanctify the altar, the priest must offer a sin offering, and spread its blood on the four horns of the altar to cleanse and make atonement for the altar. The rest of the animal had to be burned at the appointed place outside the Temple area. *** On the second day, a male goat must be sacrificed to make atonement for the altar again. Then a young bull and a ram from the flock had to be presented to the Lord. All of the animals had to be spotless. The priest would sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the Lord. *** Every day for seen days, a male goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock had to be sacrificed as a sing offering. On the eight day the priest would sacrifice on the altar the burnt offerings and peace offerings of the people. Then the Lord would accept them. *** James had a rebuking word to the rich elites. Their wealth had become a stench to the Lord because they had ignored the cries of their workmen who were suffering. They had spent their life enjoying their luxuries at the expense of the hurting and oppressed. *** The Lord is coming back and we are to be patient when he doesn’t return when we think he will. He pointed to the sufferings of the prophets, and the suffering of Job. They all suffered while trusting God fully. *** James gives us practical ways we can endure while we are waiting for the Lord’s coming. IF we are suffering we should pray. If we are happy we should sing praises to the Lord. If we are sick, we should call for the elders to pray over us and anoint us with oil in the name of Jesus. We should confess our sins to each other and pray so that we might be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person reaps wonderful results. We should try to bring back those that wander from the faith. All these things are how we occupy until he comes. *** Lord, may we be found doing your business until you return.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Temple

Read: Ezekiel 40:28-41:26; James 4:1-17;Psalm 118:19-29; Provers 28:3-5 I don’t understand all the details of all God told Ezekiel to measure in this Temple but there was a reason God wanted Ezekiel to see this and measure it. The square where the temple sat was six times as large as the whole area within the wall of the old temple, and it was larger than all known Jerusalem. Its area was three and a half miles plus forty yards. The whole city of Jerusalem today is about two and a half miles. The city that Ezekiel measures is three or four thousand square miles including the ground set apart for the prince, priest, and Levites. This is nearly as large as the whole Judea west of the Jordan (the land being contested right now in the news.) *** To me, it is like God put his temple in heaven right on earth to show Ezekiel how massive it would one day be. Isn’t that what Jesus prayed, that God would bring heaven down to earth? *** James gives us some practical ways to live together in peace. He first deals with our evil desires, which if not addressed will cause us to quarrel among ourselves, envy others and be jealous. He says that our motives are wrong if we only want what gives us pleasure. Friendship with the world makes us enemies of God. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. *** So we should humble ourselves and resist the devil. As we draw near to God, he draws near to us. If our hearts are pure then our loyalty will not be divided between God and the world. *** We are not to speak evil against one another but to let God be the judge. He is the one guiding our lives. *** James ends with “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” *** Lord, lead us into all truth and show us how to live in your Kingdom and how that our bodies house your Temple. May our lives bring glory to your name.

Sun.’s Devo - The New Jerusalem

Read: Ezekiel 39:1-40:27; James 2:18-3:18; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 28:2 The countries from the north, Gog, Meshech and Tubal will come down to destroy Israel but will have to fight God instead. He will totally take their weapons from them and leave them helpless. God will rain down here on them and they will know that He is the Lord. *** Israel will pick up its weapons and turn them into fuel which will last them for seven years. They will receive all the plunder from their enemies. They will have a mass grave in the place they will name the Valley of Gog’s Hordes and it will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. *** Then, Ezekiel was to call the birds and wild animals and tell them to gather together for God’s great sacrificial feast They will eat the flesh and drink the blood of God’s enemies. All the nations will see this and know that God is the Lord. *** God will end the captivity of his people and bring them back to Israel. They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness and come home to live in peace in their own land and no one will bother them. God will pour out his Spirit upon them. *** In the twenty-fifth year of Ezekiels’s captivity God took him in the spirit to Israel and set him on a very high mountain where he could see toward the south. He saw a city and a man coming from it whose face shone like bronze. He was holding a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod. *** Ezekiel was told to watch what he did and remember it. The man took his measuring rod which was 10 and a half feet long. He measured the wall and it was 10.5’ thick x 10.5’ high. *** Then he measured the circumference of the Temple area. On each side of the east gateway were guard alcoves. The gateway led to the entry room at the inner end of the gateway passage. All the walls, gateways, alcoves and passageways were measured. Then the man brought Ezekiel to the outer courtyard of the Temple and a stone pavement ran along the walls of the courtyard where he saw 30 rooms built into the walls. The southern end had a stairway of seven steps that led up into it with palm tree decorations along the walls. *** James says that you can’t have faith without good deeds and vice versa. Abraham demonstrated this when his faith led him to offer Isaac on the altar. We prove our faith by our works. Abraham was called God’s friend. *** James explained the importance of watching what we say because if we are teachers, then our words influence others. We can do much good or much damage with our tongues. *** Those that are wise, live godly lives and love peace, are gentle and are willing to yield to others. They are full of mercy and are known for their good deeds. They show no favoritism and are always sincere. Those who are sowers of peace will reap a harvest of righteousness. *** Lord, may we live in your wisdom and righteousness. May our words bring life and not death.

Sat.’s Devo - Can These Bones Live?

Read: Ezekiel 37:1-38-23; James 1:19-2:17; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 28:1 God took Ezekiel to a valley filled with bones and led him around among the bones scattered on the valley floor. God asked him if these bones could become living people again. Ezekiel said that only God could know that. *** Then God told him to prophesy over the bones and tell them to live again. He prophesied flesh and muscles on them and breath in their lungs. Suddenly as he spoke it, the bones started coming together and becoming a skeleton. muscles and flesh formed over the bones but they still had no breath. *** God told him to prophesy to the winds to breathe into the dead bodies so that they might live again. Breath came into their bodies and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a great army. God said that these people represented the people of Israel. They had become old dry bones with no hope, but God would open the graves of the exiles and cause them to rise again. He would bring them back to Israel. They would then know that He was the Lord. He would put his Spirit in them. *** Next, God told him to take two pieces of wood and carve “For Judah” and on the other “For Joseph”. They were to represent the two divided kingdoms of Israel. He was to join them together as one stick in his hand. This was to show that the two kingdoms had become one kingdom. They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and transgressions. God would cleanse them and they will be his people and he would be their God. David, his servant would be king over them a they shall have one shepherd. They would walk in obedience to God. *** God would make a covenant of peace with them that would last forever. *** In Chapter 38, God tells Ezekiel to turn toward the north and prophesy to Gog and Magog and tell them that his is their enemy. God was going to put hooks in his mouth and lead him and his whole army. Persia, Ethiopia and Libya would join them with all the armies of Beth-togarmah who lived in the distant north. *** When Israel is recovering from war and enjoying peace and the people have returned from many lands, they (the enemy) would roll down from the north with a wicked plan to attack Israel in her vulnerable state. God will retaliate against them with torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur. All the nations of the world will watch and know that God is the Lord. *** James dealt with anger and hypocrisy. He said that if you can’t control your tongue then your religion is worthless in God’s sight. Pure religion in God’s sight means caring for orphans and widows in distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. *** Having discrimination when it comes to people and their wealth shows that your judgments are guided by evil motives. Some of the poorest in the world are richest in faith and will inherit the Kingdom he promised. True faith produces good deeds. *** Lord may our faith lead us to good works for your Kingdom. May the dry bones of our world come alive in Your Spirit.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Goodness Toward His People

Read: Ezekiel 35:1-36:38; James 1:1-18; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 27:23-27 God had a message to the people who lived on Mt. Seir. These were the descendants of Esau who were better toward God’s people and stood for their enemies everywhere. They had an eternal hatred for the people of Israel and had butchered Israel when they were helpless and God had already punished them for all their sins. God would make them desolate forever and their cities would never be rebuilt. *** When the time came for the people of Israel to return to their homeland, God would have plowed their fields and caused their crops to grow. He would have gotten the land ready for them to return. *** For his name sake, God will bring his people back and increase the population of Israel. The people had brought shame on God’s name while they were scattered but God would put a new heart in this people and a new spirit in them. He would take out their stony, stubborn hearts and give them a tender, responsive heart. He will put His Spirit in them and they will follow his decrees and be careful to obey his regulations. God will cleanse them of their filthy behavior and bless them with great harvests. They will rebuild their cities and their fields will look like the Garden of Eden. *** God was ready to listen to their prayers and fill their cities with people so that everyone would know that their god is the Lord. *** James addressed his letter to the twelve tribes of Israel. He told them that when troubles come they should consider it a great opportunity for joy. When their faith is being tested it is a chance for their faith to grow. The they need wisdom, all they had do is ask and God would give it to them. But they have to have faith and be stable with all their trust in the Lord alone. *** God will bless our endurance while we are being tested. When it is over we will receive the crown of life promised to everyone who loves God. It is not God who tempts us but temptation comes from our own desires. When we don’t have self-control, our desires can lead us to sin and sin gives birth to death. *** Lord, thank you that we are your prized possession. Thank you that you discipline us then comfort us with good things. Everything we have comes from you and we are so grateful. May we endure testing and come through the storms with faith.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Responsibility of the Prophet

Read: Ezekiel 33:1-34:31; Hebrews 13:1-25; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 27:21-22 God explained exactly what a prophet is. He is a watchman over the people. He is to warn the people of their sins and the consequences of their sins so that they can repent and get their lives straight. Then God may have compassion on them and repent of what he was going to do. If they refuse to repent, after they have been warned then what the prophet says will happen to them. *** But, if the prophet hears from God and doesn’t tell the people what he is hearing, when the judgment comes, it will be his fault for not warning the people and giving them a chance to repent. God doesn’t enjoy the judgment of wicked people but loves it when they repent and change. *** On the fifth month of the tenth month, Ezekiel got the message that Jerusalem had fallen. The people were saying that since Abraham had been given that land and they were his descendants then the land should be theirs. God reminded them that they ate meat with blood in it, they worshipped idols, and murdered the innocent. All of this made them murderers, idolaters and adulterers. He asked them, ‘Should the land belong to you?’ *** They sought out the prophet to get a word from him only for their entertainment. They had no intention of doing what he said. Their hearts only sought after money. When the things that he said happen, then they will know that a prophet has been among them. *** The spiritual shepherds shepherded themselves instead of their flocks. Instead of tending to their needs, they treated them harshly and cruelly. They left them to be attacked by wild animals and didn’t go after them when they were lost. They will be held responsible for what happens to the people. Since they didn’t do their job, God would be their shepherd. He would find them and bring them home and give them good pastureland and feed them justice. *** God would judge the flock and separate the sheep from the goats. God would make a new covenant with his people and protect them from the wild animals of the land and shower down blessings on their crips. They will become famous for their crops. *** Hebrews ends with practical things we can do to please God. We can be hospitable to strangers who might even be angels. We can remember those in prison and visit and pray for them. We can honor marriage and be satisfied with what God has blessed us. We can remember that this is not our permanent home. We can be priests who offer continual sacrifices of praise to God. We can obey the spiritual leaders God has put over us and pray for clear consciences. *** Lord, may you equip us with all we need to do your will. May your produce in us every good thing that is pleasing to you.

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Holy Judgments

Read: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32; Hebrews 12:14-29; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Procures 27:18-20 In the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity God gave a message to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The Pharaoh of Egypt was compared to the tallest tree - meaning that he was the most powerful king on the earth at the time. But, that was about to change. He had become so proud and arrogant because of his position. He would be destroyed because of his wickedness. *** The next year, Ezekiel gave the Pharaoh of Egypt another message. He compared him to a sea monster that was going to be caught in God’s net. His downfall would disturb the hearts of many when they saw it. It will put the fear of God in their hearts. God would send the army of Babylon against Egypt and destroy it completely, shattering its pride. *** Fourteen days later, Ezekiel told the Pharaoh that he was being sent to the hell, which was the world of the dead. It was a subterranean retreat which included inmates and the accessories. I would think that the accessories were chains, cells, and instruments of torture. The ones who struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere would be slaughtered by the sword and sent to their eternal torture. This was the fate of Meschech, Tubal, Edom, all the princes of the north and the Sidonians. When Pharaoh arrived in Sheol, he would take comfort in the fact that he is not the only one there. (What a comfort!) *** How different in comparison was the description in Hebrews of Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. When God’s saints gather there, it will be a joyful gathering with countless thousands of angels. All of God’s children whose names are written in the book of life will be there. We will meet with the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect. Jesus and God will be there. *** This will not be like the meeting they had at Mt. Sinai with Moses and the children of Israel. They were shaking in fear of God and afraid of dying. Even Moses was terrified and trembling. Our meeting with God will not be like that; it will be wonderful and joyful. *** God is shaking the heavens and the earth right now, but we are of his kingdom that can not be shaken. Our response is thankfulness and worship with holy fear and awe. *** Lord, we thank you that you are a consuming fire that will burn up all your enemies. We thank you that we are your children safe in the refuge of your arms. May we live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Tues.’s Devo - Jesus, Our Champion

Read: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26; Hebrews 11:32-12:13; Psalm 112:1-10; Proverbs 27:17 In the tenth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity God sent Ezekiel a message against the Pharaoh of Egypt. God likened him to a great sea monster that lurked in the streams of the Nile. God would put hooks in his jaws and drag him out on the land with fish sticking to his scales. He and all his fishes would be left in the wilderness to die, unburied. They would be food for the wild animals because when Israel trusted in her, she failed them. *** The land of Egypt would become a barren wasteland for forty years. The Egyptians would be scattered to distant lands. At the end of the forty years, God would bring its people back and restore its prosperity, but Egypt will remain a minor kingdom. It will never be great enough to rise against its neighbors. Israel would never put their hope in it again. *** God had used Nebuchadnezzar and his army of Babylon to defeat Tyre yet they hadn’t gotten any plunder from her. All of her wealth went into the sea. So, God would pay her with Egypt’s wealth. *** God would restore the wealth of Israel and then the people of Israel would respect Ezekiel and see that he heard from the Lord. *** In Hebrews, the writer lists others that had great faith that turned their weaknesses to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Then he told of others that were tortured because they refused to turn from God in order to be set free. They believed in a life in the resurrection which would be better. They endured tremendous pain and suffering which made them great in God’s eyes. They never received all God had promised them but their mantle was passed on to the nest generation. *** These people are in our crowd of witnesses. So let us strip off everything that keeps us from continuing their race and keep our eyes on Jesus, our Champion. He is the one who perfects our faith. He endured the pain of the cross because of the joy he knew awaited him. He was our example to follow. *** He reminded them of Proverbs 3:11-12 where God speaks to us as his children and tells us not to give up when we are disciplined because God disciplines those he loves. We should rejoice that he is our Father because fathers discipline and punish the children because they love them. *** God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. It is not enjoyable at the time but it reaps a harvest of right living which brings peace. So, set a goal and get back up. God will strengthen you. *** Lord, thank you for your encouragement to continue the walk of faith. May we be strengthened by your Holy Spirit.

Mon.’s Devo - By Faith

Read: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10: Proverbs 27:15-16 God sent his message to Tyre in a funeral song. Tyre means “to distress”. Tyre had been the mighty gateway to the sea and the center of the trading world. It was international city decked in the finest the nations had to offer. God likens Tyre to a great ocean liner laden with wares from everywhere. Its leaders were the oarsmen that sailed her into the stormy sea. They wrecked her in the heart of the sea and lost everyone on board. The cites by the sea that saw her sink wept over her bitterly and mourned. They were appalled at her outcome. God said she would exist no more. *** A message was sent to the prince of Tyre. He was so filled with pride that he claimed himself to be a god. His wisdom made him rich and his riches made him proud. He thought he was wise as a god, but God would bring a foreign army upon them. They would defile his splendor and bring him down to the pit. He would die in the heart of the sea, pierced with many wounds. *** Another message was sent to the king of Tyre who was the embodiment of Lucifer. God takes us back to the Garden of Eden where we see how beautiful Lucifer was when God made him. God ordained and anointed him as the mighty angelic guardian. He had access to God’s holy mountain and walked among the stones of fire. He was blameless until evil was found in him. He, like Tyre was filled with pride because of his beauty. His wisdom was corrupted by his love of splendor. God threw him to the ground and exposed him in the eyes of other kings. He defiled his sanctuaries with his many sins and traded dishonestly. His own sins were heaped on top of him. All who knew him were appalled at his fate. He had come to a terrible end and would exist no more. *** Next, God gave a message against the city of Sidon. Sidon means “hunting”. God would send a plague against them and attack it from all sides. The people would lie slaughtered within their walls. Then everyone would know that God is the Lord of Lords. *** Of Israel, God said that she would again live in her own land. God would gather them from the distant lands where they had been scattered and bring them safely to Israel. They would once again build homes and plant vineyards. *** In Hebrews we continue looking at the Hall of Faith. Abraham had so much faith God would do what he promised, he was willing to give his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. He fully believed that if God had to raise Isaac from the dead, he would just to fulfill his promise to him. Isaac passed down that blessing to Jacob and Esau. It was Jacob’s faith that allowed him to bless each of Joseph’s sons before he died. Joseph believed God, and by faith told his people to take his bones back to the land God had promised them. *** When the parents of Moses saw the anointing on Moses as a baby, they defied the king’s order and hid him. God honored that and Moses grew up in Pharoah’s household but never forgot his roots. He refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter and chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead. Moses’ faith led him out of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He left Egypt with his eyes on the Lord. He commanded the people to keep the Passover and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would to kill their firstborn sons. By faith, they marched right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But, when the Egyptians followed, they were drowned by the sea. *** It was faith that the people marched around Jericho and the walls fell down. And it was Rahab’s faith that saved her and her household from destruction. *** Lord, may it be said of us that it was by our faith that we endured the times we are in. May our faith bring glory to your name.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Roll Calls

Read: Ezekiel 24:1-26:21; Hebrews 11:1-16; Pslam 11-:1-7; Proverbs 27:14 It was the 10th day of the 10th month of the 9th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity. God told Ezekiel to write down that date because if was the very day that the king of Babylon would begin attacking Jerusalem. He was to give the exiles the news in an illustration. *** He was to put meat in a pot and boil the meat over intensely hot flames. The meat was to still have the bones in it. Then he was to tell them that the cooking pot represented Jerusalem. The meat was the people and none was to be treated any different than the other. Since they had slashed babies on the rocks for all to see, their bodies would be slashed on the rocks. God called Jerusalem a city of murderers. *** After he had cooked the meat and taken out the pieces he was to bury the bones. Then he was to set the empty pot on the coals and heat it even hotter to burn out the filth but it would be hopeless, just as their sin was. *** God told Ezekiel that he was going to take away his dearest treasure and he was not to openly grieve her death. The next day, his wife died. This would be a sign to them of what was about to happen to them. He was about to take away their joy and glory and their deepest treasure, Jerusalem. He would take away their posterity with it, just as Ezekiel’s posterity was taken from him. *** Then God began his roll call of the nations. Ammon would be destroyed with her capital city, Rabbah because she cheered when God’s Temple was defiled, mocked Israel when she was desolated and laughed at Judah when she went into exile. Her land would be turned into a pasture for camels, sheep and goats. Ammon would no longer be a nation. *** Moab said that Judah was just like all the other nations so the would be handed over to nomads from the east. *** Philistia would be wiped out because they took out revenge upon Judah. ***Tyre rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem because their competition was now gone and they would have a monopoly on the trade. God would destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. Tyre was an island that had been made a great city. God would strip away its soil and leave it a rock for fishermen to spread their nets. God would bring the army of Babylon against it to first destroy its mainland villages then destroy the island with battering rams. *** Tyre’s riches would be taken and its treasures would be dumped into the sea. It would never be rebuilt. *** In Hebrew, we have a definition of faith. Faith in the Greek is “pistis” which means persuasion, credence, moral conviction of the truthfulness of God, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation. Another definition is assurance. Hebrews says that it is the substance of the things we hope for and the evidence of the things we cannot see. *** God gives us a roll call of the people of the Old Testament that were remembered for their faith. Abel expressed his faith in his offering he gave to the Lord. He was a picture of Jesus who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice. It cost Abel his life also. *** Enoch was translated to heaven by passing death which is the last enemy that Christ will destroy. (1 Co. 15:25-26) *** Noah was told to prepare an ark which would save his family. Another word for “ark” is “box” which was a picture of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant held the Word and the presence of God and his mercy seat. Noah’s ark was a picture of all of this. It saved his family from the wrath of God on sin. *** Abraham as well as Isaac and Jacob were given a land they didn’t know as an inheritance, just like we have been promised in heaven and on earth. *** Sarah who was barren was given the promise that she would have a child. A whole nation came from her and Abraham’s faith. *** All of these people died before what they saw their promise manifested on the earth. Their promised lived on and did manifest on the earth. They saw it from a distance, by faith and rejoiced in it. They lived as strangers on the earth knowing that God had a better plan for them in heaven. *** Lord, may we have the faith that is counted as righteousness and pleases you. Thank you for the people who have gone before us as examples of faith. Thank you most of all for the life of Jesus who was our greatest example of faith.

Fri.’s Devo - Israel’s Sins and God’s Plan of Redemption

Read: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12 God told Ezekiel to turn and face Jerusalem and prophecy against her. He did this while he was in Babylon. The Lord said he was unsheathing his sword to destroy the people in Jerusalem. He would not bring his sword back to its sheath until it was finished. *** Ezekiel was to groan before the people with a broken heart. When they asked why he was groaning, he was to tell them it was over the terrifying news he had heart from the Lord. God’s sword was being sharpened and polished for the executions. *** Ezekiel was told to make a map and trace two routes for the army of Babylon to follow. One road would have a fork in it with one road going to Ammon and the other to Judah and Jerusalem. The king of Babylon was standing at that fork and was having his magicians do omens to decide which way to turn. To the right is Jerusalem and that is the road they will take even though Jerusalem thought they had a treaty with Babylon to not attack them. *** The army of Babylon would also go to the left to Ammon. God gave Ezekiel a message for them also. They would be destroyed. Their prophets had given them false visions also. It was their final day of recounting and their memory would be lost to history. *** In Chapter 22, God turns back to Jerusalem to explain everything they had done to deserve God’s anger. It began with murder which was associated with their idol worship. All the leaders were bent on murder. They had total disrespect for parents, foreigners, orphans and widows. They despised the things God called holy and loved their idols instead. The sexual perversion was despicable. They hired murderers, loan racketeers and extortioners everywhere. They didn’t consider the Lord in any of their dealings but they would now. God would make himself know to him in his judgment. He called them worthless slag that would not make it in the fire. *** The people had had their land and their possessions taken by ruthless leaders. They had taken their men leaving many widows. The priests had violated God’s instructions and defiled his holy things. They made no distinction between the holy and the profane. They disregarded what God called holy and their prophets covered up for them by lying and giving false visions. *** God had looked for someone to rebuild the wall of righteousness to guard the land but found no one. So they would reap the full penalty for all their sins. *** Hebrews tells us that the old covenant was a dim preview of the new things God had for us in his new covenant. It would bring perfect cleansing to the one who came for forgiveness of their sins. God would write his laws on their hearts. *** Lord, thank your for the new covenant. Thank you that you have written your words on our hearts that we won’t sin against you.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Rebuke and His Promised Salvation

Read: Ezekiel 20:1-49; Hebrews 9:11-28; Psalm 107:1-43; Proverbs 27:11 In the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s exile to Babylon, some of the leaders of Israel came to Ezekiel and asked him to give them a Word from the Lord. *** God was incensed by this request. He refused to answer them and told Ezekiel to list their sins and why God wasn’t going to answer them. He told them to remind them of how God chose to reveal himself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt. He promised to be their God and bring them out of Egypt to a land that was plentiful and good. He told them to get rid of their false idols they had in Egypt, but they wouldn’t. *** For God’s name sake, he still delivered them from Egypt and brought them out and gave them his laws at Mt. Sinai. He told them of the Sabbath and how to honor and please him. But the people refused to obey. He killed them in the wilderness but allowed their children to continue for his name’s sake. *** God warned their children to put away their false gods and worship him alone. They refused to do that and rebelled also. God wanted to get rid of all of them but for his name’s sake he scattered them instead. *** They even gave their first born as sacrifices to these gods. This was such a slap in God’s face since he had protected their first born when he killed the first born of Egypt. Now they were willingly giving their first born to their gods. *** They wanted to serve other gods like the nations around them but God would not let them be blessed by doing so. He would rule over them with an iron fist and in anger and power, he would bring them back. He would take them into the wilderness and judge them there just like he did to the children coming out of Egypt. There, he would purge them of all those who rebel and revolt against him. They would never return to Israel. *** One day Israel would worship him on God’s holy mountain. They would come back with humility and repentance and hate the evil they had done and honor the name of God. *** God told Ezekiel to turn and face the south and speak against the brush lands of the Negev. He was to tell them that God would set them on fire and everything would be burned. *** After hearing all this, the people said that Ezekiel talked in riddles. They did not have ears to hear. *** In Hebrews we read that when Christ died, he took his blood into heaven’s Tabernacle, into the Most Holy Place and secured our redemption forever sprinkling his blood on the mercy seat of heaven. *** Christ’s blood set us free from the penalty of sins and purifies our consciences from sin so that we can boldly worship God with clean hands. *** A will does not go into effect until the person is dead which is why under the old covenant they had to kill something as a picture of what Jesus would do for us once and for all. What they did in the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of what Jesus would do in the New. Jesus died to take away our sins but he will come again to bring us deliverance and health to all who are waiting for him.

Wed.’s Devo - The Old Covenant

Read: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14; Hebrews 9:1-10; Psalm 106:32-48; Proverbs 27:10 God asked the people why they said that the children would reap the sins of their father. He gave them the case of a bad father who defiled God’s laws and then had a son who saw his father’s life-style and decided to change. He obeyed God’s laws. He would not pay for his father’s sins. His father would pay for his own sins. The son would be rewarded for his righteous living. *** God’s word to Israel was to repent and turn from their sins so God wouldn’t have to judge them for their rebellion. God didn’t want them to die but to live. *** God gave Ezekiel a funeral song to sing to the princes or kings of Israel. In the song Judah was the mother lion who had two sons. Jehoahaz was the youngest who became a strong lion but became a man-eater. He was trapped in their pit and led away with hooks to Egypt. Jehoiakim was the second of her cubs who she taught to be strong and he also became a man-eater. He tore down cities and made the people tremble and fear because of his power. He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites and Ammonites. They captured him and put him in a pit and dragged him in a cage to Babylon. *** Judah, the mother, had once been a prosperous place full of fruit and wealth but it was transplanted to the wilderness and burned with fire. Thus ended the funeral song. *** Hebrews described the first covenant with its tabernacle. The first room, called the Holy Place had a shewbread table, a menorah and the altar of incense. Only the priest could go in that room. The next room, called the Holy of Holies had the ark of the covenant covered with two angels who spread the wings over the mercy seat. Only the High Priest could enter that room and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he atoned for the sins of the people. This was a temporary way of worship until the new covenant could be brought in. The first could not cleanse the conscience of the people of their sins but a better system would. *** Thank you Lord, that that new system came to affect when Jesus died and rose from the grave. He ushered us into his new system of government and worship. Thank you that our consciences can be cleansed from sin and we can walk in righteousness and have abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven.

Tues.’s Devo - The Riddle of the Eagles

Read: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9 God’s anger would not last forever. Once they were fully repaid for their sins, God would calm his anger. Jerusalem’s was just like her older sister Samaria, the capital of Israel. God compared Samaria to Sodom whose sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness which were added to her lewd sins. But she did not do half of the sins Jerusalem did. But, apart from all that, in the future, God will restore the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria. They will become like Jerusalem’s sisters even though they are not part of God’s covenant. *** God gave Ezekiel a riddle about eagles to tell to the people of Israel then he gave them the meaning of the riddle. The first eagle was Nebuchadnezzar and the second eagle was Egypt. It was their story. The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took away all the leaders and the king and brought them to Babylon. The king of Babylon made Israel sign a treaty to keep alive. *** Zedekiah rebelled against the treaty and sent for Egypt’s help against Babylon. Pharaoh won’t come to Jerusalem’s aide when she is surrounded by the Babylonian army. God will punish Zedekiah for breaking the covenant with Babylon. God would place another man, Zerrubabel who will be a foreshadow of the Messiah. *** The Messiah’s kingdom will become a majestic cedar sending forth branches and producing seed. *** Hebrews explains the new covenant of the Lord. Jesus is the High Priest of the new covenant. The Temple where he ministers is in heaven. The priests of the earth were a picture of the priesthood in heaven. *** God’s new priesthood needed a new covenant. This new convent would be written on the hearts of God’s people. Everyone from the least to the greatest would know God and He would forgive our sins and remember them no more. *** Lord, thank you that we are a part of your new covenant and You have written your words on our hearts. May we follow Your Word and not sin against you or your people. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the United States. We pray for the peace of all your nations.

Mon.’s Devo - Our Faithful High Priest

Read: Ezekiel 14:12-16:41; Hebreews 7:18-28; Psalm 106:1-12; Prover s 27:4-6 God gave Ezekiel four scenarios: famine, wild animals, war, or disease. In every one of them there would only be a few survivors. God would still judge them even if faithful people like Moses, Daniel, or Job were among them. When they people get to Babylon, Ezekiel would see for himself how wicked the people had become. *** God likened the people to vines. Compared to trees, they were not worth anything but being burned in fire. The wood from trees could be used for many different things, but not vines. God was throwing these worthless vines into the fire of his judgment. *** God told Ezekiel to confront Israel with her sins. When God found them they were half-Canaanite/ half-Amorites and God took them and made them his people. He washed them, clothed them and lavished them with riches. Instead of being grateful and worshipping him, they worshiped everything but him. They took the gods of all the countries around them and even sacrificed their own children to their false gods. They built pagan shrines on every street corner and when they were handed over to the Philistines, even they were shocked by your lewd conduct. *** God said that since they did all these detestable things, he would turn them over to all the nations who were their lovers and they would destroy Israel. The would knock down their pagan shrines and altars to their idols. They would take their beautiful jewels, and leave them with nothing. They would burn down their homes and stop their prostitution. *** In Hebrews, God points out how the old priesthood didn’t work and the law didn’t make anyone perfect. But, through Jesus, we have a better hope. God promised that Jesus is our forever priest. He brought us a better covenant. The priests before, died and were not able to continue their service, but Jesus continues to live forever making intercession for us to God. *** Jesus is holy and blameless and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus doesn’t have to offer sacrifices every day. He did this once and for all when he offered himself on the cross. He is the perfect High Priest. *** Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest and offering prayers for us daily. Thank you that you know exactly what we need and the needs of our family. Thank you that your prayer is the perfect prayer to God and we can trust that you are faithful and just.

Sun.’s Devo - God’s Signs

Read: Ezekiel 12:1-14:11; Hebrews 7:1-17; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 27:3 The people were not listening to the words of the Lord through Ezekiel, but God didn’t want them to have an excuse and say that they didn’t know. So, God sent another warning - another picture. *** God told Ezekiel to pack a bag with only a few things like a person leaving in exile. He was to bring his bags out in the day so they could see it and leave in the evening while they were watching. He was to leave carrying the bag over his shoulder as a sign for the people. *** The next morning he explained that all his actions were a sign to show them what was going to shortly happen to them. Zedekiah would leave through a hole in the wall and take only what he could carry with him. His face was to be covered and he would not be able to see the land he was leaving. He would be captured in God’s net and taken to Babylon but he would never see it. He would die there and his servants and army would be scattered all over the world. A few would be spared so they could be a witness of what happened to them in Babylon. *** Ezekiel was told to tremble when he ate his food and shake with fear as he drank his water. This was a picture of what they would be doing soon. *** God gave Ezekiel another message that there would be no more delays in his words. They had stopped listening because nothing was happening, but that was about to change. He told the false prophets that claimed they got their messages from God that they were liars and since God hadn’t said what they said, their predictions won’t come true either. They prophesied peace when it was not time for peace. *** God had Ezekiel speak out against the women and their magic charms that they wore on their wrists and the magic veils they wore on their faces. God would rescue the people from their spells. *** The leaders of Israel came and visited Ezekiel and while they were there, God gave them a message. They had set up idols in their hearts which led them into sin. His message to them was to repent and turn away from their idols and stop all their detestable sins. If they didn’t repent, they would be punished along with their false prophets and false advisors. *** In Hebrews, Chapter Seven is all about Melchizedek who was the king of Salem and also the priest of God. He was both the King of peace and the king of justice. He was eternal like the Son of God. *** Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek which meant that all of his descendants were affected by his gift. *** The question is asked: if man could have achieved perfection through the law, why did God need to establish a different priesthood with a priest after the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron. The answer is that the law could not make man perfect. So there has to be a different law since the priesthood has changed. *** Lord, thank you for changing the law for us and giving us the law of love and grace. May we walk in your justice and truth from the heart and not out of obligation.

Sat.’s Devo - The Spirit Leaves the Temple

Read: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25; Hebrews 6:1-20; Psalm 105:26-36; Proverbs 27:1-2 Ezekiel was in Babylon with the first exiles, but God would come and transport him back to Jerusalem to find out what was going on there so he could report it back to the exiles in Babylon. *** The four living creatures appeared at the south end of the Temple in their chariots of wheels. The man in linen appeared with them. He took and stood beside on the the creatures and took live coals from the fire burning between their wheels. *** The glory moved from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim. They flew with the glory to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. *** The Spirit took Ezekiel to the east gateway of the Lord’s Temple and showed him the 24 prominent men of the city which included Jaazaniah, and Pelatiah. They were planning the evil council they would give the people. They told the people that it was a good time to build houses because the city of Jerusalem was safe like an iron pot. But God told Ezekiel to say that God knew about the people they had murdered in the city; the streets were full of them. This city was an iron pot alright, but the pieces of meat were the victims of their injustice. They would be dragged from this pot and the war they so greatly feared would come upon them and drive them out of Jerusalem and hand them over to foreigners. Judgment would be carried out on them. *** While Ezekiel was saying this, Pelatiah fell dead. Ezekiel cried out to the Lord and asked if he was going to kill everyone. *** God told Ezekiel what the people left were saying. They were saying that he and his relatives and all the people who were in exile were far away from the Lord and now He had given them the land. God told Ezekiel to tell them that it was the Lord who scattered them and He would be a sanctuary for them during their time in exile. God would gather them back from the nation they had been scattered and give them the land of Israel once again. *** When they return, they will remove every trace of their detestable false idols. God would give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. He would take away their stoney, stubborn hearts and give them a tender responsive heart. They would obey God’s decrees and regulations. *** Then the glory of the Lord left the city and stopped above the mountain to the east. God carried Ezekiel back to Babylon where he told the exiles everything he had experienced in Jerusalem. *** Hebrews tells us that if a person experiences new birth in Christ and then turns away from him and rejects him as their Lord, they can not be reborn again. That would be like nailing Christ to the cross again and he died once for our salvation. Once a field bears thorns and thistles, the only thing you can do with it is to burn the field with fire. *** But the teacher doesn’t think that is what will happen to his listeners. He is confident that they/we are meant for better things - the things that come with salvation. God will not forget how hard we worked for him and how we have loved other believers and still do. As long as we have hope, we will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead we will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of our faith and endurance. *** We will inherit God’s promises because of our faith and endurance. God promised Abraham that he would bless them and multiply them beyond number and Abraham waited until he received what God promised. God bound himself with this oath and his promise and it is impossible for God to lie. *** This hope we have leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus went there ahead of us and is our High Priest. *** Lord, thank you that your promise still stands for Israel. It will soon be a city full of your people, not people who call themselves Jews but are not. It will be filled with your glory and you will give them a new heart. Thank you that what you do for Israel, you do for America. We pray a new heart to be given America to love and obey your commands.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Cleansing Judgment

Read: Ezekiel 7:1-9:11; Hebrews 5:1-14; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 26:28 The Lord said that the time was up to repent; it was time for judgment. Disaster upon disaster was coming. It was not business as usual; everything was about to change. *** The people living outside the walls would die of the sword and those inside would die of famine and disease. The day of God’s judgment had arrived. Nothing they did will help them now. Their money would be worthless and their wealth would become disgusting to them. It would be plunder to the enemy. *** They would look for answers but the priests and the prophets would have nothing for them. The evil they did to others would fall on them by an even more ruthless people. *** During the days of repentance before the fall feasts, the leaders were in the home of Ezekiel. God sent an angel to take Ezekiel in the Spirit and transported him to Jerusalem. He showed him the idol that stood beside the entrance to the north gate. Then he took him through a secret passageway where there were engravings on the wall of all kinds of crawling animals and detestable creatures. Seventy of Israel’s leaders were in a room with incense burners worshipping something other than God. *** The angel took him to the north gate of the Lord’s Temple where women were sitting and weeping for the god Tammuz. Next, he was brought into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple between the entry room and the bronze altar where about twenty-five men sat with their backs to the sanctuary. They were facing east and bowing low to the ground worshipping the sun. All of this was why God was judging the land. *** God then shouted for his men that were to punish the city. Six of God’s men appeared from the upper gate that faces the north. Each was carrying a deadly weapon in his hand. A man dressed with linen appeared carrying a writer’s case at his side. They all went into the Temple courtyard and stood beside the bronze altar. *** The glory of God rose up from the angels on the Ark of the Covenant and moved to the entrance elf the Temple. God told the one dressed in linen to walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of all who wept at the sins being committed in their city. *** He took the other six with him through the city and told them to kill everyone who didn’t have the mark. They began with the seventy elders. Their dead bodies would defile the Temple. *** As Ezekiel watched this vision, he cried out to the Lord asking if God would kill everyone. God responded that their sins were so very very great. The land was full of murder and injustice. They thought God didn’t see it, but he didn’t miss a thing. *** The man in the linen returned and said he had done what he was suppose to do. *** Hebrews explains the office of the High Priest. He is a man who has been chosen to represent the people to God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for the sins of all the people, He understands people’s weaknesses because he himself fights the same battles against sin. He has to be a man that God called to be a priest just like Aaron was and just like Jesus is. *** When Jesus was on earth, Jesus interceded for man with tears and anguish. He had to learn to obey through the things he suffered just like we do. He was appointed our High Priest by God in the order of Melchizedek, God’s High Priest in heaven. *** Paul wanted to teach them deeper but they had let themselves become dull and had stopped growing. They could only drink the milk of the Word. Solid food was reserved for those who had learned to recognize the difference between right and wrong. *** Lord, we thank you for being our faithful High Priest who intercedes for us day and night. Help us to grow in discernment and love for you.

Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Warnings

Read: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14; Hebrews 4:1-16; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 26:27 God gave Ezekiel a stern warning. When God gives him a word of warning to the people,, he must give it. If he didn’t, then the consequences of what God meant for them would fall on him. If a righteous person turned away from the Lord and followed the path of unrighteousness, they would die in their sins if Ezekiel didn’t warn them. But if they are warned and turn away from their sins, then Ezekiel not only saved them but he saved himself. As a priest, he stood as a representation of the people. *** God told Ezekiel to go to the valley and he saw the same vision he had seen by the Kebar River. He fell to the ground again and the Spirit had to come and stand him up. He told him to go home and shut the door. He would be tied with ropes and so he couldn’t go out among the people. He would also be made unable to talk until God loosens his tongue. He was to tell the people that this is what God says, “Those who choose to listen will listen, but those who refuse will refuse, for they are rebels.” *** Then he was told to take a large clay brick and draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it. He was to build a wall around it and set up the enemy camp around the city with siege ramps and battering rams. He was to depict the siege that would happen against Jerusalem. It would be a visual for the people. *** Ezekiel was then to lie on his left did and place the sins of Israel on himself. He would bear their sins for 390 days - one day for every year of Israel’s sins then on his right side 40 days - one day for every year of Judah’s sins. Also, God would tie him with ropes so he wouldn’t be able to turn until the time was complete. *** Before he did all of this, he was to make great out of God’s ingredients and ration them out for the days he would be lying tied up. He was to bake his bread with the dung of humans. Ezekiel asked God to please let not use defiling human dung so he let him use cow dung instead. He was also to measure out water to drink drop by drop. This was to be a picture to the people for what was coming to make them want to repent. *** After all this he was to shave his head and beard and divide the hair into equal parts. After playing out the siege, he was to put a third of the hair in the center of his map of Jerusalem and burn it. He was to scatter the next third across his map and chop it with a sword then he was to scatter the last third to the wind. They represented what would happen to the people. *** God had placed Jerusalem at the center of the nations but she had rebelled and become more wicked than the other nations, refusing to obey his regulations and decrees. This is what would happen to them because they sinned. God would become their enemy. He would punish them with wild animals, disease, war and famine. *** Ezekiel was told to go to the mountains and proclaim to the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys that war was coming that would bring down all their pagan shrines. He begged them to cry out to the Lord because of their sins,. God’s fury was coning and when it was over they would know that there is a god in heaven. Hebrews reminds us that there is a rest remaining for us to experience. God’s people had refused to enter into it because they had no faith. It takes faith to enter into this rest. The time God set is the seventh day which we have just entered. In this rest, we stop laboring and rest in the Lord. That takes much faith to stop trying to make things happen. God’s word is alive and still working and will bring about God’s plan in his timing. *** Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest. Thank you that you understands all our weaknesses and pray and intercede on our behalf. Help us to faithfully enter into your rest and remain in your peace.

Wed.’s Devo - The Overwhelming Presence of the Lord

Read: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15; Hebrews 3:1-19; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 26:24-26 Ezekiel means “Whom God will strengthen” and “God will Prevail”. His father was a priest which means he was a priest also, giving him a certain amount of clout with the people. God called him to prophesy in the fifth year from the date of his being carried to Babylon with King Jehoiachin (599 B.C.) The best of the people of Judah had listened to the prophets and surrendered to Babylon. They had been told by the prophets that this was the only way they would be safe. The ones who stayed were the ones who were attacked by the Chaldeans and most of them died as despised people. *** God appeared to Ezekiel by the river Chebar which flows into the Euphrates River. He lived close by in Tel-Abib were the elders would come to inquire of him God’s messages to him. They were eager to return to Jerusalem, but he taught them that they must return to the Lord first. *** In his first vision the Lord showed him a huge storm cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. Inside the cloud was fire and in the middle of the fire was something like gleaming amber. From this center came the four living creatures. Each had four faces, four wings and legs with feet like calf hooves. The creatures shone like bronze. They had human hands under their wings. *** The faces were human in the front, a lion on the right side, an ox on the left and an eagle at the back. One set of wings touched the wings of the one beside it and the other pair of wings covered its body. They went in the direction that the spirit chose them to go. *** As he watched them, four wheels appeared below them. The wheels went with them and there was a wheel within a wheel. In the wheel was the spirit that moved them up or down or sideways. Above them was a crystal canopy and when they moved their wings it sounded like waves crashing, or the voice of the Almighty or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped and put their wings down, a voice spoke from the crystal canopy above them. *** When Ezekiel looked up on the crystal ceiling there was a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. On the throne sat a figure who looked like a man. He shown like fire in his splendor. He had a halo like a rainbow. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell to his face to the ground. *** The Lord spoke to him and told him to stand. The spirit helped him stand and he listened. The Lord said that he was sending him to the nation of Israel which was a people who had continually been a rebellious, stubborn, hard-hearted nation. Whether they listen to his words or not, at least they would know that a prophet was among them. God told him not to fear them even though they would threaten him and scoff at his messages. They wouldn’t listen because they were totally rebellious but he was to speak to them any way. He then gave Ezekiel a scroll filled with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom. He was to eat the scroll. It tasted like honey in his mouth. *** He was to take these messages back and give them to the stubborn Israelites who would not listen. He was not to be afraid of them but continue to speak what God had given him. *** The spirit took Ezekiel back to the exiles in Tel-abib and sat overwhelmed for seven days before he was able to speak. *** In Hebrews, Jesus was compared to Moses in that they were both building God’s house. Moses was the shadow of Jesus. Jesus Christ is in charge of Moses’ house and Jesus’ house as God’s son (the Old Testament and the New Testament house). Jesus is also our Apostle and High Priest. *** The writer of Hebrews warns them not to have a heart of unbelief that the children of Israel had under Moses. They were so rebellious that God had to kill them in the wilderness and didn’t allow them to enter into the rest he had prepared for them. We cannot be that people now. We must enter into God’s rest and trust him to take care of all that is going on around us. *** Lord, we put our future in your hands. We put the future of our nation and our children and grand children in your hands. We choose to rest in your presence.