Read: Hosea 6:1-9:17; 3 John 1:1-14; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 29:12-14
God starts out with a beautiful promise of healing to a very broken and sinful nation. As surely as the sun rises to show his faithfulness and soverignty over the earth, God will appear to his people and restore them. He explained to them that he rebuked them through his prophets but his greatest desire was to show mercy and not judgment, but they broke their covenant with him so he had no choice.
Hosea gave the people a list of all the things they had done to defile themselves and dishonor God. God longed to redeem them but they spoke lies against him.
In Chapter 8, God told Hosea to put the trumpet to his mouth to signal the coming attack of the Assyrians. They had appointed kings that God didn’t appoint and chosen the wrong leaders. They had made idols to their own destruction. They had become like the Gentile nations around them with nothing to distinguish them as God’s people. Their punishment will be that they will have to return to Egypt, the very place God had delivered them out of.
The prophet of the Lord had become their enemy and they considered his words foolishness. The person that carried the anointing of God was thought to be a lunatic. They rejected God but they were about to find out how much worse it is when God turns his face against them and rejects them.
God mentioned Gilgal, where they chose their first king, Saul, rejecting God as their king. Now, they would be rejected by the Lord and wander among the nations.
What a stark contrast to read the good news in Third John. John writes to a people who are faithful and walk in the truth. They were walking in love - not only their brothers in the Lord but to the ones in the world.
They were doing all the right things even though they had a vicious enemy, Diotrephes, who tried to divide and tell lies about what they were doing. He reminds them not to return to him what he is doing to them but to do good back.
Then he brags about Demetrius who was doing it right. When we do right even truth speaks well of us.
Lord, help us to be examples of your love and mercy. May we walk in truth. Help us to love our enemies for your sake.
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Friday, December 6, 2019
Fri.’s Devo - The Charge Against Israel
Read: Hosea 4:1-5:15; 2 John 1:1-13; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 29:9-11
Israel was charged with faithlessness, lack of love, lack of knowledge of God and a lifestyle of cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery and the most horrible idolatry. Even the priests and the prophets were corrupt. They had broken all ten of the Commandments Moses had given them.
Several times Hosea mentions that they had a spirit of whoredom and were unable to turn and repent. They had chosen the spirit of whoredoms which is the opposite of the Spirit of God who is holy and righteous.
Their sons and daughters would not be held responsible but the parents would, because they were the examples and teachers. They were raising a generation steeped in apostasy.
God told them not to go up to Gilgal or Beth Aven who had once been sacred places to the Lord and were now seats of idolatry.
In Chapter 5, Hosea mentioned Mizpah and Tabor which were cities that were to be watchtowers against the enemy attacks. They stood for the prophets which were to warn the people of coming events. Instead these strongholds and the prophets had become places and mouth pieces of idolatry also. Ephraim had resisted the warnings of the prophets and chosen to worship other gods without remorse.
Judah had begun to fall into the same idolatrous trap that Israel had slipped into, so God called for a sound to be heard in Benjamin. This trumpet was the voice of the prophets. Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth Aven were all part of Benjamin and they were being warned. Ephraim (Israel) saw God as a moth who was helpless and unimportant. Now, Judah was seeing God as rot - no longer living and applicable.
Israel would cry out for Assyria to help them but they would not be able to save them. God would be like a lion who would tear them to pieces and carry them away. He will use the Syrians to do this. God would withdraw his face from his people until they acknowledged their sin and sought Him to heal them.
Second John addresses the “elect lady and her children”. The word “lady” in the Greek means “Martha”. Martha was a woman of influence in the faith. John writes to her to warn her of deceivers who were trying to penetrate the church at Babylon that she ministered in.
He praises her for raising up spiritual children who walked in truth and love. He also warned her that if people did not confess that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh, they were a deceiver and an antichrist.
John also warned against people who wanted to be welcomed as brothers but didn’t believe the doctrine of Jesus Christ. They were not to wish them well because that would be to imply that they were capable of doing well while opposing Christ. In that way they would be identifying with their sin.
Lord, help us have discernment for the days ahead. Overshadow your Church and the leaders you have given us. Give us truth in our inmost parts.
Israel was charged with faithlessness, lack of love, lack of knowledge of God and a lifestyle of cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery and the most horrible idolatry. Even the priests and the prophets were corrupt. They had broken all ten of the Commandments Moses had given them.
Several times Hosea mentions that they had a spirit of whoredom and were unable to turn and repent. They had chosen the spirit of whoredoms which is the opposite of the Spirit of God who is holy and righteous.
Their sons and daughters would not be held responsible but the parents would, because they were the examples and teachers. They were raising a generation steeped in apostasy.
God told them not to go up to Gilgal or Beth Aven who had once been sacred places to the Lord and were now seats of idolatry.
In Chapter 5, Hosea mentioned Mizpah and Tabor which were cities that were to be watchtowers against the enemy attacks. They stood for the prophets which were to warn the people of coming events. Instead these strongholds and the prophets had become places and mouth pieces of idolatry also. Ephraim had resisted the warnings of the prophets and chosen to worship other gods without remorse.
Judah had begun to fall into the same idolatrous trap that Israel had slipped into, so God called for a sound to be heard in Benjamin. This trumpet was the voice of the prophets. Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth Aven were all part of Benjamin and they were being warned. Ephraim (Israel) saw God as a moth who was helpless and unimportant. Now, Judah was seeing God as rot - no longer living and applicable.
Israel would cry out for Assyria to help them but they would not be able to save them. God would be like a lion who would tear them to pieces and carry them away. He will use the Syrians to do this. God would withdraw his face from his people until they acknowledged their sin and sought Him to heal them.
Second John addresses the “elect lady and her children”. The word “lady” in the Greek means “Martha”. Martha was a woman of influence in the faith. John writes to her to warn her of deceivers who were trying to penetrate the church at Babylon that she ministered in.
He praises her for raising up spiritual children who walked in truth and love. He also warned her that if people did not confess that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh, they were a deceiver and an antichrist.
John also warned against people who wanted to be welcomed as brothers but didn’t believe the doctrine of Jesus Christ. They were not to wish them well because that would be to imply that they were capable of doing well while opposing Christ. In that way they would be identifying with their sin.
Lord, help us have discernment for the days ahead. Overshadow your Church and the leaders you have given us. Give us truth in our inmost parts.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Thur.’s Devo - Draw Our Nation Back to You.
Read: Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8
God told Hosea to go find a wife and she would be a picture of the whoredoms of God’s people. From what I found in research, Gomer (which means “completion”) was not a prostitute at the beginning just like Israel was not a prostitute at Sinai when God gave her the law which was his marriage contract to her. Israel became a prostitute as Gomer did after the birth of their third child.
Jereboam II was the king of Israel at the time and Israel was flourishing on the outside though idolatrous on the inside. He died during the 15th year of Uzziah’s reign in Judah and from that time forth every king in Israel worshipped false gods.
Hosea prophecied Israel’s downfall which was unconceivable by human standards since Israel was so powerful and rich at the time.
Hosea and Gomer’s first son’s name was Jezreel because God was going to judge Jezreel and the house of Jehu. “Jezreel” means “God will scatter” and God was going to do that very thing to Israel. Jezreel had been Ahab’s royal city. With the help of Jezebel, Ahab had killed Naboth for his vineyard and led Israel into all sorts of idolatry. Jehu had ridden like a mad man into Jezreel and killed Jezebel and all of Ahab’s family. Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel but fell into worshipping the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up.
Gomer had a second son and named him Lo-Rumah which means “not loved”. Then, Gomer had a daughter and named her “Lo-Ammi” which means “you are not my people and I am not your God.” This was God’ proclamation over Israel.
Hosea gave the people an allegory to be a picture to them of their idolatrous heart. Israel had chosen to leave God and go after other lovers. She did not realize it was the Lord who caused her to prosper and gave her all the things she had. So now, God was going to take his blessings back and she would be punished for her sin. But then, God would draw her back with love and tenderness and she would return with a new heart to love the Lord.
Like Israel, Gomer had left and committed adultery. God told Hosea to go buy her back just like he would buy Israel back with the price of his son’s blood. God promised to bless her and be her husband once again.
In First John we read that we are to overcome the world because of our faith and belief in Jesus as the son of God.
Jesus came by both water and blood. He was born like us in the water of his mother’s womb, but God’s blood ran through his veins. Jesus also came in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ birth, the Holy Spirit and God all testify that Jesus is his son and in him we have eternal life.
He tells us once again, if we are born of God we will not continue to sin because we are kept safe in him and the enemy can not harm us. The world is under the control of the evil one but we are under God’s control living in his kingdom.
Lord, help us to stand in righteousness and faith. Draw our nation back to you as you did for Israel.
God told Hosea to go find a wife and she would be a picture of the whoredoms of God’s people. From what I found in research, Gomer (which means “completion”) was not a prostitute at the beginning just like Israel was not a prostitute at Sinai when God gave her the law which was his marriage contract to her. Israel became a prostitute as Gomer did after the birth of their third child.
Jereboam II was the king of Israel at the time and Israel was flourishing on the outside though idolatrous on the inside. He died during the 15th year of Uzziah’s reign in Judah and from that time forth every king in Israel worshipped false gods.
Hosea prophecied Israel’s downfall which was unconceivable by human standards since Israel was so powerful and rich at the time.
Hosea and Gomer’s first son’s name was Jezreel because God was going to judge Jezreel and the house of Jehu. “Jezreel” means “God will scatter” and God was going to do that very thing to Israel. Jezreel had been Ahab’s royal city. With the help of Jezebel, Ahab had killed Naboth for his vineyard and led Israel into all sorts of idolatry. Jehu had ridden like a mad man into Jezreel and killed Jezebel and all of Ahab’s family. Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel but fell into worshipping the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up.
Gomer had a second son and named him Lo-Rumah which means “not loved”. Then, Gomer had a daughter and named her “Lo-Ammi” which means “you are not my people and I am not your God.” This was God’ proclamation over Israel.
Hosea gave the people an allegory to be a picture to them of their idolatrous heart. Israel had chosen to leave God and go after other lovers. She did not realize it was the Lord who caused her to prosper and gave her all the things she had. So now, God was going to take his blessings back and she would be punished for her sin. But then, God would draw her back with love and tenderness and she would return with a new heart to love the Lord.
Like Israel, Gomer had left and committed adultery. God told Hosea to go buy her back just like he would buy Israel back with the price of his son’s blood. God promised to bless her and be her husband once again.
In First John we read that we are to overcome the world because of our faith and belief in Jesus as the son of God.
Jesus came by both water and blood. He was born like us in the water of his mother’s womb, but God’s blood ran through his veins. Jesus also came in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ birth, the Holy Spirit and God all testify that Jesus is his son and in him we have eternal life.
He tells us once again, if we are born of God we will not continue to sin because we are kept safe in him and the enemy can not harm us. The world is under the control of the evil one but we are under God’s control living in his kingdom.
Lord, help us to stand in righteousness and faith. Draw our nation back to you as you did for Israel.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Wed.’s Devo - The End of the Antichrist
Read: Daniel 11:36-12:13; 1 John 4:1-21; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 29:2-4
The king who does what he pleases is Antiochus who typifies the Antichrist in the end. He is the seventh head of the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of Rev. 13:1-18. He is also the “beast of Armageddon (Rev. 16:13,16; 19:19). The man who is Pope at that time will be the false Messiah or the false prophet who will exalt himself above every god.
Antiochus proclaimed himself to be Jupiter Olympius (Satan) and gave this god in him the credit of all his accomplishments and spoke horrible blasphemies against God. Antiochus forbade the worship of Jehovah or any other god. He attacked the temple of the Syrian Venus which was worshipped by the women.
To honor his “God of forces,” -Jupiter- he began to erect a temple at Antioch. This Jupiter had other guardians or saints that were his followers of whom Antiochus honored with gold.
With the help of this god - Jupiter, Antiochus was able to be successful against Jerusalem, Sidon, Pelusium and Memphis.
In verse 40 “the king of the south” referred to the Arabs who stopped the Greek emperor, Herclius from taking Egypt and Syria. But, the Turks from the “north” destroyed the Greek empire. They rode on horses and they had the greatest naval power of their times. They "overflowed" Western Asia, and then "passed over" into Europe, making Constantinople their capital, under Mohammed II. Antiochus marched against Ptolemy, stopping to wreak havoc on the Jews, but did not meddle with Edom, Moab, and Ammon on the side of Judea. The Turks under Selim entered Jerusalem on their way to Egypt, and retain "the glorious land" of Palestine to this day. They never could conquer the Arabs, who are a type of Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
At the end of Antiochus’ reign, (representing the end of the Antichrist’s reign) Michael, Israel’s guardian angel arises on the scene.
Like Antiochus, Satan will unleash unhindered and evil like we have never seen before on the earth. God’s people will be delivered and those who refused to worship the antichrist will be spared.
The dead will rise from their graves and those who knew the Lord and followed him will live on the earth for the thousand years. The unbelievers who had died will continue to sleep until the judgment at the end of the millennium.
Daniel then sees two angels and asks them how long will this suffering last. He is referring to his time but the angels are referring to both his day and the last day. They answer “times, times and half a time” which is prophetically three and a half years.
Three and a half years represents the idea of a spiritual trial. It is 1260 days. In the natural world, Satan plays out this copy of what God was doing. Mohammed came out of his cave to take the world the same year that Phocas was made the next Pope and called himself the “Universal Pastor.” This was a picture of Satan putting this feet on the East (Mohammed) and the West (the Pope in Rome). For three and a half years the world power will be ruled by earthly kingdoms. The two witnesses prophecy for 1260 days and remain unburied for three and a half days. The woman in the wilderness is there for three and a half times (Rev. 11:3,9 11, 12:6, 14).
We are given two other numbers 1,290 and 1,335. From the day that Antiochus profaned the temple to the day that Judas Maccabee restored worship to Jerusalem was 1290 days. Forty-five days later, making it 1,335 days - Antiochus died ending the Jews calamities.
In John we learn the litmus test of a true and false prophet. A false prophet will deny that Jesus came in the flesh. The world sees from their perspective and can only see that way but a spiritual Christian sees from God’s perspective and knows truth. Another test of a true Christian is their love for one another because Christ’s spirit lives in them.
The king who does what he pleases is Antiochus who typifies the Antichrist in the end. He is the seventh head of the seven-headed and ten-horned beast of Rev. 13:1-18. He is also the “beast of Armageddon (Rev. 16:13,16; 19:19). The man who is Pope at that time will be the false Messiah or the false prophet who will exalt himself above every god.
Antiochus proclaimed himself to be Jupiter Olympius (Satan) and gave this god in him the credit of all his accomplishments and spoke horrible blasphemies against God. Antiochus forbade the worship of Jehovah or any other god. He attacked the temple of the Syrian Venus which was worshipped by the women.
To honor his “God of forces,” -Jupiter- he began to erect a temple at Antioch. This Jupiter had other guardians or saints that were his followers of whom Antiochus honored with gold.
With the help of this god - Jupiter, Antiochus was able to be successful against Jerusalem, Sidon, Pelusium and Memphis.
In verse 40 “the king of the south” referred to the Arabs who stopped the Greek emperor, Herclius from taking Egypt and Syria. But, the Turks from the “north” destroyed the Greek empire. They rode on horses and they had the greatest naval power of their times. They "overflowed" Western Asia, and then "passed over" into Europe, making Constantinople their capital, under Mohammed II. Antiochus marched against Ptolemy, stopping to wreak havoc on the Jews, but did not meddle with Edom, Moab, and Ammon on the side of Judea. The Turks under Selim entered Jerusalem on their way to Egypt, and retain "the glorious land" of Palestine to this day. They never could conquer the Arabs, who are a type of Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
At the end of Antiochus’ reign, (representing the end of the Antichrist’s reign) Michael, Israel’s guardian angel arises on the scene.
Like Antiochus, Satan will unleash unhindered and evil like we have never seen before on the earth. God’s people will be delivered and those who refused to worship the antichrist will be spared.
The dead will rise from their graves and those who knew the Lord and followed him will live on the earth for the thousand years. The unbelievers who had died will continue to sleep until the judgment at the end of the millennium.
Daniel then sees two angels and asks them how long will this suffering last. He is referring to his time but the angels are referring to both his day and the last day. They answer “times, times and half a time” which is prophetically three and a half years.
Three and a half years represents the idea of a spiritual trial. It is 1260 days. In the natural world, Satan plays out this copy of what God was doing. Mohammed came out of his cave to take the world the same year that Phocas was made the next Pope and called himself the “Universal Pastor.” This was a picture of Satan putting this feet on the East (Mohammed) and the West (the Pope in Rome). For three and a half years the world power will be ruled by earthly kingdoms. The two witnesses prophecy for 1260 days and remain unburied for three and a half days. The woman in the wilderness is there for three and a half times (Rev. 11:3,9 11, 12:6, 14).
We are given two other numbers 1,290 and 1,335. From the day that Antiochus profaned the temple to the day that Judas Maccabee restored worship to Jerusalem was 1290 days. Forty-five days later, making it 1,335 days - Antiochus died ending the Jews calamities.
In John we learn the litmus test of a true and false prophet. A false prophet will deny that Jesus came in the flesh. The world sees from their perspective and can only see that way but a spiritual Christian sees from God’s perspective and knows truth. Another test of a true Christian is their love for one another because Christ’s spirit lives in them.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Tue.’s Devo - Daniel Fulfilled in History
Read: Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 1:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1
Michael continues his talk with Daniel and tells him of the next three kings which were Ahasurus, Artaxerxes, and Darius. The fourth was Esther’s Xerxes. During his reign Persia reached it’s height. But one greater than him took over the world named Alexander the Great from Greece. His kingdom became divided into four parts and eventually was overthrown by the king of the South: Ptolemy Soter. Seleucus was his first satrap who became stronger than the king (vs. 5).
Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt wanted to end his war with Antiochus Theus, "king of the north" (Syria) so he gave Berenice to Antiochus, who divorced his former wife, Laodice, and disinherited her son, Seleucus Callinicus.
When Ptolemy died, Antiochus took back his former wife, Laodice. She then poisoned him, and caused Berenice and her son to be put to death, and raised her own son, Seleucus Nicator, to the throne. (Talk about a good soap opera!)
Ptolemy Euergetes, the brother of Berenice, succeeding in the place Ptolemyof Philadelphus, and avenged her death by overrunning Syria, to the Euphrates River (vs. 7).
When Ptolemy heard what happened in Egypt, he returned with silver and all sorts of treasures including Egyptian idols making the Egyptians very grateful (vs. 8). His sons were Seleucus Ceranunus and Antiochus the Great. Seleucus fell off his horse and died but his brother fought and recovered the land of Syria from Antiochus. He gave him a four month truce but then returned. Instead of capturing of the whole of Syria, he made peace with Antiochus and fell into great sin. He lost power and profaned the temple of God by entering the holy place (vs. 12).
He returned 14 years later to make war with Ptolemy Epiphanes who was only a child. The king of Macedon (Phillip) joined Antiochus against Epiphanes. Many Jews helped Antiochus with provisions, which helped God fulfill his purpose (vs. 14), though it failed to make Judea independent which was their goal. Antiochus the Great, the king of the north met Antiochus and was defeated. Instead of giving Judah back their land, he made Judea the headquarters of his military operations. Antiochus gave Epiphanes his daughter, Cleopatra, in marriage along with the promise of Syria and Judea as a dowry to have peace with Rome. He hoped his daughter would gain territory for him but she sided with her husband and he had to fight for territory he wanted. He took the isles of the Aegean from the Romans. He and his soldiers were killed trying to rob the temple of Jupiter by night to pay the tribute imposed by Rome. His son, Seleucus was made king in his stead. Seluecus sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple. After reigning for 12 years, Heliodorus tried to usurp the kingdom from Seluecus by poisoning him. Instead, Antiochus Ephiphanes, Seleucus’ brother succeeded the throne.
Antiochus Ephiphanes was considered a madman. He would carouse with the lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly jest and throw stones at passers-by.
He took Egypt with craft and power. Under the guise of friendship he would move into a territory with a small army but then master it and take it by force. He subdued Jerusalem also but the time was limited by God.
He was a type of the Antichrist. He defended the priests who worshipped saints and strange gods. He worshipped Jupiter. and ruled over the Jews, dividing their land.
For time’s sake I’m going to skip to the end. Antiochus desecrated the holy ground of Jerusalem by bringing in Roman gods, constructing Muslim mosques, but in the end he will be brought down to hell.
John encourages us to walk in righteousness. It is our rightful inheritance. We are no longer slaves to sin but sons of righteousness. Our righteousness is our confidence that we are God’s children.
Lord, help us to walk in your righteousness with confidence and power knowing that it is Christ in us!
Michael continues his talk with Daniel and tells him of the next three kings which were Ahasurus, Artaxerxes, and Darius. The fourth was Esther’s Xerxes. During his reign Persia reached it’s height. But one greater than him took over the world named Alexander the Great from Greece. His kingdom became divided into four parts and eventually was overthrown by the king of the South: Ptolemy Soter. Seleucus was his first satrap who became stronger than the king (vs. 5).
Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt wanted to end his war with Antiochus Theus, "king of the north" (Syria) so he gave Berenice to Antiochus, who divorced his former wife, Laodice, and disinherited her son, Seleucus Callinicus.
When Ptolemy died, Antiochus took back his former wife, Laodice. She then poisoned him, and caused Berenice and her son to be put to death, and raised her own son, Seleucus Nicator, to the throne. (Talk about a good soap opera!)
Ptolemy Euergetes, the brother of Berenice, succeeding in the place Ptolemyof Philadelphus, and avenged her death by overrunning Syria, to the Euphrates River (vs. 7).
When Ptolemy heard what happened in Egypt, he returned with silver and all sorts of treasures including Egyptian idols making the Egyptians very grateful (vs. 8). His sons were Seleucus Ceranunus and Antiochus the Great. Seleucus fell off his horse and died but his brother fought and recovered the land of Syria from Antiochus. He gave him a four month truce but then returned. Instead of capturing of the whole of Syria, he made peace with Antiochus and fell into great sin. He lost power and profaned the temple of God by entering the holy place (vs. 12).
He returned 14 years later to make war with Ptolemy Epiphanes who was only a child. The king of Macedon (Phillip) joined Antiochus against Epiphanes. Many Jews helped Antiochus with provisions, which helped God fulfill his purpose (vs. 14), though it failed to make Judea independent which was their goal. Antiochus the Great, the king of the north met Antiochus and was defeated. Instead of giving Judah back their land, he made Judea the headquarters of his military operations. Antiochus gave Epiphanes his daughter, Cleopatra, in marriage along with the promise of Syria and Judea as a dowry to have peace with Rome. He hoped his daughter would gain territory for him but she sided with her husband and he had to fight for territory he wanted. He took the isles of the Aegean from the Romans. He and his soldiers were killed trying to rob the temple of Jupiter by night to pay the tribute imposed by Rome. His son, Seleucus was made king in his stead. Seluecus sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple. After reigning for 12 years, Heliodorus tried to usurp the kingdom from Seluecus by poisoning him. Instead, Antiochus Ephiphanes, Seleucus’ brother succeeded the throne.
Antiochus Ephiphanes was considered a madman. He would carouse with the lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly jest and throw stones at passers-by.
He took Egypt with craft and power. Under the guise of friendship he would move into a territory with a small army but then master it and take it by force. He subdued Jerusalem also but the time was limited by God.
He was a type of the Antichrist. He defended the priests who worshipped saints and strange gods. He worshipped Jupiter. and ruled over the Jews, dividing their land.
For time’s sake I’m going to skip to the end. Antiochus desecrated the holy ground of Jerusalem by bringing in Roman gods, constructing Muslim mosques, but in the end he will be brought down to hell.
John encourages us to walk in righteousness. It is our rightful inheritance. We are no longer slaves to sin but sons of righteousness. Our righteousness is our confidence that we are God’s children.
Lord, help us to walk in your righteousness with confidence and power knowing that it is Christ in us!
Monday, December 2, 2019
Mon.’s Devo - Daniel’s Seventy Weeks
Read: Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28
Daniel was a true intercessor for his nation. He identified with their sin as if he had transgressed God’s laws, when, in truth, he was one of the only one who kept them. He prayed for forgiveness as if he was a guilty as they were. That is what Jesus did for us on the cross.
While Daniel was repenting for himself and his people, Gabriel appeared before him and told him he was greatly loved then he gave him a vision of what was going to happen in the future. From the time that it was decreed that Jerusalem would be rebuilt until the Messiah comes would be sixty-nine weeks. It would be rebuilt during troubled times. Then Messiah would be cut off, and the city destroyed. There would be desolations from then until the final war. There would be another week and in the middle of that week where the sacrifices would cease and the Anti-Christ would set up an abomination that caused desolation.
In Chapter 10, Daniel got understanding about the great war at the end. Daniel fasted for 21 days and at the end of his fast he saw a vision of a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs were like the gleam of burnish bronze and his voice was like the sound of a multitude. Daniel fell down before the man and the men with him ran in fear. They hadn’t seen anything, but were filled with terror.
The man set Daniel up on his feet and told him how loved and favored he was. The angel explained that the prince of Persia had withstood his coming.
Every nation or peoples has a principality over it. Since Daniel was in Persia, the principality of Persia didn’t want Michael coming into his territory. The principality of Persia was about to be displaced by the principality of Greece. Michael announced that he was Daniel’s principality.
In First John, John gives encouragement to us who are living in the last days. The goal of the anti-christs throughout scripture is to deceive the saints. It will be the same of the last Anti-christ. We have been anointed with the Holy Spirit of truth which is in us. If we hold on to the Holy Spirit, we will not be led astray or fall into sin. No one who lives in him or knows Jesus will keep on sinning.
Daniel was a true intercessor for his nation. He identified with their sin as if he had transgressed God’s laws, when, in truth, he was one of the only one who kept them. He prayed for forgiveness as if he was a guilty as they were. That is what Jesus did for us on the cross.
While Daniel was repenting for himself and his people, Gabriel appeared before him and told him he was greatly loved then he gave him a vision of what was going to happen in the future. From the time that it was decreed that Jerusalem would be rebuilt until the Messiah comes would be sixty-nine weeks. It would be rebuilt during troubled times. Then Messiah would be cut off, and the city destroyed. There would be desolations from then until the final war. There would be another week and in the middle of that week where the sacrifices would cease and the Anti-Christ would set up an abomination that caused desolation.
In Chapter 10, Daniel got understanding about the great war at the end. Daniel fasted for 21 days and at the end of his fast he saw a vision of a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs were like the gleam of burnish bronze and his voice was like the sound of a multitude. Daniel fell down before the man and the men with him ran in fear. They hadn’t seen anything, but were filled with terror.
The man set Daniel up on his feet and told him how loved and favored he was. The angel explained that the prince of Persia had withstood his coming.
Every nation or peoples has a principality over it. Since Daniel was in Persia, the principality of Persia didn’t want Michael coming into his territory. The principality of Persia was about to be displaced by the principality of Greece. Michael announced that he was Daniel’s principality.
In First John, John gives encouragement to us who are living in the last days. The goal of the anti-christs throughout scripture is to deceive the saints. It will be the same of the last Anti-christ. We have been anointed with the Holy Spirit of truth which is in us. If we hold on to the Holy Spirit, we will not be led astray or fall into sin. No one who lives in him or knows Jesus will keep on sinning.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Sun.’s Devo - The Horns -
Read: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26
In the third year of Belshazzar’s reign Daniel had a dream. He was transported to Susa which was not a significant city then but was gong to become the capital of Persia after the reign of Cyrus. As Daniel was standing beside the Ulai Canal he saw a ram with two horns. The two horns were the Medes and the Persians. The longer horn was the Persians which, under the reign of Cyrus, the Persians became more powerful than the Medes. He was represented as the ram in this vision and the bear in the previous. Cyrus came from the east and conquered the land north, south and westward.
Then a goat rose up with a prominent horn between his eyes (vs 5). This was Alexander the Great. He conquered the massive Persian army with his very small army then he was murdered (“broken off”; vs. 8.) Four leaders rose up from every direction: Seleucus - east; Cassandra - west; Ptolemy - south and Lysimachus - north. Out of Greece arose Antiochus Epiphanes, an Old Testament Antichrist. He was insane and loved the arts. He wanted to erect a statue of Zeus to replace Jehovah in Jerusalem. He identified himself as Juniper and wanted everyone to worship him. He made himself the ruler of Jerusalem and Egypt by craft. He ended up sacrificing a pig on the altar of the Lord thus desecrating the altar. He died of worms in the end.
Everything that happened during that time was a precursor of what will happen in the end.
The kingdom that will crush the Anti-christ will be God’s kingdom. Many will be deceived by the Anti-christ but a remnant will remain faithful to God. Just like Alexander’s little army won over the Persian army, God’s people will prevail against the devil’s kingdom. God will destroy the Anti-christ and set up his kingdom on earth where Jesus will be king.
In John we read that we don’t have to sin, but if and when we do, we have an eternal sacrifice that has paid the price for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
If we claim to live in Christ then we must walk as Jesus did. This may sound impossible but all things are possible through Christ. We are called to come up higher and love our brothers, defeat the devil and know the Father.
Lord, this is our desire: to love as you loved, walk as you walked and know as you know.
In the third year of Belshazzar’s reign Daniel had a dream. He was transported to Susa which was not a significant city then but was gong to become the capital of Persia after the reign of Cyrus. As Daniel was standing beside the Ulai Canal he saw a ram with two horns. The two horns were the Medes and the Persians. The longer horn was the Persians which, under the reign of Cyrus, the Persians became more powerful than the Medes. He was represented as the ram in this vision and the bear in the previous. Cyrus came from the east and conquered the land north, south and westward.
Then a goat rose up with a prominent horn between his eyes (vs 5). This was Alexander the Great. He conquered the massive Persian army with his very small army then he was murdered (“broken off”; vs. 8.) Four leaders rose up from every direction: Seleucus - east; Cassandra - west; Ptolemy - south and Lysimachus - north. Out of Greece arose Antiochus Epiphanes, an Old Testament Antichrist. He was insane and loved the arts. He wanted to erect a statue of Zeus to replace Jehovah in Jerusalem. He identified himself as Juniper and wanted everyone to worship him. He made himself the ruler of Jerusalem and Egypt by craft. He ended up sacrificing a pig on the altar of the Lord thus desecrating the altar. He died of worms in the end.
Everything that happened during that time was a precursor of what will happen in the end.
The kingdom that will crush the Anti-christ will be God’s kingdom. Many will be deceived by the Anti-christ but a remnant will remain faithful to God. Just like Alexander’s little army won over the Persian army, God’s people will prevail against the devil’s kingdom. God will destroy the Anti-christ and set up his kingdom on earth where Jesus will be king.
In John we read that we don’t have to sin, but if and when we do, we have an eternal sacrifice that has paid the price for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
If we claim to live in Christ then we must walk as Jesus did. This may sound impossible but all things are possible through Christ. We are called to come up higher and love our brothers, defeat the devil and know the Father.
Lord, this is our desire: to love as you loved, walk as you walked and know as you know.
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