Read: Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176; Proverbs 28:23-24
Daniel had a strange dream and didn’t pass it off as a pizza dream. He wrote it down which is what we should do when we have strange dreams or any dream. Some dreams are junk mail but most dreams have meaning.
Daniel dreamed of a storm on the sea. Four different beasts came out of the sea. The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. Its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground to stand on two feet like a man with the heart of a man. The second beast looked like a bear raised up on one for its sides with three ribs in its mouth. It was told to get up and eat the flesh on the earth.
The third looked like a leopard with four wings. This beast had four heads and was given authority to rule. The fourth beast was terrifying and powerful with iron teeth and ten horns. It devoured and trampled its victims. As Daniel looked at the horns he saw another horn which started out small and uprooted three of the horns. This horn had eyes an a mouth of a man.
Then the Ancient of Days in all his glory and splendor sat on his throne. All of the beasts were stripped of their power and the last beasts with the horns was thrown into the fire. The other beasts were allowed to live for a time.
Next he saw the son of man come down with the clouds of heaven and approach the throne. He was given power and authority and people from every nation worshipped him. He was given an everlasting kingdom that would not be destroyed.
Daniel was given the interpretation. The four beasts were the four kingdoms that would run the earth but the last kingdom was the kingdom of salvation that comes through the blood of Jesus.
Daniel asked about the last beast and found that it was the last kingdom that would reign on the earth. It would consist of ten kingdoms but one leader would rise above them all. He would try to change the times and the laws of God. This man would the the Anti-Christ.
God will judge him and the kingdoms and their power will be taken away and the rule of the earth will be given to God’s people and Jesus will be the king.
John spoke as an eye-witness to the life and light of Jesus. We have never seen Jesus in the flesh but we can see him through the eyes of faith. If we walk in the light of the Word, and his spirit is in us then we will have fellowship with one another an will be purified from all sin.
Lord, it is exciting to live in your light and not have to fear the future.
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Friday, November 29, 2019
Fri.’s Devo - Good Wins in the End!
Read: Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 28:21-22
The story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den is one of our favorites. It is right up there with David and Goliath. It is the perfect story. The hero is so worthy of being a hero and everything turns out good in the end. I can’t help comparing this to what is happening in our government right now. They keep trying to find some offense to bring down our president and it is not going to work because God has placed him where he is for our good.
Daniel was an exceptional man. He had served faithfully under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Belshazzar had elevated Daniel to third in his kingdom the night Darius rode into town and took over. But, Belshazzar also recognized his qualities of being trustworthy and diligent and had plans to set Daniel over his whole kingdom. Belshazzar had 120 satraps that ruled throughout his kingdom and Daniel was one of them. The other satraps got wind that Daniel was going to be promoted above them and came up with a plan to put him out of the running. They wanted him dead.
The only thing they could pin him on was his faith in God so they flattered the king into making a law that if anyone prayed to any god but him for the next thirty days, they would be thrown into the lion’s den.
Daniel prayed three times a day in his own house bowing towards Jerusalem. The ones who wanted to frame him knew this and caught him. They brought him before the king and reminded the king of his decree. The king was distraught and tried to think of any way to save Daniel but couldn’t find a loop hole. When he escorted Daniel to the lion’s den he told him he hoped that his god could rescue him. The king spent the night in agony and unrest.
The next morning the king ran to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel, asking him if his god had been able to rescue him. Daniel responded that God had sent his angel to shut their mouths. The king was elated and had him brought out of the den and threw his accusers and their families in instead. The hungry lions ate them before they touched the ground. Then King Darius wrote a new decree that everyone must fear and reverence Daniel’s God because he was the eternal living God. This is quite a statement coming from a king who was believed to be a god himself!
Daniel prospered during his reign and during Cyrus’ reign.
Peter wrote to believers to encourage them to not lose hope in Jesus’ return. He is coming back and it will be right on time. He gives us a clue: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. We will be here for six days and the seventh will be the millennial of rest. According to the Hebrew calendar we are at 5880 so we still have 120 years if their calendar is right. The thing we have to remember is that Jesus will not come as a thief to us (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Those looking for his returning will go in the rapture, those left behind will go through tribulation. To the ones that don’t repent, Jesus will come as a thief.
Lord, stimulate us to wholesome thinking and give us your thoughts. Help us to see our lives from your perspective and not our own. Your ways are higher!
The story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den is one of our favorites. It is right up there with David and Goliath. It is the perfect story. The hero is so worthy of being a hero and everything turns out good in the end. I can’t help comparing this to what is happening in our government right now. They keep trying to find some offense to bring down our president and it is not going to work because God has placed him where he is for our good.
Daniel was an exceptional man. He had served faithfully under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Belshazzar had elevated Daniel to third in his kingdom the night Darius rode into town and took over. But, Belshazzar also recognized his qualities of being trustworthy and diligent and had plans to set Daniel over his whole kingdom. Belshazzar had 120 satraps that ruled throughout his kingdom and Daniel was one of them. The other satraps got wind that Daniel was going to be promoted above them and came up with a plan to put him out of the running. They wanted him dead.
The only thing they could pin him on was his faith in God so they flattered the king into making a law that if anyone prayed to any god but him for the next thirty days, they would be thrown into the lion’s den.
Daniel prayed three times a day in his own house bowing towards Jerusalem. The ones who wanted to frame him knew this and caught him. They brought him before the king and reminded the king of his decree. The king was distraught and tried to think of any way to save Daniel but couldn’t find a loop hole. When he escorted Daniel to the lion’s den he told him he hoped that his god could rescue him. The king spent the night in agony and unrest.
The next morning the king ran to the lion’s den and called out to Daniel, asking him if his god had been able to rescue him. Daniel responded that God had sent his angel to shut their mouths. The king was elated and had him brought out of the den and threw his accusers and their families in instead. The hungry lions ate them before they touched the ground. Then King Darius wrote a new decree that everyone must fear and reverence Daniel’s God because he was the eternal living God. This is quite a statement coming from a king who was believed to be a god himself!
Daniel prospered during his reign and during Cyrus’ reign.
Peter wrote to believers to encourage them to not lose hope in Jesus’ return. He is coming back and it will be right on time. He gives us a clue: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. We will be here for six days and the seventh will be the millennial of rest. According to the Hebrew calendar we are at 5880 so we still have 120 years if their calendar is right. The thing we have to remember is that Jesus will not come as a thief to us (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Those looking for his returning will go in the rapture, those left behind will go through tribulation. To the ones that don’t repent, Jesus will come as a thief.
Lord, stimulate us to wholesome thinking and give us your thoughts. Help us to see our lives from your perspective and not our own. Your ways are higher!
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Thurs.’s Devo - The Writing on the Wall
Read: Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 28:19-20
Nebuchadnezzar died and left his kingdom to his son, Belshazzar. Belshazzar didn’t learn from his father’s mistakes so he was full of pride. He had a banquet and had his officials bring out the gold and silver goblets his father had taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem and they drank wine from them. Immediately God responded with a message he wrote himself on the wall. All that was visible to the human eye was God’s hand writing the message. It scared Belshazzar so much he turned pale and his knees knocked together. He called in all his wise men but they couldn’t interpret the words.
His mother remembered Daniel and how he had helped her husband with dreams and interpretations so he told Belshazzar about him. Daniel was called in and immediately knew the meaning. He rebuked Belshazzar for his pride and for not learning from his father’s mistakes then told him that the meaning of the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin meant that his reign had been measured and was brought to an end. It would be divided between the Medes and the Persians.
Belshazzar had promised Daniel a purple robe, a gold chain and the position of third in his kingdom. Daniel had told him he could keep his gifts but when he interpreted the words, Belshazzar was obligated. Daniel was given a purple robe, a gold chain and a position of third in the kingdom. That night Belshazzar was killed and the Medes and the Persians took his kingdom under the rule of Darius the Mede.
Peter said that those that introduce destructive heresies that deny the sovereign Lord bring swift destruction on them selves.
God will repay false teachers who make up stories to gain followers. God didn’t spare the angels when they sinned and followed Satan and he will not spare them, nor the ungodly people during the days of Noah, nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah during the time of Abraham. He will rescue his godly from trials but hold the unrighteous for judgment.
It will not go well for those who deceive the children of God. A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him so these false teachers are slaves to Satan and his lies. If these false teachers were once Christians it will be even worse for them in judgment.
Lord, the wages of sin is death, but the fruit of righteousness is life everlasting. Thank you for eternal life!
Nebuchadnezzar died and left his kingdom to his son, Belshazzar. Belshazzar didn’t learn from his father’s mistakes so he was full of pride. He had a banquet and had his officials bring out the gold and silver goblets his father had taken from God’s temple in Jerusalem and they drank wine from them. Immediately God responded with a message he wrote himself on the wall. All that was visible to the human eye was God’s hand writing the message. It scared Belshazzar so much he turned pale and his knees knocked together. He called in all his wise men but they couldn’t interpret the words.
His mother remembered Daniel and how he had helped her husband with dreams and interpretations so he told Belshazzar about him. Daniel was called in and immediately knew the meaning. He rebuked Belshazzar for his pride and for not learning from his father’s mistakes then told him that the meaning of the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin meant that his reign had been measured and was brought to an end. It would be divided between the Medes and the Persians.
Belshazzar had promised Daniel a purple robe, a gold chain and the position of third in his kingdom. Daniel had told him he could keep his gifts but when he interpreted the words, Belshazzar was obligated. Daniel was given a purple robe, a gold chain and a position of third in the kingdom. That night Belshazzar was killed and the Medes and the Persians took his kingdom under the rule of Darius the Mede.
Peter said that those that introduce destructive heresies that deny the sovereign Lord bring swift destruction on them selves.
God will repay false teachers who make up stories to gain followers. God didn’t spare the angels when they sinned and followed Satan and he will not spare them, nor the ungodly people during the days of Noah, nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah during the time of Abraham. He will rescue his godly from trials but hold the unrighteous for judgment.
It will not go well for those who deceive the children of God. A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him so these false teachers are slaves to Satan and his lies. If these false teachers were once Christians it will be even worse for them in judgment.
Lord, the wages of sin is death, but the fruit of righteousness is life everlasting. Thank you for eternal life!
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Wed.’s Devo - The Tree
Read: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Provers 28:17-18
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream but this time he told his wise men the dream. When they couldn’t interpret it, he called in Daniel because he knew Daniel could.
He had dreamed of a huge beautiful fruitful tree that touched the sky. An angel from heaven gave the decree to cut down the tree and leave only a stump. Its roots were to bound with iron and bronze and remain in the field. The tree was to be left to live with the animals and its mind changed from that of a man to that of an animal till 7 times passed by.
Daniel interpreted the tree to be Nebuchadnezzar. He had grown mighty and proud. He would be cut down and driven from humanity to live with animals. He would have to be chained because he would lose his mind. He would remain insane for seven years. Then he would regain his sanity when he realized that God was the king over the earth. Then his kingdom would be returned to him.
Twelve months later, as Nebuchadnezzar was walking on his roof and looking over his kingdom, he praised his own power and what he had done and immediately the dream came to life. He had to be driven from his kingdom and chained in the field like an animal. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails looked like the claws of a bird. After 7 years, he humbled himself and praised God and his sanity returned. He was restored to be greater than before but more humble.
Peter reminds us that God has given us everything we need to overcome evil and live a life of godliness. His Word is full of promises that enable us to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
He gave us characteristics we should walk in: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we keep increasing in these characteristics our walk will be affective and productive.
Peter reminded them of the prophesies that had been spoken long ago and how they had seen them manifest in their own lives. They heard the voice of God speaking from the mountain on the day they saw Jesus transfigured in glory. They were to remember these things so they wouldn’t lose their faith.
God has given all of us things in our lives that we can go back to to build our faith.
Lord help us to remember all the answered prayers and miracles that you have done in our lives. We set our goal of finishing our race strong in your power and love.
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream but this time he told his wise men the dream. When they couldn’t interpret it, he called in Daniel because he knew Daniel could.
He had dreamed of a huge beautiful fruitful tree that touched the sky. An angel from heaven gave the decree to cut down the tree and leave only a stump. Its roots were to bound with iron and bronze and remain in the field. The tree was to be left to live with the animals and its mind changed from that of a man to that of an animal till 7 times passed by.
Daniel interpreted the tree to be Nebuchadnezzar. He had grown mighty and proud. He would be cut down and driven from humanity to live with animals. He would have to be chained because he would lose his mind. He would remain insane for seven years. Then he would regain his sanity when he realized that God was the king over the earth. Then his kingdom would be returned to him.
Twelve months later, as Nebuchadnezzar was walking on his roof and looking over his kingdom, he praised his own power and what he had done and immediately the dream came to life. He had to be driven from his kingdom and chained in the field like an animal. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails looked like the claws of a bird. After 7 years, he humbled himself and praised God and his sanity returned. He was restored to be greater than before but more humble.
Peter reminds us that God has given us everything we need to overcome evil and live a life of godliness. His Word is full of promises that enable us to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
He gave us characteristics we should walk in: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we keep increasing in these characteristics our walk will be affective and productive.
Peter reminded them of the prophesies that had been spoken long ago and how they had seen them manifest in their own lives. They heard the voice of God speaking from the mountain on the day they saw Jesus transfigured in glory. They were to remember these things so they wouldn’t lose their faith.
God has given all of us things in our lives that we can go back to to build our faith.
Lord help us to remember all the answered prayers and miracles that you have done in our lives. We set our goal of finishing our race strong in your power and love.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Tues.’s Devo - Deliverance From 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 before the king and told him that what he had asked of the wise men was something that no human could do, but their was a God in heaven who knew everything and he had told Daniel the dream and its interpretation. He then told the king that he had dreams the future. He had seen a huge statue with a head of gold, shoulder and chest of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A huge rock cut by God struck the statue at its feet and the whole statue fell into peices and dust which the wind blew away. The rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Then Daniel interpreted the dream. The head was Nebuchadnezzar. The other parts working from the top own were coming kingdoms that would arise. In the end there would be two that were divided. The rock was God’s kingdom that would crush all of them.
When King Nebuchadnezzar hear Daniel’s words he fell down prostrate before Daniel and recognized Daniel’s god as the God of gods and Lord of kings. He promoted Daniel to a high position and gave him many gifts. He was made a ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed in charge of the wise men. Daniel requested that his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be administrators over Babylon while he sat at the royal court.
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image 90 feet high and 9 feel wide and had a huge dedication. He made a decreee that when the trumpet blew everyone was to bow down and worship or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Some of the jealous wise men took note that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow. They brought them before the king and when questioned they told the king that they could never bow before the stature but only to God. They were sentenced to die in the fire. Before they entered they told the king that their God was able to deliver them but if he didn’t they would not bow. This only made the king madder so he had the fire heated 7 times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the men that threw them into the fire burnt alive. But as the king watched he noticed 4 men walking unaffected in the fire. He was so astonished he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out. They came out with no smell of smoke on them and no burns. He then praised their God and decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be cut to pieces.
Peter warned the people that the time of the end was near. We are nearer than them. He tells us to keep our conscience clear and walk in self-control so we can pray. We are to love like Jesus loved and rejoice when we suffer for Christ’s sake. If we are elders we should serve the people with meekness and humility. We are to cast all our cares on Jesus because God’s hand is mighty to deliver us and give us peace.
Lord, we thank you that you save us from all our fiery trials and set us on solid ground. You are always faithful.
Daniel went before the king and told him that what he had asked of the wise men was something that no human could do, but their was a God in heaven who knew everything and he had told Daniel the dream and its interpretation. He then told the king that he had dreams the future. He had seen a huge statue with a head of gold, shoulder and chest of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A huge rock cut by God struck the statue at its feet and the whole statue fell into peices and dust which the wind blew away. The rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
Then Daniel interpreted the dream. The head was Nebuchadnezzar. The other parts working from the top own were coming kingdoms that would arise. In the end there would be two that were divided. The rock was God’s kingdom that would crush all of them.
When King Nebuchadnezzar hear Daniel’s words he fell down prostrate before Daniel and recognized Daniel’s god as the God of gods and Lord of kings. He promoted Daniel to a high position and gave him many gifts. He was made a ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed in charge of the wise men. Daniel requested that his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be administrators over Babylon while he sat at the royal court.
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image 90 feet high and 9 feel wide and had a huge dedication. He made a decreee that when the trumpet blew everyone was to bow down and worship or they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. Some of the jealous wise men took note that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow. They brought them before the king and when questioned they told the king that they could never bow before the stature but only to God. They were sentenced to die in the fire. Before they entered they told the king that their God was able to deliver them but if he didn’t they would not bow. This only made the king madder so he had the fire heated 7 times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the men that threw them into the fire burnt alive. But as the king watched he noticed 4 men walking unaffected in the fire. He was so astonished he called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out. They came out with no smell of smoke on them and no burns. He then praised their God and decreed that anyone who spoke against their God would be cut to pieces.
Peter warned the people that the time of the end was near. We are nearer than them. He tells us to keep our conscience clear and walk in self-control so we can pray. We are to love like Jesus loved and rejoice when we suffer for Christ’s sake. If we are elders we should serve the people with meekness and humility. We are to cast all our cares on Jesus because God’s hand is mighty to deliver us and give us peace.
Lord, we thank you that you save us from all our fiery trials and set us on solid ground. You are always faithful.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Mon.’s Devo - The Tests
Read: Daniel 1:1-2:23; 1 Peter 3:8-4:6; Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 28:14
Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Michael, and Asariah were taken to Babylon in the first group Nebuchadnezzar took. They were the cream of the crop - the young scholars being trained for leadership. In Babylon, they were retrained for three years to learn the laws and customs of Babylon. Daniel and his friends couldn’t be retrained. Daniel asked his overseer, Arioch if he could do a test so he would not have to eat the king’s meat which was unclean meat to a Jew. Arioch agreed to let him only eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days and then be tested. He and his friends tested 10 times wiser than their students. They got rewarded for each day of their test. They were allowed to continue eating vegetables and water.
Even Babylon saw the dignity of not making a person defile their conscience. (Something America could learn from.)
A year later, the king had a disturbing dream he did not understand. He wanted to test his wise men so he told them that they had to tell him the dream and the interpretation or they would be cut into little pieces and their houses torn down. Arioch was assigned to carry out the deed. When none of the wise men could do it, Daniel learned of the dilemma. He asked Arioch to give him a night to pray. He agreed to give him a night. Daniel prayed and God gave him the same dream and the interpretation. The first thing Daniel did was to get on his knees and praise God for hearing his prayer and answering it.
Peter tells us that peace is always to be our goal, but if it is not possible then we are not to repay evil for evil. If we suffer for doing what is right we will be rewarded. We are not to fear what the world fears.
Jesus was put to death on the cross, then descended in to Sheol and preach to the spirits of those who had died during the flood. Only eight had been saved in the flood and the flood was their baptism which cleanses our conscience of our sins and gives us right standing with God. Jesus suffered and did away with sin so that we don’s have to live the rest of our lives for our evil human desires but we can live for the will of God.
Lord, thank you that you give us the key to mysteries and show what is hidden by the Spirit. I thank you that you reveal your mysteries to your children. Thank you for the tests you give us in order to promote us for the next assignment.
Daniel and his friends, Hananiah, Michael, and Asariah were taken to Babylon in the first group Nebuchadnezzar took. They were the cream of the crop - the young scholars being trained for leadership. In Babylon, they were retrained for three years to learn the laws and customs of Babylon. Daniel and his friends couldn’t be retrained. Daniel asked his overseer, Arioch if he could do a test so he would not have to eat the king’s meat which was unclean meat to a Jew. Arioch agreed to let him only eat vegetables and drink water for 10 days and then be tested. He and his friends tested 10 times wiser than their students. They got rewarded for each day of their test. They were allowed to continue eating vegetables and water.
Even Babylon saw the dignity of not making a person defile their conscience. (Something America could learn from.)
A year later, the king had a disturbing dream he did not understand. He wanted to test his wise men so he told them that they had to tell him the dream and the interpretation or they would be cut into little pieces and their houses torn down. Arioch was assigned to carry out the deed. When none of the wise men could do it, Daniel learned of the dilemma. He asked Arioch to give him a night to pray. He agreed to give him a night. Daniel prayed and God gave him the same dream and the interpretation. The first thing Daniel did was to get on his knees and praise God for hearing his prayer and answering it.
Peter tells us that peace is always to be our goal, but if it is not possible then we are not to repay evil for evil. If we suffer for doing what is right we will be rewarded. We are not to fear what the world fears.
Jesus was put to death on the cross, then descended in to Sheol and preach to the spirits of those who had died during the flood. Only eight had been saved in the flood and the flood was their baptism which cleanses our conscience of our sins and gives us right standing with God. Jesus suffered and did away with sin so that we don’s have to live the rest of our lives for our evil human desires but we can live for the will of God.
Lord, thank you that you give us the key to mysteries and show what is hidden by the Spirit. I thank you that you reveal your mysteries to your children. Thank you for the tests you give us in order to promote us for the next assignment.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Sun.’s Devo - The Order of the Tribes
Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13
God took Ezekiel to the eastern side of the temple to observe a river that flowed from the south side (earth) out the eastern gate. He walked through water that got deeper and deeper until his feet couldn’t no longer touch the ground. This was a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the earth. The farther you walk in the Spirit, the more you lose control and he carries you. Life is in the Holy Spirit and it is given to everyone who draws near. You decide how deep you want to go in it.
God’s people are suppose to be the salt of the earth. In the Spirit, the salty become renewed. The trees that are along the sides of the river that bear fruit are the people that choose to get their nourishment in the river of life - the flow of the Spirit. They will bear fruit just like Psalm 1 says about the man who walks in the Spirit. He will bear fruit in every season of life.
God gave Ezekiel the boundaries of his land. The land inside the boundaries was to be divided among the tribes in stripes starting at the top and going south. The top down was: Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Rueben, Judah, then the city where the sanctuary dwells. The Levites were to live in the city to tend to the duties of the temple. The prince would own land on both sides of the temple. The next tribal lands would be owned by Benjamin, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. Every tribe would have their own gate into the city. Rueben, Judah, and Levi would enter the north gates. Joseph, Benjamin and Dan would enter the gates on the east. Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun would enter the gates on the south and Gad, Asher, and Naphtali would enter the western gavels. The name of the city would be “The Lord is There.”
I love First Peter. Whoever told us we had to sin every day had not understood the Bible correctly. Today we read to abstain from sinful desires as if it is totally possible to do that, because it is! If we submit to God’s authority we can walk in righteousness. That is the power that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome our desires and choose God’s. Jesus was our example of how a man with earthly desires could lay them down to follow God and walk in righteousness.
We honor the authority of God by obeying the authorities on earth - even when the authority is harsh and unjust. God will give us grace.
Lord, open truth to us and give us a double measure of your Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness and truth.
God took Ezekiel to the eastern side of the temple to observe a river that flowed from the south side (earth) out the eastern gate. He walked through water that got deeper and deeper until his feet couldn’t no longer touch the ground. This was a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the earth. The farther you walk in the Spirit, the more you lose control and he carries you. Life is in the Holy Spirit and it is given to everyone who draws near. You decide how deep you want to go in it.
God’s people are suppose to be the salt of the earth. In the Spirit, the salty become renewed. The trees that are along the sides of the river that bear fruit are the people that choose to get their nourishment in the river of life - the flow of the Spirit. They will bear fruit just like Psalm 1 says about the man who walks in the Spirit. He will bear fruit in every season of life.
God gave Ezekiel the boundaries of his land. The land inside the boundaries was to be divided among the tribes in stripes starting at the top and going south. The top down was: Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Rueben, Judah, then the city where the sanctuary dwells. The Levites were to live in the city to tend to the duties of the temple. The prince would own land on both sides of the temple. The next tribal lands would be owned by Benjamin, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. Every tribe would have their own gate into the city. Rueben, Judah, and Levi would enter the north gates. Joseph, Benjamin and Dan would enter the gates on the east. Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun would enter the gates on the south and Gad, Asher, and Naphtali would enter the western gavels. The name of the city would be “The Lord is There.”
I love First Peter. Whoever told us we had to sin every day had not understood the Bible correctly. Today we read to abstain from sinful desires as if it is totally possible to do that, because it is! If we submit to God’s authority we can walk in righteousness. That is the power that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome our desires and choose God’s. Jesus was our example of how a man with earthly desires could lay them down to follow God and walk in righteousness.
We honor the authority of God by obeying the authorities on earth - even when the authority is harsh and unjust. God will give us grace.
Lord, open truth to us and give us a double measure of your Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness and truth.
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