Sat.’s Devo - Return to the Lord

Read: Hosea 6:2-9:17; 3 John 1:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 29:12-14 Hosea calls the nation back to the Lord. God sent his prophets to tear them apart with words and threats of judgment. The people, in turn offered sacrifices to appease the Lord, thinking this would be all then needed to do. But, the Lord wanted them to love one another and to know him. Instead, they broke their covenant with the Lord and betrayed his trust. *** Gilead was the land east of the Jordan occupied by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh. God called them a city of sinners and murderers. He called Ephraim and Israel prostitutes because they went after foreign gods. *** Judah was next. God had wanted to restore their fortunes but instead, would have to punish them for their sins. God wanted to heal Israel, but the crimes of Samaria were too great. They thought God wouldn’t see what they did, but he sees them all. *** Israel’s mingling with foreigners and worshipping their gods had made them weak and old. It had made them become silly and unwise. God had wanted to redeem them, but they told lies about him and turned on him. *** God hated the golden calf that Jeroboam set up. He asked them how long they would be incapable of being innocent. He would smash that calf to bits. *** Because of their sins, they will reap destruction, famine and judgment. They would be held accountable for their sins. Nothing they try will change God’s heart. *** The prophets God sent were to be watchmen over Israel but the people tried to trap them and they were not safe, even in the house of the Lord. *** The glory of the Lord would leave them. They would have difficulty in having children and the ones they did have would be taken from them. *** God declared that their sin began at Gilgal which was where Joshua had had the tribes put their stone to remind them that God had delivered them out of Egypt. Saul was crowned king there and it was the place Saul sinned by offering the sacrifice before Samuel arrived. The kings of Uzziah to Hezekiah worshiped the Lord there, but it had become the center of unspiritual worship. *** In Third John, John commended Gaius for being strong in spirit, faithful, hospitable and for following the truth. He spoke of the traveling teachers who John accepted, fed and housed when they were with him. The teachers depended only upon those in the faith for provisions. *** He rebuked Diotrephes who rejected them and not only refused to help the traveling teachers but put anyone who supported them out of the church. *** John told Gaius not to let his bad example influence him. Those who do good prove they are God’s children and those who do evil prove they do not know God. *** Lord, may we be good examples for others to follow. May we provoke others to good works and to know and love you more.

Fri.’s Devo - A Warning From Hosea

Read: Hosea 4:1-5:15; 2 John 1:1-13; Psalm 125:1-5; Proverbs 29:9-11 Hosea let the people know that he and God knew everything they were doing and then he named their sins. He could find no faithfulness, no kindness and no knowledge of God in the land. We know that there were others who were prophesying the same thing and they were not participating in the evil deeds he mentioned, but it was the leaders and most of the people who were. He told them that they couldn’t pass the blame to anyone else, but must examine their own life. *** God was charging the priests with drunkenness and having false prophets. God didn’t recognize them as priests since they were’t worshiping him. They had chosen to worship idols who could’t help them one bit, over the glory of God who was all-powerful and mighty. They had become foolish, causing their daughters and dauther-in-law’s to commit sexual sins. Their men sinned with the temple prostitutes, yet they refused to understand that this was sin. *** Israel was stubborn and since she was bent on idolatry, she would be destroyed. Hosea called out the royal family. They would be judged for leading their nation into idolatry. Their arrogance testified against them. Their false religion would devour them. On the day of judgment they would become ashes as nothing in them would be found worthy to stand. *** When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were, it was too late. God would tear them to pieces and they would not be rescued by anyone. God would wait for the day when they would admit their guilt and turn to him. *** In John, he wrote to Martha because deceivers had come into her home to lead her from the truth. He wanted to warn her not to listen to their doctrine and be influenced to believe their lies. John had met some of the followers from there who were a testimony of how they walked in truth. He reminded them again to walk in love for one another. He also reminded them of the ones who taught that Jesus didn’t appear in the flesh as God. That teaching is anti-christ material. *** The only way to have a relationship with God was to embrace the son, Jesus Christ who came in the flesh and died for our sins. *** Lord, may we stand strong in the truth. Thank you that you are truth and you give us discernment to walk with you. May our lives bless you today.

Thurs.’s Devo - Isreal’s Return from Idolatry

Read: Hosea 1:1-3:5; 1 John 5:1-21; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 29:5-8 Hosea was a prophet who lived during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah and Jehoash of Israel. *** At the beginning of his ministry, the Lord told him to go and marry a prostitute. Some of her children would be conceived in prostitution. This was to be a picture of what Israel had done to the Lord by worshipping other gods. *** Hosea married Gomer and she became pregnant with a son. The Lord named him Jezreel which means “it shall be sown of God” to represent what he was going to do to punish King Jehu’s dynasty. Jehu had murdered Jezebel at Jezreel. God would also end Israel’s independence by defeating their military in the Jezreel Valley. *** Gomer then had a daughter and God said to name her Lo-ruhamah, which means “Not loved”. God would no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them. But, he would show love to the people of Judah. He would free them from the power of their enemies with his power. *** Gomer became pregnant again and had a son. The Lord named him Lo-ammi which means “Not my people”. God was proclaiming that Israel was not his people and he was not their God. *** God said that the day would come when Israel would be so many they would be uncountable. At the same place that God had declared they were not his people, God would say they were children of the living God. Judah and Israel would unite and come together. They would come together like his son and daughter. *** God described Israel as a prostitute that ran after other lovers but could’t catch them. She would become so destitute that she would return to her husband, the Lord, who gave her everything. She had given all God had given her to Baal. *** God would take back all her gifts and provision he had given her and leave her stripped and naked. Everything she depended on would be taken from her. God would then speak to her and woe her back and give her hope. She would call the Lord her husband once again and he would give her peace and safety. He would make her his wife forever and show her his righteousness and justice and unfailing love and compassion. She would be faithful to him and he would make them his own people. They would come to know him as the Lord. *** God told Hosea to go and find his wife and love her again even though she had left him for another lover. Hosea bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. He told her she had to live in his house and stop her prostitution. She would not have sexual relations with anyone, not even Hosea. This would represent the time when Israel would nave no king or any way to sacrifices or worship the Lord. They would return and devote themselves to the Lord. “In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness.” *** John tells us that loving God means loving each other and keeping God’s commands and they are not suppose to be a burden to us. We defeat evil with our faith. God gave us three witnesses to who Jesus was. The first was his baptism when God called out from heaven to say this was his son. The second was his death on the cross and the third was the Holy Spirit who God gave on Pentecost. He reminds us what Jesus says and leads us. God chose to give us eternal life through his Son. He hears us when we ask for things and will give us what we need. *** John speaks of a sin that leads to death and sins that can be repented of. God’s children do not practice sinning because God holds them in his hand and the evil one can’t get to them. The whole world is under the control of the evil one, but we aren’t! We live in fellowship with Christ. *** Thank you for calling us your children and fellowshipping with us. Thank you for the love and security we have in You. May our light shine today in the earth.

Wed.’s Devo - Confidence in God

Read: Daniel 11:36-12:13; 1 John 4:1-21; Psalm 123:1-4; Proverbs 29:2-4 The angel continues his explanation of the end. The king, Antiocus will exalt himself and claim to be the highest God. This is the Antichrist or the 7th head of the 10-horned beast in Revelation 13:1-8. He will not have any respect for other gods. Instead, he will worship the “god of fortresses”. Antiochus built a temple to the Roman god Mahazzim who was a protector god. Antiochus would promote only the men who worshipped this god with him. *** The king of the south (vs. 40) was king of the Saracean Arabs who came from the south and attacked Antiochus. They took Egypt and Syria and were headed to Israel but many came to help Antiochus. Two of his vassals from the north and the east rebelled against him so he went bring them back under his control and died when he returned. *** The archangel Michael stood up and there will be anguish like at no other time in history. At that time, everyone whose name is written in the book will be rescued and rise to meet the Lord in the air. It will be the time of judgment and the books will be opened. Some will be rewarded and some shamed according to how they lived their lives. *** Daniel asked the angels how long until these shocking events will be over. One of them asked the Lord who was standing above the water. He said, “It will be for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.” *** Daniel didn’t understand and he asked how it would finally end. He was told to go for now and keep secret and sealed what he had seen until the end. Many would be cleansed by these trials, but the wicked would continue in their wickedness. Only the wise would know what it means. *** From the time that the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object is set up to be worshiped there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who endure till the end of the 1,335 days. At the end, all the ones who were in the cloud of witnesses will be rewarded. *** From the time that Antiochus offered the pig on the Lord’s altar to the day Judas Maccaeus restored the worship of God was 1,290 days. Forty-five days later, Antiochus died making it 1,335 days. *** In John, he tells us how to tell if a New Testament prophet is from God. If he acknowledges that Jesus came in the flesh. If he doesn’t then he has the spirit of the Antichrist. *** The way to tell if a person is a child of God is if he has love. Only God’s children can love. God has given us his spirit as proof that we are his. *** Since God is love, we who live in him, grow in our love. Love is the opposite of fear so we are not afraid of the judgment that is coming upon all mankind. With confidence, we can live like Jesus did here on earth. *** Lord, thank you for freedom over fear and death. May we with confidence stand for you in this world of craziness. The world may be uncertain, but we know with confidence where we are going and whose we are.

Tues.’s Devo - Daniel’s Vision Explained

Read: Daniel 11:2-35; 1 John 3:7-24; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 29:1 The angel began explaining to Daniel what his vision meant. He went into great detail to describe the four kingdoms he saw. *** Persia ruled at the time and four more Persian kings would come to power: Ahaserus, Artaxerxes, Darius, and Esther’s Xerxes. Then a ruler from Greece (Alexander the Great) rose up and invade Persia and became the next great power. *** The northern kingdoms of Syria and the southern kingdoms of Egypt had years of fighting. Their last rulers, Ptolemy of Egypt and Antiochus of Syria met for the last time, but not before Antiochus went through Jerusalem and entered into the Holy of Holies. *** Amazingly, many Jews joined with Antiochus against Ptolemy and provided him provisions when he came back through Jerusalem to get rid of the Egyptian garrison in Jerusalem. Their hope was to make Judah independent, but it didn’t work. *** Antiochus came up with a plan to conquer Egypt by giving Ptolemy his daughter, Cleopatra hoping that through her, he would gain Egypt. It didn’t work as Cleopatra sided with her husband against her father. Antiochus was finally killed in battle and was succeeded by his son, Seleucus Philopater. *** Meanwhile, Simon a Benjamite who had a vendetta against the high priest, gave information of the treasures in the Jewish temple. Seleucus sent Heliodorus to Jerusalem to plunder the temple. Seleucus' only son and heir, Demetrius, poisoned Seleucus to gain the throne. But Antiochus Epiphanes, Seleucus' brother, by the help of Eumenes, king of Pergamos, succeeded him to the throne in 175 B.C. *** Antiochus was nicknamed Epiphanies, which sounds like the word “Epimanes” which means"the madman," for his insane actions which were beneath the dignity of a king. He would carouse with the lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly jest and throw stones at passerbys. Also for his crafty supplanting of Demetrius, the rightful heir, from the throne, he was termed “vile." He had gotten the kingdom by flattering people of importance to help him. *** Antiochus Epiphanes invaded Egypt with overwhelming forces and took it in 171 B.C. He gained everything except Alexandria, which successfully resisted him. He retired to Judea, where, in revenge for the joy shown by the Jews at the report of his death, which led them to a revolt, he subdued Jerusalem. *** Antiochus invaded Egypt three times (Da 11:29). In his first invasion of Egypt, he entered Egypt with an overwhelming multitude, with chariots, elephants, and cavalry" (1 Maccabees 1:17). Antiochus left Ptolemy Philometer at Memphis as king. On his way back to Syria, he attacked Jerusalem, slew eighty thousand, took forty thousand prisoners, and sold forty thousand as slaves (2 Maccabees 5:5-14). Led by Menelaus, the high priest, he entered the sanctuary with blasphemies, took away the gold and silver vessels, sacrificed swine on the altar, and sprinkled broth of the flesh through the temple (2 Maccabees 5:15-21). *** On his second open invasion of Egypt. Ptolemy hired mercenaries from Greece. Antiochus advanced with a fleet and an army, demanding him to stop and he retired to Egypt and withdrew his fleets from Cyprus. *** On his third invasion, Ptolemy sent Grecian vessels to Cyprus. He was humbled and discouraged through the fear of Rome and the fact that God's worship had been restored at Jerusalem. He turns his wrath on the Jews. Many of the Jews had forsook their religion for Greek philosophy. Antiochus, on his way home, sent Apollonius (167 B.C.) with twenty-two thousand to destroy Jerusalem, two years after its capture by himself. Apollonius slew multitudes, dismantled and pillaged the city. They built a fortress and from it they fell on and slew the worshippers; so that the temple service was discontinued. Also, Antiochus decreed that all, on threat of death, should conform to the Greek religion, and the temple was consecrated to Jupiter Olympius. Identifying himself with that god, and he wished to make his own worship universal (1 Maccabees 1:41; 2 Maccabees 6:7). *** This was the the greatest threat to their worship they had ever faced. This was why the angel was giving them a warning it would happen. It was to comfort the faithful of a Messiah who would come and confirm their covenant with God. *** The third beast was the Romans, who conquered Macedon when Antiochus left Egypt. Rome whose standard was the eagle, the bird of Jupiter, was sacrificed to by Titus' soldiers within the sacred precincts, at the destruction of Jerusalem. The Roman emperor, Adrian erected a temple to Jupiter Capitolinus where the temple of God had stood, A.D. 132. *** Much persecution of the righteous happened then and through it God’s people were be purified, cleansed until the time of the end. *** John gives us a test to tell who are God’s children and whose are the devil’s. Those who do what is right are God’s children and those who keep on sinning are the devil’s. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. God’s children do not make a practice of sinning and they love one another. *** Cain was an example of the devil’s child who killed his own brother. Satan’s children kill and do not love one another, but God’s children love and help one another. *** Lord, may our love be obvious to others and give you glory.

Mon.’s Devo - Daniel’s Vision of the Future

Read: Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28 During the first year of Darius’ reign Daniel read in the scroll of Jeremiah that Jerusalem was the lie desolate for 70 years. This disturbed Daniel so much he fasted and dressed in burlap. He prayed for his nation and repented of all the sins the kings, princes and people had done against the Lord. The deserved curses in the law of Moses had been poured out on them. He asked the Lord to please turn his anger away from Jerusalem and forgive them. *** While he was praying, Gabriel came to him at the evening sacrifice. He explained that the moment Daniel began praying, a command from heaven was given for him to come and explain to him his vision. *** Seventy years were given for the people to complete their rebellion and put an end to their sin and atone for their guilt. When this is over, they will return to rebuild Jerusalem. Then, there would be 49 years plus another 434 years, then another 7 years. The seven sevens were from 445 to 396 BC (from Artexerxes to the arrival of Nehemiah and the covenant renewal celebration at Jerusalem). The sixty-two sevens were from 396 BC to AD 32 (from the dedication of the second temple to the crucifixion of Jesus). The last seven years are yet to be fulfilled. *** Christ would be killed and appear to have accomplished nothing. A ruler would arise and destroy the city and the Temple. Jerusalem would enter into a covenant with this ruler but he would break it half way through the seven years. He will bring an end to their sacrifices and be one who makes desolate. *** This was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes set up a heathen altar in the Temple and cut off God’s anointed high priest at that time. He would do this until his fate was decided by the Maccabees. *** In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel had another vision. He was standing by the Tigris River and saw a man dressed in linen dressed in glory and majesty. The men with Daniel didn’t see it but were so afraid, they left him alone. *** Daniel was so weak, the angel had to stand him up and give him strength. He told Daniel, that from the first day he prayed for understanding, his request had been heard in heaven. It took him 21 days to get through the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Michael had to come and help him pass. Michael stayed there to fight while the angle came to give him the message. He came to tell him that his vision had to do with a time yet to come. *** The angel told Daniel again that he was very precious to the Lord. He told Daniel that he had come but would soon have to return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece would come. He told Daniel that Michael was Israel’s spirit prince and he had been helping Michael since the first year of Darius’ reign. We will read what he told Daniel about his vision tomorrow. *** In First John, John reminds them that many antichrist have risen, but the Antichrist is coming in the end. Many people had left the church who were not really a part of them. The Holy Spirit gives God’s children his Spirit so they will know good from evil and truth from lies. The Holy Spirit will lead us into truth and we will not be distracted by lies. We know that Christ was righteous, so we are to be righteous. *** We know God loves us and that we are his children, but the world doesn’t know this because they don’t know God. Sin is against God’s law so if we continue in sin, we don’t know him or understand who he is. *** Lord, help us to walk in truth and righteousness. Help us to discern the signs of the times we are in. May we comprehend the greatness of who you are.

Sun.’s Devo - The Rise of Evil

Read: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26 God transported Daniel to the fortress of Susa, the Persian capital. He was shown a ram with two horns which represented the Persians and the Medes. The Persians were the longer horn led by Cyrus, and the Medes were the shorter horn led by Darius. Cyrus was much more powerful. *** Then Alexander, from Greece came to power and expanded his territory in all directions. He overcame the Medes and the Persians, but in the prime of his rule, he got a fever and died. Antiochus Epiphanes came from the Greeks and over took the kingdoms to the south and east which included Jerusalem. He wanted to replace Jehovah’s worship in Jerusalem with the worship of Zeus Olympius. The warfare in heaven was great, but Michael and his army could’t prevail against him and was restrained from stopping him. The daily sacrifice was stopped in the Temple and evil prevailed. *** Daniel overheard two of the angels talking. One asked how long this would be allowed to continue and he answered 2,300 days. This was the exact time to the day until Christ appeared on the scene. *** When Daniel came to his senses he was overcome. *** John wrote that once we mature in Christ, we don’t have to sin. And, if we do, we have a lawyer in heaven, Jesus, who advocates for our sins and the sins of the world. *** If we know God, we will obey his commandments. That is how we show we love him. We also show God we love him by loving our fellow believers. *** John warns us not to love this world because what we can’t see is more important than what we see. But, we are moving into the time when the intangible is going to become tangible. We are are going to lay our hands on sick and see them immediately recover and do all the things Jesus did and more! *** Lord, I thank you that you are so much better than silver and gold. You are the essence of who we are because You are in us. We look forward to the times when our faith will be made sight.