Month: September 2022

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When God Transforms

Transformation is God's Work

Daniel 4 When Paul wrote to the Romans, he reminded them that when we become believers, we have a responsibility to be living sacrifices and that our minds are to be transformed from the inside out. (see Rom 12:1-2) This week we experienced the death and funeral of one of the longest reigning queens, and her eulogy reflected her life as a believer. Let no one say they did not know her life story. She may have worn a crown here on earth, but she laid that crown at the feet of Jesus when she entered eternity. How about us?

Daniel recorded the words of Nebuchadnezzar, who also, like Queen Elizabeth, had a spiritual transformation and voiced these words: “How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his authority continues from one generation to the next.” [Dan 4:3] God’s transformation from unbeliever to believer is life-changing, and we give glory to He who sits on the throne. The king wanted the world to know, so he recorded those words to show that he understood the transitory kingdom God had placed in his hands in contrast to the eternal kingdom of God.

If someone opened your diary, would they see your words of praise for God?

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Choosing God’s Way

Making wise choices

Daniel 1 Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the King’s food. Choices begin in the heart, which Jeremiah tells us is “deceitful and desperately wicked,” [Jer 17:9 (the NET says mind)] So how did Daniel become so wise, cunning, and perceptive to make the right decision? Like him, we must choose to align our hearts with God’s. Daniel saw a need for a renewed heart as a Temple student, and God heard and responded. King David also went through this exercise: “Create in me a pure heart, O God. Renew a resolute spirit within me.” [Ps 51:10] Therefore, when faced with a decision to obey the King or God, Daniel knew the right decision was to choose God’s way. Daniel found favor not to eat the King’s food when God touched the heart of Ashpenaz, the head eunuch. We can learn much from this straightforward exercise. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” [Rom 8:31] Also, “The fear of man is a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” [Prov 29:25]

Today we are being challenged to fear men more than God, and we can take a page out of Daniel’s diary to learn how to appeal and see God bless us for choosing His way. What choices are you facing today? Will you choose God’s way or man’s way?

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The Healing Stream

God works to change us from barrenness to fruitfulness

Ezekiel 46-48 When God created the heavens and the earth, He included a river that flowed from Eden to water the orchard. But, man’s sin caused those rivers to run dry, and God “turned streams into desert, springs of water into arid land.” [Ps 107:33] But, one day, that river will again flow, and with it will come healing for the desert. It will again be flowing streams that yield fruit in its season. [Ps 1] It will heal that Dead Sea, and once again, the fruit trees will push down roots, and trees will produce fruit, and fish will be in abundance. Fishermen will stand with their nets, and the fish will fill them just like Peter and John saw when Jesus told them to put the net on the right side of the boat. There will be so many that they cannot pull the net in for the large number of fish. [Jn 21:6] There will be a stream that flows from the Temple where the Prince will offer his sacrifices. And this river will be like the children’s song: “Deep and wide, deep and wide, there is a fountain flowing deep and wide.”

When Jesus enters our barrenness, our spiritual desert, His love pours forth to heal and is abundant, deep, and wide. It flows, heals, and brings forth fruit in abundance. We once were a desert but now will spring forth new life of joy and peace, producing fruit that will feed others.

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The Glory of the Lord

God has revealed His glory

Ezekiel 43-45 All through the OT, men saw glimpses of the Lord’s glory. Moses said the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire. [Ex 24:17] Isaiah saw and heard the seraphim calling to one another, “His majestic splendor fills the entire earth.” [Is 6:3] Elihu described God as mighty, exalted in power, the number of His years is unsearchable; He spreads His lightning about him and covers the depths of the sea. [Job 36]

Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord like the awesome gleam of crystal and a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance. When he saw it, he fell prostrate. [Ezek 1] Ezekiel saw that same glory leave and return to the temple. [Ezek 10:18; 44:4] It filled the house of the Lord, and he fell on his face. And yet, with all of this evidence from men who did not have the written word, men believed. Therefore, God says we are without excuse, for even if we all had was His creation, we should know Him and fall prostrate before His throne. [Rom 1:20]

And if that was not enough, God sent His only Son of God as more evidence. He lived and moved among men yet was rejected. Therefore, “one day every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” [Phil 2:10]

Where am I today? Have I experienced the glory of the Lord today? How about you?

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Faithfulness

Faithfulness

Ezek 40-42, 1Cor 14:33, Num. 25:10-13, Jer. 35:1-11  What does faithfulness mean to me/to you? How is it demonstrated? What does it mean to God? A recurring theme from Genesis to Revelation is a character quality that God honors both in this life and the life beyond. God reminds Ezekiel of the faithfulness of Zadok, who struck down a faithless Israelite and a Midianite woman and stopped a plague. God promised Phinehas that his descendants would thus have an honored position in his kingdom and the kingdom to come as priests for Him. Jeremiah was told to test the Rechabites’ faithfulness regarding wine drinking. Zadok was faithful to God, and the Rechabites were faithful to their ancestor. God honors both. We are told to honor our parents so that we may live long lives. [Ex 20:12]

Faithfulness is a character quality that God desires and honors. [Ps 119:30]

Have I been faithful to my parents, ancestors, and God? God looks at these as measures of our heart.

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Once Dead, Now Alive!

God has the power to revive dead bones

Ezekiel 37 Paul reminded the Ephesians that they “were dead” but are no longer because of the power of the energizing Holy Spirit that raises the dead to life. “And although you were dead in your offenses and sins…He made us  alive together with Christ—by grace, you are saved!” [Ephesians 2:1, 5] Ezekiel vividly illustrated how that works, and the best example is to think of our Death Valley, where there is little life. Imagine standing and seeing dead and sun-scorched bones and hearing Jesus ask, can these be resurrected? How would you answer that question? Wisely Ezekiel said, you know, Lord. When the Holy Spirit does His work, it is like these resurrected dead bones or the day
when the tombs opened, and the dead rose to walk about Jerusalem, testifying to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. [Matt 27:52,53]

We all are/were dead in our trespasses and sin. But, God, through the Holy Spirit, does a mighty work that we might stand amazed in His presence. John Newton penned a hymn titled Amazing Grace, which captures this chapter: I once was lost, but now I am found; I once was dead but now am alive. 

If this is your truth: Go forth and proclaim this truth! If this is not true for you, claim His Holy Spirit’s power to transform you from death to life! 

 

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Sheep Need Shepherds

Because sheep tend to wander

Ezekiel 34 “The Shepherds”

From Genesis to Revelation, God has revealed His Son, the Good Shepherd. In Psalm 23, He is “my” Shepherd who will take us to the green pastures beside the still waters. In John 10, He is the “Good” Shepherd who searches for His sheep; and knows them by name! However, just as long ago, some self-indulgent false shepherds plunder the weak sheep. God told Ezekiel that He would pronounce judgment on them. Jesus told the shepherds of Israel that He was there in their midst and reminded them that they had seen the same miracles that Chorazin saw but sadly remained unrepentant. [Matt 11:21]

Today across our nation, we have shepherds. They are in positions of authority both in and outside the church. They are now, as then, self-indulgent. God knows and sees all. Jesus still is our Good Shepherd and the Lion of Judah. He will seek out His sheep and rescue them. He will find them, bandage the injured, strengthen the sick and judge the self-indulgent shepherds. When that happens, not just some but all will know He is the Lord.

Today, we need prayer for the shepherds both in our religious and civil circles. They all need prayer to be wise and discerning as they care for the sheep lest they wander. Who is your shepherd, and are you praying for them?  

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Watchmen warn

Ezekiel 33 and Titus 3 God called Ezekiel to be a watchman on the wall; he was to be a lookout, an observer. As he saw the danger approaching, he was to blow the trumpet and warn the people of impending judgment. The trumpet was a ram’s horn or a shofar. It was used in Bible times of Ezekiel and also at the feast of trumpets. It was so strong that the people who heard it trembled. If one heard the trumpet, he was to heed the warning. If he did, he would find safety, but if not, he would not be able to save his life. Ezekiel was to be God’s watchman, not with a shofar but with his voice. God placed His voice in Ezekiel’s life to use him as a trumpet to remind people of their sins.

God has called us to be a watchman to the unsaved. We have God’s Word and the truth that the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared in the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. We are to remind them that salvation is not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. [Titus 3:4-6]

Where are we fulfilling that role in real-time?

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Are you prepared or deceived?

Satan is a deceiver

Ezekiel 28 Satan’s lie never changes. He has dangled this lie before men: “you will be like God.”  Like many, the rich man in Luke 16’s parable, the leader of Tyre, the leader of Babylon, and more, were captured like a fish, hook, line, and sinker. They trusted in their riches, position, power, and wisdom, and when caught, they died. Satan’s lie never changes. Have you fallen for Satan’s lie? Do you think all your riches, good works, and worldly wisdom will prove you are righteous? When you stand before God, He will ask one question: What did you do with My Son Jesus?

God says there is none righteous, no, not one. [Rom 3:10] Your one-way ticket to heaven is not through your works but through Jesus alone. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by Him.  [Jn 14:6]

Like Pharaoh’s magicians, the rich man of Luke 16:19-28 and the leader of Tyre, they saw the evidence of God in His creation. [Rom 1:20] However, they chose to believe Satan’s lie and now face an eternity apart from Christ. Remember this Satan may dress for a masquerade ball, but it is just that and no more. Don’t be hoodwinked by his schemes! [2Cor 11:14] Remember this: anyone who exalts himself shall be humbled.[Matt 23:12]

Remember and ask: Am I prepared to meet Jesus?

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Laying down our crown…

Whose crown ?

Ezekiel 25-27 Remember 9/11
God reviewed His plans for the adversaries of Israel, and just as then; it is so today: God sends His warnings, but many do not heed them. They forget to listen to His voice saying: this is the way, walk ye in it. [Is 30:21] But, the adversaries of Israel did not, and today they are no more. God has been gracious to our nation for the last 21 yrs since 9/11, but His patience is growing shorter. We are a nation of many, but only a few listen and heed the warnings. They are too busy and scoff at the thought of attending church. Do our hearts yearn for them when we know their end should God call them home? Three thousand died 21 yrs ago in NYC, but only a few heard the voice and are now standing at the throne of God. This week a beloved Queen passed into eternity. She yearned for Christ’s return, and when asked why she said, “so I can remove my crown and lay it at His feet.” How about us? Do we yearn to lay our crown at His feet?

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