353 2 Chronicles 13 – 14; Revelation 13
There is a victor in this war, but they are all losers. This is God's chosen people fighting with each other. The unity has been shredded. Judah has two tribes and only had 400,000 soldiers as compared to the ten tribes to the north that had 800,000 fighters. Yet the battle was won by the smaller army. Here is why victory came to Judah:
2 Chronicles 13:18 (MSG)
18 The army of Israel fell flat on its face—a humiliating defeat. The army of Judah won hands down because they trusted God, the God of their ancestors.
Trusting God is not all pie in the sky. Trusting God not only helps you with your internal life, it also helps you in a very practical way. What are some obstacles that you are facing today? Where do you need to trust God in a practical way? Take a few minutes and write those down and then turn them over to the Lord.
As you read this chapter in the book of Revelation it is important to remember that the devil has an impostor for every real spiritual agent. The Beast and the Dragon will mesmerize people with their miracles and their display of power. They want to be worshiped and will demand to be worshiped. The mark of the Beast is for buying or selling; without it you will be unable to do those things. If you do not worship the Beast you will be killed. The mark is 666. If the church is here during this time it is a very practical thing to remember: do not get the mark of the Beast! It is a good thing to trust the true and living God.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
352 Friday, December 18, 2009
352 2 Chronicles 10 – 12; Revelation 12
When do you listen to your Elders and when do you not listen to them? I have been told to listen to my Elders and then even some of my wisest Elders have told me not to always listen to your Elders--sometimes you just have to lead. King Rehoboam should have listened to his Elders, but in this case he chose to listen to other counsel. The Word says he went with the advice of the younger set. King Rehoboam never recovered from that one decision. His rule was opposed from the moment they realized he had not listened to the Elders. He did gain a little footing in his rule in Jerusalem. Egypt attacked and of course won the battle. King Rehoboam then did do some repenting. Be careful who you listen to for advice. If you are your own adviser then you are really in danger.
The woman here we believe is Israel and the son is Jesus. The dragon is the devil. This is a picture of Christ being born in a battleground and not a playground. From the beginning, the evil one has opposed Israel because it was this nation that was to birth the Messiah. If you kill off Israel you kill the Messiah. If you kill all the two year olds in Bethlehem then you kill Jesus. If you kill Jesus on a cross then you finally have him! Not!!! The cross is where Jesus wanted to be caught. The book of Revelation is a behind the scenes look at the work of God on this earth. It reveals the interaction between God's decisions in heaven and how they are carried out here on earth. God truly is at work right here on earth. Rejoice in that if in nothing else.
When do you listen to your Elders and when do you not listen to them? I have been told to listen to my Elders and then even some of my wisest Elders have told me not to always listen to your Elders--sometimes you just have to lead. King Rehoboam should have listened to his Elders, but in this case he chose to listen to other counsel. The Word says he went with the advice of the younger set. King Rehoboam never recovered from that one decision. His rule was opposed from the moment they realized he had not listened to the Elders. He did gain a little footing in his rule in Jerusalem. Egypt attacked and of course won the battle. King Rehoboam then did do some repenting. Be careful who you listen to for advice. If you are your own adviser then you are really in danger.
The woman here we believe is Israel and the son is Jesus. The dragon is the devil. This is a picture of Christ being born in a battleground and not a playground. From the beginning, the evil one has opposed Israel because it was this nation that was to birth the Messiah. If you kill off Israel you kill the Messiah. If you kill all the two year olds in Bethlehem then you kill Jesus. If you kill Jesus on a cross then you finally have him! Not!!! The cross is where Jesus wanted to be caught. The book of Revelation is a behind the scenes look at the work of God on this earth. It reveals the interaction between God's decisions in heaven and how they are carried out here on earth. God truly is at work right here on earth. Rejoice in that if in nothing else.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
351 Thursday, December 17, 2009
351 2 Chronicles 7.11 – 9.31; Revelation 11
Everything that Solomon set out to do was done. God appeared to him and gave him this wonderful promise. It is 2 Chronicles 7:14 "...and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health." Faith and grace, there is no other way. It has always been that way and will always be that way. The promise I believe still holds true for today. God is in the restoration business. He wants all of us to be restored: the Christian, the seeker, and the non-seeker. Do you need to turn to Him? Then turn with a humble heart. Let God bless you!
This is heady stuff. The two witnesses are like God's special agents--007 and 008. Nobody can touch them. Then they do die but are resurrected. Are the two witnesses, two real people or are they organizations. I lean toward two real people, not angels or organizations. I take the time period of 1360 days as a real time period. The intensity of the last days will beyond anything we can imagine. God wins!
Everything that Solomon set out to do was done. God appeared to him and gave him this wonderful promise. It is 2 Chronicles 7:14 "...and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'll be there ready for you: I'll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health." Faith and grace, there is no other way. It has always been that way and will always be that way. The promise I believe still holds true for today. God is in the restoration business. He wants all of us to be restored: the Christian, the seeker, and the non-seeker. Do you need to turn to Him? Then turn with a humble heart. Let God bless you!
This is heady stuff. The two witnesses are like God's special agents--007 and 008. Nobody can touch them. Then they do die but are resurrected. Are the two witnesses, two real people or are they organizations. I lean toward two real people, not angels or organizations. I take the time period of 1360 days as a real time period. The intensity of the last days will beyond anything we can imagine. God wins!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
349 Tuesday, December 15, 2009
349 2 Chronicles 4.1 – 7.10; Revelation 10
Solomon completes the work on the Temple. Job number one after that was to install the Ark of the Covenant. The only articles in the Ark was the stone tablets that Moses had brought down from the mountain. The Ark was placed in the Holy of Hollies. When the priest had completed this task they were all consecrated before the Lord. The musicians were there in force to help lead in prayer and worship. There were 120 trumpets alone blowing there horns--that will make some loud noise! What happened next is the miracle. The glory of God filled the Temple. God's presence was taking up a permanent residence. God, today, has taken up permanent residence in us. The latter is the bigger miracle. Blow some trumpets and celebrate that continuous miracle.
If you have noticed that there are a lot of Angels in the book of Revelation. These are real Angels of God. Some of these Angels carry out the destruction that is to come upon earth. There are other Angels like this one in today's passage that deliverers a book ie. they carry out what God would have them do. The word Angel means messenger. Angels are God's messengers.
Solomon completes the work on the Temple. Job number one after that was to install the Ark of the Covenant. The only articles in the Ark was the stone tablets that Moses had brought down from the mountain. The Ark was placed in the Holy of Hollies. When the priest had completed this task they were all consecrated before the Lord. The musicians were there in force to help lead in prayer and worship. There were 120 trumpets alone blowing there horns--that will make some loud noise! What happened next is the miracle. The glory of God filled the Temple. God's presence was taking up a permanent residence. God, today, has taken up permanent residence in us. The latter is the bigger miracle. Blow some trumpets and celebrate that continuous miracle.
If you have noticed that there are a lot of Angels in the book of Revelation. These are real Angels of God. Some of these Angels carry out the destruction that is to come upon earth. There are other Angels like this one in today's passage that deliverers a book ie. they carry out what God would have them do. The word Angel means messenger. Angels are God's messengers.
Monday, December 14, 2009
348 Monday, December 14, 2009
348 2 Chronicles 1 – 3; Revelation 9
Just because you have a great start does not mean you will finish well. Solomon had such a great foundation to be a great leader and yet faltered. His first act of leadership was a thing of beauty. He addressed the people of Israel and then they went to the worship center in order to pray and worship. It is there that Solomon asks for wisdom in order to rule God's people. The Lord blesses him with the wisdom and the wealth. Solomon got it all. It was not long before Solomon begins construction on the Temple. If you don't start well, does that mean you can't finish well?--NO! Stay focused all the way to the finish line.
Are these real locusts? I really do not know. I have been on both sides of the fence on this one. Some say they are helicopters. I don't know about that either. The way the locusts are described it would seem to be something other than locust. John says they have gold crowns, human faces women's hair etc.. Sure doesn't sound like locust. But are they helicopters? We will one day know for sure. The one thing I know for sure now is that I don't want to be here when they show up. Notice the timing for the sixth Angel to let loose the four Angels. "The Four Angels were untied and let loose, Four angels, all prepared for the exact year, month, day and even hour when they wee to kill a third of the human race." God has the last days on exact time table. Look to heavens for your help comes from there. Amen!
Just because you have a great start does not mean you will finish well. Solomon had such a great foundation to be a great leader and yet faltered. His first act of leadership was a thing of beauty. He addressed the people of Israel and then they went to the worship center in order to pray and worship. It is there that Solomon asks for wisdom in order to rule God's people. The Lord blesses him with the wisdom and the wealth. Solomon got it all. It was not long before Solomon begins construction on the Temple. If you don't start well, does that mean you can't finish well?--NO! Stay focused all the way to the finish line.
Are these real locusts? I really do not know. I have been on both sides of the fence on this one. Some say they are helicopters. I don't know about that either. The way the locusts are described it would seem to be something other than locust. John says they have gold crowns, human faces women's hair etc.. Sure doesn't sound like locust. But are they helicopters? We will one day know for sure. The one thing I know for sure now is that I don't want to be here when they show up. Notice the timing for the sixth Angel to let loose the four Angels. "The Four Angels were untied and let loose, Four angels, all prepared for the exact year, month, day and even hour when they wee to kill a third of the human race." God has the last days on exact time table. Look to heavens for your help comes from there. Amen!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
347 Sunday, December 13, 2009
347 1 Chronicles 27 – 29; Revelation 8
David calls the leaders together and speaks to them about the future. David is preparing them for the transition of leadership and the vision of the Temple. David's instruction about how to retain the land was about obedience to the Lord. To Solomon, David let him know that the Lord would be with him. He also encouraged his son to seek the Lord and to be brave in his leadership. David addresses the issue of building the Temple and asks for donations. First David gave and then asked for others to give to this God inspired project. There are so many leadership lessons in David's life that books could be written about them. David ruled for forty years. What have you learned from David?
It would seem in the last days that the actual earth is deeply affected by cataclysmic events. Some would say that these are just metaphorical and not actual events. I respectfully disagree with those who propose that interpretation. This is certainly apocalyptic language, but within that language there can be actual realities. These angels are sent to bring destruction to earth. The question is when is it going to happen or has it already happened? By the way, Jesus wins.
David calls the leaders together and speaks to them about the future. David is preparing them for the transition of leadership and the vision of the Temple. David's instruction about how to retain the land was about obedience to the Lord. To Solomon, David let him know that the Lord would be with him. He also encouraged his son to seek the Lord and to be brave in his leadership. David addresses the issue of building the Temple and asks for donations. First David gave and then asked for others to give to this God inspired project. There are so many leadership lessons in David's life that books could be written about them. David ruled for forty years. What have you learned from David?
It would seem in the last days that the actual earth is deeply affected by cataclysmic events. Some would say that these are just metaphorical and not actual events. I respectfully disagree with those who propose that interpretation. This is certainly apocalyptic language, but within that language there can be actual realities. These angels are sent to bring destruction to earth. The question is when is it going to happen or has it already happened? By the way, Jesus wins.
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