Do all go to heaven?

September 30, 2008


There has been a popular teaching going around. It basically says that all good people, be they agnostics, atheist, Muslim or Christian will go to heaven. It gives every body some nice warm fuzzies because it means that I do not have to tell others about Jesus to make sure they are saved. In fact, just be good and it will get you in. Guess what. Several places in the Bible tell us it is wrong. One is in the last book of the Old Testement, Malachi. Malachi is telling the people what they are doing wrong and he has to tell them over and over what they did.

Malachi 2:17(GodsWord)
You have tried the patience of the LORD with your words. But you ask, "How have we tried his patience?" When you say, "Everyone who does evil is considered good by the LORD. He is pleased with them," or "Where is the God of justice?"
Malachi 3:1-5(GodsWord)
"I'm going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way ahead of me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the promise will come. He is the one you want," says the LORD of Armies. But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap. He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify Levi's sons and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will bring acceptable offerings to the LORD. The offerings from Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the past, as in years long ago. "I will come to judge you. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, lying witnesses, and those who cheat workers out of their wages and oppress widows and orphans. I will also testify against those who deprive foreigners of their rights. None of them fear me," says the LORD of Armies.

If you split the paragraphs up like we do with our chapter and verse version of the Bible it looses the affect. God makes it wuite clear that not all who live good are going to heaven. They have to belive on Him to be able to go.

The end time can be a very bad time to be around, especially if you are not saved. Why not invite a friend to join you there. Or at least to join you in church this weekend.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Malachi 1:1-4:6
Tomorrow
Luke 1:1-80, John 1:1-14
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Supporting the Church

September 29, 2008

Ever wonder about why they take up an offering in church. I mean, doesn't Paul say in the New Testament that he made tents so that people could hear the Gospel for free? What people do not realize is that Paul was establishing a church then and that was not the normal situation. In the Old Testament, people would bring their sacrifices to the temple where the priest would receive it for God. They were allowed to keep some and share some with the Levites, the workers. It takes a staff to run the temple and in Nehemiah's day a problem arose:

Nehemiah 13:8-11(DRC)
And I commanded and they cleansed the storehouses: and I brought thither again the vessels of the house of God, the sacrifice, and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: and that the Levites, and the singing men, and they that ministered were fled away every man to his own country: And I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, and said: Why have we forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, and I made them to stand in their places.


Without a way to support themselves and their families they had to go back to work. And without a way to support themselves, the staff of any church (including the pastor) will have to turn to 'making tents'. While that is noble in getting a ministry off the ground, as long as we put an emphasis (as God does) on having a staff do the job, it is up to us to bring the sacrifices in so that they can be supported.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Nehemiah 11:1-13:31, Psalm 126
Tomorrow
Malachi 1:1-4:6
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Praying

September 27, 2008

How do others see you when you pray? Better yet, how do you see God when you pray? Do you see Him as a cosmic slot machine? You put your request in and out it comes. If we are built in God's image, and it would bother us if we were treated that way, do you think it might bother Him to.

As a parent I like it when my kids tell me how great a dad I am. God is a parent too. So let us use the example of Ezra as he prays in the book of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 9:6 (MSG)

6 You're the one, GOD, you alone; You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels; The earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive; heaven's angels worship you!

When we turn to God in prayer we need to take time to reflect on just how great a God He is. Even more important is the idea that we jave to let Him know that we know that.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Nehemiah 8:1-10:39
Tomorrow
Nehemiah 11:1-13:31
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Truth or dare

September 27, 2008


People do not like someone who is doing what God wants them to do. This is true within our churches as well as family and friends. Nehemiah had this problem as he set about to rebuild the wall.

Nehemiah 6:4-9 (ESV)
4 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
5 In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.
6 In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.
7 And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”
8 Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”
9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

The trick in all this is to know that you are hearing from God. But, even if you are not, I would rather be doing something for God and not have heard Him, than not being doing something for God and have heard Him. If I am doing something at least God can use it in some way.

Nehemiah knew that these people were out to stop him. He did not care. When people say something bad about you, then you have two choices. You can listen to it and take it in and make it yours, or you can reject it outright. I advised my children about this the other day. Take what people say bad about you. If it is true than you need to change yourself. If it is not true, then let it roll. Nehemiah was doing just that. He let it roll and told his enemy to take his lies and move on.

What do you do when someone says something about you?


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
Tomorrow
Nehemiah 8:1-10:39
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Dung or Dawn

September 26, 2008

Nehemiah 2:13(JPS)
13 And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the dragon's well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.


This must have been a glorious and depressing site for Nehemiah at the same time. You see, he had been sent by a pagan king to rebuild his own city, Jerusalem. With the cover of darkness he went out to inspect the gate and see what he needed to do since there were enemies that would want to stop him. As he started out he turned toward the southeast. This would be the area that the sun would rise from. It was the start of a new day that came from this area, a time when all problems of the past were that, in the past. But in order to look in that direction he had to look over the area of the Dung Gate.

Now the Dung Gate was not the area of Jerusalem that you would want to write home to mom and tell her you had visited. In fact, as they cleaned out the pagan worship items they would have been brought out this gate and thrown to the valley below it. Here it mingled with the refuse that was thrown out by the people. They did not have proper waste control in those days so they would let it build up and dispose of it when it got bad enough. It was thrown into the valley. Down there would be fires that did not go out as more and more waste was thrown on to it.

As Nehemiah looked, he saw this as his journey started. He had to make a choice. He could focus on the filth or he could focus on the new day. In the night it would be easy to focus on the death and depravity that the valley outside the dung gate would show him. It was lit up from the fires. In the day it would be in your face. But from that same direction came the promise of a brand new day.

So now you have a choice to make. Which will you look at? Will you look at the dung? Or will you look at the dawn? The choice is yours.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Nehemiah 1:1-5:19
Tomorrow
Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
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Turning to someone for help

September 25, 2008


Ezra 8:21-22 KJV
(21) Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
(22) For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.


When we get in trouble who do we turn to. As I write this, the US government is debating on a bill to bail out financial institutions that have made bad decisions. The people are looking to the government to get them out of the trouble they are in. Or another example, people who are overweight look to doctors to remove the fat, or to operate on them so they will not eat as much. They are looking to the doctors to fix what they could do themselves by dieting.

As we look all around us we see cases where people want someone else to fix their problems for them. Councilor's offices are filled with people who want help in justifying what they have done wrong.

Not Ezra. Ezra knew there was a problem coming up as they went back to fix Jerusalem. And rather than turn to the king to protect him with the military, he turned to God. He prayed. And a funny thing happened. They went through a place that is normally filled with robbers and never got bothered.

In times of trouble we need to learn to rely on God and not men.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezra 7:1-10:44
Tomorrow
Nehemiah 1:1-5:19
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Taking to much

September 24, 2008


Esther 9:16 MKJV
(16) But the rest of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered themselves and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their foes. But they did not lay their hands on the spoil.


This verse shows an important step in Christian growth. As a population, the Jewish people had the right to take the land and possessions of the people who hated and attacked them after they killed them. The King had decreed it. So why didn't they take what was rightfully theirs to take?

Sometimes in our life we have to use wisdom. Because someone else has done us wrong does not give us the right to wrong them worse. While it is true that they were attacked and had to defend themselves, it did not mean that they had to take what was not theirs.

You may have people who have wronged you in your life. Maybe it was the person that you were married to, maybe an old boss, could be anyone. You have a right to defend yourself against their accusations, but you do not have the right to ruin theirs. Deep inside you may want to but it is not the right thing to do. No one would fault you if you did it. But Gd knows and in the final judgment you would have to defend your actions.



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Esther 6:1-10:3
Tomorrow
Ezra 7:1-10:44
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Why are you in the kingdom?

September 23, 2008


The life of Esther is an interesting read. She made one mistake, but learned through the council of her uncle and corrected it. Her learning from her mistake saved the Jewish race.

If anyone had a right to bask in the glory of being the new queen it was Esther. She had a hard life. Her parents died when she was young. She was raised by an uncle. She and her people were in exile from their own land. Then she was forced into a beauty pageant against her will. She did win the pageant and was crowned the queen. Through some problems not of her own making, in fact caused by the same uncle who raised her, all the Jewish people were about to be killed. Nobody knew she was a Jew, not even her husband the king. When her uncle comes to ask her help her reply is:

Esther 4:10-11 BBE
(10) Then Esther sent Hathach to say to Mordecai:
(11) It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death; only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives: but I have not been sent for to come before the king these thirty days.

Esther was acting in fear. She wanted to live her life and not worry about anyone else. Can we fault her about it? No, we might just want to do the same. She did not think about what would happen if her secret got out though. And she had not thought that her life was not as important as the millions of Jewish people.

Her uncle wisely advised her that maybe she was put in as queen just to take care of this situation. She wisely sought God and then walked in faith.In the end, the Jewish people were spared.

What do you do in a situation that requires your faith? Do you wonder if it is the right thing to do? Do you shy away from it because you want your life to be just right? Or have you come into the kingdom for such a time as this?


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Esther 1:1-5:14
Tomorrow
Esther 6:1-10:3
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A sign of salvation

September 22, 2008

Zechariah 8:16 ESV
(16) These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;


God no is changing the view of himself as we move through the old testament. He shows us that we are not to follow all the little small rules but the one big one that Jesus will come and say later. It does not really matter in the eyes of God what you eat or wear (though they are important). What you need to do is be good to others. While this alone does not bring about salvation, it is a sign that you have Jesus walking in you.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Zechariah 8:1-14:21
Tomorrow
Esther 1:1-5:14
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Sorry I am off schedual and running a day late most of the time. I will try very hard to get back on track but am working multiple jobs and sometimes sleep takes over my body.

How do you see yourself?

September 21, 2008

Our journey through the Bible continues today with a look at what was going on while the temple is being rebuilt. Zechariah is given several visions of what is happening but one features the High priest of the Jewish people of the time, the one that stood in for the people.

Zechariah 3:1-5 CEV
(1) I was given another vision. This time Joshua the high priest was standing in front of the LORD's angel. And there was Satan, standing at Joshua's right side, ready to accuse him.
(2) But the LORD said, "Satan, you are wrong. Jerusalem is my chosen city, and this man was rescued like a stick from a flaming fire."
(3) Joshua's clothes were filthy.
(4) So the angel told some of the people to remove Joshua's filthy clothes. Then he said to Joshua, "This means you are forgiven. Now I will dress you in priestly clothes."
(5) I spoke up and said, "Also put a clean priestly turban on his head." Then they dressed him in priestly clothes and put the turban on him, while theLORD's angel stood there watching.


Satan saw the high priest (and the people) as having sin on them, being dirty. But God said, this man (and by extension the people) are not dirty but clean. And he was given clean garments to wear.

How do you see yourself. Do you see yourself like Satan sees you. Do you see yourself as dirty, and there is no way that you can clean yourself up. Guess what, you cannot. There is no way that you can clean yourself up. And you do not need to. All you need is to accept that Jesus died for you and God will see you like he saw the high priest Joshua. You are clean, and that is how God sees you.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Zechariah 1:1-7:14
Tomorrow
Zechariah 8:1-14:21
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How does God get His glory?

September 20, 2008

Today's verses are from a different point of view of the ones covered yesterday. The Lord had sent prophets to encourage the people to start rebuilding the temple. They did but only have much prodding. Now we come to the people looking at the Temple and they see but a shadow of the glory it had when Solomon built it. The people seem upset that it is not asglorious. But God tells them:

Haggai 2:8 Webster
(8) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.


You see God could have pulled the money out of nowhere to build what He needed for Himself. What He really wants is for the people to glorify Him. In that way the Lord will be truly glorified.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Haggai 1:1-2:23
Tomorrow
Zechariah 1:1-7:14
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Humor

September 19, 2008

I think that God has the most delightful sense of humor. In the book of Ezra, the king of Persia tells the people to return home and build there temple because God is the God. While they are rebuilding it the king dies and peopleconvince the new King that it is wrong for the temple to be rebuilt. So work stops. Later on a new king takes over and the people hear from God to start again, so they do without permission. The descendants of the original trouble makers try to stop it again and ask thenew king to study if what the Hebrews say is true. The king not only confirms that it is but then adds:


Ezra 6:6-12 (ESV)
“Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail,that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”


How ironic. Not only does God protect them so they can rebuild, but then He has a threat delivered that who ever does hinder the people will get a beam pulled from their house to get killed with.

What a sense of humor. Do not ever let any one tell you there is no fun in being a Christian.



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezra 4:1-6:22, Psalms 137:1-9
Tomorrow
Haggai 1:1-2:23
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Prophecy

September 18, 2008

Ezra 1:1 RV
(1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

What a special thing. A prophecy given by one man is recorded by another that it has come to pass. For those who think that the Bible does not show prophecy fulfilling itself, there is the evidence.

We tend to look for the big events to happen, like Jesus birth, as proof. The others are there also.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezra 1:1-3:13
Tomorrow
Ezra 4:1-6:22, Psalms 137:1-9
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Delays

September 17, 2008


Daniel 10:11-13 (WEB)
11 He said to me, Daniel, you man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for am I now sent to you. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, Don’t be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard: and I have come for your words’ sake.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

God wants to answer our prayers. When Daniel, who was an old man at this time, some say in his 90's, prayed, God sent someone to answer, but the answer was delayed by demonic activity.

I know in my own life I struggle daily with many problems. I often will pray to God for understanding of why I can not seem to get deliverance from them. As in Daniel's life, I wonder if the answer is coming but it has just been delayed. For example, one of my problems was dealt with in some podcast that I downloaded last July. I intended to listen to them then but they got thrown on my MP3 player and then forgotten till I ran through them this week. Was the answer there and Satan did not want me to hear it?

I ask, and you should to, that Satan be bound in his attempts to block the message we need to hear from God at the time we need to hear it. In Jesus name...AMEN


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Daniel 10:1-12:13
Tomorrow
Ezra 1:1-3:13
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Judgement

September 16, 2008

Daniel 7:9-10 RV
(9) I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.
(10) A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

There is coming a time when we will all be judged. Daniel shows us it. The person who judges us is an ancient man, with many days. We all know who He is but if there is any question, look at the description of Him.

If anyone ever tells you the judgment is not coming, just be sure that it is, and that He is described more than once in the Bible ans he looks the same each time.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Daniel 7:1-9:27
Tomorrow
Daniel 10:1-12:13
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Want people to dislike you?

September 15, 2008


What if
I were to give you a sure fire way for people to dislike you. For people who care about you to want to trap you? Would you want to do it? Think twice about that answer. If you do it you could be doing the right thing. The thing you need to do is live right for God.

Look at Daniel's life. Here is a man who lived for God. He ate the right foods, was smart, kept his life in balance, and yet, people wanted to destroy him.

Daniel 6:3-5 ASV
(3) Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4) Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5) Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.


Understand this. When you start living a healthy life, serving God and doing what you should, many who are around you will not like you any more. They will say that you are unhealthy, unbalanced, or downright weird. They will claim that you have a problem and need to fix yourself up. The problem is that they see the sin in their lives and project it on to yours.

So, if it means that you will loose the whole world, will you live for Jesus?



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Daniel 4:1-6:28
Tomorrow
Daniel 7:1-9:27
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Compliments

September 14, 2008

So often when we do something and people thing we do a good job we like to take credit for it. I mean, did we not do all the work? Maybe we went to school and studied heard to be able to do that job. But do we really deserve the credit?

Daniel 2:27-28 UPDV
(27) Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, psychics, sacred scholars, nor astrologers, show to the king;
(28) but there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:

The king said to Daniel I hear you are wise, can you tell me your dream. Daniel could have said, yes, I can. But even though he was in a godless land he knew who gave him the ability to make it through.

How about you? Do you take a compliment as a time to tell others about Jesus? Or do you lap it up for yourself?




Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Daniel 1:1-3:30
Tomorrow
Daniel 4:1-6:28
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Telling the children

September 13, 2008

I tell my children a lot of things. My daughter Annie loves to hear me tell stories about her as well as other family members. I will often tell her silly things her two big brothers did. Ials o tell her about the things that God has done for me in my life, and the bad things that have happened as well. When she wanted to know what happened to my dad, her grandfather, I did not pull any punches. I told her about his drinking and how he killed himself in alcohol. It has struck a deep nerve in her and she has swore that like me, she would never drink. I have told her of the good things too. How God has healed me many times,.

Joel tells the exiles to do that as well in the first chapter of the book that bears his name.

Joel 1:3 NET
(3) Tell your children about it,
have your children tell their children,
and their children the following generation.


Children can be impressed upon. Teach them the proper ways to do things. Do not just show them, use your words as well.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Joel 1:1-3:21
Tomorrow
Daniel 1:1-3:30
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You will not leave like you came

September 12, 2008

God gave a command to the people when the temple was to be rebuilt. When they came for the redemption of their sins they had to follow a different path out.

Ezekiel 46:9 ESV
(9) "When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.


Why was that? Doesn't it seem strange?

Maybe we try to make things harder than they are. If they left the same way that they came in, they would be going back into there sins. Symbolically they had to see that going bask the same way was going back to their sins.

Likewise, we have to see what our sin can do to us when we confess it to God. Do not go back to the same path that took you into that sin in the first place. Do not return to the sin. You need to walk away from it, not to it.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 46:1-48:35
Tomorrow
Joel 1:1-3:21
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The Door

September 11, 2008

Ezekiel 45:19 BBE
(19) And the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin-offering and put it on the uprights at the sides of the doors of the house, ...

This command is given in many places in the Old Testement. It deals with cleansing a doorway that people will go through. Picture in your eye's the movements and the blood dripping. What do you see. It may be hard to picture so let me help.

As the priest would move the thing that has the blood on it he would make a straight line about shoulder high on the door. As he put the blood on the top of the door and let it drip it would form a straight line going down in the middle of the door. What do you see when you combine them together?


Yes that is right, a cross. Do you think it is a coicidence? I do not think so. God wanted to show what was going to happen before it did. He spoke to us when a cross was not even known about.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 44:1-45:25
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 46:1-48:35
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When God finds you

September 10, 2008


In the last devotional I asked the question 'Can God find you?" Now I have the answer for what happens when he does find you.

Ezekiel 43:1-4 VW
(1) Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east.
(2) And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.
(3) It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw; like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the RiverChebar; and I fell on my face.
(4) And the glory of Jehovah came into the house by way of the gate which faces toward the east.


You may think that after running away from God that you are used goods and He can no longer use you. Nothing could be further from the truth. God wants you to be part of His body and he is willing to fill you as He did the temple that He was showing to Ezekiel. You do have some rules to follow:

Ezekiel 43:12 VW
(12) This is the law of the house: The entire region around the mountaintop is set apart, holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.


In order to use you again, you must turn away from what you have done wrong. Does that mean that I am no longer a follower of Christ if I sin again? Of course not. Our salvation is not in meeting the laws but in Jesus. It does indicate that we need to turn away from what we have done wrong if we want to be used by God in a powerful way.

Can God find you?

September 9, 2008

At one time I was running from God. I had been a good Christian for many years but my desire to go forward with God was limited by my spouse, who never pictured herself as a minister's wife. So since I could not find much pleasure in the marriage or working for God, I ran away from both, as well as my kids. The woman who said she would wait for me forever quickly found a boyfriend and then married him. I got to be suicidal.
Even though I had not darkened the door of a church, God knew where I was. He found me and let me know He still loved me and gently nudged people into the right direction to talk me back to Him. The people of Jerusalem had that same problem. They were far away from where God was. Unlike me it was not there choice. But one day:

Ezekiel 40:1 VW
(1) In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured, on the very same day the hand of Jehovah was upon me; and He brought me there.

God had a message to the people in exile. And Ezekiel was the one to give it. They did not need to be in Jerusalem, God could find them wherever they were. God can find you where you are too. It does not matter if you are running as fast as you can from Him, or you have followed Him your whole life. God is there and will be with you.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 40:1-41:26
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 42:1-43:27
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Promises

September 8, 2008

What God promises He will do. It is a matter of when not if.

Ezekiel 39:8 NET
(8) Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the sovereign LORD. It is the day I have spoken about.

If God speaks to you about something that is going to happen, be sure about it and walk in confidence of it.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 38:1-39:29
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 40:1-41:26
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How is your heart?

September 7, 2008
Ezekiel 36 (BBE)
26 And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you: I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit in you, causing you to be guided by my rules, and you will keep my orders and do them.


When we are born again, God takes our stony heart out of us. Do we really have a heart of stone? Of course not in the natural. If it was that way we could not live because the life producing blood could not move through our veins.

Likewise, we can not live in the spiritual realm with a heart of stone. This would be a heart that does not want to do what God wants us to do. When we first receive salvation we have a fresh new heart. Over time though , if we do not take care of it by following what God wants us to do with our lives, it will become calloused and hard.

In either case, that hard heart can be removed with a spiritual heart transplant. A new one can be put in that is soft and pliable. Like any operation, you have to agree to have it done.

How is your heart today.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 35:1-37:28
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 38:1-39:29
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On the walll?

September 6, 2008

Over the years I have tried to witness to various people. I am always shy about it because I feel like I am a fool for sharing my faith. By God speaks to us about that in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 33:1-5 GW
(1) The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
(2) "Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, 'Suppose I bring war on this country, and the people of this country choose one of their men and make him their watchman.
(3) If he sees the enemy coming to attack the country, he will blow his horn to warn the people.
(4) If the people hear the horn and ignore the warning and the enemy comes and takes them, they will be responsible for their own deaths.
(5) They heard the sound of the horn but ignored its warning. So they are responsible for their own deaths. If they had taken the warning, they would have saved themselves.


You see, we are the watchman on the wall. We know what is to happen, and we will be responsible if they do not come to know Jesus because we do not speak when God tells us to. If they do not listen, at least we have done our job.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 32:1-34:31
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 35:1-37:28
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What do you lean on?

September 5, 2008

Jerusalem had a bad habbit, whenever it or it's country Judah would get in trouble, it would not turn to God, but to Egypt for help. So God takes care of that.

Ezekiel 29:7 GW
(7) When Israel grabbed you, you splintered and tore up their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke, and they wrenched their backs.

Anything that you turn to in order to get through a problem is not much different. Turn to God to help you out.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 28:1-31:18
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 32:1-34:31
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Who or what do you worship?

September 4, 2008

Is there something in your life that is higher than God? It could be a sin that you just cannot seem to break. Maybe it is mate or a child that you need to live your life through. I cannot say what it is, but I can tell you it is an age old problem.

Ezekiel 24:21 MKJV
(21) Speak to the house of Israel. So says the Lord Jehovah: behold, I will defile My sanctuary, the glory of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities. And your sons and your daughters whom you have left shall fall by the sword.


Judah had prided itself on having the temple of God. But they forgot one thing. The temple was the place to worship God not the place to worship. They were worshiping the creation and not the created.

God has brought people and things into your life. Do you worship them? Do they have a hold of you and you have to live through them? If so, stop worshiping the creation and start worshiping the creator.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 24:1-27:36
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 28:1-31:18
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Standing in the gap

September 3, 2008

Most of the times I look for encouraging verses in the daily readings to comment on.  It has been hard in Ezekiel because the book is mostly about the doom and gloom  prophecies that are aimed at Jerusalem.  Today's chapters were especially hard to dig something out of.  And though it may sound negative there are some positive things we can learn.

Ezekiel 22:30 NET

(30)  "I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.

Around Jerusalem was a wall.  It was not just a physical wall but a spiritual wall as well.  Now the physical wall was crumbling, but the spiritual wall had been that way for some time.  By the time of this verse, there was a large hole in the wall that needed to be fixed.  God was looking for a person to repair the wall by right living and prayer.  It is a sad fact that he could find none.  

What about you?  Do you need to stand in the gap for someone for salvation or healing.  I have two stories from my personal life that show that we can stand in the gap for people when God asks us to. 

As some of you know I have been working 3 jobs since the summer.  Part of the reason I am late with these devotionals from time to time.  The third job is not a lot of fun and it is very easy to get into a pity party when I am there.  It is for a well known department store chain and it basically is unloading there trucks and then pulling the merchandise out to the floor.  It is really a job that can be done without much thought at all.  And because of that my wind wanders and I think of how much better life would be if I could get one job to support the family and then the pity party starts. 

One night I was in a deep one.  And as I pulled a pallet of merchandise out to the sheets and curtains area, this older woman who worked in the department asked me how I was.  I told her not so well, tired working three  jobs, etc.  She told me she would rather be home but her husband had started a business with money borrowed against the house and then got hurt, so she was working to pay the bills.  He had been that way for several years.  And right at that moment, God grabbed me and whacked me across the head.  You think you have it bad, look at her, she should be retired.  Now go pray for her.  I asked if she minded if I pray for her husband.  I could have not listened, it would have been easy to do.  But I stood in the gap.  I week later, she came back to where I worked unloading the truck, she sought me out.  She told me that after my prayer for him, he had felt much better for three days and she was so thankful to have him that way for just a few days.  What would have happened if I did not pray?

The other story involves my mom.  She was/is a die hard Catholic.  As I tried to witness to her from time to time she said I do not want to hear any of that.  So all I could do was pray for her.  I did for years.  Then one day she told me that she had met a woman and started to tell her all the things she had done.  The woman simply told her that Jesus could take all those away if she could be born again.  And that woman led her to Jesus.  

I cannot take credit for what happened in either case, it was God that did it.  I was just a vessel that He used to stand in the wall to repair it.  These are just two events, I have many more.  

Is there someone in your life that you need to stand in the Gap for today? If God asks you to, will you be willing to do so?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 22:1-23:49
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 24:1-27:36
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Sacrafice

September 2, 2008

Ezekiel 20:40-42 ESV
(40) "For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings.
(41) As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.
(42) And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers.


I am thankful now that we do not have to sacrifice to God the way that the Israelite people did. Can you imagine bringing a bull to your pastor so that you could be forgiven of your sins. There are two sacrifices He still receives from us though. We sacrifice ourselves to serve him. That is a pleasant thing to Him and the reward is knowing HIm so much better. The other sacrafice was done 2000 years ago. Jesus gave up his life for us as a sacrafice that you or I could never repay.

While many live in the second sacrafice, how many live in the first? Do you?


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 20:1-21:32
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 22:1-23:49
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Sins of our fathers

September 1, 2008

Ezekiel 18:19 (God's Word)
"But you ask, 'Why isn't the son punished for his father's sin?' It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live.

I had a dad who was a sinner, plain and simple. I do not know if he made peace with his maker before he died, but I do know what his life was like. He drank to excess, so much so that he shot insulin for his diabetes to match what he was going to drink that night. He cheated on his wife. He just was not a good living guy.

I on the other hand know that I have asked Jesus in my life and work hard to provide for my family. I do not drink and am devoted to my marriage. What is the difference between him and me. I only know one thing. Some people see what there parents are and think that is normal, that is the way they have to live. Others see that is not normal. I guess I was in the latter group.

We do not have to be like our parents, we can change if we want to. Do you want to?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 18:1-19:14
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 20:1-21:32
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Living in the Blood

August 31. 2008


Blood is important. Without blood no human could survive. But blood serves another purpose as well. Since it is blood that gives life, God said that there would be no shedding of Innocent blood. And when we sin, there is only one thing that can cleanse us. That is the blood. In the Old Testament, it was the blood of animals that made them clean. In the new testament we have the Blood of Jesus to clean us.

Ezekiel 16:6 VW
(6) And when I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you in your blood, Live! Yes, I said to you in your blood, Live!

God in His story about Israel talks about finding her in her own blood, squirming in it. Is that a picture of you or me. We want to try to take our blood and solve the problems in our marriage and family, or on our jobs. In trying to fix them we make mistakes. And it is OK to ask for forgiveness, just do not live there, or make someone else live there. You see, our blood can not even fix one problem here on earth. Jesus' blood however, never fails,

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Ezekiel 16:1-17:24
Tomorrow
Ezekiel 18:1-19:14
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