Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 30, 2017

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree … Planted in the house of the Lord … To declare that the Lord is upright”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 41. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+41&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“It was carved with cherubim and palm trees;  and a palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, a man’s face toward the palm tree on one side and a young lion’s face toward the palm tree on the other side;  they were carved on all the house all around.  From the ground to above the entrance cherubim and palm trees were carved, as well as on the wall of the nave.

…

Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging leaves;  two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other.  Also there were carved on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm trees like those carved on the walls;  and there was a threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside.  There were latticed windows and palm trees on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch;  thus were the side chambers of the house and the thresholds.” Ezekiel 41:18-20 and 24-26.

——————

The temple had carvings of palm trees which remind us of the righteous and their place in the house of the LORD and their function to praise the LORD.

“12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
15 To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 29, 2017

What is Heaven like? – “Walk about Zion and go around her; Count her towers; Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 40.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+40&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was taken, on that same day the hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. In the visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on it to the south there was a structure like a city. So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. The man said to me, “Son of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”

And behold, there was a wall on the outside of the temple all around, and in the man’s hand was a measuring rod of six cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. So he measured the thickness of the wall, one rod; and the height, one rod.” Ezekiel 40:1-5.

———————

Today’s Scripture points us to Revelation 21:10-27 which describes heaven. In this Scripture, we read the following similar language as we read in today’s Scripture: “The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.” Revelation 21:15.

What is Heaven like?

Scripture commands us to learn what Heaven is like.

“Walk about Zion and go around her;
Count her towers;
Consider her ramparts;
Go through her palaces,
That you may tell it to the next generation.” Psalm 48: 12-13.

Consider Heaven’s strong and beautiful architecture of “towers”, “ramparts” and “Palaces” which is in strong contrast with the popular image of heaven being just wispy clouds.

Let us follow the example of Abraham “for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10.

Heaven is the home of God and His people. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,” Revelation 21:3. “they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:4-5.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, … And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:10-12 and 21.

We may imagine slender older people slowly walking around in Heaven in robes (in length from neck to ankle to hide their bodies). But, a truer image would be of vibrant young, beautiful athletic bodies with great strength, health, and vitality. They are not ashamed nor shy of their bodies. “There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. … this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality …” 1 Corinthians 15:40 and 54.

Heaven is a place of righteousness, peace, and joy. “… the kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17. “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

We may have an image of Heaven only containing colors of white and gold. But, Heaven contains a spectrum of vivid colors, and all from precious jewels! “The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.” Revelation 21:19.

Heaven has a river. “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” Revelations 22:1. Many people like Cozumel, Mexico because of the clarity and beauty of the water. How much more beautiful and wonderful is the river of flowing water in Heaven, “clear as crystal”, which water is “life” itself!

Do we think of the citizens of Heaven almost as zombies: slow, emotionless, and quiet? A cheering football stadium crowd may be more like the citizens of Heaven! “… we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us …” Hebrews 12:1. As we on earth are eager in anticipation: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21. So, they are eager in heaven: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” Romans 8:19.

Do we just play a harp all the time in Heaven? No! Heaven is not boring; rather, it is a joyful place. “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” Matthew 22:2. “The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.” Isaiah 25:6.

We may think that Heaven is open for everyone. But, “… do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13.

We tend to not think of trees in Heaven, but there are trees in Heaven and they bear “… twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelations 22:2.

Is God in Heaven like an impotent man just watching and waiting and wringing his hands and worrying as to who will use their alleged free-will to accept Jesus and get into heaven or who may use their alleged free-will and reject Jesus and go to hell? No! God is a victorious warrior! “The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17.

In conclusion, God reigns in Heaven. God accomplishes all of His good pleasure! Only God can save, and God saves every one of His elect. Not one of His elect is lost. “And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.” Isaiah 59:16. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;” Isaiah 46:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 28, 2017

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 39.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+39&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel;  and I will be jealous for My holy name.  They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid.  When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations.  Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land;  and I will leave none of them there any longer.  I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.”  Ezekiel 39:25-29.

———————

Today’s devotion focuses on the miraculous results of God pouring out His Spirit.

Other doctrine trusts in man’s flesh:  man’s works, man’s wisdom, and man’s will.

But, Reformed Doctrine trusts in God’s Spirit:  God’s works, God’s wisdom, and God’s will.

“It is the Spirit who gives life;  the flesh profits nothing;  the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”  John 6:63.

 

Through the pouring out His Spirit, God restored fortunes.  Verse 25.

 

Through the pouring out His Spirit, God brought peace, prosperity, and justice.

“11 Tremble, you women who are at ease;
Be troubled, you complacent daughters;
Strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist,
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,
13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up;
Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.
14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken.
Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,
A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;
15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,
And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,
And the fertile field is considered as a forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness
And righteousness will abide in the fertile field.
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”  Isaiah 32:11-17.

 

Through the pouring of His Spirit, God brought blessings.

““But now listen, O Jacob, My servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you,
‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant;
And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants;
4 And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by streams of water.’
5 “This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
And that one will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’
And will name Israel’s name with honor.”  Isaiah 44:1-5.

 

Through the pouring of His Spirit, God brought salvation.

“14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them:  “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.  15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;  16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”  Acts 2:14-21.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;  for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:1-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 27, 2017

“The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 38.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+38&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“‘Thus says the Lord God, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them?  It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My anger.  In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.  The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence;  the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.  I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.  With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him;  and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.  I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations;  and they will know that I am the Lord.”’  Ezekiel 38:17-23.

——————–

“16 The Lord has made Himself known;
He has executed judgment.
In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.  Higgaion  Selah.

17 The wicked will return to Sheol,
Even all the nations who forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19 Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before You.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord;
Let the nations know that they are but men.  Selah.”  Psalm 9:16-20.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
2 I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish before You.
4 For You have maintained my just cause;
You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.”  Psalm 9:1-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 26, 2017

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 37.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+37&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley;  and it was full of bones.  He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley;  and lo, they were very dry.  He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”  Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’  Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.  I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive;  and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

So I prophesied as I was commanded;  and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling;  and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them;  but there was no breath in them.  Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’”  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel;  behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished.  We are completely cut off.’  Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people;  and I will bring you into the land of Israel.  Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.  I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land.  Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

…

“My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd;  and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them.  They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived;  and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever;  and David My servant will be their prince forever.  I will make a covenant of peace with them;  it will be an everlasting covenant with them.  And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.  My dwelling place also will be with them;  and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’”  Ezekiel 37:1-10 and 24-28.

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Without the LORD, “Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished.”

Without the LORD, we are dead in our sin. 

But, we do have the LORD and His Spirit.

We do have the LORD Who makes us alive. 

We do have the LORD Who sanctifies us.

We do have the LORD Who dwells with us forever.

“…  they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them.  …  I will make a covenant of peace with them;  it will be an everlasting covenant with them.  And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.  My dwelling place also will be with them;  and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’  Verses 24-28.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 24, 2017

“It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 36.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+36&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.  You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers;  so you will be My people, and I will be your God.  Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness;  and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.  I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.  Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.  I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God, “let it be known to you.  Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”  Ezekiel 36:22-32. 

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Other doctrine teaches that God acts for our sake.  Such doctrine presents a god of its desire who is a reactor.  Such doctrine teaches that if man improves himself, then God will love him more, God will bless him more, and God will praise him more:  all for our sake.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God acts for His sake.  Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who is an initiator.  Reformed Doctrine teaches that God elects those whom He will save and God makes them holy and blameless and does everything for their salvation so that they will praise Him:  all for God’s sake.  

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 23, 2017

“You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 35.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+35&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord God,

“Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir,
And I will stretch out My hand against you
And make you a desolation and a waste.
“I will lay waste your cities
And you will become a desolation.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Because you have had everlasting enmity and have delivered the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of the punishment of the end, therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will give you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you;  since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you.  I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation and I will cut off from it the one who passes through and returns.  I will fill its mountains with its slain;  on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain by the sword will fall.  I will make you an everlasting desolation and your cities will not be inhabited.  Then you will know that I am the Lord.

“Because you have said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,’ although the Lord was there, therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred against them;  so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.”  Ezekiel 35:1-11.

———————-

The LORD fiercely defends His people.

“8 “But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts
And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
12 “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.”  Isaiah 41:8-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 22, 2017

“Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel chapter 34.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+34&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.  Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the flock?  You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.  Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost;  but with force and with severity you have dominated them.  They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered.  My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill;  My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.”’”

…

For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.  I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land;  and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.  I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel.  There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.  I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God.  “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick;  but the fat and the strong I will destroy.  I will feed them with judgment.”  Ezekiel 34:1-6 and 11-16.

——————

Other doctrine focuses on man and depends on men to be good shepherds.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and depends on The Good Shepherd.

Other doctrine focuses on the lost sheep being wise enough and willing and strong enough to come back to the fold.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on the Good Shepherd bringing back His sheep into the fold.

Other doctrine focuses on its shepherds caring for the sheep.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God, the Great “I” of Scripture, and focus on what God does:  “I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  …   I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered …     I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land …  I will feed them …   I will lead them …  I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick”.  Verses 11-16.

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;  and I lay down My life for the sheep.  …  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  John 10:14-15 and 27-29.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 21, 2017

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel 33:21-33.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+33&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“But as for you, son of man, your fellow citizens who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak to one another, each to his brother, saying, ‘Come now and hear what the message is which comes forth from the Lord.’  They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.  Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument;  for they hear your words but they do not practice them.  So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.”    Ezekiel 33:21-33.

———————

“Then the Lord said,

“Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,”  Isaiah 29:13.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and it fell—and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | November 20, 2017

“Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!”

Today’s devotion comes from Ezekiel 33:10-20.

“10 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them;  how then can we survive?”’  11 Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!  Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’  12 And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, ‘The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness;  whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.’  13 When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered;  but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die.  14 But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, 15 if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live;  he shall not die.  16 None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him.  He has practiced justice and righteousness;  he shall surely live.

17 “Yet your fellow citizens say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their own way that is not right.  18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, then he shall die in it.  19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.  20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”   Ezekiel 33:10-20.

—————— 

“16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  Isaiah 1:16-20.

“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  Matthew 4:17.

“And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:2-5.

“9 Worship the Lord in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.”  Psalm 96:9-13.

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