Afrikaans
Robert Mills
Reg vanaf die eerste vers, Esegiël vertel ons, in God se eie woorde, dat, selfs al is hulle gerig was om sy uitverkore volk, met wie hy lief duur, en deur wie hy later sou gestuur Sy eniggebore Seun, het hulle gesondig het en sou gestraf word .(Johannes 3:16-17) Die straf vir die sonde was, van die begin af, die dood, dit is "skeiding van God." Adam en Eva sou geleef het vir ewig moes hulle geëet van die boom van die lewe, in plaas van die verbode boom van die kennis van goed en kwaad, 'n pragtige boom wat gegroei het in die middel van Eden. (Genesis 3:2) As gevolg van hulle sonde, het hulle verban is uit Eden, en die "Boom van die lewe," wat sal floreer in die nuwe Jerusalem. (Openbaring 21:2)
In die tyd van Noag het God kwaad was op die sonde van die hele mensdom en vernietig alles behalwe 'n gesin in die groot vloed. In hul woestyn omzwervingen, Israel gesondig het, herhaaldelik en al die generasie wat het van Egipte nie, maar 'n paar, het nooit geleef het om selfs sien die beloofde land. Dat die nuwe generasie grievously weer gesondig het, en God het deur Esegiël hierdie woorde aan sy woede te kenne gee en wat sou gebeur as gevolg van dat. God en sonde is heeltemal in stryd. So, Hy het Sy Seun gestuur het om 'n finale opoffering om voor te berei' n volk wat kan hemel betree en te wees met Hom vir ewig.
As gevolg van Golgota, die Apostel Petrus in staat was om te antwoord die sondaar se huil, op die besef van hulle skuld, "Broeders, wat moet ons doen?" (Handelinge 2:37) Die antwoord op daardie vraag vir almal sondaars is nog steeds dieselfde Petrus gegee het. "Bekeer julle en word gedoop, elkeen van julle in die naam van Jesus Christus tot vergewing van sondes, en julle sal die gawe van die Heilige Gees."(Handelinge 2:38) En ons vertel word in Handelinge2:47, "die Here bygevoeg word aan die kerk daagliks, soos moet gestoor word. 'N Beter vertaling lui, was "gered word."
Esegiël 7: 1-27 (King James Version)
1 Verder het die woord van die HERE tot my gekom en gesê:
2 Ook, Seun van die mens, so sê die Here HERE tot die land van Israel; 'n einde, die einde het gekom oor die vier hoeke van die land.
3 Nou is die einde oor jou kom, en ek sal stuur my toorn op jou, en sal jou oordeel volgens jou weë, en sal vergelde op jou is al jou gruwels.
4 En mine eye shall not spare thee, of sal ek jammer, maar Ek sal jou weë oor jou beloning, en jou gruwels sal in jou midde, en julle sal weet dat Ek die HERE is.
5 So sê die Here HERE, An evil, an only evil, behold, gekom het.
6 'n einde het gekom, die einde kom, is: dit watcheth vir jou;, behold, it is come.
7 Die oggend is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in die land: die tyd kom, die dag van die nood is naby, en nie die klinkende weer van die berge.
8 Nou sal Ek binnekort my grimmigheid uitgiet op jou, en vervul my toorn teen jou, en Ek sal jou oordeel volgens jou weë, en sal jou beloon vir al jou gruwels.
9 En my oog sal nie spaar, of sal ek jammer: ek sal jou beloon volgens jou weë, en jou gruwels wat in die midde van jou is, en julle sal weet dat Ek die HERE is wat slaan.
10 Kyk, die dag, kyk, dit kom, is: die oggend is 'uitgegaan, die roede het geblom, trots het hoof knoppie.
11 Geweld is opgestaan het in 'n roede van goddeloosheid: nie een van hulle sal bly, of van hulle menigte of van enige van hulle se: nie, en sal daar geween wees vir hulle.
12 Die tyd het gekom, die dag draweth naby: laat die koper nie bly wees, en ook nie die verkoper mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 Want die verkoper sal terugkeer na wat verkoop word nie, hoewel hulle was nog in die lewe: vir die visie is die hele skare daarvan, wat sal nie terug te raak; nie, en sal enige versterk homself in die ongeregtigheid van sy lewe.
14 Hulle het die ramshoring geblaas, selfs al maak alles klaar, maar niemand gaan hy na die geveg, want my toorn is op die hele menigte daarvan.
15 Die swaard is sonder, en die pes en die hongersnood binne: hy wat in die veld sterwe, met die swaard, en hy het dit is in die stad, hongersnood en pes sal hom verteer;.
16 Maar hulle dat van hulle ontsnap sal ontsnap, en dit word op die berge soos duiwe van die dale, almal van hulle rou elkeen vir sy ongeregtigheid.
17 Al die hande sal slap word, en al die knieë sal swak wees soos water.
18 Hulle sal ook gord hulleself met 'n roukleed, en verskrikking sal hulle oordek; en skaamte sal op al die gesigte, en kaalheid op al hulle hoofde.
19 Hulle sal cast hulle silwer in die strate, en hulle goud sal verwyder word: hulle silwer en hul goud sal nie in staat wees om hulle te verlos in die dag van die toorn van die HERE: hulle sal hulle siele te voldoen nie, en vul hul ingewande : want dit is die struikelblok van hulle ongeregtigheid.
20 Soos vir die skoonheid van sy sieraad, hy het dit neergesit in die majesteit, maar hulle het die beelde van hul gruwels en het hul verfoeisels daarin: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 En Ek sal dit in die hande van die vreemdelinge vir 'n prooi, en aan die goddelose van die aarde vir' n buit, en hulle sal besoedel nie.
22 my gesig sal ek sy beurt ook van hulle, en hulle sal my geheime plek besoedel, want die rowers tree in dit, en dit verontreinig.
23 Maak 'n ketting, want die land is vol van bloedige misdade, en die stad is vol geweld.
24 Daarom sal Ek bring die ergste van die nasies, en hulle sal hul huise in besit: "Ek sal ook die praal van die sterk te maak om op te hou, en hulle heilige plekke, word verontreinig.
25 Destruction cometh; en hulle sal soek na vrede, en daar sal wees nie.
26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, en gerug op gerug word, dan sal hulle 'n visie van die profeet te soek nie, maar die wet sal omkom van die priester, en die raad van die oudstes.
27 Die koning sal rou, en die vors sal met verwoesting beklee word, en die hande van die mense van die land sal nie ontsteld word nie, sal ek vir hulle nadat hulle weg, en volgens hulle woestyne, sal Ek oordeel hulle, en hulle sal weet dat Ek die HERE is.
Ons het gekom volle siklus. Die toestand van die wêreld van vandag is terug vir die staat wat gevra het Noag, en die profete van oud tot hulle baie lewens uitroep God se waarskuwings te gee. Ons het dieselfde boodskap vandag. Ons Here, Here van die Here, het gesê: "En kyk, Ek kom gou, en my loon is by My, om elkeen te vergeld soos sy werk sal wees. Ek is die Alfa en die Oméga, die begin en die einde, die eerste en die laaste."(Openbaring 22:12: 13) In die sluitingsdatum, het hy bygevoeg," Ek kom gou." (Openbaring 22:20) Mei al Sy kinders antwoord die gebed, "Amen, ja kom, Here Jesus."(Openbaring 22:20)
Bob
*Computer Translated
Friday, November 6, 2009
PLEASING OUR ANGRY GOD
Right from the first verse, Ezekiel tells us, in God’s own words, that even though they were directed to his chosen people, whom he loved dearly, and through whom he would later sent His only begotten Son, they had sinned and would be punished. (John 3:16-17) The punishment for sin has been, from the beginning, death, that is “separation from God.” Adam and Eve would have lived for ever had they eaten of the tree of Life, instead of the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a beautiful tree that grew in the midst of Eden. (Genesis 3:2) Because of their sin, they were banished from Eden, and the “Tree of Life,” which shall flourish in the new Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:2)
At the time of Noah, God was angered at the sin of all mankind and destroyed all but one family in the great flood. In their wilderness wanderings, Israel sinned repeatedly and all the generation that departed from Egypt, but a few, never lived to even see the promised land. That new generation grievously sinned again, and God spoke through Ezekiel these words to express His anger and what would happen because of that. God and sin are totally incompatible. Thus, He sent His Son to become a final sacrifice to prepare a people who could enter Heaven and be with Him for ever.
Because of Calvary, the Apostle Peter was able to answer the sinner‘s cry, on realizing their guilt, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) The answer to that question for all sinners is still the same Peter gave. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) And, we are told in Acts 2:47, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. A better translation reads, “were being saved.”
Ezekiel 7: 1-27 (King James Version)
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.
4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
6 An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
7 The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
8 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.
9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither shall there be wailing for them.
12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
15 The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
16 But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.
17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.
18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
We have come full cycle. The condition of world today is back to the state that prompted Noah, and the prophets of old to give their very lives crying out God’s warnings. We have the same message today. Our Lord, Lord of Lords, has said, “And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22:12:13) In closing, he added, “Surely I come quickly.” (Revelation 22:20) May all His children reply the prayer, “Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
Bob
At the time of Noah, God was angered at the sin of all mankind and destroyed all but one family in the great flood. In their wilderness wanderings, Israel sinned repeatedly and all the generation that departed from Egypt, but a few, never lived to even see the promised land. That new generation grievously sinned again, and God spoke through Ezekiel these words to express His anger and what would happen because of that. God and sin are totally incompatible. Thus, He sent His Son to become a final sacrifice to prepare a people who could enter Heaven and be with Him for ever.
Because of Calvary, the Apostle Peter was able to answer the sinner‘s cry, on realizing their guilt, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) The answer to that question for all sinners is still the same Peter gave. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38) And, we are told in Acts 2:47, “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. A better translation reads, “were being saved.”
Ezekiel 7: 1-27 (King James Version)
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.
4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
6 An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
7 The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
8 Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.
9 And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of their's: neither shall there be wailing for them.
12 The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
13 For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
15 The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
16 But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.
17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.
18 They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
27 The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
We have come full cycle. The condition of world today is back to the state that prompted Noah, and the prophets of old to give their very lives crying out God’s warnings. We have the same message today. Our Lord, Lord of Lords, has said, “And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22:12:13) In closing, he added, “Surely I come quickly.” (Revelation 22:20) May all His children reply the prayer, “Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)
Bob
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
FELLOWSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
Without doubt, the Gospel book which bears his name and these three short letters were all written by the apostle John, though he never lays claim to any of them. One of the inner circle of three, who were so often with Jesus, John is singled out as being the one Jesus loved, and that love shows in his writings. Jesus taught that love should be the mark that distinguishes Christians from non-believers. John is the one Apostle that shows that fruit of the Spirit the most strongly.
Just as there was an “inner circle” among the apostles, those closest to Jesus, there are those who are the core of every local assembly of Christians today. Scripture sometimes speaks of them as being “pillars” of the church, often the elders and leaders. This strong fellowship identifies the family of God, His church. Of such, comes the “Light of the world.” God is light, and his family show that they are of God even as Moses physically showed that he had been in the presence of God and wore a veil over his face after he came down from the mountain carrying the law of God literally carved in stone by God himself.
That light was shown physically when God first entered into, first the tabernacle, and later the temple, and alter when Saul was blinded by the light on the road to Damascus. That light is shown through Christians as they destroy the darkness of sin throughout the world both by word and deed.
1 John 1:5-2:2 (King James Version)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (John 1:19, 1 John 3:11, 1 Timothy 6:16, James 1:17)
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (John 8:12, 1 John 2:11, John 8:55, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 4:20, John 3:21)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (Isaiah 2:5, 1 Timothy 6:16, Titus 2:14)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Job 15:14, Proverbs 20:9, Romans 3:10, James 3:2, John 8:44, 1 John 2:4)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Psalm 3:25, Proverbs 28:13, Titus 2:14)
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (Job 15:14, John 3:33, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 2:14)
1 John 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (John 13:33, Galatians 4:19, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:21, 1 John 1:4, Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:24, John 14:16)
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Romans 3:15, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 4:10, John 4:42, John 11:51, 1 John 4:14)
Where there is the love of God, the word of God
Just as there was an “inner circle” among the apostles, those closest to Jesus, there are those who are the core of every local assembly of Christians today. Scripture sometimes speaks of them as being “pillars” of the church, often the elders and leaders. This strong fellowship identifies the family of God, His church. Of such, comes the “Light of the world.” God is light, and his family show that they are of God even as Moses physically showed that he had been in the presence of God and wore a veil over his face after he came down from the mountain carrying the law of God literally carved in stone by God himself.
That light was shown physically when God first entered into, first the tabernacle, and later the temple, and alter when Saul was blinded by the light on the road to Damascus. That light is shown through Christians as they destroy the darkness of sin throughout the world both by word and deed.
1 John 1:5-2:2 (King James Version)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (John 1:19, 1 John 3:11, 1 Timothy 6:16, James 1:17)
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (John 8:12, 1 John 2:11, John 8:55, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 4:20, John 3:21)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (Isaiah 2:5, 1 Timothy 6:16, Titus 2:14)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Job 15:14, Proverbs 20:9, Romans 3:10, James 3:2, John 8:44, 1 John 2:4)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Psalm 3:25, Proverbs 28:13, Titus 2:14)
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (Job 15:14, John 3:33, 1 John 5:10, 1 John 2:14)
1 John 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (John 13:33, Galatians 4:19, 1 John 2:12, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 5:21, 1 John 1:4, Romans 8:34, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:24, John 14:16)
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Romans 3:15, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 4:10, John 4:42, John 11:51, 1 John 4:14)
Where there is the love of God, the word of God
Thursday, March 5, 2009
NEVER OUT OF TOUCH
Ephesians 3:14-21 (King James Version)
It is really a disturbing feeling to be traveling on a six lane freeway and suddenly have the engine of the car accelerate at the same time the vehicle slows to a stop! Thanks to God we happened to be in the outer lane and there was room to coast into a turn-off for a junction. Thanks also to the two young men who rushed to our assistance and helped this 81 year old man push the useless vehicle into a near by parking lot. Having a cell phone, we were able to phone for an AAA tow truck. I will return to that later, but it was reassuring that the owner had painted on the back of his cab in giant words, “DESERT STORM , JESUS SAVES.” Jesus not only saves, but he is never out of touch to his own. God was looking after us, and we were certainly, in a “storm,” symbolically speaking.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul assures his brothers and sisters:
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (1 John 3:10)
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; (Romans 8:9, 1 Cor. 12:13) that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
God so loved us that he has provided for us thro his Son whom we “put on” or receive at the time of our Baptism, a means of reaching himself. (Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:9-12, and 1 John 4:19-24)
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints (Romans 5:5, John 13:34-35) what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
This comes as a gift to all saints, that is all Christians. All who have put on Christ at their baptism, through faith.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
As we prepared to leave the parking lot, the driver entered the street address of our destination into his electronic navigator, which it interpreted as latitude and longitude. From there on he pretty much ignored the voice which gave definite and clear instructions. Every time we ignored an instruction, the navigator refigured and changed the directions to an alternate route. Christ gives us divine direction, but these reach us not only by latitude and longitude, but also depth, as he did Jonah in depth of the sea, under very uncomfortable conditions, but also by height, as he did Neil Armstrong as he stepped out onto the surface of the moon. Whether trapped a mile beneath the surface in the deepest mine, or in a space craft, God is there. His love reaches us, and we, need never be out of touch.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
It is really a disturbing feeling to be traveling on a six lane freeway and suddenly have the engine of the car accelerate at the same time the vehicle slows to a stop! Thanks to God we happened to be in the outer lane and there was room to coast into a turn-off for a junction. Thanks also to the two young men who rushed to our assistance and helped this 81 year old man push the useless vehicle into a near by parking lot. Having a cell phone, we were able to phone for an AAA tow truck. I will return to that later, but it was reassuring that the owner had painted on the back of his cab in giant words, “DESERT STORM , JESUS SAVES.” Jesus not only saves, but he is never out of touch to his own. God was looking after us, and we were certainly, in a “storm,” symbolically speaking.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul assures his brothers and sisters:
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (1 John 3:10)
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; (Romans 8:9, 1 Cor. 12:13) that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
God so loved us that he has provided for us thro his Son whom we “put on” or receive at the time of our Baptism, a means of reaching himself. (Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:9-12, and 1 John 4:19-24)
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints (Romans 5:5, John 13:34-35) what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
This comes as a gift to all saints, that is all Christians. All who have put on Christ at their baptism, through faith.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
As we prepared to leave the parking lot, the driver entered the street address of our destination into his electronic navigator, which it interpreted as latitude and longitude. From there on he pretty much ignored the voice which gave definite and clear instructions. Every time we ignored an instruction, the navigator refigured and changed the directions to an alternate route. Christ gives us divine direction, but these reach us not only by latitude and longitude, but also depth, as he did Jonah in depth of the sea, under very uncomfortable conditions, but also by height, as he did Neil Armstrong as he stepped out onto the surface of the moon. Whether trapped a mile beneath the surface in the deepest mine, or in a space craft, God is there. His love reaches us, and we, need never be out of touch.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
PROPHESIES FULFILLED
I am introducing a series which naturally begins with his birth. Also, there so many prophecies that are fulfilled by these few facts. These link the two testaments and show its accuracy in every detail.
We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of these many prophecies that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was. They were a part of the fabric of their lives. It was through these prophecies that God prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)
18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Matthew 2:24 tells us that all of this was foretold by the prophet.
Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just a few miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Herod being who he was, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had brought this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth, “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.“ Matthew 2:23.
God still puts his servants where He plans to use them today.
In so doing, he saved Jesus from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18, a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.
Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to seek John the Baptist that he might be baptized by him. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.
In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, that are all fulfilled. And they came to be!
We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of these many prophecies that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was. They were a part of the fabric of their lives. It was through these prophecies that God prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)
18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Matthew 2:24 tells us that all of this was foretold by the prophet.
Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just a few miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Herod being who he was, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had brought this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth, “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.“ Matthew 2:23.
God still puts his servants where He plans to use them today.
In so doing, he saved Jesus from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18, a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.
Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to seek John the Baptist that he might be baptized by him. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.
In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, that are all fulfilled. And they came to be!
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