Year 3 Day 119
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 16v25-40 Message - Scott Woodburn “First posted Year 2 Day 43 - 4th May” We have already witnessed the great escape of Peter from prison and here in these verses we see a similar experience for Paul and Silas. They have been put in prison for the crime of releasing a slave girl from spiritual bondage but they are not down hearted. At midnight they are praying and singing hymns to the Lord (v25). Suddenly an earthquake shakes the prison's foundations. The doors are flung open and the chains of each prisoner are loosed. This is no ordinary earthquake, the Lord is the One who has shaken the chains loose. This was bad news for the jailer. If the authorities had discovered an empty jail, the jailer would have lost his life. He is about to kill himself (v27) when Paul tells him "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." (v28). The jailer is amazed but asks no questions about the earthquake or the loosed chains, instead he asks the question which stands above all others "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (v30) Paul and Silas immediately point to Jesus "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (v31) It is Christ who sets the prisoner free. It is Jesus who shook the world with His death and resurrection. It is the Messiah who we must look to and be saved. We are only explicitly told that the jailer believed (v34) but the sign of the covenant was applied to the whole household. (v33) The covenant of grace is for you and your children and for all who are far off and so the jailer's whole household were baptised. The next day it becomes clear that Paul is a Roman citizen (v37). He deserved better than to be beaten and thrown in prison like a common thug. The magistrates were immediately afraid at this turn of affairs (v38). Roman citizens were not to be beaten without a fair trial. The magistrates existed to protect the rights of Romans and so they had categorically failed Paul and Silas in allowing them to be abused. An apology is offered (v39) and after encouraging the church, Paul and Silas leave the city (v40). Status remains incredibly potent. Recent riots on the streets of Belfast have taken place because many fear that their status as British citizens is under threat. During the Brexit debate it was suggested that British passports would return to the colour blue rather than the current burgundy. Apparently such a change would be a sure sign of freedom from the EU. I'll leave you to your politics but simply use this text to say that ultimately your status with Christ is all that counts. The jailer went to bed as an enemy of God but met the morning as a follower of Christ. He was justified by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. He was saved and declared righteous by the chief magistrate who is the Lord. When you personally meet the Lord He will not enquire about your nationality, your politics or your status. The grand dividing line in human history sees Christ rejecters on one side and the faithful saints on the other. So what questions will rise in your soul today? How did the prison doors open? Who loosed the chains? Why did Paul wait to announce his status as a Roman? Let me suggest this question..."what must I do to be saved?"...and let me furnish you with the answer..."Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach? The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim. 1:13, 2 Tim. 3:16)
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Year 3 Day 118
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 13:1-7 Message - Alan Burke I don’t want to be accused of passing on ‘fake news’ because apparently it spreads faster than any other kind of news on social media, but in main I don’t want a Facebook bot to flag my account for sharing some nonsense that I’ve heard recently, that can wait until Sunday morning! Truth we all know is important, yet it seems to be in short supply these days. One of the greatest dangers that we face today is a perversion of the truth. When truth is twisted, when it is perverted then there is real danger, it happens in all regards, but for the church when the truth of the word of God is perverted when it is twisted, it corrupts the church, it ensnares people. This above all else today is the greatest danger to the church and as this passage warns us, when the truth of God is perverted it can lead to individuals being obvious to the need of repentance and the free offer of salvation. This is part of the inditement against these false prophets is that they encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and to save their lives. Ezekiel is tasked to tell the prophets that they were spoofing, talking nonsense. Look what the Lord tells Ezekiel that they were ‘prophesying out of their own imaginations’, they were saying ‘Hear the word of the Lord’. They were claiming to be prophets but they had never heard the word of God, the Lord had not spoken to them. The Lord had not given them visions, He had not came to them to them in a dream, there was none of that. Ezekiel is to tell them what the Lord says, and it is of ‘Woe’. Woe to them, they were foolish, they had followed their own spirits, they had seen nothing. It wasn’t that these prophets were letting their imaginations get away from them it was that they were properly deluded, they were fools. The meaning of the Hebrew word that is here is translated foolish, speaks of an intellectual and moral foolishness, as well as being godless. These people might have been able to talk the talk, their speech their prophecies may have been wonderful, they may have genuinely believed the prophecies they had made themselves but they were fools, intellectually, morally, and they were godless. Whereas Ezekiel was a true prophet. In 2nd Peter we are reminded that “… no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Pet 1:20–21). Ezekiel was a true prophet, he spoke from God, carried along by the Holy Spirit, these men though were fools and they were jackals. The false prophets they were not there to repair so that the house of Israel could stand firm, they were instead tearing it down, they were by their liars doing damage, their false visions, with their lies and their imagination, human invention it was undermining the wall of the house of Israel (5). They were helping the ruination of the people, they were delusional. Delusional is a good word for them, they might have believed what they were saying but they were delusional. They were saying the Lord declares but he had not spoken, they were giving the people false hope. You know we are in such a privileged position, yes false teachers continue on today, but we are in a privileged position because as we are told from the word of God itself that… “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world”. (Heb 1:1-2), That is until the fulfilment of God’s revelation, His Last and Best Word, is Spoken in His Son. Though Christ Jesus the process of revelation is done, completed, finished, For God’s continuing disclosure of Himself is ultimately expressed in the revelation though his Son, never to be added to. Nothing more is needed, no new books, no new revelation, no new prophetic words. Today we have the complete revelation of God, nothing more is needed, no new books, no new revelation. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4) Year 3 Day 116
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 16v1-10 Message - Scott Woodburn “First posted Year 2 Day 36 - 30 April" Paul and Barnabas had gone their separate ways but the Lord would not let Paul minister alone. As Paul ministers in Derbe and Lystra, he comes across a young man called Timothy (v1). Timothy is from a mixed marriage with a Jewish mother and a Greek father (v1a) but the church in both Lystra and Iconium spoke well of the young man. He becomes part of Paul's team but with recent debates in mind Paul's first step is to have Timothy circumcised. What's going on? Wasn't Paul the one who had claimed that circumcision was not necessary for Christians? He certainly was and claims in Galatians that in Christ neither circumcision or uncircumcision mean anything but only faith in Christ (Galatians 5v6). So why circumcise Timothy? Soon the young man will be part of an evangelistic effort among the Jews (v3). Timothy's father was a Greek but his mother and grandmother were both Jews. For Timothy to be uncircumcised would suggest he had no regard for his Jewish heritage and certainly it would be a stumbling block for many of the Jews he was seeking to reach. Paul was not acting hypocritically nor was he suggesting that circumcision was required for salvation. Instead with the decision of the Jerusalem council in his mind he was seeking to be culturally sensitive so that many might be won for the Gospel. We can learn much from the Apostle. If we want to see many won for Christ we would do well to remove any hindrance or block to the Gospel. Our flags and traditions and ways are not as important as the eternal destination of those we are seeking to reach. As we seek to be sensitive to the culture around us we also remember that the work belongs to the Lord. The Holy Spirit prevents Paul from preaching the Gospel in Asia (v6-7). This Asia is either the northern coastline of Turkey or the Roman province of Asia which included the famous seven churches of Revelation. Regardless, the Lord had closed the door because His plan was for the Gospel to go to Macedonia. Paul was called by way of a vision to go and preach the Gospel in northern Greece (v9-10) and so the Apostle obeyed. Brothers and sisters, how often do we believe the work of the Gospel to be all about us? We build ministries and reputations for ourselves and as we look into the mirror we believe ourselves to be indispensable. May the Lord forgive our foolishness. May we seek to make much of the time that is given to us. May we refuse to make idols out of the temporary traditions of man and may we be prepared to go wherever the Lord leads. Psalm 115 remains true "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q1 What is the chief end of man? Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28) Year 3 Day 115
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 12:21-28 Message - Alan Burke You’ve had your chances now you are going to face the consequences! In effect that is what the people of God are being told here. What I want you to notice first of all is the arrogance that the people of God had towards the word of God, they had a proverb among them that ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’ (22). The meaning is obvious, the people of God, this rebellious people, well they had heard it all before, God’s judgement, they had heard His warnings through His prophets and they didn’t believe that God would do anything, they didn’t take the message of God seriously. They appealed to God’s own word in Deuteronomy (18:20-22) that “when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken”. God had warned His people and when He relented as they repented they though sure nothing ever comes of it, why worry. They had presumed that the Lord’s grace, His compassion, His forbearance, His love would continue on forever, sure they’d heard it before, and God is God He’d never do anything like it. This rebellious people rejected the word of the Lord through Ezekiel and Jeremiah, so the Lord then gave the people a proverb that was no idol threat, “The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled”. God’s people had not believed in the trustworthiness of His word, it was only by His grace that He had not dealt with them sooner, but he would act. Part of the issue was that they thought they were alright, but they were lied to by false prophets, their hearts were deceptive. Jesus warned that “many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:10). False prophets are here today, deceiving, they are those who are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, the deceit of Satan that began in the Garden of Eden continue on to this day as our hearts because of the fall are rebellious and deceptive and it causes people to dismiss the eternal and how judgement will come to all. But in Ezekiel’s day as well as today the word of God is sure, it is to be trusted and God’ will carry out what he has promised. God’s words will translate to actions (v.25). The tragedy in Ezekiel’s day and today is that we often only learn this truth by the experience of judgement and discipline. Again in v26 for the fifth time in this passage the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. Not only did they dismiss the word of the Lord as worthless, they said it was for some future day and they would be fine, it was irrelevant to them. God's response just as it was in v23 is direct, "none of my words will be delayed any longer, whatever I say will be fulfilled”. The time had come even though the people had dismissed it. The same attitude prevails people today, that nothing will come of God’s word, His warning, and if it does it’s in the future, and sure it’s been 2000 years since Christ said he would return but the warning to this rebellious people in Ezekiel’s day and today is that His word is true. Judgment will come at his appointed time, for those in Ezekiel’s day it would be delayed no longer. We should take comfort thought, that God wants to bring men and women to know him, we do not know who He has in the Lamb’s book of life so we make every effort to encourage others to repent and believe, to turn to God through Jesus Christ. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q107 What doth the conclusion of the Lord’ s prayer teach us? The conclusion of the Lord’ s prayer, (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. (Matt. 6:13) teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, (Dan. 9:4,7–9,16–19) and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him. (1 Chron. 29:10–13) And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. (1 Cor. 14:16, Rev. 22:20–21) Year 3 Day 114
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 14v19-28 Message - Scott Woodburn “First posted Year 2 Day 29 - 20 April” Those of you of an Edengrove persuasion will know all about Robert Irvine. He was our minister for a short time in the 1800s before making his way to 1st Presbyterian, Augusta, Georgia. If you visit that church you will find a statue of Irvine outside. There's no statue of him in Ballynahinch but once upon a time, some locals did seek to burn an effigy of Irvine before blowing up the remains with gun powder just outside the Market House. I suspect when its all said and done we would much rather have a statue than to have a mob who seeks to do us harm. Unfortunately, that choice is not ours. Paul and Barnabas continued to exercise faithful Gospel ministry. Sinners were saved (v21), Christians were encouraged (v22) and the church was established (v23) and yet as chapter 14 closes, we also discover that in Lystra, Paul had been stoned and dragged outside the city and left for dead (v19). A modern TV preacher might skip that verse. Everyone knows that if we have enough faith then nothing bad will ever happen to us. Right? Wrong. We reject any message that says the Christian life is all about health, wealth and prosperity. Brothers and sisters, as you well know, sometimes the Christian life is incredibly hard. Christians are washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, but that blood doesn't stop them from getting Covid as some have believed over the past year. Christians hear every single day about a cancer diagnosis. They hear that their job is under threat. They stand in graveyards and weep like everyone else. We have been redeemed but Jesus is clear that in this world we will have trouble. I don't want a hall named after me, nor do I want a statue. Equally though, I don't want my effigy to be burnt outside the Market House in Ballynahinch. If I tell the truth of my sinful heart, I want a quiet and peaceful life. I'd prefer no boats to be rocked. I want to celebrate my 100th birthday. I want to be fit and well and playing golf in my 80s like those auld lads on TV. I want to keep my teeth and my hair and hopefully I'll die in my own warm bed after retiring from a 40 year ministry in 1st Presbyterian, Augusta, Georgia. Brothers and sisters, please don't mock me nor pity my foolishness. I'm willing to state that I suspect you would rather have the easy path. Am I right? Perhaps this last wee bit is just for me or perhaps it will speak to many, regardless, hear what a beaten, stoned, left for dead Apostle reminded the church - "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (v22) The one who has received Christ by faith will not be lost. We will not slip through the Lord's fingers. He will certainly not leave us nor forsake us. We will cross the finish line and we will see glory. Yet also certain is that the road ahead will be beset on all sides with tribulation and heartache. Hurting and wounded child of God may you know the Lord's help and strength today. I know that this day may not be easy but much more importantly - God knows. The One who has begun the work in you, will certainly bring it to completion at the day of Christ. Hear the Word of your Saviour. "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." (John 16v33) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q106 What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (Matt. 6:13)) we pray, That god would either keep us from being tempted to sin, (Matt. 26:41) or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (2 Cor. 12:7–8) Year 3 Day 113
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 12:3-20 Message - Alan Burke Many of us this year aren’t travelling too far this year, not because of covid but because the price of petrol and diesel are shocking, the airports are a mess and even the army have been called in the South to sort it out, with delays at security and canceled flights because they can’t get the staff (off course they airlines didn’t overbook, it’s not their fault) and on top of that the pound is worth nothing against the euro. We may as all stay at home, put a tent up in the back garden pretend we are in the south of France between the wind, rain and hail of our Northern Irish summers. Honestly I’m thankful this is another year that I don’t have to leave our wee country I love it here, like why would you want to live somewhere where they don’t have Tayto Cheese and Onion crisps in every shop. Ok enough of that, think though if you had to leave your house right now and you could grab what you could, what would you take? Well Ezekiel here is told by the Lord to pack his belongings for exile. When he had done this during the daytime while they watch bring them out, in the evening while they watch go out like those who go into exile. An exiles baggage would have been basic, you’d only have what you really need, the barest of bare essentials. During the day he’s is effectively to do what you’d do at night and at night what you’d do during the day, he was to set up camp during the day and at night he is to travel. We are told that Ezekiel did as he was commanded in v7, we’re not told anything more as such about it, we don’t know if the elders were there watching, or if there were crowds waiting for the next instalment of unhinged local nut job that had everyone talking, but as the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel once more it is clear that they had asked what he was doing. To their question the Lord tells Ezekiel in v9 that he is to tell them that this is a sign for the prince and for the whole people of their captivity and exile. Ezekiel explains it to them so they could be in no doubt. The prince that is mentioned here is Zedekiah (2 Kgs 25:17-20), who during the siege of Jerusalem tried to flee at night the invading armies through breaches of the wall with some of his troops. Look how verse 15 starts and how verse 16 ends, “they will now that I am the Lord”. There had been a reason in all of this, God’s purposes in judgment on His people were redemptive, He was dealing with their sin, He was redeeming a people for Himself, those who would know that He indeed is the Lord. Ezekiel to do this is so that his people in exile among the Babylonians would know that it was He who brought this on His rebellious people. Those in exile with Ezekiel when this happened could be in no doubt that the Lord brought this because of their sin, it wasn’t that He was like the gods of the nations around them but figments of the imagination like all other gods today. God wanted His people in exile as well as those in Jerusalem to know that he was the only living and true God, His people in exile they would know and indeed knew what happened before it happened, although they were far off when the judgement came they would hear, they would know that the Lord had brought this as He dealt with the sin of His people. But in the exile of those remaining, who survived the Lord was showing He is indeed gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, for those who were spared the judgement would know that, they would know that the Lord is God and when they returned they would purge the idolatry from the land. We may not know what God is doing in world events as they play out around us but the Lord is at work, He is a gracious and compassionate God and He will deal with sin, He will not let it go unchecked, one day all will stand before for the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed (Rom 2:5). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, (Matt. 6:12)) we pray, That God, for Christ’ s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; (Ps. 51:1–2,7,9, Dan. 9:17–19) which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. (Luke 11:4, Matt. 18:35) Year 3 Day 112
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 13v4-12 Message - Scott Woodburn “First posted Year 2 Day 17 - 8 April” In this country we love Biblical names for our children but draw the line at naming our sons Jesus. Yet if you have a son called Joshua then you have actually given him the name of the Lord. Over the years our western tongues have taken Christ's name and pronounced it as Jesus. However on the streets of Jerusalem Christ's name would have been pronounced "Yeshua" the equivalent of Joshua. As Barnabas and Saul make their way to the island of Cyprus they are not there for a holiday. They preached the Gospel in the synagogues of the Jews with John's help (v5). This isn't the Apostle John but rather John Mark who assists Saul on his travels. As they reach Paphos they face opposition from a Jewish false prophet with the extraordinary name of Bar-Jesus (v6). Luke isn't telling us here that this man was related to Christ, instead when we come across "bar" in the Bible it means "son of". So the father of this false prophet was called Joshua or Yeshua or as we pronounce it - Jesus. His other name was Elymas (v8) which means "wise" but he was in reality a dangerous fool. Elymas Bar-Jesus was seeking to stop the preaching of the Gospel. A Roman government official by the name of Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man and he wanted to hear the word of God preached (v7) but Elymas did his best to keep him away from the faith (v8b). We've heard a lot of names in this devotion and for the first time we hear that Saul is also called Paul. Saul was a Hebrew name and Paul was its Roman equivalent. So as the Hebrew convert called Saul preaches to the Gentiles, he uses his Roman name Paul instead. Paul looks at Elymas and denounces him powerfully (v10). He calls him a son of the devil, an enemy of righteousness, a liar, a villan and someone who seeks to make crooked the straight paths of the Lord. Immediately Elymas is struck blind. The Lord closes the eyes of His opponents and opens the eyes of His people. Sergius Paulus is astonished at the teaching and is saved (v12). As we reflect on Saul, Paul, Elymas, Sergius, John Mark and Barnabas we remember that there is a name greater than them all. Jesus is the name above all names and there is no other name by which we must be saved. Remarkably the one who receives Christ by faith is given the right to be called a child of God. Elymas may have carried the name of his father who had his name in common with the Lord, but Elymas was actually a child of the devil - spiritually blind and seeking to lead others astray. May the Lord give us eyes to see the enemies of the Gospel and the courage to oppose them, may the Lord open the eyes of the spiritually blind in our churches and communities and may the Lord open our mouths so that we can declare the mighty name of Jesus! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q104 What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matt. 6:11)) we pray, That of God’ s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them. (Prov. 30:8–9, Gen. 28:20, 1 Tim. 4:4–5) Year 3 Day 111
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 12:1-2 Message - Alan Burke There are many times that I have read the book of Ezekiel and I have wanted to draw direct comparisons to us today, in the main I have not done this because we are not by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians (1:2-3), we are not in exile, we are not in the year 593 BC or around it. Instead we are living far from the events that take place in the book of Ezekiel both in distance from Babylon which today would be Syria as well as the years that have gone past and today we look on these events through the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. While in the main I have not drawn direct comparisons today I will, we are living among a rebellious people! Although that could be said of every generation because we are not nearly mistaken, misguided, or confused, but we are spiritually dead, rebellious by our nature, slaves to sin without hope and without God in the world. This is what the word of God teaches and it is an offence to many. Here in the opening verses were are given an overview of the issue in Ezekiel’s day and we are told it twice so we don’t miss the crux of the problem they are a rebellious people, they had eyes to see but did not see, they had ears to hear but did not hear. Now the Lord had tasked Ezekiel already with doing the unordinary, remember how he was to build the siege works with Jerusalem in the middle, live on siege rations effectively starving himself and this went on for 430 days. Then we were told of how at the beginning of chapter 9 the elders sat with him, they were waiting for the word of the Lord to come to him. But now it seems that even with it all, even though they looked like they were listening, or wanting to listen, or wanting to hear, we are told that the people he is among, have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear. Ezekiel had communicated the truth of God to the people, he had told them about the coming judgement of the Lord, but yes they had eyes, yes they had ears but they couldn’t see or hear, they were blind and deaf to the truth of God. Similarly when the word became flesh, the only begotten Son of God came Jesus Christ, He came to his own but his own did not receive him (Jn 1:11), they had eye to see and ears to hear, but they did not see or hear. They were blinded and deafened to the truth, this is the problem with all of us by our nature, we are a rebellious people, we have eyes but do not see, ears but do not hear, until God changes the heart. That was the message that was given to us in ch 11, how God would remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, it is only by the word of God that our hearts can be changed, to accept the truth, to see and hear, to bring us from death to life, to enable us to be born again as the Spirit works inside us transforming us. None of us seek God by our nature, it is reliant on God to work in us. The beauty of the gospel at the heart of its offensiveness is the beauty of its truth, that Christ died to save sinners, it is by the word of God that we are brought from death to life. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q103 What do we pray for in the third petition? In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, (Matt. 6:10) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, (Ps. 67, Ps. 119:36, Matt. 26:39, 2 Sam. 15:25, Job 1:21) as the angels do in heaven. (Ps. 103:20–21) Year 3 Day 109
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 12v20-25 Message - Scott Woodburn “First posted Year 2 Day 12 - 3 April” At one time Adolf Hitler was the most feared and powerful man in the world. He died by his own hand in a collapsed bunker. At one time Josef Stalin stood like a colossus over Russia. He died after his aides allegedly ignored him as suffered a heart attack. Pol Pot waged a brutal campaign against his own people in Cambodia. He died suspicious and fearful and unloved. Evil always overreaches and antichrists never win. Herod raged against the church and even surrounding nations feared him. The people of Tyre and Sidon sought peace with Herod. The King was angry with them and they knew they needed Herod's favour for food (v20). Herod filled with arrogance put on royal robes, sat on his throne and began to speak (v21). We're not sure what Herod had to say but we do know the response of the people. They shouted that Herod's voice was that of a god and not a man (v22). Antichrists love nothing more than to receive praise that is not due to them. But perhaps Herod would be different? Perhaps he would turn the crowds gaze away from himself to the Lord? Sadly not. An angel of the Lord struck him down because instead of giving God the glory he took it all for himself (v23). Like antichrists before and since, Herod's end was not glorious. Luke tells us he was eaten by worms and died (v23). We do not know what disease afflicted Herod but we know that it was sent by God and Herod fell under the righteous wrath of the One he opposed. Meanwhile, in understated fashion, Luke mentions that the word of God increased and multiplied (v24). If only the opponents of the Gospel understood this. The Gospel cannot be stopped and every antichrist in every age will fall before the judgement of God. The King of France, Louis 14th preferred to be called "Louis the Great". At his funeral he insisted that only one candle remain alight and be placed on top of his coffin. After all, men in every age filled with their own arrogance, believe themselves to be the light of the world. The preacher that day was called Jean Baptiste Massillon and he climbed from the pulpit and blew out Louis the Great's candle. "Only God is great!" he declared "Only God is great!" We pray that the world would understand this message and today may we not lazily point to far off lands and denounce the foreign antichrists. Our own country is rotten, the Western world continues its decline into depravity. Evil is called good and good is called evil. May the Gospel of Christ thunder in the west and may these lands and the antichrists in them remember...only God is great and all will stand before Him. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q102 What do we pray for in the second petition? In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come, (Matt. 6:10)) we pray, That Satan’ s kingdom may be destroyed; (Ps. 68:1,18) and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, (Rev. 12:10–11) ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; (2 Thess. 3:1, Rom. 10:1, John 17:9,20) and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. (Rev. 22:20) Year 3 Day 108
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 11:14-25 Message - Alan Burke The departure of the Glory of God from the city of Jerusalem is here detailed (22-25), how the Lord on His throne chariot is carried by the cherubim. It leaves the city and moves east across the Kidron valley to the mount of olives, then it moves outside the city limits to the far off distance, taking Ezekiel back to the exiles. This is the departure of God from His dwelling place. With the vision over, the verdict was in, God had departed, judgment was coming, the Lord is indeed the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (Ps103:8), He had been long-suffering with His people, they were disobedient, they were rebellious, the Lord for years had called them through His prophets to repentance but they were despondent, they did not listen, and now the sign of His presence had left. But in the midst of this striking scene that portrayed God’s judgement as His Glory departed there was a great and glorious hope of what the Lord would indeed do. Yes He would bring His Judgment on this rebellious people but through the remnant God’s purposes would be fulfilled. They would be the ones God would use, they were His remnant, yes some would survive in Isreal even with the coming judgement of the Babylonians but God was reversing the fortunes of those who were facing death in exile, they would be those who would be redeemed, brought back, given life. Whereas those who were in Isreal who thought they had life, who thought they were safe, they would face death. Although the sanctuary had been the temple in Jerusalem, for those who were exiled God Himself was their sanctuary (16). This prophecy that came to Ezekiel in time was fulfilled, God kept his promises, Judgement came and those who had been scattered in the exile returned. The Lord was making it clear to His people how on day, a future day they would return, those who had gone out would come back for his purposes. Not only would there be a physical return to the land there was also be a spiritual return to the Lord God, there would be revival among them. As His remnant returned, as the exiles came back they removed the “vile images” and “detestable idols,” that they found. Even though those in Isreal had faced the judgement of God for their false religion they continued on in it until the exiles returned. For God put a new spirit in them, He would and did remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. It turned out to be the exiles who, who after living in pagan lands for so long came back desiring the things of God, they had been taken and seen that the grass on the other side was far from green and they longed for the things of God. Notice though that for those who remained in the land, there is no such promise of hope. God was working out His purposes and for those who had all the vestiges of religion, in the promised land, in God’s holy city, with His dwelling place in their midst instead received the judgement that they fully deserved. This is so important that we understand, because here we might have all the vestiges of religion but unless we have a new heart those things mean nothing, what we need is a new heart! when we have repented and believed God has given us a new heart and there is hope even when things look bleak we must remember that God is working out His purposes, as we repent and believe we are God’s people, He is our God and when this life ends, as we have a great and glorious hope that we will dwell in His presence forever. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q101 What do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name, (Matt. 6:9)) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; (Ps. 67:2–3) and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. (Ps. 83) |
Alan
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