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Year 3 Day 49
Pray (ACts) Read - Galatians 1 Message - Scott Woodburn It is always a tragedy when someone departs from the faith. Most of us can't imagine turning our backs on the Gospel but we would be fools to believe it couldn't happen. The history of the church is littered with examples of once zealous Christians turning their back on Christ and His church. This is called apostasy and it is not a new phenomenon. Paul had been appointed as an Apostle not by men but by Christ Himself (v1) and so he was able to write with authority to the church of Jesus Christ. He sent greetings of grace and peace to the churches in Galatia (v3) and a reminder that Christ had given Himself for our sins (v4). It is only the Gospel of Jesus that is able to save. Christ's righteousness for our sin. Jesus is our only Saviour, to God be the glory (v5). It was therefore astonishing to Paul that the Galatians were deserting the Gospel of grace and turning to a different gospel (v6). Now let's be clear alongside the beloved Apostle - there is no different gospel. The Gospel is unique, it declares that Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Christ crucified for sin, dead and buried but now alive forever more. This is the only Gospel. It is the medicine for the bad news - that we are hell deserving sinners. It also requires a response - we must repent and believe the Gospel. The Galatians had received and believed the Gospel but now were beginning to believe others who sought to distort the Gospel of Christ (v7b). What gospel was being preached in Galatia? It was a gospel that made much of Christ but it was also one which insisted upon circumcision. It took the truth of the true Gospel and distorted it with an addition here and there. It sounded entirely plausible and was therefore incredibly seductive. Paul was clear - this was a false gospel and even if an Apostle or an angel from heaven preached a false gospel, that individual was considered to be anathema or accursed (v8). To underline his point Paul stated once more, that any gospel preacher declaring a gospel contrary to the Gospel of grace was accursed (v9). Paul words may seem harsh but he wasn't seeking to please man but God (v10). Paul sought to defend the Gospel because he knew where it had come from. He had received it directly through a revelation of Christ (v12). He was once an enemy of Christ and tried to destroy the church (v13). He was a skilled and zealous Pharisee (v15) but God Himself took Saul and transformed him to Paul who was appointed as a preacher of the Gospel among the Gentiles (v16). The Gospel Paul preached had not been given to him by any other Apostle (v16b). Paul had spent just over two weeks with Peter (v18) and had briefly bumped into James (v19) but aside from that Paul had not been schooled by anyone in the Gospel. The good news that Paul had preached came directly from Christ. It was and is the Gospel of grace and if any other gospel reaches your ears, do not listen to it and reject the one who preaches it. The Gospel is serious business, literally life and death. So let us be clear about it. The Gospel declares Jesus to be the One who died for sins and was raised again to life. This good news requires a response of repentance and faith. But if anyone adds to this Gospel, let that one be accursed. We do not need to be circumcised to be saved. We do not need to speak in tongues to be saved. We do not need to be part of the Roman Catholic church to be saved. We do not need to be baptised in a certain way to be saved. We do not need to read a certain type of Bible to be saved. Let the Gospel ring - Christ crucified for sin, Christ raised for our justification! Repent and believe this Gospel and you will be saved! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q50 What is required in the second commandment? The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
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Year 3 Day 48
Pray (ACts) Read - Exodus 4:11-12 Message - Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 323 - 10 Feb 21” I am away on Post Ordination Training this week so my devotions are the last of some of the most liked of ‘Year One’. “Who made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind?” The Lord God, that’s who, and that’s how the Lord responded to Moses when he gave another excuse this time that came out of his own feelings of inadequacy, his own limitations. Here the Lord makes it plain and simple to Moses that no matter how great he may have thought his problem, that he was fearful and wonderfully made even though he couldn’t see it. Because what ever the problem with Moses’ speech, God had made Moses that way for his glory and Moses needed to stop mouthing off and instead remember that he comes before the Lord who will help him in it all. What God says to Moses is, I made you that way, you may not be eloquent, you may be slow of speech and of tongue but I made you that way. If that’s the case then our abilities, inabilities, and even disabilities are ordained by him. God has equipped us with every talent we need to do his will. He made us the way that he made us for his glory. That’s not saying you can’t get rehab after an injury or an illness, or you can’t get heart surgery, or an operation to remove a tumour, rather the focus here is that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. No matter your abilities, inabilities and even disabilities, God has made us the way we are and uses us for his glory. This also is a reminder to us in a society that doesn’t value the life of the unborn that they have been made by God and they are valuable to God and should be to us. Look then to what else God says to Moses in verse 12, “therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak”. Not only does God say to Moses that I made you, but also I can use your limitations for my Glory. Imagine that! God can use our limitations for His glory. This verse though is not an excuse for us to live according to our sinful desires or behaviour, that have been so affected by the fall. God was not telling Moses that he made him that way and that’s how he was, so Moses could live how he wanted. It is something that we all must know, that this is not an excuse for us to live according to our sinful desires or behaviour, that have been so affected by the fall. Just because we have a temper does not mean that God made you that way so you should take it out on your spouse, just because we have sexual desires does not mean that you should satisfy them in the way you want, just because you like to know everyone’s business does not mean we should gossip. The list goes on and on, our sinful desires or behaviour that have been so affected by the fall are not an excuse to sin, because scripture make it clear that we are to “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Col 3:5). Those who are in Christ Jesus, who are the children of God through faith are to repent of our sinful desires and actions (Acts 3:19), we are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:11). True repentance means a change of attitude and action regarding sin. Hatred of sin turns the repentant person away from his or her sin to God (Ps 119:128; Job 42:5–6; 2 Cor 7:10). This isn’t an excuse to defend sinful behaviour but a reminder for all of us that no matter our abilities, inabilities and even disabilities, God has made us the way we are and uses us for his glory. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q49 Which is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exod. 20:4–6) Year 3 Day 46
Pray (ACts) Read - Daniel 12 Message - Scott Woodburn As Daniel comes to a close the Lord Jesus Christ speaks to the prophet about the final days of human history. At the end of the age there shall be great turmoil upon the earth and in the unseen spiritual realm. The angel Michael will be involved (v1) and the troubles seen on this planet will be unlike those seen by any nation ever before (v1b). Such news strikes fear and dread into our hearts but Jesus speaks assuredly by reminding Daniel that deliverance will come for God's people. Anyone whose name is found in the Lamb's book of life will be saved (1c). My friends reflect today on your salvation. By grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone you have been saved. Your name is in the book and it can never be deleted from that place. Regardless of the world's troubles you have been saved, are saved and will be saved. Praise God! But how does human history end? In these devotions we have heard about the rise of the final antichrist and a time of great trouble for the church of Christ. The antichrist will be destroyed at the return of Jesus and when the Lord comes, the resurrection will take place. What do we mean by resurrection? Quite simply, the dead will be raised to life and their bodies and souls will be reunited. Those alive at the time of Christ's coming will also be transformed. So far so good. But will everyone be raised for glory? No. Jesus tells Daniel that some will be raised to everlasting life while others will be raised to shame and everlasting contempt (v2). This is the sombre reality. All will be raised on that last day but not everyone will see heaven. It is a terrible thing to be raised to stand before Christ without saving faith. Hell is the destination for Christ rejecters and hell is the most terrible of places. If you would flee from eternal punishment in hell, then you must be born again. Repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ and you will be saved. But for the one who has been wise and trusted in Jesus, they will shine like the brightness of the sky (v3a). For the one who has sought to turn many to the path of righteousness, they will shine like the stars for ever and ever (v3b). Christ has done this great work. He takes sinful hell bound wretches and transforms them by His Word and Spirit. Thanks be to God for the Gospel! Daniel is commanded to seal the book or in other words, to write everything down and close his work. It is to be opened today and read. We are in the "time of the end" and while many run to and fro, by the Holy Spirit's illumination we can understand Daniel and our knowledge of the things of God can increase (v4). Christ was accompanied by two others (v5). These angels show the truthfulness of the message that Daniel has received - consistently the Biblical standard for truth is two or three witnesses. Everything Jesus has said will come to pass, but the question is when (v6)? Jesus answered "a time, times and half a time" (v7). Once more we are familiar with this time period. It is the same as three and a half years, 1260 days and forty-two months. All of these terms describe the period between Christ's first and second coming. Daniel was keen to know what the final outcome would be of everything he'd just been told (v8). He was given another gracious response. There would be those who turn to the Lord and be refined but others would continue acting wickedly without understanding (v10). Jesus then assured Daniel that the time of trouble during the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes would be kept short (v11) and there would be those who would endure for a complete period (v12). Christ's message to Daniel and to us is clear. We can expect trouble under the attack of all sorts of antichrists. Yet even during the worst days there will be those who receive Christ and keep their robes white as snow. So brothers and sisters heed the words of this marvellous book. Store up its truths in your heart. Meditate upon its message and do not fear when the evil days come. The one who endures to the end will be saved and they will stand in their allotted place when Christ returns. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q48 What are we specially taught by these words, before me,” in the first commandment? These words, before me,” in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God. Year 3 Day 45
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 3:22-27 Message - Alan Burke Ezekiel has been called by God, he is to be a watchman to the people, his task is to rouse them from their slumber, he is to warn the wicked and the righteous and those who heed the warning they will surely live (21). Now what we are told as the Lord spoke to Ezekiel is really quite striking. First in v24, Ezekiel is to shut himself inside his house, then v 25 he is told that ‘they’ will tie him so that he cannot go out, and finally 26-27 we are told that the Lord will make him mute, only when the Lord opens his mouth will Ezekiel be able to speak. Think of what the Lord had tasked Ezekiel with, he is to proclaim the coming judgement of God, but he’s to shut himself away, and the people they are going to bind him, and the Lord’s going to make him mute, like what on earth is going on? After all normally the prophets send by God moved among the people and they spoke the word of God into the situation. And here we are told this, Ezekiel isn’t to go out, and such is the opposition against him and the word of the Lord the people will bind him so that he cannot go out, and such is the judgement of God against the people, this rebellious people who so do not want to hear the message that the bind the messenger that the Lord God will make Ezekiel mute, he will not be able to speak unless the Lord enables him to speak. This is a rebellious people who have rejected the Lord and will reject his word, reject his prophet. The people themselves tried to keep Ezekiel from telling the word of God to the people, and as a result God stops him from being a mediator. A mediator, one who attempts to opposing parties or groups into some kind of agreement. Instead Ezekiel’s tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth like a prisoner, he would be unable to bring this sinful people before God, he was unable to be their mediator, to intercede for the people, to speak on their behalf. His silence lasted between six and a half to seven and a half years until Jerusalem would fall. Ezekiel cannot go where he wishes or speak to whom he wishes, he cannot speak anymore than the Lord allows him to speak, he is the watchman of the Lord warning the impending judgement but he is unable to advert it, to stand in the breech being the peoples mediator. As the passage closes, the Sovereign LORD tells Ezekiel, “Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.” (27). Jesus in the gospels says, punctuated many of his parables with the words ‘he who has ears let him hear’ (Mk 4:9,23, 716, Mt 13:9). Both here in Ezekiel and there in the gospels the point is that we are invited to hear, to listen, to response, but the Lord will not force us to respond to his word. Whoever will listen, is to listen and whoever refuses to listen will not listen. Ezekiel had no more power to change the peoples hearts in his day that we have, the Lord only requires that we take his word faithful to the people, some times that will involve rebuking, correcting, confronting what violates his word and what he commands. The church is to be like a watchman, warning the people of what awaits those who do not respond to his word. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q47 What is forbidden in the first commandment? The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, (Ps. 14:1) or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, (Rom. 1:21) and our God; (Ps. 81:10–11) and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. (Rom. 1:25–26) Year 3 Day 44
Pray (ACts) Read - Daniel 11 Message - Scott Woodburn Ever wonder if God knows what He is doing? The world seems so out of control that sometimes we sinfully scratch our heads and query if the Lord has lost sight of global affairs. Know what? He certainly hasn't lost sight of even the smallest detail. In answer to his heartfelt prayer, Daniel had been visited by Christ Himself. The Lord was clear that He was involved in a constant spiritual battle but He was not ignorant of how things would play out. Here is Jesus our Warrior King. He gathers and defends His church and He knows how everything will end. How could we trust anyone else? Jesus told Daniel that there would be more Persian kings and eventually one of them would attack the Greeks (v2). His name was Xerxes would did all that he could to bring the Greeks under Persian rule. Eventually the Greeks would find their own great warrior. His name was Alexander the Great and he would rise rapidly and conquer a great empire (v3). But Alexander died young and his kingdom was divided among his generals and not any of his own descendants (v4). Alexander's generals were called Cassander, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Antigones and in this chapter the Lord would speak primarily about Ptolemy and his descendents in Egypt and Selecus and his descendents in Persia. Jesus called the Ptolemies "the king of the south" (v5) and the Seleucids "the king of the north" (v6). These northern and southern kingdoms would be allies (v6) but mostly they would war against one another. Christ would speak of the south carrying off precious items from the north (v7-8) quickly followed by the north bringing the war to the south (v9). The fighting would stretch through the generations of the Ptolemies and the Seleucids. Again and again multiudes would rise against one another, battles would be fought, won, lost and much blood would spill (v10-13). But as nations rise and fall there is always someone bigger and stronger. Jesus told Daniel that as the Ptolemies and Seleucids fought, eventually another commander would take the stage (v18). This commander was Rome and the Romans soon stamped out the "insolence" of her enemies (v18). Eventually there would be another individual who would make an impression on history. His name was Antiochus IV Ephipanes and Jesus tells his story from verse twenty to thirty-five. We've spoken before in these devotions about this man. He thought he was a god and he turned the Jerusalem temple into a centre of Zeus worship. Antiochus IV Ephipanes was an antichrist. He sought the place of Jesus and demanded worship for himself. As the chapter comes to a close the scene shifts to the end of time when another antichrist will rise. The final antichrist will make Antiochus and others like him look tame. He will rise and seek to lead many astray and will be a fierce opponent of the church of Jesus Christ. Yet even thousands of years ago, Christ was able to say that the final antichrist would "come to his end, with none to help him" (v45). Daniel 11 may seem like a dry chapter full of ancient history but it is much more than that. In it we hear directly from Christ who predicts accurately the path of human events. The dark clouds often hang heavy over the affairs of humanity but this chapter is an assurance that the Lord knows exactly the path ahead. Certainly the church will always know trouble in this world but we have been blessed with the Word of God which comforts us. The Word says that Christ is the One who opens the scroll of human history, He is in charge, He is the King and in the end He wins. Who is like the Lord our God? No one. Rest in His mighty hand today. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q46 What is required in the first commandment? The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly. Year 3 Day 43
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 3:16-21 Message - Alan Burke Are you bad or good? Naughty or nice? Ok it might be a little early for making a list and checking it twice but there are two categories often used, two groups, classes, camps that people can be easily grouped into, bad or good, naughty or nice. I have another and it is here in these verses, two categories, two classes of people, they are the wicked and the righteous. These terms encompass all people everywhere, and here as Ezekiel is to warn them, he has the same task no matter which categories, classes or camp they fall into, the same warning comes to all. His task whether they are righteous or wicked is to tell them of what the Lord has said. The same message comes to both, and there is two potential outcomes. Those who are wicked are those who do not hear or listen, the wicked are those who have not responded to the word of God in faith. They can be those who are clearly wicked as well as those who have the appearance of righteousness but then do evil and with a stumbling block in the way they fail to overcome it, the wicked do not preserver to the end. The righteous here are those who take the warning, the righteous are those who hear and listen, the righteous are those who have faith in the word of God, in God himself. The righteous are those who do not only start out well but even in the midst of failure they continue on, they heed the warning, they repent. Those who are righteous will indeed respond and listen to the word of the Lord that comes though Ezekiel. For all who hear and respond to the word of God here will live, and those who do not, who ignore the message, who ignore the word, who do not respond in faith and belief then they will die. The call is ‘hear, respond and live’ or ‘ignore and perish’, that is the option open to the people whom Ezekiel preaches to. The life and death speaks not merely physical life and death but also spiritual life and death. Think back to the Garden, God promised death to Adam and Eve for disobedience and life for obedience. In their disobedience as they at from the tree of knowledge of good and evil the consequences was immediately, first and foremost spiritual death, then physical death came later. Adam and Eve may have been physically alive after the fall but they were cut off from God, no longer had they communion with him, they were effectively dead waiting for death. Whereas those who Ezekiel calls, those whom he preaches to can have life, spiritual life, they will die, just as we will all die physically but all who hear and respond to the word of God although they die physically, they will live eternally with him, they will surely live, v21, the righteous will surely live because they taken heed of the warning. Ezekiel’s task as watchman is to take the word of the Lord to the people, the warning is to all the people, not just to those who are wicked but those who appear to be righteous. Ezekiel’s task is not to change their heart only to proclaim the word of God. Here in these verse the root of the problem is sin, sin leads to death. Romans 3:23 reminds us all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, Romans 6:23 reminds us how the wages, the result of sin is death but the free gift of God is external life in Christ Jesus who died in the place of all who have faith. Here the people of God, those rebellious people can either choose life or face the death that comes to all and the pains of hell forever if they fail to choose the way of life. This is the choice before us, life or death, and in Christ we can have life and have it abundantly, life eternal (Jn 10:10). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q45 Which is the first commandment? The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exod. 20:3) Year 3 Day 42
Pray (ACts) Read - Daniel 10 Message - Scott Woodburn Whilst we don't often give much thought to unseen spiritual realities, the Scriptures paint a picture of warfare in the spiritual realms. Paul was hindered by Satan in his attempts to return to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2v18) As Jesus completed His work at Calvary there were consequences in the unseen world. John would write "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back." (Revelation 12v7) No wonder the Apostle Paul would tell us "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6v12) We may not think about unseen spiritual realities but we are forced to admit that while we deal with what is seen, what is unseen plays a major part in this world. Daniel would receive a vision that confirmed these spiritual realities. It was the third year of Cyrus (v1) and by this stage the Israelites had started to return home and would soon engage in the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. This work would be opposed in both the visible and invisible realms. Daniel's vision gave him a glimpse of a man, yet this wasn't a routine regular guy. Daniel tells us that this man was "clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz round his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude." (v5-6) This finely dressed figure caused Daniel's companions to flee (v7) and Daniel to fall on the ground in a deep sleep (v9). Who was this man? Some argue for good reason that this was an angel but there is a striking similarity between this figure and the individual who speaks with John in Revelation 1. It is my belief that just as Christ spoke to John on Patmos, so it was Christ who spoke to Daniel on the banks of the river Tigris. Jesus once reached out and told John not to fear (Revelation 1v17) and in this passage Christ reaches out and counsels Daniel in the same manner (v10&12). As Daniel returned to his feet (v11) Jesus told him that his prayers had been heard in heaven and Christ had come with an answer. The people had returned home and the temple would be rebuilt but Jesus informed Daniel of a great spiritual battle that was taking place in the unseen realms. A demonic spiritual power was described by Jesus as "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" (v13) and this fallen enemy of God's people had fought against the purposes of Christ for twenty-one days. The angels are the host of Almighty God and so Jesus, who is the commander of the Lord's army, had sent the angel Michael into battle on His behalf. This is an extraordinary glimpse into the spiritual war that continues to rage. But let's be clear about a couple of things. Firstly, the battle is not equal - Jesus is not weaker than Satan. Secondly, the battle is not in doubt - Jesus has defeated Satan. Yet with those caveats we must also say that the battle between good and evil continues and will do so until the return of Christ. Satan knows he is defeated, yet he rages for he knows his time is short. Day by day the forces of the Lord continue to make ground until the last day when Christ's enemies will be placed under His feet. The scale of this reality caused Daniel to fall silent needing the touch of Christ before he could speak once again (v15-16). The prophet admitted that he had no strength or breath any longer (v16-17). But Daniel was not the one called to fight the battle. Jesus was going to continue the war against Satan's forces in Persia and then He would take the fight to the demonic forces of Greece (v20). Christ's war against the enemy is constant, He fights it with His heavenly host (v21) and our Champion will never taste defeat. What are we to make of this? Brothers and sisters, do not be surprised by the vindictiveness of the enemy and never marvel when the battle comes to the door of your church or home. We do not wrestle with things seen but instead we wrestle with that which is unseen. Take up the full armour of God and attend to the ordinary means of grace which are the weapons of the church. Hear the Word of Christ once spoken to Daniel and now spoken to you, child of God "greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” (v19) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments. Year 3 Day 41
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 3:16-21 Message - Alan Burke On a recent visit I glanced out the window and noticed that the next door neighbour of the person I was visiting was installing CCTV cameras around their property. What struck me was that this house was at the bottom of a quiet cul-de-sac. When I passed remark and was then told that the individual I was with had never locked their door since they moved in in the 80’s and the new neighbours are just a menace and everyone thinks so. Technology has transformed so many things, from shopping, to home security and national security. In Ezekiel day the early warning system was not motion detectors with infra red CCTV cameras that connect to your phone as long as you have an internet connection, it was a man who would have sat watch on the city walls or a high tower. It is now seven days since the wonderful vision of the Glory of God that had caused Ezekiel to fall face down, overwhelmed with the holiness of God. As the LORD speaks, again addressing Ezekiel as Son of Man, the Lord tells him that he has made him watchman. A watchman as name suggests watched, either on the city walls or high tower. They were to look out for danger, a fire in the city, an enemy approached what ever it was. When their was danger, their task was to do all that they could to rouse the inhabitants of that place, to try and get them to take action, to wake them from their slumber. They were to sound the trumpet if they saw danger, a watchman was the early warning system, warning of danger. In effect the watchman was in charge of the safety of the entire population. If they failed to carry out their task, failed to warn the inhabitants they were personally responsible for any loss and liable to judgement for it. The inhabitants would still face the consequences but blame lay at the watchman’s feet. Well Ezekiel was a watchman, his task is to warn that the Lord God was bringing judgment upon this rebellious people for their sin. His task is clear, and just like a watchman on the city wall or a tower who tries, his responsibility is not for the response to the message of warning, no he is only responsible for the task that he has been given. Ezekiel is responsible for his own faithfulness, he is responsible for the task not the response, he was to preach of the coming of judgment of God and if the people didn’t heed it then it was not his fault, it was their own fault. But if Ezekiel failed to do what he had been entrusted with, if he failed to warn the people, if he took the easy option and did not preach of the judgement that was coming, if he failed to preach against their evil then he would be accountable, just as the watchman on the city walls. Just like those inhabitants of a city, if the watchman failed in their task to rouse the people, the people of God that rebellious people would still face the consequences. If Ezekiel didn’t warn them they would still face the judgement of God. Likewise today, the task of the preacher is to preach the word of God, to preach the whole council of God and the judgement that awaits those who do not repent and believe. If the preacher fails in his task, if he chooses to take the easy way out, if he never warns of the judgement that awaits sinners, they will still be held accountable for this before God. That is why in James we are told; “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (Jam 3:1). If the preacher has taken the easy option and said nothing about sin, hell, the need for repentance and belief, this is no defence for those who were not warned before almighty God. Those in the pulpit are those to be standing on the watchtower, warning of what comes, they keep watch for the safety of all, even when it is hard for us to hear it is better for us to hear than to be in ignorance of it. Pray daily for your watchman, for your teacher, pray for me, pray for Scott or who ever on the Lord’s day will fill the pulpit, that they would preach and warn weekly of the coming judgement that awaits sinners and that in Christ we may escape that judgement. Pray for those who come under the preached word that they would respond in faith and repentance and pray that you yourself may have a teachable heart. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q43 What is the preface to the ten commandments? The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exod. 20:2) Year 3 Day 39
Pray (ACts) Read - Daniel 9v24-27 Message - Scott Woodburn Welcome to part two of our look at the seventy weeks of Daniel chapter nine! If you want a whirlwind tour of the first sixty-nine weeks then I point you to Thursday's devotion. Today we'll consider the final week of the seventy. The Lord God sent the angel Gabriel to Daniel in response to the prophet's heartfelt prayer of repentance. Gabriel told Daniel that a seventy week period lay ahead. This isn't a literal seventy weeks that we can count on our calendar but instead a symbolic number which tells the story of human history until the return of Christ. The first seven weeks saw a return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. The next sixty-two weeks moved from the rebuilt temple to the first coming of Jesus. Sixty-two plus seven is sixty-nine, leaving one more week to discuss. Gabriel said that in one week "he shall make a strong covenant with many" (v27). Who is the "he" of this verse? It is Christ. Some have argued that this verse speaks of an end-times figure who makes a new covenant with the people of Israel. Others say that the "he" is the "prince who is to come" from verse twenty-six. But the Hebrew language behind this verse does not speak about a "new" covenant but a confirmation of an existing covenant. The "he" of this verse is Christ and the strong covenant he confirms with many is the covenant of grace. This covenant declares that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. How can we be so sure? It is only Christ who fulfils the six standards of verse twenty-four. The last week of the seventy speaks of Christ's ministry and it's impact. Jesus was the sinless suffering servant. He has finished transgression by putting away sin. Sin is still in the world but Christ has broken it's back. He has paid for the sins of His people - He has finished transgression and put their sin away. Jesus has atoned for the iniquity of His Bride and He has brought them everlasting righteousness. The one who trusts in Christ has the righteousness of Jesus imputed to their account. He has fulfilled the vision of Daniel and Christ Himself is the true prophet. Finally Christ's work has anointed a most holy place. Where is this place? Jesus is the place. He is the true temple that was torn down but raised on the third day. With that stated what did Gabriel mean when he said that Christ would put an end to sacrifice and offering for half the week (v27)? Christ's sacrifice was enough, glorious and sufficient. The sacrificial system centred around the Jerusalem temple was temporary and brought to a close by Christ. When Jesus died the curtain of the temple was torn in two. How could the blood of bulls and goats ever compare to the blood of the Lamb of God? It could not and cannot. Christ's sacrifice does not need to be repeated. He has put an end to sacrifice and offering and He did it at Calvary. Finally during the first half of the week there would come one who made desolate (v27) Who is this one? Jesus would later refer to Daniel when He spoke of the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24v15) relating it to the destruction of the temple in 70AD. Therefore this phrase in Daniel speaks of Titus and his Roman legions who brought great destruction and death to Jerusalem. They destroyed the temple and to this very day it remains in ruins. So half of the final week is taken up by Christ ending sacrifice and making a strong covenant with many. His work was majestic and all who believe in Him will be saved. Then in the middle of the week Titus marched into Jerusalem and smashed the temple into bits. What about the rest of the week? My friends the final three and a half days describe the period in which we currently live. Can I support that statement? I believe so. Scripture interprets scripture and in Revelation John would speak of the period between Christ's ascension and His return in various ways. He would speak of forty-two months and 1260 days (Revelation 11v2-3) The woman is comforted by the Lord for 1260 days (Revelation 12v6) and time, times and half a time (Revelation 12v14). Finally, the beast exercised authority for forty-two months (Revelation 13v5) What do all these phrases have in common? They all describe three and a half years. Daniel's three and a half days is the same period as John's three and a half years. It is the period of time between Christ's first and second coming. What do we make of all of this? Quite simply history centres around the person and work of Christ. His sacrifice means that many will be saved. History isn't about the Romans, the British or the Russians. Biden and Putin may be on the news but one day they will give account to Jesus. Christ alone is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Finally, we are living in the last days of human history. Time is short. Hear the Word of God... "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Romans 13v11-14) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q42 What is the sum of the ten commandments? The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves. Year 3 Day 38
Pray (ACts) Read - Ezekiel 2:9-3:15 Message - Alan Burke Are you a foodie? Not just one of those people who just eats plain pasta with a drop of tomato ketchup, being picky about the brand of pasta and the brand of tomato ketchup doesn’t count! Even if you are a foodie there is bound to be one or two things you don’t like or if is served up in front of you that you would really prefer not to eat. I have two things I just can’t stand, Lasagne (so please don’t ever try to feed me it) and the other is tomato pasta no matter what brand of pasta or brand of tomato ketchup or tinned tomatoes I simply can’t do it. After that I’m willing to try just about anything, although maybe not eating a full scroll as Ezekiel was tasked with although I’d at least try it, just not tomato pasta! The rebellious house of Isreal would not listen but Ezekiel was to listen, he ate the scroll likely that of leather. What makes this scroll that Ezekiel was to eat unusual though, is that it was written on both sides, and Ezekiel could identify that which was written on it, the words of lament and mourning and woe (9). As he digested the words of lament and mourning and woe, that the Lord feeds Ezekiel, and the scroll fills him, this unappetising leather scroll, with words of lament, mourning and woe, that we would expect it to be bitter, unpalatable, but it was as sweet as honey in his mouth. Ezekiel was being equipped by God and sent to take his message among the exiles and it was going to bring message of bad news, and there would be plenty of it, but in the end although we have to wait until much further in the book there does come hope. Ultimately they will reject what Ezekiel the prophet of the Lord will bring, and the reason why is because they are ultimately rejecting the Lord God. They will not listen to him because he brings the word of God. As a result of this reality, Ezekiel went away in bitterness and in anger of his spirit. He was overwhelmed at what he was tasked to do, he was overwhelmed because the people would not listen to the message that the Lord was sending him with, he was overwhelmed with it all and it took him seven days to overcome the shock and despair of that which was told to him. We might think in the midst of it all what was the point, but it was God’s will to bring him glory to address the sin of his people, their rebellious ays. God still calls men it minister in places today, across this world and in this land, place that are not very far from here where God has put minister in places that are full of contempt for the word of God, full of briars thorns and scorpions and sadly they are more common than we might like to believe. Yet for all who hear, for those who are willing to listen, even though the message may not be what we want to hear, of lament, mourning and woe, as the word confronts us with our own rebellion as sinful people, in the judgement that comes there is hope! For as we close there is another Son of Man who has come, he though unlike the first Adam who failed in his test of obedience, he in his life and death, in his active obedience as he lived, in his passive obedience as he willingly went to the cross and died in our behalf has provided a way that we might escape the judgement, the wrath of God that we deserve. For Jesus Christ the true and better Adam, by his obedience, as he took on our humanity, partook in our flesh and blood, so that he could die in our place and destroy the one who has the power of death and deliver us, this is the hope of all who hear the word of God (Heb 2:14-15). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. (Deut. 10:4, Matt. 19:17) |
Alan
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