I Am The Lord

Posted on January 31, 2016 by heatonkent

sunrise4Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 18:1-5)

I Am The Lord

There are emphatic statements of God throughout scripture. The purpose of these declarations is to arrest the attention of the people to the character of the Lord and His insistence upon their complete obedience. Found only in the Old Testament the statement “I am the Lord” is repeated around 162 times. The majority of scriptures will be found in two books: Leviticus (45) and Ezekiel (67). It should not be lost on the reader the context of these books and the assertion by God His people clearly understand His will. The name of the Lord is Holy and to be held in reverence. Not simply because it is a good thing to do but the name of the Lord establishes truth.

The book of Leviticus is a telling of the Law. Moses has been called by God to recite the specifics of the Law which were given on Mount Sinai. Over and over again while the Law was being outlined God put emphasis on the letter of the law reminding the people who brought them out of the land of Egypt, who performed mighty miracles in their presence and who cared for their every need. “I am the Lord” was a stamp of authority sealing the testimony of His word on the hearts of the people for them to obey. The Lord is a jealous God (His name is Jealous) and allegiance to one God was paramount to obedience. Jehovah would not accept being anything but first and only.

Ezekiel was a prophet during the turmoil of the captivity. He was a priest of the Lord among the captives by the river Chebar in Babylon. As a watchman over the house of Israel Ezekiel prophesied of the final destruction of Jerusalem with the razing of the temple and deportation of the Jews to bondage. The message was clear: what God had promised in the Law if Israel turned away from Him was now coming to pass. The Lord abhorred idolatry which leads to the destruction of the nation. Pride had brought the people of God to ruin and relying upon other nations to deliver them was folly. When all was said and done the judgment of God rained down upon the rebellious nation because the character of the Lord had remained unchanged. Through the writing of Ezekiel this single thought was repeated over and over again: “that you may know that I am the Lord.” He wanted the captive people and those about to feel the sting of the whip to understand that sin will not be tolerated. He had warned them in the Law and now they would learn the hard way that what was declared in the beginning was still true.

The challenge today is to remind the world the Lord is still in charge and His word continues to judge the world in righteousness. Through the Bible God’s will is proclaimed and His word is unchangeable. Sin is still abhorrent in the eyes of the Lord God Almighty and if men reject Him the penalty of rebellion will be given. Salvation can only come from hearts that accept the message that God is Lord and there is none like Him. The word of God shows forth that He is Lord. If men reject Him today they will face Him in judgment and then they will know that He is Lord. Every knee shall bow. All of humanity will understand who the Lord is.

By the name God I understand a substance infinite, eternal, immutable, independent, all-knowing, all-powerful, and by which I myself, and every other thing that exists were created. (Rene Descartes, Meditations, 1641)

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A Four Part Defense Of The Gospel

Posted on January 30, 2016 by heatonkent

paul_preachingThen Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come–that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:1-32)

A Four Part Defense Of The Gospel

It had been more than two years since his arrest in Jerusalem. Paul had been brought up on charges by his fellow Jews of sedition against their own laws. Taken to Caesarea to appear before a governor of the land named Felix he continued to defend his position of innocence. A new governor took over the case and Paul again shows he had done nothing wrong. During his stay under the governor Festus, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea where Festus explained the case to the king. Desiring to know the facts the King had Paul brought before the council to hear his story. With great pomp and circumstance the entourage of the King entered the auditorium. It was with much less pomp the prisoner was brought before the bar. Paul’s defense was a masterful piece of declaring the message of Jesus Christ. With a simple four-point presentation the apostle opened the gospel of redemption to a Roman court.

Paul first posed a philosophical question about resurrection. “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” For anyone who believes in God the immediate conclusion is that the Lord is not limited by anything. To believe in God is an example of great faith. When a person accepts the reality of the one Creator who formed the world in six days what would limit the Creator to raise a man from the dead? Belief in Jesus is founded upon the knowledge that God raised Him from the dead. Paul spent his early life trying to disprove an event that was impossible to ignore. The resurrection is an easy doctrine to believe.

Second, Paul knew that Agrippa had a personal knowledge of the Law of Moses and the customs of the Jews. Appealing to this understanding the apostle poses a question of Jewish scripture. “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come–that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” What happened to Jesus was exactly what the scriptures foretold would take place. Belief in the prophets and Moses required belief in the sacrifice of Jesus as being the one promised. A careful survey of the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms would declare that Jesus was the Christ.

A third argument presented by Paul was the historical evidence. He declares, “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.” The events of the empty tomb and the furor that followed did not escape the attention of Roman officials. Jesus life and his death became news. His followers were turning the world upside down. Agrippa knew of the story of Jesus. Anyone could have visited the tomb of Jesus and seen it was empty. The soldiers guarding the tomb knew what had happened. Jesus resurrection was a matter of historical record.

Finally the wearied apostle made a personal appeal. The King had been touched by Paul’s words. He admitted there was little evidence to support a denial of Jesus. Yet the king was not ready to change his heart. Paul’s final exhortation was to beg those gathered to believe in the story of Jesus like he had done. His life had been spent destroying everything Jesus stood for and now he was standing before the world defending the reality of the Son of God. Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” A prisoner who was free appealing to those free to come out from their bondage of fear.

Paul touched the hearts of those gathered that day. Sadly the opportunity to obey the gospel never came to those privileged to hear one of the great sermons of the day. They went back to their own lives without realizing the joy of God’s redeeming grace. Paul would go to Rome. Imprisoned for a time and released he was arrested one final time before a Roman blade removed his head. It was not a moment of defeat but a life of glory that awaited the aged apostle. He stood before kings. Now he stands before the King of Kings. And that is a great story.

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For The Love Of Gomer

Posted on January 29, 2016 by heatonkent

forgive power ofWhen the Lord began to speak by Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.” So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. (Hosea 1:2-3)

For The Love Of Gomer

The prophets were unusual men. Their task was herculean as they tried to bring the hearts of the people back to God. In the end the nation of Israel was destroyed with a remnant taken off to captivity for seventy years. The message of the prophets has been preserved through the Holy Spirit to give a model of God’s love, grace and mercy to a rebellious people. Some of these men were asked to do unusual things. Hosea was no exception. Instructed by the Lord to take a wife of harlotry he obeyed. He and Gomer had three sons: Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi. A shocking and sad truth becomes evident in the story of Hosea. Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi were not Hosea’s children. Gomer was being unfaithful to her husband. Later Hosea was told to take his adulterous wife back and to love her which he did buying her for the price of a common slave.

On the face of the story there is a reaction of horror. A man marries a woman of less than favorable character. She bears three children but instead of the joy of family it is discovered the woman continues her immoral ways bearing two of the sons by other men. The disgust for such a woman would easily be justified but then to find out the man goes out and finds the woman prostituting herself in the world and brings her back home. What man in his right mind would do such a thing? How could anyone look upon Gomer with anything but absolute disgust? Why would the Lord require this by the hand of his prophet?

For the Christian today the story of Hosea and Gomer seems disturbing. It is only when we spend time to understand the story that it is discovered who Gomer really is. The woman of rebellion is you – and she is me. Being comfortable with sin is very easy. We can become smug in our view of how we live before God. Sin is rebellion. How many times have we gone before the Lord and begged forgiveness one more time. Is it possible to count the number of times we have been forgiven? Do we deserve to be taken back again and again? God’s mercy is the theme of Hosea because His amazing love is expressed through the actions of Hosea. Gomer does not deserve the love of Hosea but Hosea loves his wife and will do anything for her. We do not deserve God’s love but His abounding mercy continues to fill our lives. Grace. Amazing. Love. Unending. The Lord keeps taking us back.

Hosea’s final message is telling. “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Thank you God for your unending love, your incredible mercy and your grace that is more amazing every day.

Grace is unconquerable love … waits not for merit to call it forth, but flows out to the most guilty, is the sinner’s only hope. (William Ellery Channing; 1780-1842; Works)

Posted in Christian, Forgiveness, Morality, Prophets | Leave a comment

Changed Lives

Posted on January 28, 2016 by heatonkent

 

AMAZING-GRACE1Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:21-24)

Changed Lives

Saul of Tarsus was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He came from a family that nurtured him as a devoted child of Abraham. His teaching was at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the greatest scholars of his day. As pedigrees goes Saul had it all. He came from the tribe of Benjamin known for their fierce spirit. Privilege came as a Pharisee placing him in a position of authority. When the followers of a man from Nazareth began to oppose the Law of Moses he became a one man movement of persecution against them. And he was very good at what he did. He shut up many Christians in prison, voted to have them killed, persecuted them in every synagogue and tortured them to deny Christ. His life had one purpose: annihilate the followers of Jesus. Nothing could contain his rage against the church.

It was on the road to Damascus the life of Saul changed forever. The church would never be the same either. Three days after the Lord appeared to Saul on the road the great persecutor of the church of Christ became a disciple of the Lord. His fierce spirit of devotion would now spend his final years declaring the gospel of salvation in the Man he sought to destroy. For the disciples living in Damascus the last person they would have ever dreamed that would become a Christian was Saul. He was the poster boy for persecution. Yet there he sat in the house of Judas still dripping from the baptismal waters eating a meal.

Paul would later write the gospel was the power of God to salvation. When those words were penned upon the parchment they meant so much more to the apostle. There is great power in the teaching of Jesus Christ. It has the power to change lives. Found in the seed of God’s love is a message that will take sinful man and give them a grace found only in the bosom of the Lord. Saul of Tarsus would die as a devoted servant of Jesus Christ. His life is a testimony to how the word of God can change lives. The vilest of sinner can become a child of God. Those whom we think least likely to have interest in the gospel are the first row candidates. When Paul went about preaching throughout the Roman world people were talking about his conversion and glorifying God.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has not changed. It will still bring those enslaved by alcohol and drugs to the cross of redemption. Women who sell their bodies, criminals who have known little compassion, immoral lives and corrupt hearts will find cleansing in the blood of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus was not a surgical sacrifice for a select few. He died for all men – everybody! His death was to save the Jew, the Moslem, the Buddhist, the middle class American, the one with a different color skin or nationality, those lost in the slums of poverty and the mansions of wealth, young or old, tattooed, purple haired punkers and especially the socially content arrogant religious neighbor. Jesus Christ came to save you in the place you find yourself no matter where that is.

There is in truth a sort of reverence due to sinners, when we look at them not as in their sins, but simply as having sinned, and being the objects of a Divine yearning. (Frederick W. Faber, The Spirit of, 1914)

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Knowledge Is Power

Posted on January 27, 2016 by heatonkent

b_study1Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)

Knowledge Is Power

The proverbs of the Lord can be plain and blunt. A simple rule of life can be found in twelve words. Heeding the advice of the proverb declares the message of the proverb. God’s word has always been matters of instruction giving man the knowledge to be wise or unwise. The apostle John wrote that God’s laws are not burdensome. When have the instructions of the Lord been hard to understand? It is not the law of God that is the problem; it is the heart of man that rejects the plain instructions of the Creator.

A man who loves instruction has an open heart to receive whatever the Lord tells him. Reading the Bible is comforting yet afflicting. Like a mirror the image of man is found on the pages of God’s word showing his glory as he is made in the image of the Divine. When a man spends time in the word of God he also sees his failures and needs to change. It is easy to see the good parts but when a man realizes his nature before a just God his heart can turn away from the word and that is unwise. To love knowledge is a desire to make changes in life according to the will of God. Turning away from the instructions of the Lord is stupid. The meaning is that man is (as the saying goes) as dumb as an ox. A brute beast is exactly that: brute. There is no thinking to this kind of animal. Rejecting the teaching of the Lord is stupid because man can find no other way to understand who he is apart from his Creator.

Man was created for the glory of God. The Lord has given man His will and desires for man to read, understand and obey. Showing the greatest love for man Jesus died on the cross to save man. The majority of people view the Bible with disdain. Their only salvation is right in front of them and they have no interest in what it says. How dumb to be drowning with a life boat in front of you. If a man were dying of a terrible disease and the cure was in a bottle next to his bed why would he stubbornly reject its healing power? That is stupid – unwise – foolish. Every day thousands of people die with no hope and no peace and the answer to their eternal dilemma is the word of God. Loving instruction is a heart willing to change whatever needs to be changed because the Lord knows what we need. To reject the plain teaching of the Bible is just stupid.

Other books were given for our information; the Bible was given for our transformation. (Anonymous)

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OMG is SIN

Posted on January 26, 2016 by heatonkent

Anger2You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

OMG is SIN

The name of God is holy and reverend. A lot of folk do not think so from what is heard and seen on social media. It is not uncommon to hear people use language that dishonors the Lord. Cursing the name of the Creator goes from blatant foul language to socially accepted use of His name in vain. The real danger comes from the children of God cursing their Father’s name with terms like OMG (Oh my God) or more direct use of the name God in various formats. Misguided souls think as long as they do not ‘curse’ the name of God in the obvious language of cursing they are safe to use the name of the Lord in any other fashion. Wrong! The Lord will require judgment upon all who use His name in a flippant manner.

There was a case among the people of Israel where two men got into a fight. One was the son of a woman from the tribe of Dan whose husband was Egyptian. The woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed. He was brought to Moses to determine what must be done. The Lord told Moses to take the young man outside the camp and to require all those who heard him curse the name of the Lord lay their hands on his head and then stone him with stones. And they did. The penalty under the Law of Moses for blaspheming the name of the Lord was death. While the Law of Moses is no longer binding God’s view of His name is unchanged.

God’s name is to be feared because His name is who He is. Using His name in a vain manner insults the character of the holiness of the Lord. One of His names is THE LORD YOUR GOD. This name is to be feared. It is a glorious name and is awesome. Another name of the Lord is JEALOUS because He is a jealous God. All through scripture the Lord God Almighty reminds us that His name is not to be used in a vain fashion. Because the world approves of this kind of language does not suggest God does.

It must be made clear that using God’s name in vain does not limit itself to speaking but also what we hear. The world of media has no honor for the name of God. Television shows will use God’s name constantly in many forms. Movies will use God’s name in cursing. We have become desensitized to how God’s name is used and will watch show after show that decries the name of God. People of God will mention movies they have seen where the name of God is cursed. Have we decided the Lord allows a certain number of times for His name to be cursed before He gets angry? If you knew a movie you were going to watch used God’s name ONCE as a curse – would you watch it? Sadly many brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ will. When God declared His name holy and His name should not be taken in vain He did not allow latitude. Movies, television shows, music or books that use foul language including the socially accepted use of God’s name in vain (like OMG) should not be on the list of a child of God. He will not hold His children innocent. Pretending like you did not hear it does not make it go away.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Jesus)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Jesus Christ, Social Issues | Leave a comment

Jesus Does Not Fit The Mold

Posted on January 25, 2016 by heatonkent

ThinkingTherefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” So there was a division among the people because of Him. (John 7:40-43)

Jesus Does Not Fit The Mold

People see what they want to see. Preconceived ideas hinder an honest examination of truth when what is presented does not fit the mold of acceptance. Truth becomes a discussion of perception instead of what is real. Jesus had an image problem that caused a lot of confusion on the part of those who were trying to understand who He was. His teaching was astonishing, the miracles powerful and His presence certainly demanding. No one doubted or denied His miracles. A few challenged His teaching but soon learned this was futile. The character of the Lord was above reproach and literally blameless. What nagged at the minds of many was that while there was serious consideration for who Jesus was it did not fit their mold of belief.

The Jews had longed looked for the coming of the Prophet or Messiah. Through the centuries various ideas had been put in place to the character of the Coming One. By the time Jesus arrived on scene these prejudices were firmly planted in the minds of the people. This man from Nazareth was a confusion. He exhibited many of the traits of the Prophet but He was from Galilee. Nazareth was a town less than twenty miles from the Sea of Galilee. Everyone knew that Jesus was from Nazareth, His ‘parents’ were Joseph and Mary and he had five brothers and some sisters. He was the son of a carpenter. Nothing is said in Old Testament scripture about the Prophet coming from Galilee. Jesus could not be the Christ because He came from the wrong part of the country.

To further show that Jesus could not be the Anointed One the people remembered the Scripture said the Christ would come from Bethlehem and from the lineage of David. Jesus did not come from Bethlehem so how could He be the Christ? A man from Galilee was trying to convince the multitudes that He was the Christ and this brought about great division. The real problem was not Jesus. In fact the Lord was from Bethlehem. Prejudice blinds the eyes to truth. If the people had simply ask a few basic questions about Jesus they would have found out that Joseph and Mary were of the seed of David and when they returned to Bethlehem to register in the census thirty years earlier Jesus was born there. He spent the first few years of His life in Bethlehem before moving to Egypt for a time and then growing up in Nazareth. But no one asked the question because Jesus did not fit the mold of what they had in their mind.

There are many reasons men reject Jesus. One problem that men still have with Jesus is He does not fit a mold they have in their mind. The crucified Savior does not appeal to their minds because they are looking for something else. It seems foolish to them to give their lives to a criminal executed by Rome and a bunch of jealous Jews. Wisdom dictates rejecting the Lord for a higher level of knowledge so that man can exalt his own self-interest at the expense of Jesus. Just like two thousand years ago the people cannot see God who stands before them. The scriptures declare the power of God through His Son and all the wisdom of man brought together for all time is barely an atomic particle of significance compared to Jesus Christ. The Bible is ridiculed yet it endures generation after generation. God’s plan to save man is rejected for something that makes “more sense” because the truth does not fit their mold and myriads of people are lost. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He still is. The evidence is clear. He is from Bethlehem. He is the Savior.

If Christ is born a thousand times in Bethlehem and not in thee, then art thou lost forever. (Angelus Silesius; 1624-1677; Cherubic Pilgrim)

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He Is My Father

Posted on January 24, 2016 by heatonkent

prayerrootsNow it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Luke 11:1-4)

He Is My Father

One of the greatest blessings of being a Christian is the knowledge that I can talk to the Creator of the world. He holds the universe in the palm of His hand and in that hand He sees me. There are six billion people that roam the earth yet the Father knows my name, my needs, my troubles, my wants and my hope. There is nothing He does not know about me. He has watched me form in the womb and grow to manhood. In everything I have done His presence has been guiding me. Early in life the words He spoke at the beginning of time have been before me. As I matured in faith He has become a comfort to my troubled spirit. There have been times He has chastised me because of my sin. Often do I feel His compassionate forgiveness when I do not deserve such mercy. He is my Father.

I wish that I could live to be nine hundred years old to drink deeply from the well of God’s knowledge. It is clear that in the end I would still only have a shallow cup of understanding. The more I begin to unfold the character of my Father before my eyes the more I close my eyes in shame. There is no greater knowledge, no greater love, no greater grace or presence like my Father. If the sky were a parchment and the oceans a well of ink there would never be enough space or time to write all the wonderful lyrics of the psalm of salvation.

Jesus taught His disciples not just to pray but to change the heart to a personal relationship with the Father. He is my Father. I honor Him by calling Him my Father because I need Him in every part of my life. His law rules in my life. He provides my daily care. The blood of His Son cleanses me from my sin. I share the image of my Father with my fellow man as I show the same mercy, forgiveness and truth with them. His power guides me to overcome my enemy Satan crushing him underfoot. When I rise from prayer I am victorious. My God is my Father and He loves me. He knows me. And I do not deserve any of this. Yet He is still my Father. I cannot fathom this.

My Father, which is in heaven. Hallowed be your Name.

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Jehoiakim’s Folly

Posted on January 23, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And they went to the king, into the court; but they stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the hearing of the king. So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning on the hearth before him. And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah implored the king not to burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them. And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words which Baruch had written at the instruction of Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: “Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and cause man and beast to cease from here?’ Therefore thus says the Lord concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: ‘He shall have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night. I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed.’ Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the instruction of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And besides, there were added to them many similar words. (Jeremiah 36:20-32)

Jehoiakim’s Folly

It was the beginning of the end for God’s people. Their disobedience and willful rejection of the warnings from the prophets had brought them to the point of utter destruction from the Lord. Jeremiah had been instructed by the Lord to write a scroll containing all the words spoken against Israel, Judah and all the nations in a final effort to bring the people to repentance. The scribe of Jeremiah was Baruch. He took the scroll and read it before the people at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house in the hearing of all the people. When the princes of the king’s palace heard what Baruch had done they commanded he bring the scroll to them so they may hear what had been written. Hearing the words of the scroll the princes were fearful and told Baruch to take Jeremiah and go into hiding as they reported to king Jehoiakim. Jehudi began reading the words of the scroll to king Jehoiakim and had not gotten as far as a few columns before the king took the scroll from his hand, cut it with the scribe’s knife and threw the scroll into the fire. Some of the king’s advisors implored him not to burn the scroll but the king was defiant. He then ordered the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah (but God had hidden them).

The scroll was the last hope for the king and his people. It was a blistering charge of rebellion as the people fell deeper into idol worship. Prophets unnumbered had pleaded with Israel and Judah to return to the Lord. Israel had been decimated by the Assyrians and yet Judah would not learn her lessons. The people of God were on a collision course of destruction if they did not repent. Jehoiakim’s attitude summed up the spirit of the nation. He did not care what the word of God said. His contempt for the Lord was evident by his destruction of the scroll. Jeremiah also notes that no one grew fearful at the reading of the scroll. The word of God was nothing to them.

Jeremiah shows his courage by writing another scroll as directed by God. The Babylonians were still going to come and destroy the nation and Jehoiakim would be deposed. At the age of thirty-six Jehoiakim lost his throne. It seems Nebuchadnezzar intended to take the king to Babylon in chains but changed his mind. Jeremiah had prophesied earlier that Jehoiakim would be buried with the burial of a donkey, dragged and cast out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Burning the scroll did not change the word of the Lord. It did not change the will of the Lord. Rejecting the words of the scroll did not move the will of God from its purpose.

The Bible is viewed in much the same way today. Most people look at the word of God with disdain. Burning the Bible is of no consequence but rejecting the words will bring an eternity of misery. King Jehoiakim could not change the word of God by cutting it with a knife or burning it. The problem was the heart. There was no fear at the words of judgment. Fear would come later when in his last moments of life the arrogant king realized the word of God was true. Sadly all those who reject the message of Jesus Christ will learn too late the word of the Lord is true. It has remained unchanged since God first spoke to Adam and Eve. Jehoiakim should be a lesson but who listens? Now that is a great story.

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

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The Power Of Collective Prayer

Posted on January 22, 2016 by heatonkent

dailydevotion_1Friday Morning Reflections – The Prophets

Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand.” (Daniel 2:17-23)

The Power Of Collective Prayer

It was the worst of times. Daniel and his friends had been taken captive by a heathen nation and forced to serve in the courts of the king. Their names were changed; education forced upon them from the oppressors and challenged to eat delicacies they had to refuse. Through faith they were able to overcome being forced to eat food that would defile them but more battles remained. Their lives were danger as the king had a dream and because no wise man could tell the dream and its meaning a command was given to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Word came to Daniel his fellow wise men were being slaughtered. Imploring Nebuchadnezzar to give him time Daniel knew the answer could only come from the Lord.

Normally a king would have a dream and ask his wise men to explain the dream. A good charlatan could easily give the king an interpretation that would soothe his troubled mind. However Nebuchadnezzar demanded the wise men tell him his dream and the interpretation. No one could do it. The faith of Daniel was exemplified when he tells the king to give him time to discover the dream and its meaning. How could this be done? Whom did Daniel think would give him that power? He knew this could only be the work of Jehovah God.

What Daniel did is a powerful testimony to the purpose of collective prayer. He did not pray alone. The need was great. This was something that needed the power of communal prayer. Returning to his home he found his three companions and the four of them prayed earnestly for their deliverance. The dream and its meaning is revealed through their faith and trust in God. They understood how great the Lord was ruling in the affairs of men. Their dependence was not on man’s wisdom but from the word of God. They also understood they needed each other. Prayer is a powerful testimony to the faith of the individual but when prayer is combined in a collective action of faith it can move mountains in a massive way.

The days of the prophets were days of turmoil. There were many needs on an individual level and especially on a national level. Daniel shows a pattern of prayer that is often untapped in the church today. This is something beyond the individual prayer and beyond the scope of the “normal prayers” during an assembly. The need of the hour is specific and urgent. They gathered together as four men to prayer fervently for an answer that seemed impossible. Because of their faith deliverance was granted. The power of collective prayer by individuals may have lost its popularity but it has not lost its influence on the Lord. There is a need of restoration within the body of God’s people to realize the power of joining hearts together in prayer for a common cause. Daniel went home to pray with his friends. This Babylonian prayer meeting changed the course of history.

Prayer pleads the promises of God and from those promises rise the need to share our faith with others in asking His favor. There is strength in praying people and increasing their number in a union of prayer exalts the power of God. When specific needs arise our heartfelt concern should also include the action of collective prayer. It can change the world.

Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for power equal to your tasks. (Phillips Brooks, Perennials, 1898)

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