Today’s Reading: Ezek 6:1–8:18, Rev 2:12–29, Job 33:1–7

Today’s Theme: Judgement for God’s Glory

Today’s theme is the judgement of God. God’s judgement is for His own glory to display His holiness, justice, truth and love.

The judgement and discipline of God calls us to repent and walk in holiness.

Ezekiel 6:1–8:18

Judgement for God’s Glory

And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 6:7, ESV)

This great judgement is for the glory and honour of God, notice the theme of destroying idols and alters.

Be sensitive to God’s heart

then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. (Ezekiel 6:9, ESV)

Wow, what an insight into God’s affections and feelings, more than the sin of the lost, the unfaithfulness and wandering of the people He has chosen to save breaks His heart.

Idolatry leads to death

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols.(Ezekiel 6:13, ESV)

Idolatry will lead to death, if we idolise anything or anyone, it will lead to our spiritual death. Idolatry is a deadly sin as it directly affects the zealous passion and jealousy of the Lord resulting in our judgement.

You might not be able to repent!

And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 7:4, ESV)

A great warning to all who think they can sin now and repent later, NO, God will judge you in the middle of your sin, rebellion and compromise.

The Lord who strikes

And my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord, who strikes.(Ezekiel 7:9, ESV)

God is not anti spanking, He is a God who strikes us in discipline and expects us to follow this pattern with our own children.

Money, a functional idol

They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. Their silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.(Ezekiel 7:19, ESV)

Money which can become a functional idol and hence be a stumbling block. It cannot save us in times of judgement or discipline from God, when difficult situations arise money can become worthless to us and only God can help

Seek God now

Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.(Ezekiel 7:26, ESV)

When disaster and judgement strike, it is often too late to seek council, we must seek the Lord before the fact and then He will guide us in the difficult times.

Ezekiel’s status

In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there.(Ezekiel 8:1, ESV)

This shows us that Ezekiel was respected.

Hidden sin… No such thing

Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”(Ezekiel 8:12, ESV)

Leaders committing sin in secret and darkness causes disaster to fall upon God’s people. Lord keep us from the folly of so called hidden sin… nothing is hidden from You.

Babylonian religion

Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.(Ezekiel 8:14, ESV)

This is the blatant old religion of Babylon, now adapted into many world religions and esoteric schools of theosophy in the new age movement. We need to run this nonsense out of the church.

Don’t worship nature

And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.(Ezekiel 8:16, ESV)

The worship of nature is all around us in the environmentalist movement and new age movement. We need to guard against this, notice they had turned their backs on the Lord.

God is free

Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”(Ezekiel 8:18, ESV)

Crying out to God does not mean He has to do a thing. He is not bound by cosmic rules etc as is implied by the word of faith movement.

Revelation 2:12–29

False teaching is evil

So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(Revelation 2:15, ESV)

God will hold us responsible for false teaching especially ones that lead to debauchery.

Combat false teaching

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.(Revelation 2:16, ESV)

God fights false teaching with teaching of the Bible through servants He raises up to combat the false teachings.

The overcomes reward

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’(Revelation 2:17, ESV)

A great, personal promise and incentive for all of us to overcome in the area of upholding and teaching the truth.

A healthy church

“ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.(Revelation 2:19, ESV)

This was a good church, they were working, loving, had faith, served and were enduring, all healthy signs for a church community.

God knows your actions which come from your heart

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.(Revelation 2:23, ESV)

Look at the language the Lord uses here, He says yes I search the heart and mind and know the heart and mind… but will reward according to what you do, because what you do came from your heart. So the excuse God knows my heart will not fly.

We must stand up as a church against both sexual immorality and women not submitting to authority, these sins are linked in many ways.

Hold fast

Only hold fast what you have until I come.(Revelation 2:25, ESV)

In the midst of a corrupted church system, God calls His people to hold fast to the truth.

The conquers reward

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,(Revelation 2:26, ESV)

A great promise and reward to look forward to, this gives us insight into the work we will have to do in the kingdom

Job 33:1–7

Humble and bold

Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you.(Job 33:7, ESV)

I think this gives us some insight into the type of man Elihu was, he seems like a humble and gentle man who at the same time was bold to stand for truth.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Revelation 2

Today’s Reading: Ezek 3:16–5:17, Rev 2:1–11, Job 32:11–22

Today’s Theme: God’s Watchmen

Today’s theme looks at our call to be faithful watchmen. We are called to defend the faith, raise the alarm about the enemy and most importantly to watch over our own hearts.

As watchmen we need to speak up boldly.

Ezekiel 3:16–5:17

Our Pastors

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.(Ezekiel 3:17, ESV)

Our pastors fulfil this role in our lives today.

God’s Watchmen

But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”(Ezekiel 3:21, ESV)

Because of the position of the watchman he has responsibility for the people up until warning them to flee the wrath to come. This again reinforces the idea that the watchman is an elder in the church.

Paul picked up on this when he told Timothy to guard the doctrine to save his hearers and himself.

Although we can take application for our own lives where we are the only saved ones in our family, circle of friends or work place etc.

Prophetic symbolism

And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people.(Ezekiel 3:25, ESV)

God uses prophetic symbolism here.

Visual aids

And you, take an iron griddle, and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.(Ezekiel 4:3, ESV)

God was making the sign really clear with a visual model. Pictures and visual aids can help us to display God’s truth.

Read in faith

Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.(Ezekiel 4:16, ESV)

We should read God’s word in faith not anxiety.

The centre

“Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.(Ezekiel 5:5, ESV)

Jerusalem is the centre of the world.

Don’t reject God

And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.(Ezekiel 5:6, ESV)

Again this theme of rejecting God has come up, we should not reject the one who loves us and set His affection upon us.

Abomination brings judgement

And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.(Ezekiel 5:9, ESV)

The motivation for the terrible judgement.

The Jewish story

Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord God, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity.(Ezekiel 5:11, ESV)

This explains the Jewish story of exile, persecution and judgement.

God’s personal anger

You shall be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations all around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious rebukes—I am the Lord; I have spoken—(Ezekiel 5:15, ESV)

God has personal anger and fury against sin.

Revelation 2:1–11

Guardians of the truth

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.(Revelation 2:2, ESV)

This was a church where truth was really important. Right doctrine and practise took high priority as well as hard work which the Lord commends.

Don’t grow cold

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.(Revelation 2:4, ESV)

The negative thing was that the love they had at first was abandoned as they entered into a cold service and apologetic defence of the faith. We must be weary of this trap, we need to keep our love for the Lord alive.

Love… A doing word

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.(Revelation 2:5, ESV)

Notice the returning to first love involved doing and not feeling.

Persevere

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’(Revelation 2:7, ESV)

A wonderful promise and reward that should encourage us to persevere.

The persecuted church

“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.(Revelation 2:9, ESV)

This church is representative of the persecuted church.

The crown of life

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.(Revelation 2:10, ESV)

Notice the devil’s work is quite specific and has a wider purpose under Gods sovereignty.

There was no rebuke for this church, just an encouragement to stay faithful and a promise of the crown of life for those that do.

Persevere

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’(Revelation 2:11, ESV)

Another great encouragement for us to persevere in the Lord.

Job 32:11–22

Be ready to answer

I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.(Job 32:12, ESV)

This is the sad reality, many operating in their own wisdom cannot answer the questions of the world but we must study to show ourselves approved and be ready to give an answer for our hope.

Speak up

I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.(Job 32:20, ESV)

When the Holy Spirit is bubbling up inside of us it is time for us to speak out.

Don’t be partial or flatter

I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.(Job 32:21, ESV)

When declaring the truth it is important that we do so without the fear of man which leads us to things like flattery, lies and partiality.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 2

Today’s Reading: Ezek 1:1–3:15, Rev 1:1–20, Job 32:1–10

Today’s Theme: The Royal Trinity

Today’s theme is the awesome power of our God the Royal Trinity. God is one unique essence with three distinct persons who are God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (not one God in three modes or manifestations and not three individual / separate Gods).

Ezekiel 1:1–3:15

God’s awesome presence

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.(Ezekiel 1:28, ESV)

Even though Ezekiel has written this down the sheer awesomeness of seeing the glory of The Lord in this vision is beyond comprehension. One thing that stands out is that the bodies of God and the Heavenly host seem very glorious. Also there seems to be a great deal of order and ceremony in the presence of God.

The Trinity in the Old Testament

And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.(Ezekiel 2:2, ESV)

The Holy Spirit entered the prophet and literally put him on his feet. We can see members of the trinity at work here.

Don’t refuse to hear

And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.(Ezekiel 2:5, ESV)

Dear Lord, help us to hear and not refuse to hear.

Don’t be afraid of words or looks

And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.(Ezekiel 2:6, ESV)

It brings perspective and encouragement to remember this when sharing the Gospel, and even when ministering in church.

Don’t rebel

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”(Ezekiel 2:8, ESV)

We are God’s servants, we should not rebel against His word, we should receive it and give it to others.

Eat, chew and swallow

And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.(Ezekiel 3:3, ESV)

We need to eat (read), mediate on (chew) and apply (swallow) God’s word. The word of God is sweet like honey.

God given backbone

Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.(Ezekiel 3:8, ESV)

Notice God did not give him a stubborn heart like theirs but He did give Him the backbone and straightforward determination he needed to deal with them. He made his face and stand hard to deal with a hard people.

Resolute in righteousness

Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”(Ezekiel 3:9, ESV)

We need to be harder, more resolute in righteousness than our hearers are in sin and rebellion, this way iron will sharpen iron rather than both us and them becoming blunt.

For God’s glory

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!”(Ezekiel 3:12, ESV)

This great vision and the Lord’s commission to Ezekiel was all for the sake of God’s glory.

Be affected by the message

The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me.(Ezekiel 3:14, ESV)

Although the taste of the word was sweet the mission issued in it was serious and caused great heaviness and bitterness of soul to the prophet. If we are not affected by the message we have to deliver we are in great danger ourselves.

Revelation 1:1–20

The revelation of Jesus

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,(Revelation 1:1, ESV)

Not John but Jesus.

This can be problematic for us when explaining that soon for man is not the same as soon for God.

The Royal Trinity

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood(Revelation 1:5, ESV)

Two significant things here, first we see the Trinity, He who was, is and is to come is the Father, the Sevenfold Spirit is the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the Son.

Also note that Jesus is both a faithful witness and the King over all kings, He rules right now.

We have actually been freed from our sins, this is a glorious and awesome truth.

Father and Son

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”(Revelation 1:8, ESV)

The Father and the Son both use the same words of self disclosure revealing their shared nature as God.

Jesus the Victor

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.(Revelation 1:17–18, ESV)

Unequivocal truth that Jesus is divine, He is the Son of God and is the great victor holding the keys of death and hell.

Also note John’s relation to Him and his descriptions, this puts all the false modern testimonies about seeing Jesus into perspective. When we see the glorious Lord we would not get paly, we will fall down and worship Him.

Those that are and those that take place after this

Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.(Revelation 1:19, ESV)

Two lenses through which we interpret various parts of the book.

Held in God’s favour

As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(Revelation 1:20, ESV)

Thank you Jesus that you hold the church in your hand of favour.

Job 32:1–10

Beware pride

Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.(Job 32:2, ESV)

This was Job’s sin, he had pride and justified himself over and against God.

Understanding comes from God

But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.(Job 32:8, ESV)

This young man is very respectful but is also passionate for God’s glory. He understands that wisdom comes from the Spirit of God and is not necessarily acquired through age.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 1