Today’s Reading:  Ezek 26:1–27:36, Rev 13:1–10, Job 36:13–23

Today’s Theme: Sovereignty and Perseverance

Today’s theme looks at the sovereignty the Lord holds over the enemy. The Devil can only do what God allows within the enemies limited freedom. We also look at the perseverance of the saints which we are encouraged to pursue in the light of God’s sovereignty.

Ezekiel 26:1–27:36

God revealed in judgement

and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 26:6, ESV)

God can be revealed to us in blessing or in judgement…the choice is ours.

Prophecy fulfilled

I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God. (Ezekiel 26:14, ESV)

This prophecy is fulfilled, Tyre was never rebuilt.

The fall of Babylon

and down from their ships come all who handle the oar. The mariners and all the pilots of the sea stand on the land and shout aloud over you and cry out bitterly. They cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes; (Ezekiel 27:29–30, ESV)

Reminds us of when Babylon falls in revelation.

Revelation 13:1–10

What God allows

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, (Revelation 13:7, ESV)

God sovereignly allowed this, the devil can’t just do whatever he wants, only what he is allowed to do. So the devil’s freedom is limited and what God allows works within God’s wider plan to glorify His own name.

The perseverance of the saints

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10, ESV)

We are called to persevere as saints, we must resist the devil.

Job 36:13–23

Don’t cherish anger

“The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them. (Job 36:13, ESV)

We should not hold on to (cherish) anger, it is like holding a hot coal in our bare hands close to our chest…A really bad idea, it will only hurt us.

God cannot be taught anything new

Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’? (Job 36:23, ESV)

God is the great teacher, none of us can teach Him anything. God never has to learn, Open Theism  is wrong (Open Theism is the idea that God does not know the future and is not totally sovereign and so is learning all the time… which is preposterous. Just because God has foreknowledge does not mean he planned it [predestined] or desired it).

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 13

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 24:1–25:17, Rev 11:15–12:17, Job 36:1–12

Today’s Theme: Man’s vengeance vs God’s victory

Today’s theme looks at the destructiveness and fruitlessness of man’s spite and vengeance contrasted against God’s victory over evil and the establishment of His kingdom. In Job we see that God is not vindictive, spiteful or mean.

Ezekiel 24:1–25:17

Sovereign God

I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 24:14, ESV)

God is sovereign and so can say this in truth.

A high price

On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 24:27, ESV)

What a high price the prophet had to pay to bring the message to the people.

Don’t rejoice in destruction

For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, (Ezekiel 25:6, ESV)

We should never rejoice at the destruction of others, especially Israel.

Don’t be vengeful

“Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance on them, (Ezekiel 25:12, ESV)

We should not act vengefully.

The flesh

“Thus says the Lord God: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity, (Ezekiel 25:15, ESV)

The Philistines are like the flesh which is always at war with the spirit.

Revelation 11:15–12:17

The kingdom

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15, ESV)

The glorious takeover of the Lord Jesus, is it a sudden takeover or a gradual one through His people? The Bible tells us that both are true, we should seek to establish His kingdom but He will come with the final decisive victory.

We should care for the earth.

The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” (Revelation 11:18, ESV)

We still have the Edenic mandate of caring for the earth.

The blood and the word

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11, ESV)

Thank you for Your precious blood and for the testimony of Your word.

Job 36:1–12

God is not vindictive

“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding. (Job 36:5, ESV)

God is not vindictive spiteful or mean.

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 12

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 23:1–49, Rev 11:1–14, Job 35:9–16

Today’s Theme: The Destruction of Lust

Today’s theme is the destruction wrought by sexual and spiritual lust. Our society is plagued by sexual dysfunction through the proliferation of sexualised images and the lack of godly sexual standards, it can only lead to personal and social destruction.

We need to guard against lust in our own lives and beware of spiritually lusting after idols and replacements for God.

Ezekiel 23:1–49

Don’t lust after the world

“Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors (Ezekiel 23:5, ESV)

As God’s redeemed children, we should not be lusting after the world. We should desire and be satisfied in God.

The trap of pornography

And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoring lust. And after she was defiled by them, she turned from them in disgust. (Ezekiel 23:17, ESV)

This was like the drug of pornography as it started with pictures on the wall and ended in self hate. Pray for those bound by this deceptive and destructive addiction.

The superficial nature of lust

and lusted after her lovers there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses. (Ezekiel 23:20, ESV)

This shows the rank baseness of lust and associated spiritual adultery. It is motivated by the most superficial and selfish desire.

Lust leads to destruction

and they shall deal with you in hatred and take away all the fruit of your labor and leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your whoring shall be uncovered. Your lewdness and your whoring have brought this upon you, because you played the whore with the nations and defiled yourself with their idols. (Ezekiel 23:29–30, ESV)

Compromise and lusting after the world will bring destruction

Don’t have double standards

For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house. (Ezekiel 23:39, ESV)

Compromise and double standards will destroy our children’s lives in the church and in knowing the Lord.

Lust is idolatry

And they shall return your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry, and you shall know that I am the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 23:49, ESV)

This is a bad way to get to know who the Lord is, Lord keep us from idolatry, giving anything or anyone the worship that only You deserve.

Revelation 11:1–14

The victory of God and the prophethood of all believers

And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13, ESV)

This reads like a victory of the Lord as He protects His persecuted church (Jew and Gentile) and as we stand as prophets like the two witnesses.

Job 35:9–16

Mankind, specially created by God

who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ (Job 35:11, ESV)

We are not just advanced animals, we have knowledge the animals do not have.

Don’t talk a lot without knowledge

Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.” (Job 35:16, ESV)

God says this of Job too. See James 1:19

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 11

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 21:1–22:31, Rev 10:1–11, Job 35:1–8

Today’s Theme: Bitter and Sweet

Today’s theme looks at the bitter and sweet nature of God’s word and our call to sanctification in particular.

Ezekiel 21:1–22:31

Judgement by war

Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north.(Ezekiel 21:4, ESV)

This is the reality of judgement that comes in war or military conquest.

Love the rod

sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! (Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.)(Ezekiel 21:10, ESV)

Lord, we need to love the rod of guidance and correction, we don’t want a rebellious attitude to lead us to the sword instead.

Things could change at any point

thus says the Lord God: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted.(Ezekiel 21:26, ESV)

We must not buy into the false security of things staying the way they are, or the apparent linearity of everyday life. At any point personal, national or global crisis could strike, for which we must be braced and ready, by walking in daily humility before God and man.

The breakdown of society

Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you. You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths.(Ezekiel 22:7–8, ESV)

These two verses describe complete societal breakdown, children disrespect parents, business is corrupt, there is no social justice and the rights of Christians are challenged… sounds like London.

To consume uncleanness

I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you.(Ezekiel 22:15, ESV)

God’s purpose in the discipline of His people.

Sanctification and holiness

Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.(Ezekiel 22:26, ESV)

We must teach God’s people the truth of sanctification and holiness before God, which involves very clear definitions of right and wrong, expedient and useless, helpful and harmful.

This reminds us that Church is a sacred place so must remain holy and respectful in its operation.

Intercede

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.(Ezekiel 22:30, ESV)

We must be intercessors for our wicked city.

Revelation 10:1–11

God reveals what He chooses

And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”(Revelation 10:4, ESV)

We must remember the bible is the truth God has chosen to revel to us, there are still some secrets that we do not know.

God, The Eternal, Living Creator

and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,(Revelation 10:6, ESV)

God is eternal and is alive.

God created everything, evolution is a big disrespect.

God’s word, bitter and sweet

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”(Revelation 10:9, ESV)

This can be our experience with the word of God, God’s word brings great joy and pleasure but the application of it can bring bitterness to the flesh and toil to the spirit.

God’s word is fuel

And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”(Revelation 10:11, ESV)

God’s word is not just for us, it is to fuel us to teach and reach others. What has happened to John is a parallel with what happened to Ezekiel.

Job 35:1–8

Sinning is pointless

If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?(Job 35:6, ESV)

Sinning is the maddest position we can take before God, It is like when I would tell off Joshua (my son) and he would go to bite or scratch me (when he was younger), it is not going to achieve anything good for him.

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 10

Today’s Reading:  Ezek 19:1–20:49, Rev 9:1–21, Job 34:31–37

Today’s Theme: Planted by God

Today’s theme looks at the planting of God. God plants us in the body of Christ (literally in the church community), to be fruitful and flourish. God has planted the restored national Israel. He has done this with salvation in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah in mind for the Jewish people.

God strategically plants His people for the sake of His name and glory.

Ezekiel 19:1–20:49

Abundant Water

Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water.(Ezekiel 19:10, ESV)

We can be fruitful if there is an abundance of the water of God’s word and Holy Spirit.

Where are you planted?

Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.(Ezekiel 19:13, ESV)

Lord, in Your grace, please keep us planted with the abundance of water. Jesus has planted us where He wills in the earth and in the church in particular, so that we are in the right environment to bare much fruit.

Don’t uproot yourself in ignorance and pride, humbly submit to God’s planting which is designed for your fruitfulness and flourishing.

The best land in the world

On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.(Ezekiel 20:6, ESV)

This is a bold statement from God that Israel is the best land in the World. Also note that God wants the best for His people.

Detestable things

And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.(Ezekiel 20:7, ESV)

What are the detestable things our eyes feast on, these things are connected to idolatry and must be cast down. In today’s culture, it can be things like vanity, pornography etc.

The Sabbaths

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.(Ezekiel 20:12, ESV)

The plural Sabbaths points to Jewish feasts.

God, uppermost in His own affections

But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.(Ezekiel 20:14, ESV)

God is rightly uppermost in His own affections.

A heart problem

because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.(Ezekiel 20:16, ESV)

Sin and idolatry is a heart problem.

God’s motivation

But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.(Ezekiel 20:22, ESV)

God’s greatest and purest motivation is for the sake of His own name and for the sake of His glory.

Gift’s and commands

Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the Lord.(Ezekiel 20:25–26, ESV)

God can send judgement through our very gifts and His commands. Lord, keep us in your love.

God knows your mind

“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’(Ezekiel 20:32, ESV)

God knows our very thoughts and remains in sovereign control.

The great narrative

“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you.(Ezekiel 20:33, ESV)

This is one of the great narratives of the bible, God’s desire and fight to be recognised as the true King.

Restored for salvation

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers.(Ezekiel 20:42, ESV)

One of God’s purposes in restoring the Jews to the land is evangelical.

The burden of leadership

Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’ ”(Ezekiel 20:49, ESV)

Seems like Ezekiel was beginning to get weary under the Lord’s mandate and the peoples scorn. With this in mind, pray for those that God has called to lead.

Revelation 9:1–21

Sovereign over death

And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.(Revelation 9:6, ESV)

Nobody can die before God’s appointed time for them.

A fallen angel

They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.(Revelation 9:11, ESV)

A great demonic fallen angel, proving there is some level of structure in the devil’s ranks.

We need regeneration

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.(Revelation 9:20–21, ESV)

This shows that without the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, no amount of judgement alone can lead man to repentance.

Job 34:31–37

Speaking without knowledge

‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.’(Job 34:35, ESV)

This was in fact true, Job had no idea about the wager between God and Satan in the divine council.

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 9