by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 30-32
With colorful language, Ezekiel once more comes against the pride of man.
Why is pride such a horrible thing, you might ask. Remember, it was pride which entered Satan’s heart and caused him to try to overthrow God. Thus, when pride is the root, he is not far away. The devil tries to tempt people to think that they are so great, they don’t really need God.
There are two kinds of confidence. One from the devil and the other from God.
When confidence has devilish roots, people think that they are superior to others and they arrogantly take credit for their gifts. Their intelligence, athleticism, creativity, or beauty are worn as badges for self-exaltation. Those around them sense the weight of their self-centeredness.
When confidence has godly roots, the outcome is totally different. This type of confidence comes, not from pride, but from honor of God. These people who exhibit godly confidence are optimistic and energetic because of their God and all that He has done for them. They know that He is the giver of gifts, whether the gift is intelligence or anything else. God is also the giver of favor and opportunity, paving a way for success. No room for bragging here.
Godly confidence is accompanied by kindness and compassion. People with godly confidence want to see others achieve as much s themselves. They often go out of their way to help others discover and implement their god-given gifts.
There is only One who stands tall among the rest of us. His name is Jesus.
It’s important for us to remember that!
I Peter 4
So you have gifts? Your gifts are for giving!
“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (V.10).
It’s obvious, isn’t it? Gifts aren’t given to us for displaying, but for giving. If you have a gift to speak, your speech should represent God and bring others closer to Him. If your gift is serving, serve with God’s strength and not your own.
Remember that everything we do is wrapped in the law of love. We love others as ourselves, and we give generously, as our father gives to us.
It’s part of God’s plan. He gives and we do, too.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 27-29
Have you ever been awed by the prosperity of a region? Maybe in your travels you have seen such opulence – and such commercial genius at work – that you have wondered how these people could have accomplished what is evident.
That’s the way Tyre was in the 6th century BC, when Ezekiel was prophesying from Babylon. It was a wealthy city. In fact, some of the mariners from Tyre had actually sailed as far as Spain and had established ports in that area. They were very energetic and very rich.
As Ezekiel is prophesying over the city of Tyre, he takes an interesting turn. He begins to prophesy to Satan himself – who he calls the Prince of Tyre. Satan’s headquarters are always endowed with wealth, because that’s his key for ruling his world. (Promised riches are the reason behind dealing drugs, prostitution, the Mafia, political corruption, etc.).
So Ezekiel prophesies to the Prince of Tyre, Satan, and we get more understanding of who he is and where he came from. Lucifer was a beautiful archangel, and one of God’s closest creations. He was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”(28:12) But because of the “abundance of his trade” (his wealth), he was filled with violence and sinned against God. So Lucifer was thrown down to earth, and became Satan, the ruler of the kingdom of darkness.
Then the prophecy goes on to say that the kings of the earth will be appalled at him, and he will be no more. (28:19). The day will come when he will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
We know that Jesus defeated Satan once and for all. He has no power over us, if we resist, because he is no match for the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Satan is still roaming about, trying to trick us, but when we know who he is and who we are in Christ, the devil is no match for us! He’s under our feet.
I Peter 2-3
We are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”(2:9)
So what is Peter saying? We aren’t the same people we were before we got born again. If we receive the magnitude of what our God has done for us, our very lives are a witness to our God’s love, mercy, and transforming power. We are a new race of people – new “Creations in Christ.”(II Corinthians 5:17). New, because we have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
We are a royal priesthood because we are now kings and priests to God. We can personally go boldly into the throne room of God and talk with our Father. And as kings, we represent our Father to the world. We speak His word, and we follow His leading to share His love with others.
We are a holy nation, because now we belong to the Kingdom of God.
And we are His. We belong to our Father. He watches over us, protects us, guides us, provides for us, and empowers us to accomplish His purposes in the earth.
If we will take the time to meditate on this special verse, we will never be the same. Our faith will sky-rocket and we will see our Father’s hand at work like never before.
What a joy to be His! What a delight to be a new creation and part of our Father’s kingdom!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 24-26
Our God is God. The Creator of the Universe and the Author of all things good. He is the beginning and the end.
The day will come when there will no longer be any evil because our pure, holy God will rid His creation of Satan and all who follow him. He is all good; He is also all-powerful.
When we read the current chapters of Ezekiel, it gets pretty heavy, because we don’t normally think in terms of judgment. We think of God as a loving Father – which He is. But He is also holy. If God were to judge everything according to His standards today, there wouldn’t be much left. But there will come a day when it’s all over.
I’ve always thought that if anyone really understood who Jesus was and what He did for us, they would receive Him. His love is unconditional, but we have to receive it. We have to know Him personally and allow Him to order our steps.
Our choices are clear. Light versus dark. Life versus death. Love versus hate. Good versus evil.
I choose Jesus with all the light, life, love and good He brings.
I Peter 1
All of the letters we have read so far have been written by the apostle Paul, who never saw Jesus in the flesh.
Remember, he was called by the Lord when he was on the way to arrest some Christians. Then for three years he spent time with the Lord, re-reading the Old Testament scriptures and understanding God’s plan of redemption. During this time, God revealed to Paul what had been hidden up to that point, that is the new birth and the Holy Spirit now living within the hearts of man.
Peter had a different perspective. He not only knew Jesus; Peter was one of the three disciples who were with Him in the most eye-opening times. (The transfiguration and when He raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead). One of Jesus’s closest disciples.
Yet throughout the three plus years Peter was following Jesus, he never really understood what was about to take place. Actually it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to people, so the full understanding couldn’t come until after Jesus was resurrected and Peter was born again.
When we read the letters from Peter, we get a little different slant of the same message. The new birth, the living hope, the promises which are here now and the ones to come.
Peter addresses those who are currently suffering for their faith. There are various trials which people are going through, but their faith is compared to precious gold to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I’d like to point out one very encouraging word, encouraging to us when we have loved ones who just don’t seem to “get it.” Peter speaks of the fact that we have been “born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living Word of God.”(V. 23)
When we have shared the gospel of Jesus with someone, that seed is imperishable seed planted in their heart. They might not pay any attention to us at the time, but that seed has been planted and it won’t go away. It will never die.
At the right moment that person, knowing they need help beyond their own abilities, may reach out to God. And in that moment, that imperishable seed of God’s Word is still there within them reminding them of God’s plan of redemption.
I have seen this happen many times. I have shared the gospel with someone who seemed to ignore what I was saying, only to find later that they had received the Lord. And I have seen parents who have shared with their children, only to find them going astray. Yet at the right moment, that Word would cause the young ones to turn around and receive the Lord.
Once the Word of God is shared, it will not go away. It may lie dormant for a long time, but the Word is there, and it will spring forth at the right time.
That brings great hope to those of us who are praying for our loved ones. Hopefully, we will never give up!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 19-21
“What was your mother? A lioness among lions. She lay down among young lions. She reared her cubs. When she brought up one of her cubs, He became a lion.” (19:2)
This is a picture of Israel in her former days. A strong, powerful mother to many young lions. Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah…many young lions who embraced their heritage of honoring the Lord God as their king.
What happened? We can look around today and see the same things.
When people begin to have a “spirit of familiarity,” they don’t honor what they have. They take it for granted.
Have you ever seen cows grazing in a pasture? If not, let me share some interesting lessons to be learned. If you watch them long enough, you will see a few go over to the fence, stick the tips of their noses through, and graze “on the other side of the fence.” (This is where we get the phrase, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”)
You can scan the pasture and readily see that the greenest grass is within the fence, but these cows don’t seem to appreciate it. They like the “other side” better.
That same spirit is here in our modern society when it comes to those who have been brought up in Christianity. A rebellious spirit can rise up and cause people to think that the “grass is greener somewhere else.”
When we look at humans instead of cows, this plays out in people wanting to look to other religions instead of their own. There are so many out there. Could they all be wrong?
The answer is “Yes, they can all be wrong.” There is only one God and only one way to Him.
There is only One who paid the price for their sins. There is only One who cleanses us, forgives us, heals us, and empowers us with His Spirit actually living within us. There is only One who arose from the dead. Jesus is the only One.
When we look at Israel in the time of Ezekiel, the Jews were looking on the other side of the fence and they saw many cults around. Surely they couldn’t all be wrong. Yes, they could. There was only One God. Jesus hadn’t yet come, but God was laying the groundwork to bring Him to the earth. He was developing His people to receive Him into their heritage and help to save the world.
If they would just listen and remain faithful.
We could learn a lot from Israel.
James 5
“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (V.16)
This is a verse to keep in mind when we are praying – especially when we have a crisis before us.
James compares us to Elijah. He prayed and the rain stopped in his land for three years. Then he prayed again and the rain started back. Powerful!
Do you think that your prayers can accomplish that much? James says that they can.
One difference between Elijah and us is that Elijah believed his prayers would be answered. Do you remember the story about his prayer for rain to return?
First he “heard” the sound of rain. (In his heart he knew that it was time). Then he went up on the mountain, put his head between his knees, and began to pray. He told his servant to go and check to see if he saw any signs of rain, but the servant saw none.
He then sent the servant seven times, as he was praying, to check for rain. Finally, the servant returned saying that there was a cloud the size of a man’s hand.
It was here! Elijah then told the servant to run and tell Ahab to run for cover because torrents were on their way. And that is exactly what happened.
Elijah knew what he was praying for and he knew that it was time. So he refused to give up until he saw the rain.
Our prayers too can avail much if we press into what God wants us to. We can hear by the spirit what he wants us to pray for – and we can push forth in faith and patience to receive.
Are you wanting awakening in your family? In your country? In the world? You know that it is God’s will and it is definitely time. Pray and don’t stop until you see your answer.
You are a righteous man, and your prayers can avail much.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 13-15
Do you have a pure heart? That’s what pleases God, and it is what will bring you to your best life.
So just what is a pure heart? It’s one which seeks God’s will and not its own. A pure heart is free from self-centeredness and strife and as such, can hear properly when God speaks.
Jesus said, “I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear I judge; and My judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.” (John 5:30) When we are willing to seek our Father’s will and not our own selfish one, we will hear clearly from Him also.
This is the key to what makes false prophecy. A man who selfishly seeks his own will doesn’t hear God’s voice clearly. He is busy running after his own desires, and his thinking gets to be contaminated. Thus he doesn’t hear clearly.
What is a false prophet? He is one who speaks out of his own mind, and doesn’t represent the Lord..
So this is what we see in Ezekiel. The prophets in Jerusalem are saying “peace, peace,” when there is no peace. They are speaking from their own minds and tickling ears – leading people astray.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
So let’s allow Him to strip away those preconceived ideas and selfish ideologies, and fill our hearts with His truth. That’s where His freedom lies – and that’s where we find the greatest happiness.
James 1
(Note: James, who wrote this book, was the natural brother of Jesus, but didn’t believe in Him until after His resurrection. James went on to be one of the early church leaders, a fact which should give us hope concerning our families who are not yet believers).
I like the way the Amplified Bible starts this book. “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into temptations, testings, or trials, knowing that the trying of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”(V 2-3)
Remember how Hebrews harped on endurance, or patience? Well, here we go again. Endurance is one of the most important factors in our faith-walk. We have to hold up our faith with endurance, or we will give up and miss out on the blessing.
But if we have endurance working on our behalf, we will receive the things we are believing for.
So when you come to testings and trials, don’t sit down on the job. Think of yourself as being in an intense workout, producing your endurance muscle. You are getting stronger, and closer to your goal, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
While we are waiting, we need to realize that it is not God who is testing us. “God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (V 13) Your own lust is tempting you and testing you. So as you are holding on to your promise, know that your heart is being cleansed by your resolve also. When you don’t give in, the devil starts losing his hold on you.
Hold fast. Endure. Be patient. You will receive, if you don’t quit! Faith and patience can accomplish wonderful things in your life.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezekiel 10-12
Ezekiel gets discouraged. A small number of Jews have been left in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and they are continuing to go after other gods. The priests and prophets alike have given up on God and are “doing their own thing.”
In a vision, the Lord shows Ezekiel the dilemma, and it’s almost too much for him.
However, the Lord has a plan, as He always does. There will come a day when He will bring back the jews who have been scattered abroad.
“I shall gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I shall give you the land of Israel…When they come there, they will remove all the detestable things and all its abominations from it. And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh”
Restoration, sweet restoration. Don’t we love it?
What our Father did for Israel, He does for all of us in this present day. He takes us from the land of the enemy and He brings us to His own land – His kingdom. Then he puts a new heart within us. No longer do we have the heart of stone which we once had. Now our hearts are soft and pliable in His hands.
Not only that, our Father is also bringing all of the prophecies to pass for the nation of Israel. In 1948, suddenly, as if hearing a drum beat beckoning them, Jews from all over the world began to go back to their original land. The nation was finally recognized as a country, and God’s plans were continuing to come to pass.
Stop and think about that tiny little country, in the middle of so many big countries. The whole nation is no bigger than one of our small states. Yet all of the world knows about Israel.
Sometimes huge ungodly countries act as though they fear Israel. Get a map and look at it. It’s really amazing that they have so much influence worldwide.
God’s hand has been upon them. The Jews, the children of Abraham, still are in covenant with God.
And then on a spiritual level, so are we. Yet our covenant is even better. Just hide and watch. We are going to see mighty things from the hand of God.
Hebrews 13
A couple of really significant points are in this final chapter.
First is the famous verse, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.”(V. 8) When some attempt to say that healing and deliverance have gone away, they have a hard time with this verse.
Jesus is the same today. He is still a healer. He still wants to bless us. And He still wants to show God’s plan of redemption through our lives.
When others look at our lives, hopefully, they will recognize that God is good and that we can expect miracles from Him.
Which leads me to the other point. This life we live is not necessarily popular. Even though we know that out in the world there is no peace which can compare to the peace we have, many who don’t know Jesus just don’t understand that. They think that we are superstitious or fanatical when we really do believe in our God.
That’s why we have to be willing to “go outside the camp, bearing his reproach, for here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” (V.13-14) We might not be doing what is popular, but we will be doing the right thing when we live our lives for our God.
And He won’t let us down.
