Category: Daily Prayers

51.o. Wilderness – 15.u. “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.”

 

 

Deu 20:1-4  “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Deu 20:8  And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’

 Deuteronomy 3:22   You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.’

 Genesis 26:3     Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.

 Joshua 1:5     No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

 2 Chronicles 32:7-8    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

 Psalms 118:6     The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

 Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 1 Corinthians 15:33    Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

 Deuteronomy 1:28    Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”’

Israel, a small nation surrounded by great empires, was rarely in a strategically superior position. Despite the clear danger, they also had a clear command from God to not fear. Israel was commanded to not fear what any logical military man would fear: superior numbers, superior technology, and superior equipment. Yet, Israel was given a reason to not fear. God did not deny that the enemies of Israel would usually have more horses, chariots, and people than Israel. But God asked them to recognize a greater fact: That the LORD your God is with you. It was the job of the priest to encourage the soldiers to trust in God. Though the priests were not normally to go into battle. When Israel was obedient, and trusting in God, they could never lose. But when they were disobedient, or not trusting, they could never win – even if they had superior forces.

 To God, the size of the army wasn’t important; the heart of the army was far more important. He didn’t want people who might be distracted from the real battle by worrying about the cares of everyday life (their home, their vineyard, their fiancée’); nor did He want people who were not really trusting Him. God could do more through a smaller army that was really committed to Him than through a bigger army that was full of compromise. (Guzik)

There is a fear that most experience – It is a “sudden fear” of when something happens. A car accident that is about to happen, waking up to smoke in your home, loud unexpected noise, or being startled by someone or something you didn’t know was there. We are just born with this. Proverbs says, do not be afraid of sudden fear. When sudden fear occurs, recognize it, and do not be afraid. You would apply brakes or swerve in an on-coming accident. You would flee a burning building. You would not try to pick up a venomous snake as it slithers by.  You would be cautious, attentive, mindful, and putting things into their right place within your mind.  God is there. God is sovereign. God is all-knowing. God is all-powerful. He will never leave or forsake you.  

There is another type of fear that should not be in the hearts and minds of those who trust in, rely upon, and cling to Jesus Christ. It is the fear of an unknown outcome of a potential event of something in the near or distant future. How do these fears arise within us? How do they gain even a spec of space within our minds? If you spend any time reading or watching news outlets you will be told what to fear right now and what to fear in the future. They will lay out their narrative in convincing crafty words. Every news and weather outlet broadcast station is supported by income from advertising that pays certain fees depending on the number of viewers. How better to get more viewers than to incite fear? Stay tuned for more breaking news. We will keep an eye on this for you, stay tuned in. This is a developing story, stay tuned. New information has come to light, stay tuned. This could affect every single person, so stay tuned. Scientists confirm, stay tuned. Witnesses have stated, stay tuned. Researchers have just revealed, stay tuned. The more they can generate fear the masses will tune in and hopefully rely on them to make sense of the fear being generated. 

In contrast, God’s Word says to “Fear Not”, “Be of this world but not partakers of it”, “Be anxious about nothing”, “Trust in the Lord your God”, “God will never leave you or forsake you”, “I am with you”, “I am your rock and refuge”, “God is all-powerful”, God is ever-present”, God is all-knowing”, “the battle is the Lords”, “nothing can separate you from the Love of God.

The biggest battle we should fear is the battle with, neglect, complacency, lukewarmness, being attracted to things of this world, lust, greed, pride, envy, jealousy, arrogance, hate, anger, self-worth, self-reliance, etc….. Paul said that by the renewing of your mind, studying yourself as a workman who doesn’t need to be afraid, be anxious about nothing, guard your heart, be strong, be steadfast in your commitment, lean not unto your own understanding, be courageous, trust in Jesus Christ, be faithful, be holy, be more than babies in the Word of God and its application in your lives, hold onto what is true, rejoice, praise, be joyful, and love, these things must come to pass but do not be afraid, etc…..

Fear has no place in the heart that trusts in God. We can place all of our concerns at His feet and fully trust in Him to be with us no matter what the concern is. He will never leave you. He is ever-present. He can do all things mighty and powerful is He.

Compelling Truth – Devotion

 

We know that the Holy Spirit was given to lead and guide and comfort us (Acts 1:5; John 14:16, 26). But how do we know if the prompting we feel inwardly is from the Holy Spirit or just a product of our own thoughts? How do we discern between the influence of the Holy Spirit and the influences of culture, friends, and family? How can we really recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. As such, He is one with the Father and the Son and speaks in harmony with them. God will not contradict Himself. The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Therefore, the Holy Spirit will not contradict the Bible. As we meditate on the Scriptures, study them and read them, the Holy Spirit will speak to our hearts (John 16:12–14; 1 Corinthians 2:6–16; Psalm 1:1–3; 119:9). Furthermore, intimate knowledge of the voice of God is gained through exposure to what He has written, and we will easily recognize the Holy Spirit’s voice if we recognize it from reading the Bible.

Those who believe in Christ have been reborn in the Holy Spirit (John 3:3–8), and by that rebirth we enter the kingdom of God. Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is with them always (Ephesians 1:3–14). We become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God works in our hearts and minds to transform us to be more like Him (Romans 8:29–30). This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. The natural heart is “desperately sick” and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). But in Christ our hearts become new (Ezekiel 11:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17) even though we will still battle the flesh this side of eternity. This is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit in us and also something in which we actively participate (Philippians 2:12–13). We do this through regularly spending time in God’s Word, regularly spending time with Him in prayer, spending time with other believers who love and strive to follow God, and obeying God (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Hebrews 10:19–25; James 1:22–25). Much of God’s will is clear and evident. The more we obey the things we know God calls us to, the more we are sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The more we grow in faith and yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the more His voice is easily recognizable to us. The more we grow in our love for God, the more His desires become ours.

We are also called to be “transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Our minds are informed by the Holy Spirit. Worldly wisdom is often different from the true wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18–31; James 3:13–18; Proverbs 3:5–6). Those who love God have the Spirit, who “searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Just as the thoughts of a man are only understood by that man, the thoughts of God are only understood by the Holy Spirit—believers can seek to understand the thoughts of God because we have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds and makes it possible for us to discern truth that the natural man cannot (1 Corinthians 2:14).

If then we have new hearts that trust in God and we have God’s promise to teach us by the Spirit (John 14:26; Luke 12:12) we can live connected to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6–16), relax in the knowledge that He is governing our lives, and simply walk in that trust. A big part of walking in trust is to know the Bible, which is the source of God’s wisdom. We should follow the advice of Proverbs, which says: “My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble” (Proverbs 3:21–23).

There are some things that Scripture does not inform us about directly. Questions like “who should I marry?” or “where should I work?” and things of that nature are often puzzling for Christians as we seek God’s guidance. But again, if we have hearts and minds that are regenerated and connected to God and are truly and wholeheartedly seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, any desire that a believer has, or any path he or she chooses (provided it does not go against Scripture or pursue what is sinful) can be trusted as God’s plan. This may seem simple, but it is often the most difficult thing to do.

We sometimes fear that we will make a wrong choice, or do the wrong thing, or choose the wrong way and that God will punish us for it or that we will somehow ruin our lives or mess up God’s intentions. But God is not vindictive. He is also sovereign. It is true that God disciplines His children for their benefit (Hebrews 12:5–11). It’s also true that circumstances and outcomes are not always indicative of our obedience. Many people obeyed God yet suffered (John 16:33; Hebrews 11). Others were enemies of God and enjoyed worldly ease, at least temporarily (Psalm 73).

We can know God’s will by knowing His Word and seeking Him through prayer and can trust that He is working all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). In all circumstances, we can trust that “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Will Graham – Devotion

 

Hebrews 5:9-14.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,  called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”  of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this we will do if God permits.

As an evangelist, I share the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ as clearly and plainly as possible: that we’re all sinners; that—while we were yet sinners—Christ died for us; that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that whosoever believes may not perish, but have everlasting life.

It’s so simple, and yet eternity hangs in the balance.

>>Get Wednesday in the Word, a weekly devotion from Will Graham, straight to your inbox.

But there’s still work to be done, even after someone has accepted Christ. Our organization works hard to follow up with each person, plugging them into the local church and helping them grow in their faith. Why? Because, much like a child grows in wisdom and power, that is how inquirers mature from “baby” believers to strong Christians as they begin to apply Scripture to their faith journey.

This all sounds good, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. As in any area of life, some passionately pursue a goal while others rest or focus on other priorities.

In Hebrews 5:11-14, we see the characteristics of a group of believers who are not maturing in their faith.

Lazy or ‘Dull’
A person’s faith is immature because they are lazy or “dull of hearing” (v. 11). There is no drive or initiative, and this prevents understanding. They sat and listened, but were not paying attention and applying what they had learned from God’s Word.

Refusal to Grow
Many of these same people who were weak in their walk were refusing to grow (v. 12). They had a knowledge of Jesus and identified with Him, but they refused to mature in their faith and apply it to their lives. They had not progressed from “milk” (basics) to “solid food” (applying the Scriptures).

Unskilled
Some people are spiritually underdeveloped because they are unskilled (inexperienced) in the Word of God (v. 13). By this time they should be teaching, but could not because they refused to be trained in spiritual matters.

Do Not Exercise Discernment
Finally, some believers remain spiritually immature because they do not exercise their mental and spiritual senses (v. 14) and are therefore unable to discern between good and evil.

Reviewing the characteristics of a stunted Christian may hit a little close to home for some of us. So what’s the remedy? How can we become fully developed and mature Christians? Hebrews 6:1-3 offers some guidance.

First, we must build on the teachings that we already know (v. 1). The foundation has already been laid. Now we need to develop our spiritual structure, adding depth and understanding.

Second, we must be determined to grow (v. 3). The author makes a declaration (“This we will do”), which shows the determination required to grow as a Christian.

Third, we must also realize that we are totally dependent upon God for growth. By saying, “if God permits” (v. 3), the author shows that we cannot grow apart from His strength.

To summarize, the answer for a stunted and immature spiritual walk is a motivation to build on the foundation we have, with determination and a reliance on God’s faithfulness and strength.

My friends, it’s easy to slip into laziness and immaturity. We must passionately and deliberately pursue our Savior and the incredible wealth of wisdom He has given us. This will strengthen your faith walk and better prepare you to impact the world for the Kingdom.

Pathway to Victory – Devotion

 

 

They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe in His word, but grumbled in their tents.

–Psalm 106:24-25

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul listed five sins that are guaranteed to bring God’s judgment into our lives. We see that God judged the Israelites for evil desires and for misplaced affections–that is, idolatry. Third, He judged their blatant immorality. Look at verse 8: “Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.” That is a reference to Numbers 25, when the Israelites engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women. In judgment, God sent a plague against them. God hates sexual immorality, and you cannot engage in immorality without paying a price.

Fourth, the Israelites engaged in continuing rebellion against God. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:9: “Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.” That word “try” means to test, to push to the limit. The reference here is to Numbers 21, when the Israelites so tried God’s patience that He sent fiery serpents to destroy them. What does it mean to test God, to push Him to the limit? It means to keep on sinning against God and taking for granted that He is going to forgive you. A lot of people mistake God’s patience with tolerance for sin. They think if they are not struck by lightning the moment they sin it means God does not really care. No, if God has given you a period of time before He judges you, it is only so you might repent. There is a limit to God’s patience with sin.

Fifth, Paul mentioned bitter discontent. He said in 1 Corinthians 10:10, “Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.” In Numbers 16, God sent a destroyer who killed fifteen thousand Israelites in a single day because of their grumbling. Do you know why God hates grumbling so much? Because when you grumble, you are voicing dissatisfaction with God’s plan and provision for your life. Grumbling is a terrible testimony of the God you supposedly serve. Because of that, God will send judgment into your life for grumbling.

Paul continued in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction.” God recorded what happened to the Israelites for our benefit. He has no patience for evil desires, misplaced affections, immorality, rebellion, or grumbling. God is certain to judge those sins. Now, not all suffering is a result of God’s judgment against our disobedience, but some of it is. We have different names for it. Sometimes we call it cancer. Sometimes we call it an accident. Sometimes we call it a financial reversal. But it is really God’s discipline for our disobedience against Him. You cannot keep on sinning against God in these ways without experiencing God’s judgment in your life.

Enduring Word – Devotion

 

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

When we realize who God is and who we are, it sets a foundation for a life full of meaning. Why is there a universe at all? Why is there something, instead of nothing? The answer to those questions can lead one either to a life full of meaning, or a life without meaning. If everything around us, including ourselves, is the result of random, meaningless occurrences, apart from the work of a creating God, then it says something about who I am – and where I, and the whole universe is going. Then the only dignity or honor we bestow upon men is only sentimental because I don’t have any more significance than a worm. Then, there is no greater law in the universe than survival of the fittest.

Genesis 1:1 simply and straightforwardly declares that the world did not create itself or come about by chance; it was created by God – who, by definition, is eternal and has always been. If God created this world, and He has a plan for both the world and for us as individuals. We can find meaning in our lives by fulfilling the purpose our Creator made for us. If I take a screwdriver and try to use it as a hammer, it won’t work very well and may break the screwdriver. The screwdriver is not fulfilling its created purpose, and all we have is frustration. When we look to our Creator and His word, we discover His purpose for us.

Many people think Genesis 1:1 doesn’t have anything to do with scientific facts. They look to other things for meaning in life. One day, students in the class of a great scientist spoke among themselves and decided that there was no God. The scientist asked them how much of all the knowledge in the world they had among themselves collectively, as a class. The students discussed it for a while and decided they had 5% of all human knowledge among themselves. The scientist thought that their estimate was a little generous, but he replied: “Is it possible that God exists in the 95% that you don’t know?”

Some 100 years ago, there was a great German philosopher named Arthur Schopenhauer. He was sitting on a park bench in Berlin, deep in thought. A policeman asked the philosopher “Who are you?” Schopenhauer answered, “I wish to God I knew.”

And the only way we can ever really find out who we are is from God – and the place to begin is Genesis 1:1.

Today, spend some special time considering what it means that God is your Creator and you are His creature. Then look to His word to learn more about His purpose for you. God did not make a mistake or roll the dice when He made you.

You have an important place in His plan, and Jesus’ death for you on the cross shows how important you are to God.

51.n. Wilderness – 15.t. “Both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD”

 

 

Deu 19:15-20  “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you.

This isn’t just because it is possible for one witness to lie without having his story corroborated. It is because one witness can be confused, or mistaken in his testimony. It is a basic measure of reliability that it must be more than a simple case of “my word against theirs.” At the trial of Jesus, many false witnesses rose up against him, and were demonstrated to be false witnesses by their confused and contradictory testimony (Matthew 26:59-60). The false witnesses, under Jewish law, should have been put to death, because that is the punishment they sought for Jesus.

Many modern people doubt that the punishment of others is an effective deterrent to crime; but the Bible clearly says that it is. Weak or inconsistent punishment does not deter crime, but effective punishment does. This was an important principle for the Biblical court of law; here, connected to the punishment described for false witness, it shows that whatever evil was planned or practiced against another, a similar punishment should be brought against the false witness.

Our tendency is to want to do more to the offending party than what they have done to us. But we cannot punish from a motive of revenge, only from a motive of justice.

Many Rabbis in Jesus’ day taught that the eye for eye law meant you were obligated to avenge yourself of a personal insult or attack brought against you. Jesus rightly disallowed the application of this law in our personal relationships; it was a law intended to guide the judges in the law courts of Israel, not to guide our personal relationships. (Guzik)

It is hard for us to know the truth of a witness. How could we? However, many people are swayed by the charismatic or crafty words of a single witness. How many true things have happened and a witness proclaims it, but there is no collaborative witness? How many false things have happened and a witness proclaims it, but there is no collaborative witness? 

We have social media where people say just about anything, about anybody, and there are no checks or balances to it. The same can easily be said about news outlets. The truth of the matter is that people lie or embellish events to suit their narrative. It would do us well to keep our eyes and ears away from it, but that seems impossible due to the wide acceptance of both social media and news outlets. 

The heart that is seeking to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and actions will need to be continually attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in all things. God’s Word is truth. God’s Word benefits the heart, mind, and soul. God’s Word is sharper than a double-edged sword and able to discern the intents of every person. 

Our hearts get filled with so much worthless dribble if we let it. We get swayed by it. We even chase after it. We like it. We talk about it. We worry about it. We get angry about it. We get confused by it. We get to the point where we even believe what is being said is true. We might even proclaim it. 

This should not be so. What would our lives be like if we were to desire and seek truth from God’s Word with the intent of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions? What would our lives be like if we had a deep desire to know more and more about God? 

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three in one, will bear witness for us or against us. God knows our every thought and intent. He knows it all and were we to stand before Him and He is the witness against us – who would be guiltless? What defense could be given? We would stand before Him on judgment day and be declared guilty, without hope of appeal. But praise be to God. He sent His one and only Son to bear our punishment and be our witness as to the debt of our offenses being paid in full by His death.  Jesus is our advocate, savior, and redeemer. 

Confess and repent of your sins and trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ’s work completed on the cross for all who believe.

51.m. Wilderness – 15.s. “But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”

 

Deu 18:15-22  “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

 Hebrews 1:1-2    Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

 Hebrews 2:1-3    Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,  how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

 Matthew 17:5     He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, Joh 8:12. He is the World by whom God speaks to us, Joh 1:1; Heb 1:2. In his birth he should be one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem, and from thence his doctrine should go forth to all the world. Thus God, having raised up his Son Christ Jesus, sent him to bless us. He should be like unto Moses, only above him. This prophet is come, even JESUS; and is He that should come, and we are to look for no other. The view of God which he gives, will not terrify or overwhelm, but encourages us. He speaks with fatherly affection and Divine authority united. Whoever refuses to listen to Jesus Christ, shall find it is at his peril; the same that is the Prophet is to be his Judge, Joh 12:48. Woe then to those who refuse to hearken to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His sway! But happy they who trust in Him, and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths of safety and peace, until He brings them to the land of perfect light, purity, and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin, we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken. (Henry)

From the time of the last Prophet until the coming of Jesus Christ was over 400 years. Can you imagine a time like this? God’s Prophet was among you and proclaiming and declaring what God had to say, and then there was none raised up. It is as if they were left alone to their own whims and establishing some form of godliness after what they thought was right. After one generation there would be little for the common person to know about life with a prophet among them. Every generation after that would just assume the closest they could get to hearing from God would be through the priests. The books of the Law would give these priests hope of God sending a prophet and they looked for it. However after 400 years, it was hard for them to accept it was NOW, when Jesus was born. 

No other prophets are to come. Why?? Because when Jesus died and rose again and ascended into heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell each of us who believe, trust, obey, follow, cling to, and rely upon Him for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart, mind, and soul of every believer to guide, direct, lead, convict, teach, comfort, and encourage. No other prophet is needed nor will come. And yet, there seems to be a famine in a desire to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of far too many Christians. Why?? 

God has given us His Word for us to grow in our knowledge and understanding of His grace, mercy, love, promises, power, might, creation, warnings, blessings, heaven, hell, and judgment. God’s Word is ever-powerful to grow us in the knowledge and understanding. If we were to memorize it all the knowledge and understanding of it would continue to expand in us even if we lived to be one million years old. There will never be a second wasted in the study of it. It is good for the hearts, minds, and souls of all who read, study, and apply it.

51.l. Wilderness – 15.r. “But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this”

 

Deu 18:9-14  “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.

(Guzik)

a. You shall not learn: God knows that many people have a natural curiosity regarding the occult, and that curiosity often leads them to gain knowledge God commands them to leave alone.

b. Anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire: This refers to the debased worship of the Canaanite god Molech, to whom children were sacrificed by burning.

c. Or one who practices witchcraft: The word witchcraft here seems to be a broad word, describing a variety of occult activities. Basically, anything that makes contact with the demonic or dark spiritual world.

i. Thompson on practices witchcraft: “A variety of devices were in use in various lands, but all were designed to discern the will of the gods. The same word in Ezekiel 21:21 refers to the practice of whirling arrows in a quiver and deciding the answer to the question by the first arrow thrown out.”

ii. There is a modern revival of witchcraft, or Wicca, and many people claim that “white” witchcraft (as opposed to “black” witchcraft) is a use of spiritual powers for good, as well as being a more feminist, ecology-friendly understanding of god and spirituality. But whether a witch claims to be “white” or “black,” they are still using occultic powers.

iii. Some claim that white, or “right hand path” witches are in the majority today. They worship elements and nature deities, the “Mother Goddess,” Gaia, Ashtarte, Isis, Osiris, and a host of other names for the Goddess. Characteristically they are active in “Saving the earth” activities, due to the fact that they are pantheists (those who believe the divine life force is in everything: ever see the bumper sticker picturing a globe bearing the legend “Love Your Mother”?). They deny the existence of Satan, calling him an invention of the Christian Church. They claim to use their powers (and they do have powers) for good: sending healing energies to the sick, affirmations which bring prosperity, and loudly proclaiming their creed, “As it harm none, do as thou wilt.” It’s ironic how their creed sounds so similar to that of a man who referred to himself as “The Beast, 666” – Satanist Aleister Crowley, who wrote, “Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

iv. Of course, there are black, or “left hand path,” witches. These are witches who originally were into white witchcraft and got hungry for more power. As their teachers noticed this power lust, they were taken aside and told, “You are now ready to go after the higher power, and there is only one way to achieve this power. Satan is its source.” Thus, comes the white witch’s abrupt surprise: either give up your witchly ambitions, or go for the higher power. The bottom line is that the power behind all kinds of witchcraft is Satan. He is the author of all deception, and all rebellion. To practice or approve of witchcraft is to serve Satan.

v. And this Satanic power kills. Ronald Baker was a 21-year-old student at UCLA, and was found stabbed to death at the mouth of a railroad tunnel in the rocky hills above Chatsworth Park. Police first thought the mangled body was of a transient hit by a train; but they then found an occult connection in Baker’s death. The killing took place on the night of the summer solstice, and the tunnel near the park is known to police as a gathering place for devotees of the occult. Baker was involved with Wicca (described as “benevolent witchcraft”), often wore a pentagram pendant, and belonged to a UCLA metaphysical group known as Mystic Circle (from a July 1990 news article).

vi. Some who call themselves Christians are buying into this deception. Take the case of a woman who calls herself Starhawk, who is a practitioner of Wicca – a witch. She first learned about Wicca at an anthropology course at UCLA when she was 17, and she took the name Starhawk in 1975 when it came to her in a dream. After a master’s degree in psychology, she began teaching at universities. She is a licensed minister of the Covenant of the Goddess and performs marriages and other ceremonies. She views the earth as a sensitive, living organism which she calls “the Goddess.” Mary Elizabeth Moore of the Claremont School of Theology said of Starhawk: “Many Christians, especially women and others who are trying to reclaim creation-centered theology, find her work to be compatible with, or at least adaptable to, Christian teaching.” Starhawk was scheduled to speak at the First Christian Church in Santa Monica on a Friday evening (from a June, 1993 news article).

d. Or a soothsayer: This has reference to astrological-type divination, predicting the future or seeking guidance through the stars, planets, clouds, or weather.

i. Kalland says that the soothsayer: “Is… predicting the future by means of physical signs (astrology).” Thompson points out “it seems to refer to divination by reading clouds, or from a root which occurs in Arabic meaning ‘to make unusual noises’, ‘croon’, ‘hum’, in which case it may refer to some kind of incantation.”

ii. Even though Astrology is unscientific – it is based on the supposition that the sun circles the earth, and the positions of the planets and stars have shifted, and are never consistently uniform; therefore, the houses of the Zodiac have shifted – despite all that, thirty-two million Americans believe in Astrology! There are 10,000 full time and 200,000 part time astrologers in America. Three out of four American newspapers carry a horoscope column.

iii. So where does the real “power” of astrology come from? From what most astrologers call “intuition” – but is really psychic knowledge and ability. Astrology is idolatry and stems from the demonic. It leads people away from trusting in God and encourages them to put trust in what God created. And isn’t that Satan’s goal: To replace confidence in God with a dependence on anything else?

iv. Therefore, the Bible clearly forbids us to participate in astrology, which includes reading your horoscope, studying your sign, and computing a natal chart. It is an occult art, meaning that it involves “knowledge of hidden things”, seeking spiritual knowledge apart from God’s revelation. It is a foundational art, which means it is the building block for all occultists. It is studied by witches and magicians alike. Every Christian should renounce any involvement they have ever had with astrology!

e. Or one who interprets omens: The word comes from the root “to hiss” or “to whisper” and refers to psychics and fortune-tellers who use “aids” other than naturally created things to gain knowledge, tell the future, and cast spells.

i. Today, these people are the tarot card readers, crystal ball seers, tea-leaf readers, palm readers, Ouija board users, and the like. A Christian has no business participating or approving of any of these practices, because either they are money-grubbing frauds (at best!), or worse, they gain their knowledge from satanic, demonic, spiritual sources.

ii. This is why it is dangerous for people – especially kids – to break out the Ouija board, or do a little séance, or little “dark” magic tricks. They are tapping into a source of spiritual power that is real – yet evil, and unspeakably dangerous. Many, many people have been ruined on the rocks of “innocent” occult or fortune telling games, and the fact that there is a real power behind those things should make us all the more concerned.

iii. There is a demand for this kind of thing; why else would a homeless man in New York be arrested for stealing skulls from a Brooklyn cemetery and selling them for use in occult ceremonies? A skull can bring as much as $4,000 (from an August, 1991 news article).

iv. It is worth noting that Satan or his demons cannot absolutely know the future; but they can reasonably predict the future based on their superior knowledge of people and circumstances or predict events that they can have a hand in shaping through their own demonic influence.

f. Or a sorcerer: This has reference to those who use drugs or potions to cast spells, gain spiritual knowledge, or enter into altered states of consciousness. Modern drug abuse easily falls into this category, and the use of drugs has a definite occult connection that the drug taker may not want but is exposed to nonetheless.

i. Clarke says of sorcerer: “Those who by means of drugs, herbs, perfumes, and so forth, pretended to bring certain celestial influences to their aid.” Thompson adds, “derived from the root… ‘to cut up’, may denote one who cuts up herbs and brews them for magical purposes (cf. LXX pharmaka, drug). The term is used in Micah 5:12 for some such material as drugs or herbs used superstitiously to produce magical effects.”

g. Or one who conjures up spells: This is literally, “A charmer of charms” and refers to those who cast spells or charms for good or evil upon others with spiritual powers apart from God.

i. It is a glorious thing to bless another in the name of the LORD; or even to pray to God against the evil of another person. But it is always and forever wrong to use demonic, dark, pagan, or occult powers to cast spells or charms.

h. Or a medium: The idea is of someone who “stands between” the physical world and the psychic world; they channel knowledge from the psychic world into the physical world.

i. Thompson notes that the medium: “Spoke from within a person (Leviticus 20:27) with a twittering voice (Isaiah 29:4). Those who practiced this art called up the departed from the realm of the dead, or rather, professed to do so.”

ii. Those who practice such powers are really among us. In May of 1990, after a man died in the City of Industry, his corpse remained at the home of a spirit medium that had convinced his family that he could revive the man. Friday, LA County coroner’s investigators picked up the decomposing body at the home of the family. The unidentified medium apparently gave the corpse back after being unable to revive the deceased.

i. Or a spiritist: Literally, this word refers to the “knowing ones” – those who claim unique occult or psychic knowledge and powers – such as those on the many psychic hotlines that one can pay to call. Again, a Christian has no business participating or approving of any of these practices, because either they are money-grubbing frauds (at best!), or worse, they gain their knowledge from satanic, demonic, spiritual sources.

j. Or one who calls up the dead: This refers to the practice of necromancy, which is the conjuring up or the contacting of the dead.

i. This refers to “One who investigates, looks into, and seeks information from the dead.” (Kalland) This is much on the increase in our culture; “The proportion of adults who say they have been in touch with the dead has risen from 27% to 42% during the past 11 years. Close to 20 million Americans now report mystical experiences.” (McDowell, 1989)

Predicting the future is foolishness. Knowing the future apart from God and what God has said in His Word through the Holy Spirit is foolishness – there is no truth in it. There are certain absolute promises from God and apart from believing and relying upon them – there is foolishness. Maybe I should use the word abomination instead. God despises all forms of worshiping or seeking after that which He alone holds in His hands. He is the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. His promises are true. Our hope, trust, faith, and reliance on Him alone will never be wasted or disappointing. It gives peace, joy, hope, love, and a reason and purpose to our lives.

Once Delivered – Devotion

 

 

Peter employs many terms to describe the return of Jesus, among them: “the time of restoration of all things,” the appearing of the “Chief Shepherd,” and “the day of the Lord.”

Acts 3:19-21 – Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning.

The Lord has just used Peter to heal a lame man on the steps of the temple – a miracle that attracts a crowd and gives Peter an opportunity to preach about the Jesus in whose name the miracle occurred.

Having suffered for our sins, Jesus is now at the Father’s right hand, an exalted position from which he rules with all authority and even heals lame men on earth. However, “the time of the restoration of all things” is on the horizon.

The world is not as God created it, nor as he intends it to be. The whole creation groans beneath the weight of sin (Rom. 8:22), waiting for the return of Jesus, the creator and redeemer, to set things right. God has revealed all this through the Old Testament prophets, and Peter encourages his listeners to see how the Suffering Servant is also the soon-returning King.

1 Peter 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Peter offers us a view of the golden chain of redemption – God’s work of salvation that extends from eternity past (in foreknowledge, election, and predestination), through time (in calling, regeneration, justification, and sanctification), and out into eternity future (in glorification).

Because of Jesus, we’re made spiritually alive through the “new birth.” We’re granted a “living hope” since the resurrection of Jesus ensures our future resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-23). And we possess an inheritance – future glorification and eternity with Jesus  – that is kept safe in heaven for us. What’s more, God keeps us secure as he sustains our faith until the end.

1 Peter 4:7 – The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.

Peter does not necessarily expect Jesus to return in a few days or weeks. Rather, he reminds us that all the major events in God’s plan of salvation – including Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and the coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost – have already occurred. Therefore, Christ’s return could happen at any time.

The end of all things is near in Peter’s day, as it is in ours. The delay in Christ’s return is an expression of God’s mercy (see 2 Pet. 3:8-9). Our appropriate response is not to stand idly, gazing into the heavens, but to live self-controlled and sober-minded lives of faithfulness.

1 Peter 4:13 – Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.

Peter cheers his readers on as they suffer persecution for their faith in Jesus. Christians always have endured oppression – including martyrdom – and they always will until Jesus returns. The apostle reminds us that it is a badge of honor to share in the sufferings of Christ.

One day, the Suffering Servant returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. He comes in glory and sits on his royal throne (Matt. 25:31). He resurrects and glorifies the saints (1 John 3:2). And he punishes those who treated his followers with contempt (2 Thess. 1:5-10). All of this occurs “when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 5:4 – And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Peter closes out his first epistle with an exhortation to elders, who may look forward to the return of Jesus, when the “chief Shepherd” rewards them with the “unfading crown of glory.” This is one of at least five crowns mentioned in the New Testament. Sometimes, it’s called the pastor’s crown. The crown of glory is reserved in heaven for those who faithfully teach God’s word and shepherd the congregation God has called them to oversee.

2 Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.

The apostle warns against “scoffers” who point to the delay in Christ’s return as proof that our Lord isn’t coming at all (2 Pet. 3:3-4). Peter reminds them of the flood that destroyed the world long ago; the very waters God used to create the earth were stored up for its destruction in the days of Noah (vv. 5-6). In a similar manner, the Lord keeps a storehouse of fire by which he will purge the world of sin, thus creating new heavens and a new earth (vv. 7, 12-13).

The “day of the Lord will come like a thief,” Peter warns. Christ’s return may seem far away, and Christians may even be tempted to let down their guards. But Jesus is returning – and his coming will be sudden and unexpected by many.

51.k. Wilderness – 15.q. “He shall read in it all the days of his life”

 

Deu 17:14-20  “When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

God looked forward – some 400 years forward – into Israel’s future, to the time when they would demand a king. God warned them to set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses, and that person had to be an Israelite and not a foreigner. It is interesting to consider whether or not God wanted an earthly king over Israel. 1 Samuel 8:6-9, the record of Israel’s demand for king, puts the request for a king in a negative light. One might ask if God really did want Israel to never have an earthly king, and if He wanted them to recognize Him alone as king. It is a debatable issue; but consider that Israel’s history without a king (the time of the book of Judges) was not a period of national glory. Perhaps we can say that God wanted Israel to have a king, but of His choosing, and at His timing. Saul is a perfect example of a king out of God’s will, chosen by the nation and at their timing; David is a perfect example of a king chosen by God and in His timing.

The future king of Israel must not put undue trust in military might.

The future king of Israel must not put undue emphasis on physical indulgence and personal status.

The future king of Israel must not put undue emphasis on personal wealth.

Each of these issues is a matter of balance. The king had to have some military power, but not too much; one wife and certain comforts, but not too much; some personal wealth, but not too much. Such balances are often the hardest to keep. Solomon was a notorious breaker of these commands. He had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots (1 Kings 4:26), and Solomon had horses imported from Egypt (1 Kings 10:28). He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart (1 Kings 11:3). He surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches (1 Kings 10:23). et, all along, we might see Solomon knowing the commands of Deuteronomy 17, yet deceiving himself by asking the self-justifying questions, “How much is ‘multiply’? I can handle this. I haven’t gone too far.” It might seem self-evident that 700 wives and 300 concubines is multiplying wives to yourself, but one should never underestimate the ability of the human heart to deceive itself in such situations.

Each of these three areas reflects the places where many modern Christian leaders fall: In regard to power, pleasure, or money. God’s commands for leaders have not changed; and neither has the need to be on guard against the self-deception in these things which felled Solomon.

It is striking to think of the king of Israel, laboring over parchment with a pen, making a personal copy of the law of Israel. This shows how greatly God wanted the word of God to be on the hearts of His rulers; God wanted every king to also be a scribe. The word of God was to be constant companion of the king of Israel, and something he read every day. All need the word of God; but the greater our responsibilities, the greater our need to depend on the truth of God’s word. Staying in the word of God was intended to build a reverence for God and a holy life in the king.

It is striking to consider that reading a book – the Great Book, the Bible – can keep a person from sin. We may not understand all the spiritual work behind the word of God, but staying in the word will keep one from sin. It has been well written in many Bibles: “This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book.”

Staying in the word of God would keep the king properly humble and help him to not think of himself as above those he ruled over. (Guzik)

“The Scriptures, diligently read and studied, are a powerful and probable means to keep him humble, because they show him that, though a king, he is subject to a higher Monarch, to whom he must give an account… sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world, if he duly consider it.” (Poole)

In all cases, God’s choice, if we can but know it, should direct, determine, and overrule ours. Laws are given for the prince that should be elected. He must carefully avoid every thing that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live. Christ’s scholars never learn above their Bibles, but will have constant occasion for them, till they come to that world where knowledge and love will be made perfect. The king’s writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better for it even in this world.(Henry)