Sat, May 27th - 2:17PM
More on Ezekiel 3
Hey,
In the Middle Ages there was a great defensive weapon. Armies of Ezeliel's day were almost impotent against it. It was called a wall. A well built wall could withstand almost any army. Even centuries later, huge crusading armies took months to overcome a good wall. Most attacks were forced to wait outside the wall in a seige, and wait for the city to run out of food.
It had only one moving part. A gate. It was the watchman's job to see trouble coming and warn the people to close the gate. It wasn't a difficult job, but it was essential.
Ezekiel's job was watchman. To warn the people that they were in trouble. God was available to then. He would protect and care for them. But they had to call on Him. Ezekiel was supposed to warn them of their immediate danger and of their offered solution.
I think our role as watchmen today is the same. We are held responsible to warn any that we might have authority over. As leaders, parents, teachers, big brothers, mentors, any role that implies that someone might listen to you, you are supposed to warn them of straying from God. This is usually taught as an evangelistic passage, and that is fine too. But in the context, Ezekiel is to warn Israel, God's people. I don't mean that we should not use it as motive to reach the lost. But we need to also see the responsibility of warning our brothers and sisters. It can be very hard to do. We might look judgemental. We might even loose friends. But we are accountable to do it. It is essential thatit be done in love, not shouted or preached with pride. And we shouldn't wait until people are ready to listen. We are not responsible for them receiving God message, just our giving it.
Comment (7)
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Sat, May 27th - 12:47AM
Hey,
My posts here have no continuity. The last one was from media night on love, the one from Mark was from Sunday School, and the Ezekiel is from college group. In a few days, I hope to post some devotions for camp. This one is my first thoughts on one for college group.
Ezekiel 3:16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. 20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."
Ezekiel 33:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' 7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.
This passage speaks for itself. But it is quite a challenge. Our job as Christians is to tell people about God. Not worry about how it is recieved. That is the Holy Spirit's job anyway. And in some way, we are accountable for them if we didn't tell them. If we try, and they don't respond, then it is their fault. But if we don't ever tell them, it is on us.
I think it is important to remember that this message is specifically for Israel, not rest of the world. So it means that we are responsible for warning fellow believers also. Ezekiel's job was to tell Israel to repent (regardless of whether they listen or not, God repeats several times). For us that would be helping other Christians repent, or stay faithful. We must find a gentle, loving way to do it. "In meekness and fear". But we are accountable to do it.
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Thu, May 25th - 9:32AM
A Monolouge
I know that we are supposed to love God based on how much we have been forgiven. But I have always had trouble with that. I am a pretty good guy. I was raised in a Christian home. I was a great kid. Made Dean's list. Student of the Year one year. I pay my taxes. I mean, what did I really do that needs forgiven? Oh sure, some small stuff, I guess.
Then testerday I killed a guy. He cut me off in traffic, almost killed me, and gave me the finger. I said some really natsy stuff to him. Then I remembered that Jesus said that to be that angry is the same as murder in your heart. Its the same emotion, you just didn't go through with the action. I mean I killed this guy dead.
Then I realized that there is this guy in school that I must have killed 50 times. In fact there is a few of them. I started thinking. I must kill someone every day. I have left dead bodies all over the place. I just thought that you should know that you are listening to a mass murderer.
And God still forigves me.
Comment (6)
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Wed, May 24th - 8:48PM
Contemporary Christian Music
Prayer
Kendall Payne
I will pray for you now for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I couldn't not ask for more than what you've already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me
May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head
May they all fall come crashing down around your feet
May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater each stride
May your company be of humble insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride
What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the one who made us
And see him smile when life is through
May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they'd be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see
May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you'd learn to trust the plan he has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true
I have prayed for you now all of my dear and faithful friends
But what I wish is more than I could ever speak
As the way wanders on I'll long to see you once again
Until then, would you pray these prayers for me?
Oh that you would pray for me.
Comment (2)
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Tue, May 23rd - 9:56AM
Hey
Among other things that I have started is trying to teach through Ezekiel. In the first chapter, he is 30 years old. He's been trained as a priest and at 30 should be starting his career. But he's among those taken off to Babylon. God gives him a vision, presumably to clarify what his role should be.
The vision is crazy. I didn't find a commentary that did anything but guess, in authorative tones, what it might mean. There are angels who form a cube. With four faces, legs with calves feet, and wheels within wheels that move them. They move lighning fast. And are surrounded by lightnig and fire. God is one his throne above them, over crystal everywhere. He is bright and burning.
All these things you could make a guess at what they mean. But think of Ezekiel. He just wants to know what to do next. But before God tells him he shows him this for effect. What effect? Well, Ezekiel falls on his face.
As I got ready to teach this I said, "How? This is far beyond me." And felt God say, "Exactly!"
Ezekiel, and many others who were called, got overpowering visions. I thinnk God wanted to stress to them that He was beyond their understanding. The people were suffering awful things (because of disobedience) and they wouldn't understand it. They just needed to trust.
The message is true for us too.
Comment (4)
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Thu, May 18th - 10:03PM
CRY OUT TO JESUS
Third day
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day / ©2005 Consuming Fire Music / ASCAP. All rights administered by EMI CMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Story Behind the Song:
'We have come a long way since we first started, and have been through a lot as both individuals and as a band during the 11+ years we've been together. We have grown from young bachelors with hardly a care in the world into happily married 'mature' men with many children and responsibilities. The one thing that I have grown to realize is that not only do I have more burdens and responsibilities, but I am able to see and understand how others have the same burdens and trials. When you are younger, you know that they are there, but you can't fully understand their impact until you are older. As a band, we have had many friends and family who have experienced significant hardships and loss over the past couple of years...so a song like this was a natural extension of what we have been going through. In each verse of Cry Out To Jesus, there are specific people in my mind... when I sing each line...they are directly connected with someone I know. My hope is that you are able to also connect personally to each verse through your own experiences. Not only do we all know these people, but we are these people. In those times of trial, I hope that we can remember we can find our strength, peace and hope when we cry out to Jesus.' -Mac Powell (Third Day)
Comment (3)
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Thu, May 18th - 9:53AM
Hey,
Our house is full and has become very hard to get on the computer, so my posts have been few. I just realized that I could write a post and save it for when I do get a chance to post it.
I have the job of writing devotions for our teen summer camp. Billy picked the topic of discipleship and its not coming very easily for me. I think it’s the normal trick of trying to catch someone else’s vision. He wants to stress a "Family of God" theme, kids helping each other to grow towards God. He will speak on that specifically three or four times. I wanted to write three or four devotions that they will do in small groups that will be about discipleship but not repeat his main thoughts.
I did a little Internet research and am thinking about these four subjects, done in the multiple choice style of the one posted here a while back:
SUPREME LOVE FOR GOD. Matt 10:37-42
37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Stressing that we were lost in sin and He saved us. It is hard to be told what to do and not do if it isn’t by someone we love.
GOD’S WORD. Ps. 119
We need to be continually feeding ourselves from His Word. Both by being taught and our own study. If you are not a reader, its OK, you usually don’t have to read more than a few sentences to have enough to meditate on.
DENIAL OF SELF 1Corinthians 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
This is about looking at our goals and priorities. And about being willing to sacrifice. I like Paul’s sports training analogy.
LOVE OTHERS 1John
This would be a summary and would tie back in to Billy’s theme, as well as start some evangelism teaching for later.
Comment (3)
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Mon, May 15th - 9:39AM
Hey
It feels like my life is on hold right now. This isn't a serious complaint, its just frustrating. I am waiting on several things. A decision on our youth pastor. C'Anne's job decision. A wedding. Summer camp. My work to hire a new person. Hay fever season to end. A shot at the computer. Everything.
Meanwhile, I need to write four devotions for camp. Make a media nite.And I think I want to do a series on Ezekiel for college group.
Ok. Enough whinning. Thanks.
Comment (5)
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Fri, May 5th - 1:14PM
Can We Jump Out Of His Hand?
Hey,
This is a very good question that is hard to prove with scripture. Obviously, its not simple or there wouldn't be so many different views. It is true that you can find verses that seem to argue either way about if salvation can be lost (or given away). I have found that when that happens, take a step back and look at the big picture.
First, would God still give salvation to someone who had turned on him? Would that be fair?
Matthew 20:9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'
13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
God’s gift of salvation isn’t fair to anyone. No one deserves it. How much sin would it take to lose His love?
The next thing is that when we accept Him we are adopted
Romans 8:14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
God chose the most permanent word He could use. We weren’t invited, or hired, or allowed. We were adopted. In fact, adoption in Biblical times was even more permanent than being a natural son. A natural son could legally be disowned but an adoption could not be reversed.
The point is that God is the one in charge. If He allows enough to come into your life that you would choose to leave Him then He would have lost you.
1Corinthians 1: 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1Corinthians 3:13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
2Corinthians 1: 20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
I think that the real question in some difficult scenarios is Was the person ever really saved? not Did God allow someone to decide to jump out of his hand?. There was an elder in our church once who had been a church leader for years. He came forward on day at an alter call, finally realizing that he had never put his faith in Jesus Christ and would have gone to Hell if he’d died before that day.
This kind of question is exactly what a site like this should be here for. The be free to raise questions and give opinons in love. And to remind each other to be sure of our salvation.
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Name: Jon Johnson
