Thursday, Jul 23, 2009

7-23 Ten Were Lost

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“Have you led anyone to Christ today?” It was Phil. He was calling to check up on our upcoming tennis game. Good question. How about this one: “have you shared Christ with anyone today?” When was the last time you were “a witness?” Obviously you can witness with your words and with your life. Your life must match your words or it’s hypocritical. But I’m kind of wondering what kind of witness you would be in court if you told the Judge, “I’m not here to say anything! I’m just here to witness with my life!” I think they call that “contempt of court!” If you are on the witness stand, you are supposed to open your mouth and tell what you have seen and heard. That is the definition of a witness: “someone who sees an event and reports what happened.” You saw Jesus change your life and you are compelled to tell about it. Let’s witness.

Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 6:19-38; Zechariah 7; Luke 14
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 37:21 Say to the house of Judah and the house of Ephraim, “‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. 24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.

Ten were lost, and then there were only two. The ten I’m talking about are the ten northern tribes of Israel called “the house of Ephraim.” The two southern tribes are called “the house of Judah.” Assyria took the northern tribes captive. 150 years later Babylon took the southern tribes captive. The tribes taken by Assyria, in some quarters, have become known as the “ten lost tribes” because unlike Judah they never were granted an edict giving them permission to return to the land. So what happened to them? Were they lost forever? Are they out of existence? Or perhaps they migrated to America, France or Britain, or some other outlandish theory? No. Many of them fled to Judah and coexisted in the Southern kingdom. The prophetess Anna was from the tribe of Asher (Lk 2:36) one of the “lost tribes.” 2 Chr 30:1-11 mentions northern Israelites who had been spared by the Assyrians … Dan, Ephraim, Manasseh, Asher and Zebulun and how some of them later returned to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. The myth of the ten lost tribes is just that: myth. Prophetically, God promised a future regathering and reuniting of all twelve tribes! Check out Revelation 7! That day is yet to come. While Israel is now in the land they have yet to fulfill key ingredients to this prophecy. #1 God will cleanse them from their transgressions and they will acknowledge Him as Lord. #2 David will be back. Is that literal? He’s mentioned here and in several other places! During the Millennial Kingdom, David will be Prince (Ezek 37:25). Some see this as “David’s Seed,” Jesus Christ. I see no difficulty either way. David will certainly be around during the coming Kingdom and could be on the throne under Christ… a co-regent. When you consider the promise of regathering here in Ezekiel 37 and the promised fulfillment in Revelation 7, it is clear that God is not yet finished with the twelve sons of Jacob.

Dear Lord: Thank you for your promises. Thank you that in Your world, nothing can be lost or misplaced. You know where it is at all times. I pray for the nation that they would turn to you in fulfillment of these promises. I await your kingdom of peace with anticipation!

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:54 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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