Time With God
A devotional trip through the Bible with a caring community to support, love and care for each other... while spending Time With God. If you would like our daily email version of this podcast send me a note to info@pinegrovecommunitychurch.com
7-31 Surely it Shall Happen
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Did you know that 15% of Americans have no health insurance? Some people call that a crime! But did you know that there are over 2 Billion people in this world who have never even heard the name “Jesus!” What is worse? No health care or no heaven? Did you know that there are some 800,000 physicians in the United States alone… and there is a shortage of about 10,000 per year to cover the nation’s medical needs? That’s an enormous need! But think about this: there are only 100,000 missionaries in the world! And only 3% of them are in the “unreached people” area made up of 2 billion souls who have never heard the name of Jesus! All around the world people are dying and going to hell because they have never heard! To see what the need is watch the video at http://vimeo.com/2843450 called Tears of the Saints. Gain a passion for the lost!
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 8:54-66; Zechariah 12; Luke 18:19-43
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 39:6 "And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. 7 "So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8 "Surely it is coming, and it shall be done," says the Lord GOD. "This is the day of which I have spoken. 9 "Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. 10 "They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them," says the Lord GOD. 11 "It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. 12 "For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.
Surely it is coming, and it shall be done. The Northern Horde will fall on the mountains of Israel and come to their end there. The army is so vast that it will take seven months just to bury the dead and seven years to burn all their equipment! That is another reason why it seems plausible that this invasion takes place at the beginning of the Tribulation… because both take seven years. Certainly it could be at any other time, but when you consider the 7 year covenant of peace offered by the Antichrist which “guarantees” Israel’s safety for the first time in modern history… so that the horde attacks when they are at peace, it seems to fit quite nicely. The result of this massive destruction is because God is making his “holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy one in Israel.” Romans 11:26 tells us that the point of all this is “so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” The reason why the nation, and the world will go through this tribulation is that it is their last chance to turn to the Lord. That’s what Jesus said in Lu 13:35 "See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’" The time of Jacob’s trouble will trouble the nation so that they will turn to the Lord.
Dear Father. I want to turn to you. In good times and in bad, I need you. I need to know deep in my soul that You are “the Lord.” I need to develop a passion to pass on my faith to those without hope and without Christ. I need to have you transform me into Your image. Please do so.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:58 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 30, 20097-30 God Steps In
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“How do you keep on falling in love with Jesus over and over again?” Good question. Keith and I were pondering the state of Christianity in America… and the state of our own hearts. I guess one of the answers is conviction of sin. We realize that we have strayed and we ask God to forgive us and restore our passion. Keith has Parkinson's disease. I’ve watched it develop over the years I’ve known him. Now he has a bit of trouble just getting a bite of omelet from the plate to his mouth. “When I first got Parkinson’s I had a choice. I could choose a living death, or I could choose to really live for the rest of my life. I chose to live.” Keith said that one of the answers for him is that he came to realize just how much Jesus loves him and how much Jesus did to save him. “How can you not love someone who loves you that much?” What say you? How do you keep falling in love with Jesus?
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 8:22-53; Zechariah 11; Luke 18:1-18
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 38:14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it? 15 "Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. 16 "You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes." 17 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them? 18 "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face. 19 "For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ 21 "I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord GOD. "Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 "Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."’
The Northern Horde will come against the land of Israel. Thus it has been prophesied, so it will be done. A mighty army that covers the land like a cloud will advance to crush the hated Jew once and for all! The world will watch breathlessly. Every television camera and every television station will zoom in on this brazen attack. Sponge Bob will be replaced with up to the minute reports from the battle field. American Idol will be canceled so we can watch “Operation Gog!” Katie Couric, Peter Jennings and every other newsman will micro analyze the attack 24/7: their analysis? Israel doesn’t stand a chance. The Northern Horde is a mammoth sized Goliath that will squash little David with its baby toe. But what happens next surprises everyone. The armies of the north will be destroyed on the mountains of Israel! (39:4) Here’s how it happens. Just as the northern machine is about to devour the land there is a huge earthquake! This will be a tremor that is felt around the world! It will be so mighty that skyscrapers will crash to the ground and the mountains will shudder and be broken to pieces. The epicenter will be the land of Israel. This will be the mother of all earthquakes! It is powerful in and of itself to wipe out most of the army! But other events will occur which will wipe out this horde. The coalition will turn against itself (38:21)! In the ensuing confusion, this unified army will suddenly disintegrate! The entire operation will be in danger of imploding. That isn’t all. God’s not done! There will be tremors and aftershocks following the earthquake. God will bring pestilence, disease, intense rain, flooding, hail, volcanic action, fire and brimstone… and the Northern Horde will fall on the mountains of Israel. In the stunning silence that follows, the camera will pan around a vast field of battle littered with the dead. Only God could have orchestrated such a devastating defeat against such odds.
Dear Lord. The magnitude of events that are yet to come overwhelms me. The loss of life and the power of God and nature is more than I can imagine. I know you at the helm. You are the master of the winds and the waves as well as the mastermind of prophecy. I bow before your amazing power.
"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 9:50 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Wednesday, Jul 29, 20097-29 Prophetic Thoughts
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“You are THE most beautiful girl in the world!” Evie literally glowed as she stood there tanned and smiling … that was the same compliment I gave to granddaughter Esther just a few moments earlier. My girls are the best in the world! They look as lovely as their mother. Esther hung her arms around her grandpas neck as I gave Evie a great big hug. Isaiah wanted in on it… he nosed his way in and we had a group hug thing going on! We did all that on the hottest day of the year… yep only 110? 111? Hot enough yet? After all the trial and error of raising kids, there are some rewards that can’t be measured tangibly. Pretty good huh?
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 8:1-21; Zechariah 10; Luke 17
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 38: 10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 "You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 "to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 "Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’"’
I think I thunk a thought. The prophecy about the leaders of the army from the North in the end times is that “Thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan.” They will think it, they will plan it, they will execute it. Where do thoughts come from anyway? My thoughts are my own. I get to think my own thoughts and form my own opinions in this little brain of mine. You get to do the same thing in yours. We are individual, free thinkers… but are all our thoughts our own? Not really. We hear and evaluate dozens, perhaps hundreds of thoughts a day from other sources: radio, TV, conversation, magazines… etc. Some we believe, others we discard. But if you are an aware person, plugged into your thoughts as you should be, sometimes you will sense a perverse thought flying across your brain pad from out of nowhere like an arrow shot silently from the unknown and you will say, “Hey! Where did that come from!” And if you are a thinking individual you will quickly reject the thought. “That didn’t come from me! An enemy has done this.” …An unseen spiritual enemy. Yes, our enemy the Devil and his demons have the ability to plant thoughts in the mind and we must learn to reject them. On the other hand, God also can interject thoughts. It happens! God puts ideas, suggestions, and the sensation of his presence in our mind. The more the better, I say. In the case of the army from the north, God says in verse 1, “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out!” And in verse 8 God says, “After many days you will be visited.” God claims that He is leading the army of the north out to battle, but in verse 10, the generals and politicians think that they are the ones making the plan! So which is it? I just love the conundrums of the Word! I love to discuss the tension between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. Do we have to have it one way or the other? Why can’t we have it both ways! God sent the thought; the kings of the north picked it up and ran with it! In their case, it is going to be a bad thing with a bad ending. Prophecy is coming. But normally, when God speaks to your mind you would be wise to listen and follow.
Dear Lord. I pray that my thoughts would please you. Help me to control the thoughts that come into my mind from various places… to evaluate them so that I may reject the thoughts that are off the mark and accept the ones that line up with your word. And most of all, help me to hear your voice and follow your leading.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. This is the greatest commandment
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:55 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Tuesday, Jul 28, 20097-28 Who is Gog?
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“It’s just a piece of paper.” We were sitting under the canopy in sweltering 98 degree weather after I performed a wedding in the direct sunlight. “It’s meaningless and you don’t need a piece of paper to prove you love somebody.” Bob – not his real name – is one of those many people who don’t see the point of marriage. OK. Let’s say that YOU are on the spot! I want to hear your best response! We are in a culture war, and the culture is minimizing marriage. We have to have better arguments than they have! I can think of a few. Marriage is instituted by God, thus, sacred… everything else is sin. People who won’t make a contractual / covenant commitment can’t be depended on in the long run. Statistics show that people who live together outside of marriage have more problems – domestic abuse, substance abuse, etc. What’s your best argument? Let me know.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 7:27-51; Zechariah 9; Luke 16
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 38:1 ¶ Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 "I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 "Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 "Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. 7 "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 "After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 "You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you."
Who’s Gog? And how about Magog? And Rosh, Meshec, Tubal, Gomer or Togarmah? Whoever they are, God is against them! There is a hostile prophecy in Ezekiel 38 about these folks. The first thing we should recognize about all these kingdoms is that while the names of countries change and their borders shift, ethnicity does not. A Gog is a Gog whether his country’s name is Russia or Big Mac. Like many Americans, I’m somewhat of a Heinz 57 kind of guy, yet I can trace my heritage dominantly to Germany. So we can pinpoint the ethnicity of some of these people with accuracy, based on geography and the Table of Nations listed in Genesis 10. Let’s begin with the easy ones – Persia = Iran. Ethiopia and Libya are easily recognizable. It seems that Gog, Magog, Rosh, Mesheck, Tuba,l Gomer and Togarmah are identified by many linguists and historians with a block of nations in the north we call the Russian coalition. How interesting that, among the nations that have a huge interest in Israel for economic, political or religious reasons, Russia, Libya and Iran are in the top ten! I did a quick check of Allied and NATO nations and they essentially comprise the United States plus the EU (European Union). That’s where we’d expect the Antichrist to come from. But NATO states that they have no intention of including the Russian Confederation as one of their allies! They want peaceful relations with them, but no partnership. And of course Russia has her own agenda, an agenda that will one day mean gathering the troops and arming them to storm the foothills of the nation of Israel. The storm is brewing.
Dear Father. I see the storm clouds on the horizon. I pray for peace and yet, knowing human nature, and knowing prophecy, I realize that wars and rumors of wars are a reality. Help me to be a messenger of the peace of God in trying times, I pray.
All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:32 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Monday, Jul 27, 20097-27 War Clouds on the Horizon
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“My wife and I are looking for a little financial assistance.” He was only asking for $10. We shook hands and there was a momentary shock! I recovered quickly. I didn’t look down, but I didn’t need to; I could feel it! Half his hand was missing! It was a very odd feeling. I wasn’t prepared for it. We helped them out and then I asked, if they needed anything else. “We just had a garage sale and today everything is free! Help yourself.” His wife came in. They were like two kids in a candy store. “Praise the Lord! We needed this! Look! A couch! Do you have a way you could transport it to our place?” They just moved here from Madras with nothing more than their little fastback car could carry. They stuffed their car full and left. I told them to come back for seconds at 5:30 PM. And there they were. They also stayed for church. He had a big Bible with the words “YAHWEH’s Holy book,” on the cover. It was a joy and it didn’t cost much to help. Now they have a couch, chair and two fastback loads of stuff! Pray that they’ll find a job.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 7:1-26; Zechariah 8; Luke 15
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 38:1 ¶ Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 "I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 "Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 "Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. 7 "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 "After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 "You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you."
The Ezekiel 38 Battle: It’s coming. The question, yet unanswered is “when?” Verse 8 gives three hints: #1 It will be “in the latter years,” somewhere near the end of days. #2 It will be after the regathering “of those brought back from the sword and gathered.” Before 1948 the fulfillment of this battle would not have not have been possible. Now it is only a matter of time. The players are all in place. #3 It will be during a rare time of peace for Israel, “now all of them dwell safely.” While the first two qualifications are fulfilled, I can’t think of a time when Israel was at peace since returning. They are in a constant state of military readiness. What would it take for the nation to feel safe? Somehow there would have to be a way to guarantee the peace. The Arab nations around them would have to agree to it! How likely is that? Without a powerful occupying force? Not very. There is one era of peace prophesied in the future (before the Reign of Christ). It is when the Antichrist makes a 7 year covenant with them (Daniel 9:27). In fact the Tribulation period begins with the “White Horse” of Revelation 6 who went out conquering, “and a crown was given to him.” Postulate this: The people of Israel are tiring of war. The scud missiles and car bombs are taking their toll. They are crying “Peace! Peace!” But there is no peace. Imagine a world leader so powerful and influential that he will be able to broker some kind of “land for peace” deal that the Arabs will agree with! I don’t know how it could happen, but prophecy has an interesting history of turning the impossible into the probable, and the probable into reality. And once the nation settles down into a peaceful co-existence… the army from the north will descend on them… only to be destroyed!
Dear Father. The future has been revealed, and yet it is certainly clouded with questions. We know many of the things that will happen, we just don’t know when or how. Give us faith to leave the details to you. Give us faith when the hard times hit, so that we will gain our strength from you!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 11:07 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 23, 20097-23 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
Wednesday, Jul 22, 20097-22 Out of the Graveyard of Nations
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I find it difficult to balance my busy life, how about you? What bothers me is that sometimes my busyness gets in the way of God’s business. I have commitments that I must keep; Weddings, funerals, Bible Studies, Sermons, phone calls, counseling appointments, missionaries... and there’s more… renter problems, clogged drains, remodels and the like. And then there is the family… those wonderful grandkids… kids programs, camping and the like. I don’t feel like I ever get enough time with the grandkids: I’m forever wanting to have more. We are busy people. Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes and heard yourself think, “I just don’t have time to have a long discussion about Spiritual things… or I just don’t have time to help them out today!” Hey! That can’t be right, can it? Ever felt the guilt that came as a result of busyness? What? You’ve never been there? Maybe we need to pray the prayer of the busy man, “Slow me down Lord, so I can serve you!”
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 6:1-18; Zechariah 6; Luke 13
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 37:7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."’" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.’"
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones! Now hear the Word of the Lord. For over a thousand years Israel was buried in the graveyard of ancient nations. They were extinct. Anyone who has seen the sickening scene of the huge pits full of emaciated, skeletal remains of victims of the Nazi death camps can imagine that this might have formed part of the vision that the prophet saw twenty-five centuries ago. Then in one day they became a nation again! “Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day?” (Isaiah 66:8-9) …that was the prophetic promise and fulfillment to Israel. There is a “two stage” resurrection occurring in Ezekiel 37. Stage one: Verses 8-10. Ezekiel prophesied and the bones came together and flesh came upon them… but they were still cadavers because they were non-breathing individuals. Stage two: Verses 9-10. Ezekiel prophesied again and breath came into them and they came alive. So what are these two stages? God explained them to the prophet in verses 12-14. Explanation for Stage one “I will cause you to come out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.” The nation was dead! They believed that they were “cut off” from the promises of God. But the people began to return! And in 1948, in one day, many of those dry bones were back in the land to see the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Explanation for Stage two. “I will put my spirit into you and you shall live.” Stage one has occurred, but stage two is yet awaiting fulfillment! This is the “New heart and new spirit” of Ezekiel 36:26-28… “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” One day “all Israel shall be saved!” If stage one has been fulfilled, can stage two be far behind?
Dear Father. Thank you for prophecy fulfilled! It is truly amazing! Thank you for prophecy future. I look forward to the day when all is fulfilled and I am in your presence. What a promise! That you would put your spirit in your people Israel! I want that for my life as well. Fill me up with your spirit and help me to live life to the full.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 7:23 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Tuesday, Jul 21, 20097-21 Dry Bones
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It’s a small world after all. As soon as you read this, that tune started playing automatically in your head didn’t it! Hah! Now you won’t be able to shake it! Yesterday, a girl met me at a rental to pick up an application. During our conversation I asked where she worked… “Oh,” I said, “David I. works there doesn’t he?” She said he did and that she also went to school with him. I told her that David grew up in our church and his parents still go there. She is pregnant… due in November… but not married. So I showed her pictures of our Amphitheater and suggested they check it out for their wedding. A chance contact? No God orchestrated it. Pray that I’ll be able to follow up.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 5; Zechariah 5; Luke 12:22-59
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 37 "1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." 4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."’"
During World War II many analysts viewed Hitler as the Antichrist, but there were a few commentators, M. R. Dehann, H. A. Ironside, and others who pointed out that he couldn’t be because the nation of Israel was not in their land. Unfortunately, over the last 2000 years, there have been many, many Bible commentators who scoffed at the idea of a literal return of Israel to their homeland. They believed that the Diaspora was a permanent judgment on the nation. Isaiah 11:11-12 prophesies not one, but two worldwide dispersions of the nation, and two returns! “…the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people… from the four corners of the earth.” The first dispersion was by Assyria and Babylon, and the second by Rome. Ezekiel 37 pictures the second return to the land with his colorful “dry bones” prophecy. The valley of dry bones represented the Jewish people in an exceedingly grave condition. During the holocaust the Jews despaired of life. Prophetically, they said what God said they would say in Ezekiel 37:11 ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Ezekiel was asked, “can these bones live”, or can the Jewish nation survive? Not only will they survive, he was told, but they would be restored to their ancient homeland of Israel, and emerge into an “exceedingly great army”. “So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” Ezekiel 37:10. The enemies of Israel have quickly learned that Ezekiel’s “dry bones” can fight! In their war for independence in 1948 they were vastly outnumbered and hopelessly surrounded, yet they shocked the world by their miraculous victories. Because of their astonishing victories over the years the Israeli Defense Forces have become a modern legend! Once the nation returned to their land, the debate over the literalness of God’s promises and prophecies should have ended! God put it this way in verse 6, "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."
Dear Lord. Sometimes my bones feel as dry as those in the prophecy. But you are the God of the resurrection! You can refresh me, renew me and revive me! Lord put a heart of flesh in me so that I will be obedient to you. Make me realize from your prophetic word that You are the Lord!
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”-
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 12:20 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Monday, Jul 20, 20097-20 Sheep and Goats
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I don’t get to see Tim & Debbie very often. They are missionaries to Mexico… but when they come through we always have a lot of fun together. Tim spoke on Sunday. I gave him 30 minutes and he took nearly 60! That’s the ole Mexican mentality. Time has little meaning down there. And I guess it was short compared to what he does down there! It was good though. After lunch where their son Caleb taught us some gross noodle tricks, we stopped at our house for a while. There, their son Josiah showed his amazing talents. He can take a penny, wrap it in a fold of skin on his knee and when he lets it go, it shoots out over his foot for a field goal. He showed us a few new sports called “knee-penny football,” and then one called “knee-penny baseball.” I knelt down by his feet while he shot the penny from his knee. After a count of 2 balls, 2 strikes I hit a line drive penny right at Josiah and he caught it for an out! That ended the game. We did have fun with the Blyckers! Keep them in your prayers.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 4; Zechariah 4; Luke 12:1-21
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Matthew 25 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… 41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Sheep are good, goats are bad. Don’t tell my friends Dave & Barb… or Kyle & Marcia. They have goats. Goats eat poison oak and keep the brush down. They like goats. Goats are friendly and pet-able even if they are a bit difficult to corral. Maybe that’s their problem: they are stubborn and overly inquisitive. You don’t want to be a goat! You want to be a sheep. After the Great Tribulation discourse, Jesus told a few parables about readiness and noted that following the Return of Jesus Christ, comes the Sheep and Goat judgment. Whoever is left alive after those terrible seven years must face the “Son of Man” on his throne of glory. This is the judgment of the nations. Some people are “taken” to judgment (goats) others are “left” (sheep - the righteous). Those taken are sent to everlasting fire. Those left get to inherit the kingdom. The Apostle John added some details in Revelation 20 explaining that the kingdom would last 1000 years. This is what we call the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Christ would be reigning on the earth, sitting on the throne of David. He also added that the resurrection of the righteous happens when Christ returns, but the resurrection of the unrighteous to judgment does not occur until the 1000 years expire. Daniel spoke of it (7:13-14) saying that the Son of Man would rule over all the nations. Micah spoke of it (4:1-8) calling it a reign of peace, prosperity and a time when all nations come to Jerusalem to worship. During that time the lion will lie down with the lamb (Isaiah 11:6-9), people’s lives will be extended for hundreds of years (Isaiah 65:20), and the Apostles will reign with Christ (Matthew 19:28) as will we! Once again we are confronted by the eschatological urging to be sure we are “sheep.” Sheep have a great future! The only way to become one is to put faith and trust in Christ alone for your hope of eternal life.
Dear Father. Thank you for your promise of a kingdom of peace! I look forward to the day when all is made right and I am in your presence. I long to worship you and have you transform me into your image. Thanks for the gift of eternal life!
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”-
7-20 Sheep and Goats
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 12:35 PM | MAKE A COMMENT
Saturday, Jul 18, 20097-17 This Generation Will Not Pass
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“I’ve got a question?” Larry met us at the front door as we were leaving music practice. “What happened to the dinosaurs? Do dinosaurs prove evolution? Did God create them? If they were created along with all the other animals why are they extinct today?” Good questions. There are a few instances where dinosaurs are described in detail in the Bible. God did create the dinosaurs; he says so in Gen 1:21. The word for “whale” or “sea monster” could be translated “dragon” or “dinosaur.” The world before the flood was lush and beautiful… after the flood it was barren and inhospitable. The environment changed and dinosaurs did not adjust well. But every culture has its “dragon lore.” Behind the lore was a real dinosaur. There are occasional dinosaur sightings in South America. There is abundant evidence that Dinosaurs and humans lived together. We talked about dating methods, the age of the earth and a lot more! The evidence fits creation much better than it fits evolution.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 3; Zechariah 3; Luke 11:29-54
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
“This generation will by no means pass away until all these things take place.” Oops! I think we found a mistake in the Bible! That generation passed away 2000 years ago and Jesus has not returned! Some people think “this generation” of Matt 24 means that everything in this passage happened within 40 years of Christ’s death. Get real. You’ve got to do some powerful mind bending literary gymnastics to make that work. All these things have not yet taken place. So what does “this generation” refer to? Some people believe that the key is the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree they say is Israel. When the fig tree (Israel) puts forth leaves, there will only be a generation left until Christ returns. So if the leaves equal the reconstitution of Israel as a nation… add 40 years to 1948 and you get 1988! Ouch. That didn’t work. Maybe we should use 1967 when they took back Jerusalem… that would make 2007. Rats, missed again. Maybe a generation is longer than 40 years! How about something a little simpler? When a fig tree puts forth leaves, you know summer is near. When you “see these things” you know the end is near… in fact when you see these things ,those living, “this generation,” will not pass away until all these things take place. What are some of the things we should look for? The emergence of a world leader known as the Antichrist, the signing of a seven year covenant he makes with Israel, The “Beginning of Sorrows,” the “Abomination of Desolation,” and the “Great Tribulation.” When you see these things, you will know that you are near the end! If you are able to identify the signs Jesus mentioned in this passage, you will know that the end is near! But guess what? We are not there yet! We may be close… we’ve seen wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, false Christs… “but the end is not yet!” (Matthew 24:6). Sure there are a lot of exciting developments in the Middle East. I think we are close. But don’t jump the gun! Stay in the starting blocks. The biggies mentioned in this passage are yet to occur.
Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly. I see the end coming. It seems to be in sight. But since that day is at a time undisclosed to me, help me to be faithful right now! I don’t know how far off it is. The ending is written by you, but my life has many pages left to fill. May I fill them with love, devotion and service to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 8:46 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 16, 20097-16 The Second Coming
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Aging is not one of my favorite topics. I look forward to the day I see Jesus, I’m not looking forward to more aches, pains and deterioration. Ed’s voice is not as strong as it used to be. His walk is a bit feeble. His wife stays home more often due to sciatica pain. Ed’s been around a long time, at least by human standards. He remembers some of the good times and bad times of life, and of the church. There were some tough times at Pine Grove before my day. He was telling me his perspective of them. Church conflict is never a pleasant thing. People respond in ways you wouldn’t expect when put under such pressure. Some people just quit altogether… not a good thing, but I’ve met a number of them. Some become defensive and say things you’d never expect from a “godly man” or woman. Others change churches. What does God want us to do? Forgive one another just as God in Christ forgave us!
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 2:26-46; Zechariah 2; Luke 11:1-28
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?". 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The First Coming of Christ: Historical fact. Whatever you think of Jesus, few deny that he is a historical figure. The Second Coming of Christ: Prophetic hope! If Jesus said and did all the things that history records at His first coming, the second coming is a sure thing! What is the sign of his coming? It’s relatively simple. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:5 “many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” He also warned in Matthew 24:23 “if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.” Right now, in Miami there is a man who claims He is Jesus. Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda says he is God. He has a 666 tattooed on his arm. What could be clearer? His brother, Carlos de Jesus Miranda says he is a phony. He is. But how do we know? Very simple. The sign of the real Jesus is that everyone will SEE Him “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” There will be no guess work about this sign. “Look! Up in the sky! Descending on the clouds! It’s Jesus!” Every eye will see Him in every part of the world! Now this is something Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda has never done, “No way Jose!” Even if Jose could manage to do some amazing Star Wars special effects and mimic flying, the return of Christ is preceded by worldwide darkness: the sun, moon and stars flicker out! Just before Jesus comes, as if in dramatic pause, “look ma, no more daylight!” So how do people see Jesus? Because of the brightness of His glory! He doesn’t need sunlight, He produces His own! Here’s how it happens. Heaven will “open” and Jesus will emerge on a white horse. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a blood red robe, and the armies in heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and clean, will be following Him on white horses. On His robe and on His thigh is written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16). To top off this dramatic moment, on that day His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives, and it will be split in half, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south in a great earthquake! A river will spring up and flow from Jerusalem to the east and to the west! (Zechariah 14:4-5) Talk about drama. No need to be deceived. When Jesus returns, you’ll know it!
Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly. I pray that your people would not be deceived. I pray that we would realize that when You return and walk among us, that we will know, without a doubt, that it is You! We do adore you. We do pray that you will come and establish your kingdom. In the meantime, may I be found doing your will.
Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily burdened and I will give you rest.
7-14 The Second Coming
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:02 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 16, 20097-15 The Coming Holocaust
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“So where do your your ideas of God come from?” Brandy and Sonny were back in my office. Brandy, who had trusted Christ two weeks ago peered to the left over her shoulder at Sonny, “Yeah, I’d like to know too!” Sonny didn’t know. He searched for answers but it was a struggle to find them. “I’ve never been to church much,” he said, “I don’t know much about God at all.” I shared one of the main principles of Christianity with the two of them – surrender. Jesus is the Lord. He wants us to acknowledge his right to be in command of our lives. We need to bow before Him and say “Yes Lord, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” “So,” I asked, “Have you asked God to reveal himself to you?” Not really. “Are you willing to surrender your life to Him?” You could see that he was in the middle of a spiritual battle… torn… unsure… still struggling with belief... not ready yet. Pray for Sonny.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 2:1-25; Zechariah 1; Luke 10:25-42
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
I just watched the video short, “A Thousand Questions.” “Why God?” it asks, “Why is there so much suffering here? There is so much pain and suffering and persecution and rape and injustice in all the earth.” According to Jesus, when we reach the end game, life is not going to be better; it is going to get worse! “Then there will be Great Tribulation such as has never been!” The worst of the worst! It will be so bad that attempted suicide will become a staple: men will seek death and not find it! They will want out, but like a recurring nightmare, many will not be able to get out. The epicenter of this tribulation period will be in Judea. Jerusalem will be ground zero, the focus of the explosive tribulation. But make no mistake about it; The Tribulation will come as a snare on the face of the whole earth! (Luke 21:35, Rev 3:10). The book of Revelation, written in @ AD 90 provides a gloomy map of the tribulation period made up of 3 series of 7 tragedies each, or 21 major worldwide traumas. First series: The 7 seal judgments make up the first half of the Tribulation. Second series: When the seventh seal is opened, it consists of seven “trumpet” judgments. Third Series: When the seventh trumpet is blown, a series of terrible tragedies is unleashed including the seven “bowl” or seven last plague judgments. The last bowl concludes this terrible time with the return of Christ. What can the world expect during this time? War, famine, pestilence, persecution, earthquakes, worldwide pollution, starvation, plagues, diseases, a scorched earth, darkness, supernatural oppression and near extinction of everything on the planet. The very thought of a holocaust of evil this bad is nauseating to me. I revolt at the thought and ask for mercy… That is what God intends, you know. He wants us to seek Him. He’s given us this time to do just that. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Seek Him now.
Dear Lord! I am horrified by the end of all days. It is a day of darkness and not light. I cry out to you for mercy. Please bring this nation and this world to seek you. May we realize that if we choose to walk away from you, we will be walking right into the path of the oncoming tribulation. But if we surrender to you, we will find hope.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, To comfort all who mourn,
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 7:53 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Wednesday, Jul 15, 20097-14 The Beginning of Sorrows
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“At the same time, we must also remember that no amount of success at work can compensate for failure at home.” Grab the book nearest you. Turn to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post it to Facebook… that’s a trivial request my Niece Elizabeth made on Facebook. Why not? And the quote? It is from the book “Ten Secrets for the Man in the Mirror” by Patrick Morley. Work definitely keeps us busy, but we need to be balanced. Life is much better when our work life is rewarding and our home life is harmonious and satisfying. I love to come home do you? My dear wife is always there for me. Love it. Now my home life is not perfect, but we’re working on it. How about you?
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 1:28-52; Haggai 2; Luke 10:1-24
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24: 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“The Beginning of Sorrows…” it sounds like the name of a tragic movie. Life is going ordinarily well until one morning the star of our movie wakes up to sobering news on the radio: There’s been a string of tragedies during the night and the world is in chaos. He turns over and his wife is gone, vanished into the night. He makes a few frantic phone calls only to get a busy signal. Panic-stricken, he lurches outside to search for her. Even on his quiet middle class neighborhood street, traffic is snarled due to a series of car accidents. A home down the way is on fire. Sirens are everywhere. Marshal Law has been declared. The stock market takes the biggest plunge ever. The world is in chaos… and this is just the beginning of sorrows! It gets worse from here on! Jesus mentioned several catastrophic events that will occur during the “beginning of sorrows” each seemingly worse than the last. They have many similarities to the six seal judgments of Revelation 6. 1st Seal = White Horse -false Christs (Matthew 24:5). 2nd Seal = Red Horse – wars (24:6). 3rd Seal = Black Horse – Famine (24:7). 4th Seal = Pale Horse – death & destruction (24:7). 5th Seal – Persecution of Saints (24:9). 6th Seal - Global Chaos (24:12). These events take up the first three and one half years of Daniel’s 70th Week. Why do we say that? Daniel tells us that at the beginning of the Week, the Antichrist will make a seven year covenant with the nation of Israel, but in the middle of the Week, he will break the covenant and set up the abomination of desolation in the Temple (Daniel 9:27). Jesus quoted Daniel in Matthew 15 and noted, when it happens, “then there will be Great Tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (24:20). What’s the worse tribulation the world has ever seen? Masada? The Holocaust? The Killing Fields? This will be worse than anything you’ve ever seen. That’s why we say “The Beginning of Sorrows” = 3 & ½ years and “The Great Tribulation” = 3 & ½ years. Judgment day is coming. This old earth will face it’s most serious challenges ever before Christ returns.
Dear Father. Shelter us in The Rock. We don’t know when these things will happen, and honestly we don’t want them to shake our personal world. So help us be prepared by living for you and by sharing the good news that Jesus saves and delivers. Everyone needs to hear the message. May I be a channel of hope.
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 8:00 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Monday, Jul 13, 20097-13 The Sign of The End
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Now you just need to keep praying! Friday I wrote an open letter to our Time with God family and to the people of the church. The responses were overwhelming! Thanks for standing with me in prayer. I want to share a few of the responses. “I have been soooo dry spiritually over the last 6 months… I sent our Pastor a letter on Tuesday asking him to pray for me that I would want to do what God's will is...and that I would hunger and thirst for righteousness and yearn to be in the Word. Please keep us in your prayers.” Susan “I think it is awesome that without ever meeting you face to face we can share concerns and encouragements at such spiritual depths because of the Holy Spirit living within us… Even if you have only reached me, you have done and are doing a wonderful work, thank you. Don't stop! So steady on my man. You have my love and prayers and whatever else I can offer.” Greg “We need all the prayer we can get right now. Yes! We need God to work among us and bring back America to himself. I know "I" need more motivation, dedication and enthusiasm......how is such manufactured? The Lord work upon both of us to make us more like Jesus.” Daniel. God bless you and thanks for praying.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 1:1-27; Haggai 1; Luke 9:30-62
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Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24: 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
What will be the sign of His coming and the end of the age? Matthew 24 is similar to Luke 21, but Luke takes a significant detour in that it contains prophecy for the times in which we live. “Before all these things happen” #1 there will be persecution and tribulation and #2 Jerusalem will be destroyed and trampled until the times of the Gentiles is complete. Matthew skips the comments on our day and instead goes right to the end of the age. He divides Daniels 70th week into two sections. The first we call “The Beginning of Sorrows,” or the beginning of birth pangs. These labor pains are characterized by false Christ’s, Wars and rumors of wars, Famine, pestilence and earthquakes. But the end is NOT YET. The second half of Daniel’s 70th week is called “The Great Tribulation.” The time of Great Tribulation begins with Daniel’s “Abomination of Desolation” (Mt 24:15). The "Abomination of Desolation" is rooted in a historical event. It happened when Antiochus' placed an idol to Zeus in the Holy of Holies. It is referred to four times in Daniel. But Jesus indicates that this desecration will happen again in the future. It is when the Antichrist sets up an image of himself in the temple and insists that the world worship him. These are the clear and unmistakable signs of the end of the age. The Great Tribulation is followed by “The Sign of His Coming” (Matthew 24:29-30). The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the heavens will be shaken and the sign… the sign of his coming is that you will SEE Him “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” The generation that sees the beginning of sorrows will also see Him coming in the clouds. Look up; your redemption is drawing near.
Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly. The future is clouded with sorrow and tribulation. We don’t know when all these things will come to pass, but we know that they will because You are in control. History will culminate in a kingdom of peace. We await that with great anticipation. Please wake us up spiritually.
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in the LORD, is everlasting strength
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:41 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 09, 20097-9 The Times of the Gentiles
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“Are you involved in the fourth of July celebration in Glide?” It was my long time Health Insurance Agent, John, on the phone. I wasn’t sure where this was going. Was there an insurance problem with it? Maybe he was going to tell me that there was a lawsuit pending. Nah! It seemed odd to get a phone call from John of all people, about it. “We have helped some in the past, but I am not on the planning committee.” “Why not?” That was blunt! “If you do decide to get involved I will make a donation to help support it!” How funny that I should be thinking negative when God is moving in the positive! How exciting to think that the work the churches in Glide have done has made such an impression. “I love what the churches are doing up there! I want to do something to express my appreciation!” God is good.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 24; Zephaniah 3; Luke 9:1-29
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Luke 21:12 "But before all these things… 20 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The times of the Gentiles… what is it? There are numerous ideas. “It’s the church age” say some. “It’s the time up until 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem” say others. There are more thoughts on the subject… “The times of the Gentiles ended June of 1967 when the Jews took control of the Temple Mount.” And more… “they ended in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration mandating a new nation for the Jews in the Holy land.” Jesus statement is helpful. The Times of the Gentiles will be characterized by the trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles. The idea of trampling is “desecration, insult, contempt… to crush with the feet.” It is the picture of conquest. In the BC days when kings conquered a country, they would place their feet on the necks of the enemy kings in a symbolic display of superiority and conquest. The idea is that Jerusalem will be under foreign rule during the times of the Gentiles. The book of Daniel is a chronicle of the Times of the Gentiles. Daniel 7 prophesied four worldwide kingdoms ruling Jerusalem comprising the times of the Gentiles. These successive Gentile powers are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Think back… When David became king he was promised that one of his descendents would sit on the throne of Israel perpetually. That unbroken chain continued through the Kings of Judah. They along with the northern kings reigned sovereignty over the nation. But that all came to an end. No longer do we have a King in Israel! The times of the Gentiles began after the Northern Kingdom was sent into exile into Assyria and after the Southern Kingdom, Judah was sent into exile, by God, to Babylon for their sinfulness. At that time Jerusalem came under Gentile rule. Only for short periods of time has it ever been back under Jewish rule… only to be trampled once again by the Gentiles. The last Gentile dominion is described in Revelation 11:2 “…but exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.” That is describing the coming Great Tribulation! Once again in the future the Antichrist will trample the holy city. The times of the Gentiles will only end when Christ takes up the rightful throne of David and sets up a worldwide, eternal kingdom of peace.
Dear Lord Jesus. We await your Kingdom of Peace with hope and anticipation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Until then, as we deal with our world rulers, may you grant them wisdom and may they honor you. We ask that you will grant us peace that we may share the good news of the gospel with all men.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:08 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Wednesday, Jul 08, 20097-8 Jesus Predicts, History Records
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“Can I come talk to you?” It was Cheryl (not her real name). We made an appointment. Cheryl came to know Christ as Savior at Pine Grove several years ago. She was one of those bright stars that sprung up quickly… but the troubles of the world choked her joy. She was addicted to gambling. It wiped out their savings. For years she has been on the edge of losing her home and her marriage. “I’ve quit gambling!” She said. God orchestrated a set of circumstances that ended her gambling spree! Seven Feathers regularly gave her complimentary hotel rooms and meals to entice her to gamble. She wanted to do something special for her dying friend, so for the first time ever, she asked them for a free meal for him. They refused. Suddenly she realized that they didn’t care about her, just her money! “That was it” she said. Now pray that Cheryl will remain free!
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 23; Zephaniah 2; Luke 8:26-56
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Luke 21:12 "But before all these things… 20 when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 "And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Jesus predicts that Jerusalem will be destroyed! Remember the key phrase… before all these things? That means the desolation of Jerusalem will occur before the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is yet to come, the destruction of Jerusalem occurred in AD 70 after years of conflict. The early Christians took the prophecy in Luke to heart. Historians tell us that in AD 66, Roman military commanded by Cestius Gallus came to Jerusalem to put down a Jewish rebellion. After surrounding the city they began their siege. Then, for no apparent reason Cestius withdrew his troops and left the area. It was then that the Christians made their escape. They fled to a place in the mountains 60 miles away called Pella, so that when Titus, another Roman general came several months later, there was not a Christian in the city! Under General Titus, over one million Jews were killed in the siege. Another ninety thousand were taken captive and sold as slaves. This resulted in the dispersion of the Jews into all the nations of the world. Up until this time Christianity was still “in the fold of Judaism.” The Jews were suspicious of Christians and considered them an aberration, but they grudgingly thought of them as an offshoot of Judaism. Relations were never good, but when the Christians abandoned the Holy City, the Jews never forgave them. This is the breaking point between Christianity and Judaism. The Jews were angry at the Christians for leaving, the Christians pointed to the destruction of Jerusalem as the vengeance of God for rejecting the Messiah, just as Jesus had said. In Luke 19:43-44 Jesus cried out, “the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." Everything was fulfilled just as Jesus said it would be!
Dear Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The nation has been destroyed and dispersed into every country in the world, yet you brought them back. May they come to know their Messiah and may the day come soon when they and the world are at peace.
“Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:34 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Tuesday, Jul 07, 20097-7 I Predict
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How did you celebrate Independence Day? I did it at Whistlers Bend Camp with the grandkids. Dakota and Josiah played about seven holes of Frisbee golf with me. That was a blast. The game went along well enough as long as we were under the trees. But after we got out in the 90 + degree sunshine… it was all over. We couldn’t get down to the river fast enough! Then I dangled my feet in the North Umpqua River while Esther swam and Isaiah and I threw rocks into the water. Evie and Grandma were just interested in tanning. When we were done swimming I took the boys up and we played a few games of horseshoes. Dakota and Josiah played “half court” and did very well! Both threw a few ringers. To cap the night off, all 4 of them piled into the tent trailer and spent the night with us. What a great day.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 22:26-51; Zephaniah 1; Luke 8:1-25
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com
Today’s thought comes from Luke 21:12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 "But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 "But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 "By your patience possess your souls.
A prophecy for today: What is going to happen “before the end comes?” Do you really want to know? It seems like every time a prophet opens his mouth bad things happen, and this is no exception. In the world you will have tribulation! An oft overused complaint against the rapture is that “all you folks want is a way out of trouble.” Sorry Charlie, according to Luke 21, that’s not in the cards. There’s going to be trouble before the day of trouble. I predict (actually not me, but the Bible – I said that just for dramatic effect) that before Jesus comes back for His church Christians all around the world will face severe persecution. Christians will be arrested, brought to trial and sentenced to prison. In some places it will be so bad that even family and “friends” will betray us and lie about us. We will be hated and treated as the scourge of the earth. We will be mistreated and persecuted and some will be put to death. That prophecy is coming true. Surf on over to www.persecution.org and you can keep up on the violence and hatred directed at Christians around the world! It’s bad out there and getting worse! But this prophecy of Jesus also gives us the way to deal with the coming persecution. Here’s how. #1 Recognize that it is for “My name’s sake.” Persecution may seem senseless and devoid of meaning, but it really has a purpose in the grand scheme of things. Eternal values are the most important and persecution is a way the message of hope because of the death of Jesus can be proclaimed. Do it for Jesus. #2 Use persecution as “an occasion for testimony.” Blessed are you when men persecute you, rejoice and be glad! For this is how they treated the prophets.” Settle it in your heart now that you will share your faith before judges, governors and mobs alike. And don’t worry about what you will say, just let the Spirit lead. Share your testimony. You never know who it might reach. #3 Calm yourself. By “patience possess your soul.” Realize that God is in control and that no matter what pain you may face, “not a hair of your head will be lost.” Even if they take your life, you will be a whole person in heaven. God’s going to take care of you. Believe it. This is what we can expect. This is how we should respond. Are you ready?
Dear Omnipotent Lord. I know that you are in control. As I look at life through my eyes, from my point of view, I often think that life is all about me; my comfort, my job, my life. But I know that it is much more than that. Life is all about You. My life is meant to be lived for you. When difficulty or persecution strikes, help me to realize that even that is part of your plan to shine the spotlight on Your son so that people turn to you. Help me to realize that eternal values are more important than temporal values.
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”-
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:42 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Jul 03, 20097-3 Don’t be Fooled
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“How do you answer someone who says the God of the Old Testament is an angry, judging, warlike God, and the God of the New Testament is a God of love?” (Two different gods?) My office is wherever I find myself, and today it was sitting on a short block wall, under the pine trees overlooking the amphitheater. I could hear the peaceful trickle of Deer Creek below. Al has a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. He visits our local jails a few times a week. He is sharp! But Al likes to make sure that he has solid answers. He often discusses difficult issues with me. One of the overlooked facts of the Old Testament is that God often waited hundreds of years before finally saying enough is enough. In fact, the Old Testament is a testament to God’s mercy! The LORD sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them often, because He had compassion on them. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until there was no remedy. 2 Chron 36:15
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 22:1-25; Habakkuk 3; Luke 7:29-49
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from Luke 21:7 “So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" 8 And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.
Do not be deceived. That is probably one of the most important prophetic cautions ever given! Don’t be fooled! How many so called prophets and date setters have made sensational claims only to disappoint their followers! …Dozens, perhaps hundreds. Jesus said, “Many!” So how do we avoid the pitfalls of prophecy? #1 The first way is to “Take heed” to Jesus words. Pay very close attention to them. #2 The second way is “don’t go after them…” that is, don’t follow the latest prophetic fads… don’t go after the “many who deceive.” Instead see #1! Heed Jesus Words. Our prophetic journey is going to look at Jesus prophetic statements in Luke 21, Matthew 24 and Mark 13 so that we can avoid prophetic deception. Matthew and Mark are similar in content, but Luke includes some unique content. We’ll begin in Luke. All three books include parallel questions from the disciples: First question: “When will these things be (the destruction of Jerusalem)?” Second Question: (Mark & Luke) “What will be the sign this is about to take place?” Third Question (Matthew only) “What will be the sign of your coming?” Matthew and Mark both talk about the beginning of sorrows, the abomination of desolation and the Great Tribulation; Events that happen in the 70th week of Daniel. But Luke takes us down a different path. He begins to talk about the 70th week, but in verse 12 he pauses and makes a very significant statement, “But BEFORE all these things…” Hey we had better pay attention to the book of Luke if we want to know what’s going to happen during our day, before the final prophetic chapter is written! What are these predictions that will happen BEFORE the 70th week? The first has to do with the general conditions of our age, and the second is an important prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews. Are you ready for Jesus prophetic message for our day? Read Luke 21. Get ready for it! You could be in for the ride of your life!
Dear Father, I pray for wisdom and understanding that I might see your prophetic word clearly. I do not wish to be deceived. Let me see in your word only what you meant to say and avoid seeing things that are not there. Give me 20/20 understanding of your Word.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”-
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:08 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Thursday, Jul 02, 20097-2 The Third Temple
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“There is no end of projects around here!” Bill looked a little tired. He’s not getting any younger and he works hard! He’s always doing something for his children or for the Lord (maybe they are the same thing!). We walked around the church property looking at all the things that need to be done. A new shed for the sound equipment, Stairs leading down to the creek, the need to shore up the creek bank before winter waters erode it away, a new fence on the back of the property, the amphitheater stairs, sprinklers, block work, the roof between our two buildings… and on, and on, and on. “I can’t do them all! I need some help!” He’s right. If the Lord has moved you to help us out… we need it! Join the party.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 21; Habakkuk 2; Luke 7
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from Daniel 9:26 “And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
Desolations are determined! In the years following the death of Christ the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple. The Romans are “the people” mentioned in verse 26. From the Roman Empire, a “prince” is yet to come. Note the chronology well… it is AFTER the destruction of city and its temple that he makes a covenant that is meant to last for 1 week of Sabbath years (7 years). “THEN (that is after the temple is destroyed) he shall confirm a covenant… for one week.” But wait! It gets confusing because in the middle of the week he puts an end to the sacrifices at the temple! I thought the temple had been destroyed! Now you see it, now you don’t! First there is no temple, then there is! As of yet, since the people of the prince destroyed the city, no new temple has of yet appeared! We reason from this that a temple is yet to be built in the future! We also reason that the Jews will once again offer sacrifices at that temple. The book of Revelation indicates that as well. Jesus also spoke of the Abomination of desolation at the temple in Matthew 24. He tagged it to happen as “one of the signs of the end of the age” 24:3 & 15. He called it the time of “the Great Tribulation.” Jesus said that “immediately after the tribulation of those days… the Son of Man will appear” (Mt 24:29-30). The last week of Daniel has not yet occurred. There is yet a future 7 year prophetic period awaiting fulfillment on the nation of Israel. So what is this Abomination of Desolation? In Deut 27:15 God calls an idol “an abomination.” In Daniel 11:31 the army of the Gentiles A) put an end to the sacrifices and B) installed, in their place, the abomination of desolation. Paul indicated that the coming Antichrist will set “himself up in the temple as God!” 2 Thess 2:4. And in the book of Revelation 13:14-15 an “image of the Beast” was set up so that all the world would worship it. The Beast or the Antichrist is that prince who is yet to come! The book of Revelation was written 20 years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple! John, who wrote the book even restated the same interval during which the sacrifices would cease! 3&1/2 years Daniel 12:11 & Revelation 11:1-3. 69 weeks have been fulfilled to the day, exactly as Daniel prophesied in the past. There is yet 1 week to be fulfilled literally as Daniel prophesied… and it is yet to come.
Dear Lord. I look to the past and you are the mastermind who knows all things and brings all things to fulfillment as you have planned. I look to the future and I know that one day everything you promised will come true. I look to the present, and I know that right now I need to live my life for you in every way! Make it so!
I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:04 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Wednesday, Jul 01, 20097-1 Wars of Desolation
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“I’m a good person.” The answer came snappily… no hesitation at all. “Me too,” said Brandy. Brandy had just finished telling me why she deserved to go to heaven, so I asked them both if they thought they were “good people.” “So, have you ever told a lie?” Their eyes grew large as both nodded “yes.” “And that makes you a…” “Sinner?” said Brandy, but Sonny chimed in, “Liar!” “Have you ever taken something that isn’t yours?” Dismay was evident on both faces. The hard reality of sin was just beginning to sink in. Both nodded “yes” with a little less enthusiasm. “And that makes you a…” “Sinner!” Mimicked Sonny. His sense of humor was showing. He had an evil grin on his face. “Thief,” deadpanned Brandy. “So, then, you’re both lying thieves?” “I don’t’ like this ‘good person test’ at all!” Pouted Brandy with a little smile curving from her mouth. “I don’t know if I want to play anymore!” Now for the tough question. “Have you ever committed adultery? You know sex outside of marriage.” Sonny leaned back sharply, eyes focusing on the ceiling. Brandy began to curl up into the fetal position. “OK! I get the message! I’m not as good a person as I thought I was!” So if God were to judge you based on your answers would you be guilty or innocent? In the next few minutes I’d share the good news that Jesus paid for those sins and that he offers heaven as a free gift. Brandy was eager to trust Christ! Good news! Pray for both of them.
Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 20; Habakkuk 1; Luke 6:27-49
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from Daniel 9:26 “And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
You’ve followed me for 69 weeks (in just a few days), now we have just one week left to go before the 70th prophetic week is up. One prophetic week of Sabbaths = seven years. Jesus died in AD 32. Add seven years and you get AD 39. But the “people of the prince to come” didn’t destroy the city until AD 70! We have a time loss of thirty years! What went wrong with the timeline? It got interrupted! There are two phrases in Daniel 9 that hint at this. #1 (first hint) “AFTER the sixty-nine weeks Messiah shall be cut off…” The Messiah was cut off “outside” of the 70 weeks. The Timeline has been interrupted. Now this statement in and of itself does not conclusively demand an interruption until we couple it with the second hint. #2 The prince WHO IS TO COME “shall confirm a confirm a covenant… for one week.” The Messiah was cut off after the sixty-ninth week but before the covenant which began the 70th week. The city of Jerusalem was also destroyed outside of the 70 weeks. In response to a Jewish rebellion that had begun in AD 66, The Roman General Titus took the city of Jerusalem by storm in the year 70 AD. His soldiers were so incensed that instead of taking the temple and plundering its treasures, they burned it to the ground with the remaining priests and people inside! The fire was so intense that it melted the precious metals the temple was made of. It happened so fast that Titus was unable to restrain his soldiers, thus fulfilling the statement “The end of it shall be as a flood.” But wars continued to burn in the holy land for years… and as Daniel noted “desolations are determined.” In 115-117 AD the Romans ruthlessly put down a Jewish rebellion in the Kitos war. Again in AD 132-136 there was a great slaughter of Jews and Romans in the Bar Kokhba revolt. Emperor Hadrian was furious with the Jews. At the former Temple sanctuary, he installed two statues, one of Jupiter, another of himself. In an attempt to erase any memory of Judea or Ancient Israel, he wiped the name off the map and replaced it with Syria Palaestina, after the Philistines, the ancient enemies of the Jews. In the year 351, the Jews launched yet another revolt, provoking heavy retribution. They rebelled again in 614 and the desolations continued as prophesied by Daniel. And yet, there is one week of Sabbath years left to be prophetically fulfilled for the nation of Israel.
Dear Father. I see that not heeding your prophetic Word can lead to serious desolation. Please help me to listen and obey. I also see that your prophetic Word is fulfilled in its most intimate details. Help me to be a student of your Word so that I will see what You see.
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship
Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:14 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
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