Time With God

7-3 Don’t be Fooled

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:08:00 +0800

“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,”-

7-2 The Third Temple

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:04:00 +0800

“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

7-1 Wars of Desolation

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:14:00 +0800

“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

6-30 Timeline Interrupted

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:00 +0800

Is your cup half empty or half full? Do you just see black clouds, or do you see the silver lining? Ok, this is really a question for yours truly… ME! Yesterday I struggled to see things from the positive side. Why? First of all, over the weekend, I had two checks bouncing around out of state and it seemed like I could do nothing about it. Like a lot of people, my finances have been tight and my Health Savings Account is no exception. I caught wind of it Friday in an email. I called on Saturday. There was nothing they could do on the weekend. By Monday morning I had accrued almost $100 in charges because they just kept sending the same two checks back through… boing, boing, boing! If one bounce is good, let’s send them back two or three times! Hello! Here’s the bright side. I didn’t even have to ask them to reverse the charges! They volunteered! And then as a bonus threw in an EXTRA 10 bucks! Like when does that happen! …but bad moods are hard to shake. It took me until almost noon to leave the house! And then my trailer got a flat tire! Great! Now I’m grumpy! The silver lining? I have two spare tires. God is good. No need to let circumstances ruin your day. He’s taking care of me! Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 19:23-43; Nahum 3; Luke 6:1-26 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 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people… 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; 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. I hope you did your best to follow my math class yesterday. It is one of the coolest prophecies ever! Let me review this amazing prophecy in simplified form. A) The first 7 weeks (49 years) – Jerusalem will be rebuilt in troublesome times. B) Add 62 more weeks (total of 483 years) – to Messiah “The Prince” at the triumphal entry. After he presents himself as Prince he will be “cut off” or killed, but “not for himself!” He died for our sins. This is really awesome stuff! C) AFTER Messiah is cut of then the people of the “Prince that is to come” shall destroy Jerusalem. That happened in AD 70 when General Titus took Jerusalem. Remember Jesus piercing cry as he looked down upon Jerusalem? While his supporters shouted “Hosanna in the highest” he saw the city and wept over it. Jesus cried out, oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For 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." (Luke 19:42-44) Jesus knew Daniel! He was simply expressing Daniel’s prophecy in expanded form. Because He, the Messiah was rejected and cut off, the rest of the prophecy came into play. The people of “the prince to come” were going to leave the city desolate and the nation again would be scattered to the four winds until God brought them back into the land in fulfillment of yet another prophecy. D) Now get this! The prophetic timeline for Israel was interrupted when they rejected their Prince at the Triumphal entry. The things that happened after that are OUTSIDE the days planned for Israel. They occurred during the prophetic period we call “The Times of the Gentiles!” Once they rejected their Prince, God “set them aside” for a time! Tomorrow we will look at the last week of prophecy for God’s earthly chosen people. Dear Messiah, my Savior and Lord. Thank you for being “cut off” for my sins and for the sins of the world. Help me to understand the time of my visitation, that now is the time for me to tune in my heart to you! Help me to always embrace you and your plan for me. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

6-29 The Messiah Will Be Cut Off

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:40:00 +0800

Update on Esther! She is doing great! The swelling and redness are gone! Thanks to those of you who prayed! What’s the best kept secret of Douglas County? I’ll give you a few hints: The grass is as green as the day is long! Beautiful carpeted lawn. Hundreds of flowers are blooming in reds, yellows and a cacophony of colors. A dozen tall stately pine trees surround the place like sentinels, while another dozen maples stretch out their leafy branches to cover the hidden garden with their shade. Above, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. A dragonfly of a color and beauty I can’t describe lazily hovers across the lawn for all of us to admire. Behind is the quiet cascade of Deer Creek running endlessly past. The sound of beautiful music and blended voices just seems appropriate for this setting. It’s Sunday at the Pine Grove Amphitheater and if you’ve ever been there, you know what I mean, and you love to be there! This is the best kept secret of Douglas County! Thank God for its beauty. For a look go to www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 19:1-22; Nahum 2; Luke5:20-39 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 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people… 25 "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. 26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; 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. I dare you to predict a significant earth shaking event that will occur exactly 483 years in the future. The good news is, if your predictions are that far into the future you won’t be around to face the music when they don’t come true. How can any one of us nearsighted little humans think that we could possibly know the shape of things to come! 483 years ago would have been the year 1526. By now Christopher Columbus has been dead for 20 years! The conquistadors are landing with alarming regularity on the Americas. William Tyndale has just begun to print “The Tyndale Bible” in English with the help of Martin Luther. The crossbow is in production and the production of firearms are still 25 years in the future. How could any person in 1526 predict the rise to world power of the United States of America? It was an inhospitable wilderness inhabited by hostile “savages.” Who, in 1526 would have predicted the automobile, air travel, space travel, the internet, or the host of other amazing changes that have occurred in the last 100 years alone! God dared to do so. The Almighty named the exact year when Christ would die 483 years before it happened! Let’s do the math, and I hope you like math because this can be confusing! 62 weeks (or sevens) plus 7 weeks = 69 weeks. That equals 483 “Sabbath years” of sevens. Jewish calendars used a 360-day year, so our total is 173,880 days (rather than years). When do the 173,880 days start? The “command to rebuild Jerusalem” was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 B.C. In the first 7 weeks, 49 years Jerusalem was rebuilt! Even despite the opposition of Sanballat and Tobiah, Ezra and Nehemiah saw the fulfillment of that portion of the prophecy. Exactly 173,880 days later on April 6, 32 AD Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey proclaiming himself as “Messiah the Prince!” Immediately after those 69 weeks he would be crucified. How could Daniel have known this in advance? How could anyone have contrived this detailed prediction over three centuries before? This stunning prophecy, correct to the very day, is one of the most amazing proofs of the almighty power of God in Scriptures. Dear All Powerful Lord. Once again I am reminded that you know all things! You scripted them out so perfectly. You have all things under control. They may not seem so to my perceptions, but to you, all things work together for your glory! I will trust in you. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” 6-29 The Messiah Will Be Cut Off

6-26 Seventy Weeks!

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:56:00 +0800

“What do you think it is?” Ken and I peered deeply into granddaughter Esther’s face. It was red all right, and swollen. Just let Dr. Dennis look! He’ll tell you! “I’m not sure. It could be poison oak, but then again, it doesn’t exactly look like it. I just don’t know.” Esther’s normally light completion was now a soft color of red… all over her face! Her cheeks were beginning to puff up like the cheeks of a little chipmunk. Esther was embarrassed and didn’t want anyone looking. When she went to the doctor, she tried to hide her face, and she cried. Poor little thing! It turns out that it is an allergic reaction, perhaps to make up or something. Ken even sent us a “phone to phone” picture mail after the doctor appointment. Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 18; Nahum 1; Luke5:1-19 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 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. By far one of the most amazing prophecies in all of Scriptures is the prophecy of the “70 weeks” given to Daniel. Daniel had been studying the books of the Old Testament. It was there he came across Jeremiah’s prophecy that the nation would be in captivity for 70 years in Babylon. 65 of those 70 years had already past! Daniel was a very old man by now, probably in his nineties! When Daniel “understood” the prophecy, and calculated the time remaining he set his face to seek God with fasting and prayer. While he was praying, the angel Gabriel came to him to give him a stunning new prophecy. It was the prophecy of the “70 weeks” or more literally seventy sevens. Here’s how the math works out. Judah went into captivity due to the fact that for some 490 years they did not observe the “Sabbath land law.” The law was that for one year of every 7 they must leave the land fallow… no plowing and no reaping. Out of greed and disobedience they failed to do that. Because of that, and because of the wickedness of the nation, the curses of Deuteronomy 28 came upon them. For every missed Sabbath year, they spent one year in captivity. 490 years divided by 7 = 70 years of captivity. But now Gabriel was turning the tables on the nation. Those 70 years would be reversed and returned to them! Thus 70 x 7 = 490 years. “Seventy weeks of Sabbaths are determined for your people and for your holy city!” Note well that this prophecy is aimed specifically at the nation of Israel. The nation had 490 years of prophetic history to fulfill! These 70 weeks were decreed by God to accomplish six purposes. 1. To finish the transgression, 2. To make an end of sins, 3. To make reconciliation for iniquity, 4. To bring in everlasting righteousness, 5. To seal up vision and prophecy, and 6. And to anoint the Most Holy. The first three relate to the work of Christ on the cross, and the second three relate to the return of Christ to set up His kingdom. In His first Coming, at the cross (483 years into the prophecy) Christ would die, pay for our transgressions… the finished work of the cross and reconcile us to God. That leaves one week, or 7 years to fulfill the last three at His second coming… to usher in his kingdom of righteousness, to put his finishing touches on prophecy and to come as the anointed King, bringing the very presence of God into the midst of mankind! Even so, Lord Jesus come! Dear Lord Jesus, even so, come quickly. Thank you for your first coming where you paid for my sins, completely! I look forward to your second coming when you inaugurate your reign of righteousness! As you have fulfilled prophecy in the past, I expect it to be fulfilled in the future! Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal

6-25 When it’s too late.

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:57:00 +0800

“So do you think your life would be better or worse if God were the center of your life?” It was a question neither one of them had contemplated! He rubbed his chin while her eyes tracked to the side reaching deeply for the answer. The questions only got tougher! “If God were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven,’ what would you answer?” She didn’t know at first. He said that he always believed, that he’d tried to live a good life and that he’d done his best… she agreed. The greatest news EVER is that heaven is a free gift! “The gift of God is eternal life!” I gave them the “good person test” based on the 10 commandments, and like everyone else on the planet they failed, because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Another uncomfortable question: “If God were to judge you based on the 10 commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?” Guilty as charged… do not pass go, do not go to heaven! The good news is that Jesus, God’s son, died in our place for our sin and he offers us heaven as a free gift, if we will trust Him. It’s like saying “I do.” Just like that, he was ready…, but she was apprehensive; “I’m afraid.” She said. We prayed and He made the decision to trust Christ, and God is still working in her life! Pray for both of them. Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 17; Micah 7; Luke 4:29-44 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 25 4 "the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 "They said, ‘Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers forever and ever… 7 "Yet you have not listened to Me," says the LORD, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, 9 ‘behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land… 11 ‘And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Jewish Rabbinical literature suggests that king Nebuchadnezzar was a descendent of the Queen of Sheba in her marriage to King Solomon! It also suggests that the exiles, on their way to Babylon were not allowed to stop even for a moment, as the king feared that they would pray during the respite granted them and that God would be willing to help them as soon as they repented. Whether either is true or not, they bring an interesting twist to the story. Jeremiah 25 is a further development of the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28. God had sent prophet after prophet with messages of warning about the curses waiting them, but the people refused to listen. 2Ch 36:16 comments, “But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.” “The weeping prophet,” Jeremiah lived through this terrible siege. He warned the nation that it was too late! There was no remedy! The nation was going into captivity! The Babylonians easily crossed the city walls with the help of defensive towers. The defenders of the city were unable able to cope with this advanced technique, Metal military equipment, catapults, and the well planned tactic of attack. In 587 BC the nation was taken into exile. Jeremiah was not one of the exiles. He was allowed to stay in the land. Tradition says that his own people killed him because of his dismal prophecies. One of the most stunning prophecies he made was that the nation would only be in exile for 70 years, one year for every Sabbath year they had failed to observe. The Sabbath years occurred every 7 years, during which the land was supposed to remain fallow. When the land had observed all it’s Sabbaths, then the people would return. History tells us that Ezra and Nehemiah led the people back to the land exactly as Jeremiah had predicted 70 years later. What else would you expect? Dear Father, I am amazed that what you say always comes true. I should not be amazed, but I am. Help me to trust you for the Scriptures yet unfulfilled as I trust you for those that have already been fulfilled. It is clear that you are have the master plan. Thank you for loving me. The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”

6-24 The Blessings and Cursings

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:14:00 +0800

“I’m an evolutionist,” Erik said sincerely. Erik is in his first year in college. “So, have you ever considered the case for creation?” He hadn’t. He’d been taught evolution in school, never heard anything different at home, so that’s what he believed. I asked him a few penetrating, yet simple questions: “So can you explain how life can come from something non-living?” He couldn’t. Despite the impossibility, the believers keep believing. “Can you tell me how a big explosion (bang) can create harmony and order?” He didn’t know, but that didn’t seem to faze him. “Can you tell me how a toxic puddle could give birth to the first living thing?” His answer? “Those questions are not in my field of expertise!” At the most basic, simplest level Evolution fails simple scientific tests, yet the believers keep believing. Pray that we will gain some independent thinking skills! Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 16; Micah 6; Luke 4:1-28 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Deuteronomy 28 " 1 "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God… 15 "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: What is one “proof” that God exists? Joaquin Miller wrote as if in answer… “Who gave your very God to you? Your Jew! Your Jew! Your hated Jew!” One of the most amazing stories of prophecy and history is the dispersion and return of the Jews to the Holy Land. The blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 28 are crucial to our understanding of the prophetic future. There are about a dozen blessings promised to the nation and about three times as many cursings in that chapter. If Israel obeyed the voice of the Lord and followed His commandments they were promised that they would be blessed above every nation of the world! All their foes would be defeated, they would have abundance and plenty of goods, they would be the head, and not the tail… if they would obey the commandments of the Lord. But we know what happened! They have not… so the curses have overtaken them time and time again. They have become troublesome to the kingdoms of the earth, and many nations have ruthlessly ruled over them (36). Their sons and daughters have gone into captivity (41). They have been scattered among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other (64). All these cursings were for a sign and a wonder to all who would come after them of what happens to those who do not serve the Lord (46). Solomon restated many of those blessings and cursings in his prayer in 2 Chronicles 6 & 7. He asked that if the people were taken captive in a foreign land, and if they prayed and sincerely turned to God with all their heart, then God would hear and forgive and return them to the land (2 Chron 6:25&37). He concluded his prayer with that well known phrase; “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (7:14). This early prophecy would become an important pattern for understanding the future. The nation would go into captivity. They would be scattered throughout the earth… but God is not finished with them yet. He continues to bring them back to the land to fulfill His word. Dear Lord Jesus. I love reading about the blessings, but pray that the cursings would pass me by. I pray that I would learn from the nation Israel how foolish it is to live a life independent of you and your plan. I want your plan for my life to be my plan! Thank you for the promise of a life lived to the full. "Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

6-19-09 Time With God

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:17:00 +0800

Today is June 19, this is Time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis who will be back before the mike on Monday - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Time With God is a complete turn of events; it is a 180 degree turn around. God is changing us and turning us around as a community. This is not business as usual, this is life transforming, this is spiritual, this is essential. Today’s quote is from Paul E. Billheimer: “From heaven’s standpoint, all spiritual victories are won not primarily in the pulpit, not primarily in the Klieg light of publicity, nor yet through the ostentatious blaring of trumpets, but in the secret place of prayer” Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 14; Micah 4; Luke 2 verses 21-end To Listen to Today’s Reading at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Thanks for joining me in this life transforming journey. This is one step forward daily in your relationship with God Prayer: "Ah, LORD, I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep and the floods surrounded me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ For You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple. I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." We are a wired church! www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Surf on over to our “sound teaching” page and you can listen in on any service of the church. Dennis’ phone number is 541-672-7278 – or email him at info@pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Encouraging Verse: Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Let’s take 60 seconds to close your eyes and just focus on Jesus and his love for you. Draw near to God with all your heart and he will draw near to you. This is Time With God, for Pastor Dennis, I’m Dave, and Dennis be waiting for you on Monday morning

6-18-09 Time With God

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:08:00 +0800

Today is June 18. This is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of Time With God. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day. Today’s quote is from Hudson Taylor, “Whatever is your best time in the day, give that to communion with God.” Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 13; Micah 3; Luke 2 verses 1-20 (the Christmas story) To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Prayer The LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. O LORD, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known. In wrath remember mercy. Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. You’ll find me at www.pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Dennis’ phone number is 541-672-7278 – or email him at info@pinegrovecommunitychurch.com Encouraging Verse There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Let’s take 60 seconds to close your eyes and just focus on Jesus and his love for you. Draw near to God with all your heart and he will draw near to you. This is Time With God, for Pastor Dennis, I’m Dave, and I’ll be waiting for you right here, tomorrow

6-17-09 Time With God

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:49:00 +0800

Today is June 17, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day. Today’s quote is from R. V. G. Tasker: “An essential condition of listening to God is that the mind should not be distracted by thoughts of resentment, ill-temper, hatred or vengeance, all of which are comprised in the general term, the wrath of man..” Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 12; Micah 2; Luke 1 vv 39-80 (end) To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Daily Prayer The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; Lord we pray that you will send out laborers into His harvest and help us to Love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and we pray for those who spitefully use us. If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. We believe and do not doubt in, so we know the things we ask will be done, and we will have our requests. Encouraging Verse Cast your burden on the LORD and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

6-16-09 Time with God

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:35:00 +0800

Today is June 16, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. This is your invitation to take one step forward every day in your relationship with Christ. We invite you to do something unbelievably radical. We invite you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus Today’s quote is from Andrew Murray “We are to be shut out from men, and shut in with God.” Today’s readings are from 2 Samuel 11; Micah 1; Luke 1 vv1-38 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Daily Prayer Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Encouraging Verse He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us

TWG 6-15-09

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:58:00 +0800

Today is June 15, this is time with God, I’m Dave sitting in for Pastor Dennis while he is on vacation - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow. Today’s quote is from Robert A. Cook “Cut your morning devotions into your personal grooming. You would not go out to work with a dirty face. Why start the day with the face of your soul unwashed?” Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 10; Jonah 4; Mark 16 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Prayer I pray that we may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. I pray that our faith will not fail; and that if it does that we will return to Jesus, and strengthen each other. I pray that we may not enter into temptation. Father, if it is Your will, take life’s difficulties away from us; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. God, be merciful to me a sinner! Encouraging Verse He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.

6-12 The Sun Must Refuse to Shine!

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:44:00 +0800

So who would Jesus torture? My nephew Kevin asked me that  His comments on facebook always stimulate lively discussions! One of my questions is “what do you mean by torture? Define it for me.” I don’t believe in torture, although Hell isn’t going to be a cakewalk! Am I mixed up here? I’ll let you sort that out. But while I’m thinking about what Jesus would do, torture and Hell, it brings up the broader question of “What should Dennis be doing?” In light of an eternity of “torture” in Hell, shouldn’t Dennis be putting every possible energy he has into letting people know What I know Jesus Did? He was tortured in our place on a cruel cross, so that we could trust in Him to receive a free pass from eternal torture. His torture for our freedom! Pass it on. Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 9; Jonah 3; Mark 15:21-47 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Jeremiah 31:31-37 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah …I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people… 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name): 36 "If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever." 37 Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD. Has God abandoned Israel? Are they no longer “His Chosen People?” Has he cast them aside forever? That is the question Paul asked in Romans 11:1. The principles of prophecy hinge on this question! Some people believe that Israel has been set aside in God’s plan and replaced by the church. So when we read “Israel” we now mean “church.” That completely changes the way we read the future. Either it is right or wrong, true or false. If it is true, our world view philosophy changes racially and our prophetic view changes with it. How can we ignore such sweeping statements like Jeremiah 31:37. Here are the conditions for casting off Israel for all the wrong things they have done. Our sun must first grow old and die or explode! No more sunshine, no more Israel. Our moon and stars have to wink out at night forever. No moon, no stars (no universe!) no chosen people. The ocean needs to be drained dry, or at least down far enough so we can take a bath in it without making waves. At that point Israel will also cease from being God’s chosen nation. Are these just terms of exaggeration or does God really mean this stuff? Based on the three covenants (Abrahamic, Davidic, Palestianian) we would say that God is serious about one prophetic assertion: Israel is central to his plan for the future. Now enter a fourth covenant: “The New Covenant” of Jeremiah 31. This is the plan by which God intends to restore Israel to a nation He can govern with pleasure. Under the New Covenant, God will write his law on every one of their hearts! He will take away their unruly and hard hearts and replace it with a heart for God! No longer will they wander away from Him as they have done since day one, instead they all will follow Him and love Him wholeheartedly! The New Covenant will make a marked and stunning change in the way the nation and individuals behave! It is a fundamental change of human nature! Our societal tendency to sin will be gone, and Israel will one day be “the ideal nation.” That’ll be the day! That’s why Paul emphatically says “absolutely not! God has not cast away His people!” Romans 11:1 & 2 Dear Lord! Thanks for the promise of the New Covenant. I could use a change of heart right now! Please change me and make my heart acceptable to your heart. I want to love you wholeheartedly. I want to obey you sincerely. I cannot do it on my own. Thank you for Jesus who makes that possible. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

6-11 The Weirdest Biblical Ritual Ever

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:01:00 +0800

“So Kyle is really going to teach about the rapture? Huh?” Jayn was at church planting flowers in the memorial planter out front. “There seems to be so much negative stuff out there about it! And I heard that the word ‘rapture’ is not even in the Bible.” Right there, out in front, we held a short “Bible Study discussion.” No, the word Rapture is not in the Bible… neither is the word Trinity, or if you want to be technical… neither is any other English word! It was all written in Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic. But the Greek word “harpazo” is. And it could have easily been translated “rapture” if we were speaking Latin! The word Rapture is a Latin word. We call it the “catching away” of the church. It’s in there. And yes there is a lot of negative stuff out there about it. However, what I have discovered is that most of the criticism is aimed at people who believe in the rapture, and only a small portion of that is discussion about Scripture itself… why is that? Could it be that Paul believed in the harpazo? Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 8; Jonah 2; Mark 15:1-1-20 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Genesis 15:9-18 So God said to Abram, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two… 17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces. 18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates” This is one of the weirdest ceremonies ever recorded in the Bible! It is a ceremony which would gross out even strongest of Vegans! What is this about! You’re never going to believe it… it was the strongest possible way of solemnizing a Middle Eastern oath back in the day of Abraham. There are three essential covenants (or oaths) in the Old Testament… The Abrahamic Covenant of Blessing, The Davidic Covenant of the Messianic Seed, and now, back to Abraham for what we call “The Palestinian Covenant of the Land.” …Land, Seed, Blessing. All three find their basis of fulfillment in the promises made to Abraham. The Palestinian Covenant is no exception. God promised the land of “Palestine” specifically to the nation of Israel in Genesis 15. How do we know that? Get your Bible out and read the verses I didn’t print above; 11-16. There God lays out a prophecy of promise. “Abraham’s descendents will be slaves for 400 years in a foreign land. Then after the 4th generation they’d return to Palestine to take the land.” Historically, who fulfilled that prophecy? You got it! The nation Israel. But they have never possessed all the land promised to them! God said that one day their little 8000 square mile nation would possess the land all the way down to Egypt South and from the Euphrates River to the east! How much land is that? It is a small portion of Egypt, half of Iraq, all of Jordan, about a third of Saudi Arabia, three quarters of Syria and all of Lebanon! Those are fighting words! Do you think those nations are ever going to cede their land to the Jews? No way Jose! Not in this life! That’s because it is a prophecy yet unfulfilled. Just as the nation of Israel spent 400 years in Egypt and returned as prophesied, so they will one day possess all that land… in what we call the “Millennial Reign of Christ.” God gave this oath in the serious, solemn way possible. He cut 5 animals in half and laid them out on two sides with a path between them. Then He, in the picturesque form of a torch walked between them. In Middle Eastern terms this would have meant, “If I (God) ever fail to fulfill my oath may my life be like the lives of these animals… slain and cut in two!” That’s pretty strong language. Look to the future. One day God intends to fulfill this stunning prophecy! Dear Father. I am surprised at how serious you are about keeping your word. The possibility of it sometimes is staggering and beyond my understanding. It doesn’t seem possible. But you know the times, you understand the future. I’m going to leave all that up to you and trust you for the future as you have been faithful in the past. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

6-9 Blessing and Cursing

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:45:00 +0800

Bob came to know the Lord years ago at Pine Grove. I hadn’t seen him in a while. He runs a wholesale nursery. He and his brother… both who love the Lord helped me load up $50 worth of plants. “Are you keeping track of how much we are loading up?” “Yes,” said Bob as he kept piling on the plants! How about a few more of these? And a few more of these? We talked about the Lord and how Jesus makes it possible for us to survive and live the full life in spite of this world. We talked about Bob’s son Pat… who, unknown to us, at that moment was meeting Susan at a rental. Isn’t life interesting! Susan and I gave each other a look of surprise when we swapped stories. No coincidences… just God’s hand. Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 6; Obadiah 1; Mark 14:1-31 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Blessing and cursing. I’m pretty sure that most of us would like to be blessed, and few of us really want to be cursed! If there is a way to get the blessing, I’m all for it. And there is! The central core of the Abrahamic Covenant is that God was going to make Abraham into a great nation, and that for the rest of the nations and peoples, the way they treat that nation would result in either blessing or cursing. We know, historically, that from Abraham’s descendents came the fledgling nation of Israel. Why did God choose Israel? Not because they were the brightest or the best… but because God has chosen to demonstrate His love and his faithfulness to a lost world through His choice of the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-10). Now I know that if you bring up the nation Israel in conversation around the table of a local restaurant, many of your buddies will have some pretty passionate feelings about the Palestinians and the Israelis. I have seen people flash from 0 to anger in under .0465 seconds! What brings out the passion in people over this issue? Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and some people have some strong political opinions! You may have heard it all! “The Palestinian people are oppressed…” “The Israelis are our best friend in the Middle East…” and on and on into an ever widening black hole of political discussions we go! I don’t know how you resolve the Middle East crisis, but I can tell you one simple fact: God said that He would bless those who bless His earthly chosen people, Israel, and he would curse those who curse them. And that brings up a sticky ethical question; “so we should bless them even when they are in the wrong?” That’s food for thought. If you figure it out, let me know. I can only tell you this. In the Old Testament, the nations that God used to punish Israel, when they were way out in left field and deserving of punishment, were in turn punished for punishing Israel! Just check out the list! Babylon, destroyed, Assyria, relegated to a second rate nation, Egypt, crippled… and there were many more! I think it might be safer to err on the side of blessing! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and bless God’s earthly chosen people… and then hold them accountable to live up to that blessing! With blessing comes responsibility. When you bless, you will be blessed! Count me in! Dear Lord. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray for the nations of the Middle East that they would seek justice and live in peace with one another. I will bless your chosen people for from them the Messiah, Jesus came! Thank you for your Son Jesus! Above all things put on love and let the peace of God rule in your hearts and be thankful.

6-10 Land, Seed, Blessing

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:54:00 +0800

“I’m Bob Jameson from the Jackson County Mental Health Facility. I understand your church needs Puppet Counseling?” The phone was very fuzzy. I didn’t think I heard him right, but he repeated it, and yes he was asking if we needed “puppet counseling!” I didn’t recognize the voice, but we did have a hilarious and dysfunctional puppet play in Sunday School so I played along. “Yes we have a few schizophrenic puppets! They won’t follow the script and they continually engage in impromptu puppet fights! And one of them keeps calling the other a retard!” It was John! Dave had called him and given a blow by blow commentary on Sunday’s play, it was so funny John decided we needed puppet counseling! You had to be there! It was a blast! Today's Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 7; Jonah 1; Mark 14:32-72 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from 2 Samuel 7:12-16 12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 "I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 "But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 "And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."’" Land, seed, blessing… these are the three catchwords we use when talking about the Prophetic covenants God made with Israel. The Land has to do with the little 8000 square mile strip of land that the nation now possesses. To give you some perspective, Oregon is 98,000 square miles or 12 times larger than modern Israel! Of course God promises that in its final form Israel will be much bigger than that! The blessing is about the fact that all the nations will be blessed through Abraham. And the Seed has to do with the royal line which leads to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. That’s what 2 Samuel 7 is all about. We call it the “Davidic Covenant.” God made an unconditional covenant with David (although parts of it are conditional) that He would set up David’s descendents on the throne of Israel forever – this is the unconditional part. For 500 years one of David’s children or grandchildren ruled from Jerusalem, and then in 586 BC they all got carted off the Babylon. Since that time not one of David’s children has ever ruled the nation! Instead what has happened is that since they committed iniquity God has chastened “him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men” and this is the conditional aspect! If they didn’t follow God, he would bring chastening in the form of exile and foreign rule. So what happened to the Davidic Covenant? For 2500 years there has not been one single descendent sitting on the throne in Jerusalem, ruling the nation! Has prophecy gone bad? Enter one child that would change the world, Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew and Luke take great pains in tracing the genealogy of Jesus back to David, to Abraham and to Adam. The promise of the Deliverer was first made to Adam and Eve. Christ fulfilled that promise. The Promise of the Blessing was first made to Abraham. Christ fulfilled that promise. The Promise of the reigning King was made to David. Christ is the fulfillment of that promise! That promise is fulfilled now, but not yet! The “now” part of that is that Christ is seated on the throne in Heaven. His resurrection and ascension sealed that! The Martyr Stephen said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" The “not yet” part of this prophecy is that when Christ returns he will reign over Israel from the throne of David in Jerusalem… but not just over the nation! The book of Revelation promises He will bring a reign of peace to the entire world! Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly! May you bring a reign of peace and hope to this confusing and difficult world. We all want peace, but it seems so elusive. We know that peace only comes from You, the “Prince of Peace!” We anxiously await your return. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and warning one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 6-10 Land, Seed, Blessing

6-8 The Covenant of Blessing

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:15:00 +0800

Ed from Awana was our speaker Sunday. He was down to earth and great to listen to, even the second time around (two services). He extended his right hand and said “the purpose of teaching is to take the student…” then he extended his left hand “and the Word of God and bring them together” as he said this, he brought both hands together and clasped them. Good stuff. Later in the message he extended both arms and twirled his hands slightly as he said, “We want to teach as much of the Word as possible” then moving both hands center and down to the floor, “And go as deep as possible” finally he pointed both hands in the air as he twirled both hands “to as many children as possible!” Those two visual illustrations tell us what our goals are in children’s ministry! Today’s Scripture reading is 2 Samuel 5; Amos 9; Mark 13 To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com Today’s thought comes from Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Ever heard of the Abrahamic Covenant? It is one of the most important covenants in the Bible. A covenant is a contract or agreement between two parties, in this case it is between God and Abraham. Usually a contract is an agreement where party “A” agrees to perform one action and in exchange party “B” agrees to do another. In contracting, I (Party A) might agree to build you a house if you (party B) agree to pay me $100,000 dollars. This is what we call a conditional covenant. If one of us breaches the contract it may become null and void. That’s what courts and lawsuits are all about… failure to perform. (I want my money back because you didn’t build me a house like you promised!) In the Genesis 12 case, however, we have what we call an unconditional covenant. An unconditional covenant is an agreement where Party A (God) agrees to do something for party B (Abraham and his descendants) and expects nothing in return from Party B. Party A just does it out of the generosity of his heart! In the business world, unconditional covenants are rare! We see unconditional covenants illustrated by the relationship parents have with their children. Parents decide to care for their children and raise them regardless of whether or not their children ever give them anything back at all (except a lot of love and joy). So what is this unconditional covenant that God made with Abraham? “I will make you a great nation… I will bless those that bless you and curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed!” What was Abraham’s part? Well he messed it up! He didn’t trust God as he should have. God promised that the great nation would come through Sarah. Sarah didn’t have children until 90! So Abraham took a concubine and another wife! Yet even though Abraham messed up God remained faithful because He made an unconditional promise! To understand prophecy we must understand the importance and influence of the Abrahamic Covenant. At 90 Sarah had a son named Isaac. Isaac had a son named Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel. Eventually one of the twelve, Judah, became the grandfather of King David. From David’s line came Jesus Christ. And today every nation on the face of the earth has been influenced by Christian values and the message that Jesus is the Savior. Dear Father. Thanks for the promise you made to Abraham. I have been blessed by it. Thank you for making it conditional on your faithfulness to perform and not on our performance! You have chosen to bless us because you love us, not because we are such “good” people! Thanks for your love! My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.