Proclaim God’s Greatness

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May our hearts not grow indifferent to God’s goodness around us (Psm 145:1-7).

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The scribal note identifies this Psalm as “A Psalm of Praise“; the only psalm given this title. This psalm introduces the final six psalms (Psm 145-150) as a grand doxology to the whole collection of Psalms – a finale of praise.

In verses 1-3, David calls on his heart to praise God every day. For God‘s greatness is immeasurable. In verses 4-6 he calls on men to pass on to every generation God’s greatness, to meditate on God‘s splendor and to proclaim God‘s awe-inspiring deeds, goodness and righteousness.

Lord may my heart not grow indifferent towards your greatness and goodness all around me.

The Gifts of Christmas III

LIFE

When the Christ Child arrived in Bethlehem, those many years ago, wise men brought gifts fit for a king. We take our Christmas tradition of gift exchanges from this example in antiquity.

The truth is that it was God who initiated the gift giving. He gave the gift of his Son, Jesus, and it was manifested in three ways. He was and is the gift of LOVE, the gift of LIGHT and the gift of LIFE.

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Jesus is life. He is actual factual life. If you believe trust in and rely upon) you will live. There is a transfer/exchange at Salvation (his life for ours). He has the power. He created life itself.

John 14:6 says, “I am the way the truth in the life. No one comes to the father but by me.” “That’s narrow!“ No, actually he made it possible for all sinners to go to heaven by trusting in him.

1 John 5:11-13 says, “The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son does not have a life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the son of God in order that you might know that you have eternal life.” If you believe, you have the Son, you belong to God and you have his Life.

John 10:10 says, “I come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.“

When a person believes in Christ (trusts in relies upon), that one will live eternally. There is a transfer/exchange at the point of Salvation (Christ’s life for ours). He has this power. He created life itself (Jhn 1:4; 3:15).

BELIEVE IN HIM AND KNOW

A jailer asked the Apostle Paul and and his companion Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer was for them then and for us today as well. “Believe in Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30,31).

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

JESUS

HIS LOVE, HIS LIGHT, HIS LIFE

The Gifts of Christmas II

LIGHT

When the Christ Child arrived in Bethlehem, those many years ago, wise men brought gifts fit for a king. We take our Christmas tradition of gift exchanges from this example in antiquity.

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Jesus is also the gift of LIGHT. Not the light that comes on in a room. Luke 1:78,79 says the he is like the morning light that gives light to those needing guidance to the pathway of spiritual peace.

Heb 1:3 tells us that Jesus radiates God’s own glory. That is, Jesus projects a glow that is not of this world. That glowing light is a reflection of God himself.

John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭5 tells us that the “Word” was before all things. The Word created all things. The Word is Jesus. He gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought LIGHT to everyone. It cannot be extinguished.

Jesus is the gift of LIGHT that enlightens the hearts of men towards redemption, forgiveness and eternal life. That’s why he came.

The Gifts of Christmas

LOVE

When the Christ Child arrived in Bethlehem, those many years ago, wise men brought gifts fit for a king. We take our Christmas tradition of gift exchanges from this example in antiquity.

The truth is, that it was God who initiated the gift giving. He gave the gift of his Son Jesus, and it was manifested in three ways. He was and is the gift of LOVE, the gift of LIGHT and the gift of LIFE.

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Where does the idea of God‘s LOVE come from? Matthew 1:21,22 tells us that the Christ was named Jesus meaning savior. “He will save his people from their sins“ why would God do that? Because he loved us.

John 3:16 & 17 says, “For God LOVED us that he gave his Son.” This was a unique form of love never before used. It is used 115 times in the New Testament. The Greek word is agape, an unconditional sacrificial (revolutionary) kind of love.

1 John 4:8–10 tells us, “God is LOVE” (agape) the very essence of love. Love is God‘s nature: water is wet, ice is cold, God is love. Christ’s birth and his death on the cross proves God‘s love for us. He came into this world…and what did the angel say? “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” God sent his son because he loved us.

Jesus is the gift of LOVE that went to the cross of Calvary and paid the ultimate price to redeem men from sin.

The Savior, Better Than The Santa

At Christmas, we read in the windows of shops and stores, “Believe!” Most people think of this as believing in the “Santa” of Christmas, not the “Savior“ of Christmas.

Consider some reasons that the Savior is better than the Santa:

Santa’s throne is in the mall. The savior‘s throne is in heaven. Ephesians 1:20 says, “He raised him (Jesus) from the dead and seated him at God’s right hand in the heavenly places.
You have to wait in line to talk to Santa. But the Savior is as close as the mention of his name. Matthew 68:8 says, “Your father knows what you need before you ask him.“
With Santa, “Batteries not Included.“ But the Savior says his Spirit is our power. Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be wetness to me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“
Santa doesn’t know your name. He says, “Hello little boy or little girl, what is your name? The Savior knew your name and all about you before you were even born. Psalm 139:1 says, “Thou has searched me and known me. John 10:27 says, “The Good Shepherd knows his sheep. He calls them by name.“
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. The Savior has a heart full of love. John 316 says, “For God still love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“

How God Grieves Over Sin

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Don’t delay to humbly repent and surrender fully to God (Ezk 11:22-24). #GodsGrief #TurnNowToGod #RepentTowardsGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

This may be one of the saddest days in Israel’s history. The Glory of God, his presence, left the Temple, then the city of Jerusalem.

But the Glory of God stopped above the Mount of Olives and hovered there. Presumably it then ascended into heaven.

I wonder if, in that hovering, God stopped to look one more time at Jerusalem, grieved and weeping over Israel’s sin and rejection.

Jesus, The the Radiance of God’s Glory Weeps over Jerusalem

I wonder if Jesus (as God, the radiance of God’s glory) remembered that moment in the Old Testament when he saw the sin and rejection of Israel happening all over again [Jesus wept and spoke words of deep grief – Luk 19:41-44].

Jerusalem would continue to be devoid of God‘s blessing until his Glory returns for the final time in the millennium (Ezk 43:1–7; Acts 1:11–12). Ezekiel‘s vision ends here. He was then moved by the Spirit of God to go and share with the Jewish exiles in Babylon all that he had seen and heard.

Lord, my delay to repent of sin, cuts deeply into the heart of God. May my words be few and may they speak surrender.

Promise Made, Promise Kept

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Put faith in all the promises of God (Ezk 11:17-20). #PromiseMadePromiseKept #GodIsFaithful

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

This passage is a prophesy of the return of those Israelites exiled to Babylon back to Jerusalem (538, 539 BC) after King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. The Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah record one of those returns.

But this passage also has eschatological meaning. It points to spiritual renewal. The word “spirit“ in verse 19 could also be translated “Spirit,“ as in God‘s Holy Spirit. Whereas, God‘s Spirit would indwell certain people at certain times for certain work, this is a reference to an indwelling of the Spirit in all Believers. This was inaugurated after the death of Christ (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4,7). Full restoration of Israel in their hearts toward God will come to full fruition in the millennium when Jesus Returns (Isa49:6-18).

Lord, may I have faith your word as promises made, promises kept and promises yet to be fulfilled.

Stone Cold

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Remain open to God for a new heart (Ezk 11:14-21). #HeartOfGod #StoneColdHeart #NewHeart

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

God speaks to Ezekiel in response to his prayer in verse 13. Those in Jerusalem spoke arrogantly and pridefully about those who had been taken into exile and Babylon.

They were the ones considered far from God, far from the temple in Jerusalem “where God was.“ But God‘s presence was about to leave the temple. God promises here to himself be the sanctuary of those in exile in Babylon.

It is not about a building. It is about a surrendered heart. Those remaining in Jerusalem were not repentant and knew nothing of that. God promises, Ezekiel and those in exile, to return them to their homeland.

They would return with a new spirit and a new heart (also 36:25-27). They would obey God faithfully and be his people. He would be their God.

Lord, thank you for not only the promise, but the reality of changing the stony cold heart of this old sentry into one that is new and surrendered to you.

Struck Dead

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Do not persist in sin until God must act dramatically in your life (Ezk 11:13). #TurnNowToGod #Repent

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Whether still seeing the judgment of Judah (Jerusalem) in a vision or thereafter prophesying to the people what God told Ezekiel in that vision (vv24,25), one of the named officials (Pelatial) in verse 1 was struck down dead.

This death was an affirmation of the seriousness of the coming and eminent judgment of God for sin (see also Acts 5:1-11). Ezekiel is so shaken by this death that he falls face down crying out to God – would God kill everyone in Israel? Lord, may I not persist in sin, causing dramatic acts of God in my life.

God’s Word, Like A Rock

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Put your full faith in God‘s word as true & reliable (Ezk 11:10,11). #TrustGodsWord #GodsWordIsReliable

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Versus 10 and 11 are not mere hyperbole or some metaphor used to explain God‘s judgment. This prophecy became Jerusalem‘s reality when Babylon took over Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, 596-581 BC (Jer 52:8-11, 24-28).

Further, God‘s people thought they were impregnable because God had given them their land – but God had also warned them if they did not follow him wholeheartedly he would remove them from it (Deu 28:15, 36, 64-68). HE DID! But in their near future God would return them to their land (11:17-19). Ezekiel also predicts Israel’s full restoration to the land as yet to unfold at Christ’s return (Ezk 36:24-28; 37:21-28).

God’s word is trustworthy and reliable. It is able to discern the hearts of men (Heb 4:12). Lord, may I know an unwavering faith in the truth and reliability of your word.

Can’t Run, Can’t Hide

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Remain humble and open to God’s conviction (Ezk 11:1-12). #Can’tRunCan’tHide #RemainOpenToGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The leaders of Jerusalem were leading God‘s people away from God. They believed that they were insulated from further Babylonian attacks (our city is like an iron pot; we the people are like meat safe in the pot). Neither the leaders, nor the people of Israel would acknowledge their sin.

Arrogance, pride, worship of pagan gods, ignoring God‘s word and his warnings was a recipe for failure and God‘s judgment/discipline. It was for Israel then and it is for us today. God put his finger directly on their faulty thinking – he knows our thoughts. Hiding from God is futile. Lord, keep the heart of this ol’ sentry from arrogance and pride.

Driving God Away

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

Do not neglect the glory and salvation of the Lord (Ezk 10:9-17). #SeekGodsPresence #live#LiveToGodsglory

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

These verses comprise half of Ezekiel 10. They are Ezekiel’s description of the cherubim, the mobile throne and glory of God. This was seen in Ezekiel chapter 1. All of this informs us of God‘s intent to judge sin in Israel and in the nations, even for us today; all of us individually.

Colossians 1:27 tells us that “Christ in us is the hope of glory.“ Ezekiel teaches that God will only stay where he is wanted and obeyed. God never wants to withdraw his presence from his people. But when we (I) fill our lives with idolatrous worship we drive God’s presence from us (Isa 42:8).

Lord, your word warns not to neglect so great a salvation (Heb 2:1-3); we (I) need to wake up (Rom 13:11), hear your message and turn now to God.

Forever Glorious

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH & NATION:

May you see the glory, faithfulness, purity and eternal righteousness of God (Ezk 11:22,23). #ForeverGlorious

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

I am skipping ahead to the movement of God‘s glory from the east gate to the mountain on the east side of Jerusalem (that would be the Mount of Olives). From there, the glory of God would ascend into heaven and not return to the Temple.

Centuries later, Christ, the radiance of God‘s glory (Heb 1:1-3) would return in fulfillment of many prophecies concerning his birth, death and resurrection. Much of the later ministry of Christ centered in and around the place of God’s departure from Israel, the Mount of Olives in Ezekiel’s vision.*

Lord, may I not get bogged down in the daily struggle through the imagery of the prophets, time lines and prophetic utterances. May my reading, study and meditation on the your word lead me to see the glory of God, the faithfulness of God, purity of God, the patience of God with man and God‘s ultimate judgment of sin and God’s deliverance of his righteous ones into the eternal glorious homeland of Heaven.

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* Hailed as King of the Jews, Christ would make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem by an east gate (by that time Jerusalem and the Temple of Ezekiel’s day would have been destroyed and rebuilt).

One week later Christ would be crucified and resurrected from the dead. 40 days after that Christ would ascend from the Mount of Olives back into heaven (Acts 1:9-12). He would fill all believes with his glory (Col 1:27). He will one day return again descending in this same place (Zec 14:1-4; Acts 1:10,11). He will return as the reigning king over his new eternal Kingdom (Rev 11:25).