Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapters 6 and 7. Ezekiel like many other prophets of his day warned the people of the coming destruction if they refuse to repent of the sin of idolatry. At least 43 times the prophet attached to his prophetic warnings this expression: "Then they will know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel was not the Lord, it was the Lord God Almighty, the Father of Israel who spoke through His prophet. Ezekiel did not hesitate to announce the warnings especially after the Lord had told him that the blood of the people will be upon him if he failed to warn them. Ezekiel made sure that Israel remembered that whatever came down the pipe in terms of devastation was not chance game, not fate, not luck, or poor military planning or strategy, but the hand of God was there empowering the enemies to pound them and grind them as powder. God spoke with awesome solemnity when He forbade the Israelites from worshiping anyone or anything other than Him (Exodus 20:3). God requires that we have no other gods before or beside Him. Anyone who breaks this law or treats it with contempt will not escape punishment. Not then, and not now. God says in His Word: "Thus I will spend my fury upon them." (6:12b). Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols all around their alters, on every high hill, on all the mountain tops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, where ever they offered sweet incense to all their idols. So I will stretch my hand against them and make the land desolate, yes more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am the Lord." (6:13-14). Chapter 7 follows the same train. We do not wish to be redundant here but we urge you to read through the chapter. It also ends with the same statement: "I will do to them according to their way, And according to what they deserve I will judge them; Then they shall know that I am the Lord!'
My Friend, these warnings which were for Israel then are for you now. What are your idols? Are you putting them before and beside your God? Remember no one, I say no one who treats the Lord or His Word with contempt will go unpunished. See we are so lucky that God has demonstrated His love that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That is the escape route when you trust Him and yield your life to the One who died for your sins. Hallelujah. Amen.
Prayer for today: Thank you Lord for loving the world so much so that you gave your Son , so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life (John 3:16). Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Shaving as an enactment of disgrace
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapter 5. This story which God directed Ezekiel to demonstrate symbolizes a dramatic enactment of the fate of Judah and Jerusalem. The shaving off of the hair from the head and beard and dividing them into three parts bore some serious significance. The head and the hair constitute the crown of the body. By shaving and dividing the hair symbolized God's utter rejection of the people as a worthless generation and bringing an end to her honor and liberty. One third that was burnt in the middle of the city denotes those who would perish by famine in the city; the other third would perish by sword; the other third would be carried away into captivity; and the other remnant would be would signify a small remnant that would be left under the government of Gedaliah who would maintain the land.
From verses 5-17, we see that God had set Jerusalem in the center of the surrounding powerful nations to be a beacon of light to them, but Jerusalem turned out to be more rebellious and sinful than those nations. God said that they had become more unruly than the nations around them and had not followed God's decrees nor kept His laws. God said the He Himself was against them. Their suffering would increase to the point that parents will eat their children and children will eat their parents because of starvation. Even those who escaped to the wilderness would be eaten by wild animals. In verse 13, we see that God's anger will come to an end and His wrath satisfied after so much sufferings and public disgrace. It is unbelievable that God would make such pronouncements against His people and actually carried them out! These prophetic pronouncements were made way before they happened so that the critics should know and believe that though the heaven and earth will pass away, the Words of God will stand for ever. The people though Jeremiah and Ezekiel said these things out of their "delusional impulses", but we now see that they were inspired by the Lord Almighty.
A word of caution is necessary to the Church. The Church has proudly called "itself as the "New Israel" and it is rightly so. The Church has been made the center of attraction and the light to the world. We see the Church going in the way of the ancient Israel and Judah. There is more sin in the Church now than in the wicked world, why? Jesus said to the inquires about the ruins of the Temple that they would likewise perish if they failed to repent. God is watching you my friend and if He did not spare His Chosen people, what do you think about yourself after the Prince of Glory came down and died for your sins. The verdict is Repent or you will likewise perish.
Prayer for today: Dear God, we all have sinned and come short of your glory. We all like sheep have turned to our wicked ways. By the merits of your dear Son, have mercy on us, forgive our sins and bring us to life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapter 5. This story which God directed Ezekiel to demonstrate symbolizes a dramatic enactment of the fate of Judah and Jerusalem. The shaving off of the hair from the head and beard and dividing them into three parts bore some serious significance. The head and the hair constitute the crown of the body. By shaving and dividing the hair symbolized God's utter rejection of the people as a worthless generation and bringing an end to her honor and liberty. One third that was burnt in the middle of the city denotes those who would perish by famine in the city; the other third would perish by sword; the other third would be carried away into captivity; and the other remnant would be would signify a small remnant that would be left under the government of Gedaliah who would maintain the land.
From verses 5-17, we see that God had set Jerusalem in the center of the surrounding powerful nations to be a beacon of light to them, but Jerusalem turned out to be more rebellious and sinful than those nations. God said that they had become more unruly than the nations around them and had not followed God's decrees nor kept His laws. God said the He Himself was against them. Their suffering would increase to the point that parents will eat their children and children will eat their parents because of starvation. Even those who escaped to the wilderness would be eaten by wild animals. In verse 13, we see that God's anger will come to an end and His wrath satisfied after so much sufferings and public disgrace. It is unbelievable that God would make such pronouncements against His people and actually carried them out! These prophetic pronouncements were made way before they happened so that the critics should know and believe that though the heaven and earth will pass away, the Words of God will stand for ever. The people though Jeremiah and Ezekiel said these things out of their "delusional impulses", but we now see that they were inspired by the Lord Almighty.
A word of caution is necessary to the Church. The Church has proudly called "itself as the "New Israel" and it is rightly so. The Church has been made the center of attraction and the light to the world. We see the Church going in the way of the ancient Israel and Judah. There is more sin in the Church now than in the wicked world, why? Jesus said to the inquires about the ruins of the Temple that they would likewise perish if they failed to repent. God is watching you my friend and if He did not spare His Chosen people, what do you think about yourself after the Prince of Glory came down and died for your sins. The verdict is Repent or you will likewise perish.
Prayer for today: Dear God, we all have sinned and come short of your glory. We all like sheep have turned to our wicked ways. By the merits of your dear Son, have mercy on us, forgive our sins and bring us to life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The siege of Jerusalem to be acted out by Ezekiel
Hello My Friend; Good day.
Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapter 4. The siege of Jerusalem was prophesied by many of the prophets of the time. God warned the Israelites through many of his messengers, but it did not seem to work. In the year, 587 B.C., God told Ezekiel to "act out" the coming capture of Jerusalem. In this chapter, we see 4 symbolic actions: mimic the siege by drawing the city on a pan of clay; lay a siege to it; place an iron pan in between him and the city; turn his face toward it. Then take a posture of lying on one side for 390 days and on the other side for 40 days. All this signified the number of years of captivity in Babylon. The food cooked over cow dung signified the defilement of Israel during the period of captivity. Ezekiel learned the horrors of the impending siege before it actually happened through these visions.
By this demonstrations, God justified Himself that He gave proper and adequate warnings to the people. So it is in out day and time. There are sufficient warnings and sermons. Those who have ears will hear but those who refuse to listen are doomed to perish and their blood will be on them. We trust that you are paying great attention to reading the handwriting on the walls of history my friend.
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, in the days past you spoke to our fathers through the prophets but now you speak to us through the Gospel of your Son. Thank you for you do not desire that anyone should perish. Grant us the grace to run to hide in the shelter you have provided through the Laws, the prophets and the gospel message. Hallelujah. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
Our reading for today is from Ezekiel chapter 4. The siege of Jerusalem was prophesied by many of the prophets of the time. God warned the Israelites through many of his messengers, but it did not seem to work. In the year, 587 B.C., God told Ezekiel to "act out" the coming capture of Jerusalem. In this chapter, we see 4 symbolic actions: mimic the siege by drawing the city on a pan of clay; lay a siege to it; place an iron pan in between him and the city; turn his face toward it. Then take a posture of lying on one side for 390 days and on the other side for 40 days. All this signified the number of years of captivity in Babylon. The food cooked over cow dung signified the defilement of Israel during the period of captivity. Ezekiel learned the horrors of the impending siege before it actually happened through these visions.
By this demonstrations, God justified Himself that He gave proper and adequate warnings to the people. So it is in out day and time. There are sufficient warnings and sermons. Those who have ears will hear but those who refuse to listen are doomed to perish and their blood will be on them. We trust that you are paying great attention to reading the handwriting on the walls of history my friend.
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, in the days past you spoke to our fathers through the prophets but now you speak to us through the Gospel of your Son. Thank you for you do not desire that anyone should perish. Grant us the grace to run to hide in the shelter you have provided through the Laws, the prophets and the gospel message. Hallelujah. Amen.
Apostle Ndueso Udoiwod.
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