Tag: murderer
Whose father is yours?
Scripture reading for November 2nd: Ezekiel 22-24, Psalm 134, John 8
John 8: 39-44 “They answered Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to Him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father–even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. Your are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
The Jews came to Jesus and Jesus told them that if they would abide in His Word, they would know the truth and the truth would make them free. This offended them and they claimed that they were never slaves and did not need to be free. Jesus stated that everyone who sinned was a slave of sin. Freedom from sin could only come through Him. This really offended them and they were seeking to find a way to kill Jesus. Jesus carefully explained that if they were truly Abraham’s children, and God was their Father, they would love Him and believe His Word. But since they sought to kill Jesus and rejected the truth, they were under their true father, the devil. The fruit of this fatherhood is murder and lies! The fruit of true children of God is love, joy, peace and humble obedience and intercession for God’s people.
Ezekiel 22:30 “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for revealing Your love and heart to me through Jesus Christ, Your Son. I respond to Your love by loving You and seeking humbly to obey. I stand against the evil one, Satan, and his lies and murdering ways. Forgive those who are under that spirit and use me to share Your love and the Gospel that they might be saved and bless Your Name forever and ever.”
Psalm 134: 1-2 “Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!”
True freedom from slavery!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 8
Key Scriptures: John 8:34-38 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because My Word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Slavery is a hot topic in our world today. There is human trafficking of sex slaves, boys and girls, who are being traded in most nations of the world. In Jesus’ day, the Jews prided themselves as a free people, but Jesus told them that anyone who practiced sin was a slave of sin. They would not receive His Word or believe that they were slaves of sin, even though they were plotting to kill Jesus and falsely accused Him of having a demon. Without repentance, these “sin-slaves” would be lost and remain under their father, the devil. Their murderous and lying nature was hidden from them because of their religious pride in their association with Abraham, the father of faith instead of humbly confessing their sin in repentance. Jesus wanted to set them free!
John 8:43-44 “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, Thank You for setting me free from slavery to sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! I am free! Lord grant me grace to declare Jesus Christ as the only way to freedom from sin’s power to those under the deception of the devil.
John 8:58-59 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”
A Funeral “Celebration”!
Scripture reading for April 29th: 2nd Chronicles 21-25
At a person’s death, there is usually a time of reflection concerning the life that was lived. Loved ones and friends gather to remember the good in the person. The preacher usually looks for some sign of redemption in the life that was lived in order to bring comfort to those who are mourning. But what can be said if a person dies, and no one regrets his death? What if instead of mourning, their passing brings a celebration? This is what is encountered in today’s reading!
Jehoram was the oldest of six sons of King Jehoshaphat. When Jehoshaphat passed, he designated Jehoram as the heir to the kingdom. Jehoram promptly executed his six brothers as well as other leaders who may have threatened him. (2nd Chronicles 21:3-4) Scripture states that Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel who were wicked. One of the reasons was a wife who happened to be a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. The ways of these kings was one of idolatry and false religion. They rejected the law of the Lord and set up their own idolatrous religious system.
The consequences of Jehoram’s rebellion should stop and make us think. We find Edom rebelling against Judah followed by Libnah and then the Philistines and Arabs. War and strife are results of rebellion. Enemies who would be silenced by the fear of the Lord that rests upon godly leaders, are suddenly emboldened when idolatry and wickedness is present.
God tried to warn Jehoram. He allowed him grace because of a covenant that He had made with David, but warned him with a letter from the godly prophet Elijah. Elijah spelled out Jehoram’s rebellion, murder of his innocent brothers, and idolatry. He then plainly told him of the consequences. Jehoram and his family would be struck with a heavy blow. Jehoram would have a lingering disease of the bowels and die. (2nd Chronicles 21:12-15) In spite of the warning, Jehoram refused to repent and he suffered the consequences!
The record concludes with Jehoram’s gruesome death after two years of a lingering illness. This man lived such a wicked life, that no one mourned his passing. No one regretted his life ending so soon! (2nd Chronicles 21:19-20) One can even imagine that there was a celebration that this wicked man had finally got what was due him! May this never be said of us!