Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 5

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?” (Ezekiel 14:3 NLT).

From: November 5, 2019

IDOLATRY OF THE HEART HINDERS PRAYER

There is a type of idol that is unseen, but is just as surely built and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. Those elevated to leadership must recognize their particular vulnerability to this type of idolatry. These idols are not made with wood nor stone, but with a prideful lust for power and position. It causes a kind of religious self-delusion and makes us susceptible to sin. It makes our prayer life ineffective. Remove the thing that has stolen your heart and taken first place ahead of loving God. Repent and make the Lord your first love, so that you might know God’s forgiveness and experience fellowship with Him in prayer!

PRAYER: Dear Father, search us and see if there is any hidden idol in our hearts. We only want You at the center of our hearts. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to pull our affections off of our idols and to put them wholly on You. Empower us to tear down our idols, so that always put You first. We want Your will, not ours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 12:25 NLT).

From: November 5, 2018

IF GOD SAYS IT, IT WILL HAPPEN

The people of Judah would not listen to the warnings that God spoke through His prophet, Ezekiel. Indeed, a kind of proverb or saying was being repeated during his day: “Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing” (Ez. 12:22). The people had become hardened in their hearts, closing their ears to God’s word. They heard the warnings, but either discounted them as false, or delayed their consideration by saying they wouldn’t happen during their lifetimes. They were wrong on both accounts. For God did judge Jerusalem exactly as He said He would and during the very lifetimes of those who wouldn’t listen.

I wonder whether we are guilty of the same thinking sometimes? I’m sure there are those who doubt Christ’s second coming and the final judgment even though they have heard the warnings. Yet, there are even more who don’t doubt that it will happen, but lazily live their lives as though Christ will not come during their lifetimes. The prophecies concerning Christ’s return are 2,000 years old and still we have heard no trumpet, nor seen the parting of the heavens. So, many are lulled into lethargy.

Didn’t Jesus himself instruct us to “watch” and “be ready” (Matt. 24:42, 44), because He would return at an hour we do not expect? So, we watch, not passively, but actively, being ready by being busy about what Christ has commanded us to do until He returns. We do this because we believe that if God says it, it will happen.

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; for they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 12:2 NKJV).

From: November 5, 2017

During the prophet Ezekiel’s day, Israel had received many warnings from God through His prophets, yet they did not see or hear. They could have repented and the Lord’s judgment would have been turned away. But they did not repent. They continued in their rebellion. For rebellion against God blinds the eye and deafens the ear to spiritual things. Even when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself came to them centuries later, they still were spiritually dull. For didn’t He quote the prophet Isaiah to them saying, “This people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them” (Matt. 13:14-15, Isa. 6:9-10).

As Jesus often said, “He that has ears to hear, let him hear.” If you hear the Word of God speaking to you today, listen, repent and receive the healing that He alone offers. And if you know someone who is hurting and far from God, pray that their eyes and ears would be opened that they might receive the same.

‘For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”’ (Hebrews 7:17 ESV)

From: November 5, 2016

Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was the king of Salem (or “Shalom – Peace”), whom Abraham paid a tithe (Gen. 14). Quoting Psalm 110:4, the author of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it to eternity. Though Jesus was born into the royal line of Judah and not the priestly line of Levi, His priesthood is superior because His priestly claim preceded Levi’s and is in every way superior to his. So then, what was the purpose of the Law and the Levitical priesthood? It was a foreshadowing and a tutor (Gal. 3:24) preparing the people of God for its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. In Him, the threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King are united. Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever standing before the Father making intercession for us.

“And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me” (Ezekiel 12:8 NKJV)

From: November 5, 2015

Rising up in the morning, Ezekiel is filled with the Word. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, or emails, no personal plans… the Word. The Word came to him and there was no room for anything else. His day was decided because the Word had come to him. How’s your morning so far?

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?” (Ezekiel 14:3 NLT)

From: November 5, 2014

There is a type of idol that is unseen, but is just as surely built and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. Those elevated to leadership must recognize their particular vulnerability to this type of idolatry. These idols are not made with wood nor stone, but with a prideful lust for power and position. It causes a kind of religious self-delusion and makes us susceptible to sin. It makes our prayer life ineffective. Remove the thing that has stolen your heart and taken first place ahead of loving God. Repent and make the Lord your first love, so that you might know God’s forgiveness and experience fellowship with Him in prayer!

“In the morning the word of the Lord came to me” (Ezekiel 12:8)

From: November 5, 2013

Rising up in the morning, Ezekiel is filled with the Word. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, or emails, no empty personal plans… the Word. The Word came to him and there was no room for anything else. How’s your morning so far?

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?” (Ezekiel 14:3)

From: November 5, 2012

There is an idol that no one can see outwardly, but is just as surely built up and worshiped in the human heart. This idol of the heart comes between us and God. It causes a religious self-delusion and makes one susceptible to sin. It makes prayer ineffective. Remove the thing that has stolen your heart and taken first place ahead of loving God! Make God your first love.

“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert” (Psalm 105:41)

From: November 5, 2011

Water is life. When we go through desert times in our lives, Jesus is our Rock. There are seasons of dryness that test us. They teach us to go to the Rock. Even when all looks to be desert, go to Jesus and drink. Why do you thirst? Is it not to remind you that you need Him above all else?