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October 13

Scripture for today: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 25:11-14

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“Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence to hear what he is really saying?” (Jeremiah 23:18a NLT).

From: October 13, 2019

DO YOU HAVE A PASTOR WHO SPENDS TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE BEFORE HE PREACHES?

The prophet Jeremiah spoke on the Lord’s behalf against those prophets in Judah who were promising peace and safety when the Lord was warning against coming judgment. Here it took the form of a rhetorical question that begs a negative response: “No, none of them have been in the Lord’s presence to hear the Lord speaking.” They spoke only what the people wanted to hear. For the people were like those that the apostle Paul warned would be present again during the last days, saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts” (2 Tim. 4:3).
 
The Lord is looking for preachers that will get in His presence and study His Word to know and understand what He is really saying. He is looking for pastors who after praying and studying, they are willing to boldly declare exactly what God tells them to say. And He is looking for a people that will be drawn to Bible-preaching that honors God’s Word and is anointed by God’s Spirit, people who will support such preaching and offer a resounding, “Amen!”
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we only want that Word that comes from those who have been in Your presence. When we hear it, the Spirit within us exults. We love Your Word and love to hear it preached. As the Day approaches, help us to support those who preach and teach as those who have been in Your presence all the more. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let the record show that this man Jehoiachin was childless. He is a failure, for none of his children will succeed him on the throne of David to rule over Judah.’” (Jeremiah 22:30 NLT).

From: October 13, 2018

THE AMAZING ACCURACY OF SCRIPTURE
The Lord gave Jeremiah this prophecy concerning Jehoiachin, grandson of King Josiah, that he would be childless. The prophecy further explained that his childlessness would not be due to not having any sons, but that none of them would sit on David’s throne. Indeed, Jehoiachin was taken into Babylonian captivity, where he had children, among them was his grandson, Zerubabbel, who later returned to Jerusalem, not as a king, but as a leader who lead in the rebuilding of the Temple. So, Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. No one from Jehoiachin’s line has ever sat on David’s throne.
 
Yet, if this is so, how would God fulfill His promise to David that the Messiah would come from his line, so that he always had a son to sit on his throne? In addition, what of Matthew’s genealogy that seems to state that Jesus was indeed born into Jehoiachin’s line (Jehoiachin was also called Jeconiah as in Matt. 1:12)? Doesn’t this show that Jeremiah’s prophecy was inaccurate?
 
The answer to the questions concerning Matthew’s genealogy is that it gives the line of Joseph, so that Jesus has legal claim to David’s throne through His stepfather.
 
And the answer to how Jesus can claim human descent from David is found in Luke 3:31, where the line of Jesus is traced through Mary’s line to David’s son, Nathan, the older brother of Solomon.

“that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12 NKJV).

From: October 13, 2017

Paul prayed for the believers in Thessalonica. In all the things he prayed for them, he prayed that Jesus would get the glory for it. Three questions/observations concerning this glory:
 
1) What is glory?
Some synonyms are: Honor, credit, renown, praise, worship, beauty, splendor. What is this glory? It is about who gets the honor and who gets the praise.
 
2) How might Christ’s name be glorified “in you?”
It begins with your self-acknowledgement that all you are and all you have comes from Him. You glorify Christ in your heart. Then, it radiates outward into your words and deeds, so that the name of Christ is glorified in all you say and do.
 
3) How are you to be glorified “in Him?”
Is this true? Will we share in Christ’s glory? Yes, but not because of our own accomplishment, but “according to the grace” of God, accomplished in Christ. By faith we have become God’s children and “joint heirs” with Christ, so that all that is His, is now also ours, including His glory. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory” (Rom. 8:17). So, this glory is part of our inheritance in Christ!
 
If we live for our own glory, we will not share in Christ’s. But if we live for His glory, according to His grace, then we will share in Christ’s glory forevermore!

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV)

From: October 13, 2016

The destiny of those who reject a relationship with God and disobey the gospel was here given through the apostle Paul. He gave six words to describe Hell:
1) “Suffer” – it is a place of pain and suffering.
2) “Punishment” – it is a place of God’s fiery justice
3) “Eternal” – it is an everlasting condition
4) “Destruction” – not annihilation, but continual ruination
5) “Presence” – banished from God’s presence and blessing
6) “Glory” – banished from God’s beauty and sustaining power
Paul gave this horrific description of future suffering for those who were persecuting the believers in Thessalonica. He did this so believers wouldn’t focus on vengeance against their persecutors, but would instead focus on Christ. Seeing those who persecute our faith through the eyes of our Savior, we are able to pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV)

From: October 13, 2015

In the midst of announcing woes and judgment, Jeremiah proclaimed a future when the Christ would come. There are two distinct threads of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. One of a Suffering Servant (See Isa. 53) and another of a Righteous King. Jesus has already come as Savior and sacrifice, but this prophecy of His righteous reign is yet to be fulfilled. We still await the coming of the King of Righteousness that Jeremiah proclaimed. And as we work proclaiming the gospel we join the saints of old saying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do” (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT)

From: October 13, 2014

Paul prayed for the persecuted believers in Thessalonica that the God who called them would also “enable” them to live for Him. When we answer God’s call our faith begins to “prompt” us to act. This prompting comes from our new nature in Christ which gives us the will to do good. Yet, this new will power always moves us to attempt things so beyond our ability that we must totally rely on God’s power to accomplish them. The time between the prompting and the accomplishing of God’s call is a time of testing. It is a time when we finally die to self-effort and live to total dependence on God’s enabling power. As the missionary pioneer, William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

From: October 13, 2012

Like a tree, the Thessalonian believers were growing, flourishing, … THRIVING! Perhaps it was the persecution that the Thessalonians endured that moved them to grow. In a time and place when being a believer could get you killed, they did more than survive, they thrived. What was their secret? Don’t you want to do more than just get by? To move out of maintenance mode? It’s time to thrive!