Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 3

WHO IS THIS MAN DRESSED IN LINEN?

From: November 3, 2024

‘And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the Lord said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.”’ (Ezekiel 9:3-4 ESV).

Ezekiel was caught up in a vision, snatched by the hair of his head by the Spirit of God, to see Jerusalem from a heavenly perspective (Ez. 8:3). Much like the apostle John’s revelation, Ezekiel noted both the time and location when the Lord took hold of him. In the vision, he heard the Lord call six men with deadly weapons to punish the city. It is of interest that the number six is the number of man, and on this occasion the number of the angels that God appointed to judge the sin of Judah.

Yet, with the six angels, there was a seventh man. This one dressed in linen and not armed with a weapon, but with a “writer’s case.” To this man dressed in linen, the Lord commanded that he put a “mark” on the foreheads of the penitent, so that they would not be harmed by the six angels of wrath.

The Hebrew word for “mark” was represented by the Hebrew letter “tav.” So, the man in linen was to put a “tav” on the foreheads of those to be saved. It is of interest to note that during Ezekiel’s day, the “tav” looked similar to a lower case “t,” so that many Christians see the sign of the cross in the “mark.”

Who is this man dressed in linen? Who can say? Only God knows. But certain details are worth noting. First, he was the seventh man and the number seven is the number of completion, the number of the Sabbath and the number of God. Second, he wore linen, a priestly garb representing purity. Third, he was sent to mark the penitent for salvation. And finally, he was fully obedient (Ez. 9:11). At the very least, this man dressed in linen represents God’s mercy. Some even see him as the preincarnate Christ.

Whoever he is, he reminds us, as he did Ezekiel, that God is able to separate the sheep from the goats when the time for His judgment comes.

PRAYER: Dear Father, when we look at the condition of our world today, we too sigh and groan. We are thankful that we have been marked by the Spirit, sealed unto redemption through faith in Jesus. Yet, help us to proclaim Your gospel to those who will listen until You return or call us home. In Jesus’ name, amen.

FOUR WORDS FOR WORSHIP

From: November 3, 2023

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds” (Psalm 105:1-2 NLT).

There are four words for worshiping the Lord given in the first two verses of Psalms 105. Did you notice them?

Four words for worshiping:
1) THANKS – Give God gratitude for everything. Bring your tithes and offerings into His house with thanksgiving.
2) PROCLAIM – Proclaim the greatness of God in Christ Jesus. Preach the Word in season and out.
3) SING – Sing and shout praises to God. Worship the Lord with hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs.
4) TELL – Tell the Good News of what God has done for you through faith in Jesus to everyone in the world.

Are you a worshiper? Do you gather together regularly with other believers for worship? Do you have a habit of private worship in your home alone and with your family?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks for You alone are God. You have made us and redeemed us by the blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We proclaim Your greatness. For there is no one like You. You are above all things. We sing praises to You. For You alone are worthy. We gladly tell everyone what You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food” (Hebrews 5:12 NLT).

From: November 3, 2022

MILK OR MEAT?

The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. They had been believers so long that they ought to be teaching others, but they were still like spiritual babes who needed to be fed milk, rather than solid food.

There are believers like this in every generation. They receive the Word, but don’t grow in it. Hebrews does not question their belief, but it does accuse them of spiritual dullness and a failure to listen attentively to God’s Word in order to apply it. People who don’t grow in God’s Word are subject to every wind of doctrine and false teaching. But those who do grow in the Word, grow in discernment of right and wrong as they apply the Word to every life situation.

Are you growing in understanding and applying the Word of God? Are you feeding on the meat of God’s Word or are you still on a milk diet?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we desire to read Your Word every day and to study it, not just for knowing, but for doing. For we want to grow up in Your Word. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to understand Your Word and to rightly apply it to ourselves. Fill us with Your Word that we might teach others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell about all His wonderful works!” (Psalm 105:1-2 HCSB).

From: November 3, 2021

FIVE WORDS FOR WORSHIPING THE LORD

There are five words for worshiping the Lord given in the first two verses of Psalms 105. Do you see them?

Five words for worshiping:

1) THANKS – Give God gratitude for everything. Bring your tithes and offerings into His house with thanksgiving.

2) CALL – Call on His name in prayer and praise.

3) PROCLAIM – Proclaim the greatness of God in Christ Jesus.

4) SING – Sing and shout praises to God.

5) TELL – Tell the Good News of what God has done for you through faith in Jesus to everyone in the world.

Are you a worshiper? Do you gather together regularly with other believers for worship? Do you have a habit of private worship in your home alone and with your family?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks for You alone are God. You have made us and redeemed us by the blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We proclaim Your greatness. For there is no one like You. You are above all things. We sing praises to You. For You alone are worthy. We gladly tell everyone what You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12 NKJV).

From: November 3, 2020

MILK OR MEAT?

The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. They had been believers so long that they ought to be teaching others, but they were still like spiritual babes who needed to be fed milk, rather than solid food.

There are believers like this in every generation. They receive the Word, but don’t grow in it. Hebrews does not question their belief, but it does accuse them of spiritual dullness and failure to listen attentively to God’s Word. People who don’t grow in God’s Word are subject to every wind of doctrine and false teaching. But those who do grow in the Word, also grow in discernment of right and wrong as they apply the Word to every life situation.

Are you growing in the Word of God? Do you prefer milk or meat?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we desire to read Your Word every day and to study it, not just for knowing, but for doing. For we want to grow up in Your Word. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to understand Your Word and to rightly apply it to ourselves. Fill us with Your Word that we might teach others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds” (Psalm 105:1-2 NLT).

From: November 3, 2019

FOUR WORDS FOR WORSHIPING THE LORD

There are four words for worshiping the Lord given in the first two verses of Psalms 105. Do you see them?

Let’s name them:

1) THANKS – Give God your gratitude for everything.

2) PROCLAIM – Proclaim the greatness of God in Christ Jesus.

3) SING – Sing and shout praises to God.

4) TELL – Tell the Good News to everyone in the world.

Are you gathering today with others who are offering these four words of worship to the Lord?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks for You alone are God. You have made us and redeemed us by the blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We proclaim Your greatness. For there is no one like You. You are above all things. We sing praises to You. For You alone are worthy. We gladly tell everyone what You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

And the Lord called to the man dressed in linen who was carrying the writer’s case. He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”’ (Ezekiel 9:3-4 NLT).

From: November 3, 2018

WHO IS THIS MAN DRESSED IN LINEN?

Ezekiel was caught up in a vision, snatched by the hair of his head by the Spirit of God, to see Jerusalem from a heavenly perspective (Ez. 8:3). Much like the apostle John’s revelation, Ezekiel noted both the time and location when the “Sovereign Lord took hold” (Ez. 8:1) of him. In the vision, he heard the Lord call six men with deadly weapons to punish the city. It is of interest that the number six is the number of man, and on this occasion the number of the angels that God appointed to judge the sin of Judah.

Yet, with the six angels, there was a seventh man. This one dressed in linen and not armed with a weapon, but with a “writer’s case.” To this man dressed in linen, the Lord commanded that he put a “mark” on the foreheads of the penitent, so that they would not be harmed by the six angels of wrath.

The Hebrew word for “mark” was represented by the Hebrew letter “Tav.” So, the man in linen was to put a “Tav” on the foreheads of those to be saved. It is of interest to note that the Hebrew “Tav” looked similar to a lower case “t” during Ezekiel’s day. Although Ezekiel would not have been aware, Christians see the sign of the cross in the “mark.”

Who is this man dressed in linen? Who can say? Only God knows. But certain details are worth noting. First, he was the seventh man and the number seven is the number of completion, the number of the Sabbath and the number of God. Second, he wore linen, a priestly garb representing purity. Third, he was sent to mark the penitent for salvation. And finally, he was fully obedient (Ez. 9:11). At the very least, this man dressed in linen represents God’s mercy. Some even see him as the preincarnate Christ. Whoever he is, he reminds us, as he did Ezekiel, that God is able to separate the sheep from the goats when the time for His judgment comes.

“And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there” (Ezekiel 8:1 NKJV).

From: November 3, 2017

Ezekiel was among the second group of exiles taken into Babylonian captivity along with their Judean king, Jehoachin in the year 597 BC. He wrote this record “in the sixth year” of their exile. This was six years before the complete destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 586 BC. As the exiled elders sat with Ezekiel, they must have been heartsick for their home. They must have felt forsaken of God. Yet, the “Lord God fell upon” Ezekiel in their midst and carried him in a vision to Jerusalem to see that they were actually the ones that God had preserved. For Jerusalem would soon be destroyed because of its violence and idolatry.

Jerusalem had the prophet Jeremiah warning them to repent and submit to Nebuchadnezzar in order to live. While the exiles in Babylon had the prophet Ezekiel revealing to them the reason for God’s judgment. The elders in Jerusalem thought their Temple protected them, that God would never allow it to fall, but they were wrong. His eye was actually on the exiles as the remnant that He would preserve. He would call them 70 years later to return and rebuild the Temple in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12 ESV)

From: November 3, 2016

The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. There are believers like this in every generation. They receive the Word, but don’t grow in it. Hebrews does not question their belief, but it does accuse them of spiritual dullness and failure to listen to God’s Word. People who don’t grow in God’s Word are subject to every wind of doctrine and false teaching. Like spiritual babes they only want milk and not the meat of Christian teaching. They are encouraged to grow up in their understanding, so that God’s Word affects their discernment of right and wrong.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” (Psalm 105:1 NKJV)

From: November 3, 2015

The psalmist calls God’s people to use their words for His glory. Let others hear you giving thanks to the Lord in all things. Let them hear you saying His Name as you call upon Him in prayer and attribute all things unto Him. Proclaim His deeds to the peoples of the earth, so that every nation knows the Name of Jesus Christ as Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend. As long as you have breath, fill your mouths with words of praise and proclamation, so that everyone you meet hears of what God has done through Christ. Yes, call upon His Name and let the peoples of the earth hear you do it!