Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 5

WHAT GOD HAS SAID, WILL HAPPEN!

From: November 5, 2024

“For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 12:25 ESV).

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: “The days grow long, and every vision comes 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 sometimes guilty of the same kind of thinking? 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.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we trust Your Word. We eagerly await the appearing of Your Son, Jesus. Yet forgive us for when we live as if Your Word will not be fulfilled in our time. Empower us to live with a holy sense of urgency for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

JESUS AND MELCHIZEDEK

From: November 5, 2023

‘Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”’ (Hebrews 7:16-17 NLT).

Quoting Psalm 110:4, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek”, the book of Hebrews declares Jesus to be the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. Jesus is our eternal high priest. Melchizedek is a Christological type, foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah.

Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was both the king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Gen. 14:18). It was he whom Abraham paid a tithe after he had blessed him after his victory over his enemies.

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. This is why the book of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it for eternity. For Christ’s priesthood is based on an indestructible life. For He was raised from the dead, defeating sin, death, and the grave and He “always lives to make intercession” (Heb. 7:25) for us.

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.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. For we catch glimpses of Christ Jesus on every page. We are thankful that we can offer our prayers to You always in His name. For Jesus is our eternal high priest. Strengthen us and lead us this day to do Your will according to Your mighty power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The next morning this message came to me from the Lord” (Ezekiel 12:8 NLT).

From: November 5, 2022

GOD’S MORNING MESSAGE

Rising up early in the morning, Ezekiel received a message from the Lord. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, no emails, no personal plans, just the Word. God’s Word came to him and there was no room for anything else. His day was decided because he heard a message from the Lord.

Men and women of God throughout the centuries have had this same morning habit of seeking a word from the Lord to begin their day. Even the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, sought time with His Father to begin His day. The gospel of Mark described how Jesus spent His mornings, saying, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35).

How do you begin your day? Do you check the inbox from heaven to read God’s morning message? Do you get alone with God to pray?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we come before You today listening to hear a word from You. We pray that Your Word would come to us afresh. Abide in us today by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Who did not become a priest based on a legal command concerning physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17 HCSB).

From: November 5, 2021

JESUS, OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

Quoting Psalm 110:4 (“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek”), the book of Hebrews declares Jesus to be the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. Jesus is our eternal high priest. Melchizedek is a Christological type, foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah.

Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was both the king of Salem and priest of God Most High (Gen. 14:18). It was he whom Abraham paid a tithe after he had blessed him after his victory over his enemies.

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. This is why the book of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it to eternity. For Christ’s priesthood is “based on an indestructible life.” For He was raised from the dead, defeating sin, death, and the grave and He “always lives to make intercession” (Heb. 7:25) for us.

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.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. For we catch glimpses of Christ Jesus on every page. We are thankful that we can offer our prayers to You always in His name. For Jesus is our eternal high priest. Strengthen us and lead us this day to do Your will according to Your mighty power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

From: November 5, 2020

HAS THE WORD COME TO YOU?

Rising up in the morning, Ezekiel was filled with the Word. No internet, no morning news, no ESPN updates, or emails, no personal plans, just 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.

The prophetic Word of God came to Ezekiel to prepare Judah for Babylonian captivity. And six hundred years later, the Living Word made flesh came to us (Jn. 1:14), that we might be set free. Has the Word come to you?

PRAYER: Dear Father, You loved us so much that You gave Your only begotten Son that all who believe might have eternal life. He is the Word made flesh. We thank You, Father, that Jesus came, died for our sins, and was raised to life for us. Now today, we pray that Your Word would come to us afresh. Abide in us today by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“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?