Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for November 7

WHO IS THIS SPRIG OF THE CEDAR?

From: November 7, 2024

“I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out… And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezekiel 17:22,24 ESV).

God spoke through Ezekiel putting forth a “riddle” concerning the future of Israel and the nations of the world (Ez. 17:1). In this parable the “trees” represent kingdoms, with the cedar symbolizing Israel from which a “sprig” is taken and planted anew by the Lord. The “trees of the field” represent the other nations of the world. At this future time those nations that appear “high” and “green,” the Lord will bring “low” and make them “dry up.” However, that tree which is from the sprig of the cedar, that has appeared low and dried up, the Lord will cause to be raised up high and become alive again to flourish. The Lord will do this, and the nations will bear witness, so that all may know He is the Lord.

And what does this “sprig” that God would raise up and cause to flourish represent? Surely it represents the Messiah. For Isaiah also prophesied of the Messiah similarly saying, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). And in Isaiah’s most amazing description of the coming Messiah, he says, “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground” (Isa. 53:2).

Yes, this “sprig” is Jesus Christ. For Ezekiel’s “sprig of the cedar” prophecy points to the future hope of a righteous and everlasting kingdom under the rule of Jesus, offering salvation and blessing to all who come under His lordship.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we are amazed at all the prophecies that point to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our faith is strengthened by Your fulfilled promises. For You do what You say. Your Word never returns void. Therefore, we put our trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THE NEW COVENANT THROUGH JESUS

From: November 7, 2023

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Hebrews 8:10 NLT).

Quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book of Hebrews explained why the new covenant superceded the old. The old covenant, which was the law mediated through Moses, was written on stone tablets. But the new covenant, which is by the grace of God through Jesus, is written on human hearts. The purpose of the old covenant was never to save, but to prepare a people for the Savior. The new covenant supersedes the old.

The problem with the old covenant was not its content, but the character of the people, for they could not keep it in the flesh. The superiority of the new covenant is evident in that it overcomes the flesh by the power of the Spirit that comes to dwell in those who receive Christ as Savior and Lord. The Lord revealed the coming of this new covenant to the prophet Jeremiah. Now the author of Hebrews declared that Jesus has brought it to pass.

Has the Lord put His Word in your mind and written it upon your heart? Have you received this new covenant in Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for the new covenant. For you have written Your laws on our minds and hearts. Your Spirit lives within us, leading us and strengthening us to do Your will. Thank You for Jesus, who has mediated a better covenant for us. In His name we pray, amen.

“The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the Lord” (Psalm 106:24-25 NLT).

From: November 7, 2022

DO YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE OR GRUMBLING?

It wasn’t external enemies that kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land. It was their own internal strife and grumbling among themselves. They complained about the food. They complained against their leader, Moses. They complained against going into the Promised Land. But really they were grumbling against God. So He led the grumblers back out into the wilderness to die, while raising up a new generation that believed and obeyed His word.

Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. It is the opposite of worship. It doubts God’s provision and Word. It is like a virus, it starts with one person coughing up a complaint and soon the whole group has caught a faithless fever.

So if you feel a complaint coming on, cover your mouth! Don’t let grumbling and doubt infect your soul and the souls of those around you. Instead, ask the Lord to fill you with an attitude of gratitude.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You today with thankful hearts. Forgive our grumbling. We know that You have never left Your throne. You are Sovereign. Therefore, we are confident in You. Have Your way in us and in our world. We are Your servants. Send us out and strengthen us this day for Your great name. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people” (Hebrews 8:10 HCSB).

From: November 7, 2021

THE NEW COVENANT THROUGH JESUS

Quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book of Hebrews explained why the new covenant superceded the old. The old covenant, which was the law mediated through Moses, was written on stone tablets. But the new covenant, which is by the grace of God through Jesus, is written on human hearts. The purpose of the old covenant was never to save, but to prepare a people for the Savior. The new covenant supersedes the old. The problem with the old covenant was not its content, but the character of the people, for they could not keep it in the flesh. The superiority of the new covenant is evident in that it overcomes the flesh by the power of the Spirit that comes to dwell in those who receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

The Lord revealed the coming of this new covenant to the prophet Jeremiah. Now Jesus has brought it to pass.

Has the Lord put His Word in your mind and written it upon your heart? Have you received this new covenant in Jesus Christ?

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful for the new covenant. For you have written Your laws on our minds and hearts. Your Spirit lives within us, leading us and strengthening us to do Your will. Thank You for Jesus, who has mediated a better covenant for us. In His name we pray, amen.

“They did not believe His word, but complained in their tents, and did not heed the voice of the Lord” (Psalm 106:24-25 NKJV).

From: November 7, 2020

DO YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE OR GRUMBLING?

It wasn’t external enemies that kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land. It was their internal grumbling among themselves. They complained against the food and against their leaders, but really they complained against God. So He allowed the grumblers to die in the wilderness, while raising up a new generation that believed His word.

Grumbling is the opposite of gratitude. It is the opposite of worship. It doubts God’s provision and Word. It is like a virus, it starts with one person coughing up a complaint and soon the whole group has a faithless fever.

So if you feel a complaint coming, cover your mouth! Instead, ask the Lord to fill your mind and your mouth with gratitude.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we come to You today with thankful hearts. Forgive our grumbling over pandemics and politics. We know that You have never left Your throne. You are Sovereign. Therefore, we are confident in You. Have Your will in us and in our world. We are Your servants. Send us and strengthen us this day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6 NLT).

From: November 7, 2019

CHRIST OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST AND MEDIATOR

The old covenant was a foreshadowing of the new one, which has now come into view through Jesus. The old covenant was a “copy” of the real one in heaven that was revealed to Moses. It acted as a tutor, teaching and pointing to its fulfillment in Christ. “But now” that Jesus has come, the old covenant has fulfilled its purpose. The new covenant is enacted and the old one is replaced. Now Christ Jesus, serves in the heavenly temple as our Great High Priest. Since Jesus is the One who has come down from heaven and has returned to heaven, his character and ministry is “superior” in every way to the copy that only foreshadowed His appearing. As the apostle Paul said, “There is only one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are so blessed to be able to pray to You calling You by the name “Father.” For it is because we have placed our faith in Your Son, Jesus, as our Savior and Mediator that we are able to call you Father. Even more, we have been given Your Holy Spirit by whom we cry “Abba” to You when we pray. What a wonderful thing it is that we have become children of God, children who can cry out to You as Father because of Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (Hebrews 8:10 NKJV).

From: November 7, 2017

The old covenant, which was the law mediated through Moses, was written on stone tablets. But the new covenant, which is by the grace of God through Jesus, is written on human hearts. The purpose of the old covenant was never to save, but to prepare a people for the Savior. The new covenant supersedes the old. The problem with the old covenant was not its content, but the character of the people, for they could not keep it in the flesh. The superiority of the new covenant is evident in that it overcomes the flesh by the power of the Spirit that comes to dwell in those who receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

Has the Lord put His Word in your mind and written it upon your heart? Have you received the new covenant in Jesus Christ?

“And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezekiel 17:24 ESV)

From: November 7, 2016

God spoke through Ezekiel propounding a “riddle” (Ez. 17:1) concerning the future of Israel and the nations of the world. In this parable the “trees” represent kingdoms, with the cedar symbolizing Israel from which a “sprig” (Ez. 17:22) is taken and planted anew by the Lord. The “trees of the field” represent the other nations of the world. At this future time those nations that appear “high” and “green,” the Lord will bring “low” and make them “dry up.” However, that tree which is from the sprig of the cedar, that has appeared low and dried up, the Lord will cause to be raised up high and become alive again to flourish. The Lord will do this, and the nations will bear witness, so that all may know He is the Lord. And who does this “sprig” that God will raise up and cause to flourish represent (See Isa. 53:2)? Is this not the Messiah, Christ Jesus, whom God raised up from the grave to be alive forevermore, offering resurrection life to all who would believe?

“They did not believe His word, But complained in their tents, And did not heed the voice of the Lord” (Psalm 106:24-25 NKJV)

From: November 7, 2015

It wasn’t external enemies that kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land. It was their internal grumbling. They complained against the food and against their leaders, but really they complained against God. So He allowed the grumblers to die in the wilderness, while raising up a new generation that believed. Complaining is the opposite of gratitude. It is the opposite of worship. It doubts God’s provision and Word.

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6 NLT)

From: November 7, 2014

The old covenant was a foreshadowing of the new one, which has now come into view through Jesus. The old covenant was a “copy” of the real one in heaven that was revealed to Moses. It acted as a tutor, teaching and pointing towards its fulfillment in Christ. “But now” that Jesus has come, the old covenant has fulfilled its use. The new covenant is enacted and the old one is replaced. Now Christ Jesus, serves in the heavenly temple as our Great High Priest. Since Jesus is the One come down from heaven and whom has returned to heaven, his character and ministry is “superior” in every way to the copy that only foreshadowed his appearing. Jesus has fulfilled every prophecy of the old covenant, including Jeremiah’s, which spoke of a new covenant that would be written on human hearts rather than stone.