4 posts tagged “prophesy”

DANIEL

Apr 23, 2009
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KING OF KINGS

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Read Daniel 2

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:19b–21 NIV

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When Daniel was still young, God gave him the ability to interpret dreams. No one could tell King Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was, or what it meant, until Daniel asked his three friends “to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.” God answered by revealing the mystery to Daniel in a night vision. (2:18-19)

God’s revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a giant statue contained a message with far reaching significance…even to our day and beyond. Before Daniel even attempted to give the interpretation, he praised the name of God who is in control of all things. He told the king, “The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory…You are that head of gold.” (2:37-38)

When we look at what is happening in our world today, particularly in the Middle East, it is easy to despair of ever seeing a peaceful resolution. But this prophesy to the King of Babylon, speaks of a future kingdom ruled by the King of Kings–Jesus the Messiah–where nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4b)

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I praise You Lord, that You are the God who sets up kings and presidents–We can trust You in the days and years ahead.

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"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:44 NIV

TRUST IN THE LORD

Jan 30, 2009
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PERFECT PEACE

Read Isaiah 26:1–12

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV

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Throughout history men have searched for peace which always seems to elude them. Isaiah speaks of a future day of peace when Jesus will rule and reign on earth: He says, “Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.” (26:2) We are still waiting for a nation that keeps faith, but we do not have to wait to experience His peace–it is a gift given to us when we trust in the Lord. The confidence that God is our Rock, the ultimate in stability, brings peace to the soul. Isaiah writes, “Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” (26:4) If we are going to accomplish anything of eternal value in our lives, it will be by trusting Him.

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Lord, help us to rest patiently in faith as we wait for Your perfect plan for our lives. You have been faithful to us in the past and like Isaiah we can say, "LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." (26:12)

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Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Isaiah 26:8 NIV

BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

Aug 9, 2008
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JEREMIAH

Read Jeremiah 25:1–11

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Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words… This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Jeremiah 25:8, 11 NIV

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Josiah was a good king, who fought against idolatry, but the people continued to run after other gods. After Josiah's death, God brought a message through the prophet Jeremiah: “the LORD Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon," (25:8-9a)

God was going to allow His people to be carried off to Babylon for seventy years, and after that they would return to the land. Jeremiah had no choice but to faithfully declare God's message–even though no one wanted to hear it. When it actually happened, just as God had said, there could be no doubt that this was the Word of the Lord.

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Heavenly Father, Give us faith to trust Your Word even when we see our nation ignoring it. We need courage to share the Truth in our generation even when no one wants to hear it. Help our churches to be faithful in teaching the Bible and declaring the gospel with clarity. Raise up godly men to lead our country in truth and righteousness.

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"I will bring them (back) from the land of the north… They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble." Jeremiah 31:8-9 NIV

RUTH

Jun 6, 2008
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Read Ruth 1–4

Ruth replied, "… Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16 NIV

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Ruth’s people, the Moabites, worshiped the false god Chemosh, but Ruth chose to follow the God of her deceased husband, and return to the land of Israel. The Lord blessed Ruth, and her widowed mother-in-law, when Boaz bought Naomi’s land and married Ruth–thereby redeeming Naomi’s inheritance.

Through this practical legal transaction by a relative of Naomi’s husband, Boaz and Ruth became the ancestors of our Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the Elders to Naomi were prophetic: “May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem, because of the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman.” (Ruth 4:11b, 12b NKJV) Truly Bethlehem became famous at the birth of our Savior.

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We never really know how our common every day transactions will fit into God’s plan for the future. Help us Lord, to develop an eternal perspective about life and how we live it. May we be like Ruth whose behavior won her the respect and praise of Naomi’s people who said to her, “May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:12)

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The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman redeemer… For your daughter‑in‑law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." Ruth 4:14a,15b NIV