Today’s Reading: Ezek 41:1–42:20, Rev 20:7–21:8, Job 38:34–41
Today’s Theme: Called to be Overcomers
Today’s theme looks at the call we have to be overcomers in Christ. There are great rewards awaiting us, so let us live holy lives, killing sin, growing in Christ, being fruitful and faithful to the glory of God.
Ezekiel 41:1–42:20
Called to be multifaceted
a human face toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around.(Ezekiel 41:19, ESV)
The prophetic visions are replete with these creatures that appear to have some symbolic reference to multifaceted personalities, like the Godhead Himself. What are we to learn from this? I think it is that we should have an understanding of our dual natures in Christ (Flesh – man vs Spirit – Lion).
Also we must allow God to use us in multiple ways and know how to use reason as men, and power like lions.
Be holy
He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.(Ezekiel 42:20, ESV)
We should be separate unto the Lord as holy and make clear divisions between the Holy and secular in our lives too.
Revelation 20:7–21:8
The Bible is Epic
And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,(Revelation 20:9, ESV)
This reads like the best action film ever, what epic events! We need to open our eyes to the literary quality of the bible, it is an engaging narrative revealing God’s truth.
Eternal punishment
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.(Revelation 20:10, ESV)
The plain teaching of the bible is that hell is eternal punishment.
We will all be held accountable
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.(Revelation 20:12, ESV)
Everything that every person has ever done has all been recorded and we will be held to account for everything. We need the grace of God not only to be saved but to work out our salvation. As Francis Schafer said, now we are saved how should we then live?
He has already written your name
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.(Revelation 20:15, ESV)
Thank you Lord that in Your love You chose to write our names in Your book of life, from the foundation of the world. How awesome is Your love.
The day we yearn for
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”(Revelation 21:4, ESV)
This is the great day that our hearts yearn for.
Thirsty!
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.(Revelation 21:6, ESV)
Yes Lord, we are thirsty for You. Confess your thirst to God today and drink from His abundant supply.
Called to be overcomers
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.(Revelation 21:7, ESV)
As saints we must be conquerors and overcomer’s. It is not enough to be a “Christian”, we must be overcomer’s, defeating sin in our lives, growing and being fruitful as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Don’t be cowardly
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”(Revelation 21:8, ESV)
We must be bold and brave in standing for the truth and not like the “cowardly”. You MUST be bold in your stand for God. Fear God, not man.
Job 38:34–41
God has given man understanding
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?(Job 38:36, ESV)
Wow, this blows me away, and the evolutionary theorist have really bad solutions for this. If man would honestly consider this question then he would give glory to God for the amazing wonder of consciousness, intelligence and understanding.
The Animal Kingdom
Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?(Job 38:41, ESV)
Animals are in communion with God, this is an earth shattering reality.
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
The Gospel Coalition on Revelation 21