[PDF download here for Day 3]
DAY 3 takes us to Mark 13:31-33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
It is time to pray with purpose, to pray intently, to pray determined for the sake of others -- because Jesus is coming soon!
DEFINE:
- watch
- heed
- soon
- fornication
- soothsayer
Because Jesus' words shall not pass away -- all the more they apply to us today and even the more since he spoke the words. We are closer, now, than the disciples were .. wow! that is just amazing to think about.
In Revelation chapter 2 verse 18, the LORD is speaking to the church at Pergamos. They were at the seat of Satan, and didn't deny the name of Jesus. But the LORD had something against them...they were like Balaam. Now let's jump over to Numbers 22-25 and read about Balaam.
Hmmm,,,interesting... God had caused all the nations to fear the children of Israel and he conquered all those nations for God's glory and to give the land to his people. The king of Moab wanted to outwit God, it seems, by getting a prophet to prophesy against the children of Israel. What stand out to me is found in Numbers 24:1 "And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness."
Look up enchantments:
The people of Moab were witches, wizards, satanists. Balaam's living was by sorcery,; he was a soothsayer (Joshua 13:22) And since he couldn't 'curse' the people with words, he caused them to turn away from God by eating food sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
What is it that we are WATCHING for? If we have fallen into it, for what do we need to repent?
#1. The doctrine of Balaam: mixing soothsaying with the things of God...power of the tongue, cursing/blessing, using enchantments to move men or God to in to doing what you want, and living by supernatural powers however they come.
#2. Speaking against the children of Israel-- the Jews--there are many forms of this going on around us. The lie:Replacement Theology that says that the New Testament church replaces the Jews in God's plan and kingdom. The lie: Saying that the Jews do not need Jesus as their saviour -- they can just restore the temple and the sacrifices and keep the law again. Or the simple act of speaking and praying against what God has set forth in his written word. God is a judgmental God! He said it -- I didn't (Romans 2:16)
#3. Eating food sacrificed to idols: could we suggest the participation of Christians in pagan practices? One of the practices of the pagans was sacrificing the food to the idol. We see that in many eastern religions... We have also been taught that mingling the pagan with Christianity is okay with God because .."we don't mean evil by it" or "it's draw in the heathen" or "you can find a Christian meaning in that practice" -- this false teaching is just that -- a lie. God wants us to separate from the ways of the world not mix them in with God's ways!
Specifically with food, in some way or another all of our food seems to be sacrificied to the idol of the dollar. Or the hands of the people bringing it from wherever that ends up on our tables could have prayed to their false gods...BUT we are to receive our food with thanksgiving unto the LORD, and give him all the praise for what he has put before us. (for more on this read I Corinthians 8)
And #4 Fornication...I would prefer that you look up that word on your own and FLEE FORNICATION!
Read I Corinthians 6:9-10, I Corinthians 7:2, Galatians 5:19, I Thessalonians 4:3, Jude 1:7
- What did Jesus say to those who refuse to repent of these listed above from Revelation 2:16?
- If you repent and overcome, what then?
For some, DAY 3 may involve some serious sackcloth and ashes. Yet for all of us, we are to keep ourselves from idols and to pray without ceasing. I Corinthians 6:18, I Thessalonians 5:17
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