Ezekiel 32
LORD compares Egypt to a young lion & whale verse 1- 2
And it came to pass in the 12/1/12
that the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt
and say to him
You are like a young lion of the nations
and you are as a whale in the seas
and you came forth with your rivers
and troubled the waters with your feet
and fouled the rivers
LORD drags whale onto land to die verse 3- 6
Thus says the Lord GOD
I will therefore spread out MY net over you with a company
of many people and they shall bring you up in MY net
THEN will I leave you upon the land
I will cast you forth upon the open field
will cause the fowls of the heaven to remain on you
I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you
And I will lay your flesh upon the mountains
and fill the valleys with your height
I will water also with your blood the land wherein you swim
even to the mountains and the rivers shall be full of you
Death of nation affects celestial bodies verse 7- 8
WHEN I shall put you out – I will cover the heaven
and make the stars thereof dark
I will cover the sun with a cloud
and the moon shall not give her light
all the bright lights of heaven
over you will I make
dark over you – and set darkness upon your land
says the Lord GOD
Death of Egypt causes other nations to tremble verse 9- 10
I will also vex the hearts of many people
WHEN I shall bring your destruction among the nations
into the countries which you have not known
Yea – I will make many people amazed at you
and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you
WHEN I shall brandish MY sword before them
and they shall tremble at every moment
every man for his own life in the day of your fall
LORD sings a funeral song for Egypt verse 11- 16
For thus
says the Lord GOD
The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you
by the swords of the mighty
will I cause your multitude to fall
the terrible of the nations – all of them
and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt
and all the multitude thereof shall
be destroyed
I will destroy all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters
neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more
nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them
THEN will I make their waters deep
and cause their rivers to run like oil
says the Lord GOD
WHEN I shall make the land of Egypt desolate
and the country shall be destitute
of that whereof it was full
WHEN I shall smite all them that dwell therein
THEN SHALL THEY KNOW
THAT I AM THE LORD
This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her
the daughters of the nations shall lament her
they shall lament for her – even for Egypt
and for all her multitude
says the Lord GOD
Second message from the LORD verse 17- 19
It came to pass also in the 12/15/12
that the word of the LORD came unto me
saying
Son of man – wail for the multitude of Egypt
and cast them down – even her
and the daughters of the famous nations
unto the nether parts of the earth
with them that go down into the pit
Whom do you pass in beauty? – go down
and be you laid with the uncircumcised
Grave welcomes Egypt verse 20- 21
They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword
she is delivered to the sword – draw her and all her multitudes
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him
out of the midst of hell
with them that help him – they are gone down
they lie uncircumcised – slain by the sword
Assyria welcome Egypt to the grave verse 22- 23
Asshur is there and all her company – his graves are about him
all of them slain – fallen by the sword
whose graves are set in the sides of the pit
and her company is round about her grave
all of them slain – fallen by the sword
which caused terror in the land of the living
Elam welcome Egypt to the grave verse 24- 25
There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave
all of them slain fallen by the sword
which are gone down uncircumcised
into the nether parts of the earth
which caused their terror in the land of the living
Yet have they borne their shame with them
that go down to the pit
They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain
with all her multitude
her graves are round about him
all of them uncircumcised
slain by the sword though they caused their terror
in the land of the living
yet have they borne their shame with them
that go down to the pit
he is put in the midst of them that be slain
Meshech and Tubal welcome Egypt to the grave verse 26- 28
There is Meshech – Tubal – and all her multitude – her graves are round him
all of them uncircumcised – slain by the sword
though they caused their terror in the land of the living
And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised
which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war
and they have laid their swords under their heads
but their iniquities shall be upon their bones
though they were the terror of the mighty
in the land of the living
YEA – you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised
and shall lie with them that are slain with the sword
Edom welcome Egypt to the grave verse 29
There is Edom – her kings – and all her princes
which with their might are laid
by them that were slain by the sword
they shall lie with the uncircumcised
and with them that go down to the pit
Princes to the north and Sidonians welcome Egypt verse 30
There be the princes of the north – all of them – and all the Sidonians
which are gone down with the slain
with their terror they are ashamed of their might
and they lie uncircumcised with them
that be slain by the sword
and bear their shame with them that go
down to the pit
Comfort for Egypt in grave verse 31- 32
Pharaoh shall see them – and shall be comforted over all his multitude
even Pharaoh – and all his army slain by the sword
says the Lord GOD
FOR I have caused MY terror in the land of the living
and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised
with them that are slain with the sword
EVEN Pharaoh and all his multitude
says the Lord GOD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and set darkness on you land, says the Lord GOD. (3974 “bright lights” [mo’owr] means luminary, source of light, any object that serves as a source of illumination, lamp, or sun and moon.)
DEVOTION: The people of Egypt worshiped a sun god. It was a false god but they were a nation that worshiped many gods. The LORD here is stating that HE is the one who allows the sun and moon and stars to light up the sky during the day and night. HE was the one who created them and HE is in control of when they will shine.
We know from the New Testament that at the end of time there will be no need for the heavenly lights as the LORD HIMSELF will be the light.
We have to realize that we are not here to worship creation but the Creator of the Universe. HE is in control. HE has a plan that HE is working each day here on this earth. HE knows what is going on and HE will judge accordingly any nation that disobeys HIM. The people of Egypt thought that they could count on the sun to always be their light during the day and the moon and stars would always be there to light the night. They were wrong. The LORD can take either one away at any time.
Today our nations of the world are worshiping other gods. There will be a time coming when the LORD will deal with those who are not truly worshiping HIM in spirit and in truth. What they were counting on by way of created things will no longer be counted on.
What are we counting on each day? Is the LORD the source of our inner light or are we looking at other things or people to light up our life?
CHALLENGE: Realize that Jesus is the light of the world. HE was sent to give us light in a very dark world. Look to HIM for guidance each day.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 18 Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. (953 “pit” [bowr] means cistern, dungeon, well, prison, sepulcher, abode of the dead, or grave.)
DEVOTION: The LORD orders Ezekiel to sing a funeral song or lamentation over the nation of Egypt. They were going into the lowest part of the earth. They are going to the grave.
Famous nations have been destroyed before Egypt. The LORD wants everyone to understand that HE is the one who is judging Egypt through the nation of Babylon. HE wants all the people to realize that HE is sovereign over all the nations of the earth.
We read that even the celestial creation listen to the LORD. The sun, moon and stars are part of the reaction to the fall of Egypt. Remember that the Egyptians worshiped the heavenly bodies as gods. The LORD was making a statement that they are not gods but obedient creations of HIS.
Why does the LORD repeat HIMSELF so often in this book? The reason is that HIS people just don’t get it the first or second or third time HE says something. HE keeps repeating HIMSELF because HE wants them to learn the truth regarding who is the ONLY TRUE GOD of the universe.
We know that the New Testament teaches that it is appointed unto man once to die and then judgment. There is no second chance. There is no reincarnation. There is only one death and one judgment according to the Word of God. All other teaching is FALSE.
Some may think that those who are against the LORD are going to have a good time in the grave. They are wrong. There is going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those without a relationship with the LORD.
The New Testament gives an illustration of this in Luke 16: 24 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
Once a choice is made in this life it lasts for eternity. Our responsibility is to warn those around us in our world of the coming judgment. They need to know their choice. No one will be able to give an excuse once they stand before the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Death is final. Warning is essential while alive. The command is given to followers of Christ to warn those around them. We need to do our job.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword. 6189 “uncircumcised” [‘arel] means having foreskin, considered a foreigner to Israel, considered an enemy of Israel, unbelieving, unrepentant, unhearing, or referring to a person that is unresponsive in obedience to God.)
DEVOTION: In the Old Testament there were two types of people. One type was the Israelites who were given a sign of a covenant. The sign was circumcision. Each Israelite male was to be circumcised as a baby. This sign started with Abraham. It is being practiced to this day.
The second type of person were all those who were not circumcised. That represented the rest of the world. In the Old Testament there were individuals who converted to the Jewish religion and were circumcised but they were few.
In this passage the Egyptians had their final message. There were seven messages from the LORD to Ezekiel regarding the downfall of Egypt. They were going to be defeated because of their treatment of Israel. They were going down into the midst of hades or Sheol. This represented the place where all those who died would go after death.
In the New Testament we find that it was divided into two compartments. Those who were followers of the LORD would go into Abraham’s bosom. Those who were not followers of the LORD would go into a place of torment.
Here we find that the Egyptians were going to a place for all those who were out of a covenant relationship with the LORD.
This word is used ten times in this chapter. The prophet is trying to get across the point that the people being judged were not hearing the message of the LORD. They wanted nothing to do with the LORD. They were going to go down to the pit.
They were going to be judged with all those who didn’t believe on the LORD. There is a judgment coming in the future for all those who are outside of Christ. The choice is made in this life and lasts throughout eternity.
What choice have we made in our relationship to the LORD? Are we going to follow HIM from this day forward? Or are we going to be part of the uncircumcised crowd that is going to spend eternity in a literal place called hell?
CHALLENGE: Remember that it is not just saying a prayer that saves you, it is a life change. Our life should be different once me make a true commitment to the LORD. We will not be sinless or without sin but we can sin less with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are to bring glory to the LORD.
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: 32 For I have caused MY terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD. (2851 “terror” [chittiyth] means an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety, estreme fear and alarm, as a state of great distress, destruction or ruin)
DEVOTION: This is a description of what the LORD is going to send over the land of Egypt. HE was the one who uses judgment to get the attention of the world to help them realize that HE is in control of the world and not any nation or any man.
Too often we are more concerned about what man or even a nation can do to us but our real concern and the concern of any nation that is not honoring the LORD should be that HIS judgment is coming and with it most are sent into an eternity out of HIS presence.
Our thoughts should be to honor the LORD so that HE can bless us as HE tried to bless the nation of Israel in the Old Testament.
The problem was that they looked to other nations and their false gods instead of the LORD. They liked the way the world worshiped their false gods instead of worshiping the ONE TRUE GOD of the Bible that had save them from many nations throughout their history.
Too often even today those who attend even good Bible believing churches are looking at what those who don’t love the LORD are doing and think they are having fun that they are not having and so they think they deserve a life of having fun instead of worshiping the LORD in Spirit and in truth where there is great joy when it is done right.
CHALLENGE: We have to ask ourselves a question after reading about what happens to those who don’t worship the LORD: “Are we really understanding what is going to happen to those who don’t honor the LORD?”
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD (1/12/12,/15) verse 1, 17
Lamentation verse 2, 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 15, 17
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 3, 8, 11, 14, 16, 31, 32
GOD – Jehovah verse 3, 8, 11, 14, 16, 31, 32
Lord GOD verse 3, 8, 11, 14, 16, 31, 32
I will spread out MY net over you (Pharaoh)
with a company of many people and
they shall bring you up in MY net verse 3
Judgment of LORD on Egypt verse 2- 32
I will – 15x
I shall – 2
I shall make the land of Egypt desolate verse 15
I am the LORD verse 15
My terror in the land of the living verse 32
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Pharoah – king of Egypt verse 2, 12, 15, 16, 18, 31, 32
King of Babylon verse 11
Daughters of the famous nations are cast down
to the nether parts of the earth – with
them that go down into the pit verse 18
Asshur verse 22
Elam verse 24
Meshech verse 26
Tubal verse 26
Edom verse 29
Princes of the north verse 30
Zidonians verse 30
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Pomp verse 12
Uncircumcised verse 19, 21, 24- 30, 32
Caused terror in the land of the living verse 23, 26
Cause terror verse 24- 27
Shame verse 24, 25, 30
Iniquities verse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Know the LORD verse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 2, 16, 18
lamentation for Pharaoh
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Pit verse 18, 23- 25, 29, 30
Slain with the sword verse 20
Hell verse 21, 27
Grave verse 22- 26
Gone down uncircumcised into the
nether parts of the earth verse 24
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QUOTES regarding passage
The oracles against the nations in Ezek 25–32 were originally delivered to the people of Judah. Although the words written seem to be solely for those particular nations, they are foremost for the people of Judah in Jerusalem and Babylon and serve at least three purposes. First, the oracles in Ezek 25–32 reveal God’s judgment against the nations that either mocked or aided in Jerusalem’s fall. Second, as with both the king of Tyre and the Pharaoh of Egypt, God would throw them down from their self-elevated positions of power—there is no room for such arrogance and pride in God’s creation. Third, the oracles are essentially a dismantling of the gods of the nations, which is in turn a dismantling of the gods Judah had begun to rely wrongly upon, and the proclamation that Yahweh is the one and only true God for all nations. As mentioned in the introduction to this section, the phrase “know I am the Lord” occurs nineteen times. The primary purpose of these oracles is that everyone should come to “know the Lord.” (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Vol. 17: Ezekiel. The New American Commentary (289). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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Pharaoh’s judgment also would be part of the eschatological Day of the Lord. He would be snuffed out or extinguished like a shining star (vv. 7–8). On that Day of the Lord, Egypt, like all other nations, will be judged by God (Joel 2:10, 31; 3:14; Isa 13:10; 34:4; Matt 24:29; Rev 6:12; 8:12) (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, p. 287). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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It would be as if ‘a great darkness covered the land’ (vv.7–8), demonstrating that Egypt’s great sun gods were impotent to help. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 902). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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God also said He would darken the stars … sun, and moon, bringing darkness over the land (Ezek. 32:7–8). Though these cataclysmic signs are similar to those that will accompany the day of the Lord (Joel 2:30–31; 3:15), it seems Ezekiel was alluding here to the darkness of the ninth plague (Ex. 10:21–29). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1291). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The monster captured (vv. 1–10). This is an “official lamentation” for the king of Egypt who thought he was a great lion but in God’s sight was only a crocodile. Pharaoh thrashed about in the water and made a big scene, but all he did was muddy the waters and create problems by disobeying the Lord.
In chapter 29, God caught the Egyptian “crocodile” with a hook, but now Egypt is so weak, it can be easily caught with a net. (See 12:13; 17:20; 19:8.) God would take the crocodile to the land and leave him there to die, and the vultures would devour the carcass, reminding us of 29:3–5. But he adds two more images: the land drenched in blood and the heavens shrouded in darkness (vv. 6–8). These are reminders of the first and ninth plagues before Israel’s exodus from Egypt, the turning of the water into blood and the darkness for three days (Ex. 7:20–24; 10:21–29). According to Revelation 8:8–9, a similar judgment will fall during the Great Tribulation.
The description of the signs in the heavens makes us think of the future day of the Lord described in Joel 3, Amos 5:18–20, and Matthew 24. It has well been said that past events cast their shadows before, and so it will be with the fall of Egypt. It was a dress rehearsal for the judgments of the last days. Once again, Ezekiel explained that just as the fall of Assyria caused a shock wave to go through the nations (30:16; see 27:35 and 28:19), so the fall of Egypt will frighten the nations (32:9–10). But will they learn from this experience and turn to the Lord? No, they will go right on sinning and rebelling against His truth. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (pp. 141–142). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
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God said He would cover the heavens and make the stars dark, veil the sun with a cloud, and so arrange it that the moon should not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven were to be darkened, and the whole land covered with gloom. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (p. 216). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers)
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Ver. 8. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, &c.] Or, all the lights of the light; the rest of the luminaries of heaven; the other five planets, as Kimchi, besides the sun and moon: and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God; as there must needs be, the sun, moon, and stars, and all the lights of heaven, being darkened above: there seems to be an allusion to the thick darkness that was formerly over the land of Egypt; and this is a figure and representation of that darkness that shall be in the kingdom of the beast, or spiritual Egypt, yet to come; see Exod. 10:21; Rev. 16:10. The Targum is, “tribulation as darkness shall cover thy land.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, pp. 164–165). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his loyal commanders.
INSIGHT
There is greater pain in sin than in righteousness. David clearly loves Bathsheba. Certainly, it would have pained him had he turned his heart away from her before having relations with her. But that pain is nothing compared to the pain he brings on himself and others by taking her as his own. Adultery, murder, the death of their child, the loss of respect, and the memory of the guilt were some of the results of his sin.
It is sometimes painful to do the right thing, but it is always more painful to do the wrong thing. (Quiet Walk)
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FACING GOD
How should man be just with God? Job 9:2
The most urgent, vital question confronting man is still the question asked of old by Job: “How should man be just with God?” Certainly there is a new setting to problems—whether they are economic, political, or educational; whether they deal with the shortage of houses or the proper treatment of strikes. But all these problems are temporary. Behind and beyond them all remains that unavoidable situation in which we shall be face to face with the eternal God, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
The ultimate problem for man is not himself, his happiness, or the conditions that surround him while he is here on earth. His ultimate problem is his relationship with God both in time and in eternity; and God is eternal, changeless, absolute. How foolish it is, therefore, to argue that modern man needs a new remedy or a new type of salvation rather than “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Timothy 1:11), which is to be found alone in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us agree wholeheartedly with the modern man when he says that he believes always in having the best. The man who does not desire the best is a fool. Let us by all means have the best, whatever it may cost and whatever its source may be. Further, it is true to say that in many realms and departments of life the latest is undoubtedly the best. For example, the decline in the mortality rate in diseases like meningitis and pneumonia is truly astonishing. There can be no question at all but that in the treatment of the ills and diseases of the body, the latest is the best.
But can the same be said about the cure of the ills of the soul? Is there some magical potion that can be given to a man who is on his deathbed, who realizes his sinfulness?
A Thought to Ponder: The ultimate problem for man is his relationship with God.
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 120-123, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Chuck Swindoll: Church attendance doesn’t mean a place to sit on Sunday, it’s to challenge your thinking and reshape your life.
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The Able One
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)
This beautiful benediction is quoted at the end of many worship times because it summarizes both the core promises and the foundational authority of “the only wise God our Saviour.”
He is able! The precision of the Holy Spirit’s inspired words is always perfect. The ability of the only wise God is not only omnipotent but omniscient as well. The Greek word dunamis signifies not only sufficient innate power to accomplish the task but also the knowledge to perform the job correctly. The leper said, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matthew 8:2).
He is able to “keep you from falling.” Again, the word choices are absolutely wonderful. God’s ability is used to provide a place of safe custody sufficient to stop any external attack. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). That custody protects our “faultlessness”—a condition that is without any flaw. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).
Only God’s omnipotence and omniscience can produce a “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). God “can do” nothing less. His dunamis is such that “whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and hecannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
That is why “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God” must be given “honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Lukewarm Church -LAODICEA
Instead, they lulled themselves into spiritual self-satisfaction, unaware that their heresy and hypocrisy had dulled their ability to assess their own spiritual condition accurately. (p. 166)
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In addition to their blasphemous view of Christ, they, like some in the Colossian assembly, may have been influenced by an early form of Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed they had obtained a kind of secret, elevated knowledge. Their supposedly transcendent knowledge set them apart from other unsophisticated believer. That’s the kind of spiritual pride Christ described in His letter to Laodicea: “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (v. 17).
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They knew the truth about Christ but denied His deity; they knew the truth about God but worshiped a god of their own design. Such smug spiritual self-confidence characterizes whole denominations today. (p. 167)
(Christ’s Call TO REFORM the Church by John MacArthur)
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MY cousin Sabrena quotes:
GETTING OLDER IS JUST ONE BODY PART AFTER ANOTHER SAYING, “HA HA, YOU THINK THAT’S BAD? WATCH THIS!
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