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Showing posts from June, 2022

"Real Revival" June 30 Readings: Nehemiah 6-9

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Nehemiah 6-9     Background:     Nehemiah finishes the wall in spite of opposition and Ezra leads the people to return to God. Daily Devotional:    Real Revival Many books have been written and sermons have been preached on how to bring revival to our land. Most fail because they reduce this work of God to simple formulas and easy steps. We cannot do that. But in Ezra 8 and 9 we observe a real revival in which Ezra

"Pray and Fight" June 29 Readings: Nehemiah 1-5

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Nehemiah 1-5     Background:     Until the 16th Century, Hebrew Bibles included Nehemiah with Ezra. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King and led a return to Israel to rebuild the walls to protect Jerusalem. Ezra led in the spiritual rebuilding of Israel but Nehemiah worked to protect them from physical enemies. He also finds out that Israelites have been backsliding and marrying non-Jewish wives and he confronts

"A Great and Godly Leader" June 28 Readings: Ezra 7-10

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Ezra 7-10    Background:     This passage primarily focuses on Ezra's prayer of confession because Israel was marrying foreign wives, risking returning to the sinful ways that had caused their downfall. Daily Devotional:   A Great and Godly Leader   Ezra is one of the great men of Scripture. He comes from exile, returning to Jerusalem to lead Israel in its return to God. In Ezra 7-10, he finds the people of God

"Sovereign Unseen" June 27 Readings: Esther 6-10

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Esther 6-10     Background:     Esther is a strange book. It recounts some strange behavior from Esther and Mordecai; actions hard to square with the Law of God. But the oddest thing is that from the first verse to the last God's name is not mentioned a single time. How strange that a book of the Bible, inspired by God, free from error, should fail to even once mention the God who is over all. But though God is

"Flawed Servants" June 26 Readings: Esther 1-5

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Esther 1-5     Background:     There are so many questions that surround the book of Esther. It was written for the purpose of explaining the Feast of Purim but there is a deeper purpose behind the book. It is one of two books in the Bible that does not even mention God (Song of Songs is the other), but it is a book in which the hand of God is seen from start to finish. Daily Devotional:   Flawed Servants   Esther

"The Jesus of Prophecy" June 25 Readings: Zechariah 8-14

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Zechariah 8-14       Background:     After the prophecy of chapter 8, chapter 9-14 concludes Zechariah's book with two great oracles from God (9-11, 12-14), each of which contains familiar messianic prophecies. They focus on the great victory of God over Israel's sin. Daily Devotional:   The Jesus of Prophecy   It is dangerous to delve into the end times in a devotional such as this since people have such v

"He Defends the Guilty" June 24 Readings: Zechariah 1-7

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:     Zechariah 1-7    Background:     Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai and his prophecies are likely dated to about 520 to 518 BC. Zechariah is of the priestly tribe and his name means "God remembered" - God did not forget Israel in Babylon. His message dovetails with Haggai's. Daily Devotional:    He Defends the Guilty What a powerful vision Zechariah had - not really a vision but an insight into

"Curse of Misplaced Priorities" June 23 Readings: Haggai 1-2

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Haggai 1-2     Background:     Today's reading is unusually short but powerful. (Tomorrow's will make up for the shortness of today's - seven chapters of Zechariah.) Take a little extra time to meditate on the message of Haggai. It is written within the time period of Ezra and Nehemiah. He prophesied in 520 BC. The decree of Cyrus went out in 538 BC and nearly 20 years later the procrastinating Israelit

"When the Enemy Attacks" June 22 Readings: Ezra 1-6, Psalm 137

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:     Ezra 1-6, Psalm 137    Background:     Several of the books of the Hebrew Old Testament seem to have originally been one book and were divided into two. This is true of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, which were likely divided because of the length of the scrolls. It seems that originally Ezra and Nehemiah may have been one book and were later separated, though that is less clear. Ezra is o

"War of the Angels" June 21 Readings: Daniel 9-12

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Daniel 9-12    Background:     The last four chapters of Daniel contain visions of the future - some of the most significant in the Bible. Daniel 9:24-27, the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks, is a template for all future prophecies regarding the End Times. The prophecies of chapter 11 and 12, while having some historical content, also look forward to the great battles of the last days, which we often loosely call Arm

"So You Want to See Miracles?" June 20 Readings: Daniel 5-8

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:     Daniel 5-8    Background:     The book of Daniel is self-revelatory. Modern liberal scholars are convinced that it cannot have been written by Daniel because of the prophecies made about the kingdoms to come. If Daniel actually wrote the book then it is evidence of the supernatural nature of scriptural prophecy and skeptics cannot accept that. They claim that the book was written after the events took place and t

"Into the Fire" June 19 Readings: Daniel 1-4

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Daniel 1-4     Background:     Daniel is one of the truly great men of biblical history. He is one of the few characters of the Bible's story without a major flaw or a sinful failing. From his boyhood in captivity until his older years in the lion's den and through all the visions God gave him, he is an example of spiritual courage and moral excellence. Daily Devotional:    Into the Fire It is one of my fav

"Tear Your Hearts" June 18 Readings: Joel 1-3

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:     Joel 1-3    Background:     Joel is a mystery prophet, with almost no specific historical information to date it. Some put it among the earliest of the prophets and many place Joel at the end of the kingdom of Judah and as a contemporary of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Daily Devotional:   Tear Your Hearts   Joel tells the entire story of sin and redemption, a microcosm of Israel's history, of God's grace and res

"Living Water" June 17 Readings: Ezekiel 43-48

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:     Ezekiel 43-48    Background:     There are many questions about the millennial temple - the biggest of which is why sacrifices are mentioned after the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. But this passage describes that temple that will exist in the times after the Lord has returned to set up his kingdom on earth. Daily Devotional:   Living Water   Though we have many questions about this idealized and future temple

"Dry Bones Live" June 16 Readings: Ezekiel 37-42

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022 This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened."  Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.  Bible Readings:   Ezekiel 37-42     Background:     Two of the better-known passages of Ezekiel are in today's reading. In chapter 37; God makes the dead live - which only he can do. Then, in 38 and 39 we have the prophetic history of the great future battle known as Armageddon. We are also introduced to the millennial temple. Daily Devotional:   Dry Bones Live   It is the greatest miracle of all. The Bible records many wondrous