Danial 2:44

Verse of the Day Devotion Danial 2:44 

“And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” – Danial 2:44

Up to Christmas day, I will be looking at the different prophesies which foresee the coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  He came here in order to offer the means of salvation for all.  An important idea to remember is that God knows everything and forgets nothing.  “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,” Isaiah 46:9-10.

Our focus verse today is found in the Book of Daniel.  This verse comes from Daniel’s interpretation of a dream that God gave to King Nebuchadnezzar regarding the end of days.  It is a rather long interpretation, but what we read here is the climax of God’s revelation of the meaning of this dream.  Daniel begins by answering a question from the King where he asks, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel 2:26.  Daniel answers him with, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.” Daniel 2:27-28. Daniel then starts by telling the king the dream that he had was a prophetic message. “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.” Daniel 2:29. 

Many things were in the King’s dream, but the critical parts, associated with the coming Messiah, is found in our focus verse.  “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 2:44.  This is the climax of the dream revelation, the coming kingdom of God. There are several things to look at here.  First, it is revealed that this kingdom will be established “in the time of those kings.” It will happen during the times of human kingship.  In other words, this new kingdom will overthrow all earthy kingdoms at that time.  Second, this kingdom will be set up by God.  Note the wording, “God of heaven will set up a kingdom”.  Man will have nosay regarding this kingdom, and therefore it will be a good and perfect one.  And then third, the kingdom will be eternal.  Again, note these important words, “it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”.

Our focus verse most naturally should be understood to speak of Christ’s second coming. This new kingdom will replace all kingdoms that exist at the time of His coming.  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger, the world was introduced to our eternal King who will rule forever.  He paid the penalty so that we can, if we choose, to be a part of this new kingdom.  And when this kingdom is established, we will be able to live at peace forever, with a King that loves us and will rule with this love. “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.” Psalm 111:9.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

Verse of the Day Devotion:  2 Timothy 4:3-4

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Paul is writing here to Timothy at the end of his letter charging him in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ to be diligent in discipling those under his care.  This is very important to him because he was then imprisoned in Rome for a second time and shortly before his death.  Paul had worked extremely hard in teaching the truth to the church and He wanted this to continue after his death.  And Paul did not just suggest this or tell him, he charged him.  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.  Note all that Timothy was being called to do.  To preach the word in season and out of season.  In other words. be urgent whether the times are prosperous or not, whenever there is an opportunity and when there is none, strive to make one. The Judge is at the door and to every man eternity is at hand!  Wherever  you meet one in  sin speak to him the word of reconciliation. Do not be content with stated times and accustomed places for all times and places belong to God and are proper for his work.  Wherever it can be done, there it should be done. Satan will omit neither time nor place where he can destroy. Omit nothing where you may be the instrument of salvation to someone.

And why is this important?  Paul states his reason in our focus verses.  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3-4.  He is to press home the truth of the word of God on every occasion whether it is convenient of not for the urgency of the message overrides any other circumstance whether or not the situation is favorable or not.  Because there is a time coming to the Church when people will not hear the practical truth of the gospel when they prefer something else.  They will interpret the word in a way that agrees with their lusts and will go out and find teachers that agrees with them.  And he encourages Timothy to stand firm to the truth.  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5. 

Unfortunately, we live in a day where this has become true.  Many still stand firm in believing the truth, however, there are many who look for a church that teaches things that are absolutely sinful and encourages the people to follow these teachings.  There are various places that are called churches that teach homosexuality is ok to the point that many of their leadership practice this lifestyle, even though the scriptures condemn it.  Now, to make this clear, we are to reach out to the homosexual to help them see the truth that the activity is sin, but we must never allow this to be in the church.  One other issue that can be brought up is abortion, which many church goers declare to be acceptable.  However, murder is never acceptable, no matter who it is.

We as leaders in the church must preach what the scriptures say and not what it does not say  We must understand what God says is sin and teach it as such and not accept it simply because our society says so.  And there are preachers out there that will teach what is socially acceptable in order to be accepted themselves.  Whatever God has declared as sin is sin and must be preached accordingly, and what He has declared as righteous must be preached accordingly.  To do anything else is to lead people away from the truth and cause many to be condemned at Jesus’s coming if they do not hear and follow God’s word as stated.  We should desire that all be saved and none condemned.  Therefore, as Paul said to Timothy he says to us.  “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.  Let us shower the world with God’s truth everywhere we go and do all we can to help everyone understand and follow it.  If that requires reproof, then reprove them.  If correction, then rebuke. If exhortation, then encourage them in the truth.  Our goal is to lead as many as we can to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Let all we do accomplish that goal and not lead them astray simply because they want to hear a different word.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

Verse of the Day – 1 Corinthians 10:13

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

It’s me again, Christiaan, if you missed yesterday’s study, you can reference it here: Ecclesiastes 3:1 as I want to build on some of the things I covered yesterday.

If you grew up in church, ever had a sunday school, been to youth group, or if you’re a guy been to any sort of men’s group, you’re familiar with this verse. It’s almost exclusively used in terms of temptation. And that’s not surprising. Almost every translation (28/31) uses the term temptation.

But what if temptation isn’t really the best term? The bible that we have is largely translated into our native language from either Hebrew or Greek. Tools like the Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) give us a better idea of what was really intended because it’s the most literal translation out there. It takes the individual words in Greek, factors in the tenses, and gives us an exact English phrasing. The biggest problem is that it’s not always readable.

“No trial has overtaken you that is not distinctively human; and God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear, but with the trial [He] will also provide the way through, so that you will be able to endure it.” – 1st Corinthians 10:13 (MOUNCE)

The word that’s translated in Trial/Test/Temptation is the Greek word, Peirasmos, which when used in scripture can mean anything from “direct temptation to sin,” being put on trial or suffering a “trial, calamity, and affliction.”

This is much deeper than just a temptation to sin, which while true isn’t the complete and total truth. Paul is telling us that nothing we go through is ultimately unique, and this can provide comfort in the fact that we know we’re not alone. It also tells us that that no matter what trial, calamity, or affliction we face, God will provide us a way to get through it so we can endure.

When paired with the two translations of Ecclesiastes 3:1 from yesterday: “Everything has a season, and a time for every matter under the heavens.” (Alter) and “Everything that happens in the world happens at a time God chooses.” GNT we can agree upon the following truths:

  • Trials, calamities, afflictions, temptations and everything we go through has a season. Just as they began at one point, they’ll end.
  • You’re not alone in your suffering, others have and will go through suffering like you are at some point.
  • God won’t prevent you from going through these seasons, but he will ensure that you can endure them and one of the ways that God does this is by his choosing the time to have you go through it.

And that is an encouraging thought.

Christiaan.