Jerusalem, a Useless Vine

 Ezekiel 15:1-8

 

November 26, 2023

 

Jerusalem, a Useless Vine

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?  Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?  Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?  Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it, and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!  Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord when I set my face against them.  And I will make the land desolate because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.”

 

We serve or don’t serve an unchangeable God who keeps His promises.  

Deuteronomy 8:7-8

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

 

That was great, and yet they desired to chase after the little gods of the nations around them, and now God is fulfilling a promise He made if they did so.

Jeremiah 2:21

“Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed.  How then have you turned yourself before Me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?

 

Has the Church, not a denomination or building, but the body of Christ, followed after the World, have its actions often had the flavor of the World?  It is an attitude that Jesus is not enough to attract the youth and young couples.  Maybe it is time for a wake-up call from Jesus.

 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already, you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  (John 15:1-10) 

 

Six times in these verses, Jesus is telling each of us who is in Christ what must happen to be His disciple.  I have often not been, and I found it has required me to once more examine myself, 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”  Have you asked God if my wood, or life, ​is like the wood God is talking to Ezekiel about in Chapter 15: 1-8?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Jerusalem Will Not Be Spared

                                                          Ezekiel 14​: 12-23

 

November 25, 2023

 

Jerusalem Will Not Be Spared

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.

 

“If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they ravage it, and it be made desolate, so that no one may pass through because of the beasts, even if these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

 

“Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, Let a sword pass through the land, and I cut off from it man and beast, though these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be delivered.

 

“Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out my wrath upon it with blood, to cut off from it man and beast, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter. They would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness.

 

“For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four disastrous acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!  But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.  They will console you when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God.”

 

These three men who obey God, did what He told them and went through trials and abuse by those who lived around them.  God has said they would live but not their children.  If Jerusalem would not be spared, why would God spare the USA?  His Church would be spared, but many of those who go by the title of Christian would not be, including sons and daughters.

 

For many years God has sent us men who have warned our Nation to repent and turn back to God, is it too late to wake up, bow down to a Holy God, and ask for forgiveness?  I believe the hour is late, but the answer is a big NO, as long as it is called today, the Holy Spirit is drawing men, women, boys, and girls to our Lord.  So today you still have this moment to repent and ask Jesus to come into your life.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Idolatrous Elders Condemned

 

Ezekiel 14:1-11

 

November 24, 2023

 

Idolatrous Elders Condemned

Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.  And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? Therefore, speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.

“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.  For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I, the Lord, will answer him myself.  And I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the Lord.  And if the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.  And they shall bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet and the punishment of the inquirer shall be alike— that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.”

 

How does one guard against taking idols into their heart?  And what are some of the idols Christians often take into their hearts?  Most dangerous and destructive: could it be religion?  Not the Worship of God, but the holding of rules and traditions of religion, not the seeking of God.  Your ability to perform without depending on Christ.  Sports, of all kinds, knowing more about them and spending time studying and doing and watching them than seeking fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  The government is putting trust in a party for your identity, not Christ.  Chasing after wealth, and not the promises of God.  Acquiring stuff you value and seek more than sharing the Truth of what God has done for you.  And another is putting self before, loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might.

 

How do we guard against letting these idols into our hearts?  For me, it has been a battle to seek God and not my desires, to seek fellowship with our Lord, to ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in the ways of holiness, mercy, love, and goodness.  To not just read the Word of God but to apply its teaching to my life.  To assemble with other believers, and to have a mentor relationship with a brother who loves me enough to tell me I’m falling short in my actions and words.

 

I have a dear friend named Paul who is all about relationships, and his heart is to seek first the kingdom of God. Does he ever fall short? Sure, and so do we all? When we put any relationship above our Lord, we have placed an idol in our lives. Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”   Your Father in heaven knows your needs and loves you, so seek Him first and allow Him to provide what will be of value to your life.

 

From one mess to another, seek, obey, and live the abundant life the Lord has promised.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Watchour for false Teachers , Preachers, and Preast

 

Ezekiel 13: 8-16,

 

November 18, 2023

 

Therefore, thus says the Lord God: “Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord God.  My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.  Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out.  And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ Therefore, thus says the Lord God: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end.  And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord.  Thus, will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord God.

 

Pease where there is no Pease. It reminds me of those who are telling us to buy gold, for in gold we will find security.  Jesus tells us in John 16:33, ^“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  How many false prophets are telling you that if you do this, are that, and it usefully enhances their wealth, it will bring you a life of contentment?  Folks, Jesus is the Truth, and you can trust His words.  Jesus tells us in John 10:9-14, ^“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,”

 

How long have you been at the wrong door, because you have been listening to the wrong voice, telling you their whitewash was what was needed to find peace for your soul?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Does Scripture Address God Speaking to People?

 

 

 

Does Scripture Address God Speaking to People?

 

You may be surprised that He is still speaking!

 

Shall we explore a few Scriptures?

 

It is impossible for one who does not believe in Jesus to have an understanding of Scripture

 

 

 

 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2Timothy 3:16

It requires one to not only believe 2 Timothy 3:16, but to seek God and His will in your life.  In my life, I’ve found that I require a quiet place to study and seek fellowship with the Lord.

John 16:13 - When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

The Spirit of Truth is for all who, by faith, put their trust in the finished work of Christ on the Cross.  The Holy Spirit will bring understanding of Scriptures, Conviction of the Scriptures, and guide you into all truth.

Daniel 9:20-23 – “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God,  while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.  He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy, a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision.”

If you desire a better relationship with the Lord, look at what Daniel is doing and model it.

Acts 8:26 -   Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.

Acts 9:15 – “But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

 

The three men with whom I share Accountability tell me my papers are too long. I believe Pascal says it well.

“I made this [letter] very long, because I did not have the leisure to make it shorter.”
― Blaise Pascal,

God has often spoken to me at key times in my Life

The first time God spoke to me was as I put the key in the door of my hotel room.  It was about 10 pm, and for about five months, I had been trying to make a deal with God on becoming a follower of His.  I must tell you God is not in the deal-making business.  That night as the key with into the door, I heard a voice say This is the last night my spirit will deal with you.  I made a run for the hotel Bible, and it opened to Romans 10, and my eyes went to verse 9-10, and that night I confessed my sins that were many, and asked God to forgive me and take over my life.

 

The next time was loading a copier into my car, and I saw a young man in a suit going into the office, and I knew they would give him my job.  Fear was not my friend, but seemed to be with me most of the time. God told me to stop listening to that voice, that He had given me the skill and ability to do my job.  I never fear again about my job, and I went from a marginal salesperson to the top two percent in a very large division of 3 M.

 

Next came a Storm. The weather forecaster was saying it would not be much, but as I helped tape the window of our office on Shoreline Drive in Corpus Christi, the Lord spoke to me and said Go home and take your family out of this area.  I did, and I assured my young bride with our baby girl that the pagans living around us might be affected, but our home would be fine.

 

One small problem, God had not said that, and when we came home, our home was gone, but our mailbox was still there at the end of our long drive.  And God spoke to me, as we look in astonishment, and this is what I heard, “How give me praise”, and as I did, it became clear that I had been trying to obey the Scripture, in that it said to give God praise in all things.  I had been given praise for many small things, like missed sales and flat tires.  And I hear that voice say Now give me praise, and  I did. My wife thought I had lost my mind, but we witnessed God doing things in our lives that were unexplainable. 

 

Next was my cousin coming to the house. We only had one car and no phone at that time, and she and her husband said we would stay with Natalie till Jan returns from her Bible study, take our car, and your dad is in the hospital.  It was a long drive from Odem to the hospital, and the speed limit was seventy. I was going fifty, and I asked the Lord, Why am I driving so slowly, and He replied, There is no need to hurry. Pray for your mother. 

 

I also know that God often speaks through others to help us, to guide us, into a deeper trust with Him.  Janet and I had great plans for what we believed God was leading us to do in retirement.  Our plans were not bad; in fact, they were well thought out. We would not sell our home in Spring, but we would go to the Bill Graham Cove, and volunteer for six months, and see if that was where God wanted us.  Plan two, if not, we would then go to Focus on the Family and volunteer for six months, and let the Lord show us what He desired for our lives in retirement.  Good plans, but not God’s plan, 

 

In my desire to get more of the Valero refinery business, I call on a friend who was a Vice President of that company. He invited Jan and me to an open house at his new home, and said you will see people you have not seen in 40 years.  We went, had a great time, and Jan and I, while sitting on Buddy’s back porch, looking at the twin sister, it was two big hills a good way from his house, said This seems right, and after prayer, we bought the property where we built our home.  Good plans or not, the same as God’s plans, and it became clear God was leading us to be in the Texas hill country.

 

From our Back Porch, 

 

Bob Rice

False Prophets Condemned

 

Ezekiel 13:1-7

 

November 17, 2023

 

False Prophets Condemned

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!  Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel.  You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.  They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.  Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the Lord,’ although I have not spoken?”

Is this a one-time occurrence?   Is it something that is happening in our day?  No, it was not just in Ezekiel's day, and yes, it is happening today, and it may be taking place where you worship.  Anytime a pastor or teacher tells you this Scripture does not apply today, it is something you'd better examine.  We have so-called pastors who say they will only speak and teach on the positive issues of the Scripture, and not the warnings against sin.  You cannot run fast enough from that teaching.  Jesus has told us that on the last day, and they started the day He was taken into heaven, to sit at the right hand of the Father. 

 

Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus's disciples came and acted when these things happened, and let us pick up the account: ^“And Jesus answered them, 'See that no one leads you astray.  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

All that God told Ezekiel about the false Prophet still applies today, so watch out and stay in the Scriptures so you will not be taken captive by such.

 

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Are you ready?

 

Ezekiel 12:17-27

 

November 14, 2023

 

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety.  And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way, her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.  And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’?  Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.  For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’  Therefore, say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God.”

 

How should the people who go by the title Christian deal with these verses? Are we much different than the Jewish people of Ezekiel's day?  We are told in Scripture to be watchful and look at the signs of our Lord’s return.  We believe He is coming back, but how many are watching and waiting with hope that it will be today?

The Scripture is full of verses about that glorious day our Lord Jesus Christ returns.  Shall we look at a few? “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 (NIV)

“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

“So, Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” Hebrews 9:28 (ESV)

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.”  Revelation 1:7 (ESV)

 

Many in the Church have said and rightly so that Paul and the early disciples were expecting Christ to return in their day.  But that does not change what you and I have been told in Matthew 25:13. Let me close with this: Are you watching for the sign and season, and are you excited about His soon return?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice