Brett Hawthorn @BrettHawthorn@dingdash.com

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭24:21‬ ‭NIV* “In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.”‬‬

*24:21* “The powers in the heavens above” refer to spiritual forces opposed to God. Nobody, not even the fallen angels will escape due punishment.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭35:6-8‬ ‭NIV* “therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and cut off from it all who come and go. I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines.”‬

*35:6-8* Ezekiel prophesied not only against the people of Edom, but also against their mountains and land. Their home territory was Mount Seir. Mountains, symbols of strength and power, represented the pride of these people who thought they could get away with evil. Edom’s desire for revenge turned against them. Edom received the punishment they were so hasty to give out. God has a way of turning our treatment of others into a boomerang. So we must be careful in our judgment of others (Matthew 7:1,2).

*Galatians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NIV* “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

*6:9,10* It is discouraging to continue to do right and receive no word of thanks or see no tangible results. But Paul challenged the Galatians and he challenges us to keep on doing good and to trust God for the results. In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing.

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭23:9‬ ‭NIV* “The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.”‬‬

*23:9* God would destroy Tyre because he hated its people’s pride. Pride separates people from God, and he will not tolerate it. We must examine our lives and remember that all true accomplishments come from our Creator. We have no reason for pride in our lives.

*‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:9-10‬ ‭NIV* “therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.”‬‬

*34:9,10* Those shepherds who failed their flock would be removed from office and held responsible for what happened to the people they were supposed to lead. Christian leaders must heed this warning and care for their flock, or total failure and judgment will be the result (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). True leadership focuses on helping others, not just on getting ahead.

*‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:13-14‬ ‭NIV* “But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” The Lord Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: “Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for,” says the Lord, the Lord Almighty.”‬‬

*22:13,14* The people said, “Let us eat and drink,” because they had given up hope. Attacked on every side (22:7), they should have repented (22:12), but they chose to feast instead. The root problem was that Judah did not trust God’s power or his promises (See 56:12; 1 Corinthians 15:32). When you face difficulties, turn to God. Today we still see people giving up hope. There are two common responses to hopelessness: despair and self-indulgence. But this life is not all there is, so we are not to act as if we had no hope. Our proper response should be to trust God and his promises to include us in the perfect and just new world that he will create.

*Ezekiel‬ ‭33:30-32‬ ‭NIV* ““As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.”‬‬

*33:30-32* The people refused to act upon Ezekiel’s message. When people mock your witness for Christ or fail to act upon your advice, don’t give up. You are not witnessing for them alone, but out of faithfulness to God. You cannot make them accept your message, you can only be faithful in delivering it.

*33:32* The people were coming to listen to Ezekiel in order to be entertained. They weren’t interested in hearing a message from the Lord and then putting it into practice. Many people see church as entertainment. They enjoy the music, the people, and the activities, but they don’t take the message to heart. They don’t seek to be challenged or to serve. Have you reduced church services to the level of entertainment, or does your worship truly have an impact on your life? Listen to God’s words and then obey-apply his words and put them into practice in your life.

*Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NIV* “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”‬‬

*4:6,7* Imagine never being “anxious about anything”! It seems like an impossibility-we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then prayer more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and prayer.

*4:7* God’s peace is different from the world’s peace (See John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ’s kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God’s peace gaurd your heart against anxiety.

*Prayer:*
God, when I feel overwhelmed, scared, or anxious, please fill my heart and mind with Your perfect peace. Help me to remember that You are in control of every situation and that nothing is impossible for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.