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Today’s Devotional – November 1st

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THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE,

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Part 3

To read Part 1, click here…July 13th (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 1: Alone With God)

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“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

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“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

Jeremiah 30:6, 7

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Jacob_Wrestling_with_the_Angel – wikipedia – public domain

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What in the world could this above verse be speaking of?!

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And how does this verse apply to me as an individual Christian? It seems to be speaking of the Day of the Lord, but it speaks of a man in travail with child!

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But it also refers to it as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”.

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Very, very confusing, to say the least!

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Question Mark – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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BIBLE IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

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Okay, so by examining that story of Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord, then perhaps we can see what lies ahead. Quite possibly this passage from Genesis gives us a hint of what we must endure in the coming trial before us.

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Listen… “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day…And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (see Genesis 32:24, 26-28)

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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“For we wrestle…against principalities and powers…”

Ephesians 6:12 

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Upon studying the story of Jacob, and applying the principle, that the Word of God is prophetic in nature, it can begin to be seen what this story is all about: Jacob represents all Christians.

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Esau, Jacob’s brother, a hunter, represents “the man of flesh” within us. And just as Jacob and Esau were born as twins, so too, the Christian has a dual personality, so to speak.

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The Bible tells us, that there still exists in every Christian, a struggle between the spirit and the flesh. Like Jacob, the Christian desires to gain the spiritual blessing of a fully sanctified life.

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But like his brother, Esau, the Christian still longs for the earthy and sensual cares and pleasures of the world. And so, the Christian constantly battles against the flesh.

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Listen to Scripture… “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. So it now is evident that there exists a struggle in the life of each and every Christian.

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James Tissot – Jacob & Esau – The Mess of Pottage – Wikipedia – US Public Domain.

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THE OLD MAN & THE NEW MAN

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But as for Esau and Jacob representing the “Man of Flesh” and the “Man of Spirit”, respectively, just listen to this next verse… “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:” Colossians 3:9,10

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And just as Jacob was trying to escape Esau, so the follower of Jesus is trying to flee from his or her own fleshy desires.

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Oh well yes, the Christian wants very much to have a consistent walk in the Spirit. But it seems that so many sincere Christians are too often falling into our fleshly lusts: pride, anger, judging, lusting, gluttony, worldly pleasures, unchristlike behavior, and a host of other sins are constantly rising up, making us to doubt our salvation!

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Jacob deceives his father, Isaac – James Tissot – wikiart – US Public Domain

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THE WISDOM OF KNOWLEDGE

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“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:”

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Notice that it says in the above passage, that the New Man is “renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him”. So the New Man is renewed in knowledge after the image of Jesus. This answers just how this New Man begins to thrive within us: knowledge: knowledge of Jesus. 

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Listen to Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

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So Paul totally overcame the world. And he overcame his fleshly nature. And so, the New Man, Christ, could freely live out His life through Paul.

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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org –public domain

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NIGHT OF WRESTLING BEFORE US

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Now the reason why God says,“…seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds…”, as if this is already accomplished, is because, if I am a true Believer, then by faith, I am assured of future victory, even though I am still struggling and fighting this battle over “self”!

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And so, just like Paul, I too, need to do the very same work in my own life. I need to crucify the “old man” so that the “New Man” can freely live out His life through me. I need to escape from the Esau within. The “old man” still wants to “run the show”, so to speak. But through the ever increasing knowledge of the Word of Christ, the “New Man” within me, can become increasingly visible to the onlooking world!

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What I need, is to wrestle with God, just as surely as Jacob wrestled with the angel. And I need to wrestle until the Day Dawns, and the Sun of Righteousness arises in our hearts. I have my own work cut out for me, and the time is growing short!

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Nevertheless, though it often seems as if we are alone in this struggle, the Bible reveals otherwise… “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.

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Yes, it is God who is working in us, and it is God who allows those fiery trials, both big and little, which will ultimately purify us, as gold and silver are purified!

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Jacob Wrestlingwith the Angel – wikipedia – public domain

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TO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

December 10th (Jacob’s Trouble, Part 4: Apocalypse Now!)

Jacob – Wikimedia-US – Public-Domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to crucify the “Old man” with its affections and lusts. Help me to put on the “New man”, which is renewed in wisdom and knowledge…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Crown of Revelation 12: What Is “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”?” or you can also read… “’7 Stars’ Imitate ‘The Cross of Orion’”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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GLORIOUS CROWN CONSTELLATION…

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& THE REVELATION 12 WOMAN

(Click here to read more!)

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This Glorious Crown Constellation looks like a wreath at first glance. It has 7 stars, plus another star in the middle. This Glorious Crown Constellation is commonly referred to as the Corona Borealis Constellation. This wreath reminds us of the victory wreath given to athletes who won races in the ancient cultures. This was spoken of by Paul as he compared those ancient races to the race that Christians must run… “Know you all not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you all may obtain.” 1st Corinthians 9:24 (see also Hebrews 12:1)

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“A CROWN OF 12 STARS UPON HER HEAD” …

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But upon a closer examination if you have access to a very dark sky out in the country; if you watch this wreath, you will eventually see 5 more very faint stars, making a total of 12 stars, plus that single star in the middle. This wreath now becomes a crown of 12 stars. This goes along with Revelation 12, which tells of a crown of 12 stars upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12.

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… “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman…and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” Rev. 12:1.

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But this crown is not yet upon the head of the Virtuous Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (also known as Ursa Major). It is just above her head, as if she has yet to attain it. Of course, the 13th star in the middle would represent Christ (Who is our true Crown of our rejoicing). Ok, so we have a picture of Christ and His twelve tribes of Israel. But also we have a picture of Christ and His twelve apostles, which is a picture of His Church. So this heavenly crown is a multi-faceted concept.

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Photo: Corona Borealis – seen in warmer months – cropped photo with crown drawn in by this website – Wikipedia – Taken from software called Perseus – All rights by Roberto Mura 

Laurel Wreath – Lorbeerkranz_Zypern – cropped photo – Wikipedia – public domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The 12-Star Crown Constellation of Revelation 12” or you can also read… “Woman of Revelation 12 (Woman in Travail)”

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TOMORROW:

“November 2nd (What’s In Your House?)”

Hearst-castle-Foto-Anke-Meskens-Wikipedia-Share-alike-License-e1434776124405

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #303 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc….