Today’s Devotional – January 20th (A 3-Finger Judgment-Day)

By admin On January 19th, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – January 20th

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A 3-Finger Judgment-Day

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“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,

God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,

extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off,

would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,

but smote upon his breast, saying,

God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Luke 18:11-13

That well-known story of the Pharisee and the Publican illustrates a basic concept between a correct spirit and an incorrect one.

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In this story, God presents these two characters, who seem to be polar opposites: the proud Pharisee and the self-abasing Publican.

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The first, the Pharisee, saw himself as self-righteous, while the Publican correctly realized just what a great sinner he was.

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Pride is quite often hard to detect. But the Publicans were a scorned class of persons.

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They knew they were sinners, while Pharisees were usually highly respected.

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Tissot The Pharisee and publican – Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia – US public domain

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PRIDE DISGUSTING TO GOD

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The point to this story is that God abhors human pride.

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But God contrariwise, presents the proper attitude, by showing us the humility and shame-facedness of the Publican.

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And this little parable ends with the following summation by Jesus… “I tell you, this man (the publican) went down to his house justified rather than the other (the Pharisee): for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:14.

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Here is a great big, giant concept, which Jesus presented. God loves a humble and contrite heart; but God hates human pride.

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And because our hearts are so easily deceived, we must exercise constant vigilance against such hard-to-detect sins, as pride is.

James Tissot – The Pharisee and Publican – Brooklyn Museum & Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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WHICH WAY THE FINGER POINTS

It is true religion that says, “I am chief of sinners.” 1st Timothy 1:15.

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These are the words of Paul. Yes, Paul saw himself for what he really was: a dirty rotten sinner in need of a Savior!

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It is false religion that says, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Luke 18:11.

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**These are the words of this Pharisee in the parable of the Publican & the Pharisee (see Luke 18:9-14).**

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Paul – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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TRUE OR FALSE RELIGION?

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It is true religion that points the accusing finger at ‘myself’.

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It is false religion that points at the other guy. True religion understands that Satan is the “god of this world”.

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But this Pharisee has lost sight of this fact.

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True Christianity desires to lead others to forsake this world and begin to live for Heaven.

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False religion wants to clean this world up, not realizing that sin is literally everywhere: because this world is the Devil’s world.

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This scorner forgets what 1st John proclaims… “…and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1st John 5:19

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Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

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THREE FINGERS POINTING BACK

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God has designed nature to be functional.

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But in His infinite wisdom, He has also designed nature to teach spiritual lessons.

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And the human hand is no exception! Beside being a marvel of functionality, the human hand teaches us a lesson about the Gospel.

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And that lesson is, that when a person points the accusing finger at another, then there are three other fingers on his hand, which point right back (the thumb points downward, which might even declare, “thumbs down” for that person we are accusing)!

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God tells us plainly… “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Romans 2:1

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With such an indictment as this above verse points out, how can we still point the accusing finger at others?

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Yes, whenever we point the accusing finger at somebody else, there are indeed, three fingers pointing back at us!

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And of course, the number “three” is the very number of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Finger-pointing icon – Wikimedia – Share-alike-license

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JUDGE YE NOT!

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So in essence, one might say, that when I point the accusing finger at another, then three fingers from Heaven are pointing right back at me (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)!

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Listen to the very words of Jesus, as He sat upon the mount that wonderful day and preached…

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“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” Matthew 7:1, 2

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If ever there were words to make us tremble, these are they!

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ONLY 3 FINGERS POINTING ON THAT DAY!

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On that Great Day, there will be no more fingers pointing…at least, not by us!

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Oh yes, God will be doing plenty of pointing on that Day!

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Listen… “For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:12, 17.

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This day will be coming very soon! And when it comes, it will take us all by surprise!

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It may be already beginning!

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Moses – Ten Commandments – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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THE OLD MAN MUST DIE!

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**And so, if I am doing any finger-pointing, then that is an indication that the “Old Man” may still be alive and well within!**

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**Yes, that “Old Man” is quite the Pharisee!**

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But the Bible warns… “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin…Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:” Romans 6:6-8.

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**So here it states our “Old Man” must be crucified, if we truly are living in Christ.**

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**So if I am often engaging in judging, then perhaps the “Old Man” has not yet been crucified with Christ!**

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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WHAT IS THE REMEDY?

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So just how do I get rid of this Pharisee within?

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Well, the Bible says it, many times, and in many ways. But let’s just go to James, since he puts it so concisely…

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“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11-13

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Isn’t it amazing that James ties repentance and judging into the same passage here in the above passage?

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But the Christian often discovers that this above remedy may not occur all-at-once.

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David’s sorrow www.wikigallery.org public domain

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THOROUGH REPENTANCE

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No, the Christian may have to grow “prayer-callouses” on his (or her) knees, while waiting for God to lift us up!

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Especially pride! Yes, the sins of pride and judging require much perseverance and patient pleading for deliverance. The Christian must be thoroughly humbled. And this usually takes lots and lots of humbling experiences.

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But patience and perseverance are also necessary, so as James also says… “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3, 4.

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**Yes, the mark of a true worshipper of God, is that the “Old Man” becomes crucified. This is how the Christian overcomes the world.**

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And so I must allow patience to have her perfect work

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public-Domain

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JOYFULNESS ON DELIVERANCE DAY!

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But finally comes the wonderful day in which the Christian is lifted up by God.

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And then the Lord will set our feet upon an unmovable, unshakable Rock. And on that day, we will be able to say with the Psalmist…

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“I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

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He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

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and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings.

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And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:

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many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

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Psalm 40:1-3

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Second Coming – by Jan Luyken – Wikipedia – Public domain

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TO READ PART 2, CLICK HERE…

NOVEMBER 25 (A 3-Finger Judgment-Day, Part 2: Bible For Me, Not Others!)

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to crucify that “Old Man” within. Drive out the proud Pharisee which scorns others. Humble me. Break me. Crucify me with Christ! Set my feet upon a Rock. Make me to hear joy and gladness. Let my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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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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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”

Please tilt your head to the left. Do you see a man with a very long pointed nose. (Obviously, the sketch to the right is just an exaggeration in order to help you find the face in the photo to the left.)

Do you see an angry look? His right eye-brow is raised as if he is judging.

This second face in the Moon appears to be that of a combination of a man as well as a fox. Or maybe a wolf. Doesn’t he have a long narrow nose like a wolf or fox? Maybe even a dog. Nevertheless, the expression on his face, as he appears to look down upon the Earth, is that of scorn. Unlike the first Moon-man’s sad shock and awe; this ‘man/fox/wolf/dog’ appears to be that of anger and scorn. As if he is disgusted at the sinful planet below. He is very moral, you see.

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Moon – Public Domain – 2nd face Pharisee Scorner – by Cezar Popescu for Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain – cropped, highlighted & rotated photo

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THE PHARISEES…

“Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.” Proverbs 21:24

Yes this wolf-like beast-face in the Moon, is what the Bible calls a proud Pharisee. They were the morality crowd. They were the finger pointers. They were the scorners. They didn’t realize that their own pride was even more reprehensible to God than the drunkenness, immorality, or sexual perversions of the unsaved of the world.

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TOMORROW:

January 21st (A Christian Lobotomy)

Early Lobotomy – Hieronymus Bosch – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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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 #20 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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