Daily Devotional – JANUARY 29 (Sodom Rising, Part 4: “Why Have Our Chickens Come Home?”)

By admin On January 18th, 2021

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Daily Devotional – JANUARY 29

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Sodom Rising:

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Part 4

“Why Have Our Chickens Come Home?”

TO READ PART 1, CLICK HERE…August 22nd (Sodom Rising! Part 1)

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“The wicked shall be turned into hell,

and all the nations that forget God.”

Psalm 9:17

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A few years back, a well-known pastor made some statements which shocked the nation.

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And among those statements, was that infamous quote… “AMERICA! YOUR CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST!”

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In other words, this pastor was saying that our nation was now receiving our just recompense for our past crimes against humanity!

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Now, this pastor was not the only well-known pastor to have made such condemning statements regarding this nation.

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There were a few other famous television pastors who also placed the blame for the 911 attacks on New York City, as being the result of this nation’s growing immorality.

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Rooster Crowing – Hahn Fredenbaum – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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SODOM’S DESTRUCTION!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpgBut have God’s judgments come on this nation as a result of the sins of the general populace?

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Certainly, the Bible speaks of God’s wrath on pagan cultures, who fell under the judgment of God! Sodom and her sister cities are the most notable examples of being destroyed as a result of their various sins.

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Listen… “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” Ezekiel 16:48-50

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In this above passage, God was comparing His very own people to ancient Sodom.

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And God was threatening to bring the same destruction upon His own people, if they did not repent!

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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JUDGMENTS ON GOD’S PEOPLE?

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And so, even more than pagan nations, God’s wrath fell upon His own people many times in Scripture!

company's coming

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Yes, God repeatedly brought judgment upon His people, because of their disobedience and rebellion!

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And so, as one looks around at today’s church-world, and sees the growing apostasy within, the question must be asked… “Are God’s judgments on this land, the result of the sins of society? Or are God’s judgments falling as the result of we, God’s people? Could it be that we, God’s people have been worshiping the gods of this world, such as materialism and hedonistic pleasures and proud-career-pursuits? Are God’s judgments falling because we have been drinking from the broken cisterns of this self-seeking world?”

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Well, certainly those liberal Christians have become immersed in prosperity-driven gospels, to the point that the Bible has been mostly discarded, except for the purposes of mere lip-service!

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CONSERVATIVES TOO!

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But before we point our bony fingers of indignation at “those liberals over there”, we must re-examine our own apostasy!

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Yes, even in the so-called conservative circles, we have become mired in our own mammon-loving ways!

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Just look at conservative Christianity! We have embraced the same opulence and hedonism which led to Sodom’s downfall and ultimate destruction! Yes, conservative Christians attach ourselves to the television and secular radio programs, and allow our children to also immerse themselves in their secular-minded television, sports, and amusements, thus receiving a thorough grooming by evil angels!

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It reminds one of how James accuses Christians… “Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” James 5:5

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SAME AS SODOM!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpg

And in addition to seeking after money and social status, conservative Christians encourage their own children to seek after expensive educations, and the resulting https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Virgo_(11).jpghigh-paying coveted careers, which eventually drown them in perdition and destruction: the very same perdition and destruction which Sodom suffered, as a result of her opulence and hedonism!

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Listen to God’s condemnation of His very own people, comparing them to Sodom…“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters!” Ezekiel 16:48

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Young business people – Cropped Photo – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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IN CENTURIES PAST

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During the Dark Ages, many Christians raised their children to be, “working evangelists!”

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After a home-school education of memorizing copious amounts of Scripture, the children also learned trades, much like the Apostle, Paul had, as a tent-maker. And thus, these well-trained young adults went from town-to-town, working such trades, as they secretly evangelized whoever they judged might be willing to listen!

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Listen to Paul’s personal testimony… “I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8

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Paul was not given for us to just place him on a pedestal, to be merely adored and admired! No, Paul was given to be a role-model for Christians in all ages!

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Listen… “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me (Paul), do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9.

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Yes, we are to imitate Paul, not reverence him!

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Paul Tent-making – La Vista Church of Christ – cropped image – Creative Commons License

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PRIDE OF LIFE: NOT OF THE FATHER!

1st John 2:16

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpg

Now for the people of the world, such career-seeking is perfectly fine!

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They are merely following the dictates of the, “god of this world”! (see 2nd Corinthians 4:4)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunch_Break_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1124457.jpg

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But Christians have been given a different purpose in life! We have the commission to become changed into Christ’s image, so that the world may see Jesus in us, as “ambassadors for Christ”! 2nd Corinthians 5:20

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And yet today, conservative Christians are rearing their children to pursue careers: to become proud “professionals”, who sell their soul for some socially-elevated-https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Virgo_(11).jpgstation in life, which usually saps both time and energy from them, to the point that they have no time or energy to study or meditate on Scripture!

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And when most of us come home from such careers, we are often too exhausted to do anything but plop down in front of the television!

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Lunch Break – cropped image – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

Young business people – Cropped Photo – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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SATAN HAS LOCKED THINGS UP!

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpg

Now, of course, to live a life similar to the Apostle, Paul, is getting too difficult in this over-regulated and over-taxed land!

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But the general principle still remains attainable! In other words, while Christians can’t merelyhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:No_Trespassing_sign_at_empty_lot_in_February.JPG roam the countryside, lawfully, they can still encourage their children to take a lower-paying job: to be hard-working, yet in a less complicated employment, which would allow them more time and energy to devote to prayer, Bible study, and meditation on Scripture!

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And though they may be paupers in the eyes of men, yet in the sight of God, they will be princes! (not to mention that by living a less-complicated life will keep them from drowning in destruction which usually happens to those who become rich! see 1st Timothy 6:9)

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No Trespassing sign – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marines_at_Prayer_by_Alex_Raymond.jpg

“ABIDE IN THE SAME CALLING”

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Now, for those who come into Salvation, the Lord offers this advice through Paul…“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” 1st Corinthians 7:20

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God’s people must begin their Christian walk right where they are.

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And yet, they can rearrange their lives to make ample room for Bible study, contemplation, and prayer, etc…

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Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE MOST IGNORED BIBLE PASSAGE!

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http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/The%20Early%20Church%20Artwork/target8.html

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpg

Listen… “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things;” 1st Timothy 6:7-11

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This above passage is perhaps the most ignored passage in all of Christendom! And the same results which Sodom suffered, are pronounced on God’s people, in this above passage!

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Yes, God has warned us, by the hand of Paul, that we too will suffer Sodom’s destruction, should we pursue the same opulence and materialism which Sodom pursued!

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hahn-Fredenbaum-0007.jpg

And so, as we look around at this decadent and declining society, the real question to be asked is this: “Are the judgments now falling all around us the result of society’s sins? Or are they the result of the sins of God’s people?”

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GOOD NEWS FOR US!

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But amidst this awful report, there is found some very Good News!

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Listen…. If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2nd Chronicles 7:14

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Yes, although it seems that Sodom and Gomorrah is rising up all around us, as a judgment from God, against we, His people, there is time for repentance!

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No, God is not looking for a national repentance! But if only one person here, and one person there, will return to the Lord in deep contrition and repentance, the Lord promises to forgive, and heal the sin-laden soil of our heart!

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And because of the lateness of the hour, this world will continue in its downward spiral!

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Yet by turning to the Lord with all my heart, God can prepare me to stand in the evil days ahead!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-081218-M-4507D-001.jpg.

TO READ PART 5, CLICK HERE…

FEBRUARY 6 (Sodom Rising, Part 5: “True Manliness!”)

Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-100506-M-2360J-038.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a new heart: an ever-growing desire to follow lowly Jesus! Give me Bible-wisdom to know how I must raise my family in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Give me Thy heart, so that I can be a Christlike example to them…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Magnifying_glass_on_book_icons

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… ““Vanity Fair” & The False Prophet”, or you can also read… “August 22nd (Sodom Rising! Part 1)”

Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

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WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

Revelation 12 Woman chooses Narrow Way

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As the opening verse says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

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So what are these two gates all about? And how can I choose the right door? Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.

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But before we explore these questions, let’s take a look at why these two sets of stars represent these two biblical gates.

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This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.

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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

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This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours).

Revelation 12 Woman & The Two Gates

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In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation. Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).

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On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God.

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Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Magnifying_glass_on_book_icons

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”

Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Huckleberry-finn-with-rabbit.jpgTOMORROW…

“JANUARY 30 (The False Prophet, Part 4: Age of Accountability)”

Huckleberry Finn with rabbit – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO BIBLE 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 STUDY #394 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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The Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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