Month: January 2024

Reflection on Isaiah 24

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Scripture

We hear songs of praise from the ends of the Earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One.

Observation

In my Bible, the section consisting of chapters 24 through to 27 are labelled “The Little Apocalypse.”

The Lord will destroy the earth and make it a wasteland. The earth will be emptied and looted.

The earth suffers for the sins of its people who have violated God’s laws. Fires consume people and crops. There is no celebration, only mourning.

Throughout the earth, only a remnant is left like the stray olives left on the tree. But from the ends of the earth there is praise and worship of the Righteous One.

The Earth staggers and even the sun and moon will fade. but the Lord will come and rule from Jerusalem.

Application

The word translated as “earth” in this passage also means “land”, ie Israel. It is not clear whether a universal apocalypse is envisaged here, or if the main focus is Israel – or it could be both.

Even in the midst of this terrible disaster, the Lord leaves a remnant. He will punish the wicked, pursuing them to the point of death. But He leaves a remnant who praise God right through the turmoil.

There always seems to be great instability in the world. It really does feel sometimes that the earth is breaking up and staggering like a drunk (vs. 19-20) . The more access we have to news and social media, the worse things seem.

But God is in control. He is faithful, and He loves His people. Therefore we can praise Him and worship Him and rejoice, regardless of how bad things seem.

Prayer

Lord, I rejoice that nothing can shake me out of the safety of your arms. You hold on to me, even when I am not aware of it. You will punish the wicked and vindicate your people. I will rejoice in you every day. Amen.

Quote for the Day

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After 25 years of leading small groups and coaching small group leaders, I have come to one clear conviction: prayer is the most important activity of the small group leader. If a small group leader could do only one thing to make the group more effective, that one thing would be to pray. Dave Earley

Reflection on Isaiah 23

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Scripture

In the end her profits will be given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests.

Observation

The city of Tyre, one of the great Phoenician seaports will be destroyed.

Tyre was called the market place of place of the world. Ships travelled as far as Tarshish, which is modern day Spain; trading goods across Europe and the Middle East.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has brought this disaster on the city. He has spoken against Phoenicia, ordering her fortresses to be destroyed.

For seventy years, Tyre will be forgotten, but then it will come back to life as a prostitute to all the kingdoms around the world. The Lord will take her wealth and use it to provide good food and fine clothing for his priests.

Application

Wealth is deceptive because it makes us arrogant and invincible.

There is nothing wrong with wealth of itself. We need to be reminded that the average person in Australia lives better than kings did just a few centuries ago. The problem is that we can put our faith in our possessions rather than the Lord.

Tyre is warned in this passage that its wealth will be given to the Lord for His purposes. They failed to honour the Lord, and so the thing they took pride in is removed from them.

The way to true prosperity is to offer all of our goods and cash back to the Lord to be used for his purposes. I do not own my possessions; I am a steward or a manager of the Lord’s business.

To have this attitude to money and to wealth is a great freedom. We don’t have to worry about pursuing even more money. It is the Lord’s and He will provide what we need, and lead us in the right ways to manage our affairs wisely.

Prayer

Thank you Father for giving me stuff. Please help me to manage it to your glory. Amen.

France dumps Renewables Target, goes back to Nuclear instead, risking Global Pariah Status

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From Jo Nova

Bugey Nuclear Plant, France.

By Jo Nova

In a radical move, the French government has quietly dropped their renewables targets from their draft energy bill, risking being seen as unfashionable losers in billionaire ski clubs. The nation that, forty years ago, built 56 nuclear reactors in 15 years has decided they just need to build another 6 to 14 new nuclear plants to reach “Net Zero” by 2050. This puts them in danger of being one of the only nations on Earth that might reach their target.

This, of course, is terrible for the renewables industry as it risks exposing the wanton frivolity and utterly superfluous nature of the wind and solar subsidy farms. If France can do this without the bird chopping, the slave labor and the lithium bombs, so can nearly everywhere else.

It’s a big change from 2014 when France aimed to reduce nuclear power to just 50% by 2025.

As  NetZeroWatch says, this is a win:

France drops renewables targets, prioritises nuclear in new energy bill

The proposed text, which is slated to go before the cabinet early next month and then be submitted to lawmakers, reaffirms France’s commitment to nuclear power to ensure “energy sovereignty”.

So France wants “energy security” as opposed to energy slavery where nations hope their enemies will be nice to them when they get cold.

The proposed text affirms “the sustainable choice of using nuclear energy as a competitive and carbon-free” source of electricity, and targets the construction of at least six but as many as 14 new reactors to pull off the transition to clean energy and meet climate change goals.

Climate activists (also known as renewables salesmen) are tying themselves in knots as France solves the net zero non-problem without their pet socialist technologies.

“It’s a terrible step back,” said Arnaud Gosse, a lawyer specialising in environmental law.

“If you only quantify nuclear power, you do not know the share of non-renewable energies. As a result, nuclear gets prioritised and, depending on remaining coverage needs, non-renewables will be the subject of floating (future) decrees. It’s no longer a mix,” Gosse said.

Lord help us all, “it’s no longer a mix”, what a disaster, and a few environmental lawyers might be out of a job.

In the end renewable energy is free, clean and cheaper than anything else, but the government has to force people to use it?

As the World Nuclear Association points out:

“France is the world’s largest net exporter of electricity due to its very low cost of generation, and gains over €3 billion per year from this.“

France is saving Germany and others from their own exorbitant experiments.

Ex-Psychic’s Message to Fox News: Stop Promoting the Occult

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From Charisma

A former psychic who turned to Jesus Christ after repenting of occult practices has issued a warning about a recent Fox News segment featuring a tarot card reading. The ex-psychic, Jenn Nizza, expressed concern that the network may have inadvertently opened their viewers up to demonic activity by airing an act of divination during primetime.

Nizza, who now runs Ex-PsychicSaved.com and has written about her own experiences with tarot cards and the occult, found it “completely alarming” when Fox News host Jesse Watters invited a medium to predict the country’s political future using tarot cards.

“The deception of putting something that seems good out there while pushing a demonic agenda is heartbreaking,” Nizza said to The Christian Post

The medium, Paula Roberts, pulled a tarot card for Trump known as the Five of Cups, which symbolizes a sense of loss. Nizza believes that Roberts is a legitimate psychic who communicates with demons, even if she is unaware of it.

“[Roberts] a real psychic who’s been doing this for a long time and who is serious about what she does,” Nizza says. “A lot of people will say these people are hucksters. That’s just not true. There are hucksters, but this woman is not a huckster. This woman is truly a psychic.”

Nizza explained that the tarot cards themselves do not offer any insight, but the information allegedly channeled through them is inherently demonic. She cited Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which prohibits witchcraft and divination as “detestable” acts that incur God’s judgment on nations.

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By airing this segment during primetime, Fox News risked piquing the curiosity of their viewers to dabble in such things, effectively “encouraging people to enter into demonic communication,” said Nizza.

She also maintained that the lighthearted tone of the segment implied that such practices need not be taken seriously, which she warned also is dangerous. Those who think divination and other occult practices are a form of entertainment are being deceived by what she describes as “smoke and mirrors.”

Nizza expressed concern that Americans are especially susceptible to these occult practices due to the current political climate. She warned that this could lead people down a “rabbit hole of destruction” as they search for answers about the future.

“It’s reaching people,” she warns. “Especially in the culture that we live in and the climate that we live in, people [are] wondering what’s going to happen. We have a lot of tension in the nations, and the election is coming up.”

The Fox News segment drew criticism from users on social media, some of whom mocked the network for airing an ominous prediction about Trump, while others echoed Nizza’s concerns about the spiritual dangers of divination.

As Christians, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and discerning when it comes to the spiritual realm. The Bible clearly warns against engaging in occult practices, as they open the door to demonic influence and deception.

Instead of seeking guidance through divination or other occult practices, we should turn to the one true God, who offers us wisdom, protection and guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit. As the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

As we navigate the challenges of this world, let us put our trust in the Lord and seek His guidance in all things, for He alone is the source of truth and life.

Reflection on Isaiah 22

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Scripture

At that time the Lord of Heavens armies called you to weep and mourn. He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse. But instead, you dance and play, you slaughter cattle and kill sheep.

Observation

Jerusalem, the Valley of Vision, will fall to the enemy army, at the hand of the Lord.

The people run to the armoury for weapons; they inspect the wall for breaks. but they don’t ask for help from the Lord who sent the enemy.

The Lord called on them to weep and mourn for their sins. Instead, they feasted and celebrated. The Lord says they will not they will not be forgiven for this sin

Application

There is a time for celebration in the Kingdom of God. There is also a time for solemn repentance before God.

Some churches hold what they call solemn assemblies. These are times when the whole congregation gathers to confess their communal sins and to put their lives into the correct order before the Lord.

The people of Jerusalem had been commanded by the Lord to repent to repent of their sins and to be solemn before Him. Instead, they chose to party as as if everything was OK. For this, they would not be forgiven.

When the Lord calls us to turn away from our sins, it is not a suggestion. When He tells us to do that now, He will not wait until we get around to it. The time for repentance is always now, in the moment when we are aware of our sins.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help me to keep my life centred in you. When I am off the track, please call me back into your path and give me grace to repent. Amen.