1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for being lifted up on the cross like the "fiery serpent" on the pole in the wilderness so that I could "look and live".


Obadiah 1 - The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

For further study - Obadiah 1-7

In our extended reading today we will actually be reading prophecy that was written around 300 years before it would be fulfilled. The portion we have read is actually pre-written history or Bible prophecy fulfilled.

My statements need to be explained with some historic background.

The judgment pronounced in this the littlest book in the Old Testament is against Edom. You might remember that God changed the names of twin brothers, Jacob and Esau. God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Genesis 32:2) and Esau's name to Edom (Genesis 36:1). Thus the judgment of God will be on Esau and his descendants.

In the 36th chapter of Genesis, God had Esau and his family leave Canaan, modern-day Israel, and move to Mt. Seir, Genesis 36:8, which is today the lower third of Jordan. Mt. Seir was changed to Edom as it became known in Biblical times. We have Esau who is Edom and the place where he would live out his life called Edom.

In Obadiah we have God's dealings with the Edomites, descendants of Esau, and the return of Edomites back to Israel. As verse 3 tells us, the Edomites were a proud people - one of the reasons for God's judgment. Their pride was due to their home base which was the city of Petra, the impregnable city in southern Jordan.

The city had one entrance, a high narrow gorge that extended for about a mile into the city. At some points, it was 8 feet wide, at others, up to 30 feet wide. The walls of this gorge were between 500 and 600 feet high.

The King's Highway, route of the merchants from Africa to Arabia, passed by the entrance to Petra. The Edomites would rob the merchants and run back through the gorge into Petra which is about 25 square miles in size. Inside, the cliff walls are as high as 2000 feet and there are all kinds of man-made and God-made caves where the Edomites could hide like "eagles in their nests among the stars."

They thought no one could bring them down which led to their pride.

God would use the stone carvers from Arabia, the Nabataeans, who while at a banquet with the Edomites, would rise up and kill their hosts. The Edomites, those who could escape, would run out of the gorge, turn west, and flee into southern Judah. There they would change their name to the Idumeans. Herod the Great was an Idumean and thus a descendent of Esau.

Obadiah's prophecy, the first of his total prophecy against Esau

(verses 1-7) would be fulfilled about 500 years before Christ.

Obadiah's first prophecy fulfilled, gives us assurance that his last prophecies, as we discussed in our last devotional in Obadiah, will be fulfilled as well.

The Edomites, modern-day Palestinians, will be destroyed.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to remember, Lord, You're judgment for sin is sure.

Obadiah 1 vs10 - For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.
For further study - Obadiah 1:10-18
The phrase in our key verse, "cut of forever", has a finality to it that must be considered when we look at whom the prophecy is focused. The entire book of Obadiah is a prophecy written to reveal judgment on the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, verse 1.
The Edomites can be traced from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebbecca, Genesis 35, all the way through history to the Palestinian people of today. (See my audio series, "Esau and the

Palestinians.")

A study of God's word will reveal there has been more judgment pronounced upon the Edomites than any other people group in the world. Obadiah gives two reasons for such a harsh judgment upon the Edomites, verses 3 & 10.
Verse 3 mentions the "pride" of Esau and his descendants as they lived in Petra, an impregnable city in southern Jordan, where God sent Esau almost 4,000 years ago. Because Esau and his family were so well protected, they became proud of their superior position among the Middle Eastern nations.
Verse 10 gives us the second reason for a pronounced judgment on the Edomites. As Esau's father Isaac told him, Genesis 27:40, Esau would live by the "sword". Ezekiel 35:5 reveals that Esau and his descendants would be judged severely because they would "kill" the descendants of Esau's twin brother, Jacob, the Jewish people.
Not only does our key verse speak of a judgment that would "cut off the Edomites forever" but verse 16 says at the "day of judgment" for the Edomites it will be as if they had never been a people. Jeremiah 49:18 says they will "be as Soddom and Gomorrah".
The judgment will be harsh and sever because the Edomites, the Palestinians of today, kill the Jews and take their God-given land, Ezekiel 35:10. This of course does not mean that individual Palestinians can not come to know the Lord; however, as a people group God has pronounced a judgment on them that will be absolute and it will be forever.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue until Jesus Christ, the Messiah, returns. Then His judgment will be fulfilled. We are living in a period in history like none other in all of time.
Obadiah's prophecy will be fulfilled and the stage is ready for the final act of the drama to begin, it to happen in the near future.
Prayer Thot: Help me to win people to you, Jesus, for salvation as I await your soon coming.

Obadiah 1 vs10 

For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

For further study - Obadiah 1:10-18

The phrase in our key verse, "cut off forever", has a finality to it that must be considered when we look at whom the prophecy is focused. The entire book of Obadiah is a prophecy written to reveal judgment on the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, verse 1.

The Edomites can be traced from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebbecca, Genesis 35, all the way through history to the Palestinian people of today. (See my audio series, "Esau and the Palestinians.")

A study of God's word will reveal there has been more judgment pronounced upon the Edomites than any other people group in the world. Obadiah gives two reasons for such a harsh judgment upon the Edomites, verses 3 & 10.

Verse 3 mentions the "pride" of Esau and his descendants as they lived in Petra, an impregnable city in southern Jordan, where God sent Esau almost 4,000 years ago. Because Esau and his family were so well protected, they became proud of their superior position among the Middle Eastern nations.

Verse 10 gives us the second reason for a pronounced judgment on the Edomites. As Esau's father Isaac told him,Genesis 27:40, Esau would live by the "sword". Ezekiel 35:5 reveals that Esau and his descendants would be judged severely. That judgment would come because the Edomites would "kill" the descendants of Esau's twin brother, Jacob, the Jewish people.

Not only does our key verse speak of a judgment that would "cut off the Edomites forever" but verse 16 says at the "day of judgment" for the Edomites it will be as if they had never been a people. Jeremiah 49:18 says they will "be as Sodom and Gomorrah".

The judgment will be harsh and sever because the Edomites, the Palestinians of today, will kill the Jews and take their God-given land, Ezekiel 35:10. This of course does not mean that individual Palestinians can not come to know the Lord; however, as a people group God has pronounced a judgment on them that will be absolute and it will be forever.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue until Jesus Christ, the Messiah, returns. Then His judgment will be fulfilled. We are living during a period in history like never before in all of time.

Obadiah's prophecy will be fulfilled and the “world stage” is ready for the “final act of the drama” to begin, it could happen in the near very future.

Prayer Thot: Help me to understand the events that are happening today, in light of the prophetic scenario found in God’s Word and to live every moment of every day looking for the Lord’s return.

Obadiah 18 

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.

For further study - Obadiah 15-21

This little book, the smallest Old Testament book, of Obadiah is one of a number of prophetic passages focused on the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. The facts be known, there is more judgment pronounced against Esau and the Edomites than any other peoples in the Bible.

You'll notice that both Jacob and Esau are mentioned in our key verse, verse 18. These boys are twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebekah, Genesis 25. The boys started to struggle in the womb of their mother before birth, which actually set the theme of their lives, an ongoing struggle throughout their 4,000 years of history.

These two brothers will continue to fight, in fact, all the way to the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Though many political leaders, even on the international scene, have tried to bring peace and stability to the Middle East by resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it will not happen until Jesus comes back.

Look back with us to the account of the early days of Jacob and Esau found in Genesis 25. Genesis 25 is the record of their birth with Esau, the firstborn, howbeit by less than an entire body length, remember Esau came out of his mother's womb with Jacob holding onto his heel. Technically, Esau was the firstborn with all the privileges of being the firstborn, he received the "birth rite" and at the end of his father's life Esau would receive the "blessing".

You remember that Esau sold his birth rite to Jacob and Jacob manipulated his father Isaac to get Esau's blessing, Genesis 27. Please notice in Genesis 25:23 that the Lord told Rebekah, the mother of these two boys, that they would both become a “nation of peoples”. The verse also tells us that the elder, Esau, would serve the younger, Jacob.

As you trace these two boys and their families as they became nations over the last 4,000 years, we come to the present-day and find the two nations, Israel and the Palestinian peoples. The prophecy that God gave to Rebekah, Genesis 25:23, has been fulfilled. The prophecy found in our reading for today will be fulfilled also, possibly in the near future.

Verse 18, our key verse, says that Jacob, the Jewish state of Israel will be the "flame" and Esau, the Palestinian people the "stubble" and the "kindling wood". Obadiah's prophecy will be fulfilled at the coming of Jesus, and the Edomites, the Palestinians will be destroyed, "as if they had never been", verse 16b. That doesn't mean that individual Palestinians won't be saved, but as a people they will be destroyed.

The stage is being set for Obadiah's prophecy to be fulfilled.

PRAYER THOT: Lord help me to reach out to the Palestinian people and others with the saving grace of Jesus Christ since I know the times in which we are living.

Obadiah, Verse 16 - For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.
For further study - Obadiah 16 -21
You will notice once again Joel's "the day of the Lord" is in play here, verse 15. This passage is describing the days leading up to the return of Jesus Christ back to earth. A key verse, verse 16, speaks of the descendants of Esau, drinking upon the Lord's "holy mountain". This phrase, "holy mountain" used in the Old Testament is describing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as it does in each of the passages where God uses that phrase.

I do not believe that the Lord is referring to someone actually drinking from a bottle of whiskey on the Temple Mount. Instead, the Lord is referring to Zechariah's prophecy in chapter 12:2, of that prophetic message. Zechariah is describing how those who have control over the Temple Mount have become intoxicated with power. The words, "cup of trembling" are referring to when the juice of the vine, the grape juice, has fermented in the cup and has become intoxicating.

Notice it says those who have drunk on the Temple Mount shall continue to do so continuing to be intoxicated with power until they shall be as if they never have been. This is a prophecy written to Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, which are the Palestinian people of today.

This small prohectic book of Obadiah is both historical and prophetic. The truth is that at its writing the entire book was prophetic. The book was written around 850 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Verses 1 - 14 are those prophecies that have become fulfilled prophecies and historic in content as these events have already come to past. Verses 15 - 21 are now the prophetic passages in this book.

All the evidence today is available for anyone to investigate and come to the same conclusion that Orthodox Jewish scholars have come to. The Edomites of biblical times are the Palestinians of today (see my study, Esau and the Palestinians). Prophecy today. storefront

We are now living in a time like never before in history. The Jews and the Palestinians are in a conflict that is key in the Middle East. In fact, the new United Nations Secretary General Ban ki Moon says that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is key to peace in the Middle East.

The conflict will be resolved - the Palestinians shall come to a time when they will be as if they have never been ( vs. 16 ). We are very near to that time in history. Jesus is coming and it could be today.
PRAYER THOT: Help me to live as if this is the day Jesus will come, because it could be the day.

Philemon 1:10 

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds.

For further study - Philemon 1:1-25

It is true that there is no prophetic passage found in the book of Philemon. However, in this little New Testament book, I find Paul as our example of how to work towards a crown that will be given to some at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is the "Crown of Glory" spoken of in I Peter 1:1-4.

The “Crown of Glory” is given to those who are always ready to step up to “feed the flock”, to build them up in the things of the Lord. Peter reveals that we do not serve as "feeders of the flock" for filthy lucre and not by constraint, I Peter 5:2. Peter's exhortation is for us to be an example to the flock.

You know that is what Paul is doing in Philemon. Paul is showing Philemon, by example, how to deal with a former servant of Philemon, the person who stole from him and then fled to Rome, the servant Onesimus.

When Onesimus arrived in Rome, he made contact with Paul and was converted to Christianity. Paul knew the circumstances surrounding the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, and he is used of the Lord to develop Onesimus into a very profitable brother in the Lord.

Next, Paul having built into the life of the “servant”, now wants to build into the life of his former owner, the one who had been violated. Paul writes to Philemon requesting that he take back his former employee, one who could be very profitable to him in the future, verse 11.

Paul is working towards that “Crown of Glory” Peter wrote about, as he works with both Philemon and Onesimus. Paul was ambitious for these crowns, II Corinthians 5:9, because he knew that these crowns would one day be presented back to the Lord Jesus in thanksgiving for what He has done for us, Revelation 4:10.

The “Crown of Glory” is only one of five crowns we can receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We receive a “crown incorruptible” for bringing our body under subjection, I Corinthians 9:27. We will be rewarded a “crown of rejoicing” for being a soul winner, I Thessalonians 2:19. There is the “crown of life” for not yielding to temptation, James 1:12. There is also the “crown of righteousness” for loving the appearance of Jesus Christ as the Rapture, II Timothy 4:8.

In Philemon, Paul, by example, helps us to understand how to receive the “Crown of Glory”.

PRAYER THOT: Lord help me to work towards attaining all five of the crowns so that I can give them back to you in thanksgiving.

Philippians 1 verse 23 - For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.

For further study - Philippians 1:8-23

I have a study that I teach on the book of Philippians, "Personal Power for Practical People from Philippians," a study that helped me to developed Biblical principles in my own personal life. As you read through this book it becomes very apparent that the author of the book, Paul, had a great love for this people living in Philippi.

Notice verse 8 of our extended reading how Paul longed for these people. Paul wanted them to be sincere and without offense until the day that Jesus Christ comes back to earth, verse 9.

When Paul wrote this book, he was a prisoner in jail in Rome, actually in Caesar's house, Philippians 4:22. Verses 15-17 reveals to us that Christ was being preached in “contention and conflict”. Christ was also being preached out of “envy and strife”. Paul's attitude was, praise the Lord, Christ is, in fact, being preached, verse 18.

Am I not correct, this message written by Paul is for “practical people”, with the promise of power to face all of our problems. However, at the same time, Paul was facing a conflict. The conflict that Paul faced was His desire to go and be with the Lord, which would be to his gain, verse 21. At the same time, Paul knew that if he stayed on earth he would continue to minister to the people.

Paul's words are evidence of his love for the people. He was willing to give up going to be with Christ in order to minister to the people in Philippi.

Remember, in this passage, Paul's housing was provided for by the Roman government. Paul was a prisoner in Caesar's household, most likely chained to a Roman guard on a daily basis. But just think, that would have given Paul a "captive" audience to hear the gospel every day, therefore, for Paul to live was Christ, verse 20.

Paul wrote the people of Philippi about ten years after he wrote the Thessalonians about the “Rapture of the Church”, I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Paul was not only conscious that in preaching he could face death soon, but he was expecting the Rapture to happen at anytime.

You can notice the "we" statements when referring to the time of the Rapture, I Thessalonians 4:14, 15 and 17. Paul thought the Rapture would happen in His day. These truths had to be in his mind, as well, when he wrote the people at Philippi.

Stop and think for a moment. If Paul believed the Rapture would happen in his day, how much more should we look for the Rapture in our day, 2000 years after Paul.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to be as Paul and live as if the Rapture will happen in my day.


Philippians 2 vs16 

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

For further study - Philippians 2:1-16

For a number of years I was in a ministry that used as our key verse and as its theme verse, "holding forth the word of life," Philippians 2:16. I will get back to that great Biblical directive in a moment.

Our extended reading for today is packed with “practical principles” for Christians in a world like ours for today. Remember, Paul is in jail in the household of the Roman Emperor Caesar, Philippians 4:22, and the apostle writes to those he led to the Lord in Philippi how to live this new life.

Let's look at the list of directives Paul passed along to the Philippian Christians and to us for today. Philippians 2:3 reveals to us how to do the work not for our own glory, vainglory, but in lowliness of mind as we look to lift up others.

In fact, Philippians 2:4 tells us not to look out for ourselves but to look to help others. The truth of the matter is that this type of lifestyle can be accomplished only by having a Christ-like mind for thinking right, Philippians 2:5.

Often we have opportunity to learn how to be a leader and fail to look at the one true leader, Jesus Christ, who thought himself of no reputation, and became a servant. Serving others is the true path to leadership. This insight is in Philippians 2:7 which also talks about the “God-man” who came to leadership that way. Obedience, even in the hard task, is the best way to accomplish the ultimate plan.

Philippians 2:8, a passage that shows us that Jesus followed that pattern, is an exhortation for each of us. Philippians 2:14 is one of the hardest verses to appropriate for our daily lives, or at least it is for me.

Paul tells us to do all things, which means "all" things without murmuring and disputing. To follow this profound principle will make us blameless, harmless, and a shining light in our very dark world, Philippians 2:15.

Now we come back to our key verse, Philippians 2:16, which tells us how we must be at the return of our Lord, the day of Christ. We can rejoice in that day and know that we did not run the race of life in vain.

We are prepared for His return as we "hold forth the word of life." It is His word on how to get saved, live our daily lives, and anticipate His return.

Philippians is a great book with personal power for practical people.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to learn practical principles from Your word, dear Lord, and then let Your word produce Your life within me.


Philippians 3 vs20 

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

For further study - Philippians 3:10-21

The book of Philippians is one the richest New Testament books you can read. I have a Bible study series that I teach which I have entitled, "Personal Power for Practical People from Philippians." As you may notice, I love alliteration. However, my series title does describe this great little book. I recommend it to you for your own personal Bible study.

To prove my point, just read our extended reading for today and you will see that Paul is looking for the Rapture to happen. This is found in verses 11,20 and 21. Verse 11 is the statement of his desire to be called out of the grave if he should die before the Rapture, to then be caught up into the heavens.

The preceding verse reveals how Paul wants to live until the Rapture does happen. Paul's focus is to "know Him" which means to really come to a deep knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Paul also repeats a principle that is available to each of us which he wrote about in his letter to the Ephesians, Ephesians 1:19-20. He wrote the Ephesians that we can know the "power of the Resurrection," this is the power to live today, which we can receive from the Lord, by faith.

Paul knows that there has been much suffering in his life and ministry by the time he writes Philippians and he acknowledges that he wants to be able to understand the "fellowship with Christ" in that suffering.

The bottom line in verse 10 is that he, and we, must be ready to conform to the will of the Lord even as Jesus conformed to His Father's will and died for us on the cross.

Now that is only the first verse of our extended reading. I told you this book was rich. Look at verses 13-14. Paul states that he is focused on the future and what it might hold for us. He says, " I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." In this verse he refers to the "prize" that he hopes to get at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Therefore, verse 13, he has "one thing" he does. He forgets the past failures and looks to the future and how he can live so that he does get that "prize" at the judgment seat.

Again, I must remind you this is all in the context of Paul's awareness of what he considers, at the time of the writing of Philippians, to be the nearness of the Rapture. Paul reminds us all that our "conversation," our citizenship is not here on earth but is in heaven from where we look for Jesus to call us to be with Him.

It is when the Rapture happens and we go to be with Jesus that these old bodies of ours are changed to be like "His glorious body." What a day that will be, and it could be today that the Rapture happens. Keep looking up!