November 12

Ezekiel 10-12/Luke 5-8
Out with the old and in with the new.

OT – 11:16-21 Therefore, give the exiles this message from the Sovereign LORD: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.  I, the Sovereign LORD, will gather you back from the nations where you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.
 “When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their detestable idol worship.  And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead,  so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.  But as for those who long for idols, I will repay them fully for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.”

OT Flash Points:
Throne on a platform with whirling wheels & cherubim
From the Eastern Gate
A message delivered to leaders
Then the Glory departs Jerusalem
“All the prophecies will come to pass now.”
No more delay

NT – 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
:34-39Jesus asked, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom?
Someday he will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be torn, and the patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.  New wine must be put into new wineskins.  But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. `The old is better,’ they say.”
6:12-16 One day soon afterward Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.  At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:
Simon (He also called him Peter),
Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus),
Simon (the Zealot),
Judas (son of James),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

NT Flash Points:   :20-23 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
“God blesses you who are poor,for the Kingdom of God is given to you.God blesses you who are hungry now,for you will be satisfied.God blesses you who weep now, for the time will come when you will laugh with joy.God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursedbecause you are identified with me, the Son of Man.When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors.
8:21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the message of God and obey it.”

Follow the directions of the Master
The power of God & faith were strong
No one who drinks old wine seems to want the new wine
They say the old is better
The poor, hungry, brokenhearted & persecuted are blessed
If you want good fruit, deal with the log in your eye