Devotion 1 of 2: Jer 16
V.1-13 describe the brutality of the punishment that Judah would be receiving. It would be so bad that God told Jeremiah not to marry or have children (v.2). The Jews would die gruesome deaths; they wouldn’t be lamented or buried; they would be like refuse; they would die by sword and famine (v.3-4).
All these unbelievable prophecies were fulfilled during Babylon’s invasion of Judah. They surrounded Jerusalem, cut off all the food from entering the city and starved the people. The Jews ate all the livestock, then dogs, cats and rodents, then ate their own babies and children! That’s why God said not to have children!
Will this be repeated in the endtime? It’s possible! AC will persecute the church, so we will not be able to live normal lives. In Myanmar, when the army attacks villages, the people scatter and must hide in the forest. Let’s study persecutions in other countries to learn how to prepare for when we have to face them!
デボーション1/2：Jer 16
1-13節は、ユダが受けるであろう罰の残酷さを描写しています。それはあまりにもひどいものだったので、神はエレミヤに結婚も子供を持つこともしないようにと告げました（2節）。ユダヤ人は残酷な死に方を遂げ、悲しまれることも、葬られることもなく、地面の肥やしになり、剣と飢餓で滅ぼされることになります（3-4節）。
これらの信じられない預言はすべて、バビロンのユダ侵攻中に実現しました。彼らはエルサレムを包囲し、町に入るすべての食料を断ち切り、人々を飢えさせました。ユダヤ人はすべての家畜を食べ、次に犬、猫、ネズミ等を食べ、最後に自分の赤ちゃんや子供を食べました！だから神は子供を持つなと言ったのです！
これは終わりの時に繰り返されるのでしょうか？それは可能です！反キは教会を迫害するので、私たちは普通の生活を送ることができなくなります。ミャンマーでは、軍隊が村を攻撃すると、人々は散り散りになり、森に隠れなければなりません。他の国での迫害を研究して、迫害に直面したときのためにどう備えるかを学ぶ必要があるでしょう。
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Devotion 2 of 2: Acts 16
Chapter 15 showed the early church was David’s Tabernacle (DT), but it would fall, and God would restore it like before (15:16-17). Before, DT was a tent with the Ark inside, where priests offered burnt offerings (prayer) and worship continually (1 Chron 16:1-6). We also learned the purpose for restoring DT was to save the world!
In chapter 16 we see a picture of what the restoration of DT would be like in real life (v.20-34). Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. But, instead of complaining, they prayed and worshiped God (built DT)! God sent an earthquake, opened the prison doors and loosened the stocks on their feet! But they didn’t escape! They stayed behind to lead the jailer and his household to salvation! Then they went free!
In the endtime, God will restore the church as DT, and when persecution arises, DT Christians, who don’t complain but pray, will see God’s awesome presence manifested, prison doors opened, and people get saved!
— Pastor Elmer Inafuku