Tag: Enoch

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Daily Devotion June 12th

FRIDAY 12th

The rapture of Enoch – Genesis 4:24 ‘And he was not, for God took him.’

Enoch is the first of only two individuals in Scripture who did not taste death, the other being Elijah where 2 Kings 2 records for us that he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of Fire.

Enoch’s story is a small but beautiful picture of the rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ that is you, me, and all other living believers at his return. The key to Enoch’s rapture was that he walked with God and that he pleased God, and when we enter into the new-born experience, into the life transforming relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ we are called to ‘walk with him’, to ‘walk by faith’ and as a result God is PLEASED with us -not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. As believers, when God looks at us, he sees us as justified, he sees us as clothed in robes of righteousness, he sees the evidence of the work of redemption, he sees Jesus, therefore he is pleased!

And as Enoch was raptured or taken up so when Jesus comes again all who are alive at the time, and to be found in Christ will be raptured to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 ‘For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.’

Warren Wiersbe* says of Enoch being taken ‘Enoch had been walking with God for so many years that his transfer to heaven was not even an Interruption.’

Thus, it shall be for us who believe.

The prophecy of Enoch – although there is no account recorded in Genesis, Jude later records in his short epistle that Enoch of old prophesied. Jude 1:14-15 ‘It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’

He was, not only a picture of the rapture but he also prophesied concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The saying or prophecy of Enoch comes from one of the books of the Apocrypha, the book of Enoch. Although the Apocryphal books are not accepted as Scripture, it does not mean that Enoch never said this statement. Within each apocryphal book there is that which is accepted as truth but not accepted as part of the canon of Scripture. For Jude to quote what he has, does not endorse the apocryphal book of Enoch, but does endorse the truthfulness of what is recorded, this must be, for the record of Scripture itself is true! Sources suggest that although Enoch himself never wrote the book, tradition that had been handed down, was recalled, and has recorded what he said. And what he said is affirmed elsewhere in Scripture, Christ will come again.

But to conclude with Enoch, by faith Enoch walked with God, Enoch pleased God, and God took him.

May we ensure that we are walking in a way that is pleasing God in readiness for the arrival of the King of Glory, who will come again to take up to be with himself those who are to be found to be waiting in Christ.

*Preaching the Word Series

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there

When the roll, is called up yon-der

When the roll, is called up yon-der

When the roll, is called up yon-der

When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise

And the glory of His resurrection share

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care

Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there

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Devotions

Daily Devotion June 11th

THURSDAY 11th

We continue today with our look at the life of Enoch.

Enoch’s profession of faith – What does the Scripture tell us regarding Enoch’s profession of faith. What is the testimony recorded about him?

Genesis 5:22-24 ‘Enoch walked with God three hundred years . . . Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.’

What a clear profession of faith or personal testimony – ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD!

And the record of his testimony is found in our text: Hebrews 11:5 ‘BY FAITH Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.’

So, his PROFESSION of faith is summed up this way: ‘By faith, he pleased God because he walked with God!

On the 3rd June we saw faith and its availability as a gift from God, on the 5th we saw faith and its approval in our lives, on the 9th we saw faith and acceptance, or faith versus works, in this devotion, we will see faith and amble, we as God’s people are called to WALK by Faith so that we too can please him.

We could turn to much of Paul’s teaching and learn about our walk, and whether we use the phrase walk in the Spirit or walk with the Spirit or even walk by the Spirit, it is a walk of faith. I have used the word amble, it helps because it starts with the letter ‘a’, but the word amble means to walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace. I think that God wants us to walk in this way, he doesn’t want us to be stressed in our Christian walk, he doesn’t want us rushing about here and there, he wants us walking at a pace in which we will constantly be aware of his presence. Over the last ten weeks we have done a lot of walking, and it has nearly always been an amble, a steady relaxed walk and as a result we have discovered and seen so much that we would have missed if we had rushed about. We need to walk at a pace where we see, discover that which God has for us to receive.

Just as Peter had to step out of the boat by faith we continually step into the unknown, into the future, because we trust that the one who has called us already knows that which is unknown and the future is safe and secure in his hand. To walk by faith and to truly PLEASE God we have to fully, confidently trust him.

Remember the well-known song, I mentioned a few days ago, ‘I do not know what lies ahead. But I know who holds the future and he will guide me with his hand, with God things don’t just happen. Everything by him is planned, so as I face tomorrow, with its problems large and small, I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to him my all.’

How is your walk with God? What about mine? If God were to fill out a report card today would it read ‘Haydn (put your name here) is pleasing me with his walk.’

One of the instructions, that God gave to the children of Israel was ‘so shall you keep the commandment of the Lord your God by WALKING IN HIS WAYS and by fearing him.’ (Deuteronomy 8:6)

2 Corinthians 4:17 ‘For we walk by faith and not by sight.’

R Kent Hughes* says about Enoch’s walk with God that ‘he walked so closely with God that they were walking together, to the same place

on the same path, at the same pace.’  What a walk! We need to keep in step with the Spirit, with our eyes fixed upon Jesus so that we get to the finishing line.

*Preaching the Word Series

We walk by faith, and not by sight;

no gracious words we hear

from Him who spoke as none e’er spoke,

but we believe Him near.

We may not touch His hands and side,

nor follow where He trod;

but in His promise we rejoice

and cry, “My Lord and God!”

Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;

and may our faith abound

to call on You when You are near

and seek where You are found.

That, when our life of faith is done,

in realms of clearer light,

may we behold You as You are,

with full and endless sight.

CCLI 788682

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Daily Devotion June 10th

WEDNESDAY 10th

Hebrews 11:5 Faith and our walk with God

ENOCH. We will consider Enoch over two devotions.

Enoch gets little mention in the Scripture, and yet each time he is, we gain some information that brings to us an encouragement so that as we glean from him and the other characters in Hebrews chapter 11 we will also learn to walk by faith.

There is an Enoch mentioned in Scripture in Genesis 4:17-18, this is not the Enoch we are considering today. This Enoch in Genesis 4 is the son of Cain, one of the characters we looked at in the previous devotions.

We will divide Enoch’s life with four points, a portrait of his life, his profession of faith, his rapture, and his prophecy.

A portrait of Enoch – So far while looking at Hebrews 11, we have had the word APPROVED (Friday 5th) and ACCEPTED, (Tuesday 9th) today we have APPOINTED.

The Enoch we are considering is first found in Genesis 5:18-24. He comes from the lineage of Seth, the son born to Adam and Eve following the murder of their son Abel in Genesis 4:25 we read, ‘For God has APPOINTED another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.

In this context APPOINTED speaks of God’s purpose being fulfilled in the earth, through a family, and through an individual, which will become evident through the annals of history. It is through this ‘APPOINTED’ son, Seth we can see God’s pre-planned mission to redeem mankind being fulfilled and Enoch has a part to play in it, for in Genesis 4:25 we have the word SEED, which speak, of reproducing, fruit bearing, or continuation. And the line of Adam through Seth . . .  Enoch . . . etc. eventually brings us to the New Testament.

From Enoch’s first mention in Scripture, we next read of him in 1 Chronicles 1:1-4, showing the appointed seed lineage, ‘Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Muhalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham and Japeth.

From this we discover that Enoch was the great X5 grandson of Adam, And Enoch’s great grandson was Noah, but even ‘more importantly’ when we come to Luke 3:37-38 he is mentioned again, this time more clearly we can see his involvement in the ‘Redemption’ story,‘. . . the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.’ (see all the verses in Luke 2:23-28)

As you go through the generations, from Seth the APPOINTED down through Enoch, etc we come to Joseph the man in the New Testament APPOINTED by God to be the earthly father of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is all so important for the fulfilment of Scripture, which was for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.

Luke 2:1-7 ‘In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.’

The next portrait of Enoch is in our Scripture text Hebrews 11:5, and then the final portrait is to be found in the book of Jude 1:14. ‘It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied,  saying, Beheld the Lord come, with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deed) which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinner, have spoken against Him.’

So that is our portrait of Enoch found in the Scriptures – a handful of mentions and yet an important man in the purpose of God, and one from whom we can learn some lessons.

But before we move to the other points tomorrow, for today we will consider the word APPOINTED a little more. It is important for each one of us as the children of God, the redeemed of the Lord to discover what he has ‘APPOINTED’ us to – that is to discover as Romans 12:1-2 say that which is his good, acceptable and perfect will for our lives.

I believe God has ‘appointed’ each one of us into the Church, 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 ‘Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.’

There is an appointment, an appointed place in the purpose of God for each one of us within the body of Christ in which he has placed ALL of us as living stones.

Consider also, John 15:16, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and APPOINTED you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.’

The challenge for us today is this, are we fulfilling that which God has appointed us to be and to do within his body, the Church and within our own personal walk with him?

I have chosen to include a hymn here which came up in a conversation that I had with John Armstrong on the phone yesterday (June 2nd)

When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;

Where He sends, we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

J H Sammis CCLI788682