Dr. David Jeremiah Presents
Living inthe Ageof Signs
Online Destination
Living in the Age of Signs
Online Destination
Sign 2
Unity and Diversity
Today’s Audio Devotion:
Unity and Diversity
Most authorities on human anatomy recognize 78 organs in the human body. The apostle Paul used the human body to illustrate the diversity and unity of all Christians in the Body of Christ. Organs are diverse, yet the human body is a unit.
Paul used the human body and its parts to illustrate his teaching on spiritual gifts which God “[distributes] to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Just as God arranged the human body and its parts “just as He pleased” (1 Corinthians 12:18), so He has distributed spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ the same way. And just as every organ in the human body has a part to play in function and in health, so every Christian has a part to play in the function and health of the Body of Christ. Paul identifies the spiritual gifts God has given to the Church in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12–14.
What spiritual gift(s) has God given you? How are you using it to build up the Body of Christ?
Pride of gifts robs us of God’s blessing in the use of them.
William Gurnall
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Some 2,600 years ago, God gave King Nebuchadnezzar a dream. In this dream, the king saw a five–part statue made of five different metals (see Daniel 2). Each section represented an empire, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. Four of these empires have already risen and fallen in history—a clear fulfillment of Daniel's prophetic interpretation. The fifth and final empire indicates a future Europe—a ten nation coalition that will unite under the Antichrist's rule.
You can read about the King's dream and Daniel's interpretation in Daniel 2, but let's take a quick visual look at what you will find:
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King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Daniel's words to the king are clear. "You are this head of gold" (Daniel 2:37–38).
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Medo–Persian Empire
The Medo–Persian Empire conquered Babylon in 539 BC and remained in power for approximately two hundred years (Daniel 5:28).
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Grecian Empire
Greece's Empire succeeded the Medo–Persians (Daniel 8:21).
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Roman Empire
When the Grecian empire was conquered by Rome, all the lands and peoples of the previous kingdoms were assimilated into the Roman Empire through the strengths of the "iron legions of Rome" (Daniel 2:40).
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Future European Coalition
This empire has not yet risen. Daniel foretells a time when the Roman Empire—Europe—will consist of ten kingdoms or leaders. The future Roman Empire will be present on the earth when God sets up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 2:44).