Today’s Reading: Hab 2:6–3:19, Acts 18:1–28, Job 26:1–14

Today’s Theme: Don’t just say it, be it!

Today’s theme is Be or Being, we looking at what it means to be honest in our financial dealing, to be joyful in the middle of difficulty, to be relentless in sharing and proving the Gospel, to be resigned to do God’s will and to be a mentor.

The reading in Job explores the glory of God revealed in his creation.

Habakkuk 2:6–3:19

Be honest

“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! (Habakkuk 2:9, ESV)

As Christians we must walk in integrity and stay honest, all our gains must come via honest routes, we must avoid the temptation to receive money that has been gotten in some dishonest way for the sake of our temporal comfort

God’s glorious kingdom

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV)

One day the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, this is the glorious day of the Lord when His kingdom will be established… this is why ultimately building temporal kingdoms especially in dishonesty and cruelty are all done in vain because Gods true kingdom will come and crush all false kingdoms.

Which kingdom are we building, this is a question we should ask ourselves

Avoid profitless idols

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! (Habakkuk 2:18, ESV)

Idols and idolatry is such folly, they serve no profit and only serve to ensnare and deceive as the demonic spirit behind them teach lies.

We actually create our own idols so it is up to us to recognise and destroy them

Appeal to God’s mercy

O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2, ESV)

We should pray this over our nation, that in God’s wrath, he would remember mercy towards us

God has gone to great lengths to save you

You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah (Habakkuk 3:13, ESV)

God goes to great lengths to secure the salvation of His chosen people

Don’t just wait, wait patiently

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. (Habakkuk 3:16, ESV)

Like the prophet we should patiently wait on the Lords salvation in things pertaining to this life

Be joyful, despite the debts

yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:18, ESV)

Habakkuk declares he will rejoice and be joyful in God even though he is living in a time of lack… no matter how tight our financial position feels we must rejoice in the Lord

God, our strength

GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:19, ESV)

God is our strength and will make us stable in tough times, God will give us stability in our walk with him if we depend on him for strength

Acts 18:1–28

Be relentless

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. (Acts 18:4, ESV)

Paul was relentless in His efforts to persuade both Jews and Greeks about the truth and necessity of the gospel

God’s plan

And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6, ESV)

Some say this is anti-Semitic but it is not, this is how God had ordained it, that only a remnant as prophesied of the Jews would be saved and the way of salvation would be opened to all nations.

God’s encouragement

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:9–10, ESV)

Despite the encouraging results mentioned in verse 8, the Lord knew that Paul needed to be encouraged, so the Lord tells him to go on speaking for him.

Paul had nothing to fear because God was with him and God was in control.

The Lord mentions he has many in the city that belong to him, this points to the fact that God knows his elect in advance as taught in the biblical doctrine of election.

Be resigned to do God’s will

But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. (Acts 18:21, ESV)

Paul was totally surrendered and resigned to the will of God.

Strengthen the disciples

After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (Acts 18:23, ESV)

Again Paul is on his great mission to strengthen the disciples. We should seek to stregthen each other as disciples too

Be a mentor

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:26, ESV)

This couple (Aquila was the husbands name) were used by God to refine Apollos, making him one of the key ministers in the early church, we should be ready to instruct those around us who are zealous for the Lord but need some teaching or mentoring.

God’s victory

And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. (Acts 18:27–28, ESV)

Again we see the victory of God, this man who was already skilled in the scriptures, after receiving discipleship training, he dealt a great blow to the enemy and strengthened the church.

Job 26:1–14

The bible is scientifically sound

He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. (Job 26:7, ESV)

This is the earliest book in the bible, yet the science is accurate, other text from the same period would speak of the earth being carried by elephants or the god Atlas, whereas Jobs account points to the reality of gravity etc

The earth is a sphere

He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. (Job 26:10, ESV)

Again the spherical nature of the earth is mentioned which is very advanced for the time. The exile taught the earth was a sphere, the idea of a flat earth comes from pagan cultures.

Our God is the great God of creation and true science.

The glory of the Creator

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14, ESV)

Job rightly recognises that even the wonder of the created universe and the created order within the universe are only dim echoes of the immeasurable glory of God

Today’s Reading: Hab 1:1–2:5, Acts 17:1–34, Job 25:1–6

Today’s Theme: The Reasonable Gospel

Today’s theme is about the reasonable nature of Gods word and the Gospel in particular. As we see we can reason with, explain, prove and persuade concerning the Gospel, engaging the heart and mind of man and drawing upon the logical and truthful nature of the message.

The enemy has attempted to paint a picture of Christianity as being unreasonable and illogical, belonging to a spiritual, discontented, private experience driven crutch for the uninformed, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

God made us a s reasonable and logical creatures and he has written down and declared through his saints the understandable, reasonable, explainable Good News.

We are called to live by faith and with the Holy Spirits help reason with men concerning the God’s message, encouraging them to make the truth their own like the faithful Bereans.

Habakkuk 1:1–2:5

Perverted Justice

So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:4, ESV)

This is how life feels here in the West at the moment, we are surrounded by and often ruled by wicked men so a type of justice goes forth but it is perverted. True justice can only come from the Lord in our situations today but ultimately at Christ return.

Don’t worship your own strengths

Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” (Habakkuk 1:11, ESV)

This is something men and even prosperous nations need to be weary of, we should not make our strong areas into a god, this is idolatry and folly.

If I only focus on the areas where I do well then I will never develop in the other areas, we need to be able to look at ourselves objectively and as the NT tells us we should judge ourselves so that we won’t be judged.

Lord help us to judge ourselves to the end that we would grow in you and bring Glory to your name and would not fall into the trap of idolising our strongest areas

God’s Watchmen

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. (Habakkuk 2:1, ESV)

We as Christians and men in particular need to take our stand as watchmen, so we need to position ourselves in a way that we can observe what is going on and pray (the tower).

Jesus tells us we should watch and pray, we must keep our fingers on the pulse of our society and culture so we can pray effectively and relevantly.

This also points to the idea of watching and waiting on the Lord for an answer.

The final picture could be standing at the watch-post to guard the church against heresy and watching for the fulfilment of prophecy

Start journaling, write it down

And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV)

This is a great principle and is one of the main reasons that I like to write things down, I find it helps to make things clear in my own mind and for sharing with others.

You should consider writing down the things God puts on your heart as you read your bible, pray or attend church meetings, it can be a real source of encouragement to look back over these things sometimes years later.

Patiently wait for God in faith

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

We need to wait on the Lord in faith, if he has promised us something then it will come to pass. This slow release of the promises of God is a good tool to help us grow in Christian character and most essentially to grow in faith.

In this context it was the prophecy of the judgment mentioned in the earlier verses

Live by faith

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4, ESV)

This is where we get the NT maxim from which sparked the protestant reformation of which we are all the benefices.

We should live by faith in God not in religious systems or some works based righteousness because as we read in Job today man has no worthwhile righteousness in himself.

We must live in faith before God because without faith it is impossible to please him.

Lust, never satisfied

“Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.” (Habakkuk 2:5, ESV)

The arrogant lust of the flesh is never satisfied, it always wants more and can not be filled up

Acts 17:1–34

The Gospel is reasonable

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (Acts 17:2, ESV)

Our religion is a thinking religion so we can and should appeal to man’s reason, which has been given to him by God. The Gospel is real and reasonable, so we can engage in meaningful debate to prove its claims, show the validity of its message and the logic of its conclusions.

The Gospel is logical

explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (Acts 17:3, ESV)

The end goal of Paul’s continued reasonings was this truth. Notice Paul took time to explain, so should we. His explanations were so well presented and delivered that by this he was proving the necessity of the work of Christ and thus the validity of the Gospel message.

We must think of the Gospel in these terms, we can prove its validity because truth testifies to itself, we need to realise that the Gospel is rooted in the truth of who God is, the bible and the human condition.

The Gospel is not existential in any way instead it is rooted in the solid ground of truth and reality and it is from that place we can proclaim it’s necessity for every person leaving our hearers with only the choice to accept or deny the proven and logical truth.

The Gospel, tearing down walls

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. (Acts 17:4, ESV)

This is a glorious victory, the strenuous effort of Paul in explaining and proving the Gospel was not wasted, it resulted in the fruit of persuaded believers who were both Jews, Greeks and women.

The three groups of persuaded people speak to the fact that the Gospel was tearing down walls of division and inequality around race and gender.

The Gospel (Bible), check and study it yourself

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11, ESV)

We must learn and study like these noble Jews of Berea, we should not just listen to and read teaching taking it as fact, we should go to the Bible ourselves and study these things to see if the teaching was in line with the scriptures.

This is why we say we must be Bereans, checking everything against the truth of God’s word, we should examine our own beliefs and any teachings we sit under in the Word of God.

Notice that these men were not skeptics because they received the word with eagerness, so they were hungry for the word and at the same time filled with the joy of the Lord as they sought out clarity and confirmation of the truth they had received.

So we should receive the truth or the taught word eagerly but then let the Joy of the Lord in our hearts spur us on to check out the truth for ourselves and make it our own.

Study of the Word leads to faith

Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. (Acts 17:12, ESV)

Notice in Thessalonica only a few believed, whereas in Berea, many believed because they didn’t just listen they went to the Word themselves too and made the truth their own. This is why it is so important that we put the bible in the hands of the lost as we share the truth of the Gospel.

We should support the translation and distribution of the bible around the world, it will increase the capacity and success of world missions.

Reason in the marketplace

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. (Acts 17:17, ESV)

Paul took his reasoning to both the religious and business world.

Philosophical awareness

Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18, ESV)

Paul was skilled in the philosophical ideas of his day, the Epicureans were empiricist (live life by experiences only) and hedonist (seeking pleasure and tranquility by the absence of pain) while the Stoics taught that men should live altruistic and austere lives of doing good for the sake of good and with no thought of reward or pleasure.

We should also be aware of the philosophical arguments of our day so we can successfully defend against them and argue against them with the gospel

They recognised the speaking of Jesus as resurrected would make Jesus divine

New fads

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. (Acts 17:21, ESV)

Our western culture is built on this too, so often we love to debate and research just to hear some new thing or follow some new fad

Contextualise the truth

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. (Acts 17:23, ESV)

These geeks had a pantheon of many gods and to be on the safe side even had a memorial to the unknown god in case they missed any.

Paul used this to contextualise and relate the gospel message to them. This is a great strategy when sharing the gospel… take something from the persons life or beliefs and turn it around to show them the truth.

We need God

nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:25, ESV)

Lets get this straight, God does not need us, some new teachings say that he does but he is totally self sufficient and does not need us at all, in fact we live in the grace of his benefits to all mankind… We need Him, not the other way around.

Racism, answered

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (Acts 17:26, ESV)

This destroys the philosophy and argument of racism and the underlying ideas of darwinian evolution. God made all nations, tribes and language groups from one man.

God has set the boundaries for when and where we live, it is not in our hands but his as the Sovereign Ruler, so he is the author of every nation and community.

God’s desire for all men

that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, (Acts 17:27, ESV)

God’s great purpose in setting our boundaries is that we might seek Him and know Him.

This verse shows us God’s heart and the universal call of the Gospel, God is closer to each of us than we think, we need to pray that God would open the eyes of our loved ones so they can see Gods grace all around them and realise he has been right there all along loving them so that they will turn to God their benevolent benefactor and repent believing the good news

God sustains all life

for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28, ESV)

Even though this is a quote from a greek poet it is still true, God is the sustainer of all life

We are not little gods

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (Acts 17:29, ESV)

This does not teach that we are little gods, this is just pointing to the fact made earlier that God created the world, made us all from one blood and sustains us now, we are made in Gods image and thus we are his offspring, descendant or we are here as a result of His providence and grace.

This is actually said in the building of an argument against idolatry so it is ironic to think of this as pointing to men as small gods as is taught in the word of faith movement.

The times have changed

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, (Acts 17:30, ESV)

the times of ignorance are over, since Jesus came times have changed, now the call to all mankind is clear and proclaimed by the church, God want all men to repent.

Jesus, appointed judge

because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31, ESV)

The reason all should repent is because the God-Man Jesus Christ is also the Judge and God has appointed a day of judgement which all men should fear.

The elect will believe

But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. (Acts 17:34, ESV)

The victory of God again, the elect believe even though others were just tickling their ears and mocked the glorious truth of the resurrection

Job 25:1–6

Jesus the answer to the philosophers questions

How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? (Job 25:4, ESV)

Bildad is right, none of us are righteous before God and what we consider as righteousness is like a filthy rag used for menstrual sanitation.

This has been one of the great philosophical questions of the ages and the answer is found in Jesus because man is not pure or right before the great holiness of God but Jesus lived a perfect life of righteousness for us and then when we are saved he imputes that righteousness to our account.

When we are saved our debt of sin is completely cleared but we are not left with a nil balance, God also adds great riches to our account by crediting the righteousness of Christ to us along with other spiritual riches.

Thank you Father that this great question and problem is answered in the life, death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus.

Today’s Reading: Nah 1:1–3:19, Acts 16:6–40, Job 24:12–25

Today’s Theme: Jealous God

Todays theme is about the jealousy of God. When we speak of the jealousy of God it is not like the sin stained jealousy of man, instead Gods jealousy speaks of his zeal for his own Glory, ways and people. God is fiercely protective and unaccepting of disloyalty.

Another way to think of proper jealousy is a husband who is concerned for the love of his wife and is not indulgent of her (or his own) adultery.

We learn that God’s Jealousy is invigorated by God’s right to avenge and holy anger while complemented by God’s goodness and mercy.

We are called to have this type of proper jealousy where we are concerned for God’s honour and glory and flee spiritual adultery. Live with zeal for God’s glory and you will be led by the Holy Spirit.

Nahum 1:1–3:19

The Jealous God

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. (Nahum 1:2, ESV)

We don’t often think of God as Jealous (Zealous), avenging or wrathful but these are some of His essential attributes and part of the full picture of who God is, he is not simply a God of love.

Be slow to anger like God

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3, ESV)

This again helps us understand the Lord, he is not quick to be angry, but is slow to get angry and encourages us to be the same. At the same time He will by no means clear the guilty

God is good

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7, ESV)

As Nahum gives us a clear picture of the terrible wrath of God, it is refreshing to be reminded that along with this the Lord is good and a stronghold to those who trust in Him

How do you plan on defeating God?

What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time. (Nahum 1:9, ESV)

This sobering question should be asked to any one in rebellion against God and any nation standing against him

Your idols become your grave

The LORD has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.” (Nahum 1:14, ESV)

God is speaking to the Ninivites, but we can learn from this. Anything or one we idolise can end up being the death of us spiritually, an idol very soon becomes a grave.

Good News

Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off. (Nahum 1:15, ESV)

This is picked up in the NT regarding the good news of the gospel, this helps give us perspective on how the Gospel is good news…. it is because like the enemies of Israel sin has been defeated at the cross.

Nineveh judged

Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale! (Nahum 2:10, ESV)

This and all proceeding verses in this chapter speak of the destruction on Nineveh, they had repented in Jonah’s day but this is 100 years later, they were used by God to judge Israel (not Judah) with destruction but now were under Gods judgement for their cruelty.

Just because God used them to judge his people does not absolve them of their own wickedness

Nations judged

Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. (Nahum 2:13, ESV)

If God declares himself to be against any nation then that nations days are numbered. We must pray for our nations

Is London like Nineveh

Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey! (Nahum 3:1, ESV)

The question in my mind is does London like Nineveh have blood on its hands too.

Physical, spiritual and national whoring

And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms. (Nahum 3:4, ESV)

Sexual sin destroys both individual men and entire nations, our culture is under such assault by perversion and pornography that even our secular government has recognised the problem.

Lord guard us and our children from the deceitful charms of this trap.

This is also true spiritually, we should be faithful to God in our minds and behaviours and not prostitute our souls for the satisfaction of our flesh.

This is also true on a national level, as a country we should not compromise our standards no matter the financial or political cost, this is political prostitution and is spoken about in the book of revelation as the great harlot (false religion) drawing in and deceiving all nations.

Alert Shepherds

Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. (Nahum 3:18, ESV)

The shepherds and leaders of the church need to stay alert and ready for an attack of the enemy to defend and guide the flock

The reason for judgement

There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil? (Nahum 3:19, ESV)

They were judged for their evil

Acts 16:6–40

The guidance of the Holy Spirit

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. (Acts 16:6, ESV)

This shows how much they were lead by the Spirit, not only in going into new areas but being warned to not go to other areas yet. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to guides us about the places we should NOT go to.

Get up and work

And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (Acts 16:7, ESV)

Notice the way they lived their lives, they would set about to do something in the work of the Lord because in Christ they have new desires to please God, but if they were going in the wrong direction in their good endeavour the Holy Spirit would redirect them.

We should live our lives like this, not waiting on the Spirit to tell us to move but working for Gods glory and allowing the spirit to guide us as we work.

God can speak through dreams and visions

And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:10, ESV)

God made His direction for them very clear with this vision, we should be open to what the Lord tells us in visions and dreams, always measuring them against the Word (in this case it was regarding the call to Spain).

Open ears and hearts

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14, ESV)

This woman’s heart was opened by God to pay attention to what Paul was saying, we should pray that God would open our hearts to hear and apply the truth

The ministry of hospitality

And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. (Acts 16:15, ESV)

This woman showed hospitality to Paul and his companions, this is an important ministry for believers and Women in particular

Take authority over unclean spirits

And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (Acts 16:18, ESV)

We should like Paul take authority over unclean spirits, notice the manifestation of the spirit is very clear, not implied as is the case often today in parts of the church where everything is a spirit.

When there is a real demon, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can take authority and cast it out.

We can’t deal with men like spirits

And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. (Acts 16:23, ESV)

Notice they did not “bind them”, these were men, not demons, we can only take authority when it is an actual demon. The Apostles suffered greatly for the faith.

Praise to breakthrough and breakout

and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (Acts 16:26, ESV)

We can praise our way to breakthrough and breakout for us and others, Hallelujah – Pastor Dennis has a great teaching on this.

The ultimate question

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, ESV)

The question that we should pray our loved ones and enemies ask when they see God at work for us

How to be saved

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31, ESV)

This is an exclusive statement, it is only by believing in the Lord Jesus that we will be saved (not may be but WILL be)

Discipleship is necessary

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. (Acts 16:32, ESV)

Some people stop at the last verse but there was more happening here, discipleship means Paul taught them all the word of God, again teaching is central to accurate believing

Joy, evidence of salvation

Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts 16:34, ESV)

This joy is one of the evidences of salvation

Confidence in God’s control

But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” (Acts 16:37, ESV)

God used the imprisonment to his Glory, it was a victory and now Paul speaks with the boldness and wisdom of God.

Encourage the saints

So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. (Acts 16:40, ESV)

Paul was always encouraging the saints and concerned with their growth, we should be the same

Job 24:12–25

Everything is recorded

From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. (Job 24:12, ESV)

This is not true, God is keeping a record of everything, nothing escapes His sight

We hated the light

“There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. (Job 24:13, ESV)

This is all of us before we know the Lord, in John 3: 20-21 Jesus tell us

“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””

You can’t hide

The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he veils his face. (Job 24:15, ESV)

This is the deception of sin, it doesn’t matter how late or dark it is, God still knows and sees all our actions

Friends with demons

For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. (Job 24:17, ESV)

Think about this, without God we are friends with demons (although they are not friends with us)

Job’s pride

If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” (Job 24:25, ESV)

The pride of Job is exposed here, not to say it was there dint he first place we must remember the tremendous emotional strain of the trial he is going through without excusing the sin of pride.

Today’s Reading: Micah 7:1–20, Acts 15:22–16:5, Job 24:1–11

Today’s Theme: Doctrine Matters

Todays theme is that doctrine matters, doctrine is the act of teaching or that which is taught. When Christians think of doctrine we mean the entire body of essential theological truths that define and describe the gospel message and our life as disciples of Jesus Christ.

In one sense our faith would not exist without clearly defined doctrines like salvation coming through Jesus alone.

Today’s theme explores the importance of sound and clear doctrine to the church as a whole and each of our individual lives as believers, it is through keeping to the teachings of the bible and the church that we can have confidence in God keeping us secure for eternity.

Micah 7:1–20

Rejoice in uprightness

The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind; they all lie in wait for blood, and each hunts the other with a net. (Micah 7:2, ESV)

Godly and upright people are considered by Micah to be like summer fruit, they bring delight to his soul, we should feel the same way about our brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking uprightly. We can even rejoice when upright but not necessarily Christian men are in leadership in society.

Don’t be proficient in evil

Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together. (Micah 7:3, ESV)

This sounds like the world we live in today. With new technology and supposed new ideas, men seek to be more proficient in evil, idleness, idolatry, selfishness, greed, vanity and every other work of the flesh.

This is a terrible state for any nation, if the leaders are not men of integrity, there is no hope for the wider society

The end of the verse reminds me of those who lobby parliament with their evil desires like the Gay Marriage lobby in recent days

Jesus quotes Micah

for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. (Micah 7:6, ESV)

Jesus quotes this in His warning about the last days in Matt 10:35-36

Look to the God of your salvation

But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7, ESV)

Despite the rampant wickedness around him the prophet declares that he will look to the Lord the God of his Salvation. Because God is the God of our salvation we know we can turn to him in difficult and dark days and have the confidence that he will hear us

Not forsaken

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. (Micah 7:8, ESV)

Hallelujah, this has been the triumphal cry of every true believer, we have confidence in our redeemer that even when we stumble and fall we are not forsaken

Internal honesty

I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. (Micah 7:9, ESV)

Micah does not take this confidence in the Lord as an excuse to sin, he recognises his short coming and expects to bear indignation for his offence but is confident in light of this humility and internal honesty that the Lord will vindicate Him as his Judge

God is our shepherd

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. (Micah 7:14, ESV)

God is the shepherd of all His elect people, both Israel and the Church

God delights in steadfast love

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18, ESV)

What a pivotal, awesome, overarching truth, God delights in stedfast love, and because of this delight he pardons the iniquity and transgression of His elect remnant.

We can have confidence in Gods desire to forgive us and not stay angry with us because we can be confident in His steadfast love and His right, joy and ability to fulfil that which he desires.

Free at last

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19, ESV)

What awesome imagery, God will trample upon our moral depravity and cast our shortcomings into the depths of the sea, God will destroy our sin and it will not resurface we will be free at last.

God’s love for Abraham’s seed

You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. (Micah 7:20, ESV)

God will not forsake the children of Abraham. This in one sense applies to the physical jews , despite hundreds of years of judgement and persecution God has kept the historical people alive as a people and has allowed much of their ancient land to be restored to them.

In another sense this applies to the spiritual children which are all true believers and disciples of the old and new testament. See Romans 9:7, Galatians 3:7 and Galatians 3:29

Acts 15:22–16:5

Doctrine (teachings) matters

Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, (Acts 15:24, ESV)

This is why the decision of church councils throughout history on important topics like the nature of God, Jesus, The Scriptures and Salvation should be remembered and upheld.

Doctrine (teaching) and truth really do matter, without solid and firm convictions and clearly defined doctrines, our people can be easily troubled with words from the plants of the enemy and the enemies of the cross resulting in their minds being unsettled concerning the truth.

As Gods men we must vigorously defend the historic faith once for all delivered to the saints, it is our solemn duty to defend the truth of the scriptures and the truth of the Church’s public and agreed interpretation and application of those scriptures because as scriptures says about itself… it has no private interpretation… therefore the church must be in one accord and agree on the foundational and important doctrines or the Church and its people will be weak.

The Council of Jerusalem knew this and sent the letter and faithful men to remedy this early attack on the church.

Risk is right

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 15:26, ESV)

We should not avoid risk in pursuit of the western dream of security and happiness, instead we should be willing to risk everything for the sake of Gods calling, this is not risk for the sake of risk, that would be folly.

This risk for the Lord was a distinguishing mark of Paul’s life.

John Piper has written two good books on this, “Don’t Waste Your Life” (I’ve already read) and “Risk Is Right” (I’m still reading).

Agreement with and through the Holy Spirit

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (Acts 15:28, ESV)

The council was led by the Holy Spirit and came to a place of agreement with and through the Holy Spirit

God’s commands for our welfare

that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:29, ESV)

Gods commands are for the welfare of His people

Rejoice in freedom

And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. (Acts 15:31, ESV)

The Body of Christ rejoices and are encouraged when they receive clear instruction and the burden of false teaching and legalism (you must be circumcised) are lifted.

Teaching and Preaching

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. (Acts 15:35, ESV)

The ministry of the Apostles was not marked by Praise and Worship or some other activity, it was marked by preaching and teaching the word of the Lord, this should be the highest priority in the church today.

Unity and disagreement

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, (Acts 15:39, ESV)

Just because we have doctrinal unity, it does not mean we have unity in method, structure, administration, culture etc we have more freedom in these areas which is why Paul and Barnabas could have this heartfelt disagreement and still both be walking with the Lord and ministering in His name.

God used this disagreement to further spread the Gospel in the same way He had used the persecution in Jerusalem.

Paul, the disciple maker

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:41, ESV)

Paul was a disciple maker 1st and a church planter 2nd so his purpose in retracing his steps was to strengthen the churches as they grew in the Lord.

God wants His church to be strong, this is why leaders teach the church, to help the members grow in maturity in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ

contextualisation for the sake of the mission

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3, ESV)

This was done for the sake of the mission, we should follow this example by for instance dressing like the locals, learning their language and eating their food, in mission work. This is called contextualisation and it is important in world missions. Hudson Taylor is a good modern example of this.

The growing church

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Acts 16:5, ESV)
Again we see the victory of God, the church is strengthened and thus increases in light of the clear guidelines from Jerusalem and the pastoral visit of Paul

Job 24:1–11

Judgement day, a comfort and terror

“Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? (Job 24:1, ESV)

This is a great question from Job, the fact is if there was no judgement for thoughts, words and actions in this life then there would be no true justice in the universe.

Cowardly, wicked men who commit wicked sins and then are killed before they are brought to justice in this life do not escape the justice of God.

The fact that there is a coming day of judgement is a comfort and a terror. It is a terror to those who will have to answer for their own sins, shortcomings, transgressions and iniquity.

It will be a joy for those who will have the best defence lawyer in the universe speaking up for us, he is also the one who paid the fine we surely owed and is also the Judge… because of Jesus we can look to the coming judgement with the comfort of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us as a downpayment on our future inheritance.

Landmarks should not be moved

Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. (Job 24:2, ESV)

Woe to our government, they have done this, they have moved the great landmark of marriage, for this our society and our country will suffer.

Help the poor

They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. (Job 24:4, ESV)

The plight of the poor is a vivid reminder that we have been called to help them, to shine the light of Gods truth and love to them by easing or reliving them of their suffering.

Fair trade is important

among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst. (Job 24:11, ESV)

We must seriously consider the things we purchase, fair trade is important, the fact is that much of the worlds manufacturing is done in the third world by ruthless companies only concerned with profit, they care nothing for the workers who are paid pennies a day and work in terrible conditions.

As Christians it is our duty to be aware of these things, advocate against it and make informed decisions about where we shop and what we eat and wear.

Today’s Reading: Micah 4:1–6:16, Acts 14:8–15:21, Job 23:1–17

Today’s Theme: The uunstoppable God

Today there is no clear theme but there is an overarching sense of God unstoppable will to be glorified and establish his kingdom. We should act as sign post point everyone to him.

Micah 4:1–6:16

Jesus will reign from Jerusalem

and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2, ESV)

This will be a glorious day when Jesus reigns from Jerusalem and the nations will flow to Him there to be taught so they can live in His ways.

The law will come from here too so we know this will be the centre of Christ’s reign on the earth, also notice the typography of the land will have been changed

Peace on earth

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; (Micah 4:3, ESV)

When Jesus comes there will be peace on earth between all nations, the UN will never be able to bring lasting world peace, only Jesus can do this

God has a plan

But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. (Micah 4:12, ESV)

Let this stand as a warning and rebuke against any nation that would seek to rise against Israel as a nation.

The Lord is a God of strategy in war, God is not passive but has clear thoughts, plans and intentions, he remains in control.

Earth belongs to God

Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13, ESV)

A reminder that the whole earth belongs to God and not the devil

Jesus birth prophesied

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2, ESV)

The great prophecy of the coming Messiah, this makes clear he would be born in Bethlehem and that His coming into this world was planned long ago and He is from of old, this is a hint to His divine origin

Jesus our Shepherd

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:4, ESV)

Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep

Jesus our peace

And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; (Micah 5:5, ESV)

Jesus is our peace

The Anti Christ

they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. (Micah 5:6, ESV)

Some say this reference to the Assyrian is talking about the Antichrist

God’s remnant

And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. (Micah 5:8, ESV)

We have seen this in our days for both the physical and spiritual remnant of Israel and the Church

Props taken away

and I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands; (Micah 5:13, ESV)

In this passage God is taking away all props. We must be careful of this that we do not idolise our work, efforts or achievements

The danger of God’s anger

And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey. (Micah 5:15, ESV)

All rebellious nations are in great danger of God’s anger.

Don’t break God’s heart

“O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! (Micah 6:3, ESV)

Hear the broken heart of God for the people that have forsaken Him in spite of His love and care. Lord I don’t want to break your heart, help us by Your Spirit to be faithful to you.

The gospel according to the OT

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8, ESV)

This is a wonderful scripture and is like a summary of the Gospel according to the OT.

Do Justice – We should do what is right and pursue justice on behalf of others, this can be in advocacy of the suffering church and in child sponsorship etc

Love kindness – This speaks to our character we should walk with the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Gal 5:22, being kind to one another

Walk humbly – this speaks to our attitude and behaviours we should walk in genuine humility (of thought and action) before God

Unsatisfied materialism

You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword. (Micah 6:14, ESV)

We see this in the gnawing, unsatisfied hunger of materialism today

Relationship is key

You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine. (Micah 6:15, ESV)

The principle can not work when separated from walking in loving obedience before God

Acts 14:8–15:21

See through the Holy Spirit

He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, (Acts 14:9, ESV)

Paul could some how see that the man had faith to be made well, it is most likely that the Holy Spirit gave Paul this discernment and understanding

Signposts to God

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. (Acts 14:15, ESV)

The devil wanted these people to be focused on the miracle and the personality of Paul and Barnabas, directing their worship to them and not to God.

This happens so often, where people focus on and worship people rather than God, the unfortunate thing is that those receiving worship do not always have the purity of heart of Paul and Barnabas who who tore their garments and rushed into the crowd crying out for the people to turn from this vanity to God.

We must always remember that we are just sign posts to God, we are nothing in ourselves, no matter how God uses us.

Paul makes the point of distinguishing God as the living God as opposed to a dead idol or fable, also note in this case they were taking on the prevailing religion in the pagan world

Finish the mission

But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:20, ESV)

This was no ordinary man, he was filled with Gods Holy Spirit and was determined to finish the mission

Make Disciples

But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:20, ESV)

Paul’s great mission was to make disciples

Through tribulation we enter

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22, ESV)

They were not just making converts but actual disciples, this is why they went back to them to strengthen and encourage them as they grew in the Lord.

We should all take note that it is through many tribulations that we will enter the kingdom of God, this blows away the “Your Best Life Now” theology.

Church structure

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23, ESV)

Paul set up proper church structure so that the believers could be nurtured and grow in the Lord.

God’s open door

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27, ESV)

Praise God, this door is still open

Debate to the glory of God

And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. (Acts 15:2, ESV)

It is important that we debate matters of doctrine to ensure we do not walk in error as Gods people we must be ready to debate, we can not be passive and let every new idea, book etc that comes along be accepted into the church or Christian thought and life.

The 1st Church Council

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. (Acts 15:6, ESV)

This is the first ever church council known as the Jerusalem Council

One in Christ

and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:9, ESV)

We must guard this NT truth, there is now no distinction between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, we are one

Our hearts are now cleansed by faith, the NT later calls it the circumcision of the heart rather than the body

Jesus alone could bear the weight of sin

Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10, ESV)

The law, (like the ring in Lord of the rings) can not be borne by anyone, only Jesus could bear its weight

Saved through grace

But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15:11, ESV)

A core concept for us as Christians, we are saved through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, both Jew and gentile

Agreeing with God’s word

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, (Acts 15:15, ESV)

This prophecy speaks of the remnant of mankind, these are Gods elect form all nations. It is good to see that from the earliest days of the church, reasoning and decision making was made in light of the word of God and not just current experience

Food and sex

but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20, ESV)

This is the first church decree, note it is all to do with food and sex, these are still some of the biggest problems in the world today.

Prepared with the OT

For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (Acts 15:21, ESV)

This means that the truth of the OT had spread to many nations, which in a way prepared the way for the Lord. (like Ken ham mentioned)

Job 23:1–17

Yes he would

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. (Job 23:6, ESV)

Job is about to find out that this is not true because God will come down in the closing chapters and contend with him

Trials purify

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:10, ESV)

Job recognises the purifying effect of his trials, the NT picks up on this, we should be encouraged as mentioned in James that the trial of our faith produces patience and is more precious than Gold (James 1:2-4, 12)

Treasure God’s word

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. (Job 23:12, ESV)

We should all treasure Gods word in this way. For Job the word of God was more precious to him than natural food, the word of God is often spoken of as spiritual food. Jesus said that his meat was to do the will of the father

God is unstoppable

But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. (Job 23:13, ESV)

This is true of God, he is unstoppable and can not be defeated and God fulfils and goes to work achieving what he desires.

Gods will is multifaceted, this is where the teaching on the decreed will (the things God sovereignly decrees that will and must happen, like prophecy or choosing elect people in OT and NT) and commanded will (all men everywhere repent Acts 17:30, the 10 commandments etc) of God is useful

Truly fear God

Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him. (Job 23:15, ESV)

Although this does not fit our western conventions, Jobs fear of God is actually very appropriate. God is someone we should actually fear in light of his power and ability to exercise that power in judgement in this life and the next. Jesus warns us to fear him in Matt 10:28