Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 20:26–21:29, Mark 12:1–34, Prov 5:1–10

Today’s Theme: Love God

Today’s reading is full of lessons regarding things we should do and be and things we should not do and not be.

We see Jesus as the great apologist, expositor of scripture. The ultimate of these do’s and don’ts is that we should love God with everything which is the answer of Jesus to the question of the greatest commandment.

God we love you with everything, forever you are worthy

1 Kings 20:26–21:29

Know that God is God

And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”(1 Kings 20:28, ESV)

God would give the king the victory so that he and the enemy would both know that God is God. This was for the glory of God

Don’t compromise

And Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.(1 Kings 20:34, ESV)

Do not compromise or make deals with sin

Obey God

Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down.(1 Kings 20:36, ESV)

Just obey God or suffer the consequences.

Be a man of integrity

But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”(1 Kings 21:3, ESV)

Naboth was a man of integrity, it was not just about the money for him, legacy for the future of his family line was far more important

Don’t be a grown spoilt brat

And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.(1 Kings 21:4, ESV)

This man Ahab is a spoilt brat… a grown spoilt brat

The spirit of Jezebel

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.(1 Kings 21:8, ESV)

This is why the name jezebel has become synonymous with usurping authority and women lording it over men with manipulation… false authority

Don’t be driven by greed

And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.(1 Kings 21:16, ESV)

Blinded and driven by selfish, covetous greed

Don’t sell yourself

Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.(1 Kings 21:20, ESV)

Do not sell your soul, don’t sell out to do what is evil. Like Jesus said what will you give in exchange for your soul

Don’t be manipulative

(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.(1 Kings 21:25, ESV)

The jezebel spirit is manipulative

Respond in repentance

“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”(1 Kings 21:29, ESV)

True repentance and humility is the only appropriate response to Gods judgement. God is merciful indeed.

Mark 12:1–34

Jesus the beloved and only Son

He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’(Mark 12:6, ESV)

All those before represent the prophets, but this represents Jesus the beloved and only Son of God

The vineyard

What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.(Mark 12:9, ESV)

This is what Jesus said God would do to the bad tenants Israel, the vineyard is now given to and made up of the (grafted in) church (Jew and Gentile) and we must be ready always to give God fruit to eat to bring him pleasure

Jesus the Apologist

Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.(Mark 12:17, ESV)

Pay your taxes… simple. Jesus was the master apologist

Don’t be politically correct

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?(Mark 12:24, ESV)

Jesus was not politically correct or said we can have various in house views, he straight up just said… you are wrong. Simple, Bold, Truth.

Jesus the expositor

And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”(Mark 12:26–27, ESV)

Jesus is the master expositor and apologist of the scriptures

Jesus answers

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.(Mark 12:29, ESV)

Jesus entertained this intellectual jousting, it can be enjoyable and it leads to truth as the Spirit leads, so be prepared to answer challenges like Jesus

Love God

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’(Mark 12:30, ESV)

The greatest commandment is to love God with everything

Almost there

And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.(Mark 12:34, ESV)

There is hope for those intellectually convinced concerning the truth, like Jesus says they are not far from the kingdom. Pray for the full conversion of those you know who are already in agreement in their minds with the gospel.

Proverbs 5:1–10

Honey coated death

but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.(Proverbs 5:4, ESV)

This is the end and true nature of forbidden “pleasures” and sexual allurement outside of marriage, it may seem appealing (lips dripping honey) but it is really bitterness, and cold, lonely death.

Run for your life

Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,(Proverbs 5:8, ESV)

Don’t play on the line… run for your life

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 19:1–20:25, Mark 11:1–33, Prov 4:18–27

Today’s Theme: The Humble King

Jesus shows us God’s heart as the humble king, he fulfils prophecy and teaches us about the sovereign majesty and benevolent love of God at the same time. Even as he throws the merchants out of God’s house he is teaching.

We see the same gentle majesty in God as he deals with Elijah’s depression.

We too should know who we are, walking in that authority but with humility and gentleness at the same time as we live lives of love, prayer and faith in God.

1 Kings 19:1–20:25

God cares about your physical life

And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.”(1 Kings 19:5, ESV)

Elijah had allowed himself to be scared by the words of Jezebel and was so worn out by his stand for the Lord that he has gone into depression. Notice God deals with it by first telling him to eat.

God does not just take care of our spiritual needs but all our needs. The life of the spirit, soul and body are inextricably linked and one simply will have an affect on another.

The souls emotional state of depression will have an effect on appetite and sleep which in turn break down the bodies defences making the victim weak and leading to deeper, sustained depression… One of the first remedies to take care of a wounded soul is to strengthen the body through good food and rest.

Supernatural food

And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.(1 Kings 19:8, ESV)

That had to be supernatural physical food. We give God thanks for the supernatural, sustaining food of his word

A gentle voice

And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.(1 Kings 19:12, ESV)

This is special, God could have revealed himself in a magnificent way but he is a loving father and knows what we need, if the voice of God thundered form the heaven it may have been too much for Elijah.

If God can speak in a gentle voice then so should we especially when dealing with someone’s depression.

Where are you

He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”(1 Kings 19:14, ESV)

This was true. Notice the way God asked him this question twice, maybe the Lord was looking for a different answer from him the second time. Also a good way to deal with someone who is depressed is to ask them about where they are.

God’s remnant

Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”(1 Kings 19:18, ESV)

God is not disagreeing with Elijah, he is saying that after all the slaying from the new kings and Prophet that God will yet keep a remnant for himself.

Don’t be a weak man

And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”(1 Kings 20:4, ESV)

Disgusting, men should not capitulate like this. We should fear God, not man.

Ask questions

And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”(1 Kings 20:14, ESV)

Ahab had no relationship with God so it was right for him to ask how this would be done so he could follow the Lords instruction. If this wicked king could ask questions, so should we.

Plan ahead

Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”(1 Kings 20:22, ESV)

Always count the cost of your actions, think about what you will do and plan ahead

Mark 11:1–33

Jesus the humble King

And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.(Mark 11:8, ESV)

This was a clear indication that Jesus was the promised Messiah / King, in the Ancient Near East the laying of clothes in the street for a person or the beast they travels on the walk on was a sign of political allegiance and worship.

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the true king of Israel and the people welcome him as the long awaited Son of David. This was the fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9

We must remember that the people were only focused on one side of the Messiah’s mission, which was as king, they did not recognise the suffering servant side of the Messiah and certainly did not understand his coming as being in two parts.

Save now

And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!(Mark 11:9, ESV)

“Hosanna” is Hebrew for “Save now!” The people were crying out for Jesus to save them from the tyrant of Rome but he did far better, he saved them from the penalty of their sins through his atoning death on the cross.

We can cry out Hosanna to God today and he will save us as we honour him as king.

Be fruitful

And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.(Mark 11:13, ESV)

We should have fruit in good times and bad that God may be pleased

God’s house

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”(Mark 11:17, ESV)

Never noticed this before, in the middle of this exercise of authority Jesus is teaching them a lesson, more evidence this was not done in rage

The purpose of the temple in Jerusalem, also shows us that prayer should be a part of our life as a church

This episode also exposes the folly of the prosperity gospel

Have faith in God

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.(Mark 11:22, ESV)

The call of the Christian life is summarised here, we must Have Faith in God

Believe in God not words

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.(Mark 11:23, ESV)

We are believing that our prayers will be answered not that we create things and make things happen notice Jesus began by Saying “Have faith in God” not in the power of words as the new age teach (this teaching has even infiltrated the church)

Pray in faith

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.(Mark 11:24, ESV)

When we pray we should do so in faith, we must believe to receive

Pray with a clean heart

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”(Mark 11:25, ESV)

This puts the caveat that we must pray with the right heart

Wicked hearts revealed

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”(Mark 11:33, ESV)

Jesus gave them an opportunity to accept the truth concerning John and himself but their wicked hearts were revealed and they remained hard and unrepentant.

Lord help me to answer with wisdom like you.

Proverbs 4:18–27

The path of the righteous

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.(Proverbs 4:18, ESV)

The Jehovah witness use this out of context to explain away their false prophecies.

The true interpretation is that as we walk in righteousness we will grow in the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, it does not mean truth changes but that we grow in and receive more of it.

If I got saved today I would only know so much a year later I would know a lot more

Meditate on the bible

Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.(Proverbs 4:21, ESV)

It is important to meditate (think over, think deeply, recite, dwell on) on the word

What do you cherish

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.(Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

This is an important warning, Jesus taught us that a mans actions come out of his heart, so we must be careful what we meditate on and cherish

Consider

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.(Proverbs 4:26, ESV)

We must consider where we go and what we do

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 18:1–46, Mark 10:17–52, Prov 4:8–17

Today’s Theme: The God Who Answers

Todays theme is about the God who answers. We must ask in faith believing in God’s ability to do what we ask him for because we know that he alone is good.

1 Kings 18:1–46

Fear the Lord like Obadiah

And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly,(1 Kings 18:3, ESV)

We can tell Obadiah really did fear the Lord, it was evident in his daring actions of hiding the prophets and feeding them. We too should fear the Lord and act accordingly

The responsibility of leaders

And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.(1 Kings 18:18, ESV)

When a leader rebels against God and goes into idolatry all those under the leader suffer as a consequence. With this in mind, pray for our leaders

Be resolute

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.(1 Kings 18:21, ESV)

We must be resolute in our convictions. Jesus and the Apostles warns us against being taken by the wind and encourage us to be like stones and rocks

Our God

And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”(1 Kings 18:24, ESV)

This is our God YHWH, the only true God

Is god (the false one) on the toilet!

And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”(1 Kings 18:27, ESV)

This is really funny and tragic at the same time, the devil is such a deceiver, he is bound under the sovereign rule of God and is not even nearly on par with God.

A lot of sweat, but no answer

And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.(1 Kings 18:29, ESV)

In some ways this reminds me of the folly in parts of the charismatic movement where people will sweat and work up themselves and at the end of all that there is no answer from God because they are not really praying to the God of the bible but of their own imagination or belly / lust

Rebuild the altar

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down.(1 Kings 18:30, ESV)

Notice he did not just use any old altar, he repaired the alter dedicated to God, the first step in dealing with idolatry is to rebuild Gods altar in your life, practically that will be time spent with him in the word and prayer

Why do you want an answer from God

Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”(1 Kings 18:37, ESV)

Here Elijah gives a good reason why he want an answer to his prayer, it is for three reasons, for God’s Glory, his confirmation as a prophet and for the sake of the people. Can you articulate why you want an answer from God today

The fire of God

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.(1 Kings 18:38, ESV)

The very stones and dust were set on fire, this was some powerful fire. The dust speaks of the flesh too.

God gets the glory

And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”(1 Kings 18:39, ESV)

The results of God demonstration of power in this showdown is the worship of the people, bringing God glory.

Slauter sin

And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.(1 Kings 18:40, ESV)

We can have no mercy on sin, it must be slaughtered

Have persistent faith

And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.(1 Kings 18:43, ESV)

Elijah had persistent faith

Mark 10:17–52

Jesus more than good, he is God

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(Mark 10:17, ESV)

Jesus was not just a good teacher, he was God. The man was focused on the works he would have to do.

Human achievement does not = good

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.(Mark 10:18, ESV)

Jesus corrects this mans understanding of goodness, no man by any human achievement can be called categorically good only God is categorically and completely good. The man was putting himself and Jesus on a elevated level because they kept the law but Jesus destroys this false sense of security because we have all fallen short of the glorious goodness of God.

A challenge to idolatry

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”(Mark 10:21, ESV)

This is not a maxim to all Christians but a challenge to the man’s idolatry, the breaking of the 1st commandment

Salvation is only possible with God

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”(Mark 10:27, ESV)

With man no one rich or poor could be saved, although Jesus emphasis is on the trappings of wealth. the point is made that it is only with God that salvation is even possible

Eternal assurance

who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.(Mark 10:30, ESV)

If we leave all and follow Jesus in true discipleship we will be assured of eternal life

God has a plan

but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”(Mark 10:40, ESV)

God has a preordained plan

Servant leaders

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,(Mark 10:43, ESV)

This is the new way of Jesus to be a servant leader

Limited atonement

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Mark 10:45, ESV)

We are not universalist (those who believe that Jesus died for all people so everyone will make it to heaven regardless of faith in Jesus), we believe the atonement of Jesus is limited in its effectualness and purpose to all those that God knew ahead of time would put their faith and trust in Jesus for salvation, notice it says a ransom for many, not for all.

We must but our faith in Jesus and repent to be saved.

Ask God in faith

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.(Mark 10:52, ESV)

Ask God for what you want him to do for you and he will do it if you ask in faith and your request is aligned with his word and will

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 15:25–17:24, Mark 9:38–10:16, Prov 4:1–7

Today’s Theme: Salt vs Self

Todays theme points to Jesus teaching that we should have salt in our lives and not be elitists. We should walk in humility and seek to serve God in that spirit, encouraging others who are not like us but are also serving God and walking in trust like children before God.

Our lives should be a salted sacrifice before God, not a monument to the flesh, otherwise we leave ourselves open to the raw elements of sin and our lives will become one that offers up our own children on the altar of our own convenience, ambition and evil.

1 Kings 15:25–17:24

Judgement will be fulfilled

And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.(1 Kings 15:29, ESV)

This is the judgement that God had promised. While the opportunity is available we are all called to repent and seek God’s mercy and grace.

God raise up leaders

“Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins,(1 Kings 16:2, ESV)

God is the one who raises up leaders, we should pray for leaders in all spheres of life in this context, that they would fulfil the mandate God has given them, this includes MPs, Pastors and business leaders

God hates hypocrisy

Moreover, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.(1 Kings 16:7, ESV)

One of the things that is sure to provoke God to anger is hypocrisy

Drunkenness is never good

But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah,(1 Kings 16:9, ESV)

Drunkenness is never associated with anything good. This is why many faithful Christians abstain from alcohol altogether.

Moral depravity, a slippery slide

Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him.(1 Kings 16:25, ESV)

Things just seem to be going from bad to worse for Israel, the moral depravity of previous generations seems to be having a snowball effect, it will rise to a critical mass where the Northern Kingdom will be sent away into exile.

This is why we need to be lively in loving God and killing sin the moment it seeks to gain a foothold.

Wicked King Ahab

Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him.(1 Kings 16:25, ESV)

It is as though Ahab represents a new level of depravity in the kings of Israel, they all seem to model the depravity of man but he has reached the level of being not just bound by sin but committed to it and in covenant with it represented by his marriage to Jezebel the Sidonian

Deeper depths of sin

And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.(1 Kings 16:33, ESV)

Ahab, took the sins of his father and the previous kings of Israel to a new height with the house he built for Ball and the idols he raised up. Sin is ugly, it is like a virus, if it is not burned out it leaves its victims in a depraved and helpless state.

Don’t sacrifice your children

In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.(1 Kings 16:34, ESV)

This is a wicked man, he sacrificed his own sons to build this abomination. We must be careful that we do not sacrifice our own children when we are trying to build things in our own lives

These children were only infants and were put into he foundations, in the depraved mind of the king to placate the gods and ward of evil… This is the base folly and madness of sin.

Elijah, obedient to God

So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan.(1 Kings 17:5, ESV)

This may seem simple but Elijah went and did what God said, he was obedient to the Lords word, unlike the young prophet form an earlier reading.

A submissive woman

And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”(1 Kings 17:11, ESV)

This was a submissive servant hearted woman. The folly of the women’s liberation movement, and extremes of egalitarian thought and philosophy in the west has given women the idea that being submissive is bad when in fact it is the character God desires in all his daughters.

God provides

For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’ ”(1 Kings 17:14, ESV)

This is a wonderful miracle and word, showing that God cares for and provides for his people in the midst of great adversity. Stand on that truth today… Our God provides.

Life and death, in the hands of God

And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”(1 Kings 17:20, ESV)

Elijah knew that life and death was in Gods hands (not the hands of man)

God answers prayer

And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.(1 Kings 17:22, ESV)

This was not magic from Elijah, this was God hearing and answering the prophets prayer

Mark 9:38–10:16

Don’t be an elitist

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”(Mark 9:38, ESV)

John has not learned the lesson of servant like service as a disciple, his question betrays a sense of entitlement, privilege and exclusion. This is alive today in the division found in the church along denominational, traditional and cultural lines.

We should rejoice when we see God using others and not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to or that our particular denomination, culture or just way of doing things is best or should be followed.

Jesus corrects this emphasis on this exorcist following the disciples (who just failed at the work of exorcism themselves) and shows us the way is open for God to use his people in multiple ways.

We should not seek to control God’s people or God’s kingdom, God alone is God

Resist sin

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.(Mark 9:43, ESV)

This reminds us of two truths, firstly symbolising how radically we must resist sin and secondly the reality of Hell

Salt in yourselves

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”(Mark 9:50, ESV)
The salt we should have in ourselves is all that Jesus has just been teaching us about our behaviour and attitude in the world for the Lord’s sake and in our quest as disciples.

Sacrifices in the OT were always given with salt, so we must have the preserving element of salt in our lives as believers as we offer our lives up as a pleasing offering to God, not concerned with our own right and privilege (See the elitist point above) but focused on the task of discipleship to the glory of God.

Love teaching

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.(Mark 10:1, ESV)

Jesus was always teaching, this verse says it was his custom. We should be eager to hear the teaching of Jesus and have our minds trained to enjoy and apply the teaching the Lord provides for us through his ministers.

Marriage defined

‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.(Mark 10:7–8, ESV)

The foundation of marriage, it is and must be a man and woman

The nature of marriage

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”(Mark 10:9, ESV)

Marriage is a sacred rite before God, not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly but reverently and in the fear of God

Bring children to Jesus

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.(Mark 10:14, ESV)

We should bring children to Jesus through story time, prayer and activities. Thank God for the youth groups and Sunday Schools we have

Trust God

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”(Mark 10:15, ESV)

We must be trusting and faithful to God like children to enter his Kingdom

Proverbs 4:1–7

Do you listen?

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,(Proverbs 4:1, ESV)

The younger should listen attentively to a fathers instruction, this is like listening on the edge of your seat

Teach your children

he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.(Proverbs 4:4, ESV)

Lord may our children hold fast to our words

Hold onto loving instruction

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.(Proverbs 4:6, ESV)

Loving instruction will be like a guard in your life

Study

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.(Proverbs 4:7, ESV)

This is why it is so important to study and to study deeply to get understanding/insight

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 14:1–15:24, Mark 9:2–37, Prov 3:23–35

Today’s Theme: Killing and Building

Today’s theme is that we must be lively in killing and building. We must actively kill sin in our lives and actively seek to build God’s kingdom in God’s way. We see this in the life of king Asa who reformed Judah and the life of Jesus who built God’s kingdom by building his disciples and taking authority over the enemy.

1 Kings 14:1–15:24

A bad husband

And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people.(1 Kings 14:2, ESV)

This man was no covering for his wife and was willing to put her in danger by asking her to device the prophet

The apostate

but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back,(1 Kings 14:9, ESV)

Jeroboam was apostate, this is the worst position any man can find himself in where they move beyond the ability to repent because the have totally turned their back on God, the only one who can help them

God is merciful

And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.(1 Kings 14:13, ESV)

In mercy God allows this son to die a non violent death

Judgement for idolatry

the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the Lord to anger.(1 Kings 14:15, ESV)

The prophesied judgement was because of idolatry

The old abominations

and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.(1 Kings 14:24, ESV)

There was homosexual debauchery in ancient Israel, the bible speaks in very clear words, this was an abomination before God and still is.

Build a legacy

because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.(1 Kings 15:5, ESV)

When we live right before God we start to build a legacy. For the sake of your children, grandchildren, church community and wider society, set your mind to building a legacy to the glory of God today

The bible is an honest book, notice the report includes David’s failure.

Righteous king Asa

He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.(1 Kings 15:12–13, ESV)

This king went straight in to action because God was in his heart, he dealt with the homosexuals and idols and even the wickedness of his own mum, this is a bold stand for God. We can learn from his stand and life.

A true heart

But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days.(1 Kings 15:14, ESV)

Our hearts before God should be true like king Asa

Be lively in killing and building

Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet.(1 Kings 15:23, ESV)

He was industrious in killing sin and then showed the same work ethic in his life, we should be lively men like this, very active in killing sin and then in building the kingdom

Mark 9:2–37

God’s testimony

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”(Mark 9:7, ESV)

Testimony from God that Jesus is His Son, equal with God

The suffering Son of Man

And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?(Mark 9:12, ESV)

The teaching of the Jews at the time ignored this side of the Messiah, this is partly why they never understood it when Jesus raised it

Jesus cares

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.(Mark 9:21, ESV)

Jesus asked the caring question “How long has this been happening to him”. This shows that Jesus was not just some practitioner, he cared about people

Believe, God is able

And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”(Mark 9:23, ESV)

We must believe God fully, it is not an if you can, God is well able

Complete deliverance by Jesus

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”(Mark 9:25, ESV)

Jesus has complete authority over demons and can tell them boldly to never enter a persons body or life again, Hallelujah

The power of prayer

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”(Mark 9:29, ESV)

Maybe this relates to the type of demon that has been in someone since they were a child explaining Jesus question

This account focuses on prayer as being far more important than the fasting as fasting is not mentioned. Fasting without prayer is quite pointless.

Private discipleship over public ministry

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”(Mark 9:31, ESV)

Jesus prioritised teaching his disciples over public ministry

Be a servant of all

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”(Mark 9:35, ESV)

This is true in family, church and business

Child Sponsorship

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”(Mark 9:37, ESV)

This is why Child Sponsorship is so important

Proverbs 3:23–35

Good sleep

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.(Proverbs 3:24, ESV)

Yes Lord, thank you as we meditate on your word we have sweet sleep

Help others

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.(Proverbs 3:27, ESV)

This is an important life principle, when it is in our power we must help

Don’t be dishonest

for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.(Proverbs 3:32, ESV)

It is important to remember this even in business

Walk in wisdom

The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.(Proverbs 3:35, ESV)

Lord help us to walk in wisdom and not in disgrace as fools