Today’s Reading: Mal 2:10–4:6, Acts 28:1–31, Job 31:23–40

Today’s Theme: God, Treasurer and Treasure

Today’s theme is that God both treasures his people and is the greatest treasure to his people. The theme of giving to the Lord of earthly riches and not trusting in riches is looked at as well as our call to live to store treasure in heaven through holy living.

Malachi 2:10–4:6

God, The One Father

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?(Malachi 2:10, ESV)

God is our Father and the one who created us all, as mentioned in Acts he created us all from one blood, he deserves our alliance

Honour the church building

Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.(Malachi 2:11, ESV)

Some people play down the importance of the church building but the Lord loves his sanctuary, we should honour it too

God is holy

But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.(Malachi 2:14, ESV)

Our sins are open before God, we simply can not live in open sin and expect God to hear our prayer and receive our service, God is holy.

Guard your spirit

Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.(Malachi 2:15, ESV)

Men need to guard against being unfaithful to their wives which leads to divorce, the Lord tells us we need to guard our hearts regarding this, as Jesus reveals unfaithfulness always beginnings in the heart

Don’t weary the Lord

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”(Malachi 2:17, ESV)

Hearing and believing false teaching wearies the Lord it cause us to live in a false reality made of apparent facts and assumptions.

The messenger

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.(Malachi 3:1, ESV)

This is John the Baptist

The forerunner

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.(Malachi 3:2, ESV)

John was like this, he purified hearts in preparation for Jesus

Pray for the oppressed workers

“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.(Malachi 3:5, ESV)

Pray for those who are oppressed in their place of employment, think beyond your own world place, consider those suffering in the third world where they are paid pennies each day. We should advocate and actively help them through fair-trade etc

Repent, give to the Lord

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’(Malachi 3:7, ESV)

God is calling his people to repentance, in particular it is repentance over their giving. Tithes in these days for Israel was wrapped up in their tax as they were a theocratic (ruled by God) kingdom.

The application for us today is not that me must give just 10% but that we must give consistently, generously and with a joy filled heart

Trust God

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.(Malachi 3:10, ESV)

This was not a tithe of money, it was a tithe of food. Notice the blessing is an agricultural one, this was Gods way of running this nation but it required the trust of his people

Great profit

You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?(Malachi 3:14, ESV)

There is so much profit in this life and eternity if we live for God

God’s treasures

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.(Malachi 3:16, ESV)

God has a book of remembrance for those who genuinely fear him, we should live as to be in that book. By this we are treasures to God and he will keep us

No grey lines

Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.(Malachi 3:18, ESV)

With God it is black and white, either we serve him or we do not

Elijah has come

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.(Malachi 4:5, ESV)

Jesus told us this was John the Baptist

Restoration

And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”(Malachi 4:6, ESV)

This is where restoration and revival begins, with restored relationships in the home

Acts 28:1–31

Demonic exposure

When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.(Acts 28:3, ESV)

This actually happened, however we can see a lesson here too, when the fire of Gods truth comes we need to be prepared for the fact that demonic spirits will not be able to take the heat and will be exposed

a false god

When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”(Acts 28:4, ESV)

Not as we know justice, this is a false god literally called Justice

Demons consumed

He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.(Acts 28:5, ESV)

Those demonic powers are consumed by Gods word

Healing on the Mission

It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.(Acts 28:8, ESV)

Although it is not mentioned here I’m sure this was accompanied with sharing the good news

Kindred spirits

And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.(Acts 28:15, ESV)

True believers take great encouragement when we see other believers especially when we are in a new place

The Hope of Israel

For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”(Acts 28:20, ESV)

Jesus is the Hope of Israel

Convince through the scriptures

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.(Acts 28:23, ESV)

We should try to convince the lost and Jews in particular through the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ

Be convinced

And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.(Acts 28:24, ESV)

Convinced seems synonymous with belief

Convinced = Belief

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”(Acts 28:28, ESV)

Praise God for his mercy, we are Gentiles

The Kingdom of God

proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.(Acts 28:31, ESV)

Praise God, what an end to Acts, it ends with God in victory again (without hindrance), Paul proclaimed two things, one was that the kingdom has come in the church, second, everything else is to be seen in the light of Jesus. With boldness he preached the Gospel and so should we.

Acts ends with Paul teaching, we should not shun teaching we should embrace it as Gods way of conveying his truth, to his people and the world.

Job 31:23–40

Don’t trust in riches of this world

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.(Job 31:28, ESV)

Trusting in earthly riches and honouring ourselves is us robbing God of the honour he deserves we have turned ourselves into false gods

Internal rot

if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart,(Job 31:33, ESV)

When we harbour evil in our hearts it is like we are rotting from the inside, we need to have a clean heart before God and man.

We have an advocate

Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!(Job 31:35, ESV)

Thanks be to God that we can come boldly before the throne of grace and that Jesus is our advocate

Today’s Reading: Mal 1:1–2:9, Acts 27:1–44, Job 31:9–22

Today’s Theme: Sloppy Leftovers

Today’s there is that we should not give good the sloppy left overs but give him our best, this attitude will filter tthroughout every area of our lives so that we not love and honor each other more too

Malachi 1:1–2:9

Gods purpose in election

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭2-3‬ ESV)

This was said that Gods purpose in election might stand as an example to us all, not the motivating factor of Gods election is a special love that he does not have for everyone

Honour God

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ESV)

This is the Lord’s question to us today, we should honour God as our father, instead so many completely dishonour him by seeing how far they can go

Polluted food

By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ESV)

The word of God corrupted, badly interpreted and taught

Sloppy Leftovers

When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ESV)

We should not be giving God the sloppy left overs of our time, energy or resource, he should get the prime cut of these things which is why it is important to spend time listening to him in his word and in prayer at the very start of the day and to serve him throughout the day with joy and vigour

Give good pleasure

Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ESV)

God does not have pleasure in religious people, those involved in external observance and ordinance or those who simply attend church, God only gets pleasure from those who put their faith and trust in him

Don’t cheat

Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. (‭Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ESV)

Cheating will bring a curse to our lives, it is impossible to cheat God, he is the great king on the throne

Turn others from iniquity

True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. (‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ESV)

One of the purposes of being a priest, we are a royal priesthood

Study Gods Word

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ESV)

A leader in the church should study the word of God so that they can give a biblical answer when asked questions, the same applies to all Christians as God’s priesthood

Pray for neglected sheep

But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, (‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ESV)

A Pastors call is serious, their lives and teaching affect so many, this is why their judgement is more severe. We should pray for those who have leaders causing them to stumble.

Thank God that we have good Pastors.

Acts 27:1–44

Gods quiet work

We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭7‬ ESV)

God quietly at work here directing Paul’s steps

God’s plans will succeed

and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭24‬ ESV)

Gods plan would not be thwarted, God intended to save the empire. Those around us can benefit because of God purpose in our lives

Receive the word in faith

So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭25‬ ESV)

God word to Paul via the Angel was received in faith, we should receive the word of God in faith too

Let’s stick together

Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭31‬ ESV)

Mother Greenidge used this scripture to encourage us to stick it out together

The whole man

Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭34‬ ESV)

God is concerned with the whole man

Don’t give up

and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. (‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭44‬ ESV)

This is often referred to to say even if you make it by the skin of your teeth… don’t give up

Job 31:9–22

What if someone did it to you?

then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her. (‭Job‬ ‭31‬:‭10‬ ESV)

This is the right way to measure lust, if a man allows his heart to be enticed it is as Jesus said adultery in the heart. A great deterrent as a married man is to consider your wife sleeping with another man as a result of your thoughts and actions

The fire of lust

for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase. (‭Job‬ ‭31‬:‭12‬ ESV)

Lust is a fire that brings ultimate destruction

Abortion is murder

Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb? (‭Job‬ ‭31‬:‭15‬ ESV)

God makes babies in the womb, Abortion is murder

Social Justice

“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, (‭Job‬ ‭31‬:‭16‬ ESV)

for here to verse 22 Job speaks about social justice and responsibility and that not pursuing this would be a terrible sin

 

Today’s Reading: Zech 12:1–14:21, Acts 26:1–32, Job 31:1–8

Today’s Theme: The Spirit of Grace

Today there is no clear theme but we do speak about the spirit of grace which God pours out, granting repentance to his people. We see God’s grace in the very creation of man and then in his plan to redeem and restore man to his own Glory.

Zechariah 12:1–14:21

Man’s spirit

The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: (Zechariah 12:1, ESV)

We are not extensions of God, nor are our spirits a part of or akin to the Holy Spirit, God created mans Spirit when he breathed into man the breath of life

The heavy stone

On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. (Zechariah 12:3, ESV)

This is a good lens to see todays news through and explains the troubles in the Middle East and gives us direction on future events too. We should pray our nation will not hurt itself meddling in Israel as we have done in the past

Jesus son of David, Son of God.

On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. (Zechariah 12:8, ESV)

A nod to the Messiah who is of the Davidic line and is God

Armageddon

And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9, ESV)

This points to Armageddon

The spirit of grace

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10, ESV)

This will be a sovereign move of God at the return of Christ to the Glory of God, The Jews will see Jesus who was nailed to the cross and because God gave them a spirit to repent they will.

There is a fountain

“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1, ESV)

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel veins, Jesus is the fountain of life

Demons judged

“And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:2, ESV)

Be encouraged, false teachers and demons days are numbered.

False prophecy is evil

And if anyone again prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD.’ And his father and mother who bore him shall pierce him through when he prophesies. (Zechariah 13:3, ESV)

God takes false prophecy really seriously

Jesus, the struck shepherd

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7, ESV)

This can be seen in both a good and bad light, it was used to describe the essential truth of what happens to followers when a leader is struck and in particular context to Jesus when he was arrested. However in this context it is God’s judgement on a bad leader in Israel and the wicked followers

The fire of refinement

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ” (Zechariah 13:9, ESV)

Gods fire which is often hard times will refine our character in God

Protect the women

For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2, ESV)

This is terrible, we put our household and wives / daughters in danger when we rebel

Jesus’ 2nd Coming

On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. (Zechariah 14:4, ESV)

The great prophecy of Jesus at his second coming

The Lord’s army

And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:5, ESV)

Jesus comes with saints and angels

Yet future

And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security. (Zechariah 14:11, ESV)

This must be yet future as since this prophecy Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD

Acts 26:1–32

Listen patiently

especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. (Acts 26:3, ESV)

This is a bold and good request when some one is being shared the Gospel, its worth asking them to listen patiently

The miracle of salvation

And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. (Acts 26:11, ESV)

Paul was a zealous persecutor of the church before he met with Jesus, It is a glorious miracle that he is now a disciple.

Divine appointment

But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, (Acts 26:16, ESV)

Paul’s calling to ministry was a divine appointment of the sovereign Lord. God call us all to service and being witnesses

The mission, outlined

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:18, ESV)

The purpose of Paul’s mission to the gentiles is outlined by Jesus. To open their eyes, turn them from Satan to God. This is the core purpose of all ministry

The end and goal of the Gospel is that we might have an inheritance tot he glory of God

Repentance is necessary

but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (Acts 26:20, ESV)

Repentance is turning to God.. and true repentance will result in changed behaviour

The gospel, summarised

that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23, ESV)

A great summary of the validity and end of the Gospel with particular focus on the hope the resurrection gives us

Be rational

But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. (Acts 26:25, ESV)

Paul did not accept the abuse form felix and maintained that the words he spoke were true and rational. Paul was a rationalist in a sense and we should be too. Our gospel is rational

Seek to persuade

And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28, ESV)

Oh yes Paul sought to persuade and so should we

Job 31:1–8

A covenant with our eyes

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? (Job 31:1, ESV)

This is a covenant all godlyy men should have, as Jesus warned us when we look with lust we are guilt of adultery.

A gross caricature

Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? (Job 31:3, ESV)

This is simply not true, we do go through hard times too

The lust of the eyes

if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, (Job 31:7, ESV)

We must be careful of the lust of the eyes and coveting, materialism and short sighted lust in general, our hearts must not follow our eyes, we should walk by faith and not by sight, Lord help us

Today’s Reading: Zech 10:1–11:17, Acts 25:1–27, Job 30:16–31

Today’s Theme: Good Shepherds

Today’s theme is abut the good shepherds God has given to the church. We thank God for our own Pastors who guide, feed and protect us and pray for those under band shepherds.

Zechariah 10:1–11:17

Thank God for our shepherds

For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. (Zechariah 10:2, ESV)

We need Pastors, we need leadership or we will be afflicted with false teaching and practise

Bad shepherds beware

“My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. (Zechariah 10:3, ESV)

God loves his sheep and will deal with bad shepherds who lead them astray or neglect them. We can take comfort that those attempting to leading God s people astray will be judged.

God’s compassionate restoration of Israel

“I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. (Zechariah 10:6, ESV)

God restores Israel and his people not out of obligation but in his compassion, and simply because he is God

God whistles

“I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before. (Zechariah 10:8, ESV)

Lord whistle (call, draw) for those who are wayward or under judgement

Judas, a bad shepherd

Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. (Zechariah 11:12–13, ESV)

There are echoes here to what the bad shepherd Judas did to The Lord

Bad shepherds

For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs. (Zechariah 11:16, ESV)

This is the antithesis of what a good shepherd is. Pray for every church with bad shepherds to be restored.

Acts 25:1–27

Clear argument

Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” (Acts 25:8, ESV)

Paul knew his case and made it clear. We should make out points clearly.

Don’t try to impress men

So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. (Acts 25:17, ESV)

Liar, he delayed for 8 days, he was just trying to impress the man, Lord keep us from trying to impress people with lies

Job 30:16–31

Have a firm view of God

You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. (Job 30:21, ESV)

We must not let circumstances cause us to change the way we see God

Job’s sickness

My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat. (Job 30:30, ESV)

The physical affliction must have been very difficult to handle

Today’s Reading: Zech 8:1–9:17, Acts 23:23–24:27, Job 30:1–15

Today’s Theme: God’s Passion

Today’s theme is about our passionate God. God is not some cold force he is full of passion, desire and delights in good things. We as his children inherit his passion for his glory and rejoice in the things that he delights in and bring him pleasure.

We should share the truth with the passion of God in our hearts. God will actively see his will come to pass in the fire and energy of his own passion for his glory.

Zechariah 8:1–9:17

God is passionate

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. (Zechariah 8:2, ESV)

Our God is full of deep passions and affections he is not untouched and impersonal instead he is intensely passionate, full of holy jealousy.

The jealousy of God is vitally connected to the expression of that zeal for his glory in the wrath of God

shared delights

Thus says the LORD of hosts: If it is marvelous in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my sight, declares the LORD of hosts? (Zechariah 8:6, ESV)

God and his people have shared joys and delights. Ask yourself the questions do the things you take joy in the things God delights in?

God desires relationship

and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” (Zechariah 8:8, ESV)

God desires appropriate relationship with his people in faithfulness and righteousness

Enjoy the fruit of peace

For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. (Zechariah 8:12, ESV)

We should sow peace in our families, ministries and communities and enjoy the reaped fruit

Called to honesty

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:16–17, ESV)

God hates lies and dishonesty and calls his people to honesty and peace, knowing that this will invoke a blessing from him

Live in peace with God

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace. (Zechariah 8:19, ESV)

Same point as last highlight, we should love the truth of Gods word and living in peace with him

Jesus the Jew

Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ” (Zechariah 8:23, ESV)

This in some ways was happening at the time of Jesus but I think it is ultimately pointing to the future.

In a very real sense there is a Jew that men form all nations have taken hold of and followed, his name is Yeshua (Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God).

The Fragility of Nations

But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire. (Zechariah 9:4, ESV)

No nation should have confidence in its resources because God can take it all away

Jesus the King

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9, ESV)

The prophecy is fulfilled by King Jesus

The kingdom of Jesus

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:10, ESV)

The future kingdom of Jesus

God restore double

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. (Zechariah 9:12, ESV)

We are kept by Hope and our hope shall not make us ashamed. Our God is a good Father, thank you for giving us double and rescuing us

Acts 23:23–24:27

God’s purpose will be facilitated

Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. (Acts 23:23, ESV)

Look at the amount of men and resources that have been mobilised to facilitate Gods purpose through Paul’s life. God is able to give us favour and in his providence make a way for us to fulfil his agenda through the resources of the world

Nicknames and Slander

For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. (Acts 24:5, ESV)

The new perspectives on Paul are not new at all, he has always been seen as an enemy of the Jews. Also note one of our early nicknames like Christian was Nazarenes

Legal argument

Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. (Acts 24:13, ESV)

Paul did not completely abandon his legal argument, he had one and he made it. Know when to use logical reasoning like this

The same God

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, (Acts 24:14, ESV)

Jews and Christians share the same God. Notice we believe the OT, we do not practise it

the hope of resurrection

having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. (Acts 24:15, ESV)

Resurrection is central to our Gospel hope and is shared with the Pharisees and Judaism of the day

Resurrection belief leads to godliness

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. (Acts 24:16, ESV)

In light of the coming resurrections (plural) we must strive to have a clear conscience before God and man, we must not walk in compromise

The Explicit Gospel, Unashamed

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. (Acts 24:24, ESV)

Paul was not ashamed of the explicit Gospel.

Wrestle and Reason

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” (Acts 24:25, ESV)

We must wrestle and reason with men concerning things of the kingdom and gospel knowing that this will alarm many, we must still make every effort to reason with them

Job 30:1–15

Job is mocked

“And now I have become their song; I am a byword to them. (Job 30:9, ESV)

The lowest of men were now making up songs about Job, this shows the extent of his fall and suffering. When someone is going through hard times we should not mock them.

Financial trials

Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. (Job 30:15, ESV)

Difficulty with finances may be a test of faith rather than the result of sin, discipline or poor stewardship. Trust in God through the trial.