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

Today’s Theme: The Unstoppable God

Today there is no clear theme but there is an overarching sense of God’s unstoppable will to be glorified and establish His kingdom. We should act as a sign post to 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 that they can live in His ways.

The law will also come from here 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 that He would be born in Bethlehem and that His coming into this world was planned long ago. 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 Old Testament

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 Old Testament.

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 Galatians 5:22, being kind to one another.

Walk humbly – this speaks to our attitude and behaviour, 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 cannot 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 somehow 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 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 that 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 God’s 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 God’s people. We must be ready to debate, we cannot be passive and let every new idea, book etc. that comes along be accepted into the church or Christian thought and life.

The first 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 New Testament truth, there is now no distinction between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, we are one.

Our hearts are now cleansed by faith, the New Testament 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) cannot be borne by anyone, only Jesus could bear it’s 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 God’s elect from 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 Old Testament

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 Old Testament 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 New Testament 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 God’s 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 cannot be defeated. God fulfils and goes to work achieving what He desires.

God’s 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 the Old Testament and New Testament) 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, Job’s 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.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Acts 14 and Acts 15