Today’s Reading: Amos 8:1–9:15, Acts 10:34–11:18, Job 21:1–16

Today’s Theme: God over all

Today’s theme looks at God as the sovereign God over all, we should honour him above the commerce, business and wealth of this world. God is over his people Israel and over the church. God presides over all the affairs of man and deserves the worship of every tribe, nation and tongue.

Amos 8:1–9:15

God over business

saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, (Amos 8:5, ESV)

We must honour God in sincerity, putting him before business in joy and be honest and work with integrity when we do engage in business

Eat the word of God, daily

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11, ESV)

This is the worst sort of famine, we need to pray that we do not have to endure a self inflicted famine of Gods word, we have the word of God all around us for free and in various formats, lets not sit in the middle of the pantry and die of starvation or get sick from malnutrition.

Lets use our bibles and all the biblical resources the Lord has put at our disposal and lets do it with Joy.

I thank God we have a daily bible reading plan that the whole church is doing together. We must eat from the word everyday for our own joy and nourishment so we can grow to the glory of God.

Lets pray for the areas of the world that are not as privileged as us and there is a famine for the word of God, Jesus said those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

Have and understand the word

They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it. (Amos 8:12, ESV)

The fact that we have the word of God and understand it should not be taken for granted, we should give God thanks for the gift of The Spirt of Truth, who guides and leads us into all truth.

God’s judgement

And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix my eyes upon them for evil and not for good.” (Amos 9:4, ESV)

If God fixes his eye on a people for judgement, then they will be judged and cannot escape.

A recent (Sept 2013) BBC documentary on the Jews misses this fact that the judgements on Israel were decreed by God, instead it belittles the biblical accounts and instead points to the church and other world powers as the source of Jewish suffering.

We need the perspective of God’s word to understand history in context, especially when we consider God’s chosen nation Israel.

God’s remnant

Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. (Amos 9:8, ESV)

God in His mercy would always keep a remnant

God’s restoration

 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. (Amos 9:14, ESV)

This is already happening, just look at the land of Israel today (this is also related to the return from Babylon etc)

God’s planting

   I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the LORD your God. (Amos 9:15, ESV)

This has to be an end time in gathering as God uses the words “Never Again”

Acts 10:34–11:18

We need the anointing

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38, ESV)

If Jesus was anointed with the holy Spirit for service then how can we attempt to minister without the Holy Spirit.

God’s elected witnesses

but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:40–41, ESV)

This awesome eyewitness testimony to the full bodily resurrection of Jesus is central to the Gospel message.

As Peter mentioned earlier in the passage, the good news is that we can have peace through Jesus.

Notice God was quite specific and strategic in the resurrection, Jesus could have appeared to all Jerusalem and the leaders in victory and consummated the kingdom there and then…. but instead he appeared only to those elected by God to be witnesses and to carry the message of this Great News to the ends of the earth that the Gentiles too might be saved and that the Lord could consummate His kingdom in Gods appointed time (the kingdom is now and not yet).

Jesus the Judge

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42, ESV)

This is one of the commands Jesus gave them in their time of teaching after the resurrection, they were to preach that Jesus is Judge…. we need to remember this in our evangelism

It’s all about Jesus

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43, ESV)

Peter looks back to the truth of the scriptures and reminds us of one of the greatest themes of the bible… JESUS.

When we read the OT we should always keep an eye out for where it points to Jesus.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit

 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (Acts 10:45, ESV)

Notice this time there is no laying of hands, this and the last event were both quite special as they were both the 1st of their kind.

Notice that in every place where the Gospel reached a new group of people there was a special outpouring of the Spirit and the speaking of languages, also notice the speech was always extolling God and speaking of his great works.

Jerusalem = The Day of Pentecost
Samaria = The Laying of Hands
Gentiles = Outpouring of the Spirit

One thing this does tell us is that all believers have the Holy Spirit as a seal of their calling in Christ and are given the Holy Spirit for ministry, this is where there is a distinction between having the Holy Spirit and being anointed by the same Spirit for work.

Each time the Spirit was given it was a sign of approval and clear direction to the church at Jerusalem to the way God intended to impact the world.

Saved people get baptised

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. (Acts 10:48, ESV)

Again this shows that there is no rule that says baptism must proceed the filling of the Holy Spirit because all believers are given the gift of the Spirit at the point of genuine conversion and God can at any point from that time fill or clothe the believer in the Spirit for service.

Baptism is in fact a sacrament pointing to the inward work that has already happened, no one is saved by baptism, instead saved people get baptised.

The gospel for all nations

 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, (Acts 11:2, ESV)

Already there are lines of division in the church between those who are following Jesus command / teaching along with the leading of the Spirit to bring the Gospel to all nations and those still gripped by the sectarian views of the Judaism of the day which said gentiles were nothing but dogs.

We must be carful that the pendulum does not swing in either direction to Judizing Christianity or to disconnecting the faith from its jewish origin and heritage.

The danger I see in the resurgence of appreciation for our Jewish roots in the evangelical church is the over emphasis and tendency of some to become like the circumcision party of old where they cast of identifying with Christ to Identify with Israel to the point that some have even said a faithful Jew who does not accept Messiah will still go to heaven.

The message of the Gospel

he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ (Acts 11:14, ESV)

Important note, it was the message of the Gospel that brought salvation

One new people

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. (Acts 11:15, ESV)

This was Gods stamp of approval on the preaching to the gentiles and a blast against sectarian teaching, Gentiles and Jews who believe in Jesus are seen as equal before God which is why the outpouring was the same so as to say one is not superior to the other.

God has granted repentance that leads to life

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18, ESV)

The circumcision party, understood what all this meant and said it in this verse which is why Peter took time to tell them the whole story including the vision and from his account we know that he was a devout Jew too.

The point of this whole account is summed up in this verse, Glory be to God for granting repentance to both Jews and Gentiles.

Job 21:1–16

Don’t mock your friends

Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. (Job 21:3, ESV)

You have got to love Job’s boldness and humour. Here he makes clear that from his perspectives, his friends were mocking him.

God’s grace to the wicked

Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? (Job 21:7, ESV)

Job brings balance to the view of the wicked, the fact is often wicked men have great power and live long. This is not a rule but is not uncommon and is only because God is gracious and merciful

Generalisations are not helpful

They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. (Job 21:13, ESV)

Again Job takes his counter argument too far. Some die in prosperity this is true but most do not die or even live in peace

The false security of wealth

They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’ (Job 21:14–15, ESV)

This is the unfortunate attitude of the prosperous west today, little do these men realise that it is God keeping them alive, at any moment he could release his hold, withdraw life and leave these wretched souls to their fate in the darkness of hell

Today’s Reading: Amos 6:1–7:17, Acts 10:1–33, Job 20:12–29

Today’s Theme: The Radical Gospel

The good news of the gospel, the new covenant in Jesus, is radical. It brings people together from every nation, tribe and tongue. We should not neglect the world changing nature, message and power of the gospel and should live our lives in light of it’s very bold, public and truthful claims.

Amos 6:1–7:17

Faith filled, active lives

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! (Amos 6:1, ESV)

We are called to live faith filled active lives for the Lord, we should not be relaxed and at ease, this is a sure foothold for the enemy and puts our souls in danger of being dominated by the flesh.

Although we enter into the Lords rest it is a rest for workers and servants not spoilt brats who never lift a finger around the house.

Idle songs!

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, (Amos 6:5, ESV)

We should not sing idle, pointless songs. We should enjoy songs most which are doxological (glorifying to God and not centred around man) and that are theologically sound (derived from and expounding on the truth of the bible)

Avoid pride

The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” (Amos 6:8, ESV)

God hates pride in His children, the deceitful thing is that our pride can be in areas where we feel we are strong

Distorted grace

Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood— (Amos 6:12, ESV)

This can be true of us if we take the grace of good for granted, like Paul said should we sin that grace would abound… God forbid. Paul also says we should not use liberty to give an excuse to the flesh.

God’s grace give us strength to live for him. Grace without the fear of God will always be distorted.

God responds to prayer

When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” The LORD relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the LORD. (Amos 7:2–3, ESV)

This is an awesome truth that should fill us with hope… Our God responds to prayer… he has the power and the will to respond to our prayers… what an awesome privilege, we can ask God and he actually answers, so much can be changed and directed if we would just pray.

The plumb line

And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; (Amos 7:8, ESV)

A plumb line is a standard by which a wall’s vertical trueness is tested. So the Lord is testing the people by a his standard.

Gods plumb-line for us is His word.

Prophetic shepherds

But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ (Amos 7:15, ESV)

Amos did not come from a family of prophets, he was a faithful shepherd who God called to be His prophet and intercessor for Israel.

This is a picture of biblical pastoral ministry today, it should be marked by the anointing to prophesy or proclaim Gods word with boldness and the boldness and piety to pray for the people before God.

Give God thanks for our Pastors (Shepherds) today.

The danger of compromise

Therefore thus says the LORD: “ ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’ ” (Amos 7:17, ESV)

The compromise and rebellion of this priest has cost his family dearly. When we compromise and rebel against God and His word we risk jeopardising the lives of those around us.

Acts 10:1–33

Pray for revelations of Jesus

And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4, ESV)

We can pray that those who are seeking to serve God in sincerity but do not have the truth of the Gospel will have a vision like this, we know this is happening now in the Islamic world.

Also notice that the method for hearing the Gospel is still from a person, it is still the commission of the church, often in these cases the vision opens the door and softens the heart to receive the Gospel from an actual witness.

The gospel is for all peoples

And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (Acts 10:13, ESV)

While the purpose of this vision was primarily to show Peter that the Gospel was for the Gentile nations which were once considered unclean, there is still truth in the fact that the Mosaic dietary guidelines no longer needed to be followed as an issue of religious duty. Although we can still be informed in our eating by the guidelines set in the OT.

We must remember that although there were health benefits to the OT diet, it was really a shadow of the true reality of sin and righteousness and a sign of faith for the OT saints, now replaced by a new covenant.

The radical gospel

And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (Acts 10:15, ESV)

This drives home the purpose of the vision and shows us that the radical nature of the Gospel, we unclean people, God has declared clean, this is just amazing.

As mentioned before this does signal a clear break with the Covenants of the Law of Moses but it also signals a major change in Jewish and Gentile relations

One new people

And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:28, ESV)

The vision had prepared Peter for this mission and spelled an end to the unbiblical custom of the Jews of the day to keep themselves separate from gentiles. God had intended Israel to be a light to the world but the teaching of the Rabbis against the Gentiles was counter intuitive but the life, teaching and redemptive work of Jesus takes care of all that.

Now in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, we are all one in Christ… this is a radical new way for those of the 1st century.

Do angels have wings?

And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing (Acts 10:30, ESV)

Notice the appearances of Angels in the bible generally do not have wings, they appear as men. Seraphim’s do paper with wings

Receive the gospel in humility

So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:33, ESV)

Cornelius, his family and household are in a humble place ready to receive the truth of the Gospel.

Lets pray that those who engage in charity work like Cornelius and members of our own family will also be humble and teachable so they can receive the gospel too.

Job 20:12–29

Be content

“Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him. (Job 20:20, ESV)

This whole speech is so wrong but this is a part truth because those who do not learn to be content will run after every lust and desire and the more they eat of food, sex etc the less they are satisfied.

This is why we must delight in the Lord and learn to be content, knowing that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

Plant the seeds (don’t eat them)

There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure. (Job 20:21, ESV)

Another true principle, if we use and eat all our money for example and hold none back for investment or saving it is like someone eating seed that was meant to be planted.

Opinions and rebuttals

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God.” (Job 20:29, ESV)

Not true, this is one of the things we need to remember with Job’s book, there is discussion and opinion recorded with counters and rebuttals, we will hear Job rebuttal this blanket statement / view regarding the ungodly tomorrow.

Today’s Reading: Amos 4:6–5:27, Acts 9:20–43, Job 20:1–11
Today’s Theme: The Person and Power of God

Today’s theme has us looking at the power and person on God. We look at God as a person who seeks relationship and reconciliation with his people, at the same time he will show his power, he will go into judgement with us for our good and will show his power through creation and miracles.

God’s person and power is seen most clearly his Son Jesus Christ. Like Paul we should argue the case for the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amos 4:6–5:27

God’s gracious appeal

“I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. (Amos 4:11, ESV)

As our Pastor always reminds us 5 is a number that points to grace in the bible. This is the 5th time this sentence is used in this chapter. The theme is that God has been using various difficulties to draw the people back to him in repentance but after the 5 gracious attempts there is no repentance.

Even the difficulty God allows in order to correct us, save us and cause us to repent and put our trust in Him, is His grace shown to us… the worse thing would be for Him to leave us to ourselves.

Prepare for battle

“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” (Amos 4:12, ESV)

This phrase is said in judgement, we meet God in judgment, the imagery is of meeting in battle, we of course will be overthrown.

I never want to meet God in a fight, because it is folly, He is right and has good intentions for me, why should I hold on to darling sins and in madness go to meet my God on the battle field.

Many lives are marked by this battling with God, we hear it from prosperity preachers on TV talking about them arguing with God… really…. and we hear it from the ungodly (including churched ungodly) that “have a problem with God” or “disagree with God” or “Don’t like the things of God or His ways” this is the futile madness of sin.

Let pray for ourselves and everyone around us that we would not indulge in the madness of meeting the one that would save us on the battle field.

God knows your mind

For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name! (Amos 4:13, ESV)

God can read our thoughts… our minds are not a secret cupboard. By the way Psychology can not read a mans thoughts, nor can any demon… only God can.

Seek the Lord

Seek the Lord and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, (Amos 5:6, ESV)

This is Gods cry to all his people today. If we want to truly live in Christ then we must spend our time seeking God in his word the bible, in prayer, in fellowship and in service (including evangelism)

How great is our God

He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name; (Amos 5:8, ESV)

Pleiades and Orion are both star constellations, God declares that he made these great stars… How Great Is Our GOD! … Evolution is such an insult to God.

God created and maintains the mechanism for rain to be poured on the earth, from a scientific perspective we behold His amazing wisdom and stand in Awe of the greatest, Scientist, Engineer and Designer.

Don’t despise instruction

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. (Amos 5:10, ESV)

This is a sure sign of destruction, if we despise instruction and correction… then no one can help us.

Hate evil

Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. (Amos 5:15, ESV)

We are called not only to love but to hate, as Pastor always says to truly love we need to truly hate. We must hate (want dead) evil and love and cherish that which is good… doing this will establish justice in our society.

A terrible day

Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:20, ESV)

The day of the Lord is not a Joyous time, it is a terrible time of judgement

God is active

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. (Amos 5:21, ESV)

Again the theme that external observance, legality and religious routine are not pleasing to God and illicit no response from “the universe” or “divine laws”.

For our religious actions to have any worth and benefit, they must come from a person walking in love and obedience to God. God hates it when we seek to please him with anything other than faith in him and when we treat him like an impersonal force.

God is not passive while man is active, quite the opposite, God desires to be actively engaged in relationship with his children out of which will flow Godly rituals of service and devotion.

Pursue justice

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24, ESV)

All these religious events, sacraments and songs of worship mean nothing to God without the pursuit of justice. Social justice goes hand in hand with genuine worship, reaching out and ministering to Gods creation displays His glory and attracts the lost to the beauty of the Lord which is reflected in His church.

God alone is God

You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, (Amos 5:26, ESV)

Again the star god is mentioned (also see Acts 7:43 from Sunday’s reading)… this lends even less credibility to the so called “Star of David”.

We must cast down every idols no matter how entrenched they are in our traditions or culture, God alone is God

Acts 9:20–43

Jesus, Son of God

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20, ESV)

This is one of the bold distinctives of Paul’s ministry, the declaration the Jesus is the Son of God. This truth proclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God and therefore God is essential to the gospel message.

Prove with Apologetics

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:22, ESV)

Paul increased in strength by proving that Jesus was the Christ, the greek word used for proving is symbibazō! which means to unite, conclude, infer, demonstrate, prove, instruct, teach and advise (Lexicon source used is BDAG).

So Paul engaged in apologetics, this would fit the Jewish context well as they enjoyed debating the scriptures so Paul enters with full force into these discussion to prove through the scriptures and with biblical reasoning that Jesus was indeed the Christ.

We must not shy away from apologetics, research and proving with the scriptures the truth of the Gospel. When we do it others will be saved but we will grow in the faith too.

One of the ways I have grown in the Lord over the years is by facing tough questions on the Gospel through research, meditation and argument (often with myself as part of bible study) to make myself firm in what I believe.

Make disciples

but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. (Acts 9:25, ESV)

Gods common grace is shown to all mankind or all would immediately die from the sin of Adam which we all inherit.

But don’t let this (Gods mercy) be a caricature either, because the ungodly can have lives that end in disaster and utter ruin, but once again we should not go the way of the new age and hinduism to say there are impersonal rules in the “universe” which mean these types of people or these actions always end with “this or that”.

Now the ultimate end of the unrepentant ungodly is quite clear, under Gods punitive judgement they will go to hell for eternity.

Today’s Reading: Amos 1:1–4:5, Acts 8:26–9:19, Job 19:13–29

Today’s Theme: God, great and gentle

Today’s theme is about God’s greatness and gentleness which he shows to us and expects us to display to one another and the world as shepherds, keeping covenant, showing mercy, walking in honesty, loving and comforting one another while pursuing social justice in Jesus name.

Amos 1:1–4:5

God’s Shepherds

The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. (Amos 1:1, ESV)

This helps to give us insight into the type of man Amos was, Shepherds were hard working humble men.

We are not all called to be Shepherds of God’s people like Pastors (The word Pastor literally means shepherd) but we should have the qualities of shepherds, we should be hard working, humble people whose lives do not lead people astray.

We all have people in our lives who God has called us to shepherd, this could be our spouse, children, friends, colleagues, neighbours etc

The Covenant of Brotherhood

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. (Amos 1:9, ESV)

This covenant of brotherhood is Amos way of summarising the long relationship of mutual cooperation between the city of Tyre and Israel mentioned in the days of Kings David, Solomon and Ahab.

It reminds us that we have a duty of care to one another in the body of Christ, we are brothers and need to cooperate with each other especially in hard times.

Show mercy

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever. (Amos 1:11, ESV)

A reminder for us as the Church, we must show mercy to each other and we should not fight each other or like Paul said we will devour each other (Galatians 5:15) and finally we should not bear a grudge.

Abortion, an abominable sin

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. (Amos 1:13, ESV)

The great sin of abortion is nothing short of infanticide, the brutal and often selfishly motivated murder of a defenceless baby either by force in times of war and persecution or by “choice” in the corrupted “freedom” of the west.

Deception deceives!

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. (Amos 2:4, ESV)

When we lie and if we live in dishonesty, that very sin will lead us astray into deception and destruction.

Do not be dishonest and do not tell lies, it dishonours God and those you lie to and you will eventually be tripped up by your own lies and dishonesty.

Have the boldness in Jesus to be honest.

Don’t sell Jesus

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— (Amos 2:6, ESV)

Judas did this to Jesus in the NT.

We must guard against this in our own lives, we should not sell or betray Jesus for our own selfish desires.

As Christians we should be concerned with the needs of those in poverty too, we should not sell them out for our own comfort by only spending our money on ourselves. Give to their needs through charities like Compassion

We don’t get to redefine

“But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy.’ (Amos 2:12, ESV)

Redefining what God ordained (like the Nazirites vow in the passage) and intended is open rebellion.

For example: Marriage cannot be redefined, in fact redefinition of a word is foolish to the senses, and a word means what it means and cannot mean anything else.

Marriage is more than a word it is an actual thing, it is tangible, it is and cannot be changed.

This and every other truth and reality established by God cannot be refined by man.

Man cannot help

Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; (Amos 2:14–15, ESV)

When Gods judgement is poured out, human strength and ability cannot aid us.

We need to remind people of this reality when sharing the good news

Loving discipline

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (Amos 3:2, ESV)

God’s relationship with Israel is special so their judgement is more severe, this can be true in our lives too because the Father chastens the son he loves

Walking in agreement

“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? (Amos 3:3, ESV)

Unity and agreement is needed in any partnership whether it be marriage, ministry or business. Ask God to help you to walk in agreement with your partners today.

Sovereign over disaster

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it? (Amos 3:6, ESV)

This brings perspective to all “natural disasters” God is sovereign over all nature

God’s secrets

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7, ESV)

God revels his secret to those in relationship with him and in particular his ministers like the Prophets. We have seen this in the Bible, throughout church history and in our own church too.

The Lion’s roar

The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8, ESV)

The preached word from our Pastors comes with the strength and power it does because it is a proclamation of the Lions roar… Hallelujah

The ignorance of sin

“They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord, “those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.” (Amos 3:10, ESV)

Jesus points to this condition when he said Father forgive them for they don’t know what they do. We must pray for those in sin recognising they do not always comprehended the gravity of their sin but are walking in deception themselves.

In the darkness of sin there is ignorance while in the light of the gospel there is truth

Fight Social Injustice

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’ (Amos 4:1, ESV)

Social injustice is a stench before God. As the church one of the reasons we exist is to establish Gods kingdom and shine the light of the gospel which includes reaching the least, providing for their needs and showing them the love of God.

Yes our faith is also a social movement brining life, freedom and truth to all people in Jesus name.

Acts 8:26–9:19

Desire guidance

And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. (Acts 8:31, ESV)

This is the attitude we should all, have, we all need instruction in the word which is why God gave us teachers and Pastors

Christianity in Africa

And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. (Acts 8:38, ESV)

So Christianity came to Africa long before European colonization.

Many black power advocates say that Christianity is a “white” imported religion. This is foolishness, it in fact originated in Israel and spread throughout the Middle East before it came to Europe and as we see from this account came to the continent now known as Africa in the days of the Apostles.

The Way

and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:2, ESV)

The Way was one of the early names for us as Christians. The title is a good one because it points to the fact that our lives were marked by following a certain path

God, great and gentle

And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4, ESV)

Here we see the awesome power of God displayed like at the burning bush yet the Words of Jesus are so gracious.

God is Sovereign in electing the chosen but also gentle in the way he draws.

This is a paradox, the vision was bold and full of authority while the call was loving and heartfelt

Pre-Planned Purpose

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15, ESV)

God sovereignty chose Paul to accomplish His purposes, it was all pre-planned.

We are not Paul, put God has a pre-planned purpose for your life too

Equipped for ministry

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17, ESV)

No one is ready for ministry without being filled with the Holy Spirit

Job 19:13–2

Marriage difficulties

My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. (Job 19:17, ESV)

Sometimes we forget that Jobs trial would have put tremendous strain on his marriage. Pray for marriages under strain from difficult circumstances today.

Comfort one another

All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me. (Job 19:19, ESV)

The emotional pain of Jobs plight was severe too. We must comfort one another in times of trial

The incarnate redeemer

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25, ESV)

Job wants a record of what has happened kept because he knows he has a redeemer who can help his cause, again this shows the OT understanding of God was not Unitarian (one person only).

There is hope in God

And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, (Job 19:26, ESV)

Job has a glimmer of hope here, this is his heart of faith and trust in God

Don’t be spiteful

be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.” (Job 19:29, ESV)

This is in line with when Jesus told us we should not judge one another in hypocrisy and spitefulness

Today’s Reading: Joel 3:1–21, Acts 7:54–8:25, Job 19:1–12

Today’s Theme: Jesus Glorified

Today’s theme is about Jesus glorified seen in the prophecy of the end and in Stephens vision.

Joel 3:1–21

Dividing the Land

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, (Joel 3:2, ESV)

The reason God judges the nations are for scattering His people and dividing the land of Israel. This is exactly what we are dealing with politically today.

Nations take note

Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. (Joel 3:7, ESV)

God actively causes Tyre, Sidon and Philistia to reap what they have sown.

Reaping what we sow is not an automatic process, God is actively involved

The valley of decision

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14, ESV)

This is talking about the great battle of Armageddon which is to come.

Finding context

“So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. (Joel 3:17, ESV)

This gives us context that this part of the prophecy is connected to Jesus 2nd coming.

Acts 7:54–8:25

Jesus Glorified

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56, ESV)

The Holy Spirit opened Stephens’s eyes to see Jesus glorified at the right hand of God, this had two purpose, firstly it would encourage his faith in this very difficult situation and it would serve as a witness to his accusers

Jesus Displayed

And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60, ESV)

To say this Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit till the very end, he was also fulfilling Jesus new command to Love our enemies and His example on the cross

The Gospel Spreads

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1, ESV)

This shows the position of influence Saul had and his murderous nature before he meet Jesus.

The persecution was used in God’s plan to spread the Gospel further abroad.

Make an impact

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. (Acts 8:5, ESV)

Philip made a huge impact in Samaria, he proclaimed Christ and confirmed what he had proclaimed by delivering those with demons and healing the sick.

Respond

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12, ESV)

The Gospel is not like magic, we are not trying to amaze people. We preach to illicit a response, a very conscious and thoughtful response to that which is preached resulting in belief and the corresponding actions like baptism

Laying of hands

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17, ESV)

This laying on of hands was the practice of the Apostles but is not the only way the Holy Spirit is given for service, the laying on of hands seems to have been used to draw out the wicked intention of Simon (notice the context, the text has focused on this character for a while)

The gift is God’s

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! (Acts 8:20, ESV)

Ministry can be a dangerous thing for someone whose heart is not right, Simon just wanted to be seen as great and to exercise power whereas Gods ministers serve the flock in love.

Also this speaks against the practice in the prosperity movement today where a “Man of God” is paid for various things like giving a word of prophecy to someone.

Forgiveness is not automatic

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. (Acts 8:22, ESV)

Notice the nature of forgiveness, it is not automatic, God is personally involved in forgiving His people, they do not deserve it and can not demand it, but must ask for it that God might show mercy and grace in granting repentance

Job 19:1–12

Keep your eyes on God

know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me. (Job 19:6, ESV)

Job continues to recognise that God has done this. The NT also encourages us not to compare ourselves to others but to keep our eyes on God.