Today’s Reading: Zech 1:1–2:13, Acts 21:1–26, Job 28:12–28

Today’s Theme: God’s Grace and Wisdom

Today’s theme looks at God’s grace and wisdom. God is gracious in calling those who have fallen away to restoration, in sending His patrol angels throughout the earth, being a wall of fire to His people and redeeming a people from all nations, tribes and tongues.

God in His wisdom and grace, warns Paul through prophetic symbolism. In Job, we hear of the preciousness of God’s wisdom.

Zechariah 1:1–2:13

A call to backsliders

Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 1:3, ESV)

This is not a call to sinners, but to God’s own people who have rebelled. Let us pray for backsliders to return to the Lord.

The patrol angels

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.’ (Zechariah 1:10, ESV)

God has patrol angels, I’m sure these keep demons in check, like God’s police force.

God, gracious and comforting

And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. (Zechariah 1:13, ESV)

This sounds like God, He speaks gracious and comforting words to His people. God could have spoken in power and authority, but He chose to speak in a way that considers the fact that we are dust.

Jerusalem is special to God

So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. (Zechariah 1:14, ESV)

Jerusalem is a special place for God, unlike any other.

A wall of fire

And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” (Zechariah 2:5, ESV)

Lord, be a wall of fire around our lives.

The apple of God’s eye

For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: (Zechariah 2:8, ESV)

The children of Israel are the apple of God’s eye, to be against them is to poke a finger in God’s eye.

God’s people, more than national Israel

And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. (Zechariah 2:11, ESV)

The people of God go beyond national Israel, this is true as the church is Jew and Gentile.

Acts 21:1–26

The Holy Spirit warns

And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:4, ESV)

The Holy Spirit used the believers to warn Paul about the danger in Jerusalem and that he should not go there.

Prophetic symbolism

And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” (Acts 21:11, ESV)

This was a genuine prophecy and we also see prophetic symbolism used. The distinction is that this is not used for a wish, but an actual prophecy.

Ready to lay it all on the line

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13, ESV)

Paul was ready to lay it all on the line for the Gospel, we should be the same.

James not Peter

On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. (Acts 21:18, ESV)

James, not Peter, was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The Roman Catholic papacy has always been built on the misunderstanding that Peter was the leader of the church.

True Christianity is not anti Jewish

And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, (Acts 21:20, ESV)

How can Christianity be anti Jewish when so many thousands came to faith?

Job 28:12–28

Precious wisdom

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. (Job 28:18, ESV)

This and all the other comparisons made are so true, wisdom is more precious than any financial thing.

God’s wisdom

“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. (Job 28:23, ESV)

Yes, true wisdom belongs to God, this is why in James, we are encouraged to ask for wisdom.

Wisdom defined

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ” (Job 28:28, ESV)

This is a simple working definition of wisdom.

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 21

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1:1–2:23, Acts 20:1–38, Job 28:1–11

Today’s Theme: Work in God’s House

Today’s theme is about us working in and on God’s house. We explore the problem of selfishness and the relative poverty it brings.

We will spend time in both Haggai and Acts, looking at the ways we should work and the methods we should use to serve in the church and build up fellow believers, as the body of Christ.

We will see that we need to work in the Spirit, by the Word, and really make an effort. There is hard work to do, so we should use our money, time and resources to bring God pleasure and glory through the church.

Haggai 1:1–2:23

Serve in the church

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? (Haggai 1:4, ESV)

Offering and service in the church are really important, we should ensure that our lives are not just about us and our own household, but God’s wider purpose in and through the church.

The futility of selfishness

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink,   but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:6, ESV)

This barrenness is in context to not giving to God’s purpose. Lord, keep us from this type of futility, help us to be prosperous in You.

Bring God pleasure and glory

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. (Haggai 1:8, ESV)

The purpose of the church is that God would be pleased and glorified through it.

Don’t be self centred

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. (Haggai 1:9, ESV)

The source to financial difficulty can be selfishness and a failure to comply with the mandate to build and maintain the church, through both finance and service.

Be moved by the Spirit to work

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Haggai 1:14, ESV)

Lord, stir up Your people by Your Holy Spirit, to work on and in Your house.

Work

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, (Haggai 2:4, ESV)

We have work to do and it is not about the glory of the thing we are working on, it is the fact that God is with us and gives us the mandate to work. The value is in the work rather than the product of it.

The money all belongs to God

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:8, ESV)

A true perspective on money; 10% doesn’t belong to God, 100% belongs to God. Lord, help us to be good stewards of Your money.

Work by the Spirit

Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:14, ESV)

We must not just work in the flesh, but in the Spirit, as we serve in the house of the Lord.

Work because you have been elected

On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” (Haggai 2:23, ESV)

God’s own specific sovereign election of Israel should fill us with confidence in God’s election of us, as His people. We know He has chosen us so we can boldly and generously serve in His house.

Acts 20:1–38

Encourage the saints

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. (Acts 20:1, ESV)

Paul had a real heart for the disciples and waited before leaving, to encourage them. We should always be sensitive to encouraging those around us.

Building through encouragement

When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. (Acts 20:2, ESV)

Again, Paul is revisiting disciples and encouraging them in the faith.

Word Study: Encouragement

The sense of the Greek word is to urge the saints on in their walk.

Other senses of the word from BDAG (This is the short title for the world’s leading Greek New Testament Bible Dictionary also known as the Bauer-Danker Lexicon):

1. To ask to come and be present where the speaker is, call to one’s side
2. To urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage
3. To make a strong request for something, request, implore, entreat
4. To instil someone with courage or cheer, comfort, encourage, cheer up

Building through fellowship

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7, ESV)

A reference to the church meeting for worship on Sunday rather than Saturday which is the actual Sabbath day.

Building through teaching

And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. (Acts 20:11, ESV)

This was a prolonged time of teaching, the church needs good teaching to grow.

Serve in humility and through trials

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; (Acts 20:19, ESV)

This was Paul’s main base in Asia and he served there through all his trials.

Teach the Gospel

how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21, ESV)

Paul’s main purpose in ministry was to teach. The subject of his teaching was the Gospel.

The importance of the Gospel

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, ESV)

Testifying to the truth of the Gospel was more important to Paul than his life, we should have the same perspective and priority.

God’s whole word

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27, ESV)

We need to have boldness to declare and teach the whole council of God, not just our favourite parts.

The definite atonement

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (Acts 20:28, ESV)

We were brought with the blood of Jesus, this is a definite atonement, the price has been paid in full.

Beware of wolves

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (Acts 20:29, ESV)

Jesus and Paul warn against wolves, these are false teachers and the church must be on our guard against them today.

Grace builds

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32, ESV)

The teaching or word of God’s grace, will build up the saints and give us an inheritance as we realise our spiritual riches.

Work hard

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35, ESV)

Ministry is hard work.

Job 28:1–11

The earth’s core

As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. (Job 28:5, ESV)

This is a correct scientific understanding of the earth, as the core and mantle are fiery.

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 20

Today’s Reading: Zephaniah 1:1–3:20, Acts 19:1–41, Job 27:1–23

Today’s Theme: Conflict for God

Today’s theme is about the conflict we go through for God. Sometimes the conflict is internal with our own faith, we shouldn’t turn back, be complacent or prideful. We also need to fight the good fight by sharing the gospel, reasoning, and making disciples.

We must boldly enter into conflict, internally, spiritually and socially for God, to the glory of His name.

Warning; conflicting for God without God, is dangerous.

Zephaniah 1:1–3:20

Don’t turn back

those who have turned back from following the LORD, who do not seek the LORD or inquire of him.” (Zephaniah 1:6, ESV)

Those who turn away from the Lord and backslide in compromise, spiritual adultery and faithlessness, open themselves to the judgement of God.

Don’t be complacent

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ (Zephaniah 1:12, ESV)

Lord, keep me and my brothers from complacency. We must guard against this lazy attitude, we must violently press forward into the kingdom of God.

This is the error of both “Deism” and “Hyper Calvinism”. God is a very real person and is very actively involved in our lives, not in a distant way, but in a very real way. Like Paul said, He is closer to us than we think.

The nature of sin

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. (Zephaniah 1:17, ESV)

God takes our sins as a personal offence against Him.

God’s passion for His Glory

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full and sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. (Zephaniah 1:18, ESV)

God’s righteous jealousy and zeal for His glory means that evil, sin and sinners must be destroyed. God’s passion drives His judgement.

Seek God

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD. (Zephaniah 2:3, ESV)

No matter how dire the day, we must walk in humility and seek the Lord, that we might find mercy in the day of God’s judgement.

Why are so many against Israel having the territory they have?

“I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. (Zephaniah 2:8, ESV)

Look at the news… this is happening today, although it is relevant to the past too, by the context of the next few verses.

Don’t boast

This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts. (Zephaniah 2:10, ESV)

Christians are warned against this in the NT, by Paul in Romans. We are not to boast against Israel.

Be teachable

She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God. (Zephaniah 3:2, ESV)

We must not be like this proud, unteachable city, we must be able to listen to correction in humility and like a child, put our trust in the Lord.

Defend the word of God

Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law. (Zephaniah 3:4, ESV)

So many do violence to the word of God today, we must defend the true interpretation of God’s word in the midst of the many false and lazy teachers.

Accept correction

I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. (Zephaniah 3:7, ESV)

If we accept God’s correction, we can avoid punishment and judgement.

Be humble

But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD, (Zephaniah 3:12, ESV)

How do we survive in the light of who God is? Humility is our only refuge.

God rejoices over you

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)

Jesus is our great King and the promised King of Israel. God is mighty to save His chosen people. God rejoices over His people, they bring Him pleasure and He quiets our fears with His love.

Acts 19:1–41

John’s Baptism?

And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” (Acts 19:3, ESV)

They were under John’s ministry so were not yet Christians.

Tongues and proclamation of the truth (prophecy)

And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (Acts 19:6, ESV)

Notice that with the tongues came prophesying, in fact, tongues in the first instance were prophesying in different languages. This is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God and the growth and confirmation of the church.

Keep reasoning

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8, ESV)

Again, Paul reasoning and persuading, this was his strategy and notice it was not one visit, but a continued interaction for three months.

Discipleship vs debate

But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. (Acts 19:9, ESV)

Paul was more concerned with discipleship than debate, so he moved away from those speaking evil of “the Way” (Christians), and continued the program of disciple making for a prolonged period of two years.

We need to know when to move away from opposition so the work of God can continue.

God’s victory

This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:10, ESV)

Despite the opposition, God is victorious, the word spread through all Asia.

You need to know Jesus yourself

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” (Acts 19:13, ESV)

We need to know Jesus ourselves, quoting others who know Jesus just will not do.

True authority

But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15, ESV)

Demons recognise true authority, in this realm it cannot be faked.

God turns it around

And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. (Acts 19:17, ESV)

The folly of these men who attempted to use Jesus’ name like a magic weapon, aside from knowing Him and so without His power, was turned around to bring glory to God.

Jesus vs Magic

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. (Acts 19:18, ESV)

These events exposed the superior power of Jesus over magic and witchcraft, leading to its exposure and ultimate defeat.

The mission continues

So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:20, ESV)

The victory of the mission and word of God.

Follow your regenerated heart

Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21, ESV)

We must be decided and fully resolved in the Holy Spirit, to do what God has put in our hearts to do.

The queen of heaven

And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” (Acts 19:27, ESV)

This is the queen of heaven, now worshipped in Roman Catholicism as Mary.

Demonic atmosphere

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. (Acts 19:32, ESV)

A crowd draws a crowd and when they started to declare praise to the demon god artemis, a demonic atmosphere of frenzied confusion filled the air.

Demons have the power to affect the atmosphere.

East vs West

But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:34, ESV)

This shows early divisions between the East and West, Jew and Greek. This was common when rival gods and religions created great divisions, the East has not changed much today.

Use wisdom

For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. (Acts 19:37, ESV)

Paul and his fellows used wisdom when evangelising in a hostile environment.

The devil’s plans will not succeed

And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:41, ESV)

The devil’s plan is thwarted.

Job 27:1–23

Have a soft heart

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. (Job 27:6, ESV)

Job is holding onto his integrity here and this is good, although at the same time, the statement that his heart does not reproach him for any of his days, shows there is some pride here too.

Teach with balance

I will teach you concerning the hand of God; what is with the Almighty I will not conceal. (Job 27:11, ESV)

Although the things Job is about to say to his friends is sometimes true of God’s hand of Judgement to the wicked, very often God extends mercy, seeking the repentance of the wicked.

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 19

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

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

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

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

Habakkuk 2:6–3:19

Be honest

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

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

God’s glorious kingdom

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

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

Which kingdom are we building? This is a question we should ask ourselves.

Avoid profitless idols

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

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

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

Appeal to God’s mercy

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

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

God has gone to great lengths to save you

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

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

Don’t just wait, wait patiently

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

Like the prophet, we should patiently wait on the Lord’s salvation in things pertaining to this life.

Be joyful, despite the debts

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

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

God, our strength

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

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

Acts 18:1–28

Be relentless

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

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

God’s plan

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

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

God’s encouragement

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

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

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

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

Be resigned to do God’s will

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

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

Strengthen the disciples

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

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

Be a mentor

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

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

God’s victory

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

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

Job 26:1–14

The bible is scientifically sound

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

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

The earth is a sphere

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

Again the spherical nature of the earth is mentioned, which was very advanced for that time. The Israelites taught that the earth was circular (which is essentially true) based on their scriptures and observations of the horizon etc, the idea of a flat earth comes from pagan cultures and religions.

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

The glory of the Creator

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

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

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 18

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

Today’s Theme: The Reasonable Gospel

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

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

God made us reasonable and logical creatures and He has written down and declared through His saints the understandable, reasonable, explainable Good News.

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

Habakkuk 1:1–2:5

Perverted Justice

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

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

Don’t worship your own strengths

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

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

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

Lord help us to judge ourselves to the end that we would grow in You and bring glory to Your name and would not fall into the trap of idolising our strongest areas.

God’s Watchmen

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

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

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

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

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

Start journaling, write it down

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

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

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

Patiently wait for God in faith

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

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

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

Live by faith

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

This is where we get the New Testament maxim from which sparked the protestant reformation of which we are all the beneficiaries.

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

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

Lust, never satisfied

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

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

Acts 17:1–34

The Gospel is reasonable

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

Our religion is a thinking religion so we can and should appeal to man’s reason, which has been given to him by God. 

The Gospel is real and reasonable, so we can engage in meaningful debate to prove it’s claims, show the validity of it’s message and the logic of it’s conclusions.

The Gospel is logical

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

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

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

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

The Gospel, tearing down walls

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

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

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

The Gospel (Bible), check and study it yourself

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

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

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

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

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

Study of the Word leads to faith

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

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

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

Reason in the marketplace

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

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

Philosophical awareness

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

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

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

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

New fads

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

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

Contextualise the truth

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

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

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

We need God

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

Let’s get this straight, God does not need us! Some new teachings say that He does but He is totally self sufficient and does not need us at all, in fact we live in the grace of His benefits to all mankind… We need Him, not the other way around.

Racism, answered

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

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

God has set the boundaries for when and where we live, it is not in our hands but His as the sovereign ruler, so He is the author of every nation and community.

God’s desire for all men

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

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

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

God sustains all life

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

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

We are not little gods

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

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

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

The times have changed

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

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

Jesus, appointed judge

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

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

The elect will believe

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

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

Job 25:1–6

Jesus the answer to the philosophers questions

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

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

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

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

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

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 17