Today’s Reading: Isa 35:1–37:13, Luke 12:22–59, Job 8:11–22

Today’s Theme: The way of the redeemed

Today’s lessons include the way of the redeemed, the call to not worry and the reality of hardship.

Isaiah 35:1–37:13

The way of the redeemed

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. (Isaiah 35:8–9, ESV)

This chapter is a beautiful poem prophesying about the glorious kingdom to come, when Christ will reign from Jerusalem, war will have ended and all enemies will be defeated.

We will be strengthened as His people with our new bodies given to us in resurrection. We will be avenged because the devil will be judged and we will walk on the King’s holy highway, this imagery is the most encouraging.

In a way we are on the King’s highway today because Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus is the way for us today. However, this points to the glorious day in God’s kingdom when we will walk on an actual highway, one where the enemy (the lion) cannot come near us.

Even fools like us will not go astray, we will walk with the redeemed in God’s kingdom forever. May this fill you with encouragement today, look forward to walking in the way of holiness as God’s redeemed people.

Luke 12:22–59

Don’t worry

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32, ESV)

Jesus teaches us not to be anxious or worried about how we will eat, what we will wear or where we will live. Instead of worrying about these things which are genuine concerns to many in the world today, Jesus points us to the Father by telling us as His disciples to seek God’s kingdom first and trust God to take care of our physical needs (not wants but needs).

Our Father takes great pleasure in giving us the kingdom and bestowing His treasures upon us. We must store our treasure in heaven and not get caught up in the worry and stress of the rat race on the earth, we are here as ambassadors of God’s kingdom. The truth is God Himself should be our most precious treasure.

Instead of being distracted by the worries of this life, we must always stand ready for the Lord’s return or call, living in a way that honours Him everyday.

Jesus brings truth which because of the evil of men’s hearts brings division. We must be aware that our stand for our King and his kingdom will bring us opposition. We must stand looking forward to walking on the way of holiness with the redeemed in the kingdom.

Reverend Taylor recently preached a message called Don’t Worry. You can watch it here.

Job 8:11–22

The way of hardship

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. (Job 8:19, ESV)

Some interpreters see the plant as referring to the ungodly making the point that God will quickly remove them from their place and they lose everything, which is true, the way of the world is superficial and temporary.

Others see the wider context of Bildad using the picture of this plant triumphing over hardship to encourage Job that his latter end will see restoration, growth and fruitfulness again.

As you walk in the way, you can be encouraged by both truths. On one hand do not desire the way of the wicked, it is false gold and will not last. On the other hand as you go through hardship on the way, know that you will overcome.

Jesus said in John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

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

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 12

Today’s Reading: Isa 33:1–34:17, Luke 11:37–12:21, Job 8:1–10

Today’s Theme: Fear God, Our King

Today’s theme is about the reverential fear we should have for God our King. We will look at the results of having or not having a healthy fear of the Lord and where even being afraid of the Lord is healthy (in particular His purpose to judge all men).

Isaiah 33:1–34:17

The fear of the Lord is our treasure

and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. Isaiah 33:6 (ESV)

In this prayer Isaiah cries out for God to be gracious to Judah. God is exalted as the only source of salvation over against the Judean officials, Egypt and Assyria.

Here we see something wonderful, as God is exalted Isaiah declares that the fear of God is Zion’s treasure. There is also a sense in the Hebrew where the fear of the Lord is God’s treasure held for those He would restore.

We also should cherish the fear of the Lord as our treasure. We should guard it because it is precious, it is the pathway to life and wisdom and those who lose it lose themselves. The fear of God will be the ultimate determinative for the way we live (conduct and behaviour) as God’s people.

When we speak about fearing the Lord here we are not talking about terror as though we lived under an enemy dictator. Rather, we are speaking about the response of adoration and reverence from those who are grateful to, acknowledge and love their benevolent king.

Chaff and stubble

You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you. (Isaiah 33:11, ESV)

The original context here is God blasting the futile pride of the enemy (Sennacherib).

God alone is exalted. When we attempt to live our lives without fearing Him we will give birth to rubbish. What we do may seem valuable now but it will all be consumed when it passes through God’s judgement. Even the words of our own mouths will become like a fire that consumes us without God.

Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 3:12–13 “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”

We don’t want to build rubbish and be burnt out building things in our own way. No, we should fear the Lord, make our plans and do our work in union with Him.

Jesus taught us in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Acknowledge God’s might

Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. (Isaiah 33:13, ESV)

God calls the whole world to acknowledge His might, He alone is God almighty. This is why naturalism and atheism is such an awful offence before God as they do not acknowledge God for the wonderful creation He has made let alone the work He has done to redeem us.

Cry out today that your nation will acknowledge God’s might and fear Him in the way He deserves.

Behold the king in his beauty

Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17, ESV)

This is the climax and summary of the Bible’s overarching narrative of the King and his Kingdom.

This is the day we look forward to when we will see the king in all His glory reigning in His kingdom here on the earth He has made.

Even today we can see and savour Christ as our King. We should look and see the beauty of our king and turn our eyes from evil as the previous verses mention.

Here is a quick breakdown of the King and His Kingdom. The story of the Bible (taken from the God’s Narrative message I shared in 2014).

• Act 1 God Establishes His Kingdom (Creation)
• Act 2 Rebellion in the Kingdom (Sin and Judgement)
• Act 3 The King Chooses Israel (Blessed to be a blessing)
• Act 4 The Coming of the King (Prophecy)
• Act 5 The Life of Jesus (Life, death and resurrection of Jesus)
• Act 6 Spreading the News of the King (The mission of the church)
• Act 7 Return of the King (Restoration completed)

The lawgiver

For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us. (Isaiah 33:22, ESV)

God is the one who gives the law, the judge who enforces the law and is the king. We show we fear the Lord by obeying the law He has given. As we will read in the New Testament today, we should fear God because He is the judge who can condemn us for our sin (also see James 4:12).

We Rejoice that the lawgiver is the one who saves us.

Luke 11:37–12:21

Don’t be an actor

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. (Luke 11:39, ESV)

Jesus takes time to deal with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Don’t make the mistake of thinking “yeah thats right bad Pharisees” be sure to listen to these woes and rebukes from Jesus and seek how they might be applied to YOUR own life.

The word hypocrite comes from the same word we get the word actor from. If we do not have the fear of the Lord then we are left with dead religion and the traditions of men. If that is all we have we will be actors by definition, claiming to be something we can’t possibly be without the fear of God. So we should be clean and serve God from the inside out.

Fear God, the Judge

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12:5, ESV)

Jesus tells His disciples and by extension us to not fear those who can and in some cases will kill us physically because their power is limited they cannot kill our souls and cannot cast us into hell…. only God can.

God is the judge and He is the one all mankind should fear because He is the only one with the power to put anyone into hell for all eternity.

We should not let the threats of mere men change our stand for God. Our awe and reverence for our God should keep us faithful to Him under trial knowing He has the power over our destiny and even in suffering and death we are in His hands.

The fact that Jesus calls this a warning should highlight the importance of this point for all men, be warned God will send sinners to hell.

Acknowledge Jesus

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, (Luke 12:8, ESV)

Very much connected to the last point, we should not be afraid of what people will say about us or think of us. We must boldly acknowledge and honour Jesus before the world. Don’t fear man, fear God.

Rely on the Holy Spirit

 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:12, ESV)

Fear and anxiety would be understandable if we only had ourselves to rely on in times of trial and persecution but the reality is that we have God the Holy Spirit with us to empower and teach us what to say under trial. So do not fear because God is with you.

Be rich toward God

So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21, ESV)

To be rich towards God means that God is our treasure. Don’t get caught up in the materialism of the age, instead turn your eyes to God and store your treasure in heaven by focusing your life on honouring and serving God in the fear of the Lord.

Job 8:1–10

The fathers

“For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. (Job 8:8, ESV)

This is a good principle, we should look to the church fathers, reformers, puritans etc of old so we can learn lessons from them. A mistake is to think we are the first ones to read and interpret the Bible. However, when looking to what the men of old have said we must do so in the fear of God, not of a particular tradition or viewpoint.

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

Additional resources

Desiring God on Luke 11 and Luke 12

Today’s Reading: Isa 30:18–32:20, Luke 11:1–36, Job 7:11–21

Today’s Theme: God, Our Gracious Deliverer

Today’s theme is about God our great and gracious deliverer. God is so gracious to His people. If it were not for His grace, we would be without hope. God seeks to deliver us from evil and bondage, for His glory and our joy.

Isaiah 30:18–32:20

God waits

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

God declares to Judah, in light of their faithlessness in running to Egypt for deliverance, and in response to their cry of how long oh Lord – “I am waiting right here where you left me, whenever you are ready receive the grace and deliverance I’m holding out to you”.

Like Judah, we need to realise that God stands and offers grace to us but He will not follow us and so compromise His holy stand. He stands in His place and offers grace on His terms, we need to put ourselves in the place to receive His grace.

We should wait for the God who waits for us. The sense, when the verse says ‘wait’, is “to tarry, delaying an action, longing or hoping for something to happen”.

So, long and hope for God’s grace and mercy and you will receive it because He longs to show it to you but holds it back until you are in a place to receive it.

God’s guidance

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)

God’s guidance will gently lead us from bondage to deliverance, but we must have soft hearts, sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, to hear God say this is the way to go.

Ask God to help you to be quiet and hear His voice guide you. God will guide our feet to freedom in Christ.

Jesus told us in John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Light and healing

Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. Isaiah 30:26 (ESV)

If this verse were taken literally, a sun seven times brighter than normal would blind and scorch the people, so there is something deeper being pointed at here.

God is light, in Him is no darkness at all. The light of the sun speaks of God Himself, He is the one who brings healing to His people. 1 John 1:5

Light and healing are associated in the natural world and in the spiritual world, as darkness and disease are. We can literally draw health and strength from the sun.

Enter the warmth and brightness of God today and be healed from the brokenness and wounds you have, even if they were inflicted by the Lord in discipline.

God’s light is seen practically in the truth of His word. Soak in the scriptures today, to bring healing and deliverance to your soul.

Like the bright moon, allow the light of God to be reflected from your life today, to bring healing to others.

Who are you going to trust in?

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! Isaiah 31:1 (ESV)

What is Egypt for you? Do not trust in anyone or thing other than God, for your deliverance. Take this as a personal prayer point today.

We can sometimes drift into depending on our jobs, money, certain people etc. Realign your trust in the Lord today, as your help and deliverer.

God, The Restorer

Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly. The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. Isaiah 32:3–5 (ESV)

In these verses we read about the restoration of Israel and see a glimpse of the kingdom Jesus will rule over in the end, when fools will no longer rule.

We also see God’s heart to reverse the slumber on those who hear and see, but do not understand.

God seeks to restore and heal His people, the deaf, blind, hasty and stammerers will know the truth.

All of this gives us prayer fuel for Israel and our own lives and nations today.

Don’t be complacent

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. Isaiah 32:9 (ESV)

Complacency will lead to bondage, so don’t be complacent, stay alert and keep moving, listen to God and live, live as He has called you to and be led by His Spirit.

Peace and quiet

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

God brings us to a place of peace and blessed quiet, when we walk in righteousness before Him.

Our soul can be still, we can experience peace in the middle of storms and adversity and quiet in the middle of busyness and stress.

Our world has so many voices competing for our attention, it seems hard to find a time of quiet, but with God we can find the quietness our souls need.

Make it a practise to find quiet times each day (for me the morning is always best), when you can just listen to God and be still, find times of quiet before God.

Luke 11:1–36

Just ask

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:10 (ESV)

Jesus taught us to be bold, because our God is a good father. We address Him as Father when we pray, He gives us our needs and delivers us from evil.

We should ask, seek and knock (Pastor Dennis has a great teaching on the three levels of prayer in regard to this), in prayer before God, tell Him your need today, He rejoices over you to do you good.

Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy, open your mouth and speak to God. Tell God all about it, make clear requests in faith and God will answer. Jesus said those who ask, seek and knock, will receive, find and have the door opened to them.

Stop now and ask God about it in prayer, seek Him about it in His word and intimately knock on the door in the Spirit.

The reality of spirits

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ Luke 11:24 (ESV)

Jesus taught about the reality of unclean spirits and demons, deliverance is always available from God, but to take God’s grace for granted and continually giving place to the enemy, will lead to even deeper bondage.

God wants us to be free from the power of unclean spirits, so as we read earlier, ask God for the Holy Spirit which He will give abundantly, be filled with the Spirit and there will be no room for any other spirit.

Dark light

Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. Luke 11:35 (ESV)

What we let into our souls through our eyes, can bring us into bondage. Be careful what you watch.

There is a lot of the dark light Jesus spoke about, coming through our eyes in the media rich day that we live in. So guard your eyes and your soul from the bondage of darkness.

As Jesus said in verse 27, blessed are those who hear and keep His word. Be filled with the word of God which is pure light.

Job 7:11–21

Because He loves you

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment? Job 7:17–18 (ESV)

The reason God takes any concern with man is because of His love. God wants to see us healed and delivered, that is why He makes much of us for His glory and our Joy. Be encouraged that God has your best interest at heart today.

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

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 11

Today’s Reading: Isa 29:1–30:17, Luke 10:1–42, Job 7:1–10

Today’s Theme: God Our Teacher

Today’s theme is about God as our teacher, revealed most clearly through Jesus, the greatest teacher of all.

Isaiah 29:1–30:17

Empty dreams

As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion. Isaiah 29:8 (ESV)

The thoughts of man are impotent, they posses no creative power, unlike the one and only Creator, God. God alone can bring something to mind and it becomes a reality.

God teaches us a great lesson here, reminding us that dreams are not real and bring no satisfaction in the physical world. We can think about doing or not doing something all day long, but just dreaming or thinking about eating a nice meal will do nothing for our hunger other than make it greater.

Do not waste your life dreaming, fantasising and allowing your thoughts to drift away. Instead think on things that are pure and profitable for God’s pleasure and glory and for your joy.

Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The spirit of slumber

For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers). Isaiah 29:10 (ESV)

God pours out the spirit of slumber, in judgement, on those who reject Him. This reminds us that even though God is our great teacher, we can only understand and receive the lessons taught by His grace and mercy.

The Prophets should have been in a place to correct the dead religiosity of Judah, but their hearts were not for the Lord and so were put under a spirit of sleep.

Let us not sleep like others, stay alive to God and His purposes, God has called us to be prophets in our generation, bringing a corrective word to a wayward world. 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Lip service

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, Isaiah 29:13 (ESV)

We should not just pay God lip service or perform religious duties, with no heart or passion for God. God hates dead religiosity and so should we, we are called to a living relationship with God through His Son Jesus.

We should not fear God because of the teaching of any man or church, instead as we submit to God our teacher, we will reverentially fear Him in truth.

Crazy pots

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 29:16 (ESV)

The arguments of naturalism and evolution are put in their true perspective here; can we, the pots, really turn to the potter and proceed to teach him? Can we the students turn and teach the teacher? Can we the created turn and instruct the Creator?

None of us can teach God anything, we need to throw away our crazy pride and submit to Him. He was there in the beginning and He has already seen the end, He knows how and why He made us, so turn to Him today for your answers, perspective, opinions, worldview and purpose.

Hope for the wayward

And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.” Isaiah 29:24 (ESV)

God the teacher, declares those who go astray and those who grumble, will one day submit to instruction and have understanding.

This was certainly in context to Judah but we can take hope from it, for those who have fallen away or are in the grip of bitterness, that they will submit to the teaching of God and come to an experiential knowledge of the truth.

Don’t force it through

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; Isaiah 30:1 (ESV)

In this passage, the plan to flee to Egypt was a plan that the people were forcing through despite God’s instructions, and it would only lead to pain and shame.

We need to be led by the Spirit, not every plan we make should be forced through. Ask God to help you discern which plans are of Him and should be pursued, and which ones will not profit.

Luke 10:1–42

Hear the teacher

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 (ESV)

Jesus speaks through His disciples today, that’s you and me, but more specifically speaks through appointed leaders, like our Pastors.

Those who reject the teaching of the true church (as these accord with the bible), are actually rejecting the teaching of Jesus and so rejecting God.

Do not be discouraged when you are rejected as you share the truth of the gospel, that the Kingdom has come. They are instead rejecting God, who you have become an ambassador for.

We submit to Jesus our great teacher, we submit to His word and gospel, and like the 72, we go and proclaim His teaching to all the world.

Those who hear the teaching of Jesus and like the cities of unbelief, do not obey the gospel, will be under greater judgement than those who have never heard.

We have authority and security

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20 (ESV)

Jesus gives us authority over all the power of the enemy, but more importantly, gives us assurance of our salvation before God.

We can rejoice in our authority and security today.

Teaching for children

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Luke 10:21 (ESV)

God reveals His truth to those who humble themselves to be taught by Him. If our heads are filled with the so called knowledge of this world and our trust is in that, then how can we receive the revelation of God’s truth?

Be a child in heart today, to receive the teaching of the truth from God, do not be proud or arrogant, but be teachable.

It is God’s will, by His grace, to reveal His truth to simple people like us, for His pleasure and glory.

Revelation is a grace from God

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22 (ESV)

If you know God, it is not through anything that you did or anything that made you worthy, it is Jesus who decides the ones He will reveal the Father to. Give thanks that you have been chosen.

Learn from the Master

And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10:28 (ESV)

Jesus was the best teacher ever, when this man came challenging Him with a question, He turned the man back to the bible of his day and said what do you read, how do you see it? This is such a great way to teach the truth, to let the seeker read it for themselves.

Pastor Dennis has taught us this over the years, that the best thing to do in many situations, is to get someone to actually read the verse from the bible and ask them what they think it means.

The master story teller

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:37 (ESV)

One of the best methods Jesus used as a teacher was to tell stories or parables, which had a lesson driving them.

Again, after telling the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus asks the man a question, which serves to assess his comprehension of the lesson taught and ensure that he engaged his mind with the message of the story.

We use this technique in training and teaching today and should use it as we share the truth of God too.

One thing is necessary

but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (ESV)

We need to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him as He teaches us, everything else is secondary. Don’t be anxious and caught up in your day, stop and listen to Jesus.

Job 7:1–10

There is no specific note from today’s reading in Job, just a reminder that much of Job is discussion and ideas without understanding. Much of the book is useless for theology. This is why we need God as our teacher.

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

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 10

Today’s Reading: Isa 27:1–28:29, Luke 9:28–62, Job 6:14–30

Today’s Theme: The Good Judge

Today’s theme is about God as our Good Judge, He judges sin and rebellion, but is always good and seeks to do good to His people.

Isaiah 27:1–28:29

God, the dragon slayer

In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. Isaiah 27:1 (ESV)

God, the great Judge, will punish Leviathan in the last days.

The Leviathan was what we today call a Dinosaur, but the bible calls a Dragon. This particular Dragon once lived in the sea and is likely to be the same creature as the Dinosaur that we call Pliosaur (also possibly a Plesiosaur or a Mosasaur). This proves that these great creatures were roaming the earth and oceans just a few thousand years ago.

The great and terrible Leviathan is seen as a type for the Devil, in Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:2.

God will slay the Dragon Satan with the mighty sword of His word, which is hard (ferocious and unrelenting), great (large and robust enough to accomplish anything) and Strong (mighty and powerful).

The Devil and his Demons have infested and destroyed the good creation of God, but the twisting Serpent is on the run, God has declared his judgement and will surley bring it to pass.

Glory to the King, our God the Dragon slayer!

God’s vineyard

I, the LORD, am its keeper; every moment I water it. Lest anyone punish it, I keep it night and day; Isaiah 27:3 (ESV)

God is a good and faithful Judge, He is a God of meekness, love and peace and one who keeps His covenants for His own name’s sake. This is the God who keeps Israel, His vineyard.

Israel are God’s elect nation, the one He chose to be the light of the world and bear fruit that would display Him to the world and bring Him pleasure. We thank God that as Gentiles have been grafted into this vine, as one new man (neither Jew or Gentile) in Christ.

Let all governments and every person take note, God is the one who keeps Israel and the Church, His chosen vineyard.

God, the crown of glory

In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people, and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. Isaiah 28:5–6 (ESV)

A great promise for Israel of God’s ultimate victory, we pray that this day would come to pass and that we, in a sense, would also see it in our day, that God will be exalted in modern day Israel.

Pray that the secular and ungodly positions of the Israeli government would be replaced with a focus and honour toward the God of the bible and the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah.

Pray that God would give the spirit of justice to leaders and strength to the soldiers who govern and protect Israel.

It is only by God being the crown of the people of Israel, that we will see God glorified through Israel, so we pray for their salvation to the glory of God.

Jesus, the Cornerstone

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Isaiah 28:16 (ESV)

This is a clear prophecy about Jesus, He is the cornerstone. See the following New Testament references.

1 Peter 2:6 reads “For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Acts 4:11 says “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.”

Paul quotes in Romans 9:33 “as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

The cornerstone speaks of the foundation of our trust in God and the judgement of God against those who reject the foundation. It also speaks of Jesus’ function as a good judge.

God’s wisdom is excellent

This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. Isaiah 28:29 (ESV)

God is the one who created the entire universe, planned our redemption and works out His purposes, we can trust in His counsel and wisdom as the good judge today.

Luke 9:28–62

Jesus the better Moses

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” Luke 9:35 (ESV)

Moses was a great judge of God’s people and is without parallel in all history. Elijah is among the greatest of all prophets. Their joint appearance with Jesus possibly point to Jesus’ role as the one who fulfils the law of Moses and replaces it with the Kingdom of God, while Elijah points to the prophetic office Jesus had and the fulfilment of prophecy that would be achieved.

Whatever their appearance signified, we see that the affirmation from God the father, to the disciples on the mount, elevates Jesus above both Moses and Elijah.

We are called to do as God said, ‘listen to Him’, the better Judge and greatest prophet.

Don’t’ focus on the law of Moses, it has passed. Do not get lost in prophecy, it has some profit but the greatest profit comes from listening to Jesus, He speaks most clearly in the bible.

Reflect the majesty of God

And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, Luke 9:43 (ESV)

The miracles Jesus performed were always to the benefit of the people and to the glory of God, not for a show or for His own sake.

Our lives should reflect the glorious majesty of God, just like the life of Jesus, as we exercise authority over demons, restore families and see the healing power of God released.

Like Jesus, we judge the demons but show the mercy and the goodness of God, to man.

Be the greatest

and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” Luke 9:48 (ESV)

We need to live like Jesus, we need to be humble, serving, good judges.

When I say judge, think of it in terms of God’s word. Our lives, thoughts and actions are all governed by the word, we will exercise righteous judgement according to God’s word.

The only way to greatness in God’s kingdom is through firm belief in the word and through servant, childlike hearts, willing to serve for God’s glory and putting others first, just like Jesus did.

Boldly be the greatest by being a servant and having childlike trust in God’s word. It sounds like a paradox but is the way of God’s kingdom and ensures genuineness and authenticity before God and the church community.

Don’t’ look back

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (ESV)

Be encouraged today, we read how the enemy’s defeat is certain and God will win in the end. We have seen the power and greatness of Jesus and received instruction on how to live for greatness in the Kingdom, so don’t be distracted, don’t turn back, keep looking to Jesus, keep pressing forward.

We are not cowards, we follow our good judge to the end.

Job 6:14–30

Be teachable

“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. Job 6:24 (ESV)

Job’s character is remarkable. We must be like Job; remain teachable and humble under trial. Our God is not a bad judge but a good one, who has our best interest at heart. Be open to the lessons He is teaching you today.

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

Additional resources

Desiring God on Luke 9