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.

Today’s Reading: Joel 1:1–2:32, Acts 7:1–53, Job 18:1–21

Today’s Theme: God Restores

In today we look God as our great restorer and rescuer, seen most clearly through Jesus, the better Joseph and Moses

Joel 1:1–2:32

Fruitfulness brings joy

The vine dries up; the fig tree languishes. Pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up, and gladness dries up from the children of man. (Joel 1:12, ESV)

Fruitfulness brings joy in both the physical and spiritual, if joy is lacking we need to ensure we are growing fruitfully in the Lord

No word leads to no joy

Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? (Joel 1:16, ESV)

Again no word from God means no Joy.

No word leads to suffering

How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. (Joel 1:18, ESV)

Without the word which brings Joy Gods flock will suffer

Sound the Alarm

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, (Joel 2:1, ESV)

Part of the Gospel is to warn of the wrath to come

God’s army

The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it? (Joel 2:11, ESV)

This terrible force is Gods army because they are under His control

Tear your heart

and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2:13, ESV)

God desires that these warnings draw his people in genuine heartfelt repentance which is more than just an external show

This is a cry to wayward saints (sinners were never with the Lord).

God’s character is clearly outlined here. God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger abounding in steadfast love and wants to turn back concerning disaster for his people (In the same way a parent would prefer to not have to smack a child in love if the child repents).

Our repentance will cause God to turn back from judgement too.

Jealous Love

Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. (Joel 2:18, ESV)

God showed his jealous love and zeal for the land while also having pity on His people in response to the prayer of His people

God restores

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25, ESV)

I am so grateful that God is a God who restores what he had taken away in judgement.

It is also comforting to know that the Lord can restore years that were eaten away in sin or rebellion

Satisfied in God

“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. (Joel 2:26, ESV)

God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him.

The Promised Holy Spirit

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. (Joel 2:28–29, ESV)

Peter said this was fulfilled in Acts on the day of Pentecost, we give God thanks that we live in these days.

Everyone who calls

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. (Joel 2:32, ESV)

Salvation is available and offered to all who will call upon the name of the Lord.

Acts 7:1–53

Know history

and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ (Acts 7:3, ESV)

History give foundation and definition to our faith, this is why it is so important that we know our history as Gods people

God our Rescuer

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. (Acts 7:9–10, ESV)

Joseph was like an OT type of Jesus

God remained sovereign in the midst of Joseph’s trouble, which gives us hope in the middle of ours

Joseph, a type of Jesus

And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. (Acts 7:13, ESV)

Again a nod to Jesus, because at his second coming he will make himself known to His brothers the Jews.

Moses, a type of Jesus

He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. (Acts 7:25, ESV)

Another type of Jesus, the first time he came to Israel they did not understand either

Jesus, the Judge

But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? (Acts 7:27, ESV)

This was the attitude of the many in Israel to Jesus too. Also this gets to the heart of the problem why many from all nations who do no follow Jesus and obey God, it is because at heart they do not want anyone to judge or rule them.

We need to make sure this wicked attitude is not in our hearts, homes or churches

It all points to Jesus

“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. (Acts 7:35, ESV)

Here Stephen is driving the point of his historical retelling clearer, he is trying to show his accusers that the entire History of the Jewish people was pointing to Christ and how he would come in two parts being rejected and suffering 1st and then coming a 2nd time to rule

Turn your heart to God

Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, (Acts 7:39, ESV)

May we receive an obey Jesus from the heart and not turn back to the world in our hearts, we must guard against this.

Replacement gods

And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. (Acts 7:41, ESV)

The calf for Israel today is a Christ-less Judaism, we must continue to reach them with the gospel. We must ensure we do not have replacement gods in our lives.

Look past this world

Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, (Acts 7:48, ESV)

Stephen wants them to get their eyes past the temple and the external observances of tradition and religion

Have circumcised hearts

This is the summation of Stephens’s lesson and appeal.

Lord may we be circumcised in our hearts and help us to not resist your Holy Spirit

Job 18:1–21

The wicked trap

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh. (Job 18:8, ESV)

This is true of the wicked, they are decivers and being decived like the Proverbs and NT teacha nd will be caught in their own traps

Today’s Reading: Hos 13:1–14:9, Acts 6:1–15, Job 17:1–16

Today’s Theme: Hope in God

Today’s theme looks at the hope we can have in God.

Hosea 13:1–14:9

God the only Saviour

But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. (Hosea 13:4, ESV)

God makes these exclusive statements that only He can make. He reminds the people and us about who he is, the only God and Saviour

The good times test

but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. (Hosea 13:6, ESV)

This is the test, do we forget God when we prosper and all goes well, sadly this is often the case. We need to test our hearts, if God is our number one desire then we will not forget Him in good times.

Seize the opportunity

The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb. (Hosea 13:13, ESV)

Lord help us to be wise and seize opportunity in the life time of the opportunity

Death will be defeated

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes. (Hosea 13:14, ESV)

This is a prophetic passage, in the end Jesus will defeat even death, there will be no more death.

Hope for Apostates

I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. (Hosea 14:4, ESV)

This verse shows the loving heart of God, and the amazing truth that there is even hope for the apostate to be healed and restored.

The ways of the Lord

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9, ESV)

Gods right ways are the litmus test of authentic faith, do we walk in the Lords ways, well if we do that is evidence of true conversion, if His ways are a stumbling block to us we are not yet converted.

Acts 6:1–15

Social action

And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. (Acts 6:2, ESV)

This daily distribution must have something to do with the pooling of resources that was happening so that everyone had food etc

Social action and service should not be pitted against the preaching of the Word, both are important but the Pastor should be able to focus on the highly important task of studying the word to preach and teach it to the church.

Some in the west play down this role and give very little time in their service to the exposition of the word, I thank God we are in a church where the expository preaching of the bible is central.

Ministry in the word

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4, ESV)

Another good example for today’s churches, elders should devote themselves to the word of God and prayer. These spiritual disciplines are crucial in the lives of the churches leaders for the growth of the entire body.

Also note the context here, a deacons focus should be the social care of the church.

The power of the gospel

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7, ESV)

Another reminder of the power of the Gospel, many of the jewish priest form the tribe of Levi were converted

Unbeatable wisdom

But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. (Acts 6:10, ESV)

This is the sort of wisdom the Holy Spirit gives to us as Gods people, we will speak with the sort of wisdom that can not be refuted.

Also note the word “Spirit” they were not able to resist the power of the Holy Spirit in Stephen, We need to the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses.

This is why when we speak the truth in the Holy Spirit, we are not met with reason or logic but ignorance and violence

Job 17:1–16

Hope in God

where then is my hope? Who will see my hope? (Job 17:15, ESV)

Job has been explaining for this whole chapter that he has no hope, thank God for Jesus we do have hope , if we put our hope in God.