Galatians 1-6

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

Although faith is a gift, we can freely choose to believe. It is freely given already. Choose to believe for total salvation.

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Are my struggles to pray more an attempt to justify myself? I need your grace my Jesus. I need your grace. Let me not stray from you.

5.11 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

2 Corinthians 9-13

13.11 Become complete.

How?

Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace

Right now, I'm in two minds. I am distressed without cause, and not at all at peace.

Ruth 1 cont.

2. There is providence in loss. Naomi could only feel emptiness - yet she returns at the beginning of the harvest. As we enter the new year, perhaps we look back and see losses - those who have backslidden, or those who truly are lost. Yet as we walk by faith into the future, could it be that we are approaching the beginning of a harvest? When people face loss and pain, sometimes we will pray that God might bring some good out of it. But doesn't our faith reach out for the possibility that God might do more than that? That He might do something great, that he might bring life where there was death, that He might give sight where there was blindness, that He might give fullness where there was emptiness. Do not limit the Lord to what you think is possible - He "is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3v20)

Ruth 1

1. The line that is broken. One of the themes of the book is the lineage of Christ - the book ends with the line of descendants leading to King David. Naomi has suffered more than the loss of her sons - she has lost their sons, and their sons, and so on. This is at the core of her suffering. She says 'The Lord has brought me back empty' - yet she had Ruth with her. Her emptiness was not that she was without family, but that she would have no continuing line of descendents. She could not see how the Lord could bring life to this dead line - 'Am I going to have any more sons?...' There are two types of plan - one that anticipates, and one that assumes. We can and ought to prepare in anticipation - we should only assume that 'God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.'

Merry Christmas!

Hi, John, sorry to have disappeared - again! I've had to prepare for a couple of meetings, which has totally distracted me. Still, God inspires hope within me that next year I'm going to do better. Anyways, instead of Romans, here's a few thoughts on Ruth chapter one.

2 cor 5-8

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

He lives in us to do the same through us for others.

2 cor 1-4

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

If you can "see" it you can be it. When we see Him we shall be like Him.

1 Cor 9-16

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Activity, but from confidence in its source.

1 Corinthians 5-8

serve the Lord without distraction.

Focus on one thing: serving Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1-4

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[d] of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[e] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Do we walk in the power of the cross? Do we minister the healing, the deliverance, the forgiveness and total salvation that Christ Jesus won at the cross? Or do we just talk about it?

Romans 13-16

Ch 13: Patriotism honours the highest authority?

Ch 15 talks of the scriptures of "patience and comfort" and the "God of patience and comfort". We are to wait expecting the promised goodness of our God in every situation.

Romans 9-12

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “ Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Pursuing holiness doesn't work: pursuing the Holy One does.

Romans 5-8

if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Led into righteousness. Submit.

Romans 1-4

Romans 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

I have to believe that God is able to perform in my body exactly what He says He is able to perform: self-control, patience....all that is in Christ. Believing is the beginning of righteousness.

Romans, here we come!!!

Phew! Okay, I admit, I rushed through the last bit of the OT, but it feels good to be spending some time in the scriptures, and meditating upon it, albeit on a relatively superficial level in places!

Malachi 1-4

(1v6-14) The priests pollute the offerings to the Lord by despising the Lord's table. They offer lacklustre service to the Lord, and give Him as little as possible. The Lord's favour and grace are never an excuse for our laziness. The Lord makes clear His judgment - (4v1) the arrogant will be like stubble that is set ablaze.

Zechariah 9-14

(9v16) "...for like the jewels of a crown, they shall shine on His land..."
How good it is to be loved by the Lord!

Zechariah 5-8

(8v3) "I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem"
The Lord's desire is for a heartfelt relationship, not a heartless religion.

Zechariah 1-4

(1v3) "Return to me...and I will return to you..."
Okay, an easy choice from a bewildering selection of visions. The Lord reveals His love for His people - there will always be a remnant, and even when Israel turn away as a nation, the Lord does not reject them forever. His judgments upon them send the same message again and again - "Repent and believe!"

Habakkuk 1-3

(3v17, 18) "Though the fig tree should not blossom...yet I will rejoice in the Lord"
A very timely passage to read, as I am preaching on Ruth chapter one in a couple of weeks - working title "The Providence of Loss". The Lord works for the good of His people. When we are weak, He is our strength. When we are poor, He is our wealth. Though we can die, we can never truly "lose" our lives, because the Father holds us in His hands.

Acts 24-28

I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme

I'm struck afresh by the severity of Paul's zeal, and the greatness of God's mercy it reveals.

Nahum 1-3

(1v2) "The Lord...keeps wrath for His enemies."
We have inner peace knowing we have outer peace with God. We are safe in Christ - nothing can now separate us from the love of God. We are no longer enemies or 'children of wrath' - we can rest knowing God's justice has been satisfied by the cross. His wrath will be kept for His enemies.

Micah 5-7

(5v4, 5) "And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace"
At last, the perfect king and the perfect kingdom! Only Christ would be able to bring peace to the people of God. He would be the perfect servant - in receiving his righteousness, we receive the covenant blessings that go with it. God delivered up his own Son for us all - "How will He not also freely give us all things?" (Rom 8v32)

Micah 1-4

(2v6) ' "Do not preach" - thus they preach...'
The hypocrisy of those who reject God.I'm reading an interesting book called 'The Reason For God' by Tim Keller, dealing with the many inconsistencies in the reasons people give for their rejection of God and his Word - hence this verse taking my notice.

Acts 21-24

Tertullus is a rubbish orator. He multiplies words without substance whereas Paul succinctly and clearly sets out his case, point after point.

Acts 17-20

Paul does not stop. He isn't worried about getting enough sleep. Or being beaten up. Or getting chained up: he knows no restraint. He is free.

Acts 13-16

They preach the word and are led by the Spirit.

Acts 9-12

10.38 ...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

God anointed Peter with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

God anointed Tom and John with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with them?

Acts 5-8

Those who represent what God did yesterday will sometimes resist what God is doing today.

Acts 1-4

"with one accord" is emphasised by Luke 3 times in the first two chapters. Unity is a key to breakthrough: Genesis 6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Understood as with one language, just as on the day of pentecost: 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter didn't pray: he exercised his God-given authority.

Barnabus: encouragement is about actions as well as words.

Great to see you back

I'm glad you're also back on the blog, John. Your valiant efforts to keep going when I had stopped were so encouraging to me - I didn't realise how much until you stopped. I'm going to complete the Old Testament, then jump in wherever you are in Acts. This has been the most successful effort I've made at systematically reading the bible. How about introducing a third person next year? Someone of a similar age/background as us?

Jonah 1-4

(2v7) "When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord..."
Isn't it so often the case that it isn't until the last minute that we throw ourselves before the Lord, and seek His answers to our problems?

Obadiah

(v4) "Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord"
'The first shall be last...' Grace is not impressed by earthly power and prestige. 'Blessed are the poor...the meek in spirit..." There will be a day of vindication for God's people, when those who believed they were untouchable will meet the God of eternal justice.

Amos 5-9

(5v21) "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take take no delight in your solemn assemblies."
There is no pretence before the Lord. "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice...this is your spiritual worship." (Rom 12v1). Worship is not about feasts and assemblies, but all that we do! The Lord will not want our melodies if we are not striving to be righteous in His eyes (5v23, 24)

Amos 1-4

(3v6-11) "...yet you did not return to me..."
The Lord keeps telling the people, but they do not listen. Instead of running to His mercy, they run into His judgment. Selective hearing will not hide us from the consequences of our sin.

On second thoughts...

I'll catch up with Luke and John when I find my dictaphone. Acts here I come...

Joel 1-3

(2v27) "You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel..."
The Lord dwells among His people. The prophecy points us to Christ, 'the word become flesh', and to our experience now, as our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit.

Hosea 9-14

The end of the prophecy clarifies God's position. He does not wish to pass judgment, but rather that the people would "return...to the Lord your God" (14v1). The message of the Bible resounds once more - "Repent and believe the good news!"

Hosea 5-8

(6v6) "...I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice..."
Neither works nor the wallet can buy God's approval.

Hosea 1-4

(2v23) '...and I will say to Not My People "You are my people" and he shall say "You are my God" '

An expression of salvation - children of wrath becoming the children of God. A complete reversal of a person's situation.

Iron sharpens iron

It is so encouraging to see you back on here. I was feeling a little disappointed that it looked like we'd given up as the end of the year approaches, and than a little thought told me to look at the blog: and there you were after all! Tom, I shall begin again with fresh resolve! I have got some thoughts I'd put onto dictaphone, so I'll put those up and move on.

Daniel 9-12

(9v2, 3) "...I...perceived in the books...according to the word of the Lord...Then I turned my face to the Lord God..."
A great example of the purpose of prayer. Daniel understood the word of the Lord - a prophecy was to come to pass imminently. But Daniel did not sit back and let it happen - he prayed for it to happen. By prayer, we do not aim to change God's will - we aim to be a part of it.

Daniel 5-8

(7v14) "his dominion is an everlasting dominion"
Daniel's heavenly king would outlast every human king.

Daniel 1-4

(2v22) "...He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him..."
Where is true wisdom found? Only in God. Questions will sometimes make people push God away, but He is the only one with all the answers. We can look into the darkness because with God we are never without light.

Hi, John

Hope you're ok, John, I plan to ring you at the weekend. Meanwhile, your absence on the blog has spurred me to reconnect with it. God bless you, brother.

Ezekial 45-48

The closing chapters of Ezekial find God speaking of order and equality. He is not 'the author of confusion', but the Lord who brings peace where there was confusion, and rest where there was rebellion.

Ezekial 41-44

(43v7) "...where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever..."
The Lord's desire is to dwell with His people. True religion involves an eternal relationship with a personal God.

Ezekial 37-40

(37v13) "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves..."
The amazing chapter 37, the valley of the dry bones. But what is the purpose of this incredible work? That we should know He is the Lord! It is not done for our benefit, but for His glory.

Ezekial 33-36

(33v6) "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet..."
The sobering responsibility of all those who know the truth, but particularly those who preach. We are not to hide the truth. We must warn the faithful to examine themselves, and the faithless to trust in Christ.

Ezekial 29-32

(31v3, 9) "Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches... I made it beautiful..."
Ironically, Assyria's self-centred pride was in her God-given beauty.

Ezekial 25-28

(28v9) "Will you still say 'I am a god' in the presence of those who kill you...?"
Eternity is a characteristic of the one true God.

Ezekial 21-24

(21v6, 7) "But as for you, son of man...groan before their eyes. And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that it is coming...' "
Ezekial's heart will break at the news of God's approaching judgment. The truth that there is a final day of reckoning should affect us as Christians. So many people have not found the safety that we rest in.

Luke 5-12

41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Faith and action cannot be separated. Change heart. Change action. Change action. Change heart.

Luke 1-4

How do we respond to the promise of God? How do we stand in our time of seeking? Zechariah doubted, yet God was faithful. Mary was humble, and frightened, yet obeyed. Jesus, in His time of fasting had no mountintop experience and according to Luke was tempted the whole 40days; yet He held on to the word of God. In each case, God came through with a powerful answer. Thank God it rests on Him! Lets stand in faith!

Mark 13-16

Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Fearless transcendence.

7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—

The good news is always personal. My Jesus died for my sins, and rose again to raise me up. And He gave Himself for you too.

Mark 9-12

1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

I want to see the kingdom of God present with power.

Mark 5-8

The demon possessed man, Jairus, the woman with the bleeding, all moved in action towards Jesus before they saw their miracle: even Jairus' dead daughter was told to take action, "Little girl I say to you, 'Arise!'".

8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—

To stop them relying on the arm of flesh, and compel them to be in faith?

46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

Night or day, in this busy season of ministry it seems Jesus took whatever opportunity He could get to be alone with His Father. I think this was the afternoon from the immediate context.

And as many as touched Him were made well.

Action!

whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Let us live to preach the gospel!

Mark 1-4

13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

The supernatural angelic experiences happened after Jesus had fasted: the fasting itself was dry wilderness and spiritual struggle. Breakthrough comes after travail, not before or during. Knowing this will give us tenacity.

the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel

Turn. Change. Believe. Because power is here to do it: that is the message!

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Jesus takes her hand, encouraging faith action. It is rare that healings happened passively.

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Grant this pattern to me too my Father!

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him,

Do we see and stop and act with compassion? Or without faith pass by?

19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Give money away and you break its stronghold.

“Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.

It is only as we apply and use what we know that it becomes fruitful in our lives. Its the measure we use that counts, not just what we know.

Matthew 25-28

Matt 25: the Lord is coming back, will we found ready in His service?

26.39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Prayer changes us, not necessarily our cicumstances

Matthew 21-24

44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Be ready. Know His voice. Obey His words.

Matthew 17-20

21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

No reaping without sowing. No power without waiting on the Lord.

the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Matthew 13-16

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Jesus speaks according to our willingness to understand. Are there some counselling sessions we could cut much shorter if we realised that for all our words the person does not want to hear?

That said, Jesus did take the time to speak, but in a way that solicited the passive to seek understanding. Perhaps good counselling is less about giving answers, and more about stimulating action?

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

This is the Western church.

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

If we wish to move in the gift of healing we must be exposed to the need and let the Holy Spirit's compassion flow.

17 “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven"....23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!"

It amazes me how quickly we can move from revelation to deception. I assume it must be pride that caused Peter to rebuke Jesus: we must be careful to remain humble and not overstep our authority in our moments of spiritual "success".

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me...The Son of Man...will reward each according to his works."

We have a choice. Sacrifice now and reward later. Or temporal pleasure now and much less later. The church in the west does not understand Paul's statement that we Christians are to be pitied if there is no resurrection from the dead.

Matthew 9-12

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead,[i] cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 5-8

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Aggressive attack against our sin is part of our call. God has empowered us to establish His reign in our flesh.

The teaching in these chapters is so dense and profound, that I from January I will read just 3 from the old and 1 from the new each day.

Matthew 1-4

‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

The living instruction of God literally preserved Jesus life, as the Lord spoke again and again to Joseph in dreams, and he obeyed.

Malachi 1-4

Major emphasis on faithfulness: to God, to one's spouse, one's children and one's parents. Also God's criticism of words of doubt "why serve God" etc.

Zechariah 1-14

8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

We need to know this is how God views us.

‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. 7 ‘ Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

Seeing the mountain of sin removed from our lives is impossible unless we work with the Spirit and continually seek His power. He applies the finished work of the cross in our experience.

9 “ The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

This is a really funny verse. "You will know I'm going to do this thing, when I've done this thing" is almost what He's saying. So often it is that way with the Lord. He leads us, but by faith, and we must trust as we act until the task is complete.

6 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?

Wow. Do we know what it is to live with the detail of our lives centred on Him?

14 “But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land became desolate after them, so that no one passed through or returned; for they made the pleasant land desolate.”

"They made the land desolate" It is not in God's character to bring desolation, it is the consequence of their actions.

11 “ As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Ho! Come drink the new wine of the new covenant in His blood. Enjoy living water! Come out of the prison of sin! Come out of the prison of sickness! Come out of the prison of demonic oppression! Jesus reigns!

Haggai 1-2

A pertinent message: the Lord allows lack in the land so the people may be prompted to seek Him.

This raises the question, is poverty sometimes of God? Is sickness sometimes of God? I think the reality is that God in His mercy allows us to experience the consequence of our actions: debt disease and famine are not what God desires at all. In fact it is interesting to read the judgements God makes against His instruments of judgement (e.g. Babylon). God wants to establish that He is kind, that He is merciful, and He is good, and not at all like those harsh forces of judgement that demonstrate the consequences of sin.

Zephaniah 1-3

3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility.

Humility is a major key to finding God, but it doesn't negate the need to seek the Lord dilligently, and find an even greater measure of reliance on the Lord.

17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

This is such an intimate picture of the Lord's heart for us, singing with affection as a father with babe in arms.

Habakkuk 1-3

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 “ Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

All the promises of God are true and sure but sometimes there is a process to their realisation. Faith waits expectantly.

10 The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high.

The power of God is hidden in our hands too, if Christ dwells in us.

Nahum 1-3

7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.

This is a light in a book of judgement: run into the lighthouse and be saved!

Ezekial 17-20

(Chapter 18) A passage that speaks of individual accountability before God ('he shall not die for his father's iniquity') and individual repentance ('but if a wicked person turns away from all his sins...he shall surely live'). The chapter closes with a call - 'Sort yourself out!' We must take responsibility for our waywardness, and turn back to the Lord. I must put sin to death, and the sinner within - I must die so I can live! Lord, give me boldness to end the life that leads me away from you, and to walk resolutely on the path of righteousness.

Ezekial 5-16

A recurring message: God states clearly that His people have given their hearts to idols and deserve to be destroyed. Yet, because of His eternal covenant, He will save a remnant. Salvation by grace! He atones for us for all that we have done (16v63) - a truth that leaves us humbled.

Micah 5-7

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Right action
Right heart
Right relationship with God

The Christian must pursue excellence in all these areas

Ezekial 1-4

(3v7) 'But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me.'

Someone once told me 'the congregation preach half the sermon'. The preacher must desire to communicate the word of God. The listener must desire to hear it.

Lamentations 1-5

A horrific account of how Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants degraded. The only hope the author finds lies in the Lord's steadfast love and great mercy.

Micah 1-4

13 O inhabitant of Lachish, Harness the chariot to the swift steeds (She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion), For the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

Self-sufficiency may have been the sin of the mighty chariot city.

“ Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted? Are these His doings? Do not My words do good To him who walks uprightly?

God is much better than we think!

8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin.

Like Wesley?

Jonah 1-4

“What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

A message for the modern church! Awake and stand in the gap for this generation!

One message of this book is that the presence of God is not confined to a "spiritual land" or a temple/church. The wind of God's merciful Spirit is breathing amongst the muslims and the atheists, and the undecideds everywhere, and it is our responsibility to go to them, catch the wind with the sail of the gospel, and watch God save.

Obadiah

17 “ But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

No security without holiness. Is all we have "set apart for the Lord" in our hearts, or do we cling to it as security?

Jeremiah 49-52

(50v20) "I will forgive the remnant I spare"
To have our account with God cleared - to have our debts wiped away - what an amazing reality! Jesus takes our sin into the tomb, but does not bring it back out. Our Lord is eternally alive - our sins are eternally dead!

Jeremiah 45-48

(46v28) ' "Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you" declares the Lord'

With one hand, the Lord issues His judgment. With the other hand, He confirms His promises.

Jeremiah 41-44

(Chapter 44) God's hatred of idolatry is imprinted throughout history. He questions the people - "Why worship something that isn't real?" All glory belongs to Him, and to give that glory to another is sin.

Jeremiah 37-40

Zedekiah cannot make up his mind. His greatest weakness was that he did not commit his ways to the Lord. Instead, he was ruled by his fear of being unpopular.

Jeremiah 33-36

(34v8-22) The people repent, then repent of their repentance. The Lord chastens them in a dramatic speech. He will "free" them to face the sword, famine and plague. Ie. they will be free to live outside of His covenant blessings.

Jeremiah 29-32

(29v14) "I will be found by you..."
What an amazing promise, which reminds us of the mind-blowing truth that God is sovereign (How else could we trust His promises?) and yet we are responsible to seek Him.

Jeremiah 25-28

(Chapter 25) The people would not listen to the word of the Lord as spoken by the prophets - 'Repent and believe!' They therefore would face the judgment of God.

Jeremiah 21-24

(21v12) "...my wrath will break out and burn like fire..."
God's wrath is a consuming fire, which will ultimately destroy His enemies. His love is a kindling fire, which kindles the flame of love in our hearts for Him.

Amos 1-9

The judgements against Israel's neighbours reveal its never good to gloat. We must preserve a heart of mercy, even when people fall into the terrible consequence of their actions.

Amos does not shrink back from declaring his message is from God and will come to pass.."I'm not roaring for the sake of it, I've got hold of something from God". How many preachers carry that level of conviction and boldness?

Ch7. God prepares two judgements, yet Amos intercedes and the Lord relents. What privileged access we have, greater than Amos: do we realise the responsibility we have in such a time as this?

Joel 1-3

Previously I've been struck by the "consecrate a fast", but this time the gathering of the people in corporate intercession has really caught my attention.

Hosea 1-14

God says "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" then later berates them "Because he willingly walked by human precept". So what is the knowledge God requires? "Mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God" Which is found how? "Obey Him." But it is a heart obedience, following His character of mercy: His Spirit more than His letter.

12.6 So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.

14.2 Take words with you, And return to the LORD. Say to Him, “ Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.

Daniel 1-12

the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

“Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.”

People are wholly unaware of their fragility before an awesome God. Jonathan Edwards described us as suspended over the pit of hell much as a child holds a spiders by one of it legs.

23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved

Although the prophecy regarding 70years then restoration had been given, it required intercession to see it fulfilled. We must bring His promises before God to see them realized on the earth.

the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Intimacy before authority.

35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white

God does use suffering to perfect us. It is in His purpose.

Ezekiel 41-48

God tells Ezekiel to describe to the people the temple and its ordinances that they might be ashamed.

The function of the prophetic is to reveal our tue destiny that we might repent of our present sate and enter in to His purpose.

Ez44.8 you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you

There's nothing wrong with delegation, but without responsible oversight of the ministry, it may drift from the intended vision. The responsible leader must establish the vision and oversee its fulfillment.

Ch 49 Its intersting to note that all the instructions Ezekiel s to give to the people do not constitute a big new idea, but simply a return to God's established principles. Back to basics!

Ezekiel 29-40

Chapter 33: the warning is clear; we are responsibele to to tell the lost of what lays ahead.

33:32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

I get praise for good sermons, but I want "to make the gentiles obedient" Romans 15:18-19

Ch34: Feed, heal, empower, seek the lost: the responsibilities of a good shepherd.

Ch37: Want to see bones healed? tell them to line up with the healing word of God! The act of prophesying has creative power.

Ezekiel 25-28

“Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, 4 indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East,

We must be so careful when minister and churches and denominations fall into error, and reap the consequences that we do not exalt ourselves in judgement, and end up judged ourselves.

Ezekiel 21-24

The Lord takes the prophet's wife.

Are we really willing to surrender all?

Woah!

Finish the old testament by the end of October??? Ok - time for some seriously dedicated reading! Hang in there with me, brother!

Ezekiel 17-20

Wow, God really thinks keeping covenant is important, even ones made with the bad guys. That gives me confidence for His commitment to me.

Ezekiel 13-16

You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them.

49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give.

Ezekiel 1-12

Each for his iniquity. 17 Every hand will be feeble, And every knee will be as weak as water.

Even for the obedient God doesn't promise a trouble free life, but He does promise strength for the fight.

“Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

Do I care? Like Ezekiel, like Jeremiah?

Another obvious point: God does not shrink back from speaking judgement.

Also, the theatricality and rehearsal of Ezekiel's prophecy's inspires me to be open to creative preparation for Sunday's message. Whitfield too studied theatrical arts.

Lamentations 1-5

9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts; She did not consider her destiny; Therefore her collapse was awesome; She had no comforter.

She was not prepared for the day of the Lord. Is the coming judgement still proclaimed? People need warning!

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.

He always comes to those who wait.

24hour readathons?

Tom we have to have read the whole of the Old Testament by the end of October! I'm going to have to read Ezekiel in one sitting!

Jeremiah 49-52

For the LORD is the God of recompense, He will surely repay.

And He surely did. Babylon was God's chosen implement, and yet harshly judged for its iniquity. Let us search ourselves to make our election more sure, and not find ourselves "disqualified" as we seek to work for God.

Jeremiah 45-48

5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”

Life in all its abundance is not the same as having an abundance of things.

Jeremiah 41-44

How often do we run away from the commands of God because of the fear of man.

Jeremiah 17-20

(18v6) "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand"
The Lord makes clear His sovereignty - what a relief! To know that we are being molded by the hands of a patient, wise and compassionate Father is a 'blessed assurance'.

Jeremiah 33-36

3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

I'm calling.

Jeremiah 29-32

“ Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border. 18 “ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself:

There is hope for the church in the UK

Jeremiah 13-16

(15v17) 'I sat alone because your hand was upon me, and you had filled me with indignation'
When the Lord places His hand upon us, and His Spirit moves within us, we feel far more keenly our distance from the world, and the world's distance from God.

Jeremiah 25-28

Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.’

God's passion is mercy. Doom is not inevitable until the day it arrives. God listens for our repentant intercessions:

18 But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.’

Jeremiah 21-24

How did the priests get into adultery and injustice and yet still feel qualified to prophesy? The answer to my mind is that they had no intimacy with the one who could've corrected them. Access to the Holy of Holies, and religiously they did go in, but only to perform. "Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you"

How intimate am I with my Father? With my Brother? With my Friend? With Jesus?

18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?

Jeremiah 17-20 GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL

For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You To speak good for them, To turn away Your wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, And pour out their blood By the force of the sword; Let their wives become widows And bereaved of their children.

He goes on at length in this vein. Later he curse the day of his own birth. What a ministry. Called by God to publicly fail. To preach and be rejected entirely. God warned him that he'd be rejected, but told him to speak up anyway. I feel for Jeremiah: more to be pitied than anyone?

AAAAARGHH!!!!!!!!! This challenges my heart so much. We too are called to speak out to a rebellious and obstinate people, thats why Paul said that Christians are more to be pitied than anyone, and why Jesus said that anyone who desires to live a Godly life WILL suffer persecution. The difference between us and Jeremiah is that we have been promised that some will respond: the fields are white unto harvest.

Jeremiah 13-16

I think you must have transmitted a virus to me via the internet. Today, I too am "laid low with a bug - high temperature, aches, etc."

17 But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

Compassion?

Where is the flock that was given to you, Your beautiful sheep? 21 What will you say when He punishes you? For you have taught them To be chieftains, to be head over you.

Relinquishing the responsibility to lead is not necessarily humble.

Jeremiah 9-12

(11v3) 'Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant'

God's people simply could not keep the covenant - they were helpless to beat the curse that came with disobedience. They would need a champion - Jesus Christ,the perfect servant, willing to represent God's people before the judgment throne, and to receive the curse on their behalf.

Jeremiah 9-12

Where is the weeping today? Do we care enough to plead for the people?

Where is the street proclamation today? Do we care enough to plead to the people?

Jeremiah 5-8

A quiet day, as I'm laid low with a bug - high temperature, aches, etc.

The Lord really lays it on the line, and points again and again and again(!) to the sins of His people. Conviction must come before true repentance.
(7v16) 'Do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you'
Jeremiah was the Lord's servant, but even he could not twist God's arm. God's will was determined - there would be chastening before there was change.

Jeremiah 1-4

Hi, John, I thought the best thing to do was jump back on board at Jeremiah, and try to catch up on the other books while doing that. Had a blessed weekend - took the Harvest service, and felt an excitement I had been missing for some time as I preached to families.

Words that resonated within me...
(1v7) But the Lord said to me, "Do not say 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you" declares the Lord.

These words mean alot to me as we consider going back to the church in Welshpool we left a couple of years ago.

Jeremiah 5-8

5 I will go to the great men and speak to them, For they have known the way of the LORD, The judgment of their God.” But these have altogether broken the yoke And burst the bonds.

What if there weren't any examples of a sold out servant alive today? History, and the new testament: even the best mentors can be blinded by the zeitgeist.

“ Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it;

Jeremiah 1-4

17 “ Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you.

The minister's primary responsibility is to prepare himself. The message comes from a heart made ready to hear God.

Isaiah 61-66

14 As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the LORD causes him to rest, So You lead Your people, To make Yourself a glorious name.

For the redeemed, being led by God should be as natural as the instinct to lie down when we are tired.

Isaiah 57-60

Is it not because I have held My peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

To the world, God is silent, because He holds His peace. If He spoke directly, as a man speaks to his friend, the worldly would flee, as Israel hid before the mountain or Adam in the garden. Thank God for the shed blood of Jesus that allows us to stand before a holy God and to hear His voice clearly.

Isaiah 53-56

“ Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.

You cannot earn righteousness. You can't achieve it without God either, but you can pursue it. Seek and you will find. Hunger and thirst for it and you will be satisfied

Isaiah 49-52

6 Indeed He says, ‘ It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

2 Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”

God's vision is always bigger than ours, because we only see what we think He can do through us.

Isaiah 45-48

15 Truly You are God, who hide Yourself,

Isaiah 41-44

14 “ Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 “ Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small,

I love that God calls Judah a worm but states what he'll become. I may be a man, but He makes me a son of God.

26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers;

I love it that God is looking to back me up as I declare His word.

Isaiah 37-40

1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’”2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD,

God speaks his decree; man argues with God. God relents.

7 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”

God speaks his decree; man does not argue. Judgement.

Who will stand in the gap for this nation?

Isaiah 33-36

21 But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”

A good strategy for dealing with that old accuser, whomever he speaks through.

Isaiah 29-32

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. 20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “ This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

No revival without the restoration of teachers who can disciple: " this is the way, walk in it"

17 The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

This is what Peter means, when he writes of making our election more sure: there is assurance in the obedience that comes from faith.

Isaiah 25-28

12 LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. 13 O LORD our God, masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name.

Hallelujah! Other powers had mastered us, but for freedom Christ has set us free. He has done all our works in us. Thankyou! We by faith wait patiently for the righteousness for which we hope.

“ Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Destroyed or purified Tom?

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again.

What d'you reckon Tom: this earth...purified by fire or utterly destroyed by fire? I'd always assumed it was on the way out, but my friends are seeking to persuade me that it will become a born again earth or something. I guess it may have implications for how we treat the place.

Isaiah 21-24

12 And in that day the Lord GOD of hosts Called for weeping and for mourning, For baldness and for girding with sackcloth.

Are we able to hear the urgent call of the One who taught us that some demon strongholds will only be broken by prayer and fasting?

Isaiah 17-20

4 “ In that day it shall come to pass That the glory of Jacob will wane, And the fatness of his flesh grow lean.

7 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images[b] nor the incense altars.

What will it take to get our eyes off our own resources and abilities and truly see our Maker? He is so kind, so good, so generous, so willing to meet all our needs. He wants to be our God and let Him love us.

Welshpool news

Hi, John, after a burst of activity, I'm lagging behind again - my apologies! A small victory yesterday - Ruth joined the school PTA and brought about some change. The Halloween 'Spooky Disco' is now going to be replaced with a 'Neon Party', where kids will now dress up in bright colours. No more monsters and pitchforks! We're exploring options re. churches in Welshpool, and I'm considering a change of career, but needing clear direction from the Lord.

Isaiah 13-16

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.

Sin's days are numbered.

Isaiah 9-12

3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 5-8

If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established

Trust in God who defeats your enemies before you.

Isaiah 1-4

The first chapter is such a savage indictment of Israel, but finishes with this beautiful promise of mercy:

18 “ Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,

“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

Song of Solomon

I know it is widely understood that this book can be read as an allegory or expression of Christ's love for the church, but I tried reading it as if my church or even me myself was being addressed. Jesus' affection for us is devastating.

10 Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as an army with banners?

I feel good!

Ecclesiastes 8-12

18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.

God leads us in rest, and grants sleep to those He loves; but, if there is decay and dilapidation instead of improvement, we may be being led by some other voice.

Ecclesiastes 1-7

What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

There is always something more to do; so don't be anxious about work left undone: just do what you see the Father doing. Do as you are able according to His power and instruction.

24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

16 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?

Its all about a humble walk with God.

Proverbs 31

The message of King Lemuel is that Kings must be be self-possessed, not ruled by anything in order that they may rule others effectively and decree justice.

Proverbs 27-30

18 Where there is no revelation,[e] the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

People follow vision.

Psalms 65-68

(67v1) 'May God be gracious to us, and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on the earth, your saving power among all nations'
Jesus Christ came to preach peace to the nations. The gospel does not allow space for prejudices or favourites.

Psalms 61-64

(61v6, 8) 'Prolong the life of the king...so will I ever sing praises...'
God's providence is not to fill our pockets, but to fuel our praise.

Psalms 57-60

(57v4) '...the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords...'
How often we can be discouraged by just a few dismissive words. We must pray for a steadfast heart - He is faithful! Be exalted, O God!

Psalms 53-56

(54v4) 'Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life'
God will always defend us against our enemy, the devil. Christ's sacrifice will never fail.

Psalms 49-52

(52v9) 'I will thank you for ever, because you have done it'
Heaven will be a place of never-ending gratitude to the Lord

Psalms 45-48

(47v1,2) 'Clap your hands...Shout to God...For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared...'
A true fear of the Lord does not lead us to cower and shake, but to clap and shout!

Psalms 41-44

(43v3) 'Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me'
In times of difficulty, we must seek truth before we try to find hope.

Proverbs 23-26

28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

Prov 19-22

11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

Proverbs 13-18

23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter[c]leads only to poverty.

Prov 9-12

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Speak joy.

Proverbs 5-8

30 People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. 31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

The thief comes to steal kill and destroy. When he is caught he must restore sevenfold. When the devil attacks, and you recognise it, you may just be about to enter an even greater measure of blessing than you knew before. People may come out of his house and into the Kingdom of God because of your testimony.

Proverbs 1-4

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,

mercy without truth is hollow comfort. truth without mercy can crush the soul

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you.

Good advice; focus on the task at hand. Multi-tasking is overated.

Tom

Tom I cannot explain all the details now: I'm exhausted. But, on Monday my friends daughter was found after some time at the bottom of a swimming pool. The minimum amount of time this 2year old was under was 20minutes. The paramedics were unable to get any response at all for over 15 minutes. In the ambulance my friend was told there is no life in her eyes (you know they do that torchlight thing). Tuesday evening the doctors convened a meeting and explained that there had been no improvement, and advised that it was likely they would need to switch the life suport machine off. Churches across the world prayed. Elders anointed with oil. Healing was asked for, commanded, even proclaimed with expectant thanksgiving. The parents respectfully thanked the doctors (they have been excellent) and informed them that God has the last word. Today her temperature is normal, she is feeding, pooing and weeing, moving so much they've restrained her, and best of all she has opened her eyes. In todays meeting the doctors said they are surprised and amazed by what has happened. Please thank God for this miracle and pray for its completion. I have not the strength to share all the amazing dreams people were given that didn't know the situation and spoke to me to ask what they meant, or the prophetic stuff thats happened. Amazing. The effect on the church has been profound. Please join in! Praise Jesus.

Hi, John!

Good to see you back, John. I'll try to ring you sometime soon - lots of new things possibly on the horizon and really needing direction from the Lord.

Psalm 37-40

(38v4) 'For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me'
What is the Lord's reply? 'Come to me, all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'. The psalmist can only find peace when he comes to the Lord with the one thing that took him away from the Lord - his sin.

Psalm 33-36

(33v16) 'A warrior is not delivered by his great strength'
What do we rely on to give us victory? We are soldiers and warriors for the Lord - but we fail if we rely on our own strength and our own resources. Just as God defeated our enemy, Satan, with His power in Jesus Christ (the champion He provided) on the cross, so our daily victories come because 'His grace is sufficient'.

Psalm 138-150

8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

Psalm 29-32

(29v10) 'The Lord sits enthroned as king forever'
A psalm about the Lord Jehovah suddenly points us to Christ:
Luke1v33: '...and of his kingdom there shall be no end.'
Jesus isn't just Lord - he is The Lord!

Psalm 25-28

(25v6) 'Remember your mercy...'
This struck me a while back when looking at Noah - God creates the rainbow, not so that we will remember the covenant, but so He will remember. Of course, God never remembers or forgets in the sense that we do. But our desire is for His actions and will to be motivated by certain things (here, mercy and steadfast love) more than others ('the sins of my youth').

Psalm 21-24

(23v1) 'The Lord is my shepherd'
We trust the Lord to lead and guide us. He understands our needs, He foresees the dangers, He prepares the work for us to do, He provides us with gifts to do the work, He provides light in the darkness, He provides shelter in the day, He teaches us the right path, He keeps us until the Day, He comforts us through the valley, He prepares a room for us, He provides a substitute for us...does the list have an end? One thing is for sure - If the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 17-20

(18v28) 'For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness'
When the enemy tries to keep us in the dark, the Lord is the one we must seek for direction.

Check your email

John, I've written a short song based on psalm 13. I wanted to share it with you, so I've sent the mp3 and the words. Persevering with this blog is a blessing, a help and a joy. God is good!

Psalms 13-16

(13v5) 'My heart shall rejoice in your salvation'
The psalmist works through his confusion. Question (v1-2) leads to petition (v3-4) leads to submission (v5-6).

Psalm 9-12

(9v20) 'Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!'
Most people have lives based on fiction - they reject the truth, and accept a lie. They treat God as non-existant or irrelevant. Here is a cry from the psalmist's heart, that people would come to see and understand true reality.

Psalms 5-8

(8v4) 'What is man that you are mindful of him?'
The question that every believer asks at some point. The psalmist's answer is simply 'How majestic is Your name!' Praise is the most suitable answer to many of our questions.

Psalms 1-4

(3v5) 'I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me'
An admission that his life is in the Lord's hands, and is His to sustain or bring to an end. How sad that we often only acknowledge that when faced with great trouble. When life is easy, we usually take it for granted, as though we are the masters of our own destinies.

Psalm 134-137

23 Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever;

Psalm 130-133

1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Quite a statement for a King. Good advice too. Just humbly get on with the tasks at hand, and you will find peace.

Job 32-42

Well, there I was thinking I wasn't preaching until September - I've had two phonecalls this evening, and now I'm preaching twice tomorrow! So, a few thoughts on the end of Job before I knuckle down to some preparation...

Elihu's speech and the Lord's speech.
Elihu is interesting - he waits for the other, older men to speak before he says anything. But their words betray their lack of wisdom. This reminded me of a situation I was in a couple of years ago - I respected some older men so much, it stopped me speaking up when their actions and teaching became questionable. I should have spoken up. It is right to respect your elders, but more respect must be given to wisdom.
The book of Job asks the question 'Where can wisdom be found?' Elihu challenges Job, and reminds him of the great distance between him and God. The Lord does the same - His will cannot be questioned by Job. God is the source of all true wisdom. He is before the beginning and after the end. He understands all things, and gives all things their definition. His providence must be trusted, even when it is not understood.

Psalm 126-129

6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Know when to work and when to rest...follow his voice

Job 22-31

(29v4) "Oh, for the days...when the Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me..."
The third cycle of speeches. There is no avoiding Job's holiness - God calls him 'upright' and 'blameless'. But this was not perfection. Job was not to be the perfect suffering servant.
Job's friends seem to be asking 'What does this suffering tell us about Job?'. Job seems to be asking 'What does this suffering tell me about God?'

Psalm 122-125

5 For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.

David talks about the thrones of his own house with confidence. How comfortable are we to speak about our own "thrones", the authority and royalty that is ours? Are we mature enough, like Paul, to speak about our own strengths and achievements unselfconsciously and without arrogance or boasting? David encouraged himself in the Lord by acknowledging all that God had done in him and through him. We can do the same, and I'd suggest its only when we become confident in our God given privilege that we stop seeking approval or superiority over others and (like the best Kings) begin to serve the people from that throne of grace.

Job 15-21

"God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked" (16v11)
The second cycle of speeches. Job's friends concentrate on sin as a cause of suffering. Job talks of the reality of a redeemer, his own sorrow, and the lack of comfort he receives from those around him. He still does not seem to realise that even the question "Why have you forsaken me?" can be part of God's providence.

I'm praying, John! May God's power be known, and His providence understood!

Psalm 118-121

17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.

Prayed this verse over someone's Dad who'd been given 3 hours to live. 4 days later he's still alive. Heard someone else preach on this verse today, and this evening its in my Bible reading.

Please pray that Alden lives Tom.

Elihu

Tom: you must let me know what you think of Elihu's speech. Great to see you back!

Job 1-14

The beginning of Job's suffering, and the first cycle of speeches.
(14v7) "For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease"
Job's companions seem to make the same comment - Job's sin is the cause of his suffering. Job hopes in God, while demanding an answer from Him.
This is a tough book to get to grips with, especially because of the hebrew poem structure. I think I'll be better prepared for it second time around...

Esther 1-10

The people of God face destruction at the hands of their enemy, Haman. Esther intercedes as a spokesperson for God's people. They will share the same fate - the people will live or die depending on whether Esther lives or dies. God works providentially in the background, between the lines of the page, as Mordecai is honoured, God's people are saved, and Haman and his cohorts receive their wages - death.

Psalm 114-117

14 May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 110-113

5 Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in the heavens and in the earth? 7 He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, 8 That He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people.

Nehemiah 9-13

Nehemiah gets the job done, the wall is rebuilt, but this is not the promised eternal kingdom. The book ends sadly - after coping with the problems without, Nehemiah has to sort out lots of problems within.

Back On The Blog

Hi, John, I'm back from our holiday at the Carey Christian Family Conference, a great week, now I'm exhausted! And, at last, after preaching this morning, I've now got no preaching engagements until September! It's amazing how relaxed I feel without that pressure. So, back on the blog, and I'm really aiming to catch up to you - watch this space...!

Psalm 106-109

20 He sent His word and healed them

Psalm 102-5

34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

Psalm 98-101

Come before His presence with singing

Psalm 94-97

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary

In the church too?

Psalm 90-3

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

Psalm 86-9

48 What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?

Yes

Psalm 82-85

2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 78-81

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, 11 And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them.

When you face a battle, remember His miracles. Don't limit God by your short memory:

41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power

Psalm 74-77

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.

Psalm 70-3

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

Nothing tastes sweet to the lonely; but a meal of bread and water can be delightful in the right company.

Nehemiah 5-8

(ch.5) Nehemiah makes clear that God's people must not take advantage of each other. As brethren, we must be ready to share, and be generous to each other.

Psalm 66-69

19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!

Enjoy it ALL!

Psalm 62-65

My soul, wait silently for God alone

Literally: take time out to just wait on God in silence. Allow Him space to speak. Or not. As He wishes. Just give Him time.

Psalm 58-61

4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

Psalm 53-57

22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Nehemiah 1-4

What a fantastic passage! The sense of "body" is clear in chapter three, where the majority get involved in the work. Then, in chapter four, the picture of God's people - labouring with one hand while carrying a sword in the other.

Ezra 9, 10

The people of God recognise their failure to obey Him regarding intermarriage. Disobedience must lead to confession, which must lead to personal repentance, which must lead to practical change.

Ezra 5-8

Phew - Just made it!

(8v21-23) Ezra does not ask the king for protection, but he also does not assume protection from the Lord. There is a time of humble fasting, and the Lord hears their petitions. A fear of enemies is overcome because of faith in the Lord.

Psalm 49-52

20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 45-48

"Your right hand shall teach You awesome things."

With most of the things of the Spirit, we learn as we step out in active faith.

Ezra 1-4

The people return to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild the city and their lives. They are keen to recommence the worship of the Lord according to the law of Moses. However, there is also immediate opposition from those outside. When we experience the blessings of the Lord, we must expect the batterings of the enemy.

Hi, John!

Hi, John, will get back to the blog this evening. Great to read that God is guiding you - every blessing, brother!

Psalm 41-44

Last night I asked God for a greater revelation of Jesus Christ and He said to me "Go to the poor." This is the first verse in my reading today:

1 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

God speaks. I must go after the poor.

Psalm 37-40

16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous.

How sad that a lot is sometimes not enough; how wonderful that a little can bring great satisfaction.

psalm 33-36

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 29-32

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

We need to be sensitive to the Spirit: looking for His glance, listening for His whisper; not demanding an earthquake or a sign written with fireworks.

Psalm 25-28

9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,

Mercy Mercy Mercy. The merciful will be shown mercy. Only the proud refuse to show mercy, and end up unable to receive it.

Psalm 21-24

2 You have given him his heart’s desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

What is the fruit of my lips today?

Psalm 17-20

Your gentleness has made me great

Selah!

"God's word doesn't have a use by date, but it does have a respond by date": that is a challenging word Tom. Wow. I love your posts!

2 Chronicles 33-36

Josiah's reign is the main focus of this passage. It's fantastic to read about the Law being discovered and read aloud. Josiah does not treat it as a relic, but knows it is as relevant to modern life as it was when it was first written. God's word does not have a 'use-by' date, but it does have a 'respond-by' date.

2 Chronicles 29-32

(30v18-20) What do you do if every option has something wrong about it? Here, Hezekiah knew they should celebrate the Passover, but it was at the wrong time, and some people hadn't purified themselves. But to not celebrate the Passover would also be wrong. What mattered was the desire of Hezekaiah to do what seemed best - this is visible in his prayer in 30v18,19. When no option is perfect, we need a heart that is for the Lord, and to do what seems best in His eyes.

2 Chronicles 25-28

(27v6) Jotham grows in power because he is more concerned about doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord than what is right in the eyes of the people(27v2,3)

2 Chronicles 21-24

(21v7) Jehoram remains as king, but not because he has earned God's blessing or God's endorsement. Rather, God remembers His covenant with David. God has a bigger picture in mind.

2 Chronicles 17-20

(18v7) The king of Israel, Ahab, hates Micaiah because of what he says. As a prophet, Micaiah brings the word of God to the people. Ahab cannot avoid being convicted, but refuses to be convinced.

Psalm 13-16

5 There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous.

I don't miss the anxiety of the lost. It is so secure in God's hands. Thats where the pleasure and the joy is "forevermore": anywhere else the joy just slips through your desperate hands like water.

2 O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”

I am good, kind, righteous, just, holy...only to the degree I identify with my Saviour who alone is good, kind, righteous, just, holy.

Psalm 9-12

4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

All our morality devolves from God. To reject Him is to reject the objective standard of morality.

Psalm 5-8

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.

God is ready to receive our prayers at the very beginning of the day. As soon as we are ready, He is ready. There is no waiting period before we can wait on Him.

Psalms 1-4

8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance

Lord my God, I ask you: give me the heathen for my inheritance. Let your Son enjoy the inheritance He gave His life for. Father let me see the harvest come in.

Job 39-42

10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses[h] when he prayed for his friends

There's a motive for prayer.

Why doesn't God mention the young man, Elihu?

Job 35-38

I really like Elihu's worship (ch37), and yet it is not pleasing to God: even though the statemnts are true. Elihu doesn't find favour in worship because his heart is not right towards God's servant. We must be careful in our attitude to each other: "who are (we) to judge another man's servant?"

Since writing this, I have revised my opinion of Elihu. God does not single out Elihu for opprobrium unlike Job's other friends, neither does He require Job to intercede for Elihu. It is implicit that Elihu has not spoken wrong. Indeed, his speech is God-centred and worshipful, and prophesies the coming of the Messiah: the mediator who delivers us from the pit.

Job 31-34

23 “If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, ‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’;


Jesus.

Job 27-30

24 For He looks to the ends of the earth... To establish a weight for the wind,

Selah!

16 I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know.

This challenges me. Job actively seeks out injustice. Ignorance is no excuse.

2 Chronicles 13-16

(13v18) 'The men of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers' The true followers of God prevail because they rely upon the God of the covenant - the One who remains faithful to His promises. To forsake God is to go to war against Him (13v10-12), a war which can only have one victor - The Lord.

2 Chronicles 9-12

(12v1)'...he abandoned the law of the Lord...' Rehoboam turns away from following the Lord, and is overrun by the Egyptians, the enemies of God. Our enemy waits 'like a stalking lion', ready to take our blessings and bring a degree of sin's oppression back into our lives. Let us not allow grace to make us complacent about 'the law of the Lord' and holy living.

Job 23-26

Job 26: Profound worship from Job's lips. Crushed flowers release perfume.

"He hangs the earth on nothing." That is a selah moment!

2 Chronicles 5-8

As Solomon dedicates the temple, he prays by pleading the promises of God. We do this when we pray 'in the name of the Lord'. We plead the promises fulfilled by Christ, that have opened a 'new and living way' to approach the Father - the fulfilment testified to by the Father when He raised Jesus from the dead.

2 Chronicles 1-4

God is pleased when Solomon asks for wisdom. It is a sign of the fear of the Lord - that Solomon recognises God as creator, and therefore definer, of all things. If you are to look for wisdom anywhere, look to the Lord - and assess the wisdom of others by how close they are to the Lord.

Job 19-22

I love the contrast between Job's comforter's theology about God, and Job's direct address to God.

Its also shocking how increasingly blunt the accusations against Job become.

Job 15-18

4 Yes, you cast off fear, And restrain prayer before God.

Job's friends accuse hm with a simplistic theology: you need to pray or else bad things will happen to you. Fear keeps you prayerful, they imply, and at one time, Job (with his regular sacrifices in case his kids sinned) would've agreed. But it didn't work for Job and it doesn't work for us. Fear paves the way for the Devil. Faith invites the Lord's intervention.

Job 11-14

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

Job meditates on God's sovereignty, and speaks these words:

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Wow. That is humble faith. And God answered this prayer:

20 “Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

Job 7-10

What can be said to Job? Just be there with Him I guess....

Job 2-6

25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Fear is an entrance point for the enemy. When we spend our lives anxious or fearful of some particular thing, it limits us and conquers our joy, and even precipitates that very thing. For the believer lives by faith in God's provison and protection. When we lose our faith, stop trusting, and begin to fear, that which we fear is made far more likely to happen, because we've taken our eye off the bronze serpent. God spoke to Jeremiah and send don't be afraid of the people or I will allow you to be terrified before them. We have to live lives of fearless confidence in God's undeserved blessing, not struggle and strive for it as Job did: offering sacrifices for his kids every day in fear they might have sinned.

Est 8- Job 1

17 And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.

When the enemy comes in; like a flood the Lord raises up a standard. Never fear the enemy. God is Sovereign. Ultimately He will work out His purposes.

Est 4-7

I am struck by Esther's initial response to Mordecai's fasting. She wants to cover up his passionate display, and when he seeks to involve her, she tries to excuse herself. Mordecai has to appeal to her self-interest before she responds. Can a parallel be drawn with the Church today? Is the west the "Esther" church, almost embarassed by the unsophisticated practices of the "Mordecai" church in Africa, China and the Americas, that fast often and pray throughout the night, and who wear their faith publicly? Will we receive Mordecai's challenge today?

Est 1-3

Knowing the end of the story, I love that Haman gets his evil plan signed sealed stamped and sent out by th Kings hand, an irrevocable decree of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked....except by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He rules and reigns in the affairs of men and there is no situation, no sickness no strategy of man that cannot be overuled and transformed by Him!!

neh 13

5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests.

What is occupying the place of God's provision? What is our heart full of?

neh 9-12

43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

1 Chronicles 25-29

(29v19) "...and give my son Solomon a loyal heart..." If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask for? Money, power, popularity? David knew what was more valuable than anything else in the world - a heart that was loyal to the Lord.

Neh 4-8

19 Remember me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Makes me think of Cornelius.

17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.

Just makes me think.

Nehemiah 1-4

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

1 Chronicles 21-24

(22v5) "Solomon, my son, is young and inexperienced..."
(22v19) "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary..."
The heart must build the man before the man can build the sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 17-20

(17v12) "...I will establish his throne forever..." Then go to Luke 1v32, 33 - "...and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David...and of His kingdom there shall be no end" God's promise to David finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus, as King, must rule over every area of our lives.

1 Chronicles 13-16

(15v12, 13) "...because we did not consult Him about the proper order" If we want to get it right, particularly in churches, we must ask God first. Since the beginning of time, God speaks and creation responds. Decisions we make as a church must be in response to what God has already said to us, in accordance with His Word.

Ezra 7-10

What strikes me is how Ezra values the priests. He puts a high priority on men set apart to minister to the Lord as their primary purpose.

Ezra 2-6

They started to rebuild the temple. Opposition arose. The prophetic word gave the courage to start again.

2 Chronicles 34-Ezra 1

God speaks to and through Pharaoh Necho and Cyrus King of Babylon, both of whom rule occult military regimes. I think that is cool. God is on the throne, and speaks his judgements through whoever He chooses.

1 Chronicles 9-12

Some fantastic tales of the Mighty Men in chapter 11, especially Eleazar, who defends a barley field while others run away. But notice, he is not hailed as the victor - 'The Lord saved them by a great victory'. (11v14)

1 Chronicles 5-8

(5v20) 'He granted their plea, because they trusted in Him'. The valiant men secure victory not through strength but through faith. They call on the Lord, who enables them to win.

2 Chronicles 30-33

27Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.

What we bless on earth is blessed by Heaven when we walk in His ways!

I was also really encouraged by the Chronicles account of Mannassah. Kings has him as the worst of the Kings of Judah, but in Chronicles we learn that he humbled himself before the Lord and repented. There is hope for the very worst of sinners!

1 Chronicles 1-4

The obvious guy who sticks out here is Jabez. Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for 'pain'. It's clear that this was on his mind alot - born in pain (4v9) and then pain stays with him because of his name. But he reminds us of something important in his prayer 'Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' God gives us our identity - He is able to release us from being defined by the events of the past and the shadows that haunt us now, and tell us who we really are, and what we one day will be.

2 Chronicles 26-29

Uzziah sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God

...as long as he'd sought the LORD, God had made him prosper.

2 Chronicles 22-25

I am horrified that Joash had no respect for the man who mentored him and raised him up. I am disgusted that he murdered Jehoida's son.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9 Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that."

I like that.

2 Kings 21-25

Amidst all the kings who do evil and worship false gods, we find Josiah, who strives to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We see a man who first finds the Law of God, then finds the heart of God.

2 Kings 17-20

Wow - as expected, May has been an incredibly busy month, with three sundays preaching, two mid-week meetings and plenty of other jobs to get done. Hence, very few posts. However, it's now June, and time to get back to the blog! Hope you had a good time in Florida, John. I'll give you a ring nearer the weekend.

In 2 Kings 17, we learn something about the fear of the Lord. God's people are told not to fear other gods, but to fear 'the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm' and who 'will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies'. This fear is not presented as a threat, but as a comfort. As Christians, we are not called to be scared of God. The fear of the Lord is a response to God within a covenant relationship where we have peace with God. It is a response that causes us to exalt, obey and adore the Lord. God gave His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we might be saved, and not be scared.

2 Chronicles 18-21

20.22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Praise is warfare! Praise defeats the enemy! Praise Jesus and enjoy the victory! Sing even in the prison and watch the chains come off! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!!!!!!!!!

2 Chronicles 14-17

“Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly

Don't seem foolish to me. Seems to make sense. A bit of a risk to trust God really....

Praise our God whose ways are above our ways!!

2 Chronicles 10-13

“If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

This is really straightforward advice for a leader, given by seasoned counsellors, based on experience. Rehoboam ignored it, but we should heed it.

I absolutely love Abijah's declaration of faith in God in the face of Jeroboam. He is outnumbered and outmanouveured and yet as Judah shout, he is victorious through the God of David!

2 Kings 13-16

(13v23) '...because of His covenant...' - We continually see Israel fail to be faithful to God, but God does not reject them. He remains faithful to His people, even when they fail. Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus - God's faithfulness to His people is assured because of Christ's faithfulness on behalf of his people. He was the 'perfect Israel'.

2 Chronicles 6-9

Solomon made a huge Ivory throne with 12 lions, and the Bible says it wasn't copied from any other Kingdom. It was an original masterpiece. God's wisdom does nor require fitting into any mold. God requires us to break the mold and be original: just we were made to be.

2 Kings 9-12

(12V2)"And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord..." Why? "Because Jehoida the priest instructed him" Joash got it right because he recognised that even a king has to be ruled. Israel's true leader and guide needed to be God, and Joash found the right way to lead by following the instruction of God's priest. When in positions of authority, we also must recognise the authority of God over us, and seek guidance from those who have greater spiritual maturity and understanding than we do

2 Kings 5-8

(5v13) 'Has he actually said to you, "Wash, and be clean" ?'
Naaman is granted healing from his leprosy, but wants to dictate the conditions. Only when his servants speak plainly to him does he realize how foolish he is being. Today, so many are like Naaman - they would take eternal life, but are unwilling to submit to God's terms.

2 Chronicles 2-5

The temple was built upon the ground of David's sacrifice, which he didn't "give with that which costs me nothing." The church is built on the sacrifice of Christ, who also did not give with that which cost Him nothing.

1 Chronicles 27-2 Chronicles 1

1 Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the LORD God.

Even Solomon was not selected because of his great resume, nor even his wisdom: he was chosen when he was still concious of his own lack of wisdom.

1 Chronicles 23-26

Roles were assigned in the temple by lot. Not by experience or ability. God is no respecter of persons. He chooses who He chooses. We must respond to His call.

2 Kings 1-4

The power of God's Spirit is clearly demonstrated in the life of Elisha.
(4v9) "I know this is a holy man of God..." says the Shunmamite woman - but Elisha only went there "to eat food". It seems implied that, while others had witnessed the power of God in Elisha's life, this woman had sensed the presence of God while in his company.

1 Kings 21-22

(22v19) 'I saw the Lord sitting on His throne..." - God's sovereign rule over the hearts of men is witnessed. Ahab, in spite of all his power, cannot escape the will of God.

1 Kings 17-20

(17v8-24) The Lord provides for His will to be done, and the prophet Elijah - God's word to the people - is preserved.

1 Chronicles 19-22

Hanun was offerd friendship by David after the death of his father. He rejected it, and instead his people became David's servants. Their is an irony that when we reject God's friendship we become as slaves, and yet when we choose to serve Him, we are invited to become friends.

1 Chronicles 15-18

the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order

We cannot handle the presence of God presumptuously in our meetings. Yes, we have free access, and a better covenant than that etablished throuhg Moses, but still the Lord has to be seen to be hallowed in our midst.

1 Kings 13-16

A great lead-up to the arrival of Elijah. One king appears after the other, most of them doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Repeatedly we see how unreliable a human king can be. How sad that, in the gospels, the Israelites were still yearning for a human king rather than a divine one. However powerful the kings may be, God rules over them - the passage reads like a trail of dominoes, one falling after the other. Only God has the authority to give and take life, and each king passes away and must give up his power to someone else.

1 Kings 9-12

Chapter 11 - In spite of his great wisdom and wealth, Solomon cannot be the perfect king. His desire leads him away from the Lord. A divine King would be needed to lead God's people with unfailing righteousness. Jesus Christ would lead his people, and "became for us wisdom from God" (1 Cor 1:30).

1 Chronicles 11-14

The people said to David: you should lead, because its what you did under Saul anyway, you led the army. Leadership doesn't work effectively unless you are seen to lead.

1 Kings 5-8

(8v29) '...the place of which you have said "my name shall be there"...'
Solomon had the temple built, and it signified God dwelling among His people. Jesus is the temple, God dwelling among His people. Now our bodies are the temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, God dwelling among His people.

1 Kings 1-4

(3v11) '...understanding to discern what is right...' Here is the first step towards holier living, but also, in this case, the first step towards better counselling. It is good to remember to ask for wisdom from God when others ask for wisdom from us.

1 Chronicles 7-10

9.20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him.

We have quite a different picture of the priest in our modern culture (as wrong as our limp wristed angels). Phinehas, commanding officer (archbishop!), understood how to use the weapons of his warfare and knew how to kill the enemies of the Lord. Do we understand the militant calling on our lives as Kings and Priests. The New Testament is littered with military imagery. We have different weapons, but we are called to fight and to govern with more zeal than Phinehas.

2 Samuel 21-24

(22v32) 'For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?' No imitation is good enough. No forgery is close enough. There is only one genuine article.
(22v48) '...the God who gave me vengeance...' There is no doubt that vengeance is the Lord's, and yet David seems to view God's victories over David's enemies as his vengeance, not the Lord's. Samson prays 'that I may be avenged on the Philistines' (Judges 16v28). Does God carry out vengeance, or does he sometimes give it to us to carry out?...

1 Chronicles 3-6

4.10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

This has become a principle to me. Unless we are conscious of God's blessing, we do not give; if we don't have anything (in our estimation) we will not even think of ministering to others. We must therefore ask God to bless us or to open our eyes to the blessings we already have.

2 Samuel 17-20

The pressure mounts on David, as the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba continue. It's difficult to tell if David submits to the will of the Lord or simply avoids confrontation with his son. Perhaps we see an example of 'sparing the rod': David quickly forsakes his position of authority - the 'rod' or 'sceptre' - and thus Absalom attempts to rule over his father.

2 Samuel 13-16

(15v21) Ittai remains with David, depite being a 'foreigner'. He remains faithful to God's chosen king.