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.