Revelation 10

7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

Mystery is to be revealed.
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Revelation 9

14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

There is no escaping the fact that judgement and punishment are part of God's economy. There is no mercy outside of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 8

4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Its really interesting that the prayers of the saints precede the terrible things that are poured out on the earth after each trumpet is sounded. Did they pray for the trumpets to sound? Did they cry out for mercy? Did they pray for an end to evil? Looking back two chapters I see it is a cry for justice. There are things that are wrong, and an answer must be given.

Rev 7

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir,[b] you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Heaven sends questions to alert us to the answers.
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Rev 4

11 " You are worthy, O Lord,[g]
      To receive glory and honor and power;
      For You created all things,
      And by Your will they exist[h] and were created."

He wants us here.
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Revelation 6

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Justice and vengeance remain for those un willing to receive forgiveness.
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Rev 5

8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Prayer and worship work well together.

Rev 3

21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

If we overthrow our own throne we get to share in His.
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Rev 2

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Compromise is not always appropriate. Some times we are approved for our outspoken disapproval.
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Revelation 1

9 I, John, both[e] your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Patience. Trouble. The Kingdom. Trouble. Patience. The Kingdom. The Kingdom. Patience. Trouble. Of Jesus Christ.
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Jude

Exceeding joy.
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3 John

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

Seeing God produces Holiness. Flesh dies in His presence.
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2 John

11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Woe to him who condemns himself by what he approves.
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1 John 5

15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Praying from Heaven is better than praying to Heaven!
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1 John 4

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Love one another in the same manner. Without condition or demand of response.

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1 John 3

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The pursuit of holiness is empowered by hope.

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1 John 2

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Love grows by stealth sometimes. An acquaintance becomes a friend; a friend becomes a lover. So to, if left unchecked, does our love grow for the things of this world.
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1 John 1

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess. Receive. Receive forgiveness. Receive cleansing.
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2 Peter 3

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Opportunity to repent is the reason the earth still exists.
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2 Peter 2

"1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."

Beware prophesy that excites the flesh. What reaction does it produce in you? Joy? Freedom? Conviction of sin? Love for God? Or just greed, ambition and pride?

"3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words"
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2 Peter 1

"2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue"

Grace and peace come from the knowledge of God, we access the promises and the power of God through the knowledge of God.

"5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,"

But, faith and righteousness preceed knowledge.
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1 Peter 5

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Settlement follows conquest.

1 Peter 4

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin

1-2 Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. The Message

I think the message version explains that verse so clearly. Suffering weans us from having to get our own way.

1 Peter 3

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Sow blessing.
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1 Peter 2

¹⁷ Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

There is no honour in only honouring the honourable.

1 Peter 1

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit[d] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

Purity? Obedience.

James 5

20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul[o] from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Go after the wanderer!
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James 5

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Patience possesses the future.

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James 4

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Resistance to the Devil without submission to God is doomed to failure.
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James 2-3

14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Demon literally means dominion or power. Demonic wisdom is all about power struggles and status. The wisdom of God is "willing to yield" like Jesus, who only did what he saw the Father doing.
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James 1

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

As a summary of the Christian life, I find this pretty challenging.
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Hebrews 2-6

19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

Trust or stress. Work out all the solutions endlessly, or believe the one God highlighted the first time? Believe. Rest.

Jeremiah 1-12

14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.


Its no good in a pastoral situation to give off pat advice without acknowledging the situation. For example to tell someone to forgive without recognising that they've been wronged.


24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.


Lovingkindness before judgement: pastoral judgement must always take place in the context of loving concern, and the Lord's pain in this situation weeps off the page.

Hebrews 3

(3v13) 'But exhort one another...that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin...'

The writer tells us that it is possible for someone to exist within a church structure and yet have 'an evil unbelieving heart'. How do we avoid this situation? 'Exhort one another every day'. This implies two things - regular contact with different people in the church, and an atmosphere that allows us to challenge and encourage each other.

Isaiah

I love the fact that Hezekiah's cry of ch 35 "this is like when a woman goes into labour and hasn't got the strength to give birth" is answered by God in ch66:



9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD.

      " Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God.


Its good news that He who has begun a good work WILL complete it, and I love the scope of this book, demonstrating the Kingdom of God coming to a sinful world, both in the cross (ch53) and its ultimate effects (ch66).
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Hebrews 2

(2v9) '...Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death...'

There's a Stuart Townend song, I think it's 'How deep the Father's love for us', in which there is the line 'The Father turns his face away'. In a sense that is true - as a son, Jesus Christ became a disappointment to his Father on the cross as 'he who knew no sin became sin'.

However, there is a very real sense in which God did not turn his face away. On the cross, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice - he was literally made 'perfect through suffering' (2v10). God looked upon him and saw justice being done as Jesus 'tasted death' for everyone (2v9).

Thus Jesus is crowned with glory, not because he carried our sin, but because he died for it.

Hebrews 1

(1v1,2) '...God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son...'

The gospel not only transforms us as people, but also must transform our understanding of the bible. When we study the Old Testament, we must hear the voice of the prophets, but we must also hear the voice of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

   

      " Sit at My right hand,
      Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?[i]

   

 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?



If we lose our identity in HIS identity, then God's declared intent is to put down our enemies and we discover that angels have been commissioned to help us.
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Isaiah 1-4

7 Their land is also full of silver and gold,
      And there is no end to their treasures;
      Their land is also full of horses,
      And there is no end to their chariots.
       8 Their land is also full of idols;
      They worship the work of their own hands,
      That which their own fingers have made.


To rely on our savings or lean on our salary without acknowledging God is idolatry. We acknowledge Him by giving.
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Song of Songs

12 My own vineyard is before me.
      You, O Solomon, may have a thousand,
      And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

When we give our lives to the Lord, all our income is his, and a portion is given to provide for those that "tend its fruit". So often when we talk about tithing we put the emphasis the other way around.
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Philemon

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Paul commands a Spiritual son to receive back a slave that ran away and cancel his debts. Strong relationship that can make such demands.
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Titus

6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded

Time is short. Choices narrow. Be alert now.

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2 Timothy 2-4

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

I desire to live for God.
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Ecclesiastes

       9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.
Focus on the task at hand!

3 Do not be hasty to go from his presence.

Stick with the boss!

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all.

Don't look for a reward now!

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you,
      Do not leave your post;
      For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Stay faithful, no matter what!

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Prov 31

8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
      In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

Speak.
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Prov 26-30

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
      And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Stop acknowledging and giving attention to nonsense.

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
      But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.

I trust you Jesus.
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Prov 21-25

15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
      And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Patient evangelism.
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Proverbs 16-20

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
      But the LORD weighs the spirits

Correction has to be external.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
      And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.


Revival begins with the heart.
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Prov 11-15

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.

Grant me wisdom O God!

Prov 6-10

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
      Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
       9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
      Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The value of a teachable spirit.
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Prov 1-5

30 They would have none of my counsel
      And despised my every rebuke.


Seek correction. Desire it. Expect it.
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Psalm 146-150

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
         And a two-edged sword in their hand


Spiritual warfare must flow from relationship with the Captain of the army.


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2 Timothy 1

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Its good to remember what God gave us in the midst of the other stuff we've got

12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Who matters more than what.
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Psalm 141-145

 My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
         Who subdues my people[c] under me.


Leadership with that revelation will be free to release the people without feeling the need to control.
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1 Timothy 6

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

The context is the love of money. The safest thing is to give it all away.
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Psalm 136-140

18 And slew famous kings,
         For His mercy endures forever—
 19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
         For His mercy endures forever


Their only fame now is because they're in the book. The only fame there will be in the future is for those in the Lamb's book of who's who.
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1 Timothy 5

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers

Correction must be given in the context of genuinely loving relationship.
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Psalm 131-135

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.


THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS


1 Behold, bless the LORD,
         All you servants of the LORD,
         Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
 

NIGHT VISION
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Psalm 127-130

 4 But there is forgiveness with You,
         That You may be feared.


Clearing our debts should create honour in our hearts.
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1 Tim 4

exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Work out your salvation like a workout.
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Psalms 121-126

1 Those who trust in the LORD
         Are like Mount Zion,
         Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Unshakeable!


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

You got to put in the hours to enjoy the flowers.
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1 Tim 3

6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Failure makes character, but true failure takes time.
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Psalms 118-120

165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
         And nothing causes them to stumble.


No stumbling if you love the word. At least not by your own fault (Jesus stumbled, but it was not His fault).
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1 Tim 2

⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting

Everywhere.

Psalms 112-117

3 But our God is in heaven;
         He does whatever He pleases.


God is not accountable to us.
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1 Tim 1

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Even true sons need mercy.
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2 Thes 3

14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

   
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.



Confrontation...Peace.
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Psalm 109-111

Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

A challenge.

2 Thes 2

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The end of history.
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106-108

2 Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.

Good idea. Easier now the days are getting shorter.
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Psalms 106-108

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2 Thes 1

⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hell

Psalms 103-105

⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Redeems my life from self-destruction.

1 Thes 5

16 Rejoice always

Recognise and respond always.
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Psalms 100-102

5 For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

All the preceding commands to enter His presence with thanksgiving only make sense as a response to the above revelation. Worship starts with seeing Jesus.
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1 Thes 4

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

I am well able to possess the land! But I must choose.
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Ps 97-99

 8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
         Let the hills be joyful together
          9 before the LORD,
         For He is coming to judge the earth.
         With righteousness He shall judge the world,
         And the peoples with equity

Judgement is so often associated in our minds with punishment, rather than justice and restoration: God's judgement is meant to bring joy.
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Psalms 94-96

1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
         O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
         Render punishment to the proud.
 3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
         How long will the wicked triumph?
         
 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
         All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.


The Psalmist wrote about people, but to us it has been revealed that we fight not against flesh and blodd, but against spiritual wickedness. Demons speak and undermine the people of God. They us our flesh, they use our friends, they use the world system, but when we struggle we should remember these prayers of psalm 94:


18 If I say, "My foot slips,"
         Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
         Your comforts delight my soul.
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1 Thes 3

4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

Paul: did he lack faith? Did he pray the wrong prayers? Was he listening to the devil? No. Trouble is part of the package.
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Ps 91-93

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.


Dwells? Lives, rests? Stays? Inhabits? It implies remaining connected to God. How? By accepting the reality of Christ's gift: He will never leave us.
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1 Thes 2

20 For you are our glory and joy.

How much do I enjoy people?
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Psalms 88-90

12 So teach us to number our days,
         That we may gain a heart of wisdom.


I am only here for a little while.
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1 Thessalonians 1

10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

There is a wrath to come.
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Psalms 85-87

17 Show me a sign for good,
         That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
         Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.


A small victory can be a big sign.
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Col 4

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Earnest and vigilant: pretty strong words for pursuing prayer. Earnest and vigilant.
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Col 3

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Follow peace inside, wherever it leads outside.
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Psalms 82-84

      5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
         Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.


Have I determined that today is a day to spend with Him?


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


Do I expect grace AND glory?

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Col 2

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Complete in Jesus.
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Psalms 79-81

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
         Cause Your face to shine,
         And we shall be saved!


When we see Him we'll be like Him.
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Ps 76-78

Angels food.
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Colossians 1

29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Faith leads to passion. Passion leads to activity.
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Psalms 73-75

16 When I thought how to understand this,
         It was too painful for me—
 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
         Then I understood their end.

His presence brings His perspective.


9 We do not see our signs;
         There is no longer any prophet;
         Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
 10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?


Prophecy is necessary to determine our response to crisis and produce hope.
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Phil

6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit,[b] as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth

The preaching of the gospel is about fruit, not seed!
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Psalms 70-72

4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
         And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
         "Let God be magnified!"

The Happiest place is where he is everything and we forget ourselves in the Glory of who He is: "Let God be magnified!"
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Psalms 67-69

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
         Let all the peoples praise You.
 6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
         God, our own God, shall bless us.


Praise affects the earth.
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Philippians 4

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

People are our reward, our crown, so we should invest our all in serving them.
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Psalm 64-66

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
         Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.


Fear kills.
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Philippians 3

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

Success in the Christian walk depends on forgetting our frail attempts and looking ahead to His glorious vision.
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Psalms

11 God has spoken once,
         Twice I have heard this:
         That power belongs to God.
 12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
         For You render to each one according to his work.


I am comforted by the knowledge that power belongs to God, but uncertain at the definition of mercy. I assumed that mercy meant we don't get what our works deserve.
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Psalms 58-60

12 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.


Courage comes from confidence in our Resource.
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Philippians 2

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

You can predict which marriages will fail by one single marker in the conversation: contempt. If the couple commonly speak down to one another, even if it is light-hearted, then the relationship may well falter. Submitting to one another, and considering one another to be more valuable is glue to any relationship.
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Psalms 55-57

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
         For I have seen violence and strife in the city

A divided city cannot stand.
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Philippians 1

28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation,[d] and that from God.

Not being afraid of our enemies can be evidence we are saved.
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Psalms 52-54

⁴ Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

God looks out for those who look out for me: WOOHOO!!

Ephesians 6

⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

dO GOOD AND GET THE GOODS WOOHOO!

Psalms 49-51

 21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;
         You thought that I was altogether like you;
         But I will rebuke you,
         And set them in order before your eyes.


How often do I assume that silence is agreement?
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Ephesians 5

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."[e] 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.


I am one flesh with Jesus. Wow.
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Psalms 46-48

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
         God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.


Hold!
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Eph 4

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

This is very interesting: if my heart is open to God, I will acrue understanding that will lead to experience of the life of God; but if my heart is closed, no knowledge will persuade me.
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Psalms 43-45

  And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.


Some things we only learn through activity.
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Eph 3

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

This passage starts by talking bout the family of God, continues on about ALL the saints and finishes here with Christ being glorified in the church: its not all about me really is it?
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Psalm 40-42

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
         My ears You have opened.
         Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
 7 Then I said, "Behold, I come;
         In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
         And Your law is within my heart."


Better to listen than do some big thing. Learning the word trains our ears
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Ephesians 2

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Made to do the stuff!

Psalms 37-39

¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.


The disinterested are the best caretakers?

Ephesians 1

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Spiritual: Adjective,4152,pneumatikos>
"always connotes the ideas of invisibility and of power. From Vines.

Psalms 34-36

“Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

Its good to know Jesus delights in us doing really well!

Galatians 6

² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Love.

Psalms 31-33

²⁴ Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD.

Courage begets strength.

Gal 5

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

As soon as we try, we begin to fail. We must become like little children that just do.

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Psalm 28-30

 7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

Want the help of angels? The anointing is in His voice.
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Gal 4

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of[b] God through Christ.

Son of God!
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Psalms 25-27

14 Wait on the LORD;
         Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart;
         Wait, I say, on the LORD!



Need strength? Wait.
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Gal3

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?—

Faith: not prayer, not fasting, not Bible reading, not generosity, not all the good works we might imagine will of themselves produce a single miracle, but it is faith that connects us with God and His power. All those other things must flow from faith to faith.
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Psalm 22-24

Love how David takes himself from honest desperation to confident faith fuelled praise in Psalm 22.
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Galatians 2

21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

We set aside the grace of God every time we rely on our efforts or the approval of others to be our rightness.
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Psalms 19- 21

 1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
         And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
 2 You have given him his heart's desire,
         And have not withheld the request of his lips.  Selah  



Answered prayer causes joy.
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Galatians 1

¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

In me.

Psalms 16-18

³⁵ You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.


Gentleness.

2 Corinthians 13

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Be complete.

Psalms 13-15

6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

Its good to remember.

2 Corinthians 12

⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This is amazing: God deliberately allowed Paul's problem. Weakness is a hallmark of the Apostle.

Psalms 10-12

³ If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?

Discipleship is crucial.

⁵ The LORD tests the righteous,

Be encouraged when you go through trials: He is proving you righteous.

2 Corinthians 11

besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

Do I carry my burden with such commitment?
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Psalms 7-9

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet

Responsibility.

2 Corinthians 10

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

The battle is in the mind, and we have to be proactive in what thoughts we dwell on and what we don't allow.
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Psa 4-6

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
         Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
         Let those also who love Your name
         Be joyful in You.


God defends me. GOD defends me!
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2 Corinthians 9

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully

Will we live consistently by Heaven's provision or by this world's economy?
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Psalms 1-3

2. 11 Serve the LORD with fear,
         And rejoice with trembling.

Joy is not incompatible with reverence. The trembling joy of being overwhelmed by His goodness.
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2 Corinthians 8

8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.


How do I know unless I compare?


14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.


Do I care about equality?
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Job 38-42

ob twice as much as he had before. 11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.

Our God given breakthrough often comes through our brothers and sisters, and when He is ready, He will move on their hearts for us.
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2 Corinthians 7

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Paul leaves himself without room for accusation: accurate teaching, holy living AND the power of God.
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Job 32-37

2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

At least Elihu's speech seems to worship God, and he seems to have a measure of compassion, because he is cross the friends condemn Job.
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2 Cor 5

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

There's a flood coming: sound the alarm.
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Job 29-31

4 Does He not see my ways,
      And count all my steps?


An awareness of His nearness will keep us from sin.
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Job 26-28

28 And to man He said,

      ' Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
      And to depart from evil is understanding.'"



Respect for His voice will uncover wondrous truths.
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2 Cor 4

2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.


Tell it like it is.


11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


No easy Christianity. Pruning produces fruit.
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Job 23-25

¹⁰ But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Everything is working together to reveal the gold inside me.

2 Corinthians 3

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.

Destined to grow in Glory!

Job 20-22

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?

Yes it is.
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2 cor 2

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

Correction should demonstrate love.
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Job 16-19

16.19 Even now my witness is in heaven;
       my advocate is on high.

 20 My intercessor is my friend [a]
       as my eyes pour out tears to God;

 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
       as a man pleads for his friend.


Many Christians would lose their confidence that they are right with God if things got this bad. I love that Job fixed onto his heavenly intercessor with boldness, certain of his right standing with God.



19.25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
      And He shall stand at last on the earth;

 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
      That in my flesh I shall see God,

 27 Whom I shall see for myself,
      And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
      How my heart yearns within me!
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2 cor 1

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:

Whose church? Who leads the church?
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Job 13-15

3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
      And I desire to reason with God.

Such is the privilege of the Sons of God.
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1 Corinthians 15

³¹ I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Live to die. Die to live.

Job 10-12

³ But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

It is not always good to aquiesce to accusation. Sometimes, like Job we must resist it and keep our integrity.

1 Corinthians 14

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

³⁹ Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

Are we pushing in for more?

Job 6-9

³³ Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.

Good to know we do have a mediator who knows our weakness and pleads our cause in heaven, so that we have confidence to approach the most holy place with boldness!

1 cor 13

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

There are many ministry gifts, and many methods too, but love never fails.

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Job 4-6

3 I have seen the foolish taking root,
      But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.


Eliphaz' concern for righteousness led to cursing, a trap the revival police fall easily into.
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1 Corinthians 11-12

These chapters illustrate the way the Spirit of God ministers through each of us, and how we need to release what we have and give honour to others, particularly those given leadership responsibility over us.
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Job 1-3

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

It is clear from Job's anxious sacrifices continually carried out "just in case" that he was troubled inwardly before it ever appeared outwardly.
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Esther 10

3 For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

Serve God's people. Serve the people. You will be served in turn.
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1 Corinthians 10

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When you feel that strong temptation, LOOK for the way of escape. In our counsel of others caught in sin, counsel them to find the way of escape: it has been provided if we trouble to look for it.
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Esther 7-9

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

I am amazed that the King promoted Haman to the top position and yet took it all away again in a moment's wrath. Of course the hand of God was in it, and Haman's fall began the moment his pride caused him to pursue petty vendettas rather than the good for which he was employed.

1 Corinthians 9

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.

If you want to catch a Cougar, you must conduct a disciplined search. Plan for it and prepare for it, organise your year around it, and if you are unsuccessful, do not return as if you were, just because you enjoyed the experience. The hunt is not the thing, its catching the prey that matters. With Christianity the race is not the thing: its finishing well that counts. Do I seek in order to find?

Esther 4-6

1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.

There is something about Mordecai's public expressions of faith, that boldness that got him in trouble in the first place, which has to impact the city.

1 Corinthians 8

3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

Loved.

Esther 1-3

7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality. 8 By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

How much of Holy Spirit do we want?

1 Corinthians 7

29What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern.

Free to worship.

Nehemiah 13

Remember me, O my God, for good.

Thats an interesting prayer

1 Corinthians 6

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Holiness is the fruit of salvation.

Nehemiah 10-12

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.

Willing sacrifice can lead to overflowing joy.

1 Corinthians 3

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

We dishonour God when we esteem one man's ministry to reject another's.

Nehemiah 1-3

5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 6 Then the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), “How long will your journey be? And when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.

I wonder if that was Esther or Vashti by the King's side?

Ezra 10

1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.

When we cry out from our hearts the revived crouds will come.

1 Corinthians 2

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] 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[b] 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.

His power matters; my ability does not.

Ezra 7-9

10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel...

...8 And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. 9 For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Prepare your heart for revival.

1 Corinthians 1

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

I can be weak, because He is strong.

Ezra 4-6

21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.

You cannot seek God without withdrawing from certain other things.

Romans 16

5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Do we know affectionate familiar friendships with other believers?

Ezra 1-3

3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.

Feel fear, but act boldly.

Romans 13

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law

Do we know how to love?
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2 Chronicles 28-30

36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

When revival breaks out in the UK, we will recognise just how God has led us to prepare us for His presence.
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Romans 12

be transformed by the renewing of your mind

I assume my thinking is correct, and make my choices. The Bible says it needs fixing continually.
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2 Chronicles 25-27

2 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.

God is in to longstanding committed loyalty.
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Romans 10

13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Generous, and easy to accept.
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2 Chronicles 19-21

3 Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God."

There is a stage before seeking God, where we prepare our hearts to seek God. It is that pause, that waiting, when we search our hearts to see if their lurks any "high place", any image that must be brought low before the Lord of lords.
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Romans 9.16

16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

I rely on God's mercy.
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2 Chronicles 16-18

2 Chronicles 16.9

Loyalty matters to God.
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Romans 8

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

This is the gospel: we are connected to God, and now have his Spirit because of faith in His Son Jesus and His death for our forgiveness. We are spiritual beings, pure and holy and blameless in His sight! But.. The body is dead because of sin. I f we rely on our natural instincts, we will surely fail thoroughly in the Spiritual life. We will only find victory through relationship with His Spirit, listening to Him, looking for what He is doing, and obeying Him, moment by moment.
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2 Chronicles 13-15

11 And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!"
12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

What a story: confess your need and total dependence and God demonstrates his provision and total care!!
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Romans 7

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Led by the Spirit, not by obligation. There are no rules......

2 Chronicles 10-12

12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.

Humility is God's style

Romans 6

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

All our decisions lead ultimately to habit of one sort or another. Either good, or bad.
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2 Chronicles 6-9

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humility. Prayer. Repentance. The keys to revival.
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Romans 5

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Character only comes through life experience.

2 Chronicles 4-6

13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,”
that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

I want that cloud.

Acts 4

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 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.

If God has promised me the nation, I shall take the nation. My own body, my own church, my own self discipline, my own intellect, even my own faith... are not for consideration...that was David's error in numbering Israel. For His glory and for His name, through Him and because of His strength, and His faithfulness, I shall possess the land. Jesus Christ is Lord.

2 Chronicles 1-3

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses.

Communication is the art of leadership.

6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Our ministry to the Lord flows from His goodness to us: it must not be an attempt to contain Him!

1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David sinned and numbered Israel. The Bible doesn't say why it was a sin...pride, lack of trust in God, whatever...the Bible tells us David sinned in doing this thing. We also learn that this sin released a destroying Angel in the land, and that the Angel stopped at Ornan's house, which was where David sacrificed to the Lord, and the plague ended. So here's the thing which blows me away: David builds the temple where everyone will come to worship God at the very place that represents the forgiveness of his own sin! Can we build for God in the exact spot we screwed up with the same bold confidence that God has forgiven?! Can we make our monumental failures monuments to the God of Mercy and Grace?

Romans 3

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith

Faith picks up all the blessings it doesn't deserve.
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1 Chronicles 27-29

19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."


Revelation often comes from the Lord as we put pen to paper.
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Romans 2

29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Pursue the inner life. Internal victory precedes public victory.

1 Chronicles 24-26

27 Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the LORD.

The house is maintained by its people's victories.

Romans 1

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful;

I don't think we recognise evil as clearly as Paul did. "Undiscerning" is in the list. We can sin by approving what God does not approve.

1 Chronicles 21-23

30 to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening

Sounds like a good idea.

Acts 28

31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Who forbids us? Then we must do the same!

1 Chronicles 8-20

4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.....Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house..."

You can't outgive God, but its fun trying!

Acts 27

10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."


22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

What accounts for the difference between these two prophecies, given not long after each other?
Revelation is progressive, and can change according to intercession. God may reveal judgement, yet we can align ourselves in such a way that we receive mercy instead.
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1 Chronicles 1-3

History is a very important part of the Bible. The Jewish people did not view the Old Testament as myth - the importance of its reality is seen in the genealogies presented in these chapters.

1 Samuel 1-4

(1v13) 'Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman'
Here we see an example of being drunk with the Spirit, rather than drunk with wine. Hannah's 'drunkenness' is exhibited by silent-but-coherent prayer to the Lord. There was no loss of self-control, but a 'pouring out' of her soul that leads to an answer to her petition. It was after this 'pouring out of the soul' that 'her face was no longer sad' (1v18).

1 Chronicles 5-7

for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him

Cry out in your battle!
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Acts 24

25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid

This cannot be left out if we are to see souls saved.

1 Chronicles 2-4

So God granted him what he requested.

Ask.

2 Kings 1-2

10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


If I am a man of God, let the fire of His Spirit consume this Nation in His goodness and Glory!!
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1 Kings 22

43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

It is possible to walk with the Lord, and have other "high places" in our lives. The high places must come down.
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Acts 13

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

When we lay down our agenda just to simply minister to the Lord, that is often when He reveals His agenda.
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1 Kings 19-21

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


Serve, and receive promotion.
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Acts 12

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side

Sometimes a divine shove is just the job.
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1 Kings 18

1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year,

Patience is essential for a prophet. It is necessary to wait for the word of the Lord. Even after God speaks, we must pause to weigh the word and consider carefully if and when, how and to whom we should deliver it.
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1 Kings 16-18

7 And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.

We cannot fight evil with evil. The old playground philosophy of "he did it first" does not defer guilt, it multiplies it.
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Acts 11

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Have we experienced the Holy Spirit fall upon us "as at the beginning"?

1 Kings 13-15

26 Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”

It is dangerous to preach obedience and disobey. All ministers are made examples of one way or another.

Psalm 113

Preached on this the other day, so here are a couple of points I made:
1. The language of praise - recognising the greatness (4-6) and the grace (7-9) of God
2. The lifestyle of praise - The bible gives importance to the need for genuine praise, worshipping 'in spirit and in truth'. Genuine praise will come from a heart that belongs to the Lord (a heart that has experienced His grace), and be part of a life that is lived for the Lord (a life that testifies to His greatness).

Ruth 1-4

Ruth chapter 2
Boaz, portrayed immediately as a godly man (2v4), finds his heart drawn to the sacrificing, serving, sojourning spirit of Ruth (2v11).

Judges 5-21

A recurring pattern emerges in the book. The people turn away from the Lord, then face life without His blessing. They cry out for deliverance, and God sends a rescuer. He delivers the people from their trouble/enemies, only for the people to turn away from the Lord again at a later date.

Clearly, the people are not able to hold to the covenant laws. The salvation they find at the hands of a God-sent deliverer is temporary, as it depends upon their own ability to be faithful to the Lord and to covenant laws. Judges sends a clear message - God's people need a saviour who can not only defeat the enemy, but can also maintain a perfect covenant relationship with the Lord on their behalf.

Acts 10

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Giving is one way to pursue God.
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1 Kings 10-12

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded.

Hearing from God is no substitute for obeying God.

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

That is how to lead. Great advice.
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Acts 9

20 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Why wait?
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1 Kings 7-9

"11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then Solomon spoke"

There is a place we get to where our ministry stops and God takes over. Nonetheless, it was when the Glory fell that Solomon spoke. God wants our response, and loves to respond to our ministry to Him. Relationship.

"when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:"

Solomon directly links the peace/ plague within to the peace/ plague without. To the extent Christ reigns within us, we will establish His reign in the earth.
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Acts 8

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Baddies can become goodies.
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1 Kings 4-6

"Zabud the son of Nathan, a priest and the king's friend;"

Kings need friends.
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Acts 7

35 "This Moses whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.

Obedience to God will always entail obedience to man at some level. God never works without leadership.
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1 Kings 1-3

29 And the king took an oath and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress,

Promises based on confidence in God will stand.
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Judges 1-4

We can be shocked sometimes when we read in the Old Testament about how the Israelites were commanded by God to wipe out heathen peoples. Here, we are shown what happens when they disobey God, and allow pagans to remain in the promised land: (2v3) '...their gods shall be a snare to you...'

Joshua 7-24

Hendriksen's summary of the book is interesting:
(1v2) 'Arise, go over this jordan' - This takes place over chapters 1-4
(1v5) 'No man shall be able to stand before you...' - Israel conquers the land in chapters 5-12
(1v6) '...you shall cause this people to inherit the land...' - the land is divided between the twelve tribes in chapters 13-22
(1v7) '...do according to all the law...' - In chapters 23 and 24, Joshua emphasizes Israel's obligation to worship and love Jehovah

(23v10) 'One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord you God who fights for you, just as He promised you.' - a good verse to remember when you're just about to preach.

Acts 6

Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit...8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people....15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Do I look like an angel?

2 Samuel 21-24

1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

Zeal not borne of relationship with the Father, will take us further, quicker from His presence.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Serve a giant killer and become a giant killer.

Acts 5

19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."

I could do with some angelic assistance!
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2 Samuel 14-20

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland.

It strikes me that David comes across as so flexible in the Lord's hands. He calls the usurper "King", and allows Shimei to curse him in case it is God's will. His primary concern is to discover the will of God.

Acts 4

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Experience trumps argument. If it happened its possible, because it happened.
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2 Samuel 10-13

3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"

Do we receive the comforter, or reject His ministers because we misunderstand their intentions.


11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."


Are we with His presence in the battle, or relaxing at home in bed. Wake up church!
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Acts 3

Peter said, "Look at us." 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Peter's command produced expectation to receive. His subsequent actions in making the man stand up, further demonstrated and imparted confidence that God would heal there and then.
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2 Samuel 7-9

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you.[e] Your throne shall be established forever.

David decides to build a house for God and God says 'No, I'm gonna build a house for you.' Its impossible to outgive God! David's response is also interesting: he wholeheartedly receives the blessing, and even asks God to fulfil His promise.
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Acts 2

38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I've been baptised and repented: I must enjoy my free gift to the full!
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2 Samuel 4-6

5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals

Quietly?

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Decently and in order?

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD;
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Joshua 1-6

'Be strong and courageous'
Even with the Lord leading us into the promised land, we will still need courage and strength of character - he won't do everything for us - we are responsible too! Christ has done the hardest part of the work in dying for us, but we must now do some of the work in living for him.

Acts 1

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

The primary function of the power of the Spirit is to witness.

22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

The primary function of Apostleship is to witness.
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2 Samuel 1-3

16 So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.

It is a terrible thing to die for a lie. Worse still to die knowing it is for a lie.
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John 21

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"

Do I love Jesus more than my other friends?
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1 Samuel 29-31

26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD"

Send a gift to your friends. They'll appreciate it and it will strengthen the bond between you.
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John 20

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

They'd received the Spirit, and yet we know they were still subsequently instructed to wait for the Spirit. Even after pentecost, they took time out to wait for the Spirit again and the place was shaken again.
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1 Samuel 26-28

15 Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"

We never die.
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Deuteronomy 17-34

(17v14-20) The laws concerning a king. Although the king would rule over the people, 'his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers'. God would still be the ruler of the people, the king communicating God's will through his governing. A human king would have to 'write...a copy of this law...': Christ would be the 'Word become flesh', a revelation of God's law in human form.

Moses goes on to instruct the people regarding the laws of God, and how their covenant relationship works - if you obey, blessings; if you disobey, curses. Christ was blessed for his obedience, but cursed for our disobedience.

(29v29) 'The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us...'

In chapter 30, there is the message of repentance and forgiveness. Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel, and we then have the song of Moses, and finally his death - 'the people of Israel wept for Moses'.

(32v4) 'A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.'

John 19

36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled,

The lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world.
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1 Samuel 23-25

David is dishonoured, but God overules and repeatedly favours David. He honours those that honour Him.
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John 17

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Believing the Bible is the path to Holiness.

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

God will not give His glory to another; but He'll give His glory to us.
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1 Samuel 20-22

17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Love asks for commitment.

23 Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."

The words of the King to His priests. David to Abiathar. Jesus to us.
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Deuteronomy 5-16

(6v4) 'The Lord is one...': Whatever He requires of us, it must be undivided. We cannot be double-minded or half-hearted.
(6v5) 'You shall love the Lord...with all your heart...': The greatest commandment reveals the core of Christian living
(6v6) '...these words which I command you today shall be on your heart...': A heart that loves the Lord will be a heart burdened for holiness
(6v7) 'And you shall teach them diligently to your children...': A personal challenge to me

(6v20-25)The people are not to forget, in the comfort of the promised land, that it all came about through the mighty work of the Lord. As we find rest in Christ, we must not take His work for granted.

(7v1-5)They are to make no room for the pagan peoples in the promised land. Worship of the Lord is not to be contaminated by idolatry.

The people are saved and brought into the land of promise, not because they are righteous, but because the Lord is righteous(9v5). We are not saved because of our own works, but because of the perfect life of Christ, who, by his blood, overturned sin's mastery of our hearts.

John 16

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Believing in Christ deals with sin. His righteousness is manifest in us by His Spirit. He applies through us the judgement that has been passed on the enemy...Acts 10.38
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1 Samuel 17-19

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.

Those who won't sometimes deride those that will to cover their own shame.
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John 15

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Word AND relationship!! This may be where some evangelicals have fallen short, be they cessationists, pentecostals or word of faith. The word brings a confidence to our relationship with Jesus as surely as wedding vows do for a marriage. But the vows ain't the marriage!

1 Samuel 14-16

21 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.

Two men's ridiculous risk of faith caused all the backsliders and lost ones to fight boldly for the Lord.

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.”

Another's religious zeal brought weakness and a curse on the camp.

Are we acting in faith or religion? Relationship-based risks or religious effort?

John 14

20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

That is the gospel.
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1 Samuel 11-13

23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

A leader's responsibilty is not to pray or teach, but to pray and teach.
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John 13

37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake."



We cannot lay our lives down for Him until we've received His life laid down for us.

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1 Samuel 7-10

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

Did the great man of God walk with His sons?
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John 12

43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Let me hear your praise O God.

1 Samuel 4-6

The ark of God comes into the camp and the Philistines are afraid, because this is the "god" that did the mighty works in Egypt. The ark is captured, but God demonstrates He is with the ark of the testimony, by moving against Philistia as He moved against Egypt. Its interesting that the Philistine thought to make gold images of the rats and tumors they were afflicted with: had they heard the story of the bronze snake, just as they'd heard the story of the ten plagues?

The conclusion I draw is that God is still found inside the testimonies, the stories of previous things He has done, because God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Deuteronomy 1-4

(1v5) 'Moses undertook to explain this law...'
Moses has communicated God's words to the people, having received direct revelation from the Lord. Having proclaimed God's words, he now seeks to explain them.

(4v25) 'When you...have grown old...if you act corruptly...'
Sometimes, the word of God is a light that draws people away from the world's dangers. Sometimes, though, the word of God will be part of people's judgment, as they shy away from its light so their deeds can remain in darkness.

John 11

51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

It amazes me that we can hear from God accurately, and yet act upon it wrongly. Its partly that character and gifting need to work together. Its also true that it is the quality of intimacy with God that will keep us, and not our gifts. Todd Bentley recently confessed that most of his devotional life during Lakeland consisted of asking for words of knowledge, rather than just enjoying fellowship with God.

John 8 (missed out earlier!)

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

A reeducated mind is the pathway to freedom. One hour on a Sunday is not sufficient for this task. Freedom is progressively attained acording to the renewing of our minds.

1 Samuel 1-3

"It is not by strength that one prevails;



10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.

He will thunder against them from heaven;

the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

"He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed."



The anointing of God matters more than any earthly powers. Physical strength, wisdom, management ability can all be provided, as Samson and Solomon could attest. But without the anointing, the abiding intimacy with the Lord, the strength and wisdom will be lost...as Samson and Solomon could again both attest.

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John 10

38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe[d] that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."



Works are to aid faith that God dwells in us.

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Judges 19-21

Civil war between the people of God, commanded by God, to root out those who defend and approve gross sin.
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John 9

27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?



The tangible demonstrable goodness of God brings boldness. It also polarises opinion.

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Judges 16-18

20 Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!"

He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.



May we never be complacent about the source of our strength. The apostles were not: they devoted themselves continually to prayer and the word.



28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else.



Relationship with other churches and other believers is crucial.

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John 7

39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

The Spirit was not given until Pentecost; the miracles the apostles did prior to that were not inwardly inspired.