Listening to the Word

Jonah 1-4; 2 Timothy 2   “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’ But Jonah ran away...Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:…” Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1 Jonah’s story is a good illustration of the pursuing grace of God, both for Nineveh and for Jonah. Jonah ran away from the call of God because of disobedience, prejudice, and a self-centered view of God. Despite Jonah’s rebellion against the call of God, God’s pursuit of Jonah (and his discipline) provided another opportunity for Jonah to say ‘Yes” to God’s word. Listening to the Word must be followed by obedience. Jesus called his disciples to teach others to “obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:20)”. Listening or reading the Word is not enough.   If we ignore or disobey God’s Word despite being his disciples, what happens? Is God through with us? Jonah’s example reminds us that God disciplin...

Joel 1-3; 2 Timothy 1   “The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel. Hear this, you elders;…Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:1, 2, 13, 14 Joel’s message was first to leaders. The response of leaders to the word of the Lord significantly shapes how God’s people will respond. Joel’s message was a call to repentance, to humility, and to seek the Lord. Would the elders and priests humble themselves, fast, and pray? Leaders have the responsibility to frame reality as they see it. Without urgency, there will not be repentance and surrender to the Lord. Change begins with leaders. Everything leaders are asking God to accomp...

  2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6 “…who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:5-7, 9 Why would anyone think that godliness is a means to financial gain? The influence of godliness can be used to either advance Christ’s kingdom, or to build our own kingdoms. The anointing of the Holy Spirit on our lives is not for sale! Peter rebuked Simon the sorcerer who wanted to buy the gifts of the Spirit because he realized the influence that the power of the Holy Spirit had in Peter’s and John’s ministry (Acts 8:18). Paul reminds us of eternity and why we won’t take any worldly wealth with us. He also reminds us of the value and freedom that inner contentment...

2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22-23; 1 Timothy 5 “’Know then, that not a word the Lord has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The Lord has done what he promised through his servant Elijah.’” 2 Kings 10:10 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” 1 Timothy 5:24, 25 Ahab’s obvious sins of idolatry and murder reached the place of judgment, costing the lives of his entire family and associates. The word of the Lord through Elijah proved true. In our day the Lord is exposing secret sin in the lives of leaders in the Church to call us back to repentance and holiness. Without holiness we will not see the Lord. The Lord is also exposing the hidden good deeds of people as an example to others of what living with generous love looks like. The Lord’s judgments and rewards are based on truth. When we serve the Lord each day with t...

2 Kings 8-9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4   “…’Get a horseman,’ Joram ordered. ‘Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’’ The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, ‘This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’’…‘What do you have to do with peace?’ Jehu replied. ‘Fall in behind me.’…’How can there be peace,’ Jehu replied, ‘as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?’” 2 Kings 9:17, 18, 22 Peace is an empty word when it is not an inner reality in our lives. Joram, king of Israel, and his mother Jezebel repeatedly asked Jehu if he came in peace; yet, they were at war with God. Jezebel had slaughtered hundreds of prophets of the Lord and promoted both idolatry and witchcraft. Peace with God is costly and requires a sacrifice for sin. Jesus made our peace with God possible through his violent death on a cross. Those who repent of their sin know peace with God and have the peace of God in their hearts. Those experiencing inner peace b...

2 Kings 6-7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3   “…’A vast army is coming against you…’…Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord;… ’Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’” 2 Chronicles 20:2-4, 21 Leaders are responsible to frame reality for those they are leading. They can ignore a crisis, or respond. Their response is significant in shaping the perspective of others. Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord and to humble himself before God. Instead of fighting the invading forces, or mustering up an army, Jehoshaphat called a prayer meeting and a fast. As they collectively humbled themselves before God, Judah heard the word of the Lord. They heard God’s perspective on their crisis.   We all hear from the enemy; but, how many of us then humble ourselves and wait to hear from God? Judah’s response was to worship and in the face of the enemy declare, “...