Listening to the Word

Ezekiel 12-14; Revelation 5 “’…Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the Lord! You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, “The Lord declares!” when I have not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.’” Ezekiel 13:2, 5, 6 It is a significant moment when we say, “The Lord declares.” Our accountability around those words must be high. In the Church we are called together to test and discern a word for the Body. “…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Does a prophetic word call us back to Jesus and his mission? Most prophetic words are forth telling not foretelling. They bring God’s Word to us in the Spirit’s anointing and power for life transformation. When a prophetic word includes foretelling it should be consistent with God’s written Word ...

  Ezekiel 8-11; Revelation 4   “…Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’” Revelation 4:8 “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing – the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?’” Ezekiel 8:6 In the sanctuary of God, he is worshiped as holy. “Holy, holy, holy” is the continual cry before his throne. This is why as his worshipers, our lives as the sanctuary of his presence, must be holy. It was the detestable things the house of Israel did which drove God from the first sanctuary in Jerusalem. What about our lives today? We receive forgiveness and righteousness through Christ alone; but that does not mean we may live carelessly with our bodies, indulging lusts and worshiping idols of money, career, and material things. Our lives and mouths must also cry, “Holy, holy, holy” as we live to worship our holy King.’ “Fath...

Ezekiel 4-7; Revelation 3 “’Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.’” Revelation 3:19, 20 Jesus is pursuing intimacy with us. He sometimes gets our attention through rebuke and discipline, not for the purpose of shame and punishment; but rather, for restoration and freedom. The Holy Spirit is the Father’s gift to convict us of sin and remind us of what Jesus has taught us.   When we hear his still, quiet voice in our spirit, will we open the door of our heart to communion with him? Once we learn to listen and obey the Word through the Spirit our relationship with Jesus moves to another level of intimacy and trust. When was the last time we sat alone with Jesus and enjoyed a meal together? Jesus said that God’s Word was food for him. He also said that knowing and doing the mission-will of God was as satisfying as eating...

Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2   “’I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich...Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you; the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.’” Revelation 2:9, 10 Jesus’ perspective on the Church in Smyrna was very different from that of the society around them. The local authorities viewed this small band of Christians as poor and as outcasts from the cult of emperor- worship. Jesus viewed them as rich! Rich in faith, hope, and love.   Whose perspective on our lives do we value? Jesus prepared the Church in Smyrna for persecution, orchestrated by Satan himself. Behind the persecutors was the influence of Satan. We, too, “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12). Again, we need Jesus’ perspective to know how to pray and respond to opposi...

Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalms 143, 144 “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation 1:9 John’s testimony and letter to the churches indicates that suffering and patient endurance are normal for those who live in relationship with Jesus and are citizens of his kingdom. More specifically, those who hold to the Word of God as their truth-standard and the Gospel as their message will be persecuted. Why is this relatively rare in our experience in the Western Church? Why do we avoid suffering and instead preach a gospel of success and prosperity if we, too, are in Jesus? Which Jesus are we preaching in the Western Church? John’s love for the churches and their witness to Jesus cost him everything. He was a brother and a companion more than an apostle or bishop. As a companion to those who suffered for the Gospel, John’s words s...

Jeremiah 50-51; 3 John   “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10 Gaius, to whom John addressed this letter, was an elder of the Church in Ephesus. He was working alongside Diotrephes, another elder in Ephesus who “loves to be first” and was divisive in his leadership. When positional authority is something we grasp, pride in our hearts is exposed. Diotrephes was abusing his position as the lead elder, or pastor in Ephesus, to undermine other leaders and withhold fellowship with visiting brothers sent by John the apostle who was a regional overseer, responsible for the church. John’s revelation from Patmos exposed the loss of “first love” for Christ in Ephesus. When we love our positions of author...

Jeremiah 37-39; Psalms 79; 2 John   “Zedekiah, son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon;…Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet…Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’” Jeremiah 37:1, 2, 17 Jeremiah was under significant pressure to deliver a message of encouragement to the people of Jerusalem and the king. Jeremiah knew that his prophetic warnings had been ignored for many years and then when the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began, his words carried more weight. However, Jeremiah’s commitment to speaking truth as God revealed it to him was unwavering.   Do we also face pressure to say comforting words when sin’s consequences come due? How do we respond to leadership when our counsel is sought but our words have previously been ignored? Jeremiah remained focu...

Jeremiah 33-34; Psalms 74; 1 John 5   “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true…” 1 John 5:18-20 In an oral culture where many Christians could not read, or had limited access to written materials, John makes a number of “we know” statements. We know we are born again because of the indwelling presence of God giving us the power to resist temptation and stop repetitive sin-patterns. We know the protective hand of God on our lives in a world under the control of the evil one. This “knowing” is only real if it affects behavior.   Based on how we live our lives and what we think and talk about, what would an observer report that we know? “Lord Jesus, thank you for knowing me and i...

Jeremiah 31-32; 1 John 4   “’The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers…I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.’…This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day…’Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,’ declares the Lord, ‘will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.’” Jeremiah 31:31-33, 35, 36 God initiates and keeps covenant with his people. Through Christ, we have been invited into a new covenant with God. This covenant, like the consistency of the seasons and the movement of the planets, is continually before God. While we move in and out of relationships and friendships, God’s covenant relationships are consistent and sure. His promises to us in Christ are secure because of who he is as our covenant-keeping God. In e...

Jeremiah 28-30; 1 John 3 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself [themselves] just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 In the world of social media so many look to their screens for a reflection of their value and worth like Narcissi’s reflecting pool. John calls us to a better identity as children of God, who are known and deeply loved by our Father. Rather than trying to be known by the world, we live with the knowledge of God’s acceptance of us in Christ and of our eternal identity as children of God. We live with the hope of Christ’s return which motivates us toward purity. We have been set apart for God - thi...

Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalms 118; 1 John 2   “In my anguish, I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free [into a spacious place]. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man [mere mortals] do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man [humans]. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:5-9 Where do we turn in a crisis, or when problems trip us up? The Psalmist calls us to seek the Lord, to cry out to the Lord, and to experience the Lord as our Helper. Even princes with their resources and influence are no match for the Lord. The pressures of family, work, or health can hard-press us and something has to give. The Psalmist cried out to the Lord and was brought into a spacious place, a place of peace, freedom, and rest. God is willing to provide the same refuge for us in our circumstances if we, too, will humble ourselves and call o...

Jeremiah 48-49; Psalms 67; 1 John 1   “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and…We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:2-4 Eternal life is more than a state of being; it is found in a relationship with a person named Jesus Christ. John knew Jesus and his one desire was that others might know Jesus as well. Our fellowship with others is based on fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the common denominator, the unite-r. In Jesus, our fellowship and relationship are eternal. Jesus introduces us to the Father, the source of life. Do we know both Jesus and the Father? Are we testifying to what we have seen and heard and experienced, or merely the testimony of others? John invites us to have our own relationship with Jesus the Son ...

Jeremiah 45-47; Psalms 105; John 21   “Give praise to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Psalm 105:1-4 We are commanded to remember God’s works in history and give him the glory. God’s works remind us that his hand guides the nations and his sovereign will, will be accomplished. More than that, we remember and proclaim God’s wonderful acts so we, too, will be reminded to always seek God’s face and are renewed by his strength. The Holy Spirit both reminds us of what God’s Word says and it empowers us to obey and live that Word. Living with this divine ‘plumb line’ will fill us with the joy of the Lord. Why do God’s people sing songs of joy? Why is this joy not a part of other religions? The powers of darkness cannot replicate the joy of the Lord in ...

Jeremiah 26, 35, 36; John 20   “…Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:26-29 Doubt is the enemy of faith. Yet, Jesus approached Thomas, and he approaches each of us with an invitation and a promise. His invitation is that we would experience him personally, reach out, and touch him. His promise is, “Peace be with you!” The reality of inner peace through the presence and rule of Christ is beyond anything this world can offer. Thomas’ confession can be our confession, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas took the gospel to India, further than any other disciple had done. He risked his life to reach Asia with the gospel. The peace of Christ accompanied Thomas...

Jeremiah 23, 25; John 19   “’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:5, 6   Jesus came as both a suffering servant and our risen King. Jesus fulfilled all righteousness and became our righteousness so we can enter relationship with our Creator God. There is salvation found in no other name but the Lord Our Righteousness. As we receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, he becomes our King. We enter the kingdom of God and willingly submit to the authority of our King. We anticipate the second coming of Christ when Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. Jesus is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and one day every knee will bow before him. Hundreds of years later, Christ’s fulfillm...

2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalms 112; John 18   “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,” Jesus said…Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’” John 18:4, 5, 11 The grace and humility with which Jesus courageously faced his betrayal, arrest, and subsequent trial, all stemmed from his preparation for the cross through spending time with his heavenly Father. Jesus didn’t run when the soldiers and [priests’] temple guards came to arrest him. He volunteered his identity and faced his accusers. This model of faithful endurance in the face of persecution has encouraged the Church since the time of Christ. Jesus willingly took the cup of suffering from the hand of his Father, and so can we. Are we responding to the cost of discipleship and mission with courageous humility? Or are we resisting the cup of suffering and hiding or escapi...

Jeremiah 18-20; Psalms 93; John 17 “’Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.’” John 17:3, 4 Eternal life is found in a relationship with the Father and the Son, not by religious works. However, the Father has kingdom-assignments, or work, for each of us to accomplish once we enter his kingdom. This work begins with believing in Jesus whom the Father sent(John 6:28). Like Jesus, we give glory to God through our work in the kingdom. Like Jesus, we must be focused on knowing and completing the work we have been given by the Father. When we understand our sacred vocation, we experience purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in our work with the Father. This work begins with faith in Christ and then is expressed through living the gospel of the kingdom of heaven wherever we are. We pray for the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven, knowing we ar...

Jeremiah 16-17; Psalms 96; John 16 “’They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me…I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!’” John 16:2, 3, 33 Jesus prepares his disciples for troubles and persecution because he loves us. We follow a leader who endured trouble and persecution for the joy set before him. He offers us peace within as we walk in the Spirit, even as we endure trouble around us because of the Gospel and the nature of spiritual warfare. When we are opposed by well-meaning Christ-followers, we, too, must take heart and continue to live with humility and courage. The cost of living on mission with Jesus is high; but there is no greater honor. Jesus gave us his life and calls us to give him our lives. This costly Gospel...

Jeremiah 13-15; John 15 “’I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…’” John 15:15, 16 We have been invited into the “Father and Son Kingdom Business” as friends and coworkers of Christ. Jesus pursued us in his love and grace toward us and is giving us jobs or assignments in the family business so it will grow. We are expected to evidence fruit that will last through our co-laboring with Christ.   Who would hire friends into their business who just want to know about the retirement plan and the benefits package? Jesus is calling us to fruitful work as friends in the family business. The satisfaction of giving ourselves to a vision that is eternal and transforms lives is something for which all of us were created. This is much more than...

Jeremiah 10-12; John 14   “’Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…’” John 14:10-12 Jesus was very interested in his disciples’ understanding that the words and work he was doing were actually due to the indwelling presence of his Father. Without the presence of the Father in him, Christ would be unable to speak or do the work of the kingdom of God through him. As he prepared to leave his disciples and send the Holy Spirit, this reality of the words and work of the Father would now be given to all disciples. In fact, we would do even greater things than Christ did! How? - Through our commun...

Jeremiah 7-9; John 13 “’A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men [everyone] will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’” John 13:34, 35 The Ten Commandments focused on not sinning against God and others. Jesus’ new commandment to sacrificially love one another fulfilled all the previous commandments and used God’s love for us in Christ as the standard for ethics. It’s not enough to not sin, we are called to love one another deeply. This is the clearest witness that we are Christ’s followers. When our witness is limited to apologetics unsupported by a practical loving witness, we won’t see the fruit we hoped for. Mission, as Jesus defines it, is to love others in the same way Jesus loved which authenticated the gospel. The congruence of our words and actions strengthens and deepens our witness to the transforming power of the gospel in our lives. Will we ask the Lord to daily fill us with his love, ...

Jeremiah 5-6; John 12   “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.” John 12:9-11 If we have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ and are filled with the resurrection power of his Spirit, people will come to see us, just as they did Lazarus. We, too, have been dead in sin. We, too, have been raised to new life in Christ. We, too, should look different! We, too, should have a resurrection life story. We, too, should be a threat to the enemy who is opposed to the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. On account of our testimony, many should be coming to Jesus. Where are the Lazarus stories from death to life? The threat to kill Lazarus no longer mattered because he was filled with the resurrection life and power of the Spirit!...