Listening to the Word

Job 9-10; Acts 13-14   “The Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you…’” Acts 13:9-11 Why did Paul confront Elymas in the presence of the proconsul? Paul discerned that Elymas was deliberately deceiving the proconsul and opposing the gospel. This bold confrontation required Paul to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He was opposing spiritual forces of darkness that would have prevented the gospel from spreading throughout the island of Cyprus. Are we facing similar opposition to the gospel from people who also are a “child of the devil” and an “enemy of everything that is right”? Avoiding these confrontations will not work. Prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit continue to be weapons the Lord has given us as we ...

Job 6-8; Acts 12 “Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision…Then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.’” Acts 12:9, 11 Why did Peter doubt that his dramatic night rescue or prison breakout was really happening? It was a seemingly impossible situation and his death seemed imminent. Peter had accepted death as an outcome Jesus had prepared for him. Peter’s good friend and fellow apostle James had just been martyred, so it was reasonable to believe he was next. Yet we serve the God of the impossible who closes the mouths of lions, who defeats giants, and who knocks over impenetrable walls. The angels of the Lord are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14), and sixteen Roman guards inside a fortress prison were no match for on...

Job 5; Psalms 108; Acts 10-11   “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.” Job 5:17, 18 Can we receive this word? We are blessed when we are corrected, disciplined, wounded, and even injured by the Lord. God’s discipline is always motivated by love. He knows our heart and knows that our rebellion, stubbornness, and fear will rob us of our inheritance in his kingdom. God disciplines us for our good. God’s sanctification process in our lives is life-long and will transform us if we submit to his Spirit and obey. The Almighty also binds up our wounds and heals us with his hands. He is worthy of our trust. Will we place our lives into God’s hands? “Lord God, I give you my life and I trust you. You have wounded me and healed me, and your loving discipline is good, for your glory.”

Job 3-4; Acts 8-9 “The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:29-31 The Spirit of God is on a mission to reach people and nations with the good news of Jesus. Philip was invited by the Spirit of God to stay near a moving chariot so he could converse with the Ethiopian official. We, too, are invited to stay near people who are on the move so we, too, can have gospel conversations in the course of everyday life. Spiritual seekers are often unable to understand the Bible until they receive the Holy Spirit. They need available servants of God who are willing to walk (or run) with them. Are we listening to the Spirit of God for our daily assignments, and are his promptings given throughout the day? Our obedience could affec...

Job 1-2; Acts 6-7   “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” Job 2:9, 10 How we respond to the tests that God allows in our lives exposes our character and our level of spiritual maturity. After the death of Job’s children and the destruction of all he owned, Job’s wife urged him to curse God and die. How would we respond? How do we respond? The heresy that God only prospers those he loves is exposed in Job’s story. We are living for an eternal glory that far outweighs the burdens of this life. Job understood that. Are we prepared to accept both good as well as trouble from God? Job chose to hold his tongue despite the prodding of his wife. That self-control is remarkable and an inspiration to us when we, too, are tested by those closest to us whom we love. Passing tests leads to promotions ...

Malachi 3-4; Psalms 148; Acts 5 “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap…So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers…” Malachi 3:2, 5 “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened…Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events…Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” Acts 5:5, 11, 14 Jesus came to save, cleanse, heal and deliver. He came to teach, refine, and purity for himself a people that were his very own. When Ananias perjured himself and lied to the Holy Spirit (and to Peter), the Lord himself judged Ananias and struck him dead. Paul later said in his letter to the Corinthians that those who don’t “discern the body of Christ” drink judgment on themselves (1 Corinthians 11:29, 30), which is...

Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1, 2; Acts 4 “’My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 1:11 The greatness of God’s name is magnified by the worship of those who know him. This prophesy that God’s name would be great among the nations was made possible by the salvation found in the name of Jesus, opening up relationship with God to all nations. What are the incense and pure offerings that are being brought to the Lord in every nation? Intercession, prayer, and worship are like incense before God. It is the offerings of our lives and resources that honor him. These sacrifices and acts of worship magnify the name of the Lord. If our lives were the only witness our nations had of who God is, would his name be great? “Lord God, you are worthy of my best. I offer it to you with joy and love, for your glory.” ...

Nehemiah 11-12; Psalms 1; Acts 3   “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:2, 3 Our level of fruitfulness in life is determined by where we are planted. A tree planted by “streams of water” will yield fruit in season and remain resilient, even in dry seasons. When we plant our lives in the presence of the Lord through daily meditation on his Word with renewal through the streams of the Holy Spirit, we, too, will experience the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Listening and obeying the Word through the Spirit feeds our Spirit and soul and renews our strength in the Lord. Many are planted in front of the TVs or screens much more consistently than they are planted by “streams of water”. Prospering spiritually affects everyone who meets us. All are able to enjoy the fruit of God’s prese...

Nehemiah 9-10; Acts 2   “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear…Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:33, 38 This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks, the harvest festival. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not just the birth of the Church; it was the launch of the mission-harvest and ingathering of souls which continues to this day. There are large portions of Christendom where churches are empty and faith has been abandoned; they appear to be in a ‘Pre-Pentecost’ state. Other places in the world including much of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, are experiencing their Pentecost moment, evidencing itself in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon repentance and water baptism leading to mission and spiritual ha...

Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1   “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 How do we define holiness? Sometimes we might even equate sadness with holiness and joy with sinfulness. That would be a scheme of the enemy to separate us from the presence of God. Nehemiah’s revival of worship and the Word included a day set apart for God, a holy day, a day of feasting and joy with God at the very center of it. Do we bring God into the center and celebrate his goodness, love, and presence in our lives? Or, do we celebrate each other and the goodness of our lives and love for each other? Holy celebrations are full of joy because they are full of the presence of God. These celebrations renew our strength in the Lord. …time to celebrate? “Lord Jesus, you are my joy and my strength, for your glory.”

Nehemiah 5-6; Psalms 146; Luke 24 “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27 Our capacity to receive spiritual truths and revelation is influenced by the condition of our heart. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were both “foolish” and “slow of heart”.   What is the speed with which our heart engages in faith to God’s Word through the tests and trials we face? Have we learned to trust the whole counsel of God, including the books of Moses and the Prophets? Or, do we limit our worldview to our church tradition and a few favourite Scriptures? Jesus explained that the most awaited person in human history, God’s Messiah, needed to suffer and die. No one expected that. What are we expecting will happen at Christ...

Nehemiah 3-4; Luke 23   “Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!’” Nehemiah 4:19, 20 The silver trumpets the Lord commanded Moses to make were used for calling people together for an assembly, or calling them to battle, or calling them to break camp and move on. In the spiritual and physical warfare of Nehemiah’s wall project, Nehemiah utilized the trumpet again to rally the people together to resist an opposing threat. The use of the trumpet was most importantly an act of faith that the Lord would fight for his people. The trumpet signaled heaven. What is our ‘trumpet call’ today, in ministry and mission work? What are we using to call God’s people together for concerted prayer? It is in prayer that we unite together before God’s throne. It is in unity that the Lord anoi...

Nehemiah 1-2; Psalms 133; Luke 22 “…’O Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands…They are your servants and your people, who you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.” Nehemiah 1:5, 10 “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” Luke 22:20 Jesus emphasized the third cup of the Passover meal with his disciples, the cup of redemption. It was the same redemption that Nehemiah was appealing to as he interceded for his people and their desperate state. Even in exile, Nehemiah would have celebrated Passover with his fellow Jews in Babylon. In intercession, Nehemiah was appealing to God’s covenant-keeping nature, his promises, and his deliverance and redemption in the past. Not only did God answer Nehemiah’s prayer by enabling his people to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, but God sent his Son to bring re...

Ezra 9-10; Psalms 131; Luke 21 “’Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’…Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.” Luke 21:33, 37 Jesus taught words we are hearing and repeating 2000 years later. The words of Jesus will never pass away. Where did he receive these words? We know he is the Word, present in the beginning, full of life and light. Yet, Jesus was also a man - a man who became tired and needed sleep. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives each evening because he loved time alone with his Father. Jesus’ words and the work that flowed from them came from what he heard and saw in the presence of his Father. His words won’t pass away because they come from the Father. Are we listening to the Word so we, too, have something to share with others? “Lord Jesus, the Word: thank you for speaking life-gi...

Ezra 7- 8; Luke 20   “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions…and he answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:21, 23 In an age of complicated travel with health restrictions and danger to well-being, Ezra’s example of humbling himself and his travelling companions before the Lord is a great example of where our confidence should come from. Ezra’s party was carrying tons of gold, silver, and sacred items which made them targets for robbery on their four-month long, overland journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. Instead of the king’s soldiers and horsemen protecting them, Ezra and his party humbled themselves before the Lord of heaven and earth. Where are we looking for protection and confidence as we, too, seek to follow the Lord in mission? We can allow fear to rule our choices and future, or we can choose to place our lives in the hands of God and live with ob...

Esther 9-10; Luke 19 “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’…’Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’” Luke 19:13, 17 Do we believe that our Creator God gave us life, health, and all we have? If we do, then we also must recognize that we are stewards of God’s time, talents, and treasure. We, too, have received the word, ”Put this money to work, until I come back.” Are the money, time, and talent we have received being “put to work” for the good of the King and his kingdom? More importantly, have we taken responsibility for the resources we’ve been entrusted with, or have we buried this topic? Responsibility requires faith and decision-making. Too often we place ourselves in bondage to creditors, rather than putting our resources to work. The reward for good stewardship of God’s resources is even more responsibility. T...

Esther 3-8; Luke 18 “But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’” Luke 18:16, 17 “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” These words are so shocking we need to repeat them out loud to really hear them. Salvation is not an intellectual response to a presentation of the gospel. To explain how we enter the kingdom of God, Jesus pointed to the faith, humility, and trust of little children who receive a gift. No one deserves to enter Christ’s kingdom. There is no room for bargaining with God. Children receive a gift, believe, and follow. Is that our experience of coming to Jesus? Or, are we still living religious lives in our own kingdom, or someone else’s? Knowing and following the King marks every person in Christ’s kin...

Esther 1-2; Psalms 150; Luke 17 “’…If your brother sins against you rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times come back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.’” Luke 17:3-6 Why did the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith when he called them to extend forgiveness repeatedly to their brother or sister? It is in our closest relationships where we often lack faith that behaviors, character, and habits can change. Jesus calls his disciples to acknowledge when they have been sinned against and rebuke the offender. Then consistently and without judgment forgive them. By contending for clear and open communication while we extend forgiveness, we are placing our faith in God’s grace both in our lives and in those we are...

Ezra 5-6; Psalms 138; Luke 16   “’No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.’ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.’” Luke 16:13-15 Who we serve affects our thinking and shapes our values and choices. If we are serving our career or a company, that will shape our priorities. Others serve beauty and will sacrifice to achieve affirmation   by others. What master are we serving? The Pharisees claimed to serve God, but were actually serving money. Jesus exposed their hearts and said that we can’t serve two masters at the same time. When we serve Jesus, he calls us to give up all other loves and make him our first love. Once we are his, money no longer has...

Zechariah 13-14; Psalms 147; Luke 15   “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity…On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.” Zechariah 13:1; 14:8 The fountain that opened in Jerusalem to cleanse the sin and impurity from the lives of people was fulfilled when Jesus, the Lamb of God, offered his blood as an atoning sacrifice for sin. This fountain of cleansing blood still flows and it is still open to those who seek cleansing. On Pentecost, another river was released in Jerusalem when the living water of the Holy Spirit was poured out and empowered Christ’s disciples to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. This river of living water still flows and is the only satisfaction for thirsty souls looking for life.   Are we pointing people to the fountain of cleansing blood and the river of living wat...

Zechariah 10-12; Psalms 126; Luke 14 “’If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple…In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.’” Luke 14:26, 27, 33 There is much talk of disciple-making and discipleship in the church today.   But, are we talking about the same thing as Jesus was? He called people to leave everything and follow him. The leaving first meant releasing family obligations which Jesus certainly understood as a firstborn son. His brothers would probably have resented him for this. Jesus isn’t calling us to follow him theoretically, but in real terms, now. Surrendering our family, work, education, and even our lives to him is the first step in discipleship. He might give some of those things back to us, but that is not ours to choose. This definition of discipleship is much more than being a good person who doesn’t...