Listening to the Word

Job 23-24; Mark 11-12   “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” Job 23:10-12 The book of Job is about more than suffering. It’s about challenging the notion that good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. As Job testified, God tests the righteous like gold is tested or refined. Walking in God’s way and listening to his Word does not exempt us from being tested. Job treasured the words of God’s mouth more than his daily bread. Yet, in the test, God was silent. It wasn’t because Job had sinned; rather, it was because God was receiving glory through Job’s faithfulness and perseverance in the test. How are we responding to the tests that come our way in relationships, finances, health, and even persecution for t...

Psalms 121; Mark 9-10   “Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” Mark 9:7 Jesus knew his Father’s love; do we? Even as a boy, Jesus valued his heavenly Father’s Word to him. He knew the security of his Father’s love. It was the Father who called Jesus into public ministry with the public affirmation of these words, “This is my Son, whom I love.” Jesus ministered to others out of this primary relationship with his Father. He taught us to pray, “Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name….” It was this knowledge of our Father that Jesus wanted to pass on to us. These disciples argued about who among them was the greatest, because they did not yet know the love of their Father. We, too, will be motivated by status, approval, popularity, and success until we experience the love of our Father. When the Father, in his love, calls us into ministry, we love others rather than using them for our own needs or...

Job 22; Mark 7-8   “…’You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’…Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.’” Mark 7:9, 10, 13 In what ways do our church traditions or practices set aside the commands of God? We have elevated the teaching ministry of the Word and commoditized it through podcasts and web access so that the ministry of the Body of Christ has been replaced by a single voice. Our covenant- community has been replaced by a privatized religious consumer. Church can be reduced to a sermon. Even Jesus’ example of family is relevant in an age where we ‘warehouse’ the elderly in lonely and forgotten homes. Jesus invites us, as the Church, to listen to the Word and obey. As the Body of Christ, we all function together, using our gifts on his mission, responding to his authority. When we together listen and ...

Job 2l; Mark 5-6 “…’Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed…’Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’” Mark 5:19, 20; 6:4 While Jesus sent the man freed from a legion of demons back to his own home, community, and people, to testify to the power of God to heal and deliver, Jesus knew this would be a challenging assignment. Our testimony seems to be appreciated more by those who don’t know us, than by those who knew us from before we met Christ. In particular, the first and essential place of witness is in our own homes, families, and communities. This is also the first place of accountability that our words and actions are congruent. While prophets might not be honored in their own home, they need the humility of being known as ordinary people, rat...

Job 20; Mark 3-4   “Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, ‘Stand up in front of everyone.’ Then Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger, and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand!’ He stretched it out and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” Mark 3:1-6 At first glance, the urge to kill someone because they healed a person on the Sabbath seems absurd until we understand the importance of the Sabbath in Mosaic law and the cruelty of religious spirits. The Pharisees were the rule-keepers, representing a revival...

Job 19; Mark 1-2   “I know that my Redeemer lives; and that in the end he will stand on the earth. After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27 Job’s tribulations heightened his anticipation of heaven. He longed to see God and he believed in the bodily resurrection of the dead. He believed that his Redeemer lived and that God would redeem his life from the grave. Is this living hope at work in us? Do these truths give us hope in the midst of our tribulations, sickness, tests, and trials? When life is good, we become distracted and maybe even forget that we need a Redeemer. If this earth becomes our home, our hope of heaven can fade. However, when sickness, disease, plague, or economic crisis comes, we remember this life is short. Are we yearning for God, for heaven, and for our eternal home? Are we anticipating the return of Jesus? Do we know that our Redee...

Job 18; Psalms 114; Acts 27-28   “Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: ‘My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people…’…Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.” Acts 28:17, 24 Paul deliberately allowed himself to be captured, arrested, and transported to Rome because he knew that was the will of God. Rather than hiding in Rome, Paul immediately called together the local Jewish leaders, telling them to clearly communicate the gospel. Paul took initiative and put the opposing powers of darkness on the defensive. Out of that first presentation “some were convinced” and a new church was birthed in Rome. How much spiritual fruit is robbed by fear? Not all will believe. Some will actively oppose us and the gospel. Are we more concerned with the acceptance of others, than that they have an opportunity to hear the gospel? What initiative in our area or context is the Lord inviting ...

Job 17; Acts 24-26 “When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: ‘I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.’…As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’” Acts 24:10, 25 Paul’s life was at stake as he stood before Governors Felix and Festus, and later King Agrippa, and finally Caesar. Yet Paul was unafraid to speak truth to power. He boldly shared the gospel and its application to Governor Felix’ life in the areas of righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. No one who fears for their life engages in these topics! Yet Paul’s love for these leaders and his concern for their eternal destiny was greater than his concern for his own life. How courageous are we in our conversations about the gospel in our family, friendships, and in conversations where the Lord...

Job 16; Acts 21-23 “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” Job 16:19-21 Job’s confidence was in his advocate, God, who was interceding for him through the pain of his testing. We now know that advocate, that intercessor, that friend is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not alone in our pain, our tests, or our temptations. Our tears are noticed by the Lord. As we cry out to God, he hears our call and pours out his Spirit and his grace upon us. Job’s test included listening to well-meaning friends who didn’t know what to say to him in his time of need. This is not the case as we listen to the Word, the Lord Jesus. His promises to us are truth and his own life of testing and temptation, reminding us that he understands. Jesus lives to make intercession for us before the Father. He is the friend who will never leave us. “Lord Jesus, my advocate, my...

Job 15; Acts 19-20   “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.” Acts 20:32-34 Why did Paul conclude his final words with the leadership of the Ephesian Church with his convictions about finances and full reliance on the Lord?   He knew the foundational DNA of the Church would be under attack in the years to come. Instead of relying on God and the Word of his grace, the Church began to rely on the security and strength of money. For centuries the Church was (and in many places still is) aligned with political power and accumulated incredible wealth. Coveting wealth has been the downfall of many leaders and ministries. Paul’s principle of self-funded churches, ministries, and support, while challenging, is also liberating. ...

Job 13-14; Acts 17-18   As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead…So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” Acts 17:2, 3, 17 What was Paul’s priority as he traveled from city to city? Was it the food, or the architecture, or the natural beauty, or the local entertainment? Paul’s focus was on sharing the gospel with anyone who would listen, beginning with the God-fearing Jews and Gentiles. The many God-fearing Greeks who attended Jewish synagogues had rejected idolatry and worshiped a Creator God of covenant. They had no choice but to convert to Judaism in order to establish this covenant with God. Paul’s gospel presented another way through the suffering, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This new covenant, prop...

Job 11-12; Acts 15-16   “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ This brought Paul and Barnabus into sharp dispute and debate with them…” Acts 15:1, 2 Why would “certain people” travel from Jerusalem to Antioch without the blessing of the Jerusalem elders to bring their personal doctrinal beliefs to the emerging church in Antioch? They believed their convictions to be the right ones and an important foundation for the new believers. The same exporting of theology is happening today within the fast growing African and Asian churches. The internet and television have made exporting our theological distinctives easier than ever before. However, we lack the discernment, consensus-building, and authority of the Jerusalem Council. Today, self-proclaimed apostles, prophets, and evangelists do what is right in their own eyes. Validation comes through their test...

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...