The Saturday Morning Post – The Window To The Soul
Today’s Passage – Nahum 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 10 – 12; Psalms 131 – 135; Proverbs 27)
Read the “0927 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.” (Nahum 1:2-8)
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)
Good morning. I get chills whenever I think about some of the things my eyes have seen. What do people see when they look me in the eye? I would hope they see light. Sometimes you can see the evil in a person. You can see the darkness, the demonic possesion in the eyes of Bin Laden as he watches the World Trade Center come crashing down on 9/11. You can see the darkness in the eyes of Charles Manson while being interviewed about the Sharron/Tate murders. You can see it in the eyes of Adolf Hitler, as he gloates over his conquest of Europe. You may be able to see it in the eyes of the ISIS Executioner. I haven’t been able to find a clear enough picture yet, but I’m sure the darkness is there. As long as they continue the way they are going. the darkness will pursue them.
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
A tear comes to my eye as I think about the darkness that is pursuing our nation. And we have nobody to run to for protection. Our nation has rejected God, and God is allowing the devil to reign terror, and destruction on our nation. Romans 1 gives a complete description of our trouble…
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:18-32)
A good description of America today. You can’t even trust your government leaders to tell the truth. There is only one solution…
“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelations 22:7. 12-13, 20-21)
Peace!
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 2 comments.
Do Right, Love People, Walk with God
Today’s Passage – Micah 5 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 7 – 9; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 26)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1
Read the “0926 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8) (Click on the verse to hear it sung by the Clark Family)
A simple but very profound verse of Scripture from the Book of Micah. Do you want to know how you can be right with your God? There is a simple three point outline here in verse eight of chapter six that explains just how to do that. Notice, however, that this verse is written to a people that already know God, so in order to make the application to yourself today you would have to have already begun a relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have already trusted Him as your Savior, then this verse is for you:
1 Do justly – this has as much to do with our relationship with others as well as our obedience to God. We need to strive to be in a right relationship with others; and do the right thing by them. If we have wronged somebody, let’s try to get it right. “Do the right thing”.
2 Love mercy – this has to do with forgiving others who have wronged you. Are you bitter against somebody today? Why not release him from the debtor’s prison in your heart; and forgive him. Look at how God (and others) have forgiven you. Loving mercy could also apply to your love for the souls of men.
3 Walk humbly with God – We need to see ourselves for who we really are – nothing; and see God for who He is – everything. Do you have a walk with Him? Are you spending time daily in prayer, and in the Word? Are you living your life in submission to His will.
Living in a right relationship with God is not all that mysterious or difficult. Jesus said that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. But if we refuse to submit ourselves to His Lordship, holding on to our own will and desire; walking with Him will be impossible. I’m not talking about perfection here: we all blow it at times; but when that happens, we must confess it to God, get back up, and move forward again in our walk with Him.
Posted in Thoughts from Micah by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
God is Still Speaking, but Are We Listening?
Today’s Passage – Micah 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 4 – 6; Psalms 121 – 125; Proverbs 25)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – James 4:10
Read the “0925 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.” (Micah 1:2-3)
Micah was a prophet from the town of Moresheth, which is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem near the border of the Philistines and not too far from the City of Gath (See Map). He was called and equipped by the Lord to deliver God’s message:
“But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” – (Micah 3:8)
His name means, “who is like Jehovah?” or “who is like Yahweh?” His name is said to be a shortened version of the name Micaiah. There are many other men in the Bible that share the names “Micah” and “Micaiah”
Micah prophesied to both the northern kingdom as well as the southern kingdom. Only the names of Judean kings are mentioned in verse 1, however. This is probably due to the fact that the northern kingdom was just about to be taken into Assyrian captivity at the time of his prophecy. Micah was a prophet during the reigns of Jotham (2 Kings 15:32 – 38, 750 – 731 BC), Ahaz (2 Kings 16, 731 – 715 BC), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 18 – 20, 715 – 686 BC). Hezekiah was the king when the Assyrians invaded Judah and attempted to conquer Jerusalem. (See 2 Kings 18:13 – 19:36; 2 Chronicles 32)
Micah was contemporary to the prophet Isaiah in the south, and also to Hosea, Jonah, and Amos from the north. He prophesied at the time when Israel was being completely over-run by the Assyrian Empire, and the same threat was moving southward into Judah. Many of the people from the north were seeking refuge in the south, but unfortunately, they were also bringing with them some of their bad habits. The worship of Baal was becoming more and more of a problem during the time of Micah, as well as the disintegration of moral values. Micah was the prophet to the poor and downtrodden citizens of the farmland, and Isaiah was a preacher in the cities and had the ear of kings and princes; but the messages of both Isaiah and Micah were very similar.
My thought this morning comes from the first few verses of Micah’s message: “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.” God had a message for the people of Judah, and he has a message for us today that is very similar. We need to hear and heed his message. Our nation is currently in a mess. We are bitterly divided as a nation, and the division seems to be primarily between God-fearing people and people who reject Him. God is calling out to America today, just as He did through Micah 2,700 years ago. But, will we listen? The northern kingdom of Israel didn’t listen and they were taken into captivity. The southern kingdom of Judah listened for a little while, but they also eventually turned away from God and received the same fate as their northern neighbors. Will America listen? Will America turn back to the God that has blessed her so abundantly in the past, or will she continue down the path of forsaking God?
You and I cannot answer for the nation, but we can determine, like Joshua: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). We can keep our lights shining brightly in an increasingly dark culture, and we can remain faithful to Jesus during a time when faith will be hard to find (Luke 18:8). We can also listen to the Lord as He commands to preach His gospel to all of the lost people around us. This world is desperately in need of revival. The Lord is still calling, but will we listen?
“O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?” (Micah 2:7)
God’s Word does do good, but it will only be beneficial if we listen and heed it.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
The Reluctant Prophet
Today’s Passage – Jonah 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 1 – 3; Psalms 116 – 120; Proverbs 24)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 Timothy 1:17
Read the “0924 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” – (Jonah 1:17)
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” – (Matthew 12:40)
Introduction
The Book of Jonah is the most well-known of all the Minor Prophets but it is also the most unbelieved. There are even some Christians that deny the reality of the events that are described in Jonah, claiming that the book is only an allegory. There are ten miracles recorded in this writing, including the survival of the prophet for three days in the belly of the whale. However, the greatest miracle recorded in this book is the conversion and salvation of thousands of people who were previously destined for Hell. This Book demonstrates that God has always had his eye of compassion on the whole world, not just Israel. Jonah is the first prophet to preach repentance to the Gentiles.
The Miracles of Jonah
1 1:4 “the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea.”
2 1:7 “the lot fell upon Jonah.”
3 1:15 “the sea ceased from her raging.”
4 1:17 “the LORD had prepared a great fish.”
5 1:17 “to swallow up Jonah.”
6 2:10 “the LORD spake unto the fish…it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”
7 3:10 “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.”
8 4:6 “the LORD God prepared a gourd.”
9 4:7 “God prepared a worm.”
10 4:8 “God prepared a vehement east wind.”
An interesting note – the word “great” appears many times in this Book: great city (1:2,3:2, 3:3, 4:11); great wind (1:4); great tempest (1:12); great fish (1:17); great kindness (4:2)
- The Prophet – Jonah
Not a whole lot is known about Jonah, except:
- He was the son of a man named Amittai.
- He was from Gath-hepher (near Nazareth in Galilee).
- He was a prophet to the northern kingdom during the reign of Jereboam II who reigned from 782 – 753 BC.
- He was contemporary with Amos and Hosea from the north, and Isaiah and Micah from the south.
- His name means “dove.”
An unconfirmed tradition claims that Jonah was the son of the widow woman from Zarephath whom Elijah raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:8 – 24).
The prophet Jonah was referred to by the Lord as a picture, or type, of His own resurrection from the dead. (1:17; Matthew 12:40; Luke 11:29 – 30) Jesus was in the tomb for three literal days and nights, just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale. Jesus also noted in Matthew 12:41 that the people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.
- The People – The Assyrians (Ninevites)
The Assyrians were a polytheistic people that had been demanding “gifts” (taxes) from the Israelites for some time. Eventually, in 722 BC, they would completely conquer the northern kingdom, and even threaten the City of Jerusalem in Judah. The Assyrians were a very cruel people, especially to those who were taken captive, and they were hated by the Israelites. Jonah, no doubt, looked forward to the judgment of God upon the people of Nineveh, and the last thing he wanted was for the Ninevites to be spared that judgment.
- The Place – Nineveh
Nineveh was originally built by Nimrod (Genesis 12:10) and became a very important city situated on the Tigris River, which eventually (700 BC) became the capitol city of the Assyrian empire. At this point in history, though not the chief city, Nineveh was a very wide, wealthy, and wicked city. The circumference of the city was 60 miles which is a three-day journey on foot (3:3). The city walls were said to be wide enough for several chariots to ride abreast.
The name Nineveh is thought to derive from “ninus,” i.e., Nimrod, and means the residence of Nimrod or “nunu” (Akkadian for “fish”). The people worshiped the fish goddess Nanshe (the daughter of Ea, the goddess of fresh water) and Dagon the fish god who was represented as half man and half fish. (MacArthur, John (2006-10-10). The MacArthur Study Bible, Thomas Nelson.)
Note – Nineveh was also a place where the false gods Ishtar and Assur were worshipped.
Some Concluding Thoughts about Jonah and God’s Calling for Him
Jonah was reluctant to follow God’s clearly stated will for his life. Just as God has a plan for Jonah, He has a plan for all of us:
1 God has a plan, a calling for your life.
2 Much of what God has called you to do is revealed in His Word.
3 God has something specific for you to do, and he has a specific place for you to do it.
4 Whatever God calls you to do, He will equip you to do. (Romans 12:3 – 8)
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
5 Whatever God calls you to do, He will supply whatever you need to do it:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
6 Usually, God will call you to do something that you will desire to do:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
7 However, there may be times when God will pull you out of your comfort zone and sometimes He will ask you to do something that you downright do not want to do. Your job is to discern the will of God for your life, as well as the specific wills of God for tomorrow, and then cheerfully submit to what He wants. Even Jesus prayed, “not my will but thine be done”. (Luke 22:42) Your life will be miserable until you do.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
Spiritual Famine
Today’s Passage – Amos 6 – 9; Obadiah 1 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 2 John, 3 John, Jude; Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32
Read the “0923 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:” (Amos 8:11)
Amos is writing concerning Israel about a time where there will be an absence of the Word of God among the people. But that famine of Bible instruction and principle comes as a result of the lack of desire among the people of Israel for hearing the Words of God. The people of Judah and Israel had their fill of God. They no longer desired to hear what He had to say; they no longer desired to live in by His precepts. They simply felt that they no longer needed God or His instruction.
I feel that America today is in the same boat. There is no famine here. There may be preachers out there who water down the Word of God, and there may be a lot of compromise out there; but, a copy of the Word of God is certainly available to nearly every person in America, and there really isn’t a shortage of churches out there. The problem is not the availability of the Word of God. Rather, the problem is a lack of desire for instruction from God. We have loosed from the moorings of our Biblical heritage and are floating in the sea of secular humanism. We are shouting to God from our culture, “Get Out!”, we don’t need you and we certainly don’t want you. I don’t think it is too far fetched to think about a day in the near future when our authorities try to stop the distribution of the Word of God altogether.
God will not stay where he is not wanted. In fact, the only thing holding back the judgment of God is a remnant of people in America who love the Word and the God who wrote it. So what is the solution? Can this tide of apathy and antagonism toward God be stopped, or even slowed? I am not sure. But my instructions are still to “preach the Word”, even when it is out of season. Christian, it matters not what the world thinks about our God and our Bible. We need to keep obeying God by sowing the seed of His word to the world around us. Some day soon, our job will be done; but for now it is still our responsibility to reach who we can with the glorious gospel of Christ. There are still people out there that hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Posted in Thoughts from Amos by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
Walking Together in Agreement
Today’s Passage – Amos 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 1 John 1 – 5; Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read the “0922 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
The context of verse 3 above deals with both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and how they had chosen to live contrary to the principles of the Word of God. They had become immoral and idolatrous. They had become enamored with the cultures of the heathen nations around them. God tells them here that He cannot walk with these people because they are not in agreement with Him.
I have often quoted this verse when preaching, particularly while speaking on matters of separation. How is it that the professing Christian today feels so comfortable walking alongside the people of the world who do not know Christ? There must be agreement in order for there to be fellowship. Now, I can walk alongside anybody for a short distance. I will have to work at times with people who are not Christians; and hopefully, I will walk along with a lost man for a time trying to persuade him to trust Christ. Jesus walked and ate with some lost people at times in order to reach them. But, I do not think that this verse is talking about casual, purposeful, or limited contact with the lost world around us. It is talking about true communion. God cannot commune with people who have forsaken Him; and we should not be comfortable running with people who are not in fellowship with Him either.
Christian, be careful who you run with. Surround yourself with people who are going to influence you positively, encouraging your walk with God. Stay away from the gossips who have “the goods” on everybody else. Avoid those who are always negative: who desire to tear everything down instead of building things up. Run with people who have the same doctrine and standards that you have. My preacher used to say, “You are, or soon will be, who you hang around.” I want to run with people who will cause me to do right and grow in the Lord. Just a thought!
Posted in Thoughts from Amos by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Where Is Their God?
Today’s Passage – Joel 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – 2 Peter 1 – 3; Psalms 101 – 105; Proverbs 21)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2
Read the “Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” – (Joel 2:15-17)
“Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servantswhich is shed.” (Psalm 79:10)
Have you ever asked the question, “where is God?” I have often heard the people of this world ask this question when bad things happen on the earth. They will say that if there was a loving God, He would not allow all of this evil in the world. I have also heard some of the people of God pose the same thought when they or somebody they care about are experiencing hardship in life. However, the context of the verse written above is a little bit different. In our passage, the people of God have strayed far away from His will. Judgment has already come, and more judgment is on the way, and the prophet is pleading with the people to turn back to God. Notice that he wants all of the people: men, women, and even the little children to gather together. He doesn’t want any of them to not be in their place. That’s a good place to start, isn’t it. Many of God’s people today have forsaken the church house, which is “the house of the living God” for us today. Then the prophet says that the priests are to plead to God for the people. God wanted this congregation of Israel to understand that they needed to recognize that they have strayed; and then repent and turn back to God. We need to do the same thing today.
My thought for this morning, however, is that I wonder how many of of the people around us: our neighbors, our co-workers, our family members, etc. can see God in our lives. Can they see the reality of our faith working throughout our day to day living. Maybe they are tolerant and even polite to us regarding what we say about our faith; but I wonder sometimes if they aren’t secretly thinking, “where is their God?” Can they see the reality of God in our lives? No wonder we are having a difficult time reaching the people around us. If God isn’t real to us, how can he reveal Himself to others through us. I believe we have a tremendous responsibility and an awesome opportunity to show people our God through our lives.
1 Show them God by living out your faith. If you really believe God, then live according to the principles found in His Word. Walk with Him daily. Yield to His Spirit and His will. Separate from the things that are not apart of His perfect plan for your life.
2 Show them God by loving the people around you. God loves people, unlovable people just like you. Demonstrate the reality of God by demonstrating God’s love to people. Look for ways to express the love of God to the lost world around you. Don’t take separation beyond where God intended it to be. He wants us to impact their world; not only with the truth, but also with compassion.
3 Show them God by lasting. A lot of Christians start out their race, and do pretty well for a while, but eventually drop out. When a Christian throws in the towel on his faith, he is telling the world that his God was not real. When I first got saved years ago, my brother said to me that he didn’t think this new life of mine would last. He thought it was just a phase that I was going through; but now I think he has come to realize that my God as well as my salvation is very real. The greatest compliment a person could give me would be for them to say that they saw the reality of God in my life.
Posted in Thoughts from Joel by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
The Saturday Morning Post – God Is Still On The Throne
Today’s Passage – Hosea 8 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read –1 Peter 1 – 5; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)
Read the “0920 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” (Hosea 8:14)
Good morning. God is still on the throne, and prayer changes things. I always wanted to use that opening line from South West Radio Church. In our verse, we find that Israel has forgotten God, but God is still on the throne. Judah thinks having a large amount of fenced cities will protect him from the God he to has forgotten about. But God is still on the throne. God is till on the throne, and in complete control. And God is getting ready to send fire upon the temples of Israel, and the fenced cities of Judah. God IS still on the throne, but also: prayer changes things.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)
Because God is still on the throne, and prayer still changes things.
America has forgotten it’s Maker. America has forgotten God. They teach that there is no God. And they build fenced cities, but Homeland Security will not protect them because God is still on the throne, but prayer changes things. America has all of it’s idols on TV. But God is still on the throne, and prayer changes things.
“If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” (Jeremiah 18:8)
Peace.
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 2 comments.
Hosea
Today’s Passage – Hosea 1 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – James 1 – 5; Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11
Read the “0919 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
A preacher cannot separate his personal life from his ministry. The life of a spiritual leader can be as much of a message as the words that he delivers on behalf of God. However, Hosea was a preacher that was asked by God to do far more than just live a life consistent with his message. He was asked to do incredible things in his personal life that were going to serve as illustrations to the people of Israel. God commanded him to marry a woman who would not be faithful to him, and to continue to pursue her even after she had strayed. This was to serve as a picture of God’s unconditional love for Israel. Israel had played the harlot throughout her history, yet God still loved her and was willing to forgive her and redeem her if she would sincerely turn back to Him.
Background Information
Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel from approximately 750 BC until 710 BC. He was contemporary with (though younger than) Amos, who also prophesied to the northern kingdom during the reign of King Jereboam II. While Hosea and Amos were prophesying to Israel, Isaiah and Micah were preaching the Word of the Lord to the southern kingdom of Judah. The kings of Judah during this period were Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. (Hosea 1:1)
We don’t know much about Hosea, other than the autobiographical information included in the text.
Wiersbe says this regarding Hosea:
Hosea ministered in the Northern Kingdom from about 760 to 720 b.c. Israel was enjoying great prosperity, but Hosea could see that the nation was rotten to the core; for honest government, pure religion, godly homes, and personal integrity had vanished from the land. Judgment was inevitable. Hosea faithfully preached the Word, but the nation refused to repent and was finally swallowed up by Assyria.[1]
Hosea’s name means “salvation” and is very similar to the name “Joshua,” which means Jehovah is Salvation. We know from the text that he had a father, named Beeri, of which we also know very little. We also know from the text that he married a wife, Gomer. She was to serve as a picture or type of the nation of Israel who had been unfaithful to God through her idolatry. Gomer was from “whoredoms” (Hosea 1:2 – 3), perhaps meaning that Gomer was already a harlot when Hosea had found her, and she would become unfaithful to Hosea even after they were married. Hosea and Gomer would have three children: Jezreel, Loruhamah, and Loammi. Gomer and the three children would illustrate God’s dealing with the northern kingdom of Israel.
To get a better understanding of the historical, spiritual, and cultural context of Judah and Israel during this period, it would be prudent to read 2 Kings 14 – 17, 2 Chronicles 26 – 29, Isaiah, and Micah.
The word that best describes the northern kingdom of Israel during this period is the word “whoredom,” which is used 13 times in this Book. Israel was very prosperous militarily and economically during the reign of Jeroboam II but she was also filled with idolatry and immorality, and the judgment of God was imminent. However, even though God would judge Israel for a season, He promises that He will eventually reclaim her as His bride.
The bottom line in understanding this book is that Hosea’s relationship with Gomer is a picture, or illustration, of God’s relationship with Israel.
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (p. 9). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Shining
Today’s Passage – Daniel 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Hebrews 9 – 13; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 40:31
Read the “0918 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” – (Daniel 12:3)
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” – (Proverbs 11:30)
Several years ago I received a text message from a very excited member of our church. She had taken a trip down to North Carolina to visit with her father who was very sick. She was concerned about her father’s physical health, but she was even more concerned about his spiritual condition. This young lady had never led anyone to Christ before and she was very apprehensive, but because she had such a love and burden for her dad, she boldly shared Christ with him. Praise the Lord! Her father was gloriously saved. I do not know that in the future she went on to “turn many to righteousness,” or not; but I do know that she was shining like a star the day she was used of the Lord to win her father to Christ.
I don’t know about you, but that story encourages me to be a better soul winner. I want to share Christ with the world around me. There was a time in my life when I was overflowing with the gospel; I witnessed to everybody. But to my shame, somewhere along the way, I lost some of that zeal. I want it back. Daniel says that people who turn many to righteousness will “shine.” The darker the world gets, the easier it should be to shine for Christ. Paul told the Church at Philippi: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life;…” (Philippians 2:15-16a). Proverbs states that soul winners are wise. Harry Ironside said this: “May ours be the wisdom that leads us so to walk as to commend the gospel of Christ to all with whom we come in contact, that thus we may be in very deed winners of souls, turning many to righteousness.”
A great practical tip for being a soul winner is carrying gospel tracts with you wherever you go. If the Lord put someone in your path and an opportunity presents itself, it is easy to give the person a tract. If their reaction to the tract is positive, then you can try to talk to them further. It is also beneficial to take a class that will train you to become proficient in presenting the gospel. When I was a new believer, I went through Evangelism Explosion. This program was very helpful in that it had us memorize scriptures that are useful in teaching salvation. It also provided a step-by-step, logical plan for starting gospel conversations, presenting the plan of salvation, and drawing the net to help the prospective convert come to a decision. There are many other good programs, plans, and methods out there that will help you to learn how to share your faith, but the best way to get started is just to begin talking to people and telling them what God did for you. Learn how to briefly share your testimony. Tell people your story; how God saved you.
Posted in Thoughts from Daniel by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.