The Twelve Prophets (Minor Prophets)

Obadiah & The Removing the Root of Edom

2009-03-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

Background of Obadiah

Setting: Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Judah and Edom's proximity. Neighbors. Descendants of Esau and Jacob....twins.
Forefathers were Abraham and Isaac. Yet there was terrible distrust between them.

What did Edom do during the Babylonian conquest?

What was the root problem of Edom?

See vv 1-4

Pride. Play on geography of Edom. Look at the pictures of Edom (modern day Petra).

Humility is a positive attribute. It is the nature of God. God is our humble King. Jesus Christ epitomizes humility.

Removing the root of Edom from our heart.

Pride is the displacement of God from the center of our lives by the enthronement of self.
Humility is often identified with penitence and contrition. As a consequence, there appears to be no way of fostering humility but by keeping the soul occupied with its sin.
Humility is something else and something more than this. Often the virtue of humility is displayed in the New Testament without reference to sin. In the very nature of things, the the whole relation of the creature to the Creator, in the life of Jesus as He lived it and imparts it to us, humility is the very essence of holiness as of blessedness. It is the displacement of self by the enthronement of God. Where God is all, self is nothing.

Paul's clear grasp of his sinful past helped him maintain humility and grace.

ESV 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1Co 15:9 ESV)

ESV Ephesians 3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
(Eph 3:8 ESV)

ESV 1 Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1Ti 1:12 ESV)

These verses sometimes are used to claim Paul is confessing here that he struggled daily with sin. However, when we read them carefully, we realize that Paul is using this confession to recognize how very low he was, in order to maintain a grip on humility.

Gripping humility starts with something very important:

Heart Honesty. Humility requires honesty in our very inner being.

Others Over Self. Humility puts others before ourselves.

Need. Humility confesses that we need Christ Jesus and cannot do what is right on our own.

Offers Your Best. Humility offers to serve others.

Remember and Reward. Humility rewards Christ with the glory for any accomplishments we may make with His assistance.

Honesty. Start by assessing yourself not too lowly or too highly. Be accurate. You have incredible value. You have sinned.
Others. Secondly choose others before yourself. When Edom saw Israel coming out of Egypt, Edom refused Israel passage. Choosing self first closes off humility.
We can very practically involve ourselves in blessing others by giving to the Vineyard Helping Hands fund and getting involved in the lives of people who receive aid right here.
We can also give to missions. Our Hope For All Nations Fund will be our focus, Lord willing, in April this year.
We can also assist anyone the Lord leads across our path during our daily activities. Be ready to help others. Put others over yourself
We can do this around the church or around our house. Just picking up, or vacuuming or assisting with the dishes or whatever task is at hand. None are beneath us no matter how
great we think we are, nothing is too low for any of us to do.
Need. Thirdly, recognize that Jesus Christ is the ONLY one who can help you live the right way. Stay focused on Christ Jesus. Draw your life from Him. Learn utter dependence on
His nature.

Offer your talents to help in your family. Fourthly, Offer your talents and gifts in the church or even at work. Do we have to be paid for everything we do? Learn to take delight in helping
others with your very best. If you are a singer, sing with your whole heart. If you are an administrator, organize with your finest effort. If you are a leader, lead well. If you are a teacher, teach so they own the lessons in their heart and can do them. If you are a helper, help in a way that makes them glad you were there. If you are a mercy giver, demonstrate true kindness in your acts of mercy. If you are a financial supporter, give by faith so that the recipient feels honored.

Remember & Reward. Fifthly, Remember who you were. Then pass the trophies on to Jesus Christ. If you live for eternity, and all wise people do, then see yourself worshipping Jesus with your rewards.

ESV Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." (Rev 4:10 ESV)

What does it mean 'watch in hope' for the Lord?

2008-06-28T03:08:00.001-07:00

In Micah 6 & 7 we are shown that the Lord watches all of mankind closely to see who has three qualities. A friend mentioned yesterday that the eyes of the Lord are looking across the earth to see who is fully his. The verse ties in to this idea I think. "ESV 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."

Micah 6.8 gives three elements to what God is watching for. Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. The term humbly is better translated as live your life 'paying attention' to God. So it is a direct response to this desire of God to see people who pay attention to Him that Micah ties into in NIV Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

What does this mean? I see hope and faith mixed together here. Micah says "My God will hear me". That is faith. Micah watches in hope. So there are faith and hope operating like two pedals on a bicycle driving the man of God forward. These are eternal qualities. Paul binds them together with love in ESV 1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

If we follow Micah's example, bearing Paul's word in mind, then we are looking with hope and longing to God. We watch with greater desire because we are not just hoping for something from God's hand. We are longing for God Himself because we love Him.

During your day as you let your heart turn towards the Lord. Let all you are doing be supported by a heart whose eyes are on the Lord. Maybe we could use the word gaze. Let your heart gaze on the Lord with faith, hope and love. Micah 7.7 and 1 Co 13.13.

What does it mean to 'walk humbly with your God'?

2008-06-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

The verse asks what God requires of man. The word for require means 'seek with care'. So you could say this...'what does God carefully look for in man'? One of the three things mentioned is that we would 'walk humbly with God'. As I've looked at this phrase, a sharper meaning has come into focus. The famous phrase 'walk humbly with your God' simply means (in the Hebrew) to 'allow yourself to be advised' by God. Or put another way, 'pay attention to what God is saying and doing'. It means 'keep your eyes on God while you live'. Let the eyes of your heart and your spiritual ears be sensitive to anything God says or does while you are living your life.

So that was last week, some meditation on Micah 6:8. Now this week I've been looking at Micah 7:7-20. And I found something related in Micah 7:7 that's interesting. In the verb tense used here for 'will look' to the Lord, it means to 'watch closely'. So Micah is saying 'I will watch for the Lord closely'...or I will look intensely to the Lord. When everything and everyone is falling apart, i won't look to humans or human institutions/governments.

So I see Micah 7:7 is the response to Micah 6:8. In Micah 6:8 God reveals three things He is carefully seeking from mankind. In Micah 7:7 we have the resolution to do the third one. God looks for those who will 'pay attention to what He is saying and doing. Micah shows us the way to respond...resolve to 'look to the Lord'. Resolve to watch closely for the Lord.

Sometimes I think this is my greatest failure. When I fail to watch closely for the Lord, everything is affected. Sometimes I think this is also our greatest breakthrough. When we stop and wait. Take time to turn the 'eyes of our heart' to the Lord, everything is affected.

ESV Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (to walk humbly means to live paying attention to what God is saying and doing')

ESV Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (will look means watch closely)

How to please God (Micah 6)

2008-06-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

ESV Micah 6:1 ¶ Hear what the LORD says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3 "O my people, what have I done to you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." 6 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Court Case:

The Lord's indictment against His people
1) Questioning God's people: How have I wearied you?
a) Brought up from the land of Egypt
b) Redeemed from the house of slavery
c) Sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam
d) Remember Balak (Moabite) & Balaam (Balaam's error was greed)

Israel has failed to cherish the saving acts of the Lord in her history.

We need to know the bible stories of the Lord's saving acts to bolster our own faith. We must recall and retell our own personal stories to avoid the failure Israel went through. As we work through the bible as a congregation, learn the stories of the bible. Learn them well. They are our heritage. They are there for us to learn the key lessons for our own lives!

Can you identify four or five times in your life when the Lord has acted on your behalf? Can you tell the stories? Have you remembered what God has done for you?

My stories: A) Selling my house in Olathe...painting it before someone comes to look at it. The rain stopped.
B) Purchasing a home in Normal 24 months later with only $50 in our hands. The church, family and bank all made special accommodations for us.
C) When we could not identify what was causing David's fever.
D) When I prayed for the money to go on a vacation in 2003.
E) When I asked God to provide the funds for two trees so I could fulfill our neighborhood covenant requirements in 2002.
F) Dave Park farm needed rain in the middle 90's. Needed it again several years later. The last time we spoke we asked a third time for rain for his farm, and rain was forming in the west before he walked out the building.

Mission stories: 8 times the Lord provided what I needed to go overseas on mission trips, exactly, on the last day that I needed the money. One time I need more than I thought and he provided exactly beyond what we thought...$300 from Arnold on our last Taiwan trip!

MEDITATE*REMEMBER*PROCLAIM

2) What is the Lord looking for?
a) Burnt offerings?
b) Thousands of rams, ten thousands of rivers of oil?
c) My firstborn? Molech worship in Israel

Israel thinks God is like the demonic idols of the land, that He needs something from us.

Reject any effort to bargain with God.

3) Here is what is good: What He requires:

a) Do justice... The special focus here is on the poor.
b) Love kindness...For those in trouble, for foreigners, for those who are alone.

"Hesed ahab" (Hebrew transliterated)--Hesed is translated mercy in the NIV, but it goes beyond that. Hesed is covenant love, being bound together in solidarity with both God and human beings so that community is established between poor and rich, weak and strong, female and male, slave and free, alien and Israelite (ESV Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.) All care for one another in mutual respect and protection and sharing. Hesed binds people together as one in the bundle of life, so that God is not worshiped and obeyed apart from concern for one's fellow human being ESV Matthew 5:23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

ESV Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ESV Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

This is the community solidarity that Israel is to love...the verb Ahab, which is used of the deepest love of a wife for her husband or of a child for his or her parent. (Achtemeier on Micah pg 353)

c) Live humbly...For those who do well in life, humble walk.
Walk here means constant communion. Humbly here includes the idea of paying attention to God...watching to see what He is saying right now....being attentive to Him.

Living a life FROM God's word, not from our own words....paying attention to His will. See ESV Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Recommended reading for growing in humility.

Humility by Andrew Murray

d) Sound wisdom

1) Fear His name is trembling at His greatness...not being scared.
ESV Psalm 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

2) Hate evil
ESV Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Intimate Friendship by Joy Dawson

Israel needs a revelation of what God desires in His people most of all.

Merge justice with kindness & humility. Mix them all with sound wisdom!

How to share your faith using Micah 5

2008-06-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Micah 5: How to inspire others to believe in Jesus Christ with Micah the prophet.

1) Define the issue "House of Bread Prophecy"

All of God's people have been proven to need someone to help them, to rescue them, to redeem them. The key question above all questions is this: Is Jesus Christ really the Messiah: The One who came from heaven to rescue mankind from sin and death?

Who is going to win the Presidency? Who will be the next Governor of Illinois? Who will lead Normal or Bloomington? Who's gonna win the World Series this year?
How is our economy going to fare in light of terrorism and an attack on our nation?

2) Describe the scripture's prophecy "House of Bread Prophecy"

ESV Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

From ancient times prophecies have been given by God in the scriptures

Time frame of Micah: 8th Century B.C. (A full 700+years before Christ's birth).
He is the first prophet to point to Bethlehem as the birthplace of the coming Messiah.
Bethlehem was a poor man's town. Nothing fancy there. It would be like claiming to be from a town like McLean, Illinois. McLean is a small town outside of Bloomington/Normal. Nothing fancy there in McLean. No rich people there.

Beth Lehem (House of Bread)

There were two Bethlehem's in ancient Israel. ESV Joshua 19:15 and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem--twelve cities with their villages.
describes a Bethlehem that is in Zebulun. This Bethlehem is near Nazareth in Galilee. It is NOT the Bethlehem of Ephrath. That Bethlehem is Micah's Bethlehem
and was NOT in Galilee. The Bethlehem we are talking about in Micah 5 is the Bethlehem in modern Israel's west bank. It was originally built up by King Rehoboam of Judah.

This part of the west bank, not far from Jerusalem is under Palestinian Authority and control since 1995. Originally it was built to be part of a defensive network of cities near Jerusalem to help protect Jerusalem.

The people in the Jerusalem area had a specific dialect of Aramaic during Jesus day. In Galilee there was a different dialect. Perhaps like people from Memphis Tennessee who have a southern accent compared to people from central Illinois. When an Illinoisan goes to Memphis, everyone there knows the Illinois boy is NOT from Memphis.

So it was with people in Jerusalem's region when Galileans visited. The accent gave them away.

ESV John 7:37 ¶ On the last day of the feast (In Jerusalem), the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 ¶ When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet." 41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Some people rejected Jesus because he had a Galilean accent AND they knew the prophecy of Micah was that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem near Jerusalem. They assumed that the prophecy would then be fulfilled by someone with a west bank accent....but Jesus had an accent from the land of Galilee. So many times a tiny assumption from a prophecy can become dogma. Dogma or a rigid expectation can cause us to miss God. Assumptions can do the same thing. Even worse, assumptions mixed with dogma can be fatal.

ESV Matthew 2:1 ¶ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" 7 ¶ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 13 ¶ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." 16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." 19 ¶ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

To be called from Nazareth would be akin to being called from the 'boondocks' today. It essentially meant you were from the sticks...or from nowhere special in Galilee.

The Nazareth connection to Bethlehem went back to Joseph and Mary's relationship as a betrothed couple before Jesus came.

ESV Luke 2:1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

So after returning from Egypt, Jesus was taken back to the land of Joseph and Mary's original dwelling...to Nazareth.

God will sometimes use authorities to accomplish His prophetic word. There is a lesson in this for us to respect God's authority and to pray for all those in authority. 1 Tim 2:1.

ESV Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

3) Detail Christ's fulfillment of that prophecy "House of Bread Prophecy"

Review the prophecy in Micah 5 with the person. Show how Christ fulfilled this prophecy when Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem and found no room in the Inn.
This is just one of many, many prophecies that point to Jesus Christ. ESV Hosea 11:1 ¶ When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (the son here is a metaphor for Israel coming out of Egypt the first time. However, Matthew sees it as pointing to the Christ also coming out of Egypt and links Jesus' time in Egypt prophetically with Israel's exodus out of Egypt). The combination of the spiritual meaning of Nazareth (boondocks), Egypt, and Bethlehem (from our Micah 5 passage) show us that Jesus Christ's chronology was tied in every way and every step to the prophetic history of Israel. Jesus therefore is the expected Messiah.

Our conclusion is that the ancient scriptures pointed to Jesus long before HE came to the earth. Therefore we should listen to Him and we should make Him our Lord and Savior.

Will you give your life to jesus today?

How to make a difference! Micah 3:8

2008-06-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

How to be a difference maker!

During the 8th century B.C. the curse of cannibalism as part of a siege strategy to make a city give up without a fight was more common than in other periods of history. (BBCOT-Walton)

2 Kings 6:24 ¶ Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, "Help, my lord, O king!" 27 And he said, "If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?" 28 And the king asked her, "What is your trouble?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, 'Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son." 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes--now he was passing by on the wall--and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body-- 31 and he said, "May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.

ESV Micah 3:1 ¶ And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?-- 2 you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones, 3 who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron. 4 Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. 5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry "Peace" when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. 6 Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; 7 the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. 8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. 9 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us." 12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

1) Micah rightly predicted that the leaders of Israel were leading their people into destruction. The fear of cannibalism was directly connected to the final days of a siege designed to overthrow the city.

2) The prophets in Israel were predicting everything would be good, when things were going awry.

3) The leaders stood condemned because they loved evil and hated good.

4) Micah was different because he was full of the Holy Spirit

5) The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring conviction regarding sin, righteousness and judgment to come.
ESV John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

The delineating issue in Micah's ministry was that he was full of the Spirit of God.

ESV Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled (ongoing tense) with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 ¶ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Five characteristics of a Holy Spirit filled Christian.
Addressing...
Singing...
Making melody...
giving thanks...
submitting...

Note: 5:22 has no verb in the Greek..it is supplied in English to demonstrate the obvious link to 5:21.
The implication is that in the following household codes (husband/wife relationship), parenting and slave management (5:22-6:9) the difference maker is the Holy Spirit.

How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

Ask
Seek
Knock

5 ¶ And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Seek the Holy Spirit Schedule time to wait on God every day for the Holy Spirit to fill you up!
Pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to fill your soul and Press into God
Intensely focus your attention on God and Internally open up to God's Spirit
Repenting of any known sin & Renouncing any ground given to the devil
Inquire & Intercede for your own need.
Thanks and praise to God for what He has done in your life & Turn your eyes on Jesus Christ!

P.A.C.E. Micah 1 & 2

2008-06-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Question: How can you believe that God would judge a nation by sending a foreign army to occupy them or destroy them? How can God be a good God and judge everyone in a nation like that....including women and children? Did God really judge Israel in the 8th Century B.C.? If so what can we learn from this?

ESV Micah 1:1 ¶ The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. 5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, a place for planting vineyards, and I will pour down her stones into the valley and uncover her foundations. 7 All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces, all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste, for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them, and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return. 8 For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches. 9 For her wound is incurable, and it has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem. 10 Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all; in Beth-le-aphrah roll yourselves in the dust. 11 Pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitants of Zaanan do not come out; the lamentation of Beth-ezel shall take away from you its standing place. 12 For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, because disaster has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem. 13 Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; it was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel. 14 Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel. 15 I will again bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come to Adullam. 16 Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair, for the children of your delight; make yourselves as bald as the eagle, for they shall go from you into exile.

Key exegetical idea: God is sovereign over all of mankind. The God who made all of heaven and earth holds nations and His people accountable for choosing to follow Him or not. He freely pulls down nations and raises up new nations as He sees fit. His heart grieves when He has to pull down a people, like He did with Israel.

1) God claims to own the world and everyone in it. ESV Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2) God actually does own the whole world and everyone in it....many of us just don't realize it.

ESV 1 Corinthians 10:20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 23 ¶ "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

3) God takes time to invervene in nations. He not only defines nations, but he also ends some nations. He measures their borders and length of existence.

ESV Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

4) All nations stand condemned in their sins. Not just individuals, but nations too. God ultimately will justly evaluate and reward or punish every nation in the world at the end of the age.
In the meantime God will not hesitate to affect nations. His key way of shaping nations is through His servants. Jeremiah pulled down or planted nations by his prophetic words. God releases real power through prophesy. No wonder Paul said we ought to all earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy. ESV 1 Corinthians 14:1 ¶ Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Principle: God is sovereign and will judge nations according to what is just and true. Therefore, we are all in trouble.

Applications: P.A.C.E.

1) Prayer & Fasting: Cultivate a God centered mindset and spirit of prayer. You can shape history through prayer and fasting. Bear this in mind when you are thinking about what to do with your time. When you think about whether to go to a prayer meeting or not, or to have a devotional time or to sleep in.

Visions of the Soviet Union being rearranged by the hand of God in the late 1980's early 1990's.

Set a day or two each week that you give at least part of it to prayer and fasting. You can change history this way! Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince: Also the Kneeling Christian by an Unknown author.

2) Attitude: Learn from history to gaze into the future. Look to the future! Let an awareness of ancient Israel's judgment remind us all that everyone will be judged at the end of the age! Do not become doomy and gloomy. Become energized by the future that is coming. The key to this future thinking is to center your heart and mind on the coming of Jesus. This will transform your whole life!! Fascinate 2008. ESV 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Failing Forward by John Maxwell

3) Compassionate Leadership: Christ loves the world and does not want to see anyone perish apart from the knowledge of Him.

ESV 1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Micah grieved over the vision of judgment coming to Israel and Judah. It broke his heart. The evil in his day grieved him, yet he loved the people and wept over them. Micah 1:8-9.
"Here is a leader who knew what to weep for. His people were being disciplined for their sin, but it still broke Micah's heart to see them suffer. Leaders who deeply value the worth of a human soul will build more humane organizations." The Leadership Study Bible notes on Micah 1.

4) Evangelism: Integrate the call to radical change in the sharing of your faith. Some will listen to the call, and some will reject it. But those who listen will become real believers in Christ.

Acts 17:22 ¶ So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' 29 ¶ Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." 32 ¶ Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this." 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

God's Vision & Restoration (Amos 9:11-15)

2008-05-25T10:56:00.001-07:00

ESV Amos 9:11 "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this. 13 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them," says the LORD your God.

Principle 1: New Testament interprets the Old Testament
Principle 2: Many Old Testament prophecies will be fulfilled spiritually in Christ and His church.
Principle 3: The Pharisees erred when they rejected Jesus because He did not literally fulfill the prophecies they thought had to be literally fulfilled. (In otherwords they misunderstood
the nature of the Word of God and took too natural of an approach to God's Word.
Principle 4: The judgment prophecied in Amos will not be final. There will come the blessing of God after all is done, and it will touch everyone! It will be universal.

ESV Daniel 2:29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. 31 ¶ "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 ¶ "This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all--you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure." 46 ¶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.

Note that the earthly kingdoms in this dream were all natural earthly kingdoms. But the Kingdom of Heaven was not an earthly kingdom. There was nothing in the passage to indicate this. So even Jesus' disciples expected Him to set up an earthly army and overthrow the Romans physically. Yet they were all wrong. Jesus did establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, but it was in the hearts of his disciples, not on the real estate of their cities. It was a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly natural kingdom. Everything shifted.

And so it is with the prophecy of Amos. He is not talking here about the establishment of David's tent once again exactly as David had it set up.
(David's Tent refers to the Tabernacle of Moses that David brought to Jerusalem). He is referring to the organized singers who worshipped God 24/7 in the temple.
Talk about International House of Prayer and how it brings this very dynamic into being today.

So then how does the New Testament interpret Amos 9:11-15 for us? It is amazing because it is the key point used to decide a major debate in the early church...perhaps the largest debate the early church ever had. Should churches follow the law of Moses and have a religious circumcision rite for the baby boys among them or not? Are churches that stop keeping the Sabbath and who stop keeping the feasts of the Old Testament and the laws of Moses, are they sinning? Weren't these commandments given forever? Shouldn't we keep the ten commandments of God?

ESV Exodus 20:8 ¶ "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

ESV Acts 15:1 ¶ But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." 6 ¶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." 12 ¶ And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.' 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." 22 ¶ Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." 30 ¶ So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

People say that everything rises and falls on leadership. Some people believe that without a vision, the people perish.

Who is the leader of the Kingdom of heaven? It is truly Jesus Christ. He is our leader. He is our vision caster.

What is his vision for His Kingdom?

The vision of Jesus for His kingdom is laid out right here in Amos 9:11-15. It is none other than 'all peoples'. It is nothing short of blessing for everyone everywhere. It is a universal vision which is captured in the expressions laid out here. He does not mean to rebuild the tabernacle of Moses and reinstitute the priesthood of Aaron along with the Old Testament sacrifices. No, Christ the lamb of God has come in the order of Melchizedek to minister a sacrifice which has power to deliver us from sin and death. That sacrifice, Christ on the Cross enables us to live a life of faith. The faith of our father Abraham. So we inherit the blessings of these prophets...prophets like Amos. And so James the apostle clearly sees this when the early church is debating the role of the law and cites Amos 9 to establish officially the 'law free' churches of the gentiles throughout the ancient world. They were no longer going to receive missionaries unofficially sent from Jerusalem who would tell them they must keep the Sabbath and be circumcised...and keep the feasts of the law. No they were free to enjoy the gospel of Grace.

So for us Amos 9 shows the glory of the gospel triumphing over all. It brings grace to everyone and we celebrate the vision then of the King of the Kingdom.

Our vision then, to grow a life giving community of hope for everyone, flows in harmony with this passage. It is line with the vision of our leader, Jesus Christ and what He is calling His church to do. It fits with His statement that 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples"

ESV Isaiah 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

ESV Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 ¶ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]

So we are growing a community of hope for all nations. It is a community of hope in a desperate world. A world that is apathetic to God, a world that is filled with greed and immorality and spiritual despair. We have the answer. The answer is in our leader, Jesus Christ. And so it is Him whom we cling to and to whom we garnish our allegiance. Let's join together to labor in His Vineyard, establishing all that He is establishing here and into the nations!

This means we have long range purpose in teaching children. This means our worship, our small groups, our Hope for all nations offerings, our outreaches/Helping Hands efforts, should be anchored in Christ's vision for His kingdom.

Amos 9:11 & 12

2008-05-21T18:58:00.001-07:00

What does Amos 9:11-12 refer to when it says the 'booth of David'?

ESV Amos 9:11 "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this.

The term booth is often translated 'tent'. The tabernacle of Moses was a tent that David brought to Jerusalem in his day. This may be a reference to the city of David, Jerusalem, and the worship of God that went on there day and night-that which was represented by the singers King David installed to honor God. (1 Chronicles 9)

A modern day movement is springing up in the spirit of the ancient ministry David established. This modern day movement is called "International House of Prayer". Based in the Kansas City, MO metro area, this prayer movement features 24 hour a day worship with spontaneous song and intercessory prayer woven into worship sets of two hours at a time. Every two hours a different team leads everyone who gathers together to pray in worship, intercession and devotion to Christ Jesus. See www.ihop.org for more information on this unique ministry.

Amos 7: Open Theism & Prophetic Dreams and visions

2008-05-18T18:08:00.001-07:00

Amos 7:1-6
ESV Amos 7:1 ¶ This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. 2 When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, "O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!" 3 The LORD relented concerning this: "It shall not be," said the LORD. 4 ¶ This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. 5 Then I said, "O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!" 6 The LORD relented concerning this: "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.

This passage touches on a hot issue that has been rising up among Christians in the last 20 years. The question is this. What is the nature of God's knowledge of the future? Or another way to look at this is: Does God dwell within time or outside of time?

Read the four views on the nature of divine foreknowledge by Sam Storms part 1.

Open foreknowledge
Simple foreknowledge
Middle knowledge
Calvist foreknowledge

Open foreknowledge helps explain

ESV Genesis 6:5 ¶ The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."

Moses wrote this about God.

ESV Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Also scripture says: ESV 1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

Yet, Moses experienced this with God also!!

ESV Exodus 32:11 ¶ But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'" 14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Moses and Amos were similar because they both cared about Israel.

The difference between Jonah and Amos.
Jonah did not care about the people he was prophesying judgment over.
Amos took the words of judgment back to the Lord and pleaded as an intercessor for them.

Both were called.
Both were gifted.
Both were anointed to prophesy.
Both had words from God.

Jonah's word was received by Ninevah.
Amos's word was rejected by Israel.

Jonah wanted Ninevah to be judged.
Amos wanted Israel to receive mercy.

There is something more than just what is God's foreknowledge like. This passage also teaches us what to do when we receive a dream or a vision about someone or a group of people. Especially if it is a negative revelation!

1) Not all dreams and visions are from the Lord.
2) Not all dreams and visions that are from the Lord are locked. They often are invitations to pray!!!
3) John Wimber has cancer and is going to die from cancer dreams across America in the late 80's and early 90's.

Prophecy is often given so that the one receiving it can pray for the people in need.
Gifting and character are two separate issues.
The best way is to only prophesy for people when you truly care enough about them to pray for them.
The prophetic utterance itself was a delivery mechanism for the judgment.

The bottom line is this: ESV Joel 2:13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

ESV Jonah 3:9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."

Intercessory prayer turns away the hand of God when judgment is falling.

ESV 2 Samuel 24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, "It is enough; now stay your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Jesus Christ is interceding for us right now!!

ESV Romans 8:31 ¶ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

This is why God's mercy is so rich towards us! When we join in prophetic intercessory prayer, we join in the highest ministry of Jesus. We transform the spiritual landscape of history.
Lives are transformed. Nations are raised up and pulled down.

ESV Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. 19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives.

Amos 5 God weeps at Israel's funeral

2008-05-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine what it would be like if you came to church today and there was a funeral going on? And not only was it a funeral, but the funeral was for you? And the leaders were weeping because you were dead. Yet you were still alive? Can you imagine how that would feel? And what if a very intense prophet of God was leading the funeral and he was singing a prophetic funeral dirge about you. And in that funeral song he sang about how you failed to worship God in your life and how you were a cheat who distorted justice for the poor? How would you feel? What if the prophetic song was so offensive that you wanted to kill the singer? But what if you never really worshiped God from your heart and were truly a cheat all of your life? What if the song was true?

We have come to the part of Amos where this is exactly what is going on. Amos sings a funeral dirge about Israel. It is in Amos 5:1-17. Let's read it together. This funeral lament is the song of a bridegroom mourning over his bride. It is a song of grief. Not really a song of wrath.

The song is about Israel's death which is brought on by her failure to worship God in truth and the unjust dealings in Israel's court system.

ESV Amos 5:1 ¶ Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel: 2 "Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up." 3 For thus says the Lord GOD: "The city that went out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went out a hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel." 4 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; 5 but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beersheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing." 6 Seek the LORD and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, 7 O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast down righteousness to the earth! 8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name; 9 who makes destruction flash forth against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress. 10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. 11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. 13 Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 16 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord: "In all the squares there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation, 17 and in all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through your midst," says the LORD.

In verse 1 we see the first person pronoun...I. This is God speaking directly over Israel.

Israel is dead (not yet, but in the prophetic vision she is already).
God's grief is clear. His judgment comes in sorrow. ESV Genesis 6:6 And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

ESV Matthew 23:37 ¶ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate.

Israel was going to cultic sites to worship and was not really worshiping God the way he had covenanted with them to worship.

ESV Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

ESV Psalm 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me.

ESV Psalm 105:4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Israel has missed her opportunity to seek God and live. What can we learn from this? That we, the church of the living God, should seek God with all our hearts. We should be a congregation of God seekers. Seeking Him should be our primary focus. In light of this, showing up at church is a very basic thing. But not showing up alone. Bringing offerings to the Lord. Not just coming with something in our hands. But coming with hearts that expect to meet God. Not just coming to church with something in our hands and a hunger in our hearts, but pursuing God every day. A daily life of relating to God. Constant fellowship with Him. Praying always. Seeking Him always.

So how do we do this?

1) David had it right when he repented.
2) David had it right when he took time to recognize the beauty of the Lord.
3) David had it right when he consecrated himself to the Lord.
4) David had it right when he sought good in his society because the Lord is good.
5) So come to the cross of Christ. Put your faith in Him, and Him alone. Let His transforming power fill you with His righteousness and love.

Get a heart grasp of what happened to Israel so that we learn the lesson of their failure. We should seek the Lord while we have an opportunity. The lesson here is that the covenant of Moses never could enable Israel to live for God. But we have power to live for God through the new covenant. It is a better covenant because through faith in the blood of Christ we can overcome. We can seek the Lord and we will live.
And we can learn that even in judgment, God is not a mean spirited being throwing lightening bolts and poor helpless humans. No, when he does bring final judgment it is always thoroughly justified and with great sorrow.

The issues we deal with here are the most important issues in life. These are life and death issues. The decision to be a God-seeker is the most important decision a person can make in their life.

ESV Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

ESV James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Amos 1 & 2: Does God judge nations?

2008-05-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Every few years a group of people rise up who claim that America is about to be judged by God for her sins. In the 1970's we were taught by many people that the end was coming soon because it had been 40 years since the founding of Israel as a nation. Many people were convinced America was doomed. When the judgment did not come, and American prosperity increased, that movement faded...but soon another rose claiming that an economic earthquake was about to hit America. And about the same time, in 1987, a Romanian survivor of Soviet torture, prophesied that the Angel Gabriel showed him both coasts of America were going to be set on fire by nuclear attacks. And then time went by and nothing happened. Some people have grown very skeptical about any claim that God punishes nations. The new in vogue idea seems to be that a loving God would never judge a nation with any sort of punishment. That God cannot be a loving God if he punishes nations.

Does God punish nations or groups of people for the evil they as a nation commit?

Does the gospel propose anything regarding nations? Matt 28:19-20

How does the law of the Lord and the prophets of the Lord in the Old Testament fit into the gospel of Christ and His Kingdom?

Do we really need the dark message of the prophets of the Old Testament? Isn't it just doom and gloom and desparity?

Some Christians go so far as to refuse to accept the Old Testament prophets and the seemingly harsh message of the Old Testament.

Yet inside everyone is a sense of justice. All of us have an innate sense of right and wrong. We may define it differently, but our hearts testify that there is a right and a wrong.

The bible says that All scripture is useful. ESV 2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

ESV Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Who was Amos?

Home and Occupation.

—Biblical Data:
Jewish prophet of the eighth century B.C.; date of birth and death unknown. Among the minor prophets there is none whose personality is so familiar as that of Amos. His name occurs not only in the superscription of the book, but several times (vii. 8, 10 et seq., 14; viii. 2) in the body of it. His home was in Tekoa in Judah, five miles to the south of Bethlehem. The original title of his book was merely "The Words of Amos of Tekoa"; the rest, "who was among the herdsmen," is a later addition emphasizing the fact gleaned from vii. 14, that Amos had been a herdsman before he became a prophet. From the margin this notice appears to have intruded itself into the text. The attempt has been made to discover a northern Tekoa for his home, but there is no need for that. That Amos was from Judah is the simplest interpretation of vii. 13. Amos himself tells us what his profession was: he was a herdsman and one who tended sycamore-figs (vii. 14). At Tekoa sycamores are not grown, but Amos could very well have been the proprietor of a sycamore-grove at some distance from Tekoa, in the Shefelah, the hill country leading down to Philistia, where there were sycamoretreesin "abundance" (I Kings, x. 27). He makes this statement of his occupation to Amaziah, the chief priest of Bethel, who, startled by the ominous utterances of Amos, advises him to make his escape to Judah and there to earn his livelihood by his profession of prophet. Amos denies both premises involved in this rebuke. He does not need to take fees for his prophecies, because he is well-to-do, and he is no prophet either by profession or extraction, but was called by God from behind his flock by special summons. Amos' attitude marks a turning-point in the development of Old Testament prophecy. It is not mere chance that Hosea, Isaiah (ch. vi.), Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and almost all of the prophets who are more than unknown personages to whom a few prophetical speeches are ascribed, give first of all the story of their special calling.

First to Write down Prophecy.

All of them thereby seek to protest against the suspicion that they are professional prophets, because the latter discredited themselves by flattering national vanities and ignoring the misdeeds of prominent men. But Amos marks an epoch in Old Testament prophecy also in another respect. He is the first of the prophets to write down the messages he has received. It is easy to understand the reason for this innovation. He feels himself called to preach in Beth-el, where there was a royal sanctuary (vii. 13), and there to announce the fall of the reigning dynasty and of the northern kingdom. But he is denounced by the head priest Amaziah to King Jeroboam II. (vii. 10 et seq.), and is advised to leave the kingdom (verses 12 et seq.).

—In Rabbinical Literature:
According to the rabbis (Lev. R. x., Eccl. R. i. 1) Amos was nick-named "the stutterer" by a popular etymology. The people, on hearing his bitter rebukes, retorted: "Has the Lord cast aside all His creatures to let His spirit dwell only on this stutterer?"

Regarding the teachings of Amos, the following utterance of Simlai, an amora of the beginning of the third century, is noteworthy:

Six hundred and thirteen commandments were given to Moses; King David reduced them to eleven (Ps. xv.); Isaiah to six (Isa. xxxiii. 15); Micah to three (Micah vi. 8); Isaiah, a second time, to two (Isa. lvi. 1); but Amos to one: "Seek Me and Live!" (Mak. 24a). According to rabbinical tradition (Suk. 52b, Pirḳe R. ha-Ḳadosh, viii., based on Micah v. 5 [4]), Amos is one of the "eight princes among men" alluded to in Micah, v. 5. K.

According to rabbinical tradition, Amos was killed by King Uzziah, who struck him on the forehead with a glowing iron (Gedaliah ibn YaḦyah in his "Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah," quoted by Heilprin in "Seder ha-Dorot," i. 3110, Venetian ed. of 1587, does not mention anything of this).

The story of the martyrdom of Amos, found in the pseudo-Epiphanean writings ("Vita Prophetarum"), is somewhat different; according to this version, Amos was killed by a blow on the temple struck by Amaziah, priest of Beth-el. L. G. (gleaned from Jewish Encyclopedia online).

How does the subject of justice and judgment for wrong doing fit into the gospel message ?

I believe the answer is laid out most clearly in Paul's writings in the New Testament. WE need the revelation of the gospel of Christ to understand what is going on in the Old Testament.

ESV 2 Corinthians 3:1 ¶ Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 ¶ Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 ¶ Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 ¶ Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

To explain it more clearly, think of the law of Moses and the prophets who hold people accountable for violating the law with their prophecies of judgment this way...

Black velvet
Diamond

Otherwise we end up saying that everyone is basically fine and there are no sins. There is no judgment for sin and there is no sin at all. This error is becoming popular. Without the law their is no knowledge of sin. Without the knowledge of sin we don't see the justification for judgment. We see judgment as mean. We think the God of the Old Testament is a vindictive God and He is therefore rejected. This idea is becoming very popular in our age. It is completely wrong. The law reveals sin and death. It rightfully condemns. It is good and holy and right.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit Amos writes judgments over a number of peoples who are around God's community, and then he turns to prophesy on God's community.

We have to understand what Amos is doing here. He is not simply talking about bad things that are coming. Prophets were viewed by the ancients as very powerful people who had the ability to activate things by their words. This is why it was very important for Kings to get positive blessings from prophets before going to battle. A bad word could cost the prophet his life, because a King may decide to kill the messenger in order to shut down his power. I don't believe a prophet like Amos would give words like he did unless the Lord God of heaven had clearly spoken to him.

In his mind these prophesies were releasing judgment. They themselves were delivering the judgment on these peoples.

He judges Damascus for oppressing Gilead (God's people).
He announces punishment on Gaza for slave-making.
Tyre is judged for slave-making.
Edom for pursuing his brother with the sword and for not getting over anger...but nursing anger continually.
Ammon is judged because they slashed pregnant woman open and ripped babies out of their stomaches to expand their territory.
Moab is judged for burning the bones of Edom's King to lime.
Judah is judged for despising the law of the Lord.
Israel for greed, immorality and spiritual adultery.

We can learn from Amos that God does deal with nations. That apart from the gospel of Christ, all peoples stand condemned by their own behavior and are under the right judgment of God. We can learn that the need to promulgate the gospel is intensified by the desperate condemnation that all peoples stand under for their sins as a people.

We as the church are called to not only disciple individuals, but nations as a whole. So we ought to take Christ's commands to all nations. Matt 28:19-20. We are to influence all of our society in every way that we can for Christ and His Kingdom for ultimately the Kingdoms of this world will become swallowed up by the Kingdom of Christ!

ESV Revelation 11:15 ¶ Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

The Lord's roar references how lions drive prey into the waiting pride by causing them to run into the dangerous waiting pride.

The implication of the pronouncement of judgment was the same for all nations...if one turns to seek the Lord then reprieve is available.

Israel as God's son (Hosea 11)

2008-04-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

The day that God sobbed was the day He prophesied through Hosea the final destruction of Israel in Hosea 11. He transparently reveals His heart, fire and indignation over Israel's 700 years of running from Him, and yet His unwillingness to give up on His son, Israel. Mercy and love triumphed over judgment at the cross. Romans 6:23 gives us this clarity in one sentence. What a treasure Hosea 11.

God's Bride

2008-04-14T04:59:00.000-07:00

Understanding the key application from Hosea 2, 3 and 4 will change your life. The parallel application for the church and members in the church is crucial!

Mother presents the nation of Israel. The children represent individuals in that nation.

The mothers lovers are the idols of Baal, which Israel turned to worship.
Temple was down in Jerusalem. There was a political division that lasted for a few hundred years.
Temptation to abandon the law of Moses was driven by cultural offers of prosperity.

The Israelites were in conflict with a religion that taught you must go to the top of nearby hills to sacrifice to the idols there
because they could influence your harvests and enable you to do well. These idol centers had sexual rituals that required
the attender to hire a prostitute. They taught that the sexual act and the sacrifice induced the local gods to bless the lives and the farms of
Isrealites. The implication was that the God of Moses was far off, managing the larger affairs of the world and was not involved in the daily lives
of the Israelites. After all His Temple was far away, and the idol centers were right there.

1) Hosea 2:2 "Plead with your mother, plead-- for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband-- that she put away her whoring from her face, and her adultery from between her breasts;

What this is a reference to is Israel, the nation as a whole, has embraced what God considers adultery. It is adultery when a spouse cheats on their spouse with another person. Israel was 'married to God' in the covenant of Sinai.

ESV Hosea 2:5 For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.'

Israel pursued idols because they believed they would bring them prosperity.

Yet God had promised prosperity for Israel if they remained faithful to Him and abandoned these idols.

ESV Deuteronomy 29:9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.

The analogy of a human marriage: Prophetic symbolism acted out.

Again human marriage is meant to be a reflection of God and his bride. Here God teaches Israel how she should behave religiously.

Note the emotions of God. His love. His fire and desire for Israel.

ESV Hosea 3:1 ¶ And the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins." 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, "You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you." 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.

The three charges against the nation!

1) No faithfulness
2) No love
3) No acknowledgement of the true living God

These are absent and instead ther eis cursing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery, with boundaries broken on every level and bloodshed upon bloodshed. The environment is damaged! (Mankind is charged with managing the earth well).

Unholy exchange (Hosea 4:7 echoes in Romans 1:26-32 26 ¶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 ¶ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

ESV Hosea 4:9 And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds. 10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. 12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.

ESV Hosea 4:9 And it shall be like people, like priest;

Often people receive a spiritual leader which they deserve. Spiritual leaders who are not strongly in love with God become like the people they lead, rather than leading the people to become like them.

vs. 9 I will punish them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.
God here is not mean spirited, but is intending to illuminate the hearts of His people, because their sins lead to corruption.

10 They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply, because they have forsaken the LORD to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.

The Israelites think that idols will give them satisfaction, life and insight on what they should do. Yet God demonstrates He is involved in their lives, but blocking these things from them.

Whoredom is the worship of idols. But 'who are you to say that another culture is wrong?' This is a great question. IF it is the voice of human beings in their own wisdom, then we may not have a case. However, if the God of Israel is actually who the Bible claims that He is, then we have a case.

See Hosea 2:6 ESV Hosea 2:6 Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths.

vs 4:12 My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore.

There are two dynamics going on with idol worship.

1) The idols are just pieces of wood. Walking staffs, sticks for divination, carved idols, none of these things can bring life to people. They literally have turned from the Creator, to created things.

2) There are spirits that use deception to destroy people. Not every spirit that is in the world is good. There are two kingdoms spiritually. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. This is NOT the same thing as the two powers of the 'force' in star wars. The Kingdom of God is not on the same level as the kingom of Satan. God's Kingdom will ultimately triumph over all of Satan's Kingdom. Yet there is great power in the kingdom of darkness, and people who give themselves to the ways of that kingdom can become trapped by it's power. Adultery is one of those powers. A spirit of adultery coupled with a spirit of prostitution leads to spiritual bondage. It blinds the eyes of people and darkens their understanding spiritually.

The idea of a spirit of whoredom could refer to an atmosphere where going to a religious prostitute to gain prosperity for ones crops was considered a fun time. But I believe this refers to a spiritual power that actually exists in the spirit realm. Paul discusses these powers in Ephesians 6.10-20.

ESV Ephesians 6:10 ¶ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

3) Application

Christ is the husband. The church is the bride. We individually are the children. Religions that contradict the gospel of Christ and His exclusive claim for us, these religions are adulterous. He is NOT talking about the distinctions within legitimate Christian movements here. For example, the distinctions we make between Vineyard and Assemblies of God, or Baptists and Christian Churches. We are talking about the distinctions between Islam and real Christianity. The distinction between Christians and Hindus, Buddhists, and even between Christians who are pluralists. In reality pluralistic Christians have abandoned Christianity and embraced everything.

Please note that the children were called to 'plead' with Israel, not to brow beat Israel. The approach so many take is unloving. We are called to lovingly invite people from Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, pluralistic Christianity, and other religions, to turn away from their false religions and to put their trust in Jesus Christ alone.

ESV Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5 ¶ And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." 9 ¶ Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

Application KEY

Therefore, we ought to see that the Church is Christ's bride. We the congregation are lovingly viewed by Christ. We ought to be faithful to Him-not engaging in any other religions outside of Christianity, full of love in all of our relationships and towards Christ most of all, filled with the knowledge of
the cross, Christ Jesus Himself! So fix your attention fully on Christ who is our Lord, our life and the Lord of life!

See the Christ as our bridegroom!

Symbolism & Prophetic Ministry

2008-04-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the issues that comes to our attention as we read Hosea 1 is how God chooses to communicate to His people. Through Isaiah and Hosea and many others we see that God will take a long time to communicate what He is doing far in advance through symbolic means. In Hosea 1 God uses a real marriage to a woman who committed an act of prostitution to illustrate how He sees it when His covenant people engage in worship through other religions. I guess we can rightfully conclude that God is not a pluralist. But it is how he makes this point to Israel that is particularly graphic and very difficult to forget. Hosea is to marry a woman who has been with another man. This act demonstrates the rawness of God's feelings when we worship other beings. Not only that, but we learn that prophets often speak to God's people with symbols. We will be looking at Hosea in depth for the month of April. If you have never studied the book of Hosea, this is a great time to check out the Vineyard! Our church site is www.vcfbn.org for more information.

Habakkuk's name

2007-09-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

We were looking at a passage in Hebrews 10 recently, when the question of Habakkuk came up. What does his name mean? So I looked it up.

ISBE entry on Habakkuk is as follows:
Habakkuk (Heb: chabhaqquq) means "embrace," or "ardent embrace." Some of the ancient rabbis, connecting the name with "Thou shalt embrace a son," imagined that the prophet was the son of the Shunammite woman. The Septuagint form of the name, Grk: Hambakoum; Theodotion Grk: Hambakouk, presupposes the Hebrew Heb: chabbaquq. A similar word occurs in Assyrian as the name of a garden plant.

Easton's entry 1562 Habakkuk, embrace, the eighth of the twelve minor prophets. Of his personal history we have no reliable information. He was probably a member of the Levitical choir. He was contemporary with Jeremiah and Zephaniah.

Fausset's dictionary has it as:
1423.01 "The cordially embraced one (favorite of God), or the cordial embracer." "A man of heart, hearty toward another, taking him into his arms.

So we have coined the phrase "Happy Hugger"...to define the name Habakkuk. Habakkuk, the Happy Hugger. Maybe that defines a hearty embrace. Give me a hearty, holy hug bro.