OBADIAH’S VISION

Today’s Reading: Obadiah

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In Petra, Jordan, this massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, is carved out of the sheer, dusky pink rock-face and dwarfs everything around it. The engineering genius of the ancient people who lived here is awe inspiring. Petra was the capital city of the Edomites. In today’s reading the prophet Obadiah denounces Edom for her pride. Secure in their impregnable fortress city, the Edomites felt that they were beyond the danger of invasion or conquest.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Obadiah verse 17

But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,

And there shall be holiness;

The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

The Edomites were descended from Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, sons of Isaac and Rebekah (read Genesis 25:19-23). Rebekah “went to inquire of the Lord.” This expectant mother was aware that the twins were struggling in her womb and she prayed about it. “The Lord said to her: ‘Two nations are in your womb…the older shall serve the younger.'” Obadiah’s prophecy confirms what God said to Rebekah, that Edom (Esau) would serve Israel (Jacob). Mount Zion (Jerusalem) is the capital city of the descendants of Jacob.

Obadiah predicts that the proud people of Edom would be humiliated. In the day of Jerusalem’s calamity, Edom had gloated and even surrendered Israelite fugitives to the enemy. Edom was guilty of flagrant injustice. “The day of the Lord” is a time of reckoning for all nations.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will be found walking in “holiness,” ready for “the day of the Lord!” May the laws enacted by our nations reflect Your “Holiness”, Lord Jesus! I pray for our leaders. Grant them grace, I pray, to serve You and all people in righteousness. May our leaders be made aware that the nations are being judged in Your courtroom! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I marvel at the homes and public buildings carved from the solid rock in Petra. Today it is not a proud capital city; it’s a tourist destination, a most impressive relic of an ancient powerful nation. King Abdullah of Jordan was in New York City, and no doubt he was intent on promoting tourism, which is a mainstay in the economy of his country, when I had the privilege to meet him at the Mayflower Hotel. As we visited I mentioned that my son-in-law covered his country several times each week on TV in the Arabic language. The King said, “What is his name?” “Rev. Nizar Shaheen,” I answered. With a surprised look on his face, the king said, “Nizar is a great man of God. I watch him on TV regularly.” It occurred to me that the king might have been tempted to say this for tourism’s sake, so I asked him, “On what channel do you watch Nizar?” He knew all the details, so I concluded he really did watch the message of God’s Word as Nizar and his guests present Jesus as Saviour and Lord!

The Crossroads ministry launched the Light For All Nations Arabic language ministry over 30 years ago. We were able to do this because of the prayers and support of God’s people (click here for more about Light For All Nations).

Yours for shining the Light of Jesus around the world,

David

TWO SHORT LETTERS

Today’s Reading: 2 – 3 John

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The ruins of Ephesus. The top of the ancient Celsus Library can be seen lit by the sun just beyond the pillars. John’s two letters, today’s reading, were probably written from here. Ephesus spawned many religious cults. John writes, “Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (2 John 1:7).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 John 1:5, 3 John 1:5-6

And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another…

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well.

John’s primary message in his Gospel and in his three letters is about God’s love and “that we love one another.” Second John teaches how to behave as Christians, and how to recognize any teaching which diminishes the Person of Jesus Christ by teaching that He was an angelic spirit who was not 100% human as well as 100% God! Let’s not forget that while John was a most loving person, he was also referred to by Jesus as one of the “sons of thunder” (“Boanerges” in Greek – Mark 3:17). Because he loved God and people, John was able to thunder out his message of uncompromising truth, particularly the truth about the One with whom he spent over three years.

In his third letter, John refers to a previous letter which he had written, perhaps First or Second John, which had been rejected by “Diotrephes,” a leader in one of the churches. Religious cult founders are much like this man who “loved the preeminence,” who “spoke malicious words,” and who exalts himself into a place of egotistical religious authority. Gaius and Demetrius are two generous and humble men. We would do well to follow their examples.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I did not have the glorious opportunity that John had. He spent all that time with You during Your ministry in the Galilee and Jerusalem, and he was there at the cross when You died. He even fished with You, Lord, along with his brother James, Peter and Andrew, when You caused great catches of fish, and he was there when You miraculously fed the 4,000 and the 5,000. Realizing that John knew You better than I ever could, I pray for the grace to accept and believe John’s words about You. In Your Name I ask this. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I find it hard to imagine how inflated are the opinions some have of themselves, that they think they know better than the Prophets and Apostles, who gave us the historical record of God interacting with His human family. The wanderings of the imaginations of some who teach false doctrines, like Diotrephes, are with us in books, lectures in universities, media appearances, etc. Now, 2,000 years later, there are still some who are getting attention who think they know the facts better than those who were actually there when the events they describe happened. In order to deceive people, the devil even comes as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:12-15). There are false doctrines brought to our doors. The founder of one of these says he got his information from an angel (Mormonism), and another founder was an independent minister in Brooklyn, NY, who was bitter against other Pastors in his area. He claimed to know the Greek language in which the New Testament was written, but in the records of a court of law in which he appeared, he could not name the letters of the Greek alphabet. He resurrected the false doctrines which John thundered against. Then it was called “Arianism;” today it’s “The Watchtower Society” or “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

Yours for “Truth,” John’s message, and for living out that truth as did “the elect lady and her children.” Also for learning from the godliness and generosity of Gaius, and for following the example of the one who “has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself,” Demetrius!!

David

P.S. If readers have the time, I suggest going back into the blogs and reviewing all three of John’s letters. Tomorrow, God willing, we’ll be in the book of Obadiah.

FIVE PROMISES / GRACE AND MICKEY ROONEY

Today’s Reading: Amos 9

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A boat trip down Egypt’s Nile River is one of the best ways to see Egypt. Today’s reading mentions “The river of Egypt.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Amos 9:9

For surely I will command,

And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,

As grain is sifted in a sieve;

Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

God pays attention to “the smallest grain.” Nothing escapes His attention! It is impossible that God could be untrue to His pure and holy character. God has provided a substitutionary payment for the sin of the entire human race…past, present and future…by the death of His sinless Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Sin violates God’s holiness, but His justice has been satisfied through Jesus, and we are made right before God when we repent and ask for His forgiveness.

Amos ends his book with five promises from God! God heals sick people and nations. God will (1) “Raise up,” (2) “Repair,” (3) “Rebuild,” (4) give the right to “Possess,” and (5) “Bring back the captives.” We all love happy endings! Thank You God, and thank you, Amos!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I confess my 24/7 need for a constant attitude of repentance. As John wrote, “If we [ I ] say that we [ I ] have [present tense] no sin, we [ I ] deceive ourselves [myself] and the truth is not in us [me]” (1 John 1:8). Yes, Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your promise of salvation. I pray that prayer that You, Lord Jesus, guaranteed would justify me in Your holy Presence, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:9-14). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The famous actor, Mickey Rooney, died at 93. I want to watch some old movies of Mickey from the late 1930’s and 1940’s, because I think he’ll look like that now in Heaven, and I want to recognize him when, by God’s grace, I join him. The last time I saw Mickey was in Lakeland, Florida. He was in his late eighties then. He was singing, playing the piano, and even dancing a two step. I purchased a memento picture album, and Norma-Jean and I got in the lineup for his signature. Just before he signed, he looked up and peered intently at me through eyes which were failing, and said, “Is that you, David?” We had a happy reunion. Back in the late 1970’s Mickey was performing live on stage at a Toronto theatre. In the wee hours of the night he could not sleep. He turned on TV, watched a 100 Huntley Street rerun show, called our prayer line, and one of our prayer partners led him to Christ. I found out the next day when he was being interviewed on a live talk show, and he told this story. He said…

“There was this guy, Mainse, brains, or something, talking about Jesus. His guest was an Indian Chief [Bruce Thum], who held up his five fingers on his right hand and explained the word grace with an acrostic. The Chief said, [here Mickey held up his right hand with his thumb and 4 fingers extended] ‘GRACE means God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!’ I prayed the prayer, and I know God has given me His grace.”

That afternoon I found out where Mickey was staying and called him, asking if I could come to see him. He joyfully welcomed me and we became friends. Every time he was anywhere near Toronto, we would get together for prayer and a great visit. Mickey had been married and divorced at least seven times when I met him. His first 40 years in showbiz were the hardest. The last 30-35 years of his life were difficult at times, but God continued to give Mickey G-R-A-C-E!!! I’ll see you soon my friend!

Yours as a participant in God’s wonderful, marvellous, matchless GRACE,

David

P.S. I suggest showing one of Mickey’s old movies to children and grandchildren. Then open the blog and click here for a preview of one of our animated productions, produced by Bruce Stacey, where Mickey Rooney (his personality, input and voice) portrayed the character of “Bullseye: The Rock that Bopped Goliath.” The episode is called “Splat Ball Square Off.”

Mickey Rooney…now with the Lord!

GO! PROPHESY!

Today’s Reading: Amos 7-8

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

With a giant trunk and boughs towering 60 feet high, a gnarled sycamore near Jericho’s main square is believed to be over 2,000 years old, and could be the very tree that the hated tax collector Zacchaeus climbed to get a glimpse of Jesus (Luke 19:1-5). In today’s reading, Amos says that he was a tender of sycamore fruit (Amos 7:14).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Amos 7:14b,15

I was no prophet, nor was I the son of a prophet, but I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go prophesy to my people Israel!”

Amaziah, a priest serving the northern kingdom of Israel, tried to shut Amos up. When he realized that Amos would not be quiet, he tried to send this prophet/preacher to the southern kingdom of Judah. With stubborn resolve Amos refused to leave, continuing to speak truth to power. Neither king nor priest could stop him! The call of God on his life was all consuming. As it was with Amos, so it is with those who hear the Word of the Lord today. God, through Jesus, says to us, “GO, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations!” (Matthew 28:18-20). Mark writes these Words of Jesus, “GO into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Like Amos, true followers of Jesus feel compelled to “GO” and/or support those who “GO,” if we are obedient to God. The results of obedience are summed up in the last verse of Mark’s Gospel, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying signs. Amen!” (Mark 16:20). As Amos tells us, the worst famine ever is not the lack of food to eat physically, but the famine “of hearing the Words of the Lord!” (Amos 8:11b).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m listening to You! I hear You! Because I have called You my Lord and God, I must obey You or my decision to give my life to You is a lie! I pray for grace to “GO” and “Prophesy.” I remember that prophesy for Your followers, Jesus, is as John said in Revelation 19:10b, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” It is in the Name of Jesus that I pray this prayer for world revolution, turning the whole world to Christ! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Dr. Oswald J. Smith, the man I consider to be the greatest 20th century supporter of Christian world missions and sender of missionaries, said, “Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice, when millions have never heard it once!” During his years as pastor of The People’s Church in Toronto (1928-1959), huge banners with such statements would hang on the walls of his church. Hundreds of missionaries were sent all over the world, and at missions conventions, faith promises were made to give millions of dollars to send them. I recognize that the passion that consumed Amos is the same as I find in great Pastors/Evangelists and in visionary believers in Jesus everywhere. The Apostle Paul wrote, “How shall they preach unless they are sent!” (Romans 10:15).

Crossroads Christian Communications is a ministry with a worldwide mandate from God to proclaim “the testimony of Jesus” 24/7 over the entire world. Norma-Jean and I are praying daily for the Crossroads mission and giving monthly.

Yours for every one of us to rise to the challenge in obedience to those compelling words, “GO!” “PREACH!”

David

HEAR – SEEK – LIVE

Today’s Reading: Amos 5-6

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These ruins are located in the area of ancient Samaria. Jesus said that if people failed to praise God, the rocks would cry out. In a very real sense, these rocks are crying out to us that when people don’t want God in their daily lives, He does not force Himself upon them. They are left to their own resources, and ruin is the inevitable result.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, clink HERE.

Key Verses: Amos 5:4, 6:14

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:

“Seek Me and live…”

“But, behold, I will raise up a nation against you,

O house of Israel,”

Says the Lord God of hosts;

“And they will afflict you from the entrance of Hamath

To the Valley of the Arabah.”

God, in His mercy, so often grants individuals and nations the opportunity to repent, yet again and again that offer of forgiveness and a new beginning is ignored or rejected. Here in chapter five, after God, through Amos, points out Israel’s continuing rejection, He still continues His appeal to His people to repent. Four words in our key verse say it all… “SEEK ME and LIVE!” The word “seek” is in our reading three times. The dictionary says that “SEEK” means, “An attempt to find someone or something…searching…hunting.” Jesus said, “But SEEK first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!” (Matthew 6:33a). He also urged seeking again in His powerful message on the hillside, “SEEK and you shall find!” (Matthew 7:7). Therefore, we are to SEEK for Him! The fact is…He is looking for us! Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to SEEK and to save that which was lost.” Let’s read the story that illustrates this (Luke 19:1-10).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I seek for You! It’s not that You are lost, it’s that I’m often distracted by the pressures, events, and everyday happenings in my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit will shine the light on You every day through my reading of Your Word. Thank You that I know where to find You. You’re right here in Your Word to me as I read! You’re there every time I kneel to pray in a manifestation of Your presence. I’ll find You also at church, because You said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them!” (Matthew 18:20). I ask You to continue to provide me with daily light. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray…Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve just looked for “Orion” (5:8a) on Google. Click here for a look at this tiny part of the cosmos which God has created. I’m so glad that in order to find God, we don’t have to travel a billion miles into space looking for Him. I sought for Him this morning and there He was, so very close to me. He didn’t hide inside the mystery of a religious ceremony. God said that He is near to those who have a broken heart (Psalm 34:18a). I pray often that God will break my heart with those things that break His. He’s right here! The Apostle Paul quoted the prophets Moses, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah to make the point that God dwells in His temples, our bodies (2 Corinthians 6:16b). I don’t have to travel far. I simply begin to read His Word, meditate on His Word, worship Him with my love, and praise Him for Who He is…for Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross for my sins. I experience that sense of love, peace and security which is a manifestation of His presence.

Yours for having the knowledge of His presence, even if I don’t feel His presence. That’s because He promised to be with us!!! (Matthew 28:18-20),

David

HEAR! RETURN!

Today’s Reading: Amos 3-4

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

There are many spectacular mountain views as you explore Petra in Jordan. In our key verse, God is called, “He Who forms mountains.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Amos 3:7, 4:13

Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

…For behold,

He who forms mountains,

And creates the wind,

Who declares to man what his thought is,

And makes the morning darkness,

Who treads the high places of the earth–

The Lord God of hosts is His name.

Some believe that God as the Creator has abandoned His creation, hanging the world on nothing (Job 26:7), and then He proceeded to move to another part of the cosmos. Amos makes it clear that God has been involved in the past, is involved in the present, and will be involved in the future! There is a movie called, “God’s Not Dead 2″ that makes the point of God’s continued presence! Our first key verse states that the Lord is constantly communicating with us. He wants us to listen! Amos feels compelled to “Prophesy” (speak out what he has had revealed to him), “The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy!” (3:8b).

Our second key verse is not only stating the fact of God’s creation, but it shows that Amos is worshipping God for Who He is! The exercise of prophesying is not just foretelling but “forthtelling,” speaking of God’s greatness as we worship Him. Both chapters, Amos 3 & 4, begin with the word, “Hear!” Are we listening carefully, and are we, for example, doing the opposite to Amos 4:1? Are we doing our best to lift up the poor and needy? God cares intensely! During the entirety of these blogs we have paid attention to “repetition”…God’s way of making His point strongly. There are five repetitions of the words, “Yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD!!!” This reveals the heart of God longing for closeness with His people.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I return to YOU! I run into Your open arms as Your wayward child! I pray that I will continually remain 24/7 in Your loving, strong embrace, hearing Your voice as I read Your Word, and doing that which pleases You. I pray this through the Person Who always pleased You, Father, Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

[Note: this blog post was originally written by David on April 5, 2016]

I’m here in Red Deer, Alberta, just now. I’m scheduled to speak at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast this morning. Ever since I passed the two-year life expectancy mark (the doctor diagnosed me with a terminal illness, MDS acute leukaemia, in March of 2012). I’ve been somewhat frustrated, because I don’t have a clear understanding of the reason why God has extended my life. I’ve read again the story of Hezekiah, whose life was extended 15 years by God and by the application of a poultice over the area infected. During those extra years he did something really stupid which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. I ask for the prayers of all my blog family!

Yours for finishing well,

David

COMMUNICATING GOD’S TRUTH

Today’s Reading: Amos 1-2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Carts were used not only for transporting goods, but sometimes for fun…these children in Nazareth Village enjoy the ride, especially when their father pulls them. Today we begin reading in the book of Amos. Unlike other prophets who lived in the cities, Amos was a farmer who not only worked the fields and cared for the herds of sheep, goats, and cattle, but he was also very knowledgeable in the Scriptures.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Amos 1:3a

“Thus says the Lord…” (repeated 8 times in Amos chapters 1 & 2)

There are eight prophecies to eight different nations. We can draw the conclusion that God cares about every nation on earth. Each message from God in today’s reading begins with the statement, “For three transgressions of [people group] and for four.” In our courts today, the judge tends to be lenient on the first offence, but after three or four, the repeat offender can expect the hammer of justice to come down hard. Just imagine how a judge feels when he or she must sentence a person to a prison term or even execution! God, who knows in minute detail all the evidence, is never unjust in His sentence of judgment. The law of God is clearly stated in the statutes written by Moses and others; the penalty for sin is death! To satisfy the demands of the Law, God sent His Son to pay that penalty on behalf of His human family by execution on a Roman cross. This is how justice is done in God’s eyes, and God is able to forgive us our sins when we ask forgiveness, repenting of our sins. How thankful we should be that God deals with us as individuals with such love, mercy and grace. But what about the sins of the nations? Let’s think about that as we continue in Amos’ prophecies.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, according to Your promises, You have forgiven my sins as I confess them. You have even removed them from Your record books. For this I am totally thankful. I pray for grace to live a holy life for the next minute, the next hour, the next day, and for consistency in doing so. I believe that with Your help, I am growing in grace, becoming more like Jesus, in whose holy Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Last week I pointed out that the prophet Hosea wrote of God’s “roar” like a lion, getting the attention of His people for His message to them. Amos used the lion’s “roar” (Amos 1:2a) to symbolize prophecy before Hosea did. No doubt Hosea had read Amos’ words and picked up on the lion’s “roar.” The books of the Bible, including Amos and Hosea, are not always in chronological order, as is the case with these two books. Amos was of a generation before the time of Hosea. I’m learning every day, as a 79-year-old, how to use this amazing thing called “the internet.” I’ve just gone into Google and searched 100words.ca and scrolled down to the blog, where I found that fantastic picture of a lion roaring out his message. This whole internet business comes under the heading of “What Will They Think of Next?” If Amos and Hosea had the internet, I think they would’ve done a daily blog too. What about it?

Yours to encourage us all to infuse God’s Word into our thoughts and our lives daily,

David

DECISION TIME

Today’s Reading: Joel 3

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In Israel at the southwest end of the Dead Sea this valley can be seen, which leads into the Jordan Valley wilderness.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Joel 3:14, 16b

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

…But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,

and the strength of the children of Israel.

The “decision” made concerning the multitudes gathered in the “valley of decision” is to judge the Gentile nations. In Joel 12:12, God says through Joel what will happen in the valley: “I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.” To Israel, Jerusalem and Judah, God, the righteous Judge, whose decisions are always just, decides to give “shelter,” “strength,” “security,” “holiness,” “prosperity,” “a future,” and the Judge will “acquit” His people of all “bloodguilt!”

The nation state known as Israel was restored by the action of all the security counsel member countries of the United Nations, and almost unanimously by the entire membership of nation states represented there. This happening, unprecedented in the history of the world, took place in 1948. Joel prophesies that “The Day of the Lord is near!” Joel tells us to watch for signs in the sky. What astronomers, and those who observe carefully see, will indicate God’s pending action. Jesus Christ, as the greatest Prophet, spoke of “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.” He said that when these things “begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near!” (Read Luke 21:25-36).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, in Your prophecy about the happenings just before Your “coming in a cloud with great power and glory,” I am to “take heed!” You warn us against carousing, drunkenness, and the “cares of this life!” (Luke 21:34). Help me, I pray, to hold lightly to the things of this earth, and to give my highest priority to the things of eternal value. In Your Name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A while back, I called an all night of prayer for the ministry of Crossroads. During the night we read together 50 different quotes about the power and importance of prayer. Here are just a few…

“Prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity. If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure, and disappointment, let us answer God’s standing challenge, “Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). – J. Hudson Taylor

“The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” – Samuel Chadwick

“Those who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in last place the remainder of the day. – E.M. Bounds

Yours for strong consistent prayer,

David

BLOW THE TRUMPET

Today’s Reading: Joel 2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Many messages have been preached from this podium at Christ Church which is located inside the Old City of Jerusalem. In our readings of the writings of the prophets, God has sought to communicate messages of mercy, forgiveness and also inevitable judgment for sin. The message of the church to Jerusalem and to the entire world is represented by the cross carved into the olive wood. Jesus has taken upon Himself the judgment of God for sin, and through Him we receive mercy and forgiveness.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Joel 2:13, 17, 28-29

“So rend your heart, and not your garments;

Return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and merciful,

Slow to anger, and of great kindness;

And He relents from doing harm.

…Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,

Weep between the porch and the altar;

Let them say, ‘Spare Your people, O Lord,

And do not give Your heritage to reproach,

That the nations should rule over them.

Why should they say among the peoples,

“Where is their God?”‘

…And it shall come to pass afterward

That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions.

And also on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”

There is so much in today’s reading from which we can learn. Because of the importance of Joel 2, we have quoted more verses in this blog than in any other to date.

(1) Twice Joel writes in this chapter, “Blow the trumpet in Zion!” The central mountain in Jerusalem is Mt. Zion. The trumpet symbolizes the preaching of the Message. May we proclaim God’s message faithfully!

(2) Tearing garments still symbolizes extreme grief for many Jewish people. May our hearts be broken in “fasting,” “weeping,” and “mourning” over our sins and the sins of our world!

(3) Priests, whose job it is to represent the human family to God, are to weep over the sins of the people and over the mess we have made of the beautiful garden God intended this earth to be. The New Testament teaches that all believers in Jesus should consider themselves to be priests. John referred to all the people in the seven churches as “Priests.” Therefore, we should weep over sin and separation from God.

(4) God has poured out His “Spirit on all flesh.” All will not receive this outpouring of God. Nevertheless, it’s our responsibility as “sons,” “daughters,” “old men,” “young men” (women inferred), “Menservants” (all males), “Maidservants” (all females), to “Prophesy!” What is New Testament “prophecy”? “The testimony of Jesus is the “spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10b). Sharing Jesus with the whole world is the primary responsibility of all believers who have opened their lives to receive the outpouring of God’s Spirit! Every time we share Jesus, know that the Holy Spirit is “on all flesh.” The Holy Spirit is doing His work! Are we doing our most important work of inviting people to give their lives to Jesus?

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I don’t know how to put fasting, weeping and mourning into the words of this brief prayer, but I’m committed to practicing those evidences of a heart that is torn up by the desperate human need I see all around me. I pray for grace to keep on being filled with Your Holy Spirit, 24/7! I pray for the fulfillment of the dreams and visions You are giving me as prophesied by Joel and quoted by Peter on the birthday of Christ’s Church here on earth! In the Name of the One who sounded “the trumpet in Zion” more loudly and more urgently that any other, the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

As a Pastor of local congregations in my early years, I would often take literally the call of Joel to weep “between the porch and the altar.” I would walk the aisles, between the pews, and at the church altar, praying early in the mornings for my members, their families, and for our community. I also did this on the road as an itinerate Evangelist, and I did this daily in the TV studios where later in the day we would “Blow the trumpet” of God’s message to our continent and beyond.

Yours for the success of God’s cause!

David

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD

Today’s Reading: Joel 1

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

A view from the top of Masada. The “snake path” seen in the centre of the photograph was the only access to this mountain fortress until the installation of the cable car. Masada represents the war-torn history of the Jewish people. Joel 2:3 speaks of “a desolate wilderness.”

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Joel 1:14,19a

Declare a holy fast;

call a sacred assembly.

Summon the elders

and all who live in the land

to the house of the Lord your God,

and cry out to the Lord.

…O Lord, to You I cry out!

When in trouble “CRY OUT!” There are two ways to do this: (1) In a sacred assembly together with the elders (leaders of the church) in fasting and prayer. And (2) In our personal prayer times. According the the prophet Joel, when hungry and thirsty, even the “beasts of the field” (cattle, etc.) “cry out” to the Lord! Cattle will “bawl” when they are hungry or thirsty.

Joel reminds his hearers of a time in the past when chewing, swarming, crawling locusts descended on their land and stripped away in hours every vestige of plant life. The people had no refrigeration, no freezers, and no canned foods such as we have in today’s developed world. Yes, they probably had stored in advance some grain products and dried foods, but they were in big trouble! These people knew what to do! No doubt they had sung Psalm 50 from their hymnbook, the Psalms. The Temple worship leader, Asaph, had composed a song of worship in which God says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15).

The theme of disaster runs throughout Joel’s book. There are the locust plagues, famine, raging fires, invading armies, and fearful phenomena in “the heavens” (cosmos). But Joel does not give way to despair. Hopeful promises from God are interspersed between pronouncements of the judgments which the people have brought on themselves.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I am blessed with food and drink in abundance; some of these provisions are the result of modern technology along with the plants that You have created. But modernity has also brought with it bigger troubles than ever, it would seem. I think about today’s world and I cry out to You! I pray the promises You have made to humanity and to me personally. As Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, reminded me, You said, O Lord, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). I cry out to You in the Name (the Person) of the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The “Crossroads” ministry has received well over 10 million telephone calls from people crying out to the Lord, with the help of our prayer partners. Through the years, we have referred to Jeremiah 33:3 as God’s telephone number (“Call to me and I will answer you…”). I’ve called 1-866-273-4444 (our 24/7 prayer line) from home, on the road, and even from my office upstairs, when I was President, to the Prayer Ministry Centre in times of trouble. What a blessing! Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

When Joel says that even the beasts of the field “cry out” to the Lord, I thought of the many times when, as a teenager, I would do chores for a local farmer. I would arrive at the barn to find the cows bawling for their morning supply of hay. I would oblige them and while they munched contentedly, I would help to milk them. There is a branch of philosophy that says, “Learn from the animals.” Many times over the years I’ve “bawled” and would “cry out” to the Lord! The way I bawled did not sound like the cows, but it surely was an indicator of the fervency level of my prayers. James wrote, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!” (James 5:16b). The righteous part I leave for God to judge, and I claim that promise from God.

Yours for “crying out” loud, if we feel we need to (and we don’t bother others too much!),

David