Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Great Mercy 12-14-23

Read: Jonah 1:1-4:11; Revelation 5:1-14: Palm 133:1-3; Proverbs 29:26-27 Jonah means a dove and his father’s name, Amittai means veracious; truthful and honest. So, Jonah was to be a messenger of truth. God chose him to go to the city of Nineveh and announce judgment against it because of their wickedness. *** Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire and was located on the shore of the Tigris River. It was huge, populous and wealthy. It was a place to be feared if you were called to go and tell it God’s judgement was coming. *** Jonah ran from God and went the opposite direction. He hopped a boat going to Tarshish. God sent a violent storm to stop him in his tracks. It was so violent the sailors had to throw their cargo overboard and were calling out to their gods for help. They knew that Jonah had a god because he had told them he was running from him. The captain went down to find Jonah to tell him to pray also and found him asleep in the midst of the terrible storm. *** This is the condition of Jonah - totally disconnected to what was going on. He needed a wake up call both physically and spiritually. The Lord is doing the same thing right now. There is a storm going on and we are being forced to wake up and pay attention and see what the Lord wants us to do. *** Jonah knew exactly what brought the storm and how to fix it. He was the problem and they needed to throw him into the storm. They tried their best not to have to do that but when it became obvious they would all die if they didn’t, they threw him into the storm. He was giving his life for theirs. As soon as his body hit the water, the storm stilled. The men were in awe and worshipped the Lord. *** God had prepared a fish for Jonah and he was swallowed by it for three days. He died and resurrected in that fish and repented. The fish threw him up on the banks of Nineveh and he began to preach that they would be destroyed in 40 days. Miraculously, they repented. They even dressed their animals in burlap. *** Jonah was mad because now what he said wound’t happen and he would look like a fool and their enemies would live. Jonah pouted and sat in the wilderness. God provided the shade of a vine with big leaves, then he killed the plant and sent a hot wind. When Jonah was about to expire, God spoke to him about his attitude toward the plant and Nineveh. Jonah was sorry the plant had died and yet wanted 120,000 people to die. God felt sorry for the people. Wasn’t that more justified? *** In Revelation John saw a scroll in the hand of God. There was writing on the inside and the outside and it was sealed with seven seals. The question was asked, Who was worthy to open it and read it. John wept because he thought there was no one worthy to do this but one of the elders told him to stop crying because the Lion of the tribe of Judah won the victory and he is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals. *** When John looked he was Jesus as a Lamb that had been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the Lord and when he did all heaven began to worship him. *** We say, Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to you O Lord and to our savior Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Wed.’s Devo - Our Awesome God

Read: Obadiah 1:1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25 An angel had been sent to the Assyrians to stir them up to come and deal with the Edomites. Edom was a very proud nation who were the descendants of Esau. Their capital was Bozrah and Petra was another big city in their region. Their land was mountainous and if you’ve been to Israel and traveled to Petra you saw that it was built high on a mountain. *** God was about to reduce Edom greatly for all their pride and what they did to Israel. They had refused to let the Israelites pass through their land in the Exodus. They gloated over them and rejoiced with the people of Judah suffered misfortune. They spoke arrogantly about Israel when they were suffering. They seized their wealth and killed all who came through their land for refuge. *** The table would be turned on them and all they did to God’s people would be done to them. They were a type of the Jews that crucified Jesus. Esau was Jacob’s twin and yet he became his enemy just as the Jews were Jesus’ brethren and became his enemy. *** The Edomites would disappear from history but Jerusalem would continue forever. It would become a refuge for those who need a safe place. It would be a holy place. The people of Israel would one day return to their land and the Lord himself will be their king. *** In Revelation, John sees a door open in heaven and he was inited to come up to heaven and see it. He saw the throne of God and God in all his glory sitting on the throne. The 24 elders were there surrounding the throne. Flashes of lightning and thunder came from the throne and he saw God’s menorah which represented the sevenfold Spirit of God. A sea of glass was in front of the throne. The four living beings were there who cried out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - who was, and is and is to come.” *** When the four living beings did this, the elders fell down and laid their crowns before the throne crying out that God was worthy to receive glory and honor and power. What a sight to see! *** Lord, you are majestic in your holiness and great and awesome in your power. We rejoice to have a great and loving God who is also a Father. Thank you for your lovingkindness to us.

Tues.’s Devo - God of Visions

Read: Amos 7:1-9:15; Revelation 3:7-22: Psalm 131:1-3; Provers 29:23 God gave Amos a vision where He sent locusts to devour the harvest. They ate every green plant in sight. Amos cried out to the Lord and said that Israel wouldn’t be able to survive this, so God relented. *** God gave Amos another vision where a great fire burned up the entire land. Amos cried out again that Israel was too small to survive this, so God relented. *** God then showed him another vision where the Lord was standing next to a wall with a plumb line. He was going to use it to see if the wall was still straight. He would use this plumb line on the people of Israel. They would not measure straight. God would completely destroy the dynasty of King Jeroboam because of the idolatry he led the people into. *** Bethel was the place where one of the golden calves was worshipped. The priest there was Amaziah. When he heard what Amos was saying he told Amos to take his prophecies and leave Israel. He sent him back to Judah to make his money there being a prophet. Amos told him he was not a prophet by trade but a shepherd who kept sycamore-fig trees. Then he gave him another word for the king. The Lord said that his wife would become a prostitute in this city (Bethel) and his sons and daughters would be killed. His land would be divided up and he would die as an exile in a foreign land. The people of Israel would also go into exile far away. *** Amos was given another vision. This time he was shown a basket of ripe fruit. God told him that Israel was like this basket of ripe fruit. They were ripe for punishment. Their singing would stop and many would die. *** God listed their sins: they robbed the poor and trampled down the needy. They cheated the helpless and were dishonest in their businesses. *** God would darken their day and turn their celebrations into times of mourning. They would mourn the bitterness of their lives. God would stop speaking to them and they would search everywhere for a prophet to give them news. *** Amos was shown a vision where God was standing next to the altar in the Temple. At his word, the roof of the Temple fell on the heads of the people. God would kill with the sword those who survived and no one would escape. God would not completely destroy the family of Israel but he would shake it. When the time came, God would restore the fallen house of David and repair it. He would rebuild it to its former glory. The people would return and plant vineyards and gardens. They would be firmly planted in their own land and never be uprooted again. In Revelation Joh wrote a letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. God had open a door for them that no one could close. God would show the people that belonged to Satan’s synagogue that they were liars. They said they were Jew but were not. They would be forced to bow down at their feet and acknowledge that the true Jews were the ones God loved. Because they had persevered these people, God would protect them when a greater time of testing comes upon the whole world. Those that are victorious would be be leaders in God’s kingdom and never have to leave the Temple. They will become citizens of God’s never Jerusalem that comes down from heaven. God will give them a new name. *** The next letter was written to the angel of the church of Laodicea. They were the lukewarm church. They were satisfied with what they had and weren’t wanting more of God. They didn’t know they were naked, poor and blind and in need of God. God was giving them another chance to open the door and repent. *** Lord, may we rightly discern the condition of our souls and the condition of the soul of our nation and allow your to purify us with your cleansing fire.

Mon.’s Devo - God is Justice

Read: Amos 4:1-6:14; Relation 2:18-3:6; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 29:21-22 Amos doesn’t hold back. He calls the women fat cows because they oppressed the poor while lounging in their wealth and only thinking about feeding their own bodies and souls. They would soon be thrown from their fancy houses and led with hooks into exile. *** They gave their sacrifices to the idols at Bethel and bragged about their giving. God had judged them with hunger and famine but they still refused to turn to the Lord. God stopped the rain and their harvests all dried up. He sent plagues to get their attention but they still refused to turn to him. He destroyed their cities and caused their young soldiers to die on the battle field. *** Amos cried out to the people to stop worshipping at the pagan altars in Bethel, Gilgal and Beersheba but to no avail. They had twisted justice and hated honest judges. They trampled the poor, stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent. For themselves, they built beautiful stone houses, but they will not live in them much longer. *** There will be a show of open mourning when God’s judgement falls. They will want it to be the day of the Lord but they have no idea what they are asking for. The day of the Lord will be a day when it will be dark and hopeless without a ray of joy or hope. *** God hates their hypocrisy and lies. They worship other gods along with worshiping him. It reminds Him of the children of Israel who he rescued out of Egypt and they worshipped Sakkuth, their king god and Taiwan their star God. They made images of what they thought these gods looked like when God was the King of Kings and the maker of the stars. Amos warns them of what is coming and tells them to do to other cities where God’s judgement has already fallen and observe. God was about to depopulate his family. This is what happens when justice becomes poison and righteousness is turned into bitterness. They could boast in their armies but one is coming they would not be strong enough to fight. *** In Revelation, John is told to write to the church at Thyatira and tell them that God sees how they have grown in love, faith and service and how they have patiently endured. But, they had not gotten rid of the prophetess Jezebel. She teaches the people to commit sexual sins and to eat food offered to idols. Because she refuses to repent, she will suffer as well as her followers. Her children will die also as a sign of God’s judgment. There are those who have not followed this false teaching which they call the “deeper truths”. God encourages them to keep holding on to the end. They will be given authority over the nations. *** To the angel of the church at Sardis, God said to wake up and return to him. If they don’t, God will come to them suddenly as a thief. The ones who were not doing evil, God promised them that they would walk with him in white because they would be found worthy. They will be announced as victorious and their names will never be erased from the Book of Life. *** Lord, thank you for your wonderful promises to those who endure. May we patiently endure the tine we are living in. Thank you that you are at work judging evil and bringing in your Kingdom.

Sun.’s Devo - Judgment and Rewards

Read: Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 29:19-20 Amos prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah or Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. His name means “Burdern-Bearer”. He was a shepherd and only prophesied for two years. It was a time of great expansion and prosperity for both Israel and Judah but spiritually it was a tie of all-time low. Idolatry was rampant and immorality was widespread plus the judicial system was corrupt. The people thought that their prosperity was a sign of God’s blessing but Amos was sent to tell them it was not. God was not pleased and punishment was coming unless the nation changed their hearts and turned back to him.It was two years before the earthquake which would shake them all. *** Amos, being a shephard himself began by saying the God would turn the lush pastures into dry grass. I guess he wanted to let them know that their sins was going to affect him greatly. Then, he began to specifically called the people out. He started with the people of Damascus. This was where King Hazael and King Ben-hadad lived. They would be slaughtered and be taken captives to Kit. *** The Philistines of Gaza would be burned and slaughtered. They had taken whole villages into exile but few of them would survive God’s judgment. *** The people of Edom had chased down the Israelis and shown no mercy so God would snd down fire on Team and the fortresses of Bosrah. *** The people of Ammon attacked Gilead and ripped open pregnant women with their swords. God would send down fire on Rabat and its fortresses. Their king and his princes would go into exile. *** The people of Moab desecrated the bones of Edom’s king bringing them to ashes. SO God would send down fire on their land and Kerioth would be destroyed. Their kings and princes would be destroyed. *** The people of Judah rejected the instruction of the Lord and refused to obey his decrees. They had followed the same lies that deceived their ancestors. Their fortresses in Jerusalem would be destroyed. *** Ans lastly, Israel had sinned by trafficking their own children and sexual perversion. Their worship was defiled and evil. They had seen how God destroyed the Amorites for them and rescued them from Egypt. God had raised up prophets and Nazarite from among them but they had not listened to them. They made the Nazarites drink wine and told the prophets to shut up. They would not escape what was coming. *** God reminded Israel how he chose them among all the families on the earth to be his own people. They didn’t agree on God’s way and chose their own. God doesn’t do anything he doesn’t first tell his prophets so they can encourage or warn the people. They refused to listen. They had forgotten how to do right. They were wealthy from theft and violence. The enemy was coming and he would surround them and shatter all their defenses. *** On the day God punishes Israel, he will destroy the pagan altars in Bethel and the horns of the altar would be cut off and fall to the ground. (The horns were a symbol of mercy.) The homes of the wealthy would all fall to the ground. *** In Revelation, John was told to write a letter to the church in Ephesus. God had seen all their hard work and patient endurance. They had discerned the false apostles and had nothing to do with them. They also hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. God’s complaint against them was that they had lost the love for God and others that they first had. God told them to repent and go ack to doing good works or their lamp stand would be removed. The victorious ones would be given fruit from the tree of life. *** The letter to the crush in Smyrna stated that God knew about their suffering and lack. There were those among them that claimed to be Jews, but were not. They belonged to the synagogue of Satan. Many of them would become martyrs but they would receive the crown of life. *** The letter to the church in Pergamum said that God knew that Satan’s throne was there and yet they had not bowed to it. They refused to deny God even when their leader Antipas was martyred. God’s complaint against them was that they tolerated the false teachings of the day that led to idolatry. *** Great promises were given to those who remained faithful. *** Lord, thank you that your promises of faithfulness still remain. Our rewards far exceed any suffering we could endure on earth. Help us to keep our eyes on eternity.

Sat.’s Devo - Repent While There is Time

Read: Joel 1:1-3:21; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 29:18 Joel was calling Israel to wake up. They were under a curse and it was showing up everywhere. All of their blessings were diminishing and their nation was self-destroying. It was time to repent and realize their sins. He describes what is happening as if locusts have come like a flood and destroyed the land. *** It is really the army of the Lord that is ascending upon the land. Hosea keeps crying out to the people to repent because he sees God’s army coming to tear down and destroy everyone in their path. Hosea hopes there is time to repent and that the people will want to repent. *** The people will not repent and God will destroy them but when it looks like all is lost, he will turn things around. He will send rain and prosper their crops once again. The trees will once again be filled with fruit and the fields will yield good crops. God will pour out his Spirit upon all people and the younger generation will prophesy and the older generation will be given dreams and visions. Even the servants and women will be blessed with spiritual knowledge and blessings. *** It will be a terrible day for everyone who does not call upon the name of the Lord. All the nations of the world will be gathered to the valley of Jehoshaphat to be judged for harming God’s people. They will face an angry God but those who were faithful to him will receive their reward. They will be restored to blessing and the curse they were under will fall on their enemies. *** God calls out to the wicked nations to get ready for war. They will meet in the valley of Jehoshaphat where they will war with God, himself. The sun and moon will grow dark and the stars will not shine. They will shake under the voice of the Lord. *** Egypt will become a wasteland and Edom a wilderness because they had attacked the people of Judah, but Judah will be filled with people forever and Jerusalem will endure through all generations God will forgive their sins and make his home with his people. *** Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ and who he is. The events in this book will happen suddenly and quickly. God sent an angle to give this revelation to John while he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos. It is a letter to the seven churches that were in operation in the province of Asia. *** When Jesus comes again he will come in the clouds and everyone will see him. Israel will see him and all the nations will mourn for him. *** In John’s vision he heard a voice of that was loud like a trumpet and it told him to write everything he saw in a book and send it to the seen churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. *** John was able to turn and see the one who was talking to him and when he did, he saw Jesus in his glorified body and he fell at his feet. Jesus laid his right hand on him and told him not to be afraid. He was the First and the Last. He was the one who died and came back to life and now holds the keys of death and the grave. ***The seven stars he saw in Jesus’ right hand were the angels of the seven churches. The seven lamp stands were the seven churches. *** Lord, help us to understand the vision you gave John. Thank you for your wonderful promises to those who are faithful to you.

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Judgment

Read: Hosea 10:1-14:9; Jude 1:1-25; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 29:15-17 The first line tells you everything. The more prosperous the people became, the more resources they spent on their foolish idols. They claimed they had no king because they didn’t fear God, but they didn’t want to change their ways. They wouldn’t have been able to trust a king because there was no justice. He would have just spouted out empty promises he would not have been able to keep. *** The people of Samaria worshipped a golden calf at Beth-aven. Beth-aven means “House of Vanity”. They would mourn when this idol gets carted away to Assyria. They will feel hopeless with out it. *** God would call for the armies of nations to attack them because of their multitude of sins. God would cause Israel and Judah to break up the hardness of their hearts and plant seeds of righteousness instead. They had cultivated a lifestyle of wickedness and lies. They believed that great armies could make their nation safe and now they lived in terror of internal war. *** When Israel was young, God loved him and called him out of Egypt. The more God called to him. the farther he moved away from him. Since they refused to let God be their father, he would force them to serve Assyria. Israel will not totally be destroyed because one day Israel will honor the Lord and follow him. They will come from the places they were scattered and bring them home. *** Judah was still faithful to the Lord. But the people of Israel chased after lies and violence followed. They made an alliance with Assyria while courting Egypt. He will be payed back for his deceitfulness. Their craftiness would be exposed. God sent his prophets to warn them but they refused to give up their idols worship. *** There was a time when the people listened to the tribe of Ephraim and Ephraim was an important tribe. But, Ephraim had turned to worshiping Baal sealing their destruction. *** God had made it clear when they came out of Egypt that they must acknowledge no other God’s but him. They had become proud and forgot Him and now they would be judged and destroyed. When this happens all the things they trusted in like their wealth will be taken away. *** God cried out to them through Hosea to return to the Lord and confess their sins. If they asked for forgiveness and truly repented then God would heal them of their unfaithfulness. God would refresh them and cause them to blossom and have deep roots. They would live under the shade of the Most High and prosper once more as their soul prospered. *** In Jude, he addresses what today is called “greasy grace”. It is the teaching that since we live in the time of grace, we can sin and just ask God to forgive us and it will all be okay. This teaching denies Christ. God had rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt but he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. God also punished the angels who came to earth and had sex with the women of the earth in Genesis 6. They are being chained in prisons of darkness awaiting their day of judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were full of immorality and sexual perversion and they were destroyed by fire. All of these stand as a picture of God’s fiery judgment. *** There were those among them that used their spiritual gifts to get power over the people yet they lived immoral lives, defied authority and scoffed at demons. Even Michael dared not accuse the devil but used the Lord’s name to rebuke him. These people scoffed at things they didn’t understand. They followed their instincts which lead to their own destruction. They murder,ed deceived for money and rebelled. They talked a great spiritual talk but their words were empty because their hearts were not pure. *** Enoch had prophesied about these people saying that the Lord woillcome with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgement on the people of the world. He will convict everyone of their sins. *** These people grumble, complain, and live only for their own desires. They brag and flatter others to get what they want. These are the ones the apostles tole them about. They would bring division among God’s people. *** But we are not these people. We must show mercy to them and try to rescue them from sin but we must build one another up in faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. *** Lord, may we do all for your glory. You are able to keep us from falling and bring us with great joy into your glorious presence., We give you all the glory.