Sat.’s Devo - Jonah

Read: Jonah 1:1-4:11; Revelation 5:1-14; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 29:26-27 God gave Jonah the message to go to the city of Nineveh and announce that God’s judgment was coming to it because of its wickedness. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrians who were the greatest kingdom in the world at the time. They were known for their blood-thirstiness and idolatry. Even though this prophecy had to do with a nation other than Israel, it would be quoted by Jesus as being a nation that repented when it heard of the judgement coming where Israel did not. *** Jonah didn’t want to go and preach this to them so he went the other way and took a ship to Tarshish. God caused a storm to stop him and when the men in the ship found out it was his fault for bringing the storm, they threw him overboard. Immediately the storm stopped, causing the sailors to fear the Lord. *** Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and is believed to have died in the belly of the fish. He awoke to pray for help. God heard his cry and he was thrown up on the shore near Nineveh. God told him again to go to Nineveh and deliver his message. He walked to the city and for three days he walked its length shouting that in forty days from then Nineveh would be destroyed. The people listened and put on burlap. The king of Nineveh declared a fast for the people and their animals. They prayed that God would relent on his promise to destroy them and he did. This made Jonah very upset. Jonah told God this was why he had run. He knew God would be merciful and not do it. God asked Jonah if he was right to be mad about this. *** Jonah responded by leaving the city and finding shelter under a great vine. It shielded him from the hot sun. God sent a worm to eat the plant to expose Jonah’s anger in his heart. Jonah was angry when the sun rose and at noon he had no shelter from it’s heat. He said that surely death was better than this. *** God asked him if he was right to be angered that the plant died. Jonah said, “angry enough to die!” *** God told Jonah that he was sorry the plant died but Nineveh had more than 120,000 people who were on their way to experiencing the heat of hell, was it wrong for God to feel sorry for them? *** This story is a litmus test for us. Do we want the ruthless cabal that is trying to take over the world to repent ,and for God to show them mercy and not destroy them? That is a soul-searching question. Thank God we have the grace of God in our hearts to help us process this rightly. God loves justice but he loves mercy even more. *** In Revelation, John saw a scroll in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. The scroll was sealed with seven seals and an angel asked who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. No one was found worthy, which made John cry. One of the twenty-four elders told John to stop crying and look. The Lion of the tribe of Judah had won the victory and could open the scroll. *** Then he saw a Lamb who looked as if he had been slain who was standing between the throne and the four living creatures. He had seven horns and every eyes, which represented the severn fold Spirit of God. He stepped forward and took the scroll and when he did the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and held gold bowls filled with incense which are the prayers of God’s people. They sang a new song about the worthiness of the Lamb to break its seals and open the scroll. All the angels and creatures in heaven sang a song about the worthiness of the Lamb. Then all the creatures in heaven, on earth and under the earth sang of the greatness of God. The living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. *** Lord, may we live in praise and worship of you!

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Revenge

Read: Obadiah 1:1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25 Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah” and his book is the smallest in the Bible. His prophecy dates probably immediately after the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, 588 B.C. Five years afterwards (583 B.C.) Edom was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. *** Obadiah saw an ambassador from heaven go to the nations and suggest that they attack Edom. God was ready to judge Edom because she rejoiced when she saw Jerusalem fall and instead of helping them, she gladly joined in killing them. Because she did this to Israel, her own kin, nothing in her land would be left standing. Even their hidden treasures will be dug up and taken. Her land will be left desolate. *** All the nations will be judged for how they treated Israel. Everything will be turned around. Jerusalem will become the place of refuge. The people of the Lord will return to Israel and prosper. They will occupy the lands of their enemies and the Lord himself will be their king. *** In Revelation, John was told to look up and when he did, he saw a door in heaven. He was told to come up there and was instantly in the Spirit before God’s throne. John saw the throne of God encircled with a rainbow. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. He saw the crowned twenty-four elders, and the seven-fold Spirit of God. In the middle of the throne were four living creatures with the face of a lion, ox, human, and eagle. Each had six wings which were covered with eyes. Day and night they cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” When they did this , the 24 elders fell down and worshipped the one on the throne. They laid their crowns before the throne and praised the Lord as worthy to receive all glory, honor and power. *** Lord, you are worthy of all our praise and worship. You are the one who sits and rules the cosmos. There is no one like you.

Thurs.’s Devo - Many Visions

Read: Amos 7-9:15; Revelation 3:7-22; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 29:23 Amos was shown a vision of a swarm of locusts which would eat every green plant in sight. Amos cried out to the Lord that Israel would not survive it and the Lord relented. Next, Amos saw that God was planning to punish his people with a great fire which would devour the whole land. Amos prayed and God relented. Lastly, Amos was shown the Lord standing beside a wall that had been made using a plumb line. The Lord was using a plumb line to see if the wall was still straight. The Lord would use this plumb line to measure the sins of the people. He would measure their pagan shrines and temples. It would bring Jeroboam’s kingdom to an end since he was the one who had set up the golden calves and instituted his own way of worship in the land of Israel. *** God told Amos to go and tell the people of Israel who complained that he prophesied against them that their wives would become prostitutes in Israel, their sons and daughters would be killed and their land would be divided. They would be exiled to a foreign land. *** The Lord showed Amos another vision of a basket of ripe fruit. Israel was like this fruit - ripe for punishment. The day was coming when singing would be turned to wailing. Many would die in the streets and the living would be carried out of the city in silence. The reason why this was coming was that they robbed the poor, trampled the needed, cheated the helpless, cheated in the market place, and enslaved the poor for money. When the Lord was through with them, they would never forget the wicked things they had done. *** In that day, the Lord would make the sun go down at noon and turn their singing into weeping. they will live in a state of sorrow and sadness over all the death. The hearing of the Word of the Lord would become so scarce. People would search everywhere just to hear a word from God, but not able to find one. The young would thirst for the Lord. Those who trusted in idols will fall, never to rise again. *** Amos saw a vision of the Lord standing beside the altar. God called down the destruction of the Temple. Those who destroyed the fall would be killed by the sword. There would be no escape for anyone. God would destroy the sinful from the face of the earth but would not completely destroy the family of Israel. *** God will restore the fallen house of David. He would repair the walls and rebuild it and restore its former glory. God will bring his people back to Israel and they will rebuild their cities and living in them again. They will plant and reap and never be uprooted from the land again. *** In Revelation the angel spoke to the angel in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the missionary age which spanned from 1517-1790. It was commended for its perseverance in the faith. God had no criticism for them. He instructed them to keep the faith and promised them a place in God’s presence, a new name and the New Jerusalem. *** Laodicea was known as the apostate church. It began in 1790 and has continued. It was not commended for anything but criticized for being indifferent and deceived. God advised them to desire truth, humility, and to see with spiritual eyes. *** Lord, may we have spiritual eyes to see and be a part of your rebuilding process. We put our hope in You, Lord.

Wed.’s Devo - Repent

Read: Amos 4:1-6:14; Revelation 2:18-3:6; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 29:21-22 Amos spoke to Samaria, the capital of Israel calling them fat cows because the women oppressed the poor and ordered their husbands around. They would end up with hooks in their noses as they are led to exile. *** There was no repenting from them so they could keep sacrificing to idols at Bethel and Gilgal. They could keep bragging about all they gave to these false gods since they loved the attention. *** God had brought famine, drought, blight and mildew as well as other plagues. He had allowed their sons to die in battle to get their attention, but still they refused to turn back to the Lord. So, God was going to bring on them all the disasters he had promised to bring if they didn’t repent. *** God begged them not to return to their pagan altars at Bethel or the shrines at Gilgal. Those who continued to do this would be dragged off into exile. Their gods would not be able to save them. They had twisted justice and oppressed the righteous. They had stolen from the poor through taxes and unfair rent while they used the proceeds to build beautiful stone houses that they would never live in. They oppressed good people by taking bribes and deprived the poor of getting justice in the courts. God told them to hate these injustices and cry out for the oppressed. *** The day was coming when God would judge. It would be dark and hopeless for the oppressor. God would no longer tolerate their sins nor accept their forms of worship. They should go to Calneh and see what happened there and then to the city of Gath. They were destroyed and Israel was no better than them. An enemy nation was about to be sent against them by the Lord who would oppress the whole nation. *** In Revelation, a letter was given to the angel of the church in Thyatira. Thyatira represented the time of 590-1517 and was known as the papal church. It was commended for its faith, its service and its patient endurance. It was criticized for its tolerance of immorality and the spirit of Jezebel. They were told to keep the faith for they would be given the authority that Christ had on earth to rule the nations. *** The church at Sardis ruled from 1517-1790 and was the reformed church. It had a reputation of being alive but it was dead. It was told to go back to the basics of their beliefs and repent. Those that remained faithful would be given robes of white and their names would never be erased from the Book of Life. *** Lord, may we stay faithful to You and use the authority you have given us to rule the nations. May our hearts be cleansed and our spiritual eyes open to see what you want us to see. May we be quick to repent.

Tues.’s Devo - God’s Words Through His Prophets and Angels

Read: Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 29:19-20 Amos was a sheep-herder from Tekoa which was 10 miles south of Jerusalem. He prophesied judgment on the nations and on Israel. Israel and Judah had enjoyed years of prosperity but the poor were oppressed and sin and immorality was widespread. The people thought their wealth was a sign of God’s blessing on them but Amos was sent to tell them that God was not pleased with them. He was going to punish them and the nations around them for their sins. *** God started with indictments against seven of their neighbors which included Judah. These nations are Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and then he indicts Israel. They are being judged for their treatment of God’s people in Israel. God judges nations even today in how they treat his people and the nation of Israel. Amos also shares that God never does anything that he doesn’t first tell his prophets. *** Amos said that God would destroy the pagan altars at Bethel and the horns of the altar would be cut off and fall to the ground. In the first verse of this book that it said that this was two years before the earthquake. Now we know what happened when the earth quaked. Their beautiful homes were also destroyed. *** In Revelation, we begin the messages to the angels in charge of the seven churches. I see them as the church ages represented by the churches in order of when they occurred. Ephesus represented the early Apostolic church. It began in 30 A.D. and continued till around 100 A.D. They were commended for rejecting evil, and for their perseverance and patience. They were criticized for losing their love of Christ and were instructed to do the works they did at first. They were promised the tree of life. *** Smyrna represented the persecuted church and began after the apostolic church of Ephesus and ran till around 313. This was a time of great persecution of the church. They were commended for gracefully bearing the suffering and there was no criticism for them. They were instructed to be faithful till death for they would be given the crown of life. *** Pergamos represented the state church because it became totally accepted by the religious and political leaders. It ran from 313 - 590 A.D. They were commented for keeping the faith in Christ but criticized for tolerating immorality, idolatry and heresies. They were told to repent using scripture to fight against the heresy of their day. If they overcame, they would be given hidden manna and a stone with a new name on it. *** Lord, may we be known in heaven as victorious overcomers in our day. Thank you for all the ones who have gone before us and preserved the faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all the people who have been instruments in our lives to bring us to the truth about You and your son.

Mon.’s Devo - God’s Revelatin Sent to Us

Read: Joel 1:1-3:21; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 29:18 Joel’s name means “Yahweh is God”. Joel is believed to be one of the earliest minor prophets who prophesied during the rule of Joash. A plague of locusts had come in and devoured their land and killed their animals causing famine and drought. Many people died as a result. The locusts even ate the seed for the next year’s planting. Joel prophecies that this was the hand of God and his judgment over the land. In Deuteronomy 28:38-46 it explains what will happen to the nation if they forget the Lord and don’t obey his laws. These scriptures describe what Joel and his fellow citizens were experiencing. *** Joel calls the people to repentance and fasting. He cries out for God to have mercy and help them. The people are in panic as they watch the locust sweep across the land. Joel sees that the Lord is leading the locusts and they are his army. The Lord knows that no one can stand against him and his army so he begs the people to turn to him and give him their hearts. He would have mercy and compassion on them. The Lord would have pity and guard his land. He would send them grain and everything they needed. He would drive his army of locust into the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. God would then restore life to their land. *** Then the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh and their old men will dream dreams and young men will see visions. Everyone will be on the same plain. God will send signs and wonders in the skies. The sun will become dark and the moon turn to blood red before the day of the Lord, but everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The ones that God has called will survive. God will restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem and judge the armies of the world in the valley of Jehoshaphat. God will be a refuge for his people and they will receive blessing while the world is being judged. God’s people will receive life and blessing and pardon. They will dwell with the Lord and he will dwell in Jerusalem. *** Revelation was given to Jesus by God to show him what was going to happen shortly. Jesus sent his angel to give it to John who had been an eye-witness to his ministry on the earth. We are blessed if we read these words of Jesus because the time is near. *** God and his seven Spirits, and Jesus sends them grace and peace. Jesus is coming with clouds and every eye will see him, even the ones who are his enemies. *** God declared that he is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the End. He is the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. *** John then tells his side of what happened. He was on the island of Patmos for preaching about Jesus. It was the Sabbath and John was in the Spirit. He heard a loud voice behind him that said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.” Then the voice told him that he was to write in a book and send it to the seven churches which were in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. *** When John turned to see where the voice was coming from he saw a huge menorah lit up. In the midst of it was the Son of Man clothed in glory with a golden banner across his chest. His eyes were like a flame of fire and his feet shone like brass refined in the fire. He held seven stars in his right hand and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edge sword. His countenance was like the sun in brightness. John fell to the ground like a dead man. The voice told him not to be afraid. He was to write everything down because it was what was going to take place on the earth. *** Lord, may we walk in the fear of the Lord, remembering who you are and what your mission is. May we assist in bringing your Kingdom down to earth.

Sun.’s Devo - The Consequences of Idolatry

Read: Hosea 10:1-14:9; Jude 1:1-25; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 29:15-17 God had prospered Israel but the richer she got, the more she spent on idols. The hearts of the people had to be punished for their sins. The Lord would smash down their sacred pillars. *** The people made promises to the Lord they had no intention on keeping. They blamed their sin on the fact that they didn’t have a king. Injustice was everywhere. They worshiped the golden calf at Bethel which he called “Beth-aven” sarcastically because it means “house of nothing”. It would be carted off to Assyria and not be able to save them. *** God would put a heavy yoke on their necks that would force their hard hearts to break. When the hard ground of their hearts broke, he encouraged them to plant good seeds in it of righteousness and love. *** They had sown wickedness and reaped sin. They had trusted in their military might for safety. Now they were terrorized by threats of war. Hosea reminded them of the slaughter of Beth-arbel in Naptali when Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked it. They would share the same fate because of the golden calf they worshipped in Bethel. *** God had called Israel out of Egypt and its idols and led them in love and kindness. But the more God called him, the more he ran. Since they refused to return to Him, they would return to Egypt and be forced to serve Assyria. There, most of them would be destroyed, but not all of them. One day the people would turn to follow him. When God roared, they would come out of Egypt and God would bring them home again. *** At the time, Israel was making alliances with Assyria and paying them with olive oil. *** Hosea spoke to Judah. He reminded them of how Jacob had struggled with his brother Esau even in the womb. As a man, he struggled with God. At Bethel, he struggled with his angel and won. He begged for a blessing and got one. So now, he plead with the people to return to the Lord. *** God rescued them from the slavery of Egypt but they returned to that bondage of idols. God sent his prophets to bring them back but they refused to listen. So, they would live in tents once again, like they do every year at the Feast of Tabernacles. *** Jacob had fled to the land of Aram where he worked for years for Rachael. The prophet Moses brought Jacob’s people out of Egypt and protected them, but now he was sentencing them to death to pay for their sins. *** Ephraim who was fruitful and lush would become dry and desertlike. The people of Samaria would bear the consequences of their sins. *** Hosea begged them to return to the Lord and confess their sins. Their gods are worthless and can’t help them. *** God would heal them of the faithlessness and love them once again. He would bless their land with fruitful crops and trees. If they walk in the Lord’s path they will find truth and righteousness. *** Jude is one chapter and is full of deep knowledge. James, Jesus brother wrote it. He urged them to defend the truth against the people who had infiltrated their churches and taught that they could live immoral lives. This was the teaching of the Nicolatians. *** He reminded them of the angels who left heaven to have sex with women on the earth. They are now chained in darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. Sodom an Gomorrah were like these teachers who were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. God destroyed them by fire. God would deal with these teachers of James’ day who deceived the people for money, like Balaam. *** Enoch had prophesied about these people who would come in the last days to deceive the elect of God. God is coming with countless of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict them of all the sins they had committed. *** Jude told them to build up one another’s faith and pray in the Holy Spirt as they wait for the mercy of Jesus to bring them eternal life. They would be kept safe in God’s love. *** All glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours before forever and ever!