Today’s Reading: Isa 45:14–47:15, Luke 18:9–19:10, Job 10:11–22

Today’s Theme: Eternal Security

Today we are reminded that God carries us and Jesus accomplished His mission to save the lost, which means our salvation is eternally secure. We also give thanks that Jesus is not vindictive.

Isaiah 45:14–47:15

Saved and carried by God

even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:4, ESV)

Our OT passage opened with God declaring that all Israel will be saved, in Isaiah 45:17. This is prophetic in one sense, as we read in Romans 11:25-27, which speaks of the salvation that will come once the full number of Gentiles have been saved.

Later we read in Isaiah 45:22, God’s appeal to the entire world, to turn to Him from worthless idols, so that He can save them. We go on to read God’s declarations of sovereignty, victory and power, and that God will carry His chosen people even until old age.

Later in Isaiah 46:7, we read the contrast between those who trust in Yahweh for salvation and those that trust in idols. The idol worshippers have to carry the burden of their chosen god, whereas the true God carries His people.

The conclusion is this; God who created the world to be inhabited, has a great desire to save the Jewish people and people from every nation, tribe and tongue. When He saves His elect people, He carries and keeps them, giving them the assurance of eternal security because He, The God of all creation, has saved them.

We should rejoice in the sure salvation we have been given today.

Luke 18:9–19:10

The Mission of Jesus

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Our NT reading begins with Jesus illustrating that it is through humility that forgiveness and salvation is received by men, with His example of the tax collector and the Pharisee. Next, Children are used as the example of the type of faith that we need to enter God’s kingdom.

Following this, Jesus tells us about the cost and reward of true discipleship and encourages us that, with God nothing is impossible, God can save even those trapped by their own riches.

Jesus goes on to remind the disciples of the reward they can expect in the age to come, which is eternal life. For the third time, He also reminds the disciples that He will die and rise again.

As He drew near to Jericho, He shows His power in healing the blind beggar and then finally gives us an insight to His entire mission, which the events of today’s reading have all pointed to, with His encounter with Zacchaeus, where Jesus declares He has come to seek and save that which was lost.

It is Jesus that seeks and saves us, He is sovereign even over our salvation, we should stand in awe of His desire, mercy, grace and power to save and keep us.

Job 10:11–22

God is not vindictive

Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. (Job 10:13, ESV)

Our God is not vindictive, on the contrary He seeks to bestow His mercy, grace, love and salvation to all men. Job again has a great misunderstanding of the nature and purposes of God.

Do not let circumstances skew your view of who God is, know that He is the God who seeks and saves the lost.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 18 and Luke 19

Today’s Reading: Isa 44:1–45:13, Luke 17:11–18:8, Job 10:1–10

Today’s Theme: Faith in the incomparable God

No one can be compared to God, no one else is in His class or on His level. No one can take the “God Test” and pass. We also learn that we should have persistent faith in God and should avoid distorted pictures of God.

Isaiah 44:1–45:13

The God Test!

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. (Isaiah 44:7, ESV)

God lays down the challenge for all eternity, He alone is God and worthy of worship. God lays down a test to all men, the idols men create and demons who all want to make a claim on being a god or on the same level as God. The challenge is this “tell the future with accuracy”.

The only one who can see the end from the beginning and actively brings His word to pass is God. It is a unique attribute that cannot be copied, we see God declaring His uniqueness over against the false gods throughout today’s Old Testament passages in Isaiah 44:8, 24-26, 28 and Isaiah 45:1, 3-7, 9, 11.

God demonstrates this unique ability with remarkable accuracy by calling Cyrus by name and in so doing declaring His sovereignty even over pagan kings to use them for His purposes and to bring glory to His name.

Rejoice in the proof of prophecy we have in the Bible which confirms the Bible as the word of God and our God as the only God who remains in sovereign control of His creation and has saved us by His great power.

Luke 17:11–18:8

Persistent Faith in God

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:7–8, ESV)

Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to encourage us to have persistent faith when we pray to God. We need to know that God will answer our prayers, granting us the justice we seek because we are his elect children.

This ties in with the previous chapter where Jesus explains the signs of the arrival of the kingdom which included His incarnation on the earth and events like the helping of the lepers. He goes on to explain the signs of the coming kingdom (future).

It all ties in, in the sense that Jesus does not want us to focus on the calendar trying to predict when He will return to bring the kingdom of God in its fullness, instead we should put our trust and faith in God and be persistent in that faith because when He returns that is what He is looking for.

Jesus is not retuning for His people who must have an understanding of eschatology (the study of the last days), no, He is returning for a people who in the middle of the last days put their trust in Him. As Paul said we are already in the last days so let’s put our faith, trust and focus on our incomparable God.

Job 10:1–10

A skewed picture

Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked? (Job 10:3, ESV)

Job has a skewed picture of God in this passage. The sheer pressure of his current situation is affecting his thoughts and causing him to accuse God of oppressing and despising him.

We need to hold onto our faith in God despite our circumstances and know that God does not change. We can appeal to Him like the widow in today’s parable and He will answer our prayers and deliver us.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 17 and Luke 18

Today’s Reading: Isa 42:10–43:28, Luke 16:1–17:10, Job 9:25–35

Today’s Theme: Look to see

We need to look in order to truly see. If we do not open our eyes and look, how can we see? We need to hear the word and should give thanks to Jesus our mediator.

Isaiah 42:10–43:28

Look to See

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! (Isaiah 42:18, ESV)

Today’s Old Testament passage is so full of rich truth but we will only be focusing on one point.

Yesterday we looked at the prophecy of the servant of the Lord, who would bring deliverance to Israel and the world, this is Jesus. We read about Him again today in the early part of our passage but now the servant being spoken about is Israel as a nation.

God calls them to attention and it sounds like a contradictory statement, asking the deaf to hear and the blind to see.

This is the point, we may hear and see many things but miss the message God is giving us because we are not actually paying attention. We need to consciously decide to look, to linger and think about what we are looking at and have our ears open to listen to God’s message.

Look in order to really see and listen in order to really hear.

Much of the rest of today’s passage is speaking about God’s faithfulness and love towards Israel and their restoration which we are seeing in our own day. Let’s pray that they would look and see right past religion and tradition to see the God who loves them and the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:1–17:10

Hear the word

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ” (Luke 16:30–31, ESV)

This parable makes clear to us the reality of the afterlife and the suffering of hell. The sinful nature of the rich man in hell has not changed and reveals itself in the simple words “No”.

Abraham had told the man that his brothers had the words of Moses and the prophets and that through these words they could escape hell. The man refuses the simple submission to the word of God as the solution, he proposes the fantastical idea of someone rising from the dead with tales of woe.

The fact is one did rise from the dead, Jesus, and yet men remain unrepentant. The problem is what we noted before, they have ears but do not listen and eyes but do not see.

We pray today that sinners would not look for stories of people who have apparently seen heaven or hell but would instead listen and pay attention to the gospel found in the Bible.

There is a lot more to consider from today’s New Testament reading including being faithful in little, walking in forgiveness, having faith and being dutiful servants.

Job 9:25–35

Jesus the mediator

There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. (Job 9:33, ESV)

Although some of Job’s context was wrong and his understanding of the character of God was skewed, seeing Him as a heartless, capricious judge when in fact the Old Testament often speaks of His mercy and loving kindness. It is however true that until Jesus came there was no mediator between man and God.

We give God thanks that we do have a mediator, God’s servant, Jesus.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 16 and Luke 17

Today’s Reading: Isa 41:1–42:9, Luke 15:1–32, Job 9:20–24

Today’s Theme: God’s Faithful Servant

Today we observe Jesus as God’s faithful servant, see what it is to be a bad servant and who the devil’s servants are.

Isaiah 41:1–42:9

Jesus, God’s Servant

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6–7, ESV)

Earlier in today’s Old Testament reading we heard God telling the people that they should not fear but trust in Him. We then see God judge the false idols and idol worshippers who have no power to help anyone.

Now we see the prophecy of God’s solution in the form of a chosen and faithful servant in whom God delights. He will be meek, humble, determined, focussed, powerful and will bring justice and light to the nations. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus.

Through Jesus the prison doors are opened, the blind receive their sight and light comes to those in darkness. Jesus is the revelation of God, God’s great name, the answer to all the false gods.

Thank God today that Jesus was obedient even to the death on the cross as God’s servant and thus forming a new covenant by which we are now saved.

Luke 15:1–32

The bad servant

but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. (Luke 15:29, ESV)

Learn the double lesson from the parable Jesus taught of the prodigal son. Both sons were in need of repentance, grace and mercy. The first is obvious because his sin was one for the world to see, the second, from the older brother, was far more subtle and harder to see.

The older brother was serving but with the wrong heart and attitude. If we are serving God begrudgingly, always complaining and bellyaching about the woes of service for the Lord, how hard it is and seeking some kind of recognition or reward then we need to refocus our hearts on loving God and serving Him from that place.

Don’t be a bad servant like the older brother, be a good and faithful servant like Jesus.

Also remember, as the rest of the New Testament passage illustrates, that we were all like the lost sheep or coin and God sought us and found us. We should humbly repent and be gracious to others who need the same grace we have been shown.

Job 9:20–24

The devil’s servants

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? (Job 9:24, ESV)

This same sentiment, which is of course incorrect, is expressed everywhere today. It goes something like this “if there is a God, why is there so much suffering in the world” or “God is cruel to allow all these things to happen”.

These are popular, non-biblical views of the sovereignty of God. Winding all events down to God’s responsibility and letting evil men and spirits off scot-free.

The fact is the devil has servants in the form of evil spirits and all men under sin are by default slaves to sin and so slaves to the devil. The responsibility for the evil in the world lies squarely at the feet of sin and it’s agents.

Combat this lie today and point people to God’s faithful servant Jesus Christ and the provision that has been made through Him.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 15

Today’s Reading: Isa 39:1–40:31, Luke 14:1–35, Job 9:12–19

Today’s Theme: Heralds for God

Today’s lessons remind us that we are God’s heralds, called to proclaim His message to the ends of the earth. Our message should be salty (explained below) and not the wrong message. Go spread the good news today.

Isaiah 39:1–40:31

Behold your God

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9, ESV)

We have been called to proclaim the good news as heralds of our king. We go out and declare His kingship, greatness and goodness through the proclamation of the Gospel.

The word used for herald in this verse literally means messenger of good news, bring good news, to tell, to announce and publish. The sense is “to announce or convey a message of positive information about recent and important events”. It is connected to the word euangelion which is to evangelise.

We call upon all men to behold the greatness and wonder of God. To consider the rewards and payments He will give, to know Him as a shepherd, to acknowledge Him as creator, the God who is eternal and does not grow weary and by His power can strengthen those who wait on Him (serve Him).

The Good News we proclaim is the Gospel that through God’s only Son Jesus Christ, by His life, death and resurrection a way has been made in the wilderness for man to be with God. To be forgiven of their sins and to escape the wrath to come.

Luke 14:1–35

A salty message

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34–35, ESV)

Our Christian distinctiveness must be evident, sharp, clear and without confusion. We must enhance the taste of the world around us and give the taste of the Gospel with its sharp and distinct flavours of justice and grace and not the mushy pea tastelessness of compromise.

As heralds of the king our message must be clear, full bodied and seasoned to be appealing to the taste buds. So our presentation of the gospel matters, if our lives do not match up to the message then our message is not salty but bland and without taste which is useless and unappealing.

We are called to be disciples who count the cost and therefore live the message we speak which gives the message real power and authenticity to those who hear it.

As you meditate on this point today consider the uses of salt which include being a seasoning, a fertiliser and a preservative.

Job 9:12–19

The wrong message

If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. (Job 9:16, ESV)

Job has the wrong picture of God here as an unloving God who is too high to listen to the concerns of a mere man. Scripture and our experience of walking with the Lord tell us the opposite, God cares, listens and responds.

We must ensure the image we portray of God as His heralds is true to scripture and reality. We must not paint God as just angry and unapproachable or as so “loving” that He lets us get away with everything.

The true picture of God can only be found in the Bible and is best expressed through His Son Jesus the Christ.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 14

Today’s Reading: Isa 37:14–38:22, Luke 13:1–35, Job 9:1–11

Today’s Theme: The only God

Today’s lesson is that God alone is God, the choice to repent or perish and the fact that God wins.

Isaiah 37:14–38:22

The only God

So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.” (Isaiah 37:20, ESV)

We boldly declare that God is the only God, there are no other gods, idols are not true gods neither are demons or men. Only God is God.

This is one of the most important developments in the biblical narrative, that there is only one God, Lord, Creator, Redeemer and King worthy of worship.

We remember this today as we pray to God, knowing He alone is God and so can do anything. Hezekiah prays with great wisdom, he appeals to God’s desire to glorify His name in the earth and spread His fame as the one and only God over and above the false gods of men.

God answered this prayer of Hezekiah declaring He had determined to defeat the enemy long ago and sent his angel against the enemies army. Later when Hezekiah prays for God to extend his life, God also responds. God’s ability to answer these prayers makes clear that our God is sovereign over all. This truth should strengthen our faith as we approach God in prayer today.

Luke 13:1–35

Repent or perish

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5, ESV)

Jesus makes clear that the thoughts of those in Israel reflected the same thoughts as expressed in Job and in today’s world. This was the understanding that disaster was connected to sin and judgement.

Jesus does away with this faulty understanding of natural disasters and bad events by summing all men up in the same predicament. We will all face death and the judgement that comes after death so we are all called to repent. We must turn from our sin, or we will perish eternally in Hell. This is not God’s desire for you which is why He calls us to repent.

When we truly repent we will also bear fruits of repentance that God and men can eat from our lives like forgiveness, love, kindness and mercy. We will strive to live for God in holiness and enter the straight gate to eternal life.

Our reading includes the account of the woman with the issue of blood who Satan had bound for many years. Jesus comes and sets her free which is a picture of the freedom we receive in Christ when we repent of our sin.

Job 9:1–11

God wins

If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? – (Job 9:3–4, ESV)

God is the only God, He is sovereign and if God is put on trial He will always win. Don’t fight a losing battle, repent and believe the Gospel, you can not harden yourself against the only God and win.

Thank God that we are made righteous by Christ before God.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 13

Today’s Reading: Isa 35:1–37:13, Luke 12:22–59, Job 8:11–22

Today’s Theme: The way of the redeemed

Today’s lessons include the way of the redeemed, the call to not worry and the reality of hardship.

Isaiah 35:1–37:13

The way of the redeemed

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. (Isaiah 35:8–9, ESV)

This chapter is a beautiful poem prophesying about the glorious kingdom to come, when Christ will reign from Jerusalem, war will have ended and all enemies will be defeated.

We will be strengthened as His people with our new bodies given to us in resurrection. We will be avenged because the devil will be judged and we will walk on the King’s holy highway, this imagery is the most encouraging.

In a way we are on the King’s highway today because Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus is the way for us today. However, this points to the glorious day in God’s kingdom when we will walk on an actual highway, one where the enemy (the lion) cannot come near us.

Even fools like us will not go astray, we will walk with the redeemed in God’s kingdom forever. May this fill you with encouragement today, look forward to walking in the way of holiness as God’s redeemed people.

Luke 12:22–59

Don’t worry

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32, ESV)

Jesus teaches us not to be anxious or worried about how we will eat, what we will wear or where we will live. Instead of worrying about these things which are genuine concerns to many in the world today, Jesus points us to the Father by telling us as His disciples to seek God’s kingdom first and trust God to take care of our physical needs (not wants but needs).

Our Father takes great pleasure in giving us the kingdom and bestowing His treasures upon us. We must store our treasure in heaven and not get caught up in the worry and stress of the rat race on the earth, we are here as ambassadors of God’s kingdom. The truth is God Himself should be our most precious treasure.

Instead of being distracted by the worries of this life, we must always stand ready for the Lord’s return or call, living in a way that honours Him everyday.

Jesus brings truth which because of the evil of men’s hearts brings division. We must be aware that our stand for our King and his kingdom will bring us opposition. We must stand looking forward to walking on the way of holiness with the redeemed in the kingdom.

Reverend Taylor recently preached a message called Don’t Worry. You can watch it here.

Job 8:11–22

The way of hardship

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring. (Job 8:19, ESV)

Some interpreters see the plant as referring to the ungodly making the point that God will quickly remove them from their place and they lose everything, which is true, the way of the world is superficial and temporary.

Others see the wider context of Bildad using the picture of this plant triumphing over hardship to encourage Job that his latter end will see restoration, growth and fruitfulness again.

As you walk in the way, you can be encouraged by both truths. On one hand do not desire the way of the wicked, it is false gold and will not last. On the other hand as you go through hardship on the way, know that you will overcome.

Jesus said in John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 12

Today’s Reading: Isa 33:1–34:17, Luke 11:37–12:21, Job 8:1–10

Today’s Theme: Fear God, Our King

Today’s theme is about the reverential fear we should have for God our King. We will look at the results of having or not having a healthy fear of the Lord and where even being afraid of the Lord is healthy (in particular His purpose to judge all men).

Isaiah 33:1–34:17

The fear of the Lord is our treasure

and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. Isaiah 33:6 (ESV)

In this prayer Isaiah cries out for God to be gracious to Judah. God is exalted as the only source of salvation over against the Judean officials, Egypt and Assyria.

Here we see something wonderful, as God is exalted Isaiah declares that the fear of God is Zion’s treasure. There is also a sense in the Hebrew where the fear of the Lord is God’s treasure held for those He would restore.

We also should cherish the fear of the Lord as our treasure. We should guard it because it is precious, it is the pathway to life and wisdom and those who lose it lose themselves. The fear of God will be the ultimate determinative for the way we live (conduct and behaviour) as God’s people.

When we speak about fearing the Lord here we are not talking about terror as though we lived under an enemy dictator. Rather, we are speaking about the response of adoration and reverence from those who are grateful to, acknowledge and love their benevolent king.

Chaff and stubble

You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you. (Isaiah 33:11, ESV)

The original context here is God blasting the futile pride of the enemy (Sennacherib).

God alone is exalted. When we attempt to live our lives without fearing Him we will give birth to rubbish. What we do may seem valuable now but it will all be consumed when it passes through God’s judgement. Even the words of our own mouths will become like a fire that consumes us without God.

Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 3:12–13 “Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”

We don’t want to build rubbish and be burnt out building things in our own way. No, we should fear the Lord, make our plans and do our work in union with Him.

Jesus taught us in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Acknowledge God’s might

Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. (Isaiah 33:13, ESV)

God calls the whole world to acknowledge His might, He alone is God almighty. This is why naturalism and atheism is such an awful offence before God as they do not acknowledge God for the wonderful creation He has made let alone the work He has done to redeem us.

Cry out today that your nation will acknowledge God’s might and fear Him in the way He deserves.

Behold the king in his beauty

Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17, ESV)

This is the climax and summary of the Bible’s overarching narrative of the King and his Kingdom.

This is the day we look forward to when we will see the king in all His glory reigning in His kingdom here on the earth He has made.

Even today we can see and savour Christ as our King. We should look and see the beauty of our king and turn our eyes from evil as the previous verses mention.

Here is a quick breakdown of the King and His Kingdom. The story of the Bible (taken from the God’s Narrative message I shared in 2014).

• Act 1 God Establishes His Kingdom (Creation)
• Act 2 Rebellion in the Kingdom (Sin and Judgement)
• Act 3 The King Chooses Israel (Blessed to be a blessing)
• Act 4 The Coming of the King (Prophecy)
• Act 5 The Life of Jesus (Life, death and resurrection of Jesus)
• Act 6 Spreading the News of the King (The mission of the church)
• Act 7 Return of the King (Restoration completed)

The lawgiver

For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us. (Isaiah 33:22, ESV)

God is the one who gives the law, the judge who enforces the law and is the king. We show we fear the Lord by obeying the law He has given. As we will read in the New Testament today, we should fear God because He is the judge who can condemn us for our sin (also see James 4:12).

We Rejoice that the lawgiver is the one who saves us.

Luke 11:37–12:21

Don’t be an actor

And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. (Luke 11:39, ESV)

Jesus takes time to deal with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Don’t make the mistake of thinking “yeah thats right bad Pharisees” be sure to listen to these woes and rebukes from Jesus and seek how they might be applied to YOUR own life.

The word hypocrite comes from the same word we get the word actor from. If we do not have the fear of the Lord then we are left with dead religion and the traditions of men. If that is all we have we will be actors by definition, claiming to be something we can’t possibly be without the fear of God. So we should be clean and serve God from the inside out.

Fear God, the Judge

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12:5, ESV)

Jesus tells His disciples and by extension us to not fear those who can and in some cases will kill us physically because their power is limited they cannot kill our souls and cannot cast us into hell…. only God can.

God is the judge and He is the one all mankind should fear because He is the only one with the power to put anyone into hell for all eternity.

We should not let the threats of mere men change our stand for God. Our awe and reverence for our God should keep us faithful to Him under trial knowing He has the power over our destiny and even in suffering and death we are in His hands.

The fact that Jesus calls this a warning should highlight the importance of this point for all men, be warned God will send sinners to hell.

Acknowledge Jesus

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, (Luke 12:8, ESV)

Very much connected to the last point, we should not be afraid of what people will say about us or think of us. We must boldly acknowledge and honour Jesus before the world. Don’t fear man, fear God.

Rely on the Holy Spirit

 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:12, ESV)

Fear and anxiety would be understandable if we only had ourselves to rely on in times of trial and persecution but the reality is that we have God the Holy Spirit with us to empower and teach us what to say under trial. So do not fear because God is with you.

Be rich toward God

So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21, ESV)

To be rich towards God means that God is our treasure. Don’t get caught up in the materialism of the age, instead turn your eyes to God and store your treasure in heaven by focusing your life on honouring and serving God in the fear of the Lord.

Job 8:1–10

The fathers

“For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. (Job 8:8, ESV)

This is a good principle, we should look to the church fathers, reformers, puritans etc of old so we can learn lessons from them. A mistake is to think we are the first ones to read and interpret the Bible. However, when looking to what the men of old have said we must do so in the fear of God, not of a particular tradition or viewpoint.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Luke 11 and Luke 12

Today’s Reading: Isa 30:18–32:20, Luke 11:1–36, Job 7:11–21

Today’s Theme: God, Our Gracious Deliverer

Today’s theme is about God our great and gracious deliverer. God is so gracious to His people. If it were not for His grace, we would be without hope. God seeks to deliver us from evil and bondage, for His glory and our joy.

Isaiah 30:18–32:20

God waits

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

God declares to Judah, in light of their faithlessness in running to Egypt for deliverance, and in response to their cry of how long oh Lord – “I am waiting right here where you left me, whenever you are ready receive the grace and deliverance I’m holding out to you”.

Like Judah, we need to realise that God stands and offers grace to us but He will not follow us and so compromise His holy stand. He stands in His place and offers grace on His terms, we need to put ourselves in the place to receive His grace.

We should wait for the God who waits for us. The sense, when the verse says ‘wait’, is “to tarry, delaying an action, longing or hoping for something to happen”.

So, long and hope for God’s grace and mercy and you will receive it because He longs to show it to you but holds it back until you are in a place to receive it.

God’s guidance

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)

God’s guidance will gently lead us from bondage to deliverance, but we must have soft hearts, sensitive to the voice of the Spirit, to hear God say this is the way to go.

Ask God to help you to be quiet and hear His voice guide you. God will guide our feet to freedom in Christ.

Jesus told us in John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Light and healing

Moreover, the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the LORD binds up the brokenness of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow. Isaiah 30:26 (ESV)

If this verse were taken literally, a sun seven times brighter than normal would blind and scorch the people, so there is something deeper being pointed at here.

God is light, in Him is no darkness at all. The light of the sun speaks of God Himself, He is the one who brings healing to His people. 1 John 1:5

Light and healing are associated in the natural world and in the spiritual world, as darkness and disease are. We can literally draw health and strength from the sun.

Enter the warmth and brightness of God today and be healed from the brokenness and wounds you have, even if they were inflicted by the Lord in discipline.

God’s light is seen practically in the truth of His word. Soak in the scriptures today, to bring healing and deliverance to your soul.

Like the bright moon, allow the light of God to be reflected from your life today, to bring healing to others.

Who are you going to trust in?

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! Isaiah 31:1 (ESV)

What is Egypt for you? Do not trust in anyone or thing other than God, for your deliverance. Take this as a personal prayer point today.

We can sometimes drift into depending on our jobs, money, certain people etc. Realign your trust in the Lord today, as your help and deliverer.

God, The Restorer

Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly. The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable. Isaiah 32:3–5 (ESV)

In these verses we read about the restoration of Israel and see a glimpse of the kingdom Jesus will rule over in the end, when fools will no longer rule.

We also see God’s heart to reverse the slumber on those who hear and see, but do not understand.

God seeks to restore and heal His people, the deaf, blind, hasty and stammerers will know the truth.

All of this gives us prayer fuel for Israel and our own lives and nations today.

Don’t be complacent

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech. Isaiah 32:9 (ESV)

Complacency will lead to bondage, so don’t be complacent, stay alert and keep moving, listen to God and live, live as He has called you to and be led by His Spirit.

Peace and quiet

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

God brings us to a place of peace and blessed quiet, when we walk in righteousness before Him.

Our soul can be still, we can experience peace in the middle of storms and adversity and quiet in the middle of busyness and stress.

Our world has so many voices competing for our attention, it seems hard to find a time of quiet, but with God we can find the quietness our souls need.

Make it a practise to find quiet times each day (for me the morning is always best), when you can just listen to God and be still, find times of quiet before God.

Luke 11:1–36

Just ask

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:10 (ESV)

Jesus taught us to be bold, because our God is a good father. We address Him as Father when we pray, He gives us our needs and delivers us from evil.

We should ask, seek and knock (Pastor Dennis has a great teaching on the three levels of prayer in regard to this), in prayer before God, tell Him your need today, He rejoices over you to do you good.

Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy, open your mouth and speak to God. Tell God all about it, make clear requests in faith and God will answer. Jesus said those who ask, seek and knock, will receive, find and have the door opened to them.

Stop now and ask God about it in prayer, seek Him about it in His word and intimately knock on the door in the Spirit.

The reality of spirits

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ Luke 11:24 (ESV)

Jesus taught about the reality of unclean spirits and demons, deliverance is always available from God, but to take God’s grace for granted and continually giving place to the enemy, will lead to even deeper bondage.

God wants us to be free from the power of unclean spirits, so as we read earlier, ask God for the Holy Spirit which He will give abundantly, be filled with the Spirit and there will be no room for any other spirit.

Dark light

Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. Luke 11:35 (ESV)

What we let into our souls through our eyes, can bring us into bondage. Be careful what you watch.

There is a lot of the dark light Jesus spoke about, coming through our eyes in the media rich day that we live in. So guard your eyes and your soul from the bondage of darkness.

As Jesus said in verse 27, blessed are those who hear and keep His word. Be filled with the word of God which is pure light.

Job 7:11–21

Because He loves you

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment? Job 7:17–18 (ESV)

The reason God takes any concern with man is because of His love. God wants to see us healed and delivered, that is why He makes much of us for His glory and our Joy. Be encouraged that God has your best interest at heart today.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 11

Today’s Reading: Isa 29:1–30:17, Luke 10:1–42, Job 7:1–10

Today’s Theme: God Our Teacher

Today’s theme is about God as our teacher, revealed most clearly through Jesus, the greatest teacher of all.

Isaiah 29:1–30:17

Empty dreams

As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion. Isaiah 29:8 (ESV)

The thoughts of man are impotent, they posses no creative power, unlike the one and only Creator, God. God alone can bring something to mind and it becomes a reality.

God teaches us a great lesson here, reminding us that dreams are not real and bring no satisfaction in the physical world. We can think about doing or not doing something all day long, but just dreaming or thinking about eating a nice meal will do nothing for our hunger other than make it greater.

Do not waste your life dreaming, fantasising and allowing your thoughts to drift away. Instead think on things that are pure and profitable for God’s pleasure and glory and for your joy.

Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

The spirit of slumber

For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers). Isaiah 29:10 (ESV)

God pours out the spirit of slumber, in judgement, on those who reject Him. This reminds us that even though God is our great teacher, we can only understand and receive the lessons taught by His grace and mercy.

The Prophets should have been in a place to correct the dead religiosity of Judah, but their hearts were not for the Lord and so were put under a spirit of sleep.

Let us not sleep like others, stay alive to God and His purposes, God has called us to be prophets in our generation, bringing a corrective word to a wayward world. 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Lip service

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, Isaiah 29:13 (ESV)

We should not just pay God lip service or perform religious duties, with no heart or passion for God. God hates dead religiosity and so should we, we are called to a living relationship with God through His Son Jesus.

We should not fear God because of the teaching of any man or church, instead as we submit to God our teacher, we will reverentially fear Him in truth.

Crazy pots

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 29:16 (ESV)

The arguments of naturalism and evolution are put in their true perspective here; can we, the pots, really turn to the potter and proceed to teach him? Can we the students turn and teach the teacher? Can we the created turn and instruct the Creator?

None of us can teach God anything, we need to throw away our crazy pride and submit to Him. He was there in the beginning and He has already seen the end, He knows how and why He made us, so turn to Him today for your answers, perspective, opinions, worldview and purpose.

Hope for the wayward

And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.” Isaiah 29:24 (ESV)

God the teacher, declares those who go astray and those who grumble, will one day submit to instruction and have understanding.

This was certainly in context to Judah but we can take hope from it, for those who have fallen away or are in the grip of bitterness, that they will submit to the teaching of God and come to an experiential knowledge of the truth.

Don’t force it through

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; Isaiah 30:1 (ESV)

In this passage, the plan to flee to Egypt was a plan that the people were forcing through despite God’s instructions, and it would only lead to pain and shame.

We need to be led by the Spirit, not every plan we make should be forced through. Ask God to help you discern which plans are of Him and should be pursued, and which ones will not profit.

Luke 10:1–42

Hear the teacher

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 (ESV)

Jesus speaks through His disciples today, that’s you and me, but more specifically speaks through appointed leaders, like our Pastors.

Those who reject the teaching of the true church (as these accord with the bible), are actually rejecting the teaching of Jesus and so rejecting God.

Do not be discouraged when you are rejected as you share the truth of the gospel, that the Kingdom has come. They are instead rejecting God, who you have become an ambassador for.

We submit to Jesus our great teacher, we submit to His word and gospel, and like the 72, we go and proclaim His teaching to all the world.

Those who hear the teaching of Jesus and like the cities of unbelief, do not obey the gospel, will be under greater judgement than those who have never heard.

We have authority and security

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20 (ESV)

Jesus gives us authority over all the power of the enemy, but more importantly, gives us assurance of our salvation before God.

We can rejoice in our authority and security today.

Teaching for children

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Luke 10:21 (ESV)

God reveals His truth to those who humble themselves to be taught by Him. If our heads are filled with the so called knowledge of this world and our trust is in that, then how can we receive the revelation of God’s truth?

Be a child in heart today, to receive the teaching of the truth from God, do not be proud or arrogant, but be teachable.

It is God’s will, by His grace, to reveal His truth to simple people like us, for His pleasure and glory.

Revelation is a grace from God

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22 (ESV)

If you know God, it is not through anything that you did or anything that made you worthy, it is Jesus who decides the ones He will reveal the Father to. Give thanks that you have been chosen.

Learn from the Master

And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10:28 (ESV)

Jesus was the best teacher ever, when this man came challenging Him with a question, He turned the man back to the bible of his day and said what do you read, how do you see it? This is such a great way to teach the truth, to let the seeker read it for themselves.

Pastor Dennis has taught us this over the years, that the best thing to do in many situations, is to get someone to actually read the verse from the bible and ask them what they think it means.

The master story teller

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:37 (ESV)

One of the best methods Jesus used as a teacher was to tell stories or parables, which had a lesson driving them.

Again, after telling the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus asks the man a question, which serves to assess his comprehension of the lesson taught and ensure that he engaged his mind with the message of the story.

We use this technique in training and teaching today and should use it as we share the truth of God too.

One thing is necessary

but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (ESV)

We need to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him as He teaches us, everything else is secondary. Don’t be anxious and caught up in your day, stop and listen to Jesus.

Job 7:1–10

There is no specific note from today’s reading in Job, just a reminder that much of Job is discussion and ideas without understanding. Much of the book is useless for theology. This is why we need God as our teacher.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 10