Category: Minor prophets
Fire in the house!
Scripture reading for September 12th: Amos 1-2
Fire is a devastating force when not properly controlled and utilized. It has the capacity for great good and also for brutal destruction. I was helping an uncle shell corn at his farm about 6 miles south of our farm in Iowa. I was a young farmer and had started farming with a small hog herd and had about 25 sows (mother hogs) with their babies in a building. It was winter time and we were using heat lamps and furnaces to keep the hog building warm. One of the lamps must have fallen onto the straw, and a blaze erupted that swept through the building. I remember hearing the call to come home from my distraught aunt. “There’s a fire in the hog house!” I arrived home to find a charred building and some charred animals!
Amos was a fig (not pig!) farmer and shepherd who was called to be a prophet. (Amos 7:14-15) The book of Amos contains several warnings of “fire in the house!” These warning were to nations and peoples surrounding Israel. (Amos 1:4, 7, 10, 14; Amos 2:2) Amos also warned Judah and Israel that they also had fire coming to their houses as well! (Amos 2:4-16)
Sin brings God’s wrath and fiery judgment. God hates sin because it is totally foreign to His nature of love. Sin brings destruction, anguish, and great eternal loss to those made to enjoy His blessing and glory! But our God is very merciful! He always warns His people of their sins and even provides a way of escape for them. (1 Corinthians 10:13) He wants no one to perish but all to come to repentance and deliverance. (Amos 3:7) This is why He sent the prophet, preachers and saints to testify of His mercy and grace!
Our nation is saturated with the gospel! We have more churches and radio and television preaching than anywhere else in the world. The gospel warns people that there is ‘fire in their house’ and provides a Savior who took the fiery wrath of God against our sin. The gospel offers us a new form of fire in our house, the precious Holy Spirit! This ‘fire’ is redemptive and empowering! It gives us power to live free from sin and to take the gospel to the lost. Take time today to thank the Lord for His mercy and His wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit!
The valley of decision!
Scripture reading for September 10th: Joel 1-3
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; The earth and sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people; a stronghold for the people of Israel.” Joel 3:14-16
Joel was a prophet of God who spoke to God’s people during a terrible plague of locusts. (Joel 1:4) God used this locust plague to speak to his people of their coming judgment. (Joel 1:13-14) Joel called God’s people to fasting and prayer for God’s mercy. A trumpet was to be blown calling all to God’s temple for serious intercession. Joel spoke to them about the ‘day of the Lord’ and their need of repentance.
The preparation for this ‘day of the Lord’ was preparation of the heart. The custom for fasting was to put on sackcloth and sprinkle ashes on their heads. They would cry out in weeping before God, symbolically mourning for their sins. But God was after something else. He desired a broken and contrite heart! (Psalm 51:17) (Joel 2:13) God through Joel called all the people together to rend their hearts. They were to say, “Spare your people, O Lord.” (Joel 2:17) God’s grace and compassion was the motivation for the fast and His goodness always leads His people to repentance! (Romans 2:4)
The answer from God to this fast was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the whole land! (Joel 2:28-32) (Acts 2:14-21) As all came to fast, all would be anointed with God’s Spirit! There would be signs and wonders in the earth among God’s people, young and old, men and women! This would happen right before the ‘day of the Lord’! Everyone who would call on God would be saved! (Joel 2:32, Romans 10:13)
Joel ends with a vision of the coming ‘day of the Lord’. Joel sees multitudes of people gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat. There God enters into judgment against the nations that have reject Him and His people. There are multitudes who will be judged and eternally lost! (Joel 3:1-2) This will be a terrible day for the unsaved when the lights of heaven grow dim and eternal darkness covers their souls. But God will be a refuge for His people! Whose side will you be on?
Your sins are your downfall!
Scripture reading for September 8th: Hosea 12-14
“But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me. I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot Me. Hosea 13:4-5
For people who have been saved from sin, God’s love initially seems so good. God is good and moves us from darkness and slavery into a new realm of abundance and true soul satisfaction. It would appear that such a people would love and follow God forever, enjoying the abundant life. (John 10:10) Hosea tells how God’s once faithful people became satisfied and promptly forgot Him. The source of this forgetfulness was pride, which became their downfall! (Hosea 13:6, 14:1)
Pride is the sin that caused Satan’s downfall from the highest heavens. Satan desired to be like the Most High and to sit on the throne of God. God’s abundant blessing on his life in making him beautiful and giving him a place of honor brought out iniquity hidden there. (Ezekiel 28:1, 14-17) He was cast down from heaven’s glory to earth. We must be vigilant for this subtle sin that can creep into those who bear God’s image and carry His glory!
“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously; that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” ” Hosea 14:1-2
God’s mercy is also toward those whose sins have taken them down! Hosea gives a wonderful altar call. Repentance is an act of faith in the patience, kindness, love and mercy of our Lord. We can offer Him nothing but ourselves and our words. God desires to heal us and love us. Check your heart and attitude today and ask God to expose any pride that could be your downfall.
“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely; for my anger has turned away from them.” Hosea 14:4
“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9
Breaking up unplowed ground!
Scripture reading for September 7th: Hosea 9-11
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you. But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception.” Hosea 10:12-13a
Hosea loved farming illustrations and so do I! I loved to plow ground when I was younger. We would often plow under red clover that was sowed along with the oats crop and it helped the corn grow next year. The dirt turning over and the smell of that fresh soil was special. Usually a flock of seagulls would follow the plow to pick up worms and a chicken hawk would scout out scampering mice as they ran down the furrow. At night, coyotes and foxes would also come out and find rodents running in the furrows.
Hosea’s illustration was not about plowing dirt, but about the soil of hearts that had grown hard and had not produced a crop in a long time. The ground had to be broken up to receive the seed in hope of a crop. The sowing had to change, too. Instead of wickedness, false promises, lawsuits and idolatry, the people needed to sow a crop of righteousness in order to reap unfailing love. (Hosea 10:4-5, 12)
God often takes the weeds of our lives and uses them to become fertilizer for a good crop. For instance, if we were delivered from a life of drunkenness, we are able to minister to those who are bound by that habit. Someone else might have struggled with sexual temptations and upon breaking up their fallow ground, the old habits enable that person to minister to others who have similar strongholds.
Waiting for the harvest required patience. Hosea encouraged the people to seek the Lord until He came and showered righteousness on them. We must ask, seek and knock in faith until the answer comes. Prayer keeps an open line with the Lord and keeps us moving forward in hope and expectation. He alone is our righteousness! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
In summary, we must keep our heart’s soil soft and teachable through brokenness. As we sow righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, we will reap the fruit of His eternal and unfailing love. A broken and contrite heart, He will not despise! (Psalm 51:17)
Reaping the whirlwind!
Scripture reading for September 6th: Hosea 7-8
“Woe to them, because they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak lies against Me. They do not cry to me from their hearts but wail upon their beds. They gather together for grain and new wine but turn away from Me.” Hosea 7:13-14
“They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7
God so longed to redeem His people but they continually rebelled against Him. Thieves were breaking into houses and bandits robbing in the streets. The land was full of adulterers and the princes were drunk on wine. They were speaking evil of their rulers. They were arrogant and unresponsive as they went about their business of sinning. Consequences of a nation turning from God is an increase in violence, lawbreaking, and trouble with those ruling.
On top of all the usual sins, they chose their leaders without the consent of the Lord or His approval. They made idols of silver and gold. They cried out to the Lord as if they wanted to know Him, but their hearts were far from Him! Hosea stated that Ephraim had built many altars for sin offerings but they became altars for sinning! (Hosea 8:11) God had no choice but to send fire of judgment on their cities. (Hosea 8:14)
As we read these sad words about religion without heart or loving obedience, we think about the church in America. Many who name the name of Christ are involved in adultery with those who are not their married partners. They watch television and movies every sort of perversion and go to church on Sunday without ever asking God for mercy. They choose their rulers without ever consulting God or His holy word to find out if He would approve of their moral conduct and political decisions. Some get drunk or high on drugs regularly. Others lie and cheat and do violence with their gossip, yet claim a relationship with God.
Just as Hosea was told to take back the adulterous wife, God will take us back if we repent and turn to Him with all our heart. We must not just cry on our beds, but honestly take responsibility for what we have done and turn to Him for mercy. If we want to avoid the whirlwind, we must stop sowing the wind!
Ignorance is not bliss!
Scripture reading for September 5th: Hosea 4-6
“Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the Land. There is only cursing, lying, and murder, stealing and adultery. . .” Hosea 4:1-2a
“You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother–My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of Your God, I will also ignore your children.” Hosea 4:5-6
Hosea’s message to God’s people told them that they were unfaithful and unloving to Him. Keeping His commandments was a sign of love! (John 15:9-10) The job of the priests was to live and teach the word of God. Hosea told the priests that they had willfully rejected God’s word! When we reject God’s clear commandments, there are terrible consequences for us and our family.
God’s people are no different today. When we curse, lie, steal, and commit adultery and murder, we show our lack of faithfulness and love. We are rejecting and ignoring our faithful Father! These sins cut off our fellowship and also put stumbling blocks in front of our children who are watching our bad examples. (Hosea 4:5) There is great peril for our souls and for the souls of our children!
Our nation is stumbling today because of the failure of God’s people to live what claim to believe. Whole denominations of Christians are calling homosexuality acceptable before men and God! Many who call themselves Christians vote to put those in office who will keep on murdering our children through abortion. We are allowing politicians to steal our money from us to use for all kinds of projects that are against the word and will of our God! We have been unfaithful because we have rejected knowledge and ignored the laws of our God!
Repentance and faith are the only routes back from the perils we are discussing. If you have not lived your life according to God’s word, repent and ask Him to cleanse you. He is loving, faithful, and merciful! He can restore you! Pray for our nation and ask God for mercy! Only repentance can keep us from stumbling into destruction!
The Adulterous Wife!
Scripture reading for September 4th: Hosea 1-3
Hosea was a unique prophet called by God to let his whole life, his marriage, and his children be a prophetic word to God’s people. Hosea was told by God to marry an adulterous woman named Gomer. God’s plan was to show Israel how they behaved toward Him and give them a visual picture of His love for them. (Hosea 1:2)
Hosea married Gomer and took her as his wife. She conceived and bore him a son. The Lord told Hosea to call the son “Jezreel”, because He was going to punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel and put an end to the kingdom of Israel. (Hosea 1:4) Gomer also had two daughters and they were also named by the Lord. One was Lo-Ruhamah which meant “no love left” and the other was “Lo-Ammi” which meant “not my people”. God was telling Israel about a coming judgment on their nation and He wanted them to be reminded every time they saw the prophet and his family. (Hosea 1:4-8)
As I reflect on this story, I am reminded we are just like the Israelites. We have been in spiritual adultery and unfaithful to God in many ways. We have not obeyed His command to be filled with His Spirit and to go out into the world and be His witnesses. We have run after gods of pleasure instead of wholeheartedly keeping ourselves for Him. Just as Gomer ran after other lovers who offered her food, and clothes and drinks, so we have not walked faithfully before our God. (Hosea 2:5-6) We have not recognized that God is the real provider of all the good things He has provided. (Hosea 2:8)
However, as Hosea was commanded to take back his unfaithful wife and buy her back from the slave market, so God has done the same for us! (Hosea 3:1-2) Jesus died to buy us back from slavery, demonstrating His love for us! (Romans 5:8) As Hosea told Gomer to leave her life of adultery and he would live with her, God tells us to depart from sin and live a holy life if we want to see the Lord! (1st Peter 1:14-15) Jesus Christ is coming back for His Bride, the Church! She will be a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, clothed in the white linen of His righteousness! Check your life today!
My Treasured Possession!
Scripture reading for October 5th: Malachi 1-4
“You have said harsh thing against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘what have we said against You?'” “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evil-doers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'” (Malachi 3:13-15)
In times of trouble and apostasy, it is easy for God’s people to begin to think that they don’t count for much. Evil is prospering everywhere and wicked people seem to get by with murder and stealing. Even those in the church who are complacent seem to be getting by. What profit is there in going to church and serving God anyway? This was a question of the people in Malachi’s day.
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.” “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day I take up my treasured possession. I will spare them just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)
There were some who continued to trust God. They met together and encouraged one another to stay strong. God was listening to them and making a note of each person! It is encouraging to know that God is interested in the faithful! He is a God of encouragement and hope and lets the faithful know it! (Romans 15:13) God promises help for the faithful! They will escape the coming judgment. There will be a visible difference between the righteous and the wicked on that coming day!
“‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble and that day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the Lord Almighty. . . .’But you who revere My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. . . .Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet when I do these things,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 4:1-3)
King Over the Earth!
Scripture reading for October 4th: Zechariah 12-14
The last chapters of Zechariah are devoted to declaring what God is going to do. Many times the prophet announces that God says, “I will”. God’s word is forever settled in the heavens. Because He does not lie, what He says must come to pass. Many of Zechariah’s words from God that have been fulfilled but others remain standing for future fulfillment.
“The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: ” I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:1-2) God was going to use Jerusalem to punish the peoples of the earth who refused to come to God. God would save Jerusalem and strengthen His people but destroy all the nations that set out to attack Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:8-9)
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.” (Zechariah 12:1-2) God foresaw the cleansing of the land of Israel from idols and false prophets. His people had struggled with idolatry but would be totally set free in the last days by a cleansing fountain.
“I (the Lord) will gather the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.” (Zechariah 14:2-3) Zechariah saw God fighting the nations that had overrun Jerusalem. He would be victorious!
“The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His Name the only Name.” (Zechariah 14:9) The rule of God will come to all the earth. He has a Name above every name! There is no other King but Jesus Christ! He defeats the nations and establishes peace on earth. Praise His Name!
Sunday Rest and Reflection:Not by Might!
Dear Spirit-filled Friends,
Greetings on another day of rest and reflection! We have covered most of the Old Testament and many of the minor prophets. Their message has been one of coming judgment and hope for God’s people. They spoke of the coming King who would rule to the ends of the earth and destroy the wicked. They called God’s people to seek Him humbly and to walk by faith, encouraging them with the promise of eternal rewards and a time of everlasting peace. The ‘day of the Lord’ was a common theme in many of these prophet’s ministries.
As I reflect back on the past week, a scripture from Zechariah comes quickly to my mind! “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”” (Zechariah 4:4) As we think of all the happenings of the coming end times and the day of the Lord, we can become overwhelmed by how we are going to make it and be ready. We see the work yet to be done in reaching this world with the Gospel and think how difficult it is. Zechariah was given a word of God by an angel who spoke to him. This angel relayed God’s encouragement to His people of all generations. We are not to rely on our own strength or power to accomplish the work of building the temple any more than Zechariah and his people were told not to! God, Himself, by His Spirit will empower His people.
This is good news for us today! We need to be reminded that God has everything under his control. He is bringing about His plans and His purposes are established forever! (Psalm 33:9-10) Those things that look like mountains will become level by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is building His Temple and by His Spirit it will be accomplished! We must be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit and we will have nothing to be concerned about! God bless you and your family!
In His Love, Pastor John