One Year Bible, August 7

EZRA 5:1 - 6:22                                                                                                                   
GET BACK TO WORK!  Haggai was the first prophetic voice to the remnant following captivity.  He was a "no holds barred", practical preacher of repentance.  Zechariah came later the same year, and was more visionary. "Haggai" means "joyous one, rejoicing" (and actually comes from a word that means to "spin in circles" or to "dance feverishly"). "Zechariah" means "Jehovah has remembered."   Both are probably young men who returned to Jerusalem with their parents as children.   Both witnessed the morale deteriorating, and then received their assignments from God to speak out.

THE CRITICAL MOMENT:  Zerubbabel and Jeshua (king & priest) had refused to be unequally yoked with the Samaritans who were already in the Land when they first arrived. Samaritan opposition (the "carnal mind", the FLESH) had eventually stopped the work by bringing compromise inside the camp, and accusations from outside the camp.  The work had sat for 16 years, and the people had become complacent, caught up in their own well-being.   But the Temple must be completed and filled with glory and unshakable peace. The cure for discouragement is "the Word of the Lord".

"BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO WE BUILD?" "Who are you?" "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth."   We build by the "decree of Cyrus" (Jesus).  Everything hinges on the decree (the "deep things of God", "revealed by the Spirit of God"- the Scriptures).  Our enemies must not only stop hindering, but they must pay for the building!  Our enemies have been told to "keep away from there!"   The devil's kingdom is destroyed, his house torn down and he has been hung on his own timber, his house being made a manure-pile.

CAUSE FOR GREAT JOY: The Body of Christ is cause to rejoice. We have been "purified together" (refined, purged, made shiny). God has made us "eat" and be joyful.

RESPONSE:   The devil often manages to "shoot himself in the foot".  This time he shot both feet!  The king's treasury ("riches in glory") and the "wealth of the sinner" is laid up to build God's house.  The "gates of hell" can't stop it. God's prophets call us to repent and press on to completion.  REMEMBER: Mixture corrupts and makes us "carnal" - unfit for God's house.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-23                                                                                                       
THE REAL QUESTION: WHEN WILL OUR WORK BE JUDGED?  May I say?  NOW, in this life - as we go along.  And on what basis will we be judged?  Remember, Paul is explaining what it means to be SPIRITUAL (as opposed to "carnal" or "natural" or spiritual infants).  What we DON'T WANT is a "saved soul" and a "wasted life".   The FOUNDATION of Jesus Christ is one of "the wisdom and power of God".  The "fire" is not punishment, but revelation and testing.   In his “day” of testing, the mettle of our character is exposed, or made manifest.  The trial reveals character development.  Spiritual infants are more concerned with themSELVES and their boasting ("wisdom of man").  In their foolishness, they are "carnal" and immature.  Their immaturity is "wood, hay, and stubble".  We must build on the foundation with the correct materials: "gold, silver and precious stones" which is in "the power and wisdom of God".  Boasting in humans reveals carnality and immaturity because boasting is a "dead-end street"  - it is just foolishness and God brings it to nothing, and because ALL THINGS are already ours.  Human self-sufficiency and human insecurity are BOTH DECEPTIONS and "carnal" (immature) and character flaws.  

RESPONSE:   I don't want any behavior and personality stuff "hanging around" if it was part of my spiritual immaturity - so I would just as soon have it burn up before I have to face Jesus in heaven.

PSALM 29:1-11                                                                                                                  
THE VOICE OF GOD: God's voice may not be recognized by "outsiders".  The "voice of many waters" denotes power not wrath. Sometimes His voice "thunders" during times of trouble so you can hear it.  His voice is powerful, to overcome conflicting direction from your own selfish desires.  His voice, that breaks the cedars, is strong enough to break through any misdirection from Satan.  God's direction will be obvious (like lightning) if you look for it.  His direction can turn your situation upside-down (or rightside-up). 

PROVERBS 20:26-27                                                                                                            
A good leader is a terror to the wicked, because the wicked fear real authority.  Haven't you ever quickly applied the brakes in your car when you see a police car?

The human spirit's powers of insight, self-consciousness, reflection, is as a lamp which God has lighted, throwing its rays into the darkest recesses of the heart.  Now we know where our conscience is.

RESPONSE:   The word, "voice" is used seven (7) times in Psalm 29. The "voice of many waters" is used four other times in Scripture: Ezek 43:2; Rev 1:15; 14:2; 19:6.   I always imagine it sounding like a great waterfall: pleasant, but forceful and demanding respect.  When our family lived in Omaha, Nebraska, there was a winter storm with thunder and lightning one year. It snowed and hailed.  Strangely enough, the top 10-15 feet of all of our fir trees were lopped off! The whole city looked like an angry God had marched through it.   I immediately thought of Psalm 29.