Meet Persecution with the Power of Prayer - Acts 11-12

 Acts 12:1-5 (ESV Strong's)

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Meet Persecution with Prayer

In Ephesians 6 we are told to put on the armor of God that we might be able to “stand” against the “schemes” of Satan.   We are told that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against “the rulers and the authorities and the cosmic powers over this present darkness.”   Paul then tells the church at Ephesus to take up the “armor” of God. The last piece he mentions is prayer: 

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV Strong's)

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The above passage in Acts is an example of the use of the armor of prayer.   James, the brother of John, was crucified by the schemes of Satan through the hands of King Herod.   Herod was simply Satan’s tool.  Jesus had warned the disciples that after His departure they would be attack from without and from within:

Matthew 10:16-18 (ESV Strong's)

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

With Peter still locked up, however, the church turned to prayer for his release.   The rest of chapter twelve gives us the unfolding of the answer to their prayer.  Peter is miraculously set free and the church is embolden and the gospel is advanced.   In the midst of their sorrow over James, the church falls to its knees to plead with God in prayer.  This might be a lesson few want to learn.  To get them to their knees, something had to happen in the sorrow of their hearts.  This is often how God works in our lives.   God, sometimes, has to allow something we love to be taken for us to pick up that piece of armor that He gives.   Prayer is the power that most believers have untapped.   God wants to use the power of prayer to do His will and bring Himself glory through our persecution and suffering.  This is one thing the above story about James and Peter teaches us.  Prayer is the place we go for power during persecution.  

Oppressed - Ecclesiastes 3-4

 Ecclesiastes 4:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.

Oppressed

The above verse gives us a great description from the world of Solomon about the world we live in today.  Today we live in a land that people with power oppress those without power.   It is comforting to know that God knows this and will, in time, intervene.   Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, is making observations about life and comes to the conclusion that life is like chasing the wind. He summarizes his thoughts in the last two verses of the book:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

The key to understand 4:1 is to read 12:14.   God is going to bring “every deed into judgment” - that is God’s world and He is responsible to make sure the oppression of the world is kept in check.  

The World’s Philosophy Does NOT Work!! - Psalms 125-127

 Psalms 127:2 (ESV Strong's)

2 It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

The World’s Philosophy Does NOT Work!

There is now doubt, that in our society today, work ethic is rewarded.   Those who get to work and get it done are promoted and given more and more responsibility.   Lazy people are wedded out or left behind.   Burning the candle at both ends is a normative for the business world.   Having a pace in life that focuses on something other than work is viewed as a distraction.  We like to tell everyone how many “hours” we are working.  Yet, we often don’t count the ones when sitting at home doing our work.   Rising early and staying up late is a societal virtue.  But, it is not a virtue of godliness.  Is all about balance.   God does not want us to be anxious.  He does want us to allow Him to work in our lives.  He wants us to take advantage of one of His greatest gifts: SLEEP!   Sleep is a gift from God.  It is given to us to renew our bodies and minds for another day.   When we cheat ourselves out of God’s gift of sleep we do a disservice to our minds and bodies.  Even the unbelieving world has discovered the value, beauty and necessity of sleep.   The writer here is not talking about too much sleep. Notice what Solomon stated about lazy people on two separate occasions:

Proverbs 6:10-11 (ESV Strong's)

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:33-34 (ESV Strong's)

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

Either those who copied down Solomon’s proverbs simply made a mistake and copied this one twice, or he meant to tell us twice.  Too much sleep will cause poverty to come upon us.  However, not enough sleep will cause us impoverish health.  The world would love to have balance.  But, true Biblical balance starts with praising God for His remarkable gift of sleep.   The world’s system does not work.   God’s system does.   

God Knows the Urgency of our Timeline - 2 Chronicles 29-32

 2 Chronicles 29:36 (ESV Strong's)

36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

God Knows our Time Line

The above verse is taken at the end of the story about King Hezekiah’s return to collective, national worship per the commands of Moses.   He brought that priest and Levites back to lead the worship.  He brought the sacrificial system back to honor God. 

He personally supplied many of the animals for the worship.   But true worship is not done just “for” God.  It is done by God’s power, enablement and supply.  This change in worship came about with haste.  Hezekiah learned God’s Word and wanted to do this right and right now.   The above verse tells us that God provided for their worship.  God always provides for our worship.  When we come to God with “our” worship we lack.  When we come to Him in worship, He provides.   God uses us to worship Him.  We were created to worship.   He provides everything we need to bring praise to Him.  And, He brings it ON TIME.  God is not blown away by our timing.  He knows the urgency we have.  He is willing to provide when we are urgent to worship Him.  

Not By Our Righteousness - Deuteronomy 7-9

 Deuteronomy 9:4-6 (ESV Strong's)

4 “Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. 5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

6 “Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.

Not By Our Righteousness 

The above passage speaks for itself.   We often want to claim responsibility for our successes.  We often like to blame others for our failures.   God is telling the nation of Israel as they enter the promise land, their successes will be because of God’s righteousness in fulfilling the promises He made to Abraham, Issac and Jacob.   If there are failures in their entering the promise land, it will be because they disobeyed God.    God is not abandon them, but they could (and did, eventually) abandon His Word.    God will make us holy and give us victory as we, by faith, hold to His Word and all His Spirit to direct us.   Notice what the writer of Hebrews said about this nation and the fear that writer had for his New Testament church:

Hebrews 3:12 (ESV Strong's)

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

God will produce righteousness in our lives when we, by faith, walk in His word.  He will give us victory over things bigger than us. Notice what Moses had just told them:

Deuteronomy 9:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 “Hear, O Israel: you are to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than you, cities great and fortified up to heaven, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’

We should not fear the giants on the outside.  We should fear the giant of disbelief and doubt and disobedience on the inside.  That is the point of Moses words in this section.  Trust God and great things will happen.  Disobey God and great and terrible things will happen.  

Of His Will We Bear Fruit - James 1-3

 James 1:18 (ESV Strong's)

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Of His Will We Bear Fruit

The above verse is a key transition verse in James. James is about to start writing about his famous topic: Faith without works is dead, argument.  The fundamental aspect of the Gospel is faith that produces good works.   But, we often get locked in on the good works and attempt to use those for our justification.   We might hear many say, “Well, I think I deserve heaven because look what I have done.”  Or, “Why is this all happening to me (some bad thing) when I do so much for the church? Does God not see it?”   The above passage sets up, theologically, what follows about the faith-works argument.   The above passage tells us it was God’s “own will” that brought us forth.  Why? That we should be “first-fruits” of his creatures.   We re born again to bear fruit.   That fruit is produced by HIS will, not ours.   This truth is the bases of “faith without works is dead.”  It is too bad that in most Bibles today the publishers put a break between this verse and the verses that follow.  It makes it appears as though James is moving onto another argument.  He is not.  God is producing in us fruit, by HIS will.  That fruit is the “works” that will accompany our “faith.”   Faith without works is dead.  Works demonstrate our faith.  Yet, only works produced by God, by our faith in God, demonstrates our faith.  All works, not produced in us by God, based upon faith, are dead.   The writer to the Hebrews wrote it this way:

Hebrews 6:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Note that God is not “unjust so as to overlook your work” based upon the “love that you have shown for his name.”   The works done for and toward others are to be done because of our desire to love and glorify the name of God, through Jesus Christ.   All other works and not good fruit.  The fruit we produced are produced because God put His love in our hearts to love Him.  That is the basis for any and all good works that please God.  

God Uses MOVING People! Acts 9-10

 Acts 9:32-35 (ESV Strong's)

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

God Uses MOVING People!

The above passages about the healing of Aeneas comes right in the middle of some key stories about Paul and Peter.  In one sense, from a literary and structure point of view, it seems completely out of place and unrelated.  In reading the beginning Acts 9 we have just read the monumental conversion of Saul to become the Apostle Paul.  When we read chapter ten we will read Peter’s introduction to sharing Christ with a Gentile, a centurion in the Roman army who “feared God.”  Sandwiched in the middle of these two large events in Church history, we have what appears to be a simple story, unrelated to the theme, as written by the Apostle Luke.    After Aeneas’ conversion, we hear nothing about him in Scripture, ever again.   Yet, perhaps, there is something here for us.   The beginning of the above passage simply states that “Peter went here and there among them all.”   We have little to go with here, other than Peter was on the move.  Aeneas lived in Lydda.   This miracle was done in that town.  That small miracle, however, would be the connected tissue for what follows in Acts.   In a nearby town (Joppa) and women named, Dorcas, became ill and died.  Since the people of Joppa heard of the miracle in Lydda, they sent for Peter.   Healing Dorcas they gave Peter a place to stay in Joppa.  Since he was in Joppa, God would use Peter to speak the gospel to another man in a town near that, Caesarea ... Cornelius, the Roman centurion (the first Gentile to be saved in the book of Acts).   We have to remember, there was no email in those days to contact people. No cellular service.  There was no train, plane or cars.   They walked and talked, face-to-face (seems odd).   God was able to use Peter in Caesarea because he was nearby in Joppa. He was in Joppa, because he was nearby in Lydda.   He was in Lydda because he was moving “here and there.”  God uses people who move for the express interest in being used by God, wherever they are.   God does not want us to “wonder” where we should be for Him.  He wants us to “wander” and be used by Him.   God uses the “wanderer” not the “wonderer.”    

Legacy! Ecclesiastes 1-2

 Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

Legacy!

The book of Ecclesiastes is a story of Solomon pursuing life.  He has the wealth and the wisdom to put everything under a microscope, to determine if it is valuable or lasting or something more than “vanity.”   You should never read a single verse in Ecclesiastes without first reading the last verses, Solomon’s conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV Strong's)

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

These two verses should be the lens we view the two verses from chapter two.   In 2:18-19 we read that Solomon takes note of his legacy.   Even though he was wise and wealthy (in that order ... God gave him wealth because he sought wisdom), he knew that what he was leaving to those who came after him would all be lost.   No matter how wise he was, Solomon had no control over those who came after him who might squander his wealth and ignore his wisdom.   When we read history we see that his son, Rehoboam, actually did ignore his wisdom and deplete his wealth.  The kingdom of Israel actually split into Israel and Judah as a result of Rehoboam’s foolish decisions.  It intentionally ignored the wisdom of his father and the counselors his father left him, to advise him.  

1 Kings 12:6-8 (ESV Strong's)

6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

Our legacy is never guaranteed.   Those who come after us have no compelling interest in us, as we are dead.   We ought to not worry about what happens after us, but only want happens within us.  We can only control, by God’s Spirit in us, through faith, what is happening with us and in us.  Legacy is never a guarantee.   

Peace - Psalms 122-124

 Psalms 122:6-9 (ESV Strong's)

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

“May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions' sake

I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your good.

Peace!!

In the above passage, David has written instruction to the nation of Israel.   He has composed a song for them to sing as they come to Jerusalem to worship.   The center of the song is the “peace” for Jerusalem.   He is instructing them to pray for peace.   Peace could be defined as no war with your neighbors or friends.   That would be a reasonable definition.   However, there seems to be something more in the text.  We are instructed to pray for peace “within your towers” and “peace be within you (Jerusalem).”   This means that peace is not simply the absence of something, it is also the presence of something.  It is obvious, since this is a prayer, we are to understand that peace does not come from men.  It is not something to be earned by a Noble Peace prize.   Peace is something that is provided from above, from God.    Peace is a gift from God.  Note:

1. It is from the Father, who is the God of peace:

Romans 15:33 (ESV Strong's)

33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

2. It is sent by the Son, who made peace possible for us.

John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

3.  It is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the believer walking in faith. 

Galatians 5:22 (ESV Strong's)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Peace for Jerusalem and peace for the believer is an act of a benevolent, gracious God.   We have peace in our hearts because God decided to put it there:

Philippians 4:7 (ESV Strong's)

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He Set Himself to Seek God - 2 Chronciles 25-28

 2 Chronicles 26:1-5 (ESV Strong's)

Uzziah Reigns in Judah

1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

He Set Himself To Seek God

The transfer of power of one king to the next, in the days of Judah and Israel, typically followed family blood lines.   Once a father died, the son (typically the eldest) was next in line for the throne.  This was true, no matter the age.  The above text shows this sequence after Amaziah, King of Judah, died.  His son, Uzziah, would take his place.   Those formative years of the son’s reign were a major contributor to their success, under God’s commands.  If they surrounded themselves with people or a priest who followed God, good things happened in their lives (as we read above).  But, if they surrounded their leadership with unsavory characters, their leadership often fell out of line with God’s wisdom (see the example of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam).  The key to great leaders is not something that is simply born within.   Our society likes to promote what they refer to as the “natural” born leader.   But, true, Biblical leadership is developed.  There are two requirements for that to happen.  

1. Set yourself to seek God.  Uzziah “set” his heart to seek God.   That is the first ingredient for anyone who wants to serve God in leadership of God’s people.   That is a dedication of the will.   We call this “will-power.”   Uzziah had his heart stirred toward God and made the commitment to seek God.   Remember, David, King of Israel, was a “man after God’s own heart.”  He sought God. 

2. Bring someone around you to teach you God’s word and God’s ways.   As we read above, Uzziah had the priest, Zechariah, to teach Him God’s ways.  We call this “way-power.”   There is one thing to have a “will” for God.  There is another to know how to serve God ... that’s “way-power.”    

Uzziah sought God and listened to the voice of God through Zechariah, who instructed him in the “fear of God.”    That combination of will-power and way-power made Uzziah a Godly leader among his nation.   

Hearing the Voice of God - Deuteronomy I 4-6

 Deuteronomy 4:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. 12 Then the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.

Hearing the Voice of God

Today, we have many people who state: “If I could just hear the voice of God, I would know He is real and follow Him.”  Have you ever wondered what would happen if God just spoke from heaven, today, before the six o’clock news?  Do you think the major networks would carry it?  What would our response be when God spoke to use, audible, from heaven?   Notice what Moses writes a couple of chapters later about this incident:

Deuteronomy 5:24-28 (ESV Strong's)

24 And you said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say, and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’

28 “And the LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.

The nation, once hearing God’s voice, at the foot of the mountain, trembled and asked Moses to intercede for them.  They heard God’s voice, did not see His form, and were terrified.  That is what happens if God would speak from heaven in an audible voice.  That is what the “fear of the Lord” is when we read about it in Proverbs.  Today we ought to have that same awe for God’s written Word that tells us about His Son, the Living Word.   God demands that we be holy and that we recognize His holiness.   We should stand in awe of Him.   Notice in verses 28 what God states about the nations fear of Him.  He states, “I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.”  You can count on one finger the times God said that about Israel ... this is the one time.  They were in awe of God.      

Repentance is NOT a Guarantee - Hebrews 11-13

 Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV Strong's)

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Repentance is NOT a Guarantee

We all struggle with forgiveness and bad choices we have made in life.   Esau, the brother of Jacob (who should be renamed, Israel and father the twelve tribes of the nation), was a man who made bad choices and needed forgiveness.   Out of his lust and laziness, he told his younger brother that he would “sell” his birthright for a pot of oatmeal.   The younger brother was destined to have the birthright, based upon God’s decree, but Esau wasted his status as first born but simply giving it away.   Later, he wanted to repent and wanted God’s forgiveness for such a bad choice.  He even, emotionally, sought it with tears.  But, God would have none of it.  Our forgiveness is completely dependent on God’s grace.  Notice what the author of Hebrews would say earlier in the book when warning the readers about slipping back into Judaism for their salvation:

Hebrews 6:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

We only move forward in repentance if God interacts in our lives and intervenes for us.  Note how the author finishes this great book to the Hebrews:

Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

It is God who works in us to will and work His good pleasure:

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV Strong's)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Esau wanted repentance.  He sought it with tears.  He thought God would just give him His grace.  He thought wrong. Don’t wait to repentant!

The Heart of the Gospel - Acts 7-8

 Acts 7:37-39 (ESV Strong's)

37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,

The Heart of the Gospel

The above passage is taken right out of the middle of Stephen’s one and only sermon.  Stephen was selected by the church to be a “deacon” for the purpose of serving widows in the church (see chapter six of Acts).   But, he instantly started to teach and preach.  He was not limited by his “position.”   The High Priest demanded from him why he was speaking about Jesus (Acts 7:1).   At that point, Stephen begins to break down the history of the nation of Israel and comes to the part Moses played in their deliverance from Egypt and the deliverance of the Ten Commandments.   This is where we arrive, in Stephen’s message, to the above verses.   The point Stephen is making is that, like their fathers, the High Priest and the religious leaders rejected Christ “in their hearts,” just like their fathers did.   The nation of Israel was physically redeemed out of the Egypt.  But, spiritually they never left.   Notice how later in this section that Peter confronts a recent magician who thought he could purchase the Holy Spirit with money:

Acts 8:20-23 (ESV Strong's)

20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

The magician, Simon, had “professed” Christ.   But, he did not have Christ in his heart.   He simply wanted the external and failed to realize it starts with a change of internal.   The Gospel is about a change of heart.  It is not intellectual belief.  It is about having your heart changed by God and living inside out.  

God’s Obscure Messengers - Nahum

 Nahum 1:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God’s Obscure Messengers 

This book of Nahum was, of course, the prophecy of a prophet named Nahum.   What we know about him is summarized in the above verse.  The book, the prophecy, does not reveal one thing about him.  The expression, “Nahum of Elkosh,” means nothing to us. We do not know if Elkosh was his father, a town, a location, or a region.   We do know his name: Nahum.  It means, in Hebrew, “comfort.”   However, there is nothing of “comfort” in the book for the readers.  This prophecy is the doom pronounced upon Nineveh.   Jonah first went to Nineveh, the capital city of the bad Assyrians.   Jonah went reluctantly.  He knew, if the repented, God would give them grace.   They did!  God did!!   However, slightly over 100 years later, their repentance faded.   Nahum was sent by God to deliver this doom and gloom message of complete destruction against the Assyrians.   Jonah would have loved to be Nahum.   But God choose Nahum.  Why?  We have no idea.  We know nothing about him, other than the meaning of his name.  Maybe, the prediction of God’s wrath on Judah’s enemies (who the Assyrians tormented) was a comfort to the remnant, left in the land.   Whatever the reason, God choose an obscure man to deliver God’s obvious message: Nineveh’s time had come to an end.   God uses obscure men and women all the time.  God gives them an assignment, however bold, and see it completed through them.   David was first a shepherd.  Amos was a shepherd.  Moses was a shepherd when God called him.  The angels first announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds. (God must like shepherds.).  The disciples were but fishermen.   Paul was probably the most worthy to be called since he was a scholar.  But, he was also a murderer.   He would not past background checks to work in a nursery in churches today.    God uses obscurity to do His work.   Jesus’ father was a simple carpenter and his mother a virgin.  Both of them were obscure.    We cannot doubt our own insignificance.  God tends to use that type of person to do His work.   

A Working Woman - Proverbs 31

 Proverbs 31:13

She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands in delight.

In our society today the value of a women is measured in some ungodly and unhealthy ways.    There is, of course, an extreme amount of emphasis placed on the female body and the beauty of the women.   The dollars spent, alone, on appearance and sexuality are staggering.   Little is placed on the intelligence of women today.  In fact, in most circles, the smarter the female the less influence she can have.  If she demonstrates her depth she enters the pool of influence in the shallow waters.   There is even less emphasis placed on the industrialness of the women.   What she can do with her hands is often relegated to a lesser area of life.   Solomon, on the other end, seems to relish the women of industry.   She is rewarded for the work of her hands and the work of her mind.   Notice in our proverb, above, that she is said to "look" for the wool and the flax and then looks to work it with her hands.   She uses her mind to find the wool; she uses her industrious skills to work it and she incorporates a great attitude of will to do so with delight.   The example she sets for us in regard to virtue is amazing.   God has given her a mind, a heart and a will to accomplish much for God's kingdom.  It is does not appear to be a spiritual act, but it is for us.   We can see what God values.   Whatever He values we should value.

He Keeps Us! Psalms 120-121

 Psalms 121 (ESV Strong's)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

8 The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

He Keep Us!

In the above song, the author uses the word “keep” four times.   The word is used in the OT over 400 times.  The first time the word is used is in Genesis when God put man in the Garden of Eden and told him to “keep” it.   The implication was that man was to watch over it, prune it, nurture it and/or tend to whatever needs the garden had.  In the above song we are told that God is the “keeper” of us. We are His garden.  He watches over us and nurtures us, prunes us, care for us and helps us (enables us) to grow.   He gives us several truths why God does this and can do this:

1. He made us.  He crated heaven and earth and therefore has both the power and the interest to care for us.  We are His creation. 

2. He is constantly on the job.   When we go to sleep at night, we are not watching our children, our possessions, or even our own lives.   Our slumber puts us at risk. This is why we lock doors before we go to bed at night.   We hope a $30.00 lock will be our safety.    We can rejoice that God “keeps” us because He is constantly doing His work in our lives to watch over us.  He does not sleep or slumber.  He constantly is watching over us.  

3. He is constantly available for us to protect us, like shade from the sun.   The best picture of this truth is seen in the story of Israel in their wilderness traveling.  God sent a cloud to cover them from the sun during the day and a fire to give them warmth at night.  The cloud and fire were physically helpful.  But, they were, more importantly, the actual presence of God.  Today we don’t see Him, but by faith we know He is there. The significance of the “right hand” in the above passage is, of course, a reference to Christ seated at the right hand of God.  Christ has the authority to “keep” us.  It was given to Him by the Father. 

4.  He is doing this on a permanent basis.  The Lord is keeping us from evil and protecting us.  He is going this “from this time forth and forevermore.”   That is permanent.  He is not going to give up to us or give in to us.  He is persistent and consistent in His overwatch of us.   

We can rejoice that we have a KEEPER.  He never sleeps and is always there to assure us of His good favor upon us.  

Youth Serve God, Too!

 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Youth Serve God, Too!

When we read the stories in the Bible, we often think of great men like Moses and Abraham.  We think of them as old and wise.  And, they were.   But, we ought not limit our thinking that God only uses older men and woman to accomplish His task.  In the above verses we see the Joash was a very young man when he began to reign in Judah.  Granted, Jehoiada, the priest, was constantly at this side (in fact, when Jehoiada dies, later in this chapter, Joash actually stops following God ... see 1 Chronicles 24:15-24).   Joash had great guidance and, in his early life, as a child, he did great things for God.  The Godly influence around him gave him wisdom, insight, courage and support to live loudly for God.  David, the shepherd boy, did great things for God and lived out loud.  His brothers tried to discourage him, but David, in his youth, served God, instead of his peers.  Joseph was a young man when he was sold by his brothers into slavery and taken to Egypt.  Yet, he used his skills to serve God.   It was a young maid in 2 Kings 5 that introduced Naaman (full of leprosy) to Elisha for healing.   Daniel and his three friends were only teenagers when they stood for God in regard to what they would and would not eat while captive in Babylon.   It was a young man in the crowd that offered his lunch so Jesus could use it to feed 5,000 men (John 6).  It was a young nephew of Paul who gave information to the guard so that Paul would not be killed by an angry mob (Acts 23:16).   God does not need older men and older women to serve Him, ONLY.  He calls youth to step up and live out loud for Him!!   

Leaders Appointed - Deuteronomy 1-3

 Deuteronomy 1:9-18 (ESV Strong's)

9 “At that time I said to you, ‘I am not able to bear you by myself. 10 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. 11 May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! 12 How can I bear by myself the weight and burden of you and your strife? 13 Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14 And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. 16 And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. 17 You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.

Leaders Appointed

In the above text we read a little about the structure of the nation of Israel.  This is the “org” chart of the nation.   With over a million men, women and children, Moses was not able to lead them all.  He needed help.   Each tribe would select “wise, understanding and experienced men” to be their head.  Moose would allow them to judge the lessor disputes and solve the minor human problems that would naturally arise when you put a million people together.    Moses was instructed by God to delegate his responsibilities to other like-minded men.  God was giving him a structure to follow.  He had to, in humility, allow these other men to help with the decision making process.  Great leaders surround themselves with other great leaders.   In the last verse of this section we still see who was in charge.  Moses tells them that he will still be giving them God’s commands.  But, their job was to carry those out.  This was not a “shared” leadership model.  This was still hierarchical in structure.   They shared the responsibilities of the work, but only Moses was the leader.   That was God’s design.  He has a similar design for the Church, today.  He establishes leaders for the church, but also institutes others to help with the work (see Acts 6 and Ephesians 4).   God wants leadership to lead.  He wants others to help with the work.   

God is Changing Hearts and Minds - Hebrews 8-10

 Hebrews 8:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people. 

God is Changing Hearts and Minds

In Jeremiah 31 God is telling us about what he is going to do when Christ comes in the New Testament.   When I put my faith in Christ for my salvation (as I realize I can not save myself with good works), Christ begins to “write” God’s laws and ways on my heart.  As I walk in little obedience to his laws and ways, he begins to write more on our hearts. Our walk with him becomes “internal” and not just external trappings.  We still do the external, but it is motivated by a change of heart and a change of mindset that God begins the minute I set my heart in faith for him to save me.  That is what Jeremiah is saying.  Israel was giving all the trappings of outward worship.  But, they didn’t do them.  Even by doing them they, mostly, did them superficially and not from the heart.   God wants our hearts.  Once we come to faith in Christ, he begins to create in us a new heart that has a desire for Him.  We have free will right now.  But, we will always choose to disobey God without His interceding in our lives.  Our sin is a judgment of death to us.  But, Christ comes to give us life.   That life begins in the heart and the mind as we, by faith, believe that Christ is going to do something different in us.  We then begin to act differently outwardly because he has begun a good work in us inwardly.   

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV Strong's)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 4:20-25 (ESV Strong's)

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Christ Grows in Power - Acts 5-6

 Acts 5:12-16 (ESV Strong's)

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Church Grows in Power

In the beginning days of the Church, God displayed His power in different manners than He does today.   In the early days no one would believe in a resurrected Savior without signs and wonders being displayed.  In the above passage we see the unfolding of those beginning days.  In unusual ways we see that God used the apostles and gave them undeniable power to preform miracles, very similar to those Jesus Christ did, when He was on the earth.  These were “sign” gifts, given by God, to demonstrate His power.   These sign gifts were “regularly” done.  They were done in open.   They attracted more and more to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.   Peter was so empowered that even his shadow could heal the sick.   The multitudes came from not just Jerusalem, but the surrounding towns, as well.    This was the power of God at work.   The church does not grow without the power of God.   Today we do no see the church grow like in the early days.   Perhaps it is because we do not have the same power in our lives as the apostles did.   Today God has not chosen to use miracles and signs to convince the world to come to Him.  Today God uses the foolishness of preaching the Gospel to bring the world to Christ (1 Corinthians 2).   The sign gifts, in the early church, eventually became less and less.  We can read the rest of Acts to see that.   God moved from miracles to the message.   God empowered at the beginning with signs and wonders but in these last days with words and deeds.   Our greatest power today is the love of Christ controlling us to demonstrate His power in our lives.   The fact that believers would love their enemies and the unlovable is the greatest power of Christ in us.   The church today will not grow without the love of God flowing through the Body of Christ.    Note:

Galatians 5:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Faith working through love is the greatest power of God for the church.   

Absolute Power Absolutely Corrupts - Micah

 Micah 2:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 Woe to those who devise wickedness

and work evil on their beds!

When the morning dawns, they perform it,

because it is in the power of their hand.

Absolute Power Absolutely Corrupts

Micah is prophesying to both the kingdom of Israel and the the kingdom of Judah.  He is writing to warn them about the pending doom God is bringing on them for their corrupt behavior.   He is condemning their evil practices.  In the above passage we read that they are using their power for corrupt practices to bring harm to others.   In Proverbs 1:10-20, Solomon outlines that similar behavior of those who reject God and live in folly.  Wickedness wants to create wickedness.   They devise it in their hearts.  The think that God does not see it, but He does.  He brings woe onto them.   The word “woe” is used 47 times in the Old Testament.  46 of them are in the prophets.    It is only used one time in Micah, in this verse, but carries much wait.  The nation of Israel and Judah thought they were special because they were the only nation God had chosen.   For the prophet Micah to use the word “woe” would have gotten then attention.   He was pronouncing doom on them for their corrupt use of power.  They constantly would use their power for wicked purposes to hurt the innocent.   They failed to show mercy and grace to others.  Hence the theme book of the book:

Micah 6:8 (ESV Strong's)

8 He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

God wants us to use our power for good. He does not want us to look on our enemies for evil.   

Confidence - Proverbs 29-30

 Proverbs 30:29-31 (NASBStr)

There are three things which are stately in their march,

Even four which are stately when they walk:

 The lion which is mighty among beasts

And does not retreat before any,

 The strutting rooster, the male goat also,

And a king when his army is with him.

Confidence 

At first glance we might ask, "Why these proverbs? What is gained in wisdom from this observation in life?"   Solomon is telling us that by nature there are some things that are "stately" in their walk ... how they march or strut.  Their march, or strut is showing their confidence. They walk with little fear and with power in their hearts.   The three examples from nature (the lion, the rooster and the male goat) all demonstrate an attitude unparalleled by other animals or creation.   They are provided to us by Solomon to demonstrate to us the feelings of the unnatural leader ... the king with his army.  A leader, fortified by an army of obedient men, is hard to miss.  They are stately in their walk.   We might recall a poor example if this when Israel wanted to turn to Egypt for their salvation when the attack of the Assyrians came.   On the other hand, despite his defeat and loss, we can see the foolish confidence Pharaoh felt when he pursued the Israelites through the bed of the Red Sea.   Solomon knows the power of pride and the ego of men.  Solomon is not stating a good or a bad.   He is just stating an observation.   If the king is self-centered this "march" (confidence) would be for evil.  If the king is God-centered this "march" (confidence) would be for good and God's glory.    God made the strut of the lion, the rooster and the male goat.  He makes the powerful walk of a king, as well.  No king (leader) has power except it is given to him by God.   Pilate felt powerful when he condemned Jesus to the cross.  But, it was God’s plan and God allowed and willed Pilate to act in this manner and with that plan.   Think of the confidence of the Pharaoh during Joseph’s days.   He thought he had it all, but it was God who sent Joseph to give him wisdom, which allowed him to strut for 14 years.   Think about Nebuchadnezzar and his pride and arrogance and confidence.  It was Daniel who gave him insight from God.   Leaders with confidence should realize, like the lion, the rooster and the male goat, confidence is a gift of God.   Solomon said this way, earlier in Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:1 (ESV Strong's)

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Confidence seen via a stately walk ought to be generated by our relationship with God through the righteousness He gives us. 

Rise Before the Dawn - Psalms 119

 Psalms 119:147-148 (ESV Strong's)

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

Rise Before the Dawn

The entire 119th psalm is a song about God’s Word. Every verse mentions something about God’s Word by using different words like testimony, truth, commands, precepts, statues, and/or promises.   The writer is confessing to the reader what he both does and wants in his life in regard to the Word of God.  In the above two verses we read what he is currently doing.  He has made God’s Word such a priority in his life, it actually wakes him up in the morning.  His first thought in the morning is the hope he has, based upon God’s Word.   He wakes before the dawn not to exercise.  He wakes before the dawn not to start his day (the early bird gets the worm, mentality).  He wakes before dawn not to get a good breakfast.   No, this writer wakes before dawn for one purpose, to meditate upon the promises of God.  These promises are what gives him the hope he speaks of.   His meditates in the morning, before anything else in his day, gives him the hope he needs to get through the day.   Rise before the dawn to meditate upon the promises of God’s Word.  

Six Leadership Principles for Success - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 17:6-11 (ESV Strong's)

6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

Six Leadership Principles for Success

Jehoshaphat was a great king who obeyed God (although falls away at the very end of his life).   During the beginning of his leadership, however, the above passages tells us the reason for the success he had prior to his old age miscue (see 1 Chronicles 20:35-37).   Notice the steps we see in the above passage for leadership success:

1.  He first established his own, personal walk with God (v. 6a).   He turned his heart to be courageous for God.   This was an inward act of repentance and faith.   

2. He destroyed known artifacts that represent something contrary to truth.  He was not afraid to take on those areas of conflict and that would pull his people down (v. 6b).  

3. He established a great leadership team with other leaders who the skill set to teach truth (vs. 7-8).  He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who had a skill to instruct others. 

4.  He taught truth to the masses.  Jehoshaphat made sure that not only his leadership team new truth, he made sure that truth was pushed down all the way to the lowest level of his kingdom (v. 9)

5.  He established peace with those who were normally his enemies.  He became a peacemaker in a time others, typically, wanted war (v 10).  

6.  He was humble enough to receive gifts and support from those who, at one time, had been chief enemies (v. 11).  That means he had to be willing to forgive, forget and move on.   

These are six great principle for any leader to follow.  

God Executes Judgement - Numbers 33-36

 Numbers 33:3-4 (ESV Strong's)

3 They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the day after the Passover, the people of Israel went out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

God Executes Judgment

The author of Numbers (Moses) is wrapping up the account of the nation of Israel and their wandering in the wilderness, after their exit from Egypt.   The purpose of the book is as the title tells us, to “number” the nation.  There is a number in the beginning of those who came out of Egypt and there are numbers of those still alive and ready to go into the promise land.   Those who failed to believe, by faith, that God would guide them, protect them and bring them into the promises land,   As Moses recaps the events, we have the above text.   He wants the nation of Israel, the new nation that has risen up and taken the place of those who were disobedient in the wilderness, to remember what God did.  He wants them to know God’s power.  He wants them to know God executes judgment on those who reject Him.  This new nation was about to go into the promises land under Joshua.   They needed to remember the power and justice of God that empowered them to arrive at this place, at this time.  God executes judgment.  He does so with extreme prejudice for His holiness.   That should encourage us as we walk with Him, by faith.   

Grow Up! Hebrews 5-7

 Hebrews 6:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

Grow Up!!

To fully understand the above passage we need to read, once again, the three verses that come before it.  

Hebrews 6:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

There is no “chapter” breakdown in this section.   That is only found in our English Bibles.  The author has just told them that he would like to give them some deep teaching on the priesthood of Christ, but he can’t because they are “dull” of hearing.   Here we have the essence of the entire book. This is the preface for the book of Hebrews and all the warnings ... moving toward maturity.  He wants them to grow in their salvation and see the culmination of their faith.  Spiritual growth, in this author’s theology, is not just a necessary outcome of their faith, but a natural outcome of their faith.  

Prayer Begins With God’s Sovereignty - Acts 3-4

 Acts 4:23-24 (ESV Strong's)

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

Prayer Begins With God’s Sovereignty 

Peter and John have just had a very impactful event happened to them.   They experienced their first miracle (a lame man was giving his ability to walk back ... 4:1-12) and they were brought before the highest religious leaders of the day.   The religious leaders were taken aback by them:

Acts 4:13 (ESV Strong's)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

There credentials were both the lame man “standing” beside them and that they had been with Jesus.   However, being strictly warned by the established power of the land, they left them and returned to their brothers and sisters in Christ, to pray.   Their prayer starts out where all prayer should start out, recognizing the sovereignty of God.   Unbeknownst to them, the apostles were about to start a movement that would revolutionize the world.   They would not imagine what was about to happen.  Yet, Peter’s sermon, the day he was arrested by the chief religious rulers, saw 5,000 souls come to Christ.   That was probably 5,000 Jewish souls who would be sent out of the synagogue and rejected by their families.  In our society today we do not have an equivalent of that, not in mass.   This is the reason for appealing to a sovereign God.  Only God knew what was happening to them and what would be happening.   When we come to God in prayer we need to rejoice in the fact that God is sovereign and He has the knowledge and power to intervene upon our behalf.   

Results of Preaching - Jonah

 Jonah 3:4-5 (ESV Strong's)

4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

Results of Preaching

Jonah did not want to preach the message God gave him.  He especially did not want to preach the message to they city of Nineveh.   Nineveh was the capital city of the Assyrians.   The Assyrians were a ruthless and evil people who would utterly destroy their enemies (or, anyone) without mercy or grace.  They actually enjoyed the slaughtering of the innocent.   Jonah was sent to them, by God, to preach repentance.   Here is what Jonah will say to God after God turns the hearts of the Ninevites around:

Jonah 4:2 (ESV Strong's)

2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah simply did not want them to repent and know God’s grace.  We have no idea why, other than their wickedness.  Perhaps Jonah had family that was destroyed by the Assyrians.   Whatever the case, Jonah did not want to offer them grace.  Yet, he eventually does and the above verses tell us the result.  They repented.   This is exactly what Jonah did not want.   Yet, how many prophets, preachers, evangelist and/or teachers would rejoice at such a wonderful revival?   The prophet Isaiah was somewhat revered in his day (mostly), while Jeremiah was ridiculed and chastised.   The prophet Amos and Obadiah have no accounts of success for their ministries.   Peter saw thousands come into the church as a result of his preaching.   Yet, Paul was often, at first, run out of town and eventually died for his preaching.   Paul established several churches across the world and had much fruit, but not always instantly, like Jonah.   When God gives us a ministry our job is be faithful to it and not worry about the results of the ministry.   The world is result oriented. Large churches are seen as success because of the large numbers.  Smaller churches are not, for they lack numbers.  Yet, God will judge those who teach and/or preach on their faithfulness, not their productivity of conversion.   Jonah had great fruit and wept.  Paul often had no fruit and wept.   The fruit is from God.  The faithfulness to the mission is God working in us.   The work is His and the results are His.  We are the tools He chooses to use.  

Our Relationship Toward Wealth Conveys are Character - Proverbs 28

 Proverbs 28:19-22 (ESV Strong's)

19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

22 A stingy man hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

Proverbs 28:16 (ESV Strong's)

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Proverbs 28:11 (ESV Strong's)

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

Proverbs 28:8 (ESV Strong's)

8 Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 28:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Proverbs 28:3 (ESV Strong's)

3 A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

Proverbs 28:25 (ESV Strong's)

25 A greedy man stirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.

Proverbs 28:27 (ESV Strong's)

27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Our Relationship Toward Wealth Conveys are Character 

Obviously God, through Solomon’s word, has much to say about the correlation between money, poverty and leadership.  Each of these proverbs give us is insight into how we should think about wealth and the distribution of it.   Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 19:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Wealth, used poorly and pursued wrongly, will always lead to a corrupt character.   Find out how someone pursues and uses their money and we will know all we need to know about their character.