How God views believers

Mo. 10/27/14: Micah 2:4 – 5a                  How are we destroyed?

      In that day one shall take up a proverb against you,

      And lament with a bitter lamentation, saying:

      ‘We are utterly destroyed!

      He has changed the heritage of my people;

      How He has removed it from me!

      To a turncoat He has divided our fields.’”

How are we destroyed? God has changed our heritage.

Tu. 10/28/14: Habakkuk 2:6 – 8                  How long can we plunder others?

      “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,

      And a taunting riddle against him, and say,

      ‘Woe to him who increases, What is not his—how long?

      And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?

      Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?

      Will they not awaken who oppress you?

      And you will become their booty.

      Because you have plundered many nations,

      All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,

      Because of men’s blood

      And the violence of the land and the city,

      And of all who dwell in it.

How long can we plunder others? God will put a stop to us.

We. 10/29/14: Zephaniah 2:15                  How did desolation occur?

      This is the rejoicing city

      That dwelt securely, That said in her heart,

      “I am it, and there is none besides me.”

      How has she become a desolation,

      A place for beasts to lie down!

How did desolation occur? This will occur while the city is rejoicing.

Th. 10/30/14: Haggai 2:3                  How does the temple compare?

‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison is this not … as nothing?

How does the temple compare? The new temple is nothing in comparison.

Fr. 10/31/14: Matthew 5:13, 16                  How can salt lose its flavor?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

How can salt lose its flavor? We, the salt of the earth, don’t proclaim God’s word.

God questions His people

Mo. 10/20/14: Joel 2:17b – 19                  Why do people question God?

      Why should they say among the peoples,

      ‘Where is their God?’”

      Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,

      And pity His people.

      The Lord will answer and say to His people,

      “Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,

      And you will be satisfied by them;

      I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.

Why do people question God? God’s people have forgotten Him.

Tu. 10/21/14: Micah 4:9                  Why do His people cry aloud?

      Now why do you cry aloud?

      Is there no king in your midst?

      Has your counselor perished?

      For pangs have seized you like a woman in labor.

Why do His people cry aloud? His people want a king.

We. 10/22/14: Habakkuk 1:3 – 4                  Why do His people cause trouble?

      Why do You show me iniquity,

      And cause me to see trouble?

      For plundering and violence are before me;

      There is strife, and contention arises.

      Therefore the law is powerless,

      And justice never goes forth.

Why do His people cause trouble? His people have iniquity.

Th. 10/23/14: Habakkuk 1:14 – 16                  Why do His people oppress men?

      Why do You make men like fish of the sea,

      Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?

      They take up all of them with a hook,

      They catch them in their net,

      And gather them in their dragnet…

      Therefore they sacrifice to their net,

      And burn incense to their dragnet;

Why do His people oppress men? They oppress men by bowing to idols.

Fr. 10/24/14: Romans 9:19 – 21                  Why do His people find fault?

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Why do His people find fault? They have forgotten the Potter and clay.

Questions

Mo. 10/13/14: Hosea 11:7 –8                  Who was backsliding?

      My people are bent on backsliding from Me.

      Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him.

      “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

      How can I hand you over, Israel? …

      My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.

Who was backsliding? Israel was backsliding.

Tu. 10/14/14: Obadiah 1:4 – 5                  Who was feeling mighty?

      Though you ascend as high as the eagle,

      And though you set your nest among the stars,

      From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord.

      “If thieves had come to you, Oh, how you will be cut off!—

      Would they not have stolen till they had enough?

      If grape-gatherers had come to you,

      Would they not have left some gleanings?

Who was feeling mighty? Israel’s wealthy were feeling ‘above it all.’

We. 10/15/14: Micah 6:3 – 4                  Who were weary?

      “O My people, what have I done to you?

      And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.

      For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,

      I redeemed you from the house of bondage;

      And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Who were weary? Israel was forgetting God’s salvation.

Th. 10/16/14: Haggai 2:2 – 4                  Who promised Himself?

“Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Yet now be strong, … all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Who promised Himself? God Promised to be with Israel Himself.

Fr. 10/17/14: John 14:22 – 23                  Who promised His love?

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Who promised His love? Christ did, and to anyone, not just Jews.

Questions for Believers

Mo. 10/6/14: Jeremiah 2:31 – 32                  Can a nation forget God?

      “O generation, see the word of the Lord!

      Have I been a wilderness to Israel,

      Or a land of darkness?

      Why do My people say, ‘We are lords;

      We will come no more to You’?

      Can a virgin forget her ornaments,

      Or a bride her attire?

      Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.

Can a nation forget God? Yes a nation and an individual could forget God.

Tu. 10/7/14: Jeremiah 23:24, 28 – 30a                  Can we hide from God?

      Can anyone hide himself in secret places,

      So I shall not see him?” says the Lord;

      “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

      “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream;

      And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.

      What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.

      “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,

      “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Can we hide from God? No one hides from God.

We. 10/8/14: Ezekiel 22:13 – 14                  Can you endure against God?

“Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it.

Can you endure against God? No, God sees all.

Th. 10/9/14: Amos 3:3 – 5                  Can two walk together?

      Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

      Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey?

      Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing?

      Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it?

      Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?

Can two walk together? Yes, if they agree.

Fr. 10/10/14: James 2:22 – 24                  Can faith be without works?

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.                 

Can faith be without works? No. Even the dying thief showed his faith by telling.