I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

Going Deeper into God’s Word

Issue 10 May 2012

Bible Studies by: Daniel Kolenda, Ken Legg, Mathew Bartlett, Derek Williams, Edwin & Lillian Harvey & more!

London Olympics 2012

Are you ready?

Liv

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PSA 107:29 HE MAKETH THE STORM A CALM, SO THAT THE WAVES THEREOF ARE STILL. (AV) IN THIS ISSUE

©Photos above Marafilm CoverDanilo Ascione photo Back cover Peter Saharov

In this month’s issue: 2. The Forgiving Nature of God Lewis Armstrong (USA)

3. Rebuilding the Walls Part 3 Arfon Lloyd Thomas (UK)

5 The Countdown has Begun Mathew Bartlett (UK)

7. Pressing Toward the Finish Line Mathew Bartlett (UK)

9. Forward to Glory Ken Legg (Australia AG)

10. Man’s Strange Reluctance Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA)

11. The Prophecy of Amos Part 1 Mathew Bartlett (UK)

14. Standing Firm Through the Storm Mathew Bartlett (UK)

17. The Runaway Prophet (Jonah Part 3) Derek Williams (UK)

20. In Depth Study – Revelation Chapter 15 Derek Williams (UK)

22. Guest Article: Prayer that Brings Heaven to Earth (2)

Daniel Kolenda (CfaN)

©Photos Above © Photoquest. Cover: © Rob Wilson 39.. Left © from top:Enjoylife25, Jeff Schulz, MPZ@sapo.pt; ShariffC, and Eleandra.

Bible Studies Online International

www.biblestudiesonline.co.uk

2

The Forgiving Nature of God WRITE IN THE GAPS

Lev. 4:26. What was done to receive forgiveness of sin?

_________________________

Lev. 4:31 What created a sweet Aroma for God? _________________________

Lev. 4:35.What was done with the offering?

_________________________

Lev. 5:10 What did the priest do for the individual?

_________________________

Lev. 5:13 What did the priest receive?

_________________________

Lev. 5:16 How was the trespass offering accomplished?

_________________________

Lev. 5:18 What kind of animal was required in this verse?

_________________________

Lev. 6:7 Can an individual be forgiven and how?

_________________________

Lev. 19:22What could a priest do?

__________________________

Num. 14:19 How long had God forgiven the people?

_________________________

Num. 15:25 How are a group of people forgiven?

_________________________

Num. 15:28 Was an intentional sin forgiven?

_________________________

Josh. 24:19 What brought on this harshness from God?

_________________________

II Chron. 7:14 God will hear from where and do what? ____________________________________________________________

I Kings 8:30 For the people, what does he want God to do?

1. ________________

and 2. _________________

I Kings 8:34 What is the plea to God?. _________________________

1 Kings 8:36 Not only a plea to forgive but teach them what?

_________________________

1 Kings 8:39 Give to everyone according to what?

_________________________

1 Kings 8:50 What is this prayer about?_

_________________________

Psalm 34:17-19 When the righteous cry out, God does 1._______ 2._______

3.________

Psalm 86:5 Why is ready to forgive is so important to man? ___________________________

Jer. 33:8 What two things will God do? _________________________

Dan. 9:9What comfort do we draw know what God has available for His people rebel against Him?

1. __________ 2. ____________

Mark 3:29 What will never be forgiven?

_________________________

Mark 11:25 How important is forgiving others?

_________________________

Acts 5:31 Why is Christ exalted in this verse?

_________________________

Acts 13:38 What do we receive through Christ? _________________________

Acts 26:18 We need to turn from

1. ________________ 2._________________

To receive what? ___________________________

Ephes. 1:7. What do we have through Christ's blood?

___________________________

And this is according to what? ___________________________

Col. 1:14 We have redemption through what?

___________________________

May Reader’s Article By Lewis Armstrong USA

3

Many of the local inhabitants

responded to Nehemiah’s

challenge – and the first to get

their hands dirty were the

Priests! They could have pleaded

their calling to undertake the

sacred things, but they took the

lead in the rebuilding plan. What

an amazing sight that must have

been, when the men of God got

going for Him!

Nehemiah was aware of each

group and the areas that best

suited them. Today the Pastor’s

task is to help the people to

discover their spiritual gifts and

then use them in the allocated

areas. I wonder have you

discovered yet where you belong

in the Body of Christ? It seems

obvious to me that each one of

us has at least one basic spiritual

gift and we should use it or we

will be discouraged. Whenever

we are serious about spiritual

growth and undertake the task of

building and rebuilding we need

to search our hearts to develop

the gift – otherwise we may

become square pegs in round

holes.

The important fact is that we

must be aware of and have an

understanding of that the gift is –

otherwise we go through our

spiritual walk with minimum

effectiveness and maximum

weariness, whereas, it should be

the other way around.

We discover one negative note

here in this chapter. The Nobles

of Tekoa would not put their

shoulders to work under

supervisors. Their problem was

pride. This is the sin that

changed the Angel into the Devil.

Thus there will be little spiritual

progress where pride gets in the

way.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father,

Am I a square peg in a round

hole? Help me to be remoulded

by your hand so that I might

discover my basic gift and be

effective in my work for You. If I

am proud then help me to

humble myself and live for You.

Amen.

Nehemiah was obviously an

expert at getting people to co-

operate. Even the daughters of

one of the officials assisted their

father. He did this by being

inspiring in leadership as he

shared with them the vision and

then encouraged them in their

task. We may look at this list of

names as being tedious, but

everyone needs to know that

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK NEHEMIAH chapter 3 verses 1-32

By Arfon Lloyd Thomas

Photo © Paul Prescott

4

they count for something and it

encourages us to know that we

are appreciated.

Nehemiah arranged the people

to work as close to their homes

as possible – this brought a sense

of family belonging. This of

course is where the real work of

God must always begin and be

anchored. An alarming trend in

the Church today is to only come

along but not be truly committed

to the family.

Perhaps a question that we need

to ask is, “What are the walls like

around your own home?” Are we

cemented together with fervent

prayer, faithfulness, integrity,

oneness and a deep concern for

each other? Nehemiah co-

ordinated the efforts of each

worker and inspired them by

setting them a clear vision and

then commended them for their

sacrificial effort.

I believe the main point to our

story and text today is

“communication.” This involved

the whole family being

committed to each other and

looking out for each other. The

instruction to each part of the

family is so that we might know

what to do and where and when

to do it. So, let us prepare to co-

ordinate, co-operate and

communicate, because, as the

Chinese Proverb says, “May

hands make light work.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly

Father, we want our home

to be Your home. Help us to

rebuild any walls that have

fallen down in the Body of

this Church. Help us to be

fully committed and

dedicated to Your calling.

Lord, teach us the principles

of governing and spiritual

success as we obey Your

bidding. Amen.

Building the Walls Worldwide

Pastor Arfon Lloyd Thomas is an experienced minister with the Baptist church in the UK and is willing and available to conduct short term mission trips and revival schools both in Great Britain and overseas.

If you would like to invite Pastor Arfon Lloyd Thomas to your church or conference anywhere in the world, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Contact the Bible Studies Online International office at:

admin@biblestudiesonline.co.uk

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ompanion.html

5

The Countdown has Begun!

Get ready for a Royal visitor!

By Mathew Bartlett

Photo © Miluxian

6

Here in the UK thousands of people have been geeting ready for the greatest event to hit London for many years - the Olympic games!

When it was announced that the Queen would officialy open the games on 27th July, I bgean to recall a Wednesday afternoon about twenty years ago when the queen came to visit my own workplace.

I can clearly remmeber that day, being a student in Cardiff when her majesty the Queen of England came to inspect the Physics department at our University. All over the building was the smell of fresh paint, and a new red carpet was rolled out in the foyer for the Rotal guest’s arrival. Unfortunately, her Majesty had only been scheduled to meet with some of our best postgradute students in two of the upstairs laboratories, which I think it were the astrophysics lab and the student’s lab where we did our experiments with radium and uranium.

As we walked through the campus, one of my lecturers (who was also a Christian) said to me 'Look at all this fuss they are making about the coming of the Queen, but they are making no prepartion for the coming of Jesus Christ who the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!'

And that was certainly true. Most of my felow students were entirely unconcerned about their souls’ salvation, although I had tried, in my own small way, to reach out to them with the gospel. I had spoken of Christ to

a number of tehm in the campus canteen, and I has even posted gospel message posters on various notice boards around the University building, but they were invariably torn down by a rather irate Iranian postgraduate who seemed to follow me about, replacing them with veres from the Koran. To me, this was a strange thing todo, since I was not actively evangelising his fellow moslems;; and indeed, in those days there were not that many of them in our part of the University campus.

I wondered how would these students ever be ready for the coming of the King?

Jesus said:

Rev 16:15 Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed! (AMPNT)

This verse speaks ogf being ready for the coming of Christ. Jesus said 'Be ye also ready for the son of man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him’ (Matt. 24:44). Those who are not ready will be shut out of God’s presence of God to endure everlasting destruction:

2Th 1:8-9 With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,

So it certainly pays to be ready!

Jesus is coming soon, and I can’t wait to meet him, whom having not seen, I love!

When her Majesty Queen Elizabeth came to visit our University, I was given the choice either to stay and wave to the royal party from a distance, or to go home. So I thought, well, why should I stay? I am not going to personally meet the Queen. I may not even see her among the great crowds that will gather to wave Union Jacks for her. One thing that is certain is that she isn’t coming here to see me personally – in fact, she doesn't even know of my existence!

But the wonderful thing about Jesus coming again is that he is coming personally to meet me. I have been on his heart and on his mind for all eternity, and he is longing for me to be with him even more than I desire to be with him.

That Wednesday afternoon in 1992 I decided to go home and join our afternooon prayer meeting for revival. In that meeting, I could meet with the Lord Jesus, the King of Kings! It is the same today – I can come to meet the Lord at any time without any appointment being necessary. Yet how wonderful it will be when I finally see Jesus face to face and remian eternally with him.

'Forever with the Lord'!

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With the London 2012 Olympics approaching, it is inspiring to once again consider the athleticism displaye din teh life and service of teh aposlte Paul. As committed to his mission as a top athlete is to his training. His eyes were constantly on teh prize or goal of his whole life -nt an olympic gold medal, but to be approved of Christ in life and finally to be united with Christ in death.

Nothing, not even legitimate passtimes, family or firends could deter Paul from fixing his whole personality on becoming what Christ had predsestined him to be.

3:10 My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death,

Paul has made is clear that his chief desire in life was to know Jesus Christ. He eplains the way in which we can know Christ now - by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, which has been made available to through Christ's resurrection. Yet Paul realised that in order to know Christ's life, he must understadn the heart and mind of Jesus, and that he

could only do so as he shared in His sufferings. After all, no one can honestly say 'I understadn how you feel' when they have not experienced what you have! If we would have a deeper felloship with Christ, tehn we too must come to know him by sharing in his sufferings.

Resurrection always follows death; Christ died before being raised to life by the Holy Spirit, and similarly to know the power of Christ's resurrection we must first suffer for Christ. It is not our determination or fortitude that shall help us withstand in times of uffering, it is the power of Christ's resurection power which enables us to endure joyfully. Since Paul's desire was not only to know Jesus, but to be like Jesus., he rejoiced that by becoming like Him in His death he would also becoem like him in resurrection.

3:11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

What Paul means here by "the resurrection of the dead" is not that he may become worthy of the resurrection to immortal life, for this gift of sternal life has already been secured for all believers by Christ's

own death and resurrection. Rather, what Paul desires is that in this present life he might know God's power working in him - teh power that raised Christ from death. Paul wanted to experience the fullness of Christ's life dwelling within and flowing out from him. Do we share the same desire? True, as believers we all have the life of Christ in us, but teh measure of our daily experience of it will depend very much on how much we desire it!

3:12 Not that I have already attained this -- that is, I have not already been perfected -- but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

Even a mature apostle like Paul recognised that there was still room in his life for spiritual growth. He had not yet attained to the final perfection for which Christ has saved us and that will be ours only when we see Him face to face. Until then, the law of sin will continue to work in our bodies. Only when Christ comes again will our bodies, which He has redeemed, be changed that there might be a complete absence of sin. When we see Him, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). Until then, we should follow Paul's example. He was like a runner in a race, pressing on with his eyes on the finish line, which is perfection. And that perfection is none other than Christ Himself. To be with Jesus and to be liek Jesus was Paul's all consuming desire.

3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

If Paul, that man of God, could say he was not yet perfect, let us beware of thinking that we are (1 John 1:8). Paul ran with all his

Pressing Toward the Finish Line

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © ShariffC

8

energy to obtain the prize - which was not a gold medal. The reward at the end of our race is Christ Himself. Christians should not view the image of running in a race to mean that only one can win the prize. We are all running in the same race, and the prizes are for everyone - all of us will win, provided that we all finish the race we have begun.

Christians running in teh raceof life acan learn important lessons from athletics. The runner who keeps looking behind him will lose valuable time; and similarly, whatever has happened before in our lives, whether good or bad, are now gone into eternity. It is no good for us to look back or dwell on them. Looking back in this way will only hinder us from running in the race. So, we are to FORGET those things that are behind.

Also, any serious runner will tell you that it is important to keep your eyes on the finish line, lest anything distract you from winning the race. We too must keep our eyes on our finish line, which is Jesus (Heb. 12:2).

3:14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Finally, when running a race, we are not to stop running until we have crossed the finish line. The Christian race is a life long commitment. It never stops till the day we die. Even though Paul was in prison, even though he was getting old, he never "eased up" in his commitment to Christ. Instead he was pressing forward. He was reaching forth to obtain, for by faith he could see the prize that was before him. He could already see the finish line, and anticipated crossing the line to receive the prize - being with Christ.

3:15 Therefore let those of us who are "perfect" embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.

All those who are mature in the Christian faith should take the same view of their lives as Paul did. If we are prepared to listen, God will reveal to us the things that hinder us, so that we may act on this knowledge and cast off the hindrance.

3:16 Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.

Whether we are old or young in the faith, we are all to have this same attitude since we are all running in the same race.

Heaven our Home

3:17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

Sometimes in athletics races, a 'pacemaker' runs ahead to set the correfct pace for the runners coming behind. He is like an exampel for the others to follow. Paul and those who live like him have been given by God as examples, showing us how we should live our Christian lives. Paul was eager for the Philippians to follow his example and not the bad example of others.

3:18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

Many who professed to know Christ as Saviour were in fact His enemies - "enemies of the cross of Christ".

3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

Rather than accept the cross of Christ and surrender to its implications, these people lived according to their own sensual appetites. Their minds and desires were completely fixed on earthly things- not spiritual things. There can be no other end for such people than eternal misery (Mark 8:34-37).

3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven -- and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

The Christian's desires are to be fixed on what is eternal and spiritual for these things are of Christ (Col. 3.1). They come to us from heaven, our true home, where the Lord Jesus is at present. We eagerly and patiently wait for His return.

3:21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.

When He comes, He will transform our mortal bodies to be like his own glorious resurrection body by exerting His divine power to which all things must submit. When we compare the prize before us with a paltry gold medal, let us exert all our energy to run with endurance, fight the good fight, and finish the coure which God has laid out for us!

Prayer: God our Father, thankyou that by your grace we are running, stretchign forward to reach the prize to which your grace has called us!

.

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Image: © Eleandra

The string holds the kite to its owner AND keeps it in the sky!

Probably the most common objection people raise in connection with the teaching of grace is that it just gives people a license to sin. Even Paul was “slanderously reported” as teaching this (Romans 3:8). In Romans 5:20 he says that the law can never deal with sin. In fact, it causes sin to abound even more (see Rom.7:5&8). The strength of sin is the law, because not only does it place in our minds thoughts that were not previously there, the law also touches the point of our rebellion.

Sin will always ‘out-sin’ the law. But where sin abounds God’s grace abounds much more. You can never out-sin grace. Now that’s the sort of language legalists cannot handle. And they accused Paul of actually teaching: “Let’s sin more so that grace might abound!” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that if a preacher has never been accused of teaching that, or something similar to it, he has probably never preached the true gospel of grace. A faithful presentation of grace will al ways lead people to conclude that you are saying that sin is OK because grace has got it covered.

In fact, Paul taught the opposite. He said that grace is the only thing that can deliver us from the power of sin.

Sin will not have dominion over us because we are not under law but under grace. That’s what he meant when he said that where sin abounds God’s grace abounds more.

But the question in the minds of many is, “But what if someone hears the message of grace and uses it as an excuse to continue in sin?” Before we look at Paul’s response to that in the second half of Romans 6, let me say two things. First, it is not only some who are under grace who choose to live in sin. There have been many examples of legalistic preachers who have secretly committed the very sins they preach against. Secondly, just because someone chooses to abuse the message of grace by using it as an excuse to live in sin, this doesn’t mean that we should stop preaching the gospel of grace. That's what the enemy wants, because grace is the only thing that can empower against sin!

Paul says that anyone who chooses to live in sin will experience three consequences:

Bondage (Rom.6:16). Sin always takes us much further than we want to go. That’s the deceptive power of sin. It makes you think you are getting what you want. In fact, you lose control the moment you give yourself over to its power. Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin” (Jn.8:34). Whenever a person chooses to sin he is no longer in control of what will take place.

Shame (Rom.6:21a). Probably most of us has done shameful things in our past, which nobody knows

about because we have been too ashamed to speak of them. Thankfully God has forgiven and forgotten those things! One of the wonderful things about our salvation is that shame is replaced with glory. We have been saved in hope of the glory of God. Then why, like a dog ret urning to its vomit, would we want to go back to those shameful things God has delivered us from? The grace of God does not take us back to shame, but forward to glory.

Death (Rom.6:21b&23). Sin and death are inseparable. Sin kills joy, peace, dreams, relationships, ministries, etc. Let’s be clear, it is not that God brings judgment upon sin for the believer because their sin has already been judged. But, the law of sowing and reaping reminds us that there are always consequences for sin.

In contrast to sin’s fruit of slavery, shame and death the blessings of righteousness are freedom, glory and life. The Christian’s freedom does not mean that we are free to do what we want to do. That’s the bondage we are saved from! Real freedom does not exist outside of being one with Christ. It is like flying a kite. The kite’s freedom to fly is related to the string to which it is tied. The very thing that holds the kite to its owner is what keeps it i n the sky. If the string is cut the kite will crash to earth. The string, which seems to bind it, gives it the ability to fly. Our freedom is being held tightly in the grip of God’s grace. We, who once were slaves to sin, by God’s grace are now slaves of righteousness. That’s the outworking of our true identity; and that’s true freedom!

Forward to Glory By Ken Legg

10

Adam and his wife hid themselves from

the presence of the LORD God (Gen.

3:8).

The LORD looked down from heaven

upon the children of men, to see if

there were any that did understand,

and seek God. They are all gone aside

(Psa. 14:2, 3).

If prayer is so marvellous a privilege,

why is man so loath to enter into his

rich heritage? The observation of this

reluctance has puzzled many believers.

The answer can only be found in the

story of Adam’s lost communion in the

garden. Disobedience brought

departure; obedience means

communion. The Old Adam, the flesh,

does not delight in God. In the

following quotation, A. W. Tozer makes

it clear that it is only the enthroned

Spirit within the believer who can enjoy

fellowshipping with the Father:

“That first picture of God and man at

the time of the creation shows them in

close and open-hearted communion.

Adam listens while God explains how it

is to be with him in his Eden home and

lays down a few easy rules for his life on

earth. The whole scene is restful,

relaxed, and altogether beautiful. “But

the communion did not last. Adam’s

very likeness to God, viz., his freedom to

choose, permitted him, though it did

not compel him, to make a choice

contrary to the will of God. So sin

entered and the wondrous fellowship

was broken.

“Seen from our human standpoint,

redemption must rank first among all

the acts of God. No other achievement

of the Godhead required such vast and

precise knowledge, such perfection of

wisdom, or such fullness of moral

power. To bring man into communion

with Himself God must deal effectively

with the whole matter of justice and

righteousness; He must dispose of sin,

reconcile an enemy, and make a rebel

willingly obedient. And this He must do

without compromising His holiness or

coercing the race He would save.

“How two wills set in opposition to each

other, and both free, could be

harmonized was God’s problem and His

alone; and with infinite wisdom and

power He solved it through the

redemptive work of Jesus Christ our

Lord. Because Christ is God and man He

can properly represent each before the

other. He is the Days man Who can

stand between the alienated man and

the offended God and lay His hand upon

them both. ‘For there is one God, and

one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus’ (I Tim. 2:5).

“All this is such a familiar part of

evangelical theology that it may safely

be assumed that the majority of my

readers know it already. That is, they

know it theoretically, but the

experiential aspect of the truth is not so

well-known. Indeed large numbers of

supposedly sound Christian believers

know nothing at all about personal

communion with God; and there lies

one of the greatest weaknesses of

present day Christianity.

“The experiential knowledge of God is

eternal life (John 17:3), and increased

knowledge results in a correspondingly

larger and fuller life. So rich a treasure

is this inward knowledge of God that

every other treasure is as nothing

compared with it. We may count all

things of no value and sacrifice them

freely if we may thereby gain a more

perfect knowledge of God through Jesus

Christ our Lord. This was Paul’s

testimony (Phil. 3:7-14), and it has been

the testimony of all great Christian souls

who have followed Christ from Paul’s

day to ours.

“To know God it is necessary that we be

like God to some degree, for things

wholly dissimilar cannot agree and

beings wholly unlike can never have

communion with each other. It is

necessary therefore that we use every

means of grace to bring our souls into

harmony with the character of God.”*

*Excerpted from “The Increasing Knowledge of

God,” in That Incredible Christian, by A. W.Tozer.

Christian Publications, Inc., Harrisburg, Pa. 1964.

Used by permission.

Photo © Keeweeboy

Man’s Strange Reluctance to Commune

An extract from “Kneeling we Triumph” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey

ISBN 1-932774-08-4. 128 Pages Price $6.00. Image © Margaret M. Stewart

Reproduced by kind permission of Harvey Publishers. www.harveycp.com

11

The Prophecy of Amos –

A Warning for Today

An extract from our top- selling book.

Introduction. v1.

1. The words of Amos, who was among

the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw

concerning Israel in the days of King

Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King

Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two

years before the earthquake.

Very little is known about the prophet

Amos other than what is written here;

that he worked "among the sheep

breeders" in the area of Tekoa. The

word translated "sheep breeders" can

refer to various kinds of livestock and it

is by no means clear whether Amos was

the owner of the livestock or just a

hired hand. Not much is known of

Tekoa, either, except that is was a town

in Southern Judah, near Bethlehem. It

was fortified by Rehoboam (2

Chronicles 11:6) and surrounded by

rocky desert (2 Chronicles 20:20).

God's choice of Amos shows how God

calls the weak and ordinary instead of

the wise and strong. (1 Corinthians 1:26

- 27). Amos was a nobody, but God

revealed Himself to Amos through His

word, just as today He reveals Himself

to all who put their faith in His Son, the

Lord Jesus Christ.

The vision Amos received warned of

God's judgment on many nations, but

especially Israel, which by the time of

Amos' ministry had already been split

into two kingdoms - Israel and Judah.

This happened when ten tribes of Israel

rebelled against Solomon's son

Rehoboam and made Jeroboam king

over them, taking for themselves the

name Israel. Only Judah and Benjamin

remained faithful to Rehoboam, David's

grandson, and his realm then adopted

the name Judah. That is why the two

kingdoms are referred to separately

throughout the book of Amos, who

prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah

king of Judah and Jeroboam II king of

Israel (who, according to Thiele, reigned

between 782 and 753 BC). This made

him a contemporary of Isaiah and

Hosea. The exact time when his

message was given is said to be "two

years before the earthquake". This must

have been an event of some significance

to be used as a date marker by the

compiler of Amos' prophecies.

Unfortunately today we cannot be

certain as to its exact date.

God's Judgment Imminent. v2.

2. And he said: The LORD roars from

Zion, and utters his voice from

Jerusalem; the pastures of the

shepherds wither, and the top of Carmel

dries up.

Amos warns his hearers of impending

judgment. A lion does not roar unless it

has a prey. Israel is the prey that God is

about to take in judgment. The picture

of God making his voice heard from

Jerusalem, the place which He had

appointed for worship, is significant,

since under the leadership of Jeroboam

I, Israel had forsaken this place of

worship and instead worshipped the

golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

Jeroboam had even appointed his own

priests, contrary to God's command.

This entire system of idolatry was

designed by Jeroboam to prevent his

subjects being reunited with Judah. He

reasoned, quite shrewdly, that if the

people had the same religion and

worshipped in the same place, then a

national reunion, based on repentance

toward God, would be more likely to

occur. (1 Kings 12:26 - 33). Although

God had given ten tribes to Jeroboam as

a punishment on David's family because

of their idolatry in the days of Solomon,

He was further angered when Jeroboam

began to follow the same ways as the

King who was ousted before him. God's

judgment on the idolatrous nation was

sure to come, and would initially take

the form of a drought, which would

result in a lack of pasture for sheep.

Israel was known as a nation of

shepherds, but as a consequence of the

drought, even the lush pasture of

Carmel would wither, for God had

warned Israel that if they were

unfaithful to Him then: The LORD will

change the rain of your land into

powder, and only dust shall come down

upon you from the sky until you are

destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:24).

Judgments Against: Syria. v3 - 5.

3. Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of Damascus, and for

four, I will not revoke the punishment;

because they have threshed Gilead with

threshing sledges of iron.

Amos now begins to pronounce

judgment on the five nations

surrounding Israel. The formula "for

three... for four" shows how these

nations continued obstinately in their

evil ways, for if a nation had seen it's

error, they may have repented and God

would not need to speak of judgment.

But the verses reveal an absence of

repentance. As a result of the nations'

persistent sin, God says to each one, "I

will not turn away" - judgment could no

longer be withheld.

12

First to be dealt with is Syria. Damascus,

the capital of Syria, represents the rule

of the nation and therefore denotes the

nation as a whole. Gilead was near Syria

and seems to have been a regular target

for Syrian troops. (See 2 Kings 10:32 -

33). Although it is true that God had

used Syria to chastise unfaithful Israel,

they would not be excused for their

inhumanity. The Israelites which the

Syrians captured in battle were literally

threshed to death with farming

implements of sharpened metal

("threshing sledges of iron"). For this

war crime God would judge the whole

Syrian nation.

4. So I will send a fire on the house of

Hazael, and it shall devour the

strongholds of Ben-hadad.

Hazael and Ben-Hadad had both been

kings of Syria and so represent the

rulers of that nation. As Tatford points

out, the name "Ben-Hadad" was

adopted by many Syrian kings in honour

of their god "Hadad", the god of storms

("Ben-Hadad" means "son of Hadad").

The fire, symbolic of God's judgment,

would come to destroy their rule and

ruin their nation. Throughout Amos'

prophecy, it is the fire of war. Many

towns and cities were literally burned to

the ground by invading armies.

5. I will break the gate bars of

Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants

from the Valley of Aven, and the one

who holds the scepter from Beth-eden;

and the people of Aram shall go into

exile to Kir, says the LORD.

The capital, Damascus, would be

besieged before eventually being

captured (this is symbolised by the

broken gate bar) and there would be no

one left in the whole country of Syria,

from "the Valley of Aven to Beth Eden"

indicates that the conquest would be all

inclusive. In Britain we might use the

phrase "from Lands’ End to John

O'Groats", meaning the whole nation.

In days when Assyria was not

considered big enough to pose a threat

to the surrounding countries, Amos

accurately predicted the Assyrian

invasion of Syria. The victorious

invaders literally deported the whole

Syrian nation, rulers and subjects (that

is, "the inhabitants" and "he that holds

the scepter"), and resettled them

elsewhere, as was their usual policy

with prisoners of war. The place of their

resettlement is named as Kir. There is

considerable debate among scholars as

to which city is meant, for the word

"Kir" simply means "a walled enclosure"

and more than one city of that time was

named "Kir". However, what is clear is

that only thirty years after Amos

uttered his prophecy, it was fulfilled. (2

Kings 16:9).

Philistia. v6 - 8.

6,7,8. Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I

will not revoke the punishment; because

they carried into exile entire

communities, to hand them over to

Edom. So I will send a fire on the wall of

Gaza, fire that shall devour its

strongholds. I will cut off the inhabitants

from Ashdod, and the one who holds the

scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my

hand against Ekron, and the remnant of

the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord

GOD.

Philistia is next to come under Divine

sentence and is symbolised by its chief

city of Gaza. The Philistines were to be

judged for their part in the deporting of

an entire population, possibly from a

region of Israel. Those they took as

captives were, says Tatford, presumably

sold as slaves to the Edomites. (Edom

was a nation which traded in slaves; see

2 Chronicles 28:17). The judgment of

God coming upon the wall indicates that

there would be no protection for the

city from its high towers and

fortifications, which would be

destroyed. Philistia was not in fact a

nation but a federation of city

kingdoms, each with its own king. All

but one of these cities (Ashdod,

Ashkelon, Ekron and Gaza) are named

here, each city and king receiving their

share of the judgment. Only Gath is not

mentioned, though it is not excluded,

since God makes clear that the whole

population (remnant - whoever is left)

of the Philistines would perish.

Tyre. v9 - 10.

9,10. Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I

will not revoke the punishment; because

they delivered entire communities over

to Edom, and did not remember the

covenant of kinship. So I will send a fire

on the wall of Tyre, fire that shall devour

its strongholds.

Tyre was a shipping port in Phoenicia. It

is unlikely that they captured men as

slaves, but rather that they traded in

the Jewish slaves which were captured

by the Philistines. They were

middlemen, selling the slaves on to

Edom. God's case against them is that

they should not have shut their eyes to

the suffering of these Jews, but they

should have remembered the peace

treaty which their nation, under king

Hiram, had made with Israel at the time

of King Solomon. (1 Kings 5:12). As was

the case with Gaza, walls and

fortifications could provide no

protection from the judgment of God.

This is why the Psalmist sang, "Unless

the Lord guards the city, the guard

keeps watch in vain." (Psalm 127:1).

Today in Western Countries we pride

ourselves in our ability to wage high

tech warfare and for security we trust

our "nuclear deterrent". The message of

Amos abides that men ought not to

trust in defences, but in God, who is

able to make any defence as naught

before His judgment.

13

Edom. v11 - 12.

11,12 Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of Edom, and for four, I

will not revoke the punishment; because

he pursued his brother with the sword

and cast off all pity; he maintained his

anger perpetually, and kept his wrath

forever. So I will send a fire on Teman,

and it shall devour the strongholds of

Bozrah.

Next comes judgment on Edom. The

Edomites were descendants of Esau,

Jacob's older brother, and should have

shown some affection for their relatives

the Jews. The opposite was true. They

manifested continual hostility to Israel,

an unreasonable hatred which allowed

no mercy or pity, a cruel anger which

was never satisfied by any amount of

vengeance. Like the men Paul describes,

they were "without natural affection."

(2 Timothy 3:3). Since no further

elaboration is made about Edom's

judgment, the "fire in Teman" that

would "devour Bozrah" must refer to

events similar to those depicted in the

previous prophecies - that is, Assyrian

and later Babylonian invasions

decimating the entire nation.

Ammon. v13 - 15.

13. Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of the Ammonites, and

for four, I will not revoke the

punishment; because they have ripped

open pregnant women in Gilead in order

to enlarge their territory.

The Ammonites were a very cruel

people. Their soldiers deliberately

targeted pregnant woman and cut them

open in order to kill mother and child.

They had no mercy in their lust to gain

more land. Gilead, an extensive and

mountainous region of Israel, which was

close to the Ammonite border, was

seized by them in this way.

14,15. So I will kindle a fire against the

wall of Rabbah, fire that shall devour its

strongholds, with shouting on the day of

battle, with a storm on the day of the

whirlwind; then their king shall go into

exile, he and his officials together, says

the LORD.

The same fate of defeat in battle and

subsequent captivity awaited Ammon

and its rulers as did Syria and its rulers,

coming suddenly and irresistibly like a

whirlwind. Ray Beeley says, "According

to Poole, (this) judgment was eventually

completed by the Babylonians." (c/f

Ezekiel 25:1 - 4).

Moab. Ch. 2 v 1 - 3.

1. Thus says the LORD: For three

transgressions of Moab, and for four, I

will not revoke the punishment; because

he burned to lime the bones of the king

of Edom.

Such was the violent nature of the

Moabites that they were not content

merely to kill the king of Edom; they

dissolved his bones in lime. No respect

was shown for man, who is created in

the image of God, not even for the

human body after death. This crime

may have had special significance if, as

Tatford suggests, it was done as an

offering to one of their gods.

2,3. I will send a fire on Moab, and it

shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth,

and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid

shouting and the sound of the trumpet; I

will cut off the ruler from its midst, and

will kill all its officials with him says the

LORD

Kerioth was the capital city of Moab.

War and violent destruction would

overtake the land (advancing armies are

indicated by the sound of the trumpet)

and all the leaders, whether judges or

princes, would be killed.

So ends Amos' pronunciation of

judgment on the heathen nations

surrounding Israel. These were people

who neither knew God nor worshipped

Him. God nevertheless held them

accountable for their actions. The

apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans

points out that such people will be

judged according to the light which they

have received, in particular that

revelation of God's eternal power and

Godhead which is self-evident in

creation. This is so sufficient and

compelling evidence as to leave those

who do not have the scriptures without

any excuse for their rejection of God.

For what can be known about God is

plain to them, because God has shown

it to them. Ever since the creation of the

world his eternal power and Divine

nature, invisible though they are, have

been understood and seen through the

things He has made. So they are without

excuse; (Romans 1:19-20)

The God who was at work in Amos' day

to bring judgment on the heathen is still

in charge of world affairs today,

governing the nations. All nations

would do well to realise that it is not

through strength of arms, nor use of

force, but in dependence on God that

true national security lies.

God is not only the God of nations, but

of every individual. The day is coming

when God shall judge every person for

their own sins. (Acts 17:31). The verdict

of this future and final judgment will

depend on whether or not a person has

received the Lord Jesus Christ as their

Saviour. Only those who do so will

escape the wrath of God (John 3:36; 1

Thessalonians 1:10) and eternal

punishment (Hebrews 6:2). If those who

did not know God and did not have His

word were judged just as Amos

foretold, what would happen to those

who knew God's word and yet rejected

it? Amos next turns his attention to

those who were privileged to possess

God's word yet were failing to obey it -

Israel and Judah.

14

When the Thessalonians came to

know Christ as their Saviour they

immediately faced a tremendous

storm of opposition and

persecution. The young church

suffered harassment, arrest and

even confiscation of their goods.

One such incident is recorded in the

above reading from the book of Acts

17, especially v 5-9.

The result was that Paul was forced

to flee for his life, leaving the young

church to face the on-going

situation alone. It is clear that this

incident was not isolated. Paul

writes to them, For you, brethren,

became imitators of the churches of

God which are in Judea in Christ

Jesus. For you also suffered the

same things from your own

countrymen, just as they did from

the Judeans, who killed both the

Lord Jesus and their own prophets,

and have persecuted us; (1Th 2:14-

15)

Paul knew more than most what

that persecution involved, having

been on both sides of it. So,

although he had been torn away

from them by circumstances, he

he writes to encourage them. He

sent Timothy to see how they were

getting on, and was overjoyed to

learn that they were standing firm

through the storm. As believers we

will have persecution and face

opposition. Paul says we are

appointed to this. In acts he

"strengthened the souls of the

disciples, exhorting them to

continue in the faith, and saying,

"We must through many tribulations

enter the kingdom of God." (Act

14:22)

Jesus said this too. Remember the

word that I said to you, 'A servant is

not greater than his master.' If they

persecuted Me, they will also

persecute you. If they kept My word,

they will keep yours also (John

15:20) But thank God the young

believers in the town of

Thessalonica were standing firm

through the storm, and young

believers in Pontypool can do the

same. Let's see how they stood firm.

They had a strong foundation

When Paul came to Thessalonica he

preached the gospel of Christ's

death and resurrection, which they

believed. Their faith was founded on

sound teaching. For they themselves

declare concerning us what manner

of entry we had to you, and how you

turned to God from idols to serve the

living and true God, and to wait for

His Son from heaven, whom He

raised from the dead, even Jesus

who delivers us from the wrath to

come. (1Th 1:9-10) When they

received the word, it was with all

readiness of mind. They knew God's

word was true. For this reason we

also thank God without ceasing,

because when you received the word

of God which you heard from us, you

welcomed it not as the word of men,

but as it is in truth, the word of God,

which also effectively works in you

who believe. (1Th 2:13)

So when the storm of persecution

comes, you can know that your faith

is founded on the truth of sound

teaching. No matter what men say,

Standing Firm through the Storm For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. (1Th 3:8)

Today, persecuted believers can stand firm through the storm, just as the persecuted Thessalonians did.

Acts 17:1-15 by Mathew Bartlett

Images: Above © Enjoylife25 Overleaf: Mpz@sapo.pt

15

you have no need to abandon it, for

it is the word of God.

They had a Solids Conviction

For our gospel did not come to you

in word only, but also in power, and

in the Holy Spirit and in much

assurance, as you know what kind of

men we were among you for your

sake. (1Th 1:5)

The Thessalonians were able to

believe God's word for they had

experienced a deep conviction of

the Holy Spirit in their lives. Jesus

said it is the work of the Holy Spirit

to convict the world of sin,

righteousness and judgment. He did

this work for the Thessalonians

which led to their genuine

conversion. Those of us with

experience of this conviction know

that the man with an experience is

never at the mercy of a man with an

argument. Men may try to

undermine our faith, but we know

whom we have believed. Our

conviction is solid, and we can stand

firm through the storm.

They stood firm in the storm

because they had a strong

foundation, but also because they

had a simple vocation.

They had a Simple Vocation.

Having received the Lord Jesus

Christ they had one simple aim in

life - to do his will. Everything else

was let go of for this. Before we

come to Christ, our interests may be

many and varied. But when we

come to Christ, this all surpassing

interest possesses us. People cannot

understand what change has come

over us. My Grandma used to say to

me "you need to get a life." But I

had found the best life any one

could have with Jesus. I still have

interests, I enjoy sport, I surf the

internet, I play with my daughter,

visit family and sometimes, rarely,

go out for meals but nothing

compares to knowing Jesus as my

Saviour and without him, life would

be empty and lifeless.

They had a Sound Conversion.

Their sound conversion was

evidenced by their faith, love and

hope: 1 Thess. 1v3,4 work of faith,

labor of love, and patience of hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight

of our God and Father; they had a

faith that was doing. Not merely a

mental assent but an involvement of

the heart. James says that faith

without works is dead. Show me

your faith without works, he says,

but I'll show you my faith by my

works. The unsaved in their

community could see that these

Thessalonian believers were Christ's

not just because of what they said,

but because of how they lived their

lives.

The whole world knew that "they

turned to God from idols" 1 Thess. 1

v 10. As persecution came, only a

sound conversion could enable

them to hold on to their faith. Paul

had been concerned about them. He

said "For this reason, when I could

no longer endure it, I sent to know

your faith, lest by some means the

tempter had tempted you, and our

labor might be in vain. (1Th 3:5)

The devil wanted the young church

to abandon its faith in the face of

persecution. All over the world

Christians are experiencing this. In

many countries they say "If you will

stop following Jesus we will make it

easier for you, we will stop

persecuting you, we will let you

live." Don't listen to the devil's lie: it

will lead to you losing your soul.

No man can take my life unless the

lord allows it, so my life is not in

their hands, but in God's. So the

threat to kill is an idle threat.

Holding on to my faith in Christ is

certain proof that I have eternal life.

Jesus said "Do not fear those who

can kill the body but who cannot kill

the soul. Rather fear him who is able

to destroy both soul and body in

hell." If you are suffering

persecution for your faith, don't be

afraid, you are not on your own.

Peter says "The same things are

happening to your brothers who are

in the world". We have all

experienced persecution from

family and friends.

Don't let go of your faith, be like the

Thessalonians. By the grace of God

they held on to their faith and were

victorious.

Their labour was motivated by

genuine love for the Lord and his

people. The Bible says "having not

seen him you love him." And "love

one another as I have loved you". If

you do not love your brother whom

you can see, how can you love God

whom you cannot see? How

wonderful to know that love is a

doing word. God's love is always

giving and doing. God loved the

world and gave his son. The son

loved me and gave his life for me.

He demonstrated his love on the

cross. A love that does nothing is no

16

love at all John writes But whoever

has this world's goods, and sees his

brother in need, and shuts up his

heart from him, how does the love

of God abide in him? (1Jn 3:17)

And so brother, sister, if you are

going through persecution for faith

in Christ, you are not alone, for we

love you. We are concerned for you.

We will pray and if possible we will

help you. This is our labour of love,

together we can stand firm through

the storm.

They Enjoyed a Saving Presence.

Thank God that in times of

persecution or trouble, we have the

presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy

Spirit is described by Jesus as the

comforter, someone who comes

along side us to help, encourage and

strengthen us in the face of trouble

and opposition against our faith. The

Thessalonians had "received the

word in much affliction, with joy of

the Holy Spirit" (1Th 1:6)

Just like the apostles, they were able

to suffer affliction because of the

presence of the Holy Spirit, who

supernaturally gave them joy. For

the believer the Holy Spirit is:

An Indwelling Power Jesus said "I

will pray the Father, and He will give

you another Helper, that He may

abide with you forever-- the Spirit of

truth, whom the world cannot

receive, because it neither sees Him

nor knows Him; but you know Him,

for He dwells with you and will be in

you. (John 14:16-17)

The Holy Spirit comes to live in

believers through the baptism of the

Holy Spirit. This is his indwelling

presence, and none can ever take

him away - he will be with you

forever. As the Holy Spirit dwells in

us he gives us a longing for heaven.

We, who have the first fruits of the

Spirit, groan within ourselves,

eagerly waiting for the adoption, the

redemption of our body. (Rom 8:23)

And in times of trouble he helps us

to pray, for he perfectly knows and

understands our needs and God's

will. Likewise the Spirit also helps in

our weaknesses. For we do not

know what we should pray for as we

ought, but the Spirit Himself makes

intercession for us with groanings

which cannot be uttered.(Rom 8:26)

An all sufficient helper Jesus called

the Holy Spirit the helper. Whatever

situation we face, the Holy Spirit is

able to impart to us the victory that

is ours in Christ. And He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for

My strength is made perfect in

weakness." (2Co 12:9) We can stand

firm in the storm as we know the

Saving Presence of the Holy Spirit

They Enjoyed a Living Hope

The hope that carries the believer

through times of persecution is that

Jesus is coming come again. The

Thessalonians waited for this hope-

His son from heaven 1 Thess. 1v10.

In the midst of persecution they

were encouraged by looking for that

blessed hope and glorious appearing

of the great God and our Saviour

Jesus Christ. Nothing could trouble

them for long -for Jesus is coming. It

is the hope that sustains us. How

often have we cried and groaned

under a wait of sorrow "O Lord Jesus

How long?"

When Jesus comes again he will

bring with him all the Christians who

have died before his coming. The

dead saints will be raised, the living

ones changed, and we shall all be

caught up to meet the Lord in the

air and so shall we be forever with

the Lord. Comfort one another,

writes Paul with these words.

Are you standing through the

storm? You are not alone. I wrote

this message because I know some

of you are experiencing opposition

and persecution for your faith. We

want to help you. You can stand firm

through the storm by having a

strong foundation in God's word; a

simple vocation - seeking to do

God's will; a sound conversion

evidenced by faith and love;

experience the indwelling, all

sufficient presence of the Holy Spirit

who will come to be your helper and

look for that blessed hope - the

coming of our Lord Jesus to receive

us to himself. You can stand through

the storm as we stand together with

Jesus. Amen.

17

They went even further for they not only believed but they did something about it. First of all they called a "fast" which is a universal sign of a spirit of repentance. Secondly they put on sackcloth - a sign of mourning or sorrow for their sins (2 Cor. 7:9 - 10).

V6. The message even reached the ears of the king and in response he steps down from his throne, he humbled himself under the hand of God, acknowledging that He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36). He took off his robe, that is, he laid aside his authority and power as sovereign of the people. He replaced it with sackcloth and added sat in ashes - in Godly sorrow for his sins and in a spirit of repentance.

V7 - 8. He called the whole city to deny themselves food and drink, also their animals, and pray and turn from their wicked ways. V9. They did not do all this believing that if they did God had no other choice but to forgive and spare them – but in the

The Runaway Prophet

The Book of Jonah

Chapters Three and Four A brief Bible study by Derek Williams.

Photos this page: © Jeff Schulz. Bottom Right: © Fotogeek

Nineveh was indeed a great city it is said that its walls were wide enough for three chariots to ride abreast. It was approximately 60 miles across, thus requiring 3 20-mile travel days. V4. Jonah went a third of the way into the city before he began to preach the short but powerful message of warning from God. He was mightily anointed and did not beat about the bush but gave it to them straight so the people knew that it was a message from God and they feared (Deut. 18:22).

The People's Response 5-10

V5. It is amazing that this heathen, idolatrous, wicked people, who didn't know Jonah from Adam should listen to what he had to say! It is remarkable that they recognized that it was God’s voice! But the fact that they "believed" can only be attributed to the grace and mercy of God in opening their hearts and minds to Him.

Jonah's Obedience 1 - 4.

V1 - 2. Although Jonah had been disobedient and failed God does not cast him off but gives him another opportunity. The Lord re-commissions Him by speaking in almost the exact words of verse one, chapter one. The only difference being that in chapter one He tells him to "'cry against"' the city and here he is instructed to "preach to it", or rather the inhabitants. To cry against implies condemnation without hope, whereas preach means this but also includes the hope that if there is repentance then forgiveness may be given. This was the full message that God entrusted to Jonah. V3. Jonah who had himself repented of his disobedience this time did what God asked him to do in the beginning - he learnt the hard way. If he had not opposed God he could have saved himself a lot of trouble.

18

hope that He would in his mercy accept their repentance and forgive and spare their lives.

V10. God saw that they were sincere in their contrition and in accordance to His nature and in response to their action He changed His mind. This is not to say that God is inconsistent, for He is completely consistent in His intention to bless everyone everywhere. Thus if anyone truly repents, (even Ahab 1 Kings 21:29), God will have mercy.

3. Jonah's Anger and Resentment 1 - 5.

V1. Although Jonah had reluctantly been God's messenger to warn the Ninevites of impending doom, he did not really want them to repent. As they were the enemies of his people he wanted them destroyed for their many sin (contrary to the teaching of Jesus Matt. 5:44-45). It is not for us to discourage repentance when an enemy decides to repent V2. Jonah knew the character of God; he had received of His grace and mercy personally and knew the history of God's dealings with Israel. But he could not reconcile this to God’s dealings with the Ninevites. Jonah's view of God was limited, therefore he could not imagine how great His grace is even to the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:14). He states the reason why he disobeyed God in the first place was because he knew that in His love He would change His mind. V3. Jonah would rather die than admit that he had a wrong attitude or allow God to change his unforgiving spirit. (Matt. 6:14-15). V4. God desires to teach Jonah his final lesson concerning the value of souls and the extent of Divine mercy He asks him "Is it right for you to be angry?" V5. In reply Jonah leaves the city and sits down with a resentful spirit to wait and see what would happen.

4. God's Kindness

v6. In spite of Jonah's attitude and behavior in isolating himself from God and the Ninevites, God in His wisdom and knowledge sees that Jonah has put himself in a very dangerous position in more ways than one. So in loving kindness and concern for His prophet He caused a plant to grow in order to protect him from the fierce heat of the sun. God had another reason for doing this for apart from Jonah's physical welfare He was concerned for his spiritual wellbeing.

5. God teaches Jonah about Compassion 7 -11.

V7 - 8. In His grace God had given Jonah protection, now He takes it away so that Jonah may learn about compassion. In the state that he was in both physically and spiritually, brought on himself, Jonah could only see death as the way out. V9 God asks him of it concerning the plant. Jonah still holds on to his anger and resentment. This time he

answers God "It is right", "I am right because I want to be right and no one will change my mind!"

V10. Jonah could have pity on a plant that he had done nothing to create V11. This is the central challenge of the book. There were 120,000 lost souls in Nineveh who were deserving of hell, but ignorant of how to escape their plight. God had created them and provided all they needed to live. Has He not the right to have mercy and pity upon them?

God went to an awful lot of trouble to bring salvation to the world, it cost Him a lot "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life" (John 3:16). We are not told whether Jonah got the point or if he responded to God and repented.

Have you got the point?

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Prelude to the Final Judgments. v1 - 8. It is to be noted that the series of visions given to John in Revelation do not follow each other in strictly chronological order. The events in chapters fifteen and sixteen actually precede those in chapter fourteen.

1. "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete."

John sees another great and wonderful sign in heaven - seven angels holding seven bowls containing the seven last plagues to be poured out in judgment on the world. These are the last to be poured out for with them God's wrath is complete.

2. "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God."

Before the particulars of the seven bowls are given, another vision is seen. John sees what seemed to be a sea of glass blended with fire, representing God's holy and righteous judgments. Standing on the sea are those who have not bowed down and worshipped the beast or his image or received his mark. These are the victorious ones. They have harps in their hands, which were given them by God that they might worship Him.

3. "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are

Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!"

Accompanying themselves with these harps they sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. These are not two different songs but one, a song of praise and thanksgiving such as that Moses gave the Israelites to sing after their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus chapter 15). It is sung in honour of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our mighty deliverer (Rev. 5:9 - 13). Their song:

Exceedingly great and wonderful is the work of God, especially evidenced in the redemptive work of Christ. He is just and true in all that He does and is Lord of those He has redeemed.

4. "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."

There will be no one who will not revere His Name, bow down to Him, honour and praise Him (Phil. 2:9 - 11; Rom. 14:11). He alone is perfectly and to the highest degree, holy. All nations will pay Him homage for His righteous acts have been seen. Ps. 86:9.

5. "After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened."

After this John saw that the way into the presence of God; the dwelling place and throne of God (the heavenly holy of holies) was opened.

6. "And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands."

John's attention returns to the seven angels bearing the plagues coming out from the presence of God. They are dressed in pure bright linen and have a golden sash across their chest, a mark of the divine authority which is given them (Rev. 1:5).

7. "Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever."

One of the four living creatures gave to each one of the angels a golden bowl filled with the wrath of God i.e. the seven plagues. "Who lives forever and ever." "The particular object in referring to this attribute here appears to be, that though there may seem to be delay in the execution of his purposes, yet they will be certainly accomplished, for he is the ever-living and unchangeable God" (Barnes).

8. "The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed." When this was done the sanctuary was filled with a smoke because of the glory of God's presence and by His mighty power (Ex. 40:34). Because of this no one was able to enter until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Most commentators agree that during this time no intercessions can be made..

From The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Derek Williams (paperback £6.99)

Our In Depth Study. Revelation 15. By Derek R. Williams. Photo © Godfer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

20

Copies of our latest Gospel tract are available at www.biblestudiesonline.co.uk/Gospel-tracts.html

Where will you go when you die?

When you die, is that the end of your existence? Or is there a life after death? The Bible teaches that the soul shall live on after death.

The Bible says ‘people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment’ Heb. 9:27

Jesus made very clear that there are only two possible destinations for the soul after death. The one is heaven, and this is for all who believe in him. The one who believes in the Son (Jesus) has eternal life. John 3:36

In heaven, ‘God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more’. Rev. 21:4

The only alternative for those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is a place called hell. Jesus said, ‘The one who rejects the Son (Jesus) will not see life, but God's wrath remains on him’. John 3:36

Jesus warned ‘It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God than to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched’. Mark 9:47-48

Once a soul enters hell, there is no way of ever getting out. In hell your soul will be awake and fully conscious of the torment it is suffering, and this torment will continue forever and ever.

‘And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and there is no rest day or night’. Rev. 14:11

A final Judgment Day is coming in which everyone will give an account of their lives to God. Only those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour have their names written in the Lamb’s book of Life so that they might enter eternal life.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,

according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:12-15

In order to go to heaven when you die you must repent of your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

Jesus paid the price on the cross at Calvary so that your sins might be forgiven; He died and rose again that you might be saved from the wrath to come.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life’. John 3:16

Will you trust him to save you today?

‘I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life’. Deut. 30:19 ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved’. Acts 16:31

My Decision From this date:- ............................... I have received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I believe Jesus died and rose again to save me from all my sin and now I belong to Him, saved by His grace. Signed ..................................

21

The Divine Alliance

“Thy kingdom come. Thy

will be done in earth, as it

is in heaven.” Matthew

6:10

This Bible Study has been taken

from Chapter VI of Daniel

Kolenda’s new book “Your

Kingdom Come” and is for those

who desire to enter into a divine

partnership with God and His

purposes by joining the prayer

revolution.

Charles Finney (1792-1875) is

considered by many people to

have been one of the greatest

revivalists in American history.

When Finney preached in a city,

the entire region was powerfully

impacted by the holy presence

of God, which seemed to

descend like a cloud. The

tangible presence of God would

be felt for miles around and

multitudes of people would

come to Jesus as if being drawn

by a mysterious, magnetic force.

Churches would be

overwhelmed with new

converts. Crime rates would

plummet, and jails would empty

because of the numbers of

people who had come to Jesus.

The moral nature of cities and

regions would be impacted for

decades to come because of the

supernatural work that was

done by the Holy Spirit through

this man of God.

Interestingly, approximately 80

percent of those people who

came to Jesus in Finney’s

meetings were still actively

serving the Lord twenty-five

years after their initial salvation

experience16 – an extraordinary

statistic.

The amazing revivals that

followed the ministry of Charles

Finney were much more than

just the result of the eloquent

preaching of this evangelist.

There was an atmosphere that

followed Charles Finney that

reflected the holiness of God.

When people encountered that

atmosphere, their testimony

was much the same as the

prophet Isaiah who,

encountering the holiness of

God, cried out in despair, “Woe

is me! for I am undone…” (Isaiah

6:5).

People were stricken by the

horrors of their sins and the

deep offense that sin caused in

the heart of God. A reverential

fear of the Lord was experienced

by many that caused them to

turn to the Lord with true,

heartfelt repentance, and they

were never the same again.

Much has been written about

the amazing ministry of Charles

Finney, but very little is known

about another man named

Daniel Nash who was an

associate of Finney.

Very few people even knew that

he existed. He was very quiet by

nature and rarely, if ever,

attended any of the revival

meetings where Finney

preached. Though he had been a

pastor early in his life, he had

been wounded by some church

leaders who had fired him from

his church thinking he was too

old. He was forty-six at the time.

This breaking of Nash’s heart

was only a part of the

preparation for a much greater

work that God had prepared for

him to do.

Nash’s ministry was a ministry of

prayer and intercession.

Because of his hurt, he withdrew

from public ministry but became

a man of mighty prevailing

prayer!

God brought Daniel Nash and

Charles Finney together to form

a team that was to be used by

God in a most phenomenal way.

Nash would precede Charles

Finney’s arrival in a city for

revival meetings. He would go to

the city and check into a

boarding house and begin

praying for the meetings that

were coming. Sometimes he

22

wouldn’t come out of his room

for days at a time as he devoted

himself totally to intercession.

Sometimes people reported

hearing weeping and groaning

coming from this man’s room as

he prayed for the Holy Spirit’s

power to be released and a

mighty harvest to be reaped

when Charles Finney came to

preach.

Daniel Nash would pray for days

before he felt that the work had

been done in the spirit for the

meetings to convene. Other

times he would pray for three to

four weeks in advance of

Finney’s arrival, but he would

not quit until he felt in his spirit

that the preparation through

intercession was complete. Nash

prayed until he felt that the

spiritual atmosphere had been

prepared, and once he felt a

release, he would send word to

Charles Finney that the town

was ready for him to come.

Finney would follow, preach the

Gospel, and the tidal floods of

God’s holy, convicting, and

saving glory would overwhelm

the town and people would

come to Jesus to be saved as a

result.

The greatest moves of God in

American history occurred

during this season of time. Entire

regions were changed as a result

of Finney’s ministry. Historians

point to those meetings as

having such a profound impact

upon people and societies that

the effects could still be seen a

century or more later! The

powerful preaching of Charles

Finney that saw hundreds of

thousands of people saved

would have never had the

impact it did had it not been for

the spiritual partnership with

the intercessory ministry of

Daniel Nash.

It is interesting to note that only

four months after Daniel Nash’s

death, Charles Finney left the

itinerate revival ministry to

pastor a church. The powerful

revivals that characterized his

ministry and changed a nation

began to wane.

Daniel Nash is buried in a simple

grave in an obscure cemetery

behind a farmer’s barn in

upstate New York. It was lost in

history for many decades. On his

small, well-worn tombstone are

these words: “Daniel Nash –

Prayer minister for Charles

Finney.” Though he was virtually

unknown to the masses, God

used Nash in a most profound

way to birth the revivals of

Charles Finney which touched

multitudes.

Surely, Daniel Nash enjoys the

same fruit of reward as Charles

Finney in Heaven today because

of the role he played in

intercession and prayer! I

believe that there are many

Daniel Nash’s in the earth today.

They are known only to God

(and maybe a few family

members or friends). They may

never write a book. They may

never have a television program.

They may never have a large

public ministry that draws

money, popularity, and acclaim

of the masses, but their unseen

labours in the spirit through

intercessory prayer are resulting

in the work of God moving

forward in the earth.

They may be strangers while

here, but one day they will be

champions in Heaven.

The next great move of God will

come as a result of Prayer &

Obedience by the body of Christ.

Discover how God made us

partners with Him for the

fulfilment of His purposes in the

earth.

Don't miss your opportunity to

purchase the first book released

by Author and Evangelist Daniel

Kolenda.

GET THE BOOK NOW!

http://bit.ly/A0OmSW

Be Blessed,

Daniel Kolenda, Evangelist

To find out more, or to support the

work of CfaN visit their website:

http://us.cfan.org/?lang=en-US

Article reproduced with the kind

permission of Christ for all Nations.

23

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