Podcasts about daily reading

Discover powerful success habits with Dennis Henson, a millionaire mentor and author who reveals how anyone can transform their life through small, consistent daily actions.In this episode, Dennis unpacks the life-changing power of habit formation and shares the very strategies that helped his students—many of whom became millionaires—succeed in real estate investing and beyond. You'll learn how to cultivate a winning mindset for success, harness the power of daily motivation, and build a self-improvement daily routine rooted in timeless wisdom from icons like Napoleon Hill.Whether you're searching for:How to develop success habits that actually stickThe role of reading success stories in daily growthReal-world examples of the law of attraction in businessHow to apply Think and Grow Rich principles to your own goals…this episode is for you.Dennis explains how he took the lessons from decades of mentoring, teaching, and investing—and created a clear, simple method to help anyone tap into their potential. If you're stuck, overwhelmed, or just looking for a spark to move forward, this podcast will deliver insights that meet your search intent and offer real tools to help you take action.

What a total contrast there is between our readings in Judges ch. 9 and all the conflict and resultant deaths it describes – caused by Abimelech – and the “living hope” of which Peter writes at the start of his First Epistle.  The spirit that Abimelech created all around him has considerable comparison with life around nearly all the world today.Peter addresses his letter to the “exiles of the dispersion” – this would be the Jewish dispersion – and, of course, written to “those who are elect.” [1 v.1]   “Elect” is an significant word – we do not use it in normal conversations, although with elections looming here, there will soon be lots of comment about those who are ‘elected.'  But whoever is elected, not one of them can give us, “a living hope” [v.3]The world can only provide ‘a dead hope' – which is no hope at all!  This life is all there is, and how short may this become as the human ‘pathway' appears to be going more steeply downhill into utter godlessness!Remember what we read yesterday in James 5 v.1,5,9 “…weep and howl for the miseries that are coming … You have lived … in luxury and in self-indulgence… the Judge is standing at the door.”  Very few years after James wrote this, the nation came to an end – and Jerusalem was destroyed.In contrast Peter tells his readers, the believers, that God “has caused us to beborn again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable.” [v.4] Peter then says this “inheritance” is “kept in heaven for you … ready to be revealed in the last time.” [v.5]Those who read the scriptures carefully know that genuine believers do not go to heaven to receive it.  The last chapter in Bible (v.22) says, “”Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.” The “recompense” or reward, is given to believers “on earth.”   Jesus taught “”Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” [Matt. 5 v.5]  Let us make sure we have been “born again to a living hope“  – a spiritual rebirth,  which we outwardly witnessed by our baptism.They showed this on the day of Pentecost when they were “cut to the heart” at the preaching of Peter, (Acts 2 v.37) and “said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  And so they went down into the water and were “born again to a living hope”There are increasing signs that the coming of Jesus is close  – and then he will “repay each one for what he has done.”   All those who have been “born again to a living hope” followed by a life of commitment in service to Christ will have prayerful confidence as what their reward will be.

‘Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God.  And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.'—Nehemiah 8:18

Our generation, more than ever before, struggles to have any long term hope and vision of the future! The way ahead looks increasingly uncertain making the warning of Jesus about attitudes in the last days more and more evident, “Watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap … stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things …” [Luke 21 v.34-36]All 3 of our readings today contain lessons that are in some way relevant. Joshua (ch. 18) reprimands 7 of the 12 tribes for making no progress in settling in the land, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?” [v.3] How many are baptised (in a sense crossing the Jordan) but then make no real progress?The LORD gives Isaiah (ch. 24) an awesome word picture of his ultimate dismay, anger and actions toward a world that “lies defiled under its inhabitants' so that “a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt” [v.5,6] This creates a time when “all joy has grown dark” [v.11] and “its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.”[v.20]And so “on that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven”[v.21], that is, all who have enjoyed prominence and did what the people wanted, leading them astray, morally and in every other way. All will be “ashamed, for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders” [v.23] This time is beyond our imagining! How wonderful to be an elder!In Hebrews “the unchangeable character of his (God's) purpose” [6 v.17] is emphasized and Paul's “desire (that) each one of you … show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish …” [v.11] like the 7 tribes Joshua reprimanded; but instead have “full assurance.”.Let us more than ever desire to read and meditate on God's word to help us fully develop that “assurance” – only there will we find “strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” [v.18]Hebrews ch. 7 stresses that Jesus is our High Priest and “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” [v.25] We all need the “intercession” of Jesus to help us to “hold fast” and increase our clear vision through constantly reading in the divine

We continue reading the challenging chapters of the letter to the Hebrews. It was obviously written in the final years the Temple existed in Jerusalem before it was destroyed in AD70. Those who made the Temple and the Mosaic Law a highly important part of their lives and expectations, although accepting Jesus as their Messiah, were going to be devastated when the Temple was destroyed.Paul, whom it is generally agreed wrote Hebrews, is making a most urgent appeal to these believers to realize that although “Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant” this was “to testify to the things that were to be spoken later” [3 v.5] by God's son. Moses was God's “servant” – “but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son.” [v.6] The Law was “the house” Moses created, it had now been superseded by the work of Christ in creating a spiritual house “not made with hands” [2 Cor. 5 v.1] that could not be destroyed.“And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting (rejoicing –AV) in our hope” [Heb 3 v.6] Note that word “if” and that Psalm 95 is quoted twice, [3 v.7; 4 v.5] “Today, IF you will hear his voice”Today – in 2025 – let us “hold fast” to what we hear – and read. If we are not really listening and taking the message into our hearts and acting on it – then the message is no benefit to us. We noted verses 2 and 4 in ch. 4, “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.”Could this be true of us also? Are you united with others in the original faith? Note how the word “if” occurs in ch. 3 v.13,14; “But exhort one another every day as long as it is called ‘today' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” May “the message … benefit' us as ”every day” we seek exhortations as we read God's word.

We are surrounded by ungodliness to a far greater degree than experienced by any previous generation – at least in the western world. We can say we “renounce ungodliness”, but putting what we say into action is getting more difficult: it means we must concentrate our minds on godly thoughts at every opportunity.The 46 verses of Paul's letter to Titus is an ideal source for mental fortification; we should not just read it, but we should also meditate on it. Titus is in Crete (1 v.5) to work for the Lord. The contrast between those who really believe – and those who give the appearance of believing is a problem in Crete – the parallels with the problems that challenge us today is increasingly apparent.Paul says, “a prophet of their own said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true.” [1 v.12,13] Titus is told to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith … to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable …” [v.15,16] Sadly, Christianity in general is sliding toward doing this! How much is this influencing us?Titus is to set the example “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” [2 v.7,8]This leads Paul to make the point, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope …” [v.11-13]Our sense of urgency in waiting for our hope to be fulfilled grows ever greater – a sense the younger generation can only partly appreciate – life today is so interesting! We stress it is “the grace of God” that provides the message of salvation and meaning for our existence. Let us appreciate that grace to the full – for we cannot ‘earn' a place in God's kingdom so as to deserve it – but, writes Paul, “being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” [3 v.7] How is your “training” progressing?

Paul's letter to Timothy is full of advice and instruction we can use for ourselves. He tells Timothy that, “I hope to come to you soon , but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church (assembly) of the living God.”[1 Tim. 3 v.15] Paul goes on to explain how each community of believers should have overseers, or elders. He goes into great detail about the qualities such persons ought to have.He must be married and have brought up children for if he cannot effectively manage “his own household” how will he properly “care for God's church.”?[v.5]. Also “he must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”[v.6]What is this devil? How can an overseer be seen to be condemned by a devil? The translators are inconsistent, for the Greek word diabolos they translate here as devil occurs again in v.11 about what the character of the wives of deacons should NOT be! They translate diabolos as “slanderer“ in this case! The character of deacon's wives must be such that they never stoop to slander anyone. Where diabolos occurs in 2 Timothy 3 v.3 and Titus 2 v.3 the translators have rightly rendered it as slanderer or some similar word depending on your version..Jesus said “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil” (diabolos) [John 6 v.70] It is to be greatly regretted that the Church, over time, built up a totally fictitious story of a evil supernatural spirit being.So it makes sense to understand Paul's advice that they should not make a recent convert an overseer or elder until he has developed godly wisdom to prevent the possibility that he could “fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil” dDiabolos)Those who take any position of responsibility in God's church “must be dignified, not double tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy … They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” [1 Tim. 3 v.8,9]. Timothy is told that he should, “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”[Ch.4 v.12]We should all take Paul's advice as to “how one ought to behave in the household of God.” Yes! God's household! Do you belong?.

Today, more than ever before, we live in a herd environment, a human herd. Mass advertising in a great variety of media confronts us hour after hour, creating a herd mentality. We reflected on this as we read Paul's words this morning. He told the Thessalonians that we “give you in ourselves an example to imitate.” [2 Thess. 3 v.9]What do we imitate? What or who do we take as our examples in life? A parallel question – why do we see them as examples that we feel inclined to imitate?Bad examples abound today; there are also things which are not specifically bad but there is nothing really worthwhile in them. We need to ask ourselves, ‘ what is spiritually nutritious' in each thing we watch, read or do?. Paul writes, “you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it … that we might not be a burden to you.” [v.7,8]Are we pulling our weight, doing our share? We live in a drastically changed world to 3 months ago. The coronavirus has bought our lives to a stop. At this time we have opportunity to consider the course of our life. How is our worship to God? How are we caring for our vulnerable loved ones? Today more than ever we need to consider our attitude and what is the outworking of our faith. Soon we will be reading the letter to the Hebrews where it is stated, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” [13 v.7] Believers then did not have the blessing of a Bible to read every day, but, if they had, they would surely have read it in nearly every hour that could be spared from their essential tasks.But today with so many Bibles available, what part does God's word take in daily life? One of the smallest “books” in the Bible is the 3rd letter of John. “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” [v.11] We cannot physically “see” God but we can – with “the eyes of (our) hearts” [Eph.1 v.18] – see God – using his “living word” which cleanses hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” [Matt. 5 v.8]. All such will be sure to experience the wonderful time described in today's Isaiah reading, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” [11 v.9] 

Today we read how Joshua and the emerging nation of Israel crossed the river Jordan – and – under divine guidance destroyed Jericho. Only Rahab (and her household) who knew and feared the true God are saved. Indeed, when we come to read Hebrews 11 we will see that she is listed among the examples of men and women of real faith.Our Isaiah chapter (10) includes the prophecy that “in that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.” [v.20/21] Is that starting to happen? We watch spiritual developments in Israel with great interest. Some in God's nation are showing signs of accepting Jesus as their Messiah; we have attended at the Messianic Synagogue here and seen about 50 Jews who believe in Jesus.Some prophecies are like jigsaw pieces in our hands which we tentatively fit together without locking them into place. We noted v.22 says, “Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness” and pondered its application.The nine verses of the last chapter of Hosea's prophecy are most interesting in this regard, describing the final time when God “will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely for my anger has turned from them.” [v.4]In contrast our chapters in 2 Thessalonians which plainly portray the return of Jesus describes those who will suffer God's anger “when the Lord Jesus is revealed …inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus … when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among those who have believed …” [v.7-10]Rahab will be there, those who heeded from their hearts Isaiah's message will be there! What marveling will take place! But those who do not know God will not be there! That is understandable – but the greatest anguish will surely be in those who have known – but have not obeyed.

Four times, the first three being in today's reading of the 9th chapter of Isaiah, the prophet states God's attitude is that, “For all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still” [v.12,17, 21 In their own strength they think they can ignore God and restore the things that have gone wrong, to bounce back from a disaster and rebuild saying, “the bricks that have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamore have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place” [v.10].The nation refused to see that it was the LORD who had caused these disasters, but their thoughts were on rebuild, to make things better than they had been; they did not see that it was evidence of God's anger and further punishment would come for “the people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts.”[v.13] As a result the LORD was going to have “no compassion (even) on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly (Footnote: ‘disgraceful things')” [v.17].There is a solemn lesson in this for today; disasters continue to multiply in different parts of the world, extreme weather events, earthquakes and pestilence are multiplying. As we read on Isaiah we will come to several prophetic visions, for example on Thursday we will read, “ I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” (Ch. 13 v11-13) . .But for those who looking for light in the darkness, what marvellous light is to be found in today's chapter! Verses 7 & 8 tell us “For unto us a child is born … and the government shall be on his shoulder … of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end … to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” “From this time forth”?From the time Jesus returns! Yesterday we ended by quoting today's Thessalonians chapter (5 v.23,24) – look at it again! May we all have a clear vision of the light in the darkness,, “for all this” folly of godlessness we see today our world will one day – soon – feel the fullness of the Creator's anger. Let us make our vision of the light as clear as we can.

Many parts of the world indulge in what is called ‘the blame game.' Very few admit anything is their fault – and lawyers become very wealthy! There is less and less genuine honesty in our world: men and women may deceive one another – but God is never deceived!In Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians he is exceedingly anxious for news of them. He worries as to whether they are standing firm in the faith. His letter to them, we read today, shows he is relieved “that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love …” [3 v.6], adding, “we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.” [v.7,8]What causes us to “live”? Is it the same as what causes Paul? He is keen to visit them and see them “face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” [v.10] Is anything lacking in our faith? Those striving to be true believers today have greater and greater challenges that threaten to undermine their faith.We particularly noted Paul's next words, ”may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness” [v.12,13] That word “establish” indicates a strengthening so your heart, your outlook on life becomes ‘fixed' How fixed is your mind?It is very interesting that it is the same Greek word as Jesus used in warning Peter of the ordeal he would face in and after the Garden of Gethsemane. He told Peter, “but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22 v,32] We all need to strengthen our hearts so that they are established and become “blameless.” The Greek word here is first used in Luke 1 v.6 about the parents of John the Baptist that they were “walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”Our reading, meditation and prayers on God's word are the source of the ‘glue' to fix our minds – that will “establish” our “hearts blameless” – so that when “the Lord himself (will) descend from heaven with a cry of command with the voice of an archangel… then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up … to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” [4 v.16,17] And where will the Lord be? He will establish a world-wide kingdom as we read on Monday in Isaiah ch, 2 v.2-5.Paul ends his letter with another pressing appeal and prayer, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord … He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” [5 v.23,24] He will surely do it, – so let us “establish” our “hearts.”

We have three stirring portions of Scripture to challenge and encourage us today. Paul tells the Thessalonians how they have been “entrusted with the gospel … not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery” [2 v.4,5]. Our sense of God's all-knowing presence is an essential, indeed the main ingredient, in all our deepest thoughts.And that original gospel, which includes the ‘good news' of God's presence and work in us and in the world – needs to be an increasingly central part of our thinking and doing. Paul tells them you “accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers. “[v.13] It cannot “work in” those who rarely make the time to read and reflect on what they read.God's word through Moses was the essential foundation in the formation of the nation as they entered the promised land. Moses bequeathed Joshua and all the nation the inspired record of the work and presence of God from the beginning of creation. As this record is completed Moses dies and God tells Joshua, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night … be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous … Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you …” [1 v.8,9]The ultimate promised land and these words of God to Joshua (the name Joshua is ‘Jesus' in the Greek language) should echo in the hearts of believers today. Our reading in Isaiah has a parallel message for us. The prophet is told to go out and challenge the fearful king Ahaz in Jerusalem for his “heart … and the heart of the people shook as trees of the forest shake before the wind” [7 v.2]. The prophet is to tell the king, ”Be careful, be quiet, do not fear ….if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” [v.4,9] That is also a message for today.Finally we can link God's words through Isaiah with some more of Paul's words that we read. In encouraging the Thessalonians he told them he was “constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope …” [1 v,2,3] If there was a Paul here today – could he write to us in the same terms? How wonderful if he could stress that God's word “which is at work in you' is completing that work, because we are “strong and courageous” as we are about to enter the ultimate promised land, God's kingdom under Christ.

Our reading in Isaiah today gave us thoughts that are high and lifted up! But then we contradicted ourselves – and felt as low as one can possibly be! What caused this? Meditate on the unfolding message.Isaiah has a vision of “the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and the train of his robe filled the temple.” There are two Seraphim and one says, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts: the whole earth is filled with his glory.” [v.3] The foundations of the thresholds shook at the sound of this voice.Now we can understand this in the sense of the absolute wonder of God's glory in creation which we see all around us – and the wonder of our own bodies which are the crowning glory of that creation, indeed we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” [Psalm 139 v.14] . We can also understand Isaiah's words as a vision of the future, of the glory of God at the end of the 1,000 years reign when he says, “Behold, I am making all things new” {Rev.21 v.5] when the Creator himself comes to dwell on earth (v.30).But note the overwhelming impact this vision has on Isaiah himself, “Woe is me for I am lost! I am a man of unclean lips” [v.5] He experiences an overwhelming realization that we are all, in contrast to this perspective, nothing!What am I, what are we, compared to the Creator of all things? We are less than nothing! Imagine Isaiah's feelings! Can you? Can you visualize yourself in his shoes?Then Isaiah sees in his vision a seraphim bringing a burning coal to touch his lips and he feels the wonder of cleansing and responds to the call to go and proclaim God's challenging and condemning message to the people. God's chosen people, yet so often failing in their responsibility to God “Here am I, send me” he is inspired to respond. Now, what sense of responsibility do we have?It is illuminating that the phrase “high and lifted up” occurs in only two other places and both are in Isaiah. Look at the contexts in which they occur. The remarkable message of Ch. 53 actually starts from v.13 of the previous chapter, “Behold my servant shall act wisely, he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.”This ‘picture' of our Lord is fulfilled in his lifting up to be with his father – but first the crushing ‘weight' of his prayers in the garden of Gethsemane. The third place is in Ch.57 v.15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose Name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place and also with him (her) who is of a contrite and lowly spirit …” Wonderful! Remarkable!Moses, whose life we have just completed reading in Deuteronomy, learnt this before God called him at the burning bush, Paul learnt this as he was lead into Damascus!And us? Have you, have I, experienced this? If not, then is it possible, even likely, to happen someday, especially as this world falls apart and we realize even more fully that our only source of strength is in God.

We complete reading ACTS today: the last 2 verses show us us that Paul was in Rome for “two whole years … and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” Notice the emphasis on Paul proclaiming God's Kingdom – it is sad that as the generations passed that the message preached became totally corrupted to one of human imagination, that of an immortal soul existence in heaven.However our reading in Isaiah has wonderful details about God's Kingdom that “shall come to pass in the latter days … and all the nations shall flow to it … and say: Come let us go up … to the house (temple) of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem … he shall judge between nations … nation shall not lift up sword (weapons) against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” [2 v.2-4]. The kingdom Paul was proclaiming was that revealed in Isaiah and other prophets as well as by Jesus Christ.But Isaiah has another vision of our days: three times in the last 11 verses of this chapter we encounter the phrase, “in that day”! His vision describes a time when the kingdoms of men come to an end and “the lofty pride of man shall be humbled” [v.11]. It is a message against “every high tower” [v.15] and never have buildings been built higher than today. Later Isaiah sees in vision “the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall … the LORD comes from afar, burning with anger … to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction” [30 v.25,27,28] This compares with words in today's chapter, “the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day … when he rises to terrify the earth” [v.17,19].Those who do not know God's word will indeed be terrified. But those who know God's word, although their faith will be tested as “man is humbled and each one is brought low” [v.9] – they will then rejoice in the total wonder of those days. Will you be there? You make the answer now!

Things done in a corner are concealed from general knowledge. It seems evident that Luke, the writer of the book of ACTS was with Paul on some of his travels. Ch. 27 v.1 shows he was with him as he travelled after his appeal to Caesar (v.1,3,4 &c “we” experienced this and that). The defense of Paul before King Agrippa and the Roman Governor is given in such detail it is evident it is a personal report. Festus, the Roman Governor struggles to comprehend what Paul is saying, he desires to write a report to Caesar detailing the nature of the accusations against him.Paul declares, “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” [26 v.22,23] Festus is confused saying, “Paul, you are out of your mind.” Paul responds, “I am not out of my mind … I am speaking true and rational words … for this has not been done in a corner” {v.24-26]The events of nearly 2,000 years ago are powerfully evidenced by history – not just the Bible text – but in Roman history. Alongside this we can put our reading today in Deuteronomy 28. Moses sets out the blessings the nation will have if they truly serve God when they enter the promised land. The first generation did so – as the book of Joshua we are about read shows.!But the latter part of our chapter details the curses that would come upon them for turning their back on God – ending with an awesome description which had its ultimate fulfilment in the Holocaust 70 years ago. “The Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul. Your life will hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread …” [v.66,67] Some try to deny the Holocaust but “this has not been done in a corner”What position do we take? There is no neutral position! Jesus said, “whoever denies me before me, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” [Matt. 10 v.33]

One of the better known stories in the Bible is when Paul was in Athens and confronted the idol worshippers. He gave a challenging speech on Mars Hill, (modern Bibles translate it as Areopagus) Paul observes how religious (AV ‘superstitious') they are! (Acts 17 v.22).“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious: for I passed along and observed the objects of your worship.” He seizes on the fact they had even made an altar to the unknown god, in case they had missed one! This is Paul's chance to describe the God they do not know as the one true God, a God that is REAL and not the product of human imagination. Today we have ‘evolution' as a concept of human imagination which is, in a sense, ‘worshipped' by many of the intellectuals of this age.This ‘evolution God' frees its worshippers from any sense of developing a conscience that they need to obey and serve as the ‘being' that created them. At the end of Acts 17 we read how “some mocked” [v.32] Paul's message, especially the teaching that the dead are to be raised. This is comparable to the way you hear some ‘mock' today at belief in the Bible.It occurred to us to wonder why Paul performed no miracle at Athens as this would have challenged the thinking of the people. When the Apostle's started their preaching there had been a dramatic healing in Jerusalem. Miracles occurred again in Cyprus and then at Iconium where “the Lord bore witness … granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” [14 v.3] and again at Lystra and Philippi. The healings helped convince many, so why not at Athens?We suspect that the people of Athens were so set and confident in their ways of religious thought that they did not deserve to witness a miracle! Is not that comparable to today? But is not the resurrection of the nation of Israel from the dead a miracle!? . It is to those who know the word of God – a wonder that those who knew that word in the 19th Century could anticipate this event, despite the lack of any political indication of this150 years ago. When the miracle of Christ's return overwhelms the world – it will be too late to start believing. Belief in God has its foundations built on a true faith grounded in a real knowledge of His word! How strong is your foundation? 

Our chapter today (10) in Acts is most thought provoking. The message of the Gospel is now spreading and what is most fascinating is all the different reactions Paul and Barnabas experienced as they travelled. What is also significant is the extent to which they quoted from the Old Testament – but that was their Bible. Our chapter contains no less than 7 quotations from the Old Testament made in the speech at Antioch in Pisidia. The Old Testament is God's word just as much as the New Testament.Their initial preaching was to Jewish communities, for they visited them first as they travelled from place to place and supported their message about Jesus with all these quotations from the Old Testament. Evidently the Jews, and sadly it is the same today, only read their Bible selectively – but God's word must be read in totality.“Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” [v.46,47] There is some comparison in this in what has happened over the last 50 years. Belief in God and his word has shrunk alarmingly in the ‘western' world. – and so those who earnestly believe his word have turned to other countries such as India, where, for example, there are now about 100 congregations – and growing each year – but we know of none in India 40 years ago – or Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bangladesh for that matter.How many today are not taking the word of God seriously? Or maybe only taking it selectively in an endeavor to try to prove, for example, that they go to heaven when they die, or that “grace” is ever abounding so they do not have to really strive against sin. If they are not taking God's word seriously – and ‘thirstily' into their hearts, they are, to quote Paul and Barnabas, starting to “judge themselves unworthy of eternal life”Let us make sure we are among those who accepted and obeyed the message and “began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord …” [v.48]

These days so many strive to convince themselves there is no God. We pondered the fact that God does not make it abundantly evident that he exists. If he did there would be no need for faith, no need to search out what is the real cause of human existence. These thoughts arose as we read of the conversion of Cornelius, the Roman Centurion, in Acts ch. 10, a man whose prayers show he was genuinely seeking to have a relationship with God.First, Peter had to learn that the hope of salvation was no longer primarily for the Jews; the death and resurrection of Jesus had changed that. One of the reasons for the conversion of Saul/Paul we read about yesterday, was that the time soon came when Jesus said to him, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” [ch.22 v,21]As Peter starts to talk to Cornelius and the Gentiles (non-Jews) with him, he first states that God has shown him that he is no longer to think that any person, apart from a Jew “as common or unclean” [10 v.28]. He says his hearers are aware how Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed … for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree” [v.38,39] Peter is stating widely known facts.What happened after that was not so publicly known – that “God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.”[v.41,42] Because Cornelius was such a God fearing man, his remarkable conversion and baptism is a lesson as to the kind of people Jesus, now at the ‘right hand of God' (Acts 2 v.33), is calling to his service.The challenging principles Jesus stated still apply, “ Many are called but few are chosen” [Matt.22 v.14] and Cornelius was among the chosen. This causes us to contemplate what really matters in the sight of God as to the basic factors which will lead to one being among the chosen. For this reason we are wise to read and reflect on his word every day and make every effort to put into practice the principles we find there.. More than this, to reflect on another saying of Jesus, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him (or her) much will be required …” [Luke 12 v.48]

Today's chronological Bible reading includes 1 Chronicles 6 and Psalms 81, 88, and 92-93, and 1 Chronicles 7.Visit www.listentogodsword.org for our daily Bible reading schedue, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more. If you're benefiting from this daily podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it, and share it with a friend as well. Questions or comments, email us at info@listentogodsword.org. We'd love to hear from you. The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Today's chronological Bible reading is Psalms 77 and 78.Visit www.listentogodsword.org for our daily Bible reading schedue, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more. If you're benefiting from this daily podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it, and share it with a friend as well. Questions or comments, email us at info@listentogodsword.org. We'd love to hear from you. The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Today's chronological Bible reading includes 1 Chronicles 3-5 and Psalm 73.Visit www.listentogodsword.org for our daily Bible reading schedue, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more. If you're benefiting from this daily podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it, and share it with a friend as well. Questions or comments, email us at info@listentogodsword.org. We'd love to hear from you. The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Today's chronological Bible reading includes Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, and 87.Visit www.listentogodsword.org for our daily Bible reading schedue, answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and more. If you're benefiting from this daily podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it, and share it with a friend as well. Questions or comments, email us at info@listentogodsword.org. We'd love to hear from you. The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.