Nahum 1
Vision the LORD gave Nahum verse 1
The burden of Nineveh
The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite
LORD is jealous verse 2
God is jealous – and the LORD revenges – and is furious
the LORD will take vengeance on HIS adversaries
and HE reserves wrath for HIS enemies
LORD is slow to anger verse 3
The LORD is slow to anger – and great in power
and will NOT at all acquit the wicked
the LORD has HIS way
in the whirlwind and in the storm
and the clouds are
the dust of HIS feet
LORD is in control of nature verse 4- 5
HE rebukes the sea – and makes it dry
and dries up all the rivers
Bashan languishes – and Carmel
and the flower of Lebanon languishes
The mountains quake at HIM – and the hills melt
and the earth is burned at HIS presence – yea
the world and all that dwell therein
Question regarding LORD’S anger verse 6
WHO can stand before HIS indignation?
WHO can abide in the fierceness of HIS anger?
HIS fury is poured out like fire
and the rocks are thrown down by HIM
Spcial relationship between LORD and believers verse 7- 8
The LORD is good – a stronghold in the day of trouble
and HE knows them that trust in HIM
BUT with an overrunning flood
HE will make an utter end of the place thereof
and darkness shall pursue HIS enemies
Dealing with enemies of the LORD verse 9- 11
WHAT do you imagine against the LORD?
HE will make an utter end
affliction shall not rise up the second time
FOR while they be folded together as thorns
and while they are drunken as drunkards
they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry
There is one come out of you
that imagines evil against the LORD
a wicked counselor
LORD is going to deal with Assyrians verse 12- 14
Thus says the LORD
Though they be quiet and likewise many
YET thus shall they be cut down
when HE shall pass through
Though I have afflicted you – I will afflict you no more
FOR now will I break his yoke from off you
and will burst your bonds in sunder
AND the LORD has given a commandment concerning you
that no more of your name be sown
out of the house of your gods will I cut off the
graven image and the molten image
I will make your grave
for you are vile
Massagers of peace for Israel verse 15
BEHOLD upon the mountains the feet of him
that brings good tidings
that publish peace
O Judah – keep the solemn feasts – perform your vows
FOR the wicked shall no more pass through you
he is utterly cut off
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (5352 “acquit” [naqah] means to leave unpunished, to hold innocent, to pardon, declare exempt from punishment, or forgive.)
DEVOTION: There are two major false teaching given in the name of religion. The first one is that everyone is going to heaven. The LORD is a loving God will never send anyone to the lake of fire. This is a teaching from the pit of hell. The second is just as bad. Some will teach that because God is a loving God HE will never punish anyone for eternity, instead HE will just end their existence as HIS final judgment.
The problem with these two false teachings is the fact that Matthew 25: 46, states that those who are not believers will “go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” If there is eternal life and eternal punishment each will last the same amount of time. So we have individuals going in both directions.
The majority are taking the wrong road or gate (Matthew 7: 13) that leads to destruction or hell. The narrow gate leads to life and there are only a few that find it.
God will not pardon those who will not become followers of the LORD. HE will not pardon those who abuse HIS people. This is true in the Old Testament as well as the New.
Remember HE is the one who will avenge our enemies. We do not have to. Our responsibility is to pray for our enemies. We are to treat them better than they treat us.
CHALLENGE: God waited for another generation to punish in Nineveh because the previous one repented under the ministry of Jonah. God is slow to anger. Don’t take advantage of this characteristic of God in your life.
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7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him. (4581 “stronghold” [ma’owz] means place or means of safety, protection, refuge, harbor, fortress or fastness.
DEVOTION: We sing a song called “A mighty fortress is our God” in our churches. Some people sing it with all their heart while others might just stand and wait for the song to end. Singing is important to our faith. We are commanded to make a joyful noise unto the LORD. The children of Israel sang on their way to the Temple. It was not a small group but a large group of singers. When they were faithful to the LORD there was joy in their heart. When we sing is there joy in our heart. Do we understand that the LORD is the one who provides our strength to fight the wiles of the devil.
Here we find that Nahum is making a statement regarding the LORD. The book is a judgment on the nation of Assyria. The capital is Nineveh. Nahum starts out by telling the people of Nineveh how great a God the LORD is. HE is a jealous God. HE is a God who is slow to anger. The people of Nineveh repented under the ministry of Jonah. Now years later Nahum comes to tell them their time is up.
However, he also tells the children of Israel that the LORD is good. He informs them that the LORD is a refuge in a time of trouble. He doesn’t say that there will be no trouble or affliction in the lives of the children of Israel. He does them that the LORD is there to help them in the times of trouble, if they will depend on HIM.
The LORD knows those that believe in HIM. The LORD knows those who don’t believe in HIM. There is no middle ground with the LORD. We are in one camp or the other.
If we are in the LORD’S camp, we need to depend on HIM completely in our times of trouble. Are we trying to get ourselves out of trouble? Are we being successful? The LORD wants us to turn to HIM on a daily basis for HIS help. Just do it!!!
CHALLENGE: We need to learn to rest in the LORD. We need to relax in the palm of HIS hand. HE is our safe harbor!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 There is one come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. (2803 “imagines” [chashab] means to plan secretly, to weave, to think, devise, to invent, or reckon)
DEVOTION: Most of us have seen the comics that have a devil on one shoulder of an individual and an angel on the other side of the same individual. The two are fighting for control over the individual. The devil wants the individual to do something wrong. The angel is informing him that it is the wrong way to handle the situation.
We can have friends that do the same thing to us. Some friends want us to do things that we know are wrong because the Bible tells us they are wrong. Even some parents might teach their children to do things that are wrong.
However, there are usually enough people around who will teach children to do what is right in most situations. They need to listen to good instructions.
There are people called “counselors” who have degrees from colleges that are not teaching what is right according to the Bible. These are the wicked counselors that this verse is warning those who are supposed to follow the LORD concerning. Our goal should always be to find people who will help us understand what the LORD wants us to do in a given circumstance. Then we can do it with confidence that we are pleasing the LORD.
Those who plot evil against the LORD will face HIM in judgment someday. They will have their days on this earth that it seems they are getting away with their evil counsel but the LORD will hold them accountable.
CHALLENGE: We are going to be held accountable for the advice we give others – so we need to continually search the Scriptures for the right advice to give others. We need to follow the advice also.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 Behold on the mountains the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows, for the wicked shall no more pass through you, he is utterly cut off. (8085 “publishes” [shama] means to proclaim something, to cause to hear, utter a sound, to announce, or bring word.)
DEVOTION: We are to be peacemakers. We are to be those who proclaim good tidings to all those we meet. What are the good tidings?
In this passage we find that Nahum was giving the children of Israel a message of hope from the LORD. Their captivity was going to end. They were going to be able to celebrate their solemn feasts that the LORD gave the Israelites instructions regarding in the wilderness. There were three main feasts that they were to celebrate each year. They were to come to Jerusalem to celebrate. There were special songs that were to be sung on these occasions. God had it all planned.
They were going to be able to keep their promises they made to the LORD if HE ever gave them freedom to come back to Jerusalem.
Part of the good tidings was that the enemy was never going to give them trouble anymore. The LORD was going to deal with them. HE was going to give them peace and their enemies judgment.
Today we have a message of peace to share with people we meet. It is the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is called the Gospel. It is the Good News.
The gospel allows the LORD to be at peace with all those who become followers of the LORD. The relationship that was broken is now mended. There is no division between those who have the LORD in their heart and the LORD.
CHALLENGE: That should put a smile on our face that we can have the peace of God which passes all understanding.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Keep solemn feasts verse 15
Perform vows verse 15
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandment verse 14
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 14
Revenge verse 2
Angry verse 2, 6
Takes vengeance on HIS adversaries verse 2
Reserves wrath for HIS enemies verse 2
Slow to anger verse 3
Great in power verse 3
Not acquit the wicked verse 3
Controls nature verse 3- 6
Good verse 7
Stronghold in day of trouble verse 7
Omniscience verse 7
Break yoke & Burst bonds verse 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural Name) verse 2
Jealous verse 2
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nineveh verse 1
Bashan verse 4
Carmel verse 4
Lebanon verse 4
Wicked cut off verse 15
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Adversaries verse 2
Enemies of LORD verse 2, 8
Wicked verse 3, 11, 15
Imagine against the LORD verse 9, 11
Drunkards verse 10
Evil verse 11
Wicked counselor verse 11
False gods verse 14
Graven image/molten image verse 14
Vile verse 14
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Stronghold verse 7
Trust verse 7
Afflicted verse 12
Good tidings verse 15
Publish peace verse 15
Keep solemn feasts verse 15
Perform vows verse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Nahum the Elkoshite verse 1
Judah verse 15
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
1:11 The prophet addressed the oppressor: “From you has gone out one devising evil.” The NIV again identifies the one devising evil as Nineveh, even though the Hebrew omits any such identification. Others interpret this to refer to the Assyrian king Sennacherib (705–681 b.c.), who moved against Jerusalem in 701 b.c. when Hezekiah reigned over Judah (2 Kgs 18:13–19:37).
The prophet considered action against Jerusalem as against the Lord himself. Those who make themselves the enemies of God’s people become the enemies of the Lord. This is why our actions toward the needy and oppressed are so important. Selfish actions that take advantage of the weak are a direct attack on the Lord of history. When we devise wicked schemes because it is in our power to do so, we oppose God himself.
The words translated “counsels wickedness” are found in several places in the Old Testament. As Patterson notes: “ ‘One who counsels wickedness’ stands in stark contrast to the coming Messiah, who will be a ‘wonder of a counselor’ (Isa 9:6).” In some places the KJV transliterates the word for “wickedness” (bĕlîyāʿal) as “Belial.” The sons of Eli were “sons of Belial,” a phrase emphasizing their wickedness or worthlessness (1 Sam 2:12). Two “sons of Belial” carried out Jezebel’s wicked plan to murder Naboth and to defraud him of his vineyard (2 Kgs 21:10). Later the phrase came to be associated with the wickedness of Satan (2 Cor 6:15). “The context in Scripture for the usage of the term points consistently to a person who is depraved, despicable.”121 Usually this is taken as a reference to Sennacherib, but Robertson is correct in seeing Nahum’s usage as broader: “All those wicked kings and leaders of the enemies of God’s people who have come forth from Assyria manifest the characteristics of that brutal figure.”123 As Achtemeier says, “It certainly is the title which Nahum gives to evil incarnate in the form of Assyria.” (Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20, pp. 182–183). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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11 The enemy is again defined as one who “plots” (ḥāšaḇ) against the Lord, being specified further as a distinct individual from whom the rebellion emanates; such an individual is identified clearly in 3:18 as the “king of Assyria.” The ruler envisaged here emerged from Nineveh in his opposition to the Lord (“from you”: feminine singular), an opposition directed against the visible manifestation of God’s rule in Jerusalem, the city of the Great King (Ps 48:1–3), and in the Davidic monarchy (cf. Ps 2). Sennacherib, perhaps more than any of his dynasty, stands out as the most powerful aggressor to emerge from Nineveh against Judah. According to the Assyrian annals describing his Judean campaign (c. 701), he cruelly devastated forty-seven fortified cities including Lachish, whose siege is graphically recorded in a series of reliefs discovered in his palace at Nineveh (cf. 2 Kings 18:13; 19:8; cf. ANEP, pp. 371–74). That Nahum was referring primarily to Sennacherib’s invasion is supported by his repeated reminiscences of Isaiah’s prophecies relating to that era (see above); in particular, the verb “plots” recalls its description of Assyrian arrogance in Isaiah 10:7 (“has in mind” [ḥāšaḇ]).
The intent of this plotting is “wickedness” (belîyaʿal; cf. also v.15), a noun often translated as “worthlessness” (KJV, “Belial”) and implying a total lack of moral fiber and principle (e.g., Deut 13:13, et al.; cf. TWOT, 1:111). This term is translated as “lawlessness” in the LXX and as such became a fitting title in the intertestamental period for Satan, the father of lies and lawlessness (i.e., Belial; cf. John 8:44; 2 Cor 6:15; 2 Thess 2:3; 1 John 3:4–12). (Armerding, C. E. (1986). Nahum. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 466). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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1:10–11. Nineveh’s being entangled among thorns has been interpreted in various ways: (a) the thorns symbolize wicked enemies, as in Ezekiel 2:6, but this does not fit; (b) the thorns (i.e., thornbushes) refer to the habitat of lions, but nothing in the text suggests this; (c) the entanglement of thorns refers to the confusion of the Ninevites when they were attacked in 612 b.c. This third view is preferable. This confusion, because of their drunkenness, resulted in complete disaster: the people were consumed quickly and fully like the burning of dry stubble (cf. Isa. 10:12, 17). A wordplay is suggested by the similarity in sound between the Hebrew words for “entangled” (seḇūḵîm) and “drunk” (seḇû’îm). The one who was plotting evil (i.e., calamity) against the Lord (Nahum 1:11; cf. v. 9) was an Assyrian king (Sennacherib or someone after him). Wickedness translates beliyya‘al, “worthlessness” (trans. “wicked” in v. 15). His plans were both worthless and wicked (cf. Job 34:18). In 2 Samuel 16:7 and Proverbs 16:27 the word is rendered “scoundrel.” (Johnson, E. E. (1985). Nahum. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1498–1499). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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God speaks to Nineveh (Nahum 1:9–11, 14). He informs the leaders of Assyria that He knows their plots (vv. 9, 11) and will cause all of their plans to fail. When the proud nations plot against God, He laughs at them and turns their schemes into confusion (Ps. 2:1–4). The Assyrians had plotted against Judah in the days of King Hezekiah, and God thwarted their plans (Isa. 36–37), but the Lord wouldn’t allow this to happen a second time. Instead of marching out triumphantly, the leaders would be like drunks entangled in thorn bushes, and stubble burned in a prairie fire (Nahum 1:10).
The plotter mentioned in verse 11 is the king of Assyria, and God addresses him in verse 14, making three declarations: (1) his dynasty will end, because he will have no descendants; (2) the help of his gods and goddesses will end, because they will be destroyed; and (3) his life will end, because God will prepare his grave. What a solemn message for a man who was sure his plans would succeed! Why would God do all these things? The answer is plain: “You are vile!”
God speaks to Judah (Nahum 1:12–13, 15). Although the Assyrian army outnumbered the army of Judah, and Assyria had more allies to help them fight, that didn’t mean Assyria was bound to win, for God was fighting on behalf of Judah. Yes, the Lord had used Assyria to chasten Judah in the past, but that would not happen again. This time, God would break the yoke and remove the shackles that Assyria had put on Judah, and Assyria would attack them no more. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (pp. 100–101). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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1:11 wicked counselor. The phrase, lit. “counselor of Belial,” suggests Satanic influence on the leadership, identified as the king of Assyria (cf. 3:18). Specific reference could be to Ashurbanipal (669–633 b.c.) or more likely to Sennacherib (705–681 b.c.), who invaded Judah in 701 b.c. and of whom Isaiah speaks in similar language (Is 10:7). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Na 1:11). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 11. There is one come out of thee, &c.] That is, out of Nineveh, as the Targum explains it; meaning Sennacherib, who had his royal seat and palace there; or Rabshakeh, that was sent from hence by him with a railing and blaspheming letter to the king of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is said to be at the present time of writing this prophecy, though it was after it, because of the certainty of it, as is usual in prophetic language; unless it can be thought that this prophecy was delivered out exactly at the time when Sennacherib had entered Judea, and was before the walls of Jerusalem; but not yet discomfited, as after predicted: that imagineth evil against the Lord; against the people of the Lord, as the Targum; formed a scheme to invade the land of Judea, take the fenced cities thereof, and seize upon Jerusalem the metropolis of the nation, and carry the king, princes, and all the people captive, as Salmaneser his father had carried away the ten tribes: a wicked counsellor; or, a counsellor of Belial; who, by Rabshakeh, advised Israel not to regard their king, nor trust in their God, but surrender themselves up to him, 2 Kings 18:29, 30, 31. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 598). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
God sends a message of hope and restoration to Israel
INSIGHT
Through the prophets, God has been warning Judah for many years to turn from idolatry to serve Him only. Finally, her sin has compounded to the point that judgment is no longer avoidable if God is to be true to His Word. But although destruction overtakes Judah, there is hope on the horizon. Jeremiah writes: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (vv. 22-23). (Quiet Walk)
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GOD’S OMNISCIENCE
Great is our LORD, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5
Another of God’s great attributes is His omniscience. God knows all things, and His knowledge is always absolute knowledge. It is perfect knowledge, a complete knowledge of everything.
There are very many statements of this, of course, in the Scriptures. Take, for instance, Psalm 147:5: “His understanding is infinite.” Then in Proverbs 15:3 we read, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
The Bible tells us quite a lot in detail about this knowledge, this omniscience of God. For instance, it tells us about God’s knowledge of nature: “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names” (Psalm 147:4). But let me give you another example. Do you remember those tender words of our Lord in which He tells us that not a single sparrow falls to the ground without our Father’s knowing it (Matthew 10:29)? Everything in the realm of nature is known by God. It is quite inconceivable to us, but the Bible asserts this is true of God. Look up into the heavens on a starry night and see all that multiplicity of stars. He knows them, every one, and He has a name for every one. There is nothing in creation but that God knows it in that intimate and personal sense.
But we are obviously more interested in God’s knowledge of us and of our human experience. Psalm 139 is very eloquent here. The psalmist says, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off” (verse 2). My very thought! He knows all about me. “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways” (verse 3). Indeed, he goes further in verse 4 and says, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” What an exact and detailed knowledge God has of us!
A Thought to Ponder: God knows all things, and His knowledge is always absolute knowledge. (From God the Father, God the Son, p. 63, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Be Truly Converted
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
To be “converted” can mean many things. The Greek word simply means to “turn” or “change directions.” Christian conversion, however, refers to turning away from the whole world system and turning to God through Christ. Similarly, to “repent,” in the Greek, means essentially to “think differently” and, in a Christian context, to change one’s whole thought process from worldly reasoning to spiritual, as centered in Christ and the Scriptures. Genuine Christian repentance and conversion result in having one’s “sins . . . blotted out” and thus true “times of refreshing” from the Lord.
But without real repentance and conversion, there is no salvation. Jesus said: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5), and He also said: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
There are, sad to say, multitudes of men and women who think they are Christians but are not. This is evidenced by the lack of real change in their thinking and living from the beliefs and practices of the world. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christ Himself has warned that “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, . . . And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). Therefore, it behooves all who profess Christ to seriously review their personal belief and behavior in terms of their conformity to the world of men or to the Word of God. As Paul exhorted: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Lord, make me a better wife (and start with him)
God, if you would just make him be a better husband, I will be a better wife.
I’m ashamed to admit I uttered these words often during the first couple of years of marriage. I was all about praying for my new husband. I knew that’s what a good wife should do. I just went about it the wrong way.
I’ve also given God a list of ways my husband could be a better spouse. Not in any particular order, of course. I just knew our marriage could thrive, as long as he did xyz. The problem with this line of thinking is it shifts all responsibility and blame for the problems in our marriage to my spouse.
And it uses prayer as a selfish attempt to control my spouse. Thankfully, God sees past my selfish ambition and works to change me.
Philippians 2:3 tells me to “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
I doubt I’ll ever completely be able to pray without selfishness—my own agendas, my own sin—clouding my vision. (Thankfully, I believe the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf, praying God’s will for me; see Romans 8:26-27.)
But rather than praying from a heart that blames my husband, I’ve started looking for the “log in my eye” in my prayers (Matthew 7:5)—allowing God to first reveal my own heart. Then I see a lot more clearly to pray for my man.
Here are a few specific areas he could use your prayers.
The good stuff: And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
Action points: We often think we know what’s best for our spouse. Instead, humbly ask your spouse how you can pray for them—and prayerfully seek God’s desires for your spouse. Take time for spouse-related gratitude as you pray for them. (Family Life)
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Prayerlessness doesn’t simply make us weak or handicapped so that our ministry is difficult. Lack of prayer paralyzes us so that we’re not able to do anything that will produce lasting fruit to the glory of God. (p. 84)
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When we share the Word, it’s like bring light in the darkness (Ps. 119:130; II Cor. 4:6, planting seed (Luke 8:11, cleansing with pure water (John 15:3; Eph. 5: 26), dispensing healing medicine (Ps. 107:20), serving nourishing food (Matt. 4”4; I Cor. 3: 1-3; I Peter 2:2, wielding a powerful sword (Eph. 6:17; Geb, 4L12), and investing spiritual wealth (II Tim. 2:2). (p. 84)
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The most important part of your life is the part that only God sees, so let’s start with your personal devotional time with the Lord – that daily discipline of meditation, examination, and intercession that is absolutely essential to Christian service. (p. 85)
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The pastor comes to his scheduled devotional time, not as a preacher looking for ideas to share with others, but as a common sinner needing God’s grace for himself, a submissive servant listening for God’s will, a hungry worshiper seeking God’s face. In the holy of holies, all of us are amateurs and there’s no room for professionals. God isn’t impressed with our credentials. If during our meditation, the Spirit does give us an idea for a sermon we should quickly jot it down and then immediately return to communing with God because that’s why we we’re there. (p. 85-86)
(10 Power Principles for Christian Service by Warren W. &David W. Wiersbe)
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