LHC Midday Word

Friday, 1 July 2022

The Book of ZEPHANIAH - Chapter One

The Book of ZEPHANIAH

- Overview -

The Bible Project

1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

‘I will sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,’

declares the Lord.

‘I will sweep away both man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea –

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.’

‘When I destroy all mankind

on the face of the earth,’

declares the Lord,

‘I will stretch out my hand against Judah

and against all who live in Jerusalem.

I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,

the very names of the idolatrous priests –

those who bow down on the roofs

to worship the starry host,

those who bow down and swear by the Lord

and who also swear by Molek,

those who turn back from following the Lord

and neither seek the Lord nor enquire of him.’

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

he has consecrated those he has invited.

‘On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials

and the king’s sons

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,

who fill the temple of their gods

with violence and deceit.

‘On that day,’

declares the Lord,

‘a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,

wailing from the New Quarter,

and a loud crash from the hills.

Wail, you who live in the market district;

all your merchants will be wiped out,

all who trade with silver will be destroyed.

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps

and punish those who are complacent,

who are like wine left on its dregs,

who think, “The Lord will do nothing,

either good or bad.”

Their wealth will be plundered,

their houses demolished.

Though they build houses,

they will not live in them;

though they plant vineyards,

they will not drink the wine.’

The great day of the Lord is near –

near and coming quickly.

The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;

the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.

That day will be a day of wrath –

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of trouble and ruin,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and blackness –

a day of trumpet and battle cry

against the fortified cities

and against the corner towers.

‘I will bring such distress on all people

that they will grope about like those who are blind,

because they have sinned against the Lord.

Their blood will be poured out like dust

and their entrails like dung.

Neither their silver nor their gold

will be able to save them

on the day of the Lord’s wrath.’

In the fire of his jealousy

the whole earth will be consumed,

for he will make a sudden end

of all who live on the earth.

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READINGS

The Book of

ZEPHANIAH - Chapter 1

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW

The Book of ZEPHANIAH

- Overview -

The Bible Project

https://youtu.be/oFZknKPNvz8

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STUDY - LINKS

The Book of ZEPHANIAH

David Pawson

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JULY - READINGS

JULY - READINGS

from the New International Version (UK)

Thursday, 30 June 2022

The Second Letter of PAUL to the THESSALONIANS - Chapter Three

1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

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6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

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16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

2^nd Thessalonians 3: “honoured” (v.1)

What does Paul say a fellowship should do for the cause of Christ elsewhere, apart from in their own vicinity? He asks them to “pray” (v.1):

[A] it’s God’s business; we’re just ‘employees’ who are around to cooperate;

[B] “for us” his human emissaries and channels needing his help;

[C] “that the message of the Lord” be communicated in a clear and effective way;

[D] “may spread” widely and extensively;

[E] and “rapidly” because of the importance and urgency of the world’s need;

[F] “and be honoured” through a heartfelt acceptance of the word by many hearers in trusting faith. Amen!

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READINGS

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

Chapter Three

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

- Overview -

The Bible Project

2 Thessalonians "The Bible in 5"

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The Second Letter of Paul to the

THESSALONIANS

David Pawson

Part 1

Part 2

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Wednesday, 29 June 2022

The Second Letter of PAUL to the THESSALONIANS - Chapter Two

1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

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13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

2^nd Thessalonians 2: “concerning” (v.1)

Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians had got themselves into a present state about the future. As in the previous letter Paul reassures them “concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him” (v.1).

So he pleads for them “not to become easily … alarmed” (v.2). Why not? Because individuals were sowing “delusion” (v.11) via “some prophecy, report, or letter” (v.2), even those “supposed to have come from us.” Paul asserts ‘the end’ will be preceded by “the man of lawlessness” (v.3) appearing.

To use the ‘Dads Army’ catch-phrase, ‘don’t panic!’ God’s in control.

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READINGS

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

Chapter Two

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

- Overview -

The Bible Project

2 Thessalonians "The Bible in 5"

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The Second Letter of Paul to the

THESSALONIANS

David Pawson

Part 1

Part 2

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Tuesday, 28 June 2022

The Second Letter of PAUL to the THESSALONIANS - Chapter One

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

- Overview -

The Bible Project

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

2^nd Thessalonians 1: “from” (v.2)

This simple preposition is used 4 times, referring:

[A] once to Christ’s future return to earth (“when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven” v.7);

[B] twice to the future judgement of unbelievers (“shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” v.9);

[C] once to the source of blessings for believers (“grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” v.2).

N.B. the Middle Eastern greeting ‘shalom’ (‘peace’) is placed after the historic Christian one (‘grace’), since “grace” brings “peace” of heart and mind in its wake. Peace comes from grace.

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READINGS

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

Chapter One

Read by Sir David Suchet

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OVERVIEW

The Second Letter of PAUL to

The THESSALONIANS

- Overview -

The Bible Project

https://youtu.be/kbPBDKOn1cc

2 Thessalonians "The Bible in 5"

Tim Mackie (The Bible Project)

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STUDY - LINKS

The Second Letter of Paul to the

TESSALONIANS

David Pawson

Part 1

Part 2

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Monday, 27 June 2022

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ - Chapter Twenty Two

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

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6 The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’

7 ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.’

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!’

10 Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.’

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12 ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practise magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practises falsehood.

16 ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.’

17 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

20 He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen..

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Revelation 22: “take” (v.17)

The Bible describes the Fall in this way: “the woman saw … the fruit of the tree was … desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some” (Genesis 3 v.6).

Almost at the end of the Bible, instead of a broken rule, we now find the remedy: “whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (v.17). It is heaven’s permission and invitation to us, reiterated here, “the Spirit and the bride [i.e. all believers who truly love and belong to the Bridegroom] say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’”

If you aren’t sure you’re right with God, now’s the moment!

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Genesis 3 v.6 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

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READINGS

The REVELATION of Jesus christ

Chapter Twenty Two

Read by Sir David Suchet