Last week we closed our series on the Minor Prophets and resolved that Prophecy is unique among all the forms of future-telling. We defined prophecy as the departing of divine knowledge regarding future events. Unlike fortune-telling, this knowledge of future events comes directly from God rather than stars, cards or demons. Unlike foreknowledge, the outcome and provisions of the prophecy is set by God. Because prophecy is of God and not left open to interpretation of entrails or tea leaves or lines on one’s hands it is never wrong. In fact, as is commonly known, in the early days of Israel if someone claiming to be a prophet of God was ever wrong in one of their predictions they were put to death. The reason for such drastic punishment is clear, the self-proclaimed prophet was not speaking for God.

Read more: Messianic Prophecy, Part One

Last year during our study of Acts we summarized the meaning of many of the Feasts of the Lord. To refresh your memory, there are seven feasts God himself implemented in the book of Deuteronomy that the people of Israel were to celebrate every year. There are four feasts in the Spring and three in the Fall. All of the feasts have two distinguishing characteristics, they look back at a time God rescued the people of Israel (even before the nation existed) and look forward toward a prophecy about the Messiah. The prophecies found in the four Spring feasts were all fulfilled during Jesus’ first coming and were accomplished on the actual feast days, the last three will be realized in the same way. The first of the three Fall feasts is Rosh Hashanah, and it starts today (Sunday September 13, 2015) at sunset.

Read more: Rosh Hashanah

My junior year of college a fellow undergraduate running for student body president had “Unity” listed as part of his campaign platform. His oath was to unify the student body. During a debate one moderator asked the candidate, “How much unity does the student body have now? How do you intend to increase unity? And how do you measure unity so you know if you have accomplished your goal?” The candidate squirmed. Unity is a nice idea but is difficult to quantify.

Read more: Review: Unity

We should start by saying that the word “moderation” does not appear in the Bible, but the concept is taught throughout. The Greek words often translated as “moderation” are usually translated as “patient” or “gentle”. Patience, gentleness, sobriety, and even grace are all attributes that, in certain contexts, illustrate the modern notion of moderation. The words intend to illustrate an avoidance of excesses, self-restraint, or living within reasonable limits. All these ideas are befitting Kingdom royalty.

Read more: Kingdom Royalty - Moderation

It is my hope that you have enjoyed our survey of the Minor Prophets, and that you have discerned a theme about how God relates to his people and deals with those who cross them. Also, that God’s prophets rarely lived a life of luxury and convenience. The men (all the Minor Prophets are men, though some women have had the gift of prophecy throughout history) chosen to deliver God’s message needed a strong faith to be sure. Unless that prophet is Jonah, whom you will be able to read all about in the upcoming book that we’ll be publishing soon. But perhaps the most pressing point to learn is just how prophecy is differentiated from other forms of future knowledge.

Read more: What is Prophecy

Is the person you show to others who you really are?

How often do you break commitments?

How "sound" was your last tax return?

A casual perusal of Job 1.1-2.1 is enough to discover the central theme of the entire book. Notice the very first thing Satan attempts to get Job to do? Notice what it is that Satan tries to get Job to give up? So what is the story of Job really about? On all three counts the answer is identical: Integrity.

Read more: Throwback Thursday - Integrity

We closed yesterday with the observation that “Only an evil ruler looks to satisfying his own needs before the needs of his people and the future of his kingdom.” A good royal, on the other hand, has a zeal for the public welfare. The phrase “public welfare” is a loaded term today with mostly political ramifications, but in this case the term is much broader in its meaning. In the ancient kingdom of Israel the welfare of the people could entail building public roads, seaside docks and marketplaces. Lowering taxes, assuring the people had what they needed for the annual sacrifices, and the practice of gleaning were all used to assist the people. God even implemented a system of forgiveness of debts every seven years. The term “public welfare” applies to every facet of life, not simply free money from the government.

Read more: Kingdom Royalty - Zeal for the Public Welfare

The Bible makes it clear that we are children of God, which means we are all princes and princesses of the Kingdom of God. So why do most of us live like confused peasants? While God never promises us health and wealth, those things are often benefits of living wisely (though not always, see the prophet Amos as a great example).

Read more: Kingdom Royalty - Wisdom

SPECIAL REPORT
With all due respect to the President, the shooting yesterday was not a political statement so it does not require a political solution. Who cares how many guns the guy owned? He only needed one.

Read more: Special Report - Umpqua Shooting

A number of reader’s ask where all my information comes from, and how do I produce the materials on this site, and even how I produce the site. Today I thought I’d take some time to answer those questions.

Read more: What I Use

In our continuing study of the character of Kingdom royalty we come to Foresight. Not the ability to see the future or have a premonition, but the ability to take information and plan accordingly. In business it’s called vision, and in the Bible too: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29.18, KJV). Foresight, or vision, often leads one to clean direction as in 1 Chronicles 12.32: “From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” So foresight is the art of taking information, understanding the variables and leading in a clear direction.

Read more: Kingdom Royalty - Foresight

As Kingdom royalty we are required to have an understanding of Justice. In today’s world the term justice is usually perceived as a legal term that results in a fine, jail time or possibly even execution. In biblical terminology justice can mean those things, but is much broader in use and practice. Justice is a God-ordained action that upholds the well-being and equality of all people -- and this guiding principle applies to both external legal action as well as the internal attitude of one’s heart.

Read more: Kingdom Royalty - Justice