Episode 11 Psalm 19: Hearing God’s Voice in Creation and His Word

Season 6, Episode 12: Johnthe Baptist – The Voice in the WildernessKey Verse: John 1:23 – “Iam the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for theLord.’Welcome back to TheProphet Series! In our last episode, we reflected on Malachi’s call forfaithfulness and spiritual renewal and how it pointed toward the coming of theMessiah.  Today, we conclude ourseason by exploring the life and ministry of John the Baptist, the finalprophet before the arrival of Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist was apowerful and uncompromising voice, calling people to repentance and preparingtheir hearts to receive the Savior. His life and message teach us theimportance of humility, boldness, and a heart fully surrendered to God’spurpose.  Let’s dive into the storyof John the Baptist and discover how we, too, can prepare the way for the Lordin our lives and the world around us.John the Baptist’s birthwas miraculous. The angel Gabriel announced it to his parents, Zechariah andElizabeth, who were both advanced in age and childless.  From the beginning, it wasclear that John had a unique calling. Gabriel declared:“He will go on before theLord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents totheir children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make readya people prepared for the Lord.” – Luke 1:17  John grew up in thewilderness, living a simple devotion to God. When he began his ministry, hismessage was clear and direct: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has comenear.” – Matthew 3:2  Crowds came to hear Johnpreach and be baptized in the Jordan River as a sign of repentance. John’sboldness often put him at odds with religious leaders, and he was ultimatelyimprisoned and executed for speaking out against King Herod. Yet, John’s unwaveringfaith and humility made him a powerful example of what it means to serve Godwholeheartedly.

27 Juli 7min

Welcome back to The Prophet Series! In our last episode, weexplored Elisha’s ministry and how God works through faith and miracles toprovide and restore. Today, we turn to Malachi, the last prophet of the OldTestament, whose message is both a warning and an invitation to return to God. Malachi lived at a time when the people of Israel had growncomplacent in their faith. Their worship had become routine, their offeringswere half-hearted, and they had lost sight of God’s covenant. Malachi’sprophetic words called the people to renew their faithfulness and prepare forthe coming of the Lord.His message speaks powerfully to us today, reminding usthat God desires wholehearted devotion and promises to draw near when we turnto Him. Let’s dive into Malachi’s story and uncover what it means to return toGod with all our hearts.  Malachi’s ministry occurred during the post-exilic period,around 450–430 B.C., after the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity.The temple had been rebuilt, but the people’s spiritual fervor had waned.The community faced challenges, including economic hardshipand discouragement over unfulfilled messianic expectations.  In response, the people began neglecting God’s commands.Priests offered blemished sacrifices, the people withheld tithes, and marriageswith pagan nations led to spiritual compromise. Malachi, whose name means “my messenger,” was called toconfront these issues. His prophetic message was direct, addressing the priestsand the people and calling them to honor their covenant with God.  The book of Malachi is short but rich in its structure. Itconsists of six disputes between God and His people. These disputes follow aquestion-and-answer format: God makes an assertion, the people respond withskepticism, and God provides evidence.

19 Juni 6min

Welcome back to The Prophet Series! In our last episode, wreflected on Micah’s call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.Today, we turn to Elijah, one of the most extraordinary prophets in the Bible.  Elijah’s story is filled with dramatic moments: fire fromheaven, miraculous provisions, and bold confrontations with kings and falseprophets. But one of the most profound lessons from Elijah’s life comes in amoment of stillness—a moment when God speaks, not in the wind, fire, orearthquake, but in a gentle whisper.  Elijah’s journey reminds us that while God often works inpowerful, visible ways, He also meets us in quiet, personal spaces. Let’s diveinto Elijah’s story and discover how we, too, can encounter God in thestillness.  Elijah was a prophet during a time of spiritual decline inIsrael. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had led the nation into idolatry,worshiping Baal and turning away from the true God.  Elijah’s ministry was marked by boldness and miracles. Hedeclared a three-year drought, challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel,and called down fire from heaven to prove that the Lord was God. These dramaticevents demonstrated God’s power and sovereignty.  But Elijah’s journey wasn’t without struggle. After hisvictory on Mount Carmel, Jezebel threatened his life, and Elijah fled into thewilderness, overwhelmed with fear and despair. During this time of deepvulnerability, Elijah had a transformative encounter with God.

3 Juni 6min

Key Verse: Micah 6:8 – “He has shownyou, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To actjustly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Welcome back to The Prophet Series!Last time, we explored Jonah’s journey as the reluctant prophet and God’scompassion for all people. Today, we turn to the prophet Micah, whose messageis challenging and inspiring.  Micah lived in a time of greatinjustice, where corruption, greed, and exploitation were rampant. God calledhim to speak out against these wrongs and remind His people of what trulymatters: justice, mercy, and humility before God.  Micah’s words are as relevant today asthey were centuries ago. His call to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly”invites us to align our lives with God’s heart in a world often marked bydivision and self-interest.Let’s dive into Micah’s story andexplore what it means to live out these powerful principles.  Micah was a prophet from the smalltown of Moresheth in Judah, located southwest of Jerusalem. His ministry tookplace during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, a time of significantpolitical and social upheaval.  While the wealthy elite in both Israeland Judah lived in luxury, the poor were often oppressed and exploited. Leaderswere corrupt, and even religious practices had become hollow and hypocritical.  Micah was deeply disturbed by theinjustice he witnessed. His prophecies denounced the sins of the people,particularly those in positions of power. Yet, his message wasn’t just aboutjudgment—it also contained a beautiful vision of hope and restoration,including the famous prophecy of the Messiah’s birthplace in Bethlehem (Micah5:2).  Micah’s words challenge us to examinehow we live and whether our actions reflect God’s priorities.

12 Maj 7min

Theme: God’s compassionfor all people, even our enemies.Key Verse: Jonah 4:2 – “Iknew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and aboundingin love, a God who relents from sending calamity.Welcome back to TheProphet Series! In our last episode, we explored Amos’s powerful call forjustice and righteousness. Today, we turn to the story of Jonah, a uniqueprophet for his reluctance to follow God’s call.Jonah’s story isn’t justabout a prophet running away; it’s about God’s compassion—a love that extendsto everyone, even those we might consider undeserving. Jonah struggled toaccept this, just as we sometimes struggle to show others grace and forgiveness.As we explore Jonah’sjourney, we’ll discover lessons about obedience, humility, and God’s boundlessmercy. Let’s dive in.Jonah’s story begins witha clear command from God:“Go to the great city ofNineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” –Jonah 1:2Nineveh was the capital ofAssyria, a powerful and brutal empire known for its violence and oppression.Jonah didn’t want to go—not because he was afraid, but because he didn’t wantGod to show mercy to the Ninevites.Instead of obeying, Jonahboarded a ship to Tarshish, fleeing in the opposite direction. But God pursuedhim. A great storm arose, and Jonah, knowing he was the cause, told the sailorsto throw him overboard to save themselves.Jonah was swallowed by agreat fish and spent three days and three nights there. In the belly of thefish, Jonah prayed, acknowledging God’s mercy and committing to obey Him. Thefish then vomited Jonah onto dry land, and he finally went to Nineveh to deliverGod’s message.

28 Apr 6min

Welcome back to The Prophet Series! In our last episode, wereflected on Hosea's powerful story of love and forgiveness. Today, we shiftour focus to Amos, a prophet whose message challenges us to examine our heartsand actions, particularly in pursuing justice and righteousness.  Amos was an ordinary man called by God to deliver anextraordinary message. He spoke out against his time's injustice, corruption,and complacency, reminding the people that true worship of God must beaccompanied by justice and care for the vulnerable.  Amos's words are as relevant today as they were centuriesago. His call to "let justice roll like a river" invites us toreflect on how we live out our faith in a world that desperately needs God'sjustice and righteousness.Let's dive into the life of Amos and explore how hismessage challenges and inspires us today.  Amos was a shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa, a small townin the southern kingdom of Judah. He wasn't a professional prophet or priest,yet God called him to deliver a powerful message to the northern kingdom ofIsrael.  During Amos's time, Israel was experiencing politicalstability and economic prosperity under King Jeroboam II. But beneath thesurface, society was deeply corrupt. The wealthy exploited the poor, justicewas perverted, and religious rituals had become empty and hypocritical. Amos boldly confronted these issues, proclaiming that Godwould not tolerate such injustice. His message was uncompromising: repentanceand righteousness were the only paths to avoid God's judgment.  Amos's background as a farmer reminds us that God can useanyone to speak His truth. You don't have to hold a position of power orinfluence—your willingness to be faithful to God's call matters.

20 Apr 7min

Key Verse: Hosea 2:19 – “I willbetroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, inlove and compassion.Welcome back to The Prophet Series! We explored Daniel’scourage and unwavering faith in the lion’s den in the last episode. Today, weturn to the story of Hosea, a prophet whose life was a living parable of God’sunrelenting love and forgiveness. Hosea’s ministry stands out because God asked him to do somethingextraordinary—deeply personal and painful. His marriage symbolized God’srelationship with His people, Israel. Through Hosea, we see the heart of a Godwho remains faithful even when His people are unfaithful.Let’s dive into Hosea’s story and discover what it teachesus about God’s love and how it transforms our lives.Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israelduring a time of prosperity and deep moral and spiritual corruption. The peoplehad turned away from God, worshiping idols and engaging in practices that broketheir covenant with Him.In this context, God called Hosea to deliver a message ofjudgment and hope. But instead of simply speaking the message, God asked Hoseato live it out in a profoundly personal way.God instructed Hosea to marry Gomer, a woman who would beunfaithful to him. Their relationship mirrored Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.Just as Gomer repeatedly betrayed Hosea, the Israelites had turned away fromGod to pursue idols.Hosea’s marriage was a painful and challenging calling.Still, it became a powerful illustration of God’s unwavering love for Hispeople—a love that seeks to restore even the most broken relationship

13 Apr 7min

Key Verse: Daniel 6:22 – “My God sent his angel, andhe shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me because I was foundinnocent in his sight.”Welcome back to The Prophet Series! Inthe last episode, we explored Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones anddiscovered God’s power to bring life to hopeless situations. Today, we focus on Daniel, aprophet whose life exemplified courage and unwavering faith. Daniel is bestknown for surviving a night in a den of lions, but his story is much more thana miraculous rescue.Daniel lived as a faithfulservant of God in a foreign land, navigating a culture that often opposed hisbeliefs. His courage, prayer life, and trust in God offer us timeless lessons.Let’s explore Daniel’s storyand how we can stand firm in faith, even under pressure.  Daniel’s story begins in Daniel 1 when he, alongwith other young Israelites, was taken captive by the Babylonians. KingNebuchadnezzar brought them to Babylon to serve in his court, hoping toassimilate them into Babylonian culture.  Despite being far from homeand under immense pressure, Daniel resolved to remain faithful to God. In hisearly years, he refused to eat the king’s food, instead following God’s dietarylaws. His faithfulness was rewarded, as God gave him wisdom, understanding, andfavor.Daniel’s ability to interpretdreams and visions brought him to a position of influence under several kings,including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus. Yet, despite his highstatus, Daniel remained humble and committed to God.

8 Apr 7min