Month: March 2019

Remembering God’s Blessings

The closing chapters of Leviticus
contain a variety of instructions
for Israel when the people occupy
the Promised Land. The land
must be given periodic rest during
the Sabbatical and Jubilee years.
The work of the Lord must be
faithfully supported by the tithes
of God’s people, and vows
must not be entered into lightly.
God promised to honour obedience
to His commands, and reward
disobedience with stern judgment.

Lord, we’ll Celebrate Your Blessings
as well as Heed Your Warnings:
You have six days each week for
work but the 7th day is Sabbath
day of rest, an official day of holy
assembly… You are not to do any
work; it is a Sabbath to the Lord.
In addition, these are the Lord’s
official days for holy assembly to
be celebrated each year (including)
Lord’s Passover (and) Festival of
the Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:2-6)
I will look favourably upon you
and multiplying your people. And
I will fulfil my covenant with you…
I will walk among you; I will be your
God, and you will be my people.
I’m the Lord your God who brought
you out of the land of Egypt so you
would no longer be their slaves.
But if you do not listen to me, and if
you break my covenant by treating
My regulations with contempt, and
refusing to obey My commands,
I will punish you (Lev 26:9-16).

Lord, you instituted time for Your
people for rest and refreshment
as well as to remember with thanks
-giving Yr deliverance & provision.
I celebrate the day when I came
to know You as Lord & Saviour.
I celebrate the 3 times when You
miraculously healed me. I celebrate
the wonderful people You have put
in my life, especially my spouse.
We celebrate Your goodness and
we’ll celebrate our life with U. Amen

Lord, we know that You want Your
people to prosper through their
following Your design for their life.
Holy Spirit,help us endure hardship
which can be quite overwhelming
for they are God’s teaching tool.
Help us see God’s purpose is to
help us live as he designed and
bring about spiritual growth in us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, Help us take on the beauty of
Your holiness as we spend time in
Your presence. We will remember
Your goodness by celebrating your
deliverance and our life with You.
HS, help us Heed Your Warnings
and see Your purpose of trial is
to help us live as you design and
to bring about growth in us; And
You have good plans for us. Amen

Being Changed by Holy God

God provides Israel with laws
governing personal conduct and
purity in relation to the family, the
community and society in general.
As obedience is His main concern,
He requires vialators be disciplined.
God’s strict guidelines for living
reflect His desire that His people
be holy for I the Lord am holy.
Privilege often carries with it
responsibility; and in the case of
Israel’s priests, the responsibilities
of serving a holy God become
quite demanding. The priests
must avoid defilement which
others might ordinarily experience.

Lord, we’ll Not Defile ourselves,we’ll
Not Bear Grudge but we’ll Be Holy:
According to the doings of the
land of Canaan, you shall not do;
nor shall u walk in their ordinances..
So you shall keep My ordinance,
so that you do not commit any of
these abominable customs; and
that you do Not Defile yourselves; I
am the Lord your God (Lev18:3-30)
Speak to all the congregation of
the children of Israel & say to them
You Shall Be Holy, for I the Lord
your God am holy… You shall not
take revenge Not Bear any Grudge
but you shall love your neighbour
as yourself: I’m the Lord (L19:2,18).

Holy Spirit, help us understand
that God forbids us to do certain
things because He wants to keep
us from self-destruction. And that
He commands us to do other acts
because He knows what we need
to flourish. Help us when drawn
to forbidden activity to remember
that it may lead to suffering and
separation from God. And when
a good act seems inconvenient or
unpleasant to remember that God
has the best plan for us. Amen.

Lord, I acknowledge that there
are hurts caused me by people.
But I do not want to hold on to
these or seek revenge. So I release
those who have hurt me to You.
I purpose not to seek repayment
through my coldness, or through
my words or through actions.
Rather I will seek to redeem this
relationship with wisdom and
with Your empowerment. Amen.

Lord, we worship Your greatness &
goodness and praise Your holiness.
Even as I worship You, may Your
holiness rub off on me. Help me
to take on the beauty of Your
holiness as I spend time in Your
presence. Enable me to become
a bit more like You so that Your
holiness will make me truly whole.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Thank God for Caring Disciples

Luke provides a full account of
the arrest, trial and crucifixion of
the Son of Man. He describes the
plot of Judas, the warm fellowship
of the Last Supper, the mental
anguish at Gethsemane, the tragic
denial by Peter, the miscarriage
of justice at the trials & the brutal
agony of the Roman execution.
But the dark days give way to
the first Easter morning when
angels announce: He’s risen.

Lord, we will be In Your Presence:
Then Jesus & the 12 apostles sat
together at the table. Jesus said:
I have looked forward to this hour
with Deep Longing, anxious to eat
this Passover Meal With You before
my suffering begins (Lk 22:14-15)
Simon Simon! Satan has asked
for you, that he may sift you as
wheat. But I have prayed that
your Faith May Not Fail. (v31-32).
(Jesus prayed): Father if you are
willing, please take this cup of
suffering away from me. Yet I
Want Your Will, not mine. (v41-42)

Lord Jesus, U have done so much
for us; yet sometimes we think
we have nothing to offer You.
The thought that You Long for my
friendship is quite overwhelming
for You have given so much and
I have given so little. I rejoice
that You want to be with me; and
I also love to be in Your presence.
Help me devote a portion of each
day to commune with You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, I pray my Faith Will
Not Fail when I am put to the test.
Help me to resist doubt and fear
so that my foundation will be
built solidly in Christ & therefore
will not crumble. Enable me to
be a person who can strengthen
the faith of others because
my Faith In You is so strong.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Jesus,Thank you for following
the Father’s wishes that night at
Gethsemane. Sometimes we need
to be reminded that we share in
your suffering just as we share in
your joy. Realise the road U choose
for me will not always be easy.
Help me remember that to love You
is to obey U. And help me Choose
the Father’s Will in my life. Amen.

Thank God for Seeking the Lost

It is now in the final week of Jesus’
earthly life. In the city of Jerusalem,
there’s excitement of the feast
days -some prepared to welcome
a King, while others prepare for
an execution. Jesus Himself draws
the battle lines by driving the
money-changers from the temple.
From then on, the religious leaders
double their efforts to trap Him.
Though His hour of anguish draws
near, Jesus continues the activities
that have characterised His
earthly ministry: teaching and
healing, confronting & consoling.

Lord, we will also Seek the Lost:
Then Zacchaeus said to the Lord:
Look, I give half of my goods to
the poor; and if I’ve taken anything
from anyone by false accusation, I
restore fourfold. Jesus responded:
Salvation has come to this home
today, for this man has shown
himself to be a son of Abraham.
And I the Son of Man, have come
to seek and save those like him
who are lost (Luke 19:8-10).
Some Pharisees among the crowd
said: Teacher, rebuke yr followers
for saying things like that! (Jesus)
replied:If they kept quiet,the stones
would burst into cheers (v39-40)

Lord, U reached out to Zacchaeus
even when others despised him.
Thank you for seeking and saving
those who are lost. Open our eyes
to even the despised that we might
see them and reach out. Help us
to look beneath the surface to the
person within, created in Yr image.
Help us have burden for the lost &
befriend those seeking You. Amen

Lord, Your love and salvation
know no barriers. And just like
Zacchaeus, I too am a sinner in
need of Your grace. Thank You
with all my heart that You came
to seek & save those who are lost.
Thank you for not only make my
past as though it had never been,
but also make me a new person.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your great
love for me. I praise You for faith
that is real and deep. I praise You
for your Holy Spirit and for the
Word that teaches and guides me.
I will not be quiet and keep my
love for You hidden. Just as Your
disciples called out your name,
I’ll praise U for I serve an amazing
and wonderful Saviour. Amen.

Thk God for Witnessing Authority

Seventy disciples are sent out
two-by-two with instructions to
heal the sick & say: The kingdom
of God is come nigh unto you.
Their enthusiastic return prompts
Jesus to rejoice in praise to God.
But confrontation is gathering.
Some attribute His miracles to
Satan; others clamour for more miracles and Pharisees attack His seeming disregard for traditions.
Jesus responds by denouncing the
religious leaders for their hypocrisy
and warns disciples to be watchful.

Lord, U Give Us Authority over Evil:
Then Jesus said: The harvest
is so great but the workers are
so few. Pray to the Lord who
is in charge of the harvest, and
ask him to send out more workers
for his fields. Go now (Lk 10:2-3).
Then the seventy returned with
joy saying: Lord, even the demons
are subject to us in Your name. And
He said: I saw Satan fall… Behold,
I give you the Authority to trample
on serpents and over all the power
of the enemy and nothing shall by
any means hurt you (v17-19). Amen

Lord, raise up and send out
labourers to every tribe and nation,
every people group & unreached.
Raise up missionaries, teachers,
doctors, businessmen & women
and musicians to share the
goodness of Jesus Christ and
to bring in a harvest of souls.
Help us to see that the harvest
is right before our eyes. Pour
out Your Spirit to enable your
people as the harvest waits. Amen

Lord, thank You that there is no
need to fear Satan; for You Jesus
had defeated him at the Cross.
By paying for the sins of the world,
You blocked Satan’s power
to induce guilt and hold Your
people under his accusations.
And by rising from the dead, You
broke Satan’s power over death.
We claim your promise to protect
us and help defeat Satan in our life.
No matter what part of our life
we think Satan has power over,
we trust God will defeat him
in that area as well. Amen.

Lord, help me to fully understand
the Authority You have given
me over the enemy of my soul.
Thank You Jesus that because
of what You accomplished on
the cross, the enemy is defeated.
Enable me to always recognise
the lies and deception of the evil
one and be able to stand strong on the truth of Your Word so that I can control his access to my life. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Thk God for Caring Those In Need

Rejection in His hometown of
Nazareth causes Jesus to shift to
Capernaum where He ministers
for two years. There Christ calls
12 men to be His companions. And
there by the shores of Galilee He
begin to prepare them for ministry
He will soon entrust to them.

Lord, You Care for the Needy:
Jesus said: Now go out where it is
deeper & let down your nets. Simon
answered: Master, we’ve worked
hard all night and haven’t caught
anything. But because you say so,
I will let down the nets. When they
had done so, they caught such
a large number of fish…Then
Jesus said to Simon: From now
on You will catch men (Lk 5:4-10)
Healthy people don’t need a doctor
– sick people do. I have come to
call sinners to turn from their sins,
not to spend my time with those
who think they are already good
enough (Luke 5:31-32). Amen.

Lord, let us learn from Simon Peter
where obedience to your voice
opens our lives to your miraculous
work and receive your blessing.
Open my ears Lord to hear Your
voice in my current circumstance.
Help me learn from the prophet
Samuel and say with him: Speak
for your servant is listening. Amen

Lord, we will join You in ministry
to further the kingdom of God.
Help us to befriend sinners,
and give us heart of compassion
for those hurting and lost in sin,
so that we can reach out to them
effectively in time of opening.
Help us readily receive Your Word,
apply it & be obedient to You. Amen

Lord, thank you for shedding light
to show me that I needed You the
Great Physician to heal my wound.
Thank You Lord for calling me to
repent and come to You and for
your tender mercies in my life.
Give me your heart for those who
are hurting, sick & lost in sin, just
as your heart reaches out to me
in my time of greatest need. Amen

Thank God for Nothing Impossible

Dr Luke – physician, historian
and writer of the longest gospel
account (1,151 verses) clearly
states his purpose for writing
in the opening verses of his book.
That thou might know the certainty
of those things, wherein thou hast
been instructed (1:4). He begins
with the details surrounding the
miraculous birth of two remarkable
boys: John the forerunner,
and Jesus the Messiah.

Lord, we Will Believe Your Word:
The angel said: Do Not Be Afraid,
Zacharias, for your prayer is heard;
your wife will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John…
But behold you will be mute until
the day these things take place
because u did not Believe my words
which will be fulfilled (Lk 1:13-20)
Lord, we Receive the Impossible:
The angel said: Behold you will
conceive in your womb and bring
forth a Son and shall call His name
Jesus… For with God nothing
will be impossible. Then Mary
said: Let It Be to me according
to Your Word (Luke 1:31-38).

Lord, even when things does
not make sense, remind me that
Your Word is the ultimate truth.
Even when my faith is weak
and hidden, your promises can
bring it to pass out of hiding.
And I embrace your promises,
even though they may seem
as impossible because You are
the God who can create new
things out of nothing. Amen.

Lord, there may be difficulties
in our lives that have lingered
far Too Long that they seems like
impossibilities. But when God is
involved, nothing is impossible.
For nothing is too difficult for Him;
& He prefers to work in impossible
situations where His attributes and
power are most visibly displayed.
Lord, help us not be discouraged
by the Long unyielding situations
in our lives. Help us endure the long
periods requiring faith & patience.
Help us to Wait and believe for nothing is impossible with U. Amen

Lord, help me not to focus on the
problem & be afraid like Zacharias
but instead to take courage
like Mary focusing solely on You.
I embrace your promises like
Mary and rest the weight of my
circumstance on your sure word.
Teach me to stop looking around
for answers to my situation, and
instead look up to You the Answer.
For after all You are the God of
the impossible and I rest in You.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Worshipping God thro Obedience

Israel’s tabernacle, the place of
communion with God thro sacrifice,
is entrusted to custody of Aaron
and his sons. God’s blessing –
made visible by His fiery presence
suddenly turns into a curse as
judgment falls on two of Aaron’s
disobedient sons. Worshiping a
holy God demands a holy people.
For this reason God gives Israel
a series of regulations dealing
with ceremonial uncleanness.
The Day of Atonement observed
each year was Israel’s most
important act of worship. On that
day, the high priest entered the
Holy of Holies with the blood
atonement which would cover the
sins of the nation for another year.

Father, we note the Instructions
in Leviticus showing how sinful
people can relate to a Holy God.
Help us avoid taking relationship
with You lightly; instead help us
Approach You with Deep Respect.
Help us never forget the great price
You paid for us to be forgiven.
Help us be Careful in Obeying You
Help us to be Holy like You are.
Help us Love You truly. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Take Care in Obeying U:
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took
their censors, put fire in them and
added incense; and they offered
unauthorised fire before the Lord,
contrary to his command. So fire
came out from the presence of the
Lord and consumed them, and they
died before the Lord. Moses then
said to Aaron: This is what the Lord
spoke of when he said: “Among
those who approach me, I will
show myself holy; in the sight of
all the people I will be honoured.”
Aaron remained silent (Lev 10:2-3).
Lord, it is easy to grow careless
about obeying God, and live our
way instead of God’s. Help us
never to be careless about Your
ways and Your Word. Help us
to obedience You correctly out of
deep respect for You God. Amen.

Lord, we want to be Holy like You:
I am the Lord your God. You must
consecrate yourselves & be holy
because I am holy…By these
instructions you will know what is
unclean and clean (Lev 11:44, 47)
Lord my God, because You are
holy, I want to live a life that is
consecrated to You. Help me
cooperate with You as You make
me more holy, one step at a time.
Lord, we are unclean and we want
your touch of deliverance so that
we will want not only to be clean
but out of gratitude yearn to be
holy and dwell in your righteous
presence forever. Amen and amen.

Lord Jesus we Love U for all U did:
Aaron shall lay both his hands on
the head of a live goat, confess
over it all the iniquities of the
children of Israel and all their
transgressions concerning their
sins, putting them on the head of
the goat. and shall send it away
into the wilderness. For on that day
the priest shall make atonement
for you, to cleanse you, that you
may be clean from all your sins
before the Lord (Lev 16:21-30).
Thank you Jesus for paying the
price for my sins so that I don’t
have to. Because of You I have
been reconciled to God. Help me
to extend to others the love and
forgiveness You’ve given to me.
Teach me ways to show gratitude
to You for all U have done. Amen.

Worshipping God thro Offering 

With the tabernacle completed,
God now gives Moses instructions
regarding five types of sacrifices
that would be offered in tabernacle.
Three sacrifices are for those in
fellowship with God. In the burnt
offering, the worshiper declared
his total commitment to God.
Through the meal offering, he
acknowledged that his material
possessions belonged to the Lord.
By the peace offering,the worshiper
publicly expressed thanks to God.
There are two sacrifices to restore
broken fellowship. The sin offering
covering sins of thoughtlessness
or neglect, teaches seriousness
of sin. The trespass offering
covering sins of injury to others,
provides for compensation to them.

Father, we note the Instructions
in Leviticus showing how sinful
people can relate to a Holy God.
Help us avoid taking relationship
with You lightly; instead help us
Approach You with Deep Respect.
Help us realise the importance of
bringing sins to U for forgiveness.
Help us note Cost of Forgiveness;
Always Be Deeply Thankful of U &
Contemplate Seriousness of sin.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we note Cost of Forgiveness:
If the offering is a burnt offering
from the herd, he is to offer a male
without defect. He must present it
at the entrance to the Tent of mtg
so that it will be acceptable to the
Lord. He is to lay his hand on the
head of the burnt offering, and it
will be accepted on his behalf to
make atonement for him (L1:3-4).
The purpose for burnt offering
was payment for sins in general.
Dear Lord, help me to never forget
the great price You paid so that
I could be forgiven. I don’t want
to take for granted the sacrifice
You made in my behalf so that no
further sacrifice of life needs to
be made. Now the sacrifice I want
to make is one of thanksgiving and
praise to You for all that You have
done to set me free from the
consequence of my own sin.Amen.

Lord, we will Always Be Thankful:
If you present a peace offering to
the Lord, you may bring either
a goat or a sheep. It may be
either male or female and it must
have no physical defects… Lay
Your hand on its head & slaughter
it at the entrance of the Tabernacle
The sons of Aaron will then
sprinkle the sheep’s blood against
the sides of the altar (Lev 3:6-8).
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving
Yourself as an offering so that
I could be free! I confess that
I sometimes take my sin lightly
and forget what You suffered on
the cross. Help me to remember
Your sacrifice and not grieve You
with a forgetful heart. As I receive
the Father’s forgiveness through
Your offering of Yourself, I will
praise & thank U for the freedom
that forgiveness gives. Amen.

Lord, we will Be Serious over sin:
If the people sin by violating one
of the Lord’s commands, but they
don’t realise it, they are still guilty.
When they become aware of their
sin, they must bring as an offering
a female goat with no defects.
They must lay a hand on the
head of the sin offering and
slaughter it. The priest will burn
the fat on the altar… This is a sin
offering, making You right with
the Lord. (Lev 4:27-31 & 5:6).
Father, we realise sin offering was
meant to make payment for sins
of neglect or thoughtlessness.
Although we live in grace made
possible by the sacrifice of Yr Son,
we don’t want to take sin lightly.
HS, help us Be Serious over sin
so that our fellowship with God
be restored & unhindered. Amen.

Preview on Leviticus

Whilst the Holy Bible is largely
theological history, it is arranged
by types of writings: laws, history,
poetry, prophets, gospel & letters.
But we will meditate the Bible
chronologically to get a better
appreciation of the flow esp OT.

We start with Genesis which
enfolds God’s plan for his creation.
Then we meditated on Job who
lived during the time of Abraham
and learnt the sovereignty of God.
And for the last three weekends,
we meditated on Exodus where
Israel was redeemed from bondage
into a covenant relationship with
God & established as a holy nation.

Next, we proceed to perhaps the
most obscure book of Leviticus,
which shows how God’s people
are to fulfill their priestly calling.
Led out of slavery and into the
sanctuary of God, Israel must now
move from salvation into service &
from deliverance into dedication.
This move involves animal sacrifice
for the atonement of the people’s
sins and a series of strict laws
to govern all aspects of daily life,
worship and service to the Lord.

We’ll cover Leviticus over 2 week-
ends (this week worshipping a
Holy God & next Living a Holy Life)
in the following four divisions:-
L1-7: Offering of Praise & Restoratn
L8-17: Holiness for Priests & Pple
L18-22: Stds & Rules for Living
L23-27: Festivals & Blessings
Let’s meditate through Leviticus   and learn to Worship a holy God   and how to Live a holy Life. Amen.