Month: November 2020

Live In Unity with Humility

Because God through Christ paid
our penalty for sin and forgave us,
we have been reconciled – brought
near to Him. We are a new society,
a new family. Being united with
Christ means we are t treat one
another as family members. As we
are one family in Christ, so there
should be no barriers, no divisions,
and no basis for discrimination.
We all belong to Him, so we should
live in harmony with one another.

Lord, Unite & Bind us together:
Be patient with each other, making
allowance for each other’s faults
because of Your love (Eph 4:2).
Make every effort to keep
yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together
with peace. For there is one body
and one Spirit, just as you have
been called to one glorious hope
for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and
one God & Father (Eph 4:3-6).
Let no corrupt word proceed out
of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification that it may
impart grace to the hearers (v29).

Lord God who searches hearts
and minds, help me accept human
imperfection in others and myself;
for we are all sinners in Your sight.
Help us to be more patient with
each other making allowance for
each other’s faults & weaknesses.
Help us to develop a right view
of others despite their annoying
faults, poor choices and non-
saintlike conduct. Help us to pray
for serenity to accept the things
that we could not change. Amen.

Lord, Help us keep unity of Spirit
in lowliness of heart and gentleness.
Let differences in our backgrounds,
experiences and personalities,
not divide us but instead enrich us.
Help us make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit; to treasure it,
to protect it and even promote it.
Bind us Lord together in love for
You made us one body & one spirit.
Teach us to appreciate and love one
another and live together in peace.
Lord blest the tie that binds! Amen.

Lord, may my heart and words
be full of encouragement and
may they give grace to others.
Work Your gentleness & patience
in me so that I won’t be so quick
to respond in ways that don’t
honour You. And may the words
of my mouth and the thoughts
of my heart be pleasing to You
O Lord, my rock & redeemer. Amen.

Be People of the Kingdom (Nov 22)

Backgrounder: Following Peter’s
confession of Jesus as the Christ,
the Son of the living God, Jesus
began to tell his disciples how he
must go unto Jerusalem & suffer
many things, and be killed and be raised again the third day (16:21).
After preparing His disciples for
the unexpected events, which will
soon takes place, Jesus begins
His final journey to Jerusalem.
Arriving to a hero’s welcome,
He is hailed as King & in the final
week of His earthly life sharing
the Community of the kingdom.

Dear Heavenly Father, You sent Your
Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior
who died to redeem and save us
and to be our Master and king.
And we Your people purpose to be
true Community of the kingdom.
Help us to Be Generous to others.
Help us to Be Gracious to others.
Help us to Be Humble & Authentic.
We ask Your grace to do above for
apart from You we can do nothing.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, we’ll have Generous spirit:
They began to grumble against
the landowner: These men who
were hired last worked only one
hour and you made them equal
to us who have borne the burden
of the work. But he answered:
Friend, I am not being unfair to u.
Didn’t you agree to work for a
denarius? Take your pay and go…
Don’t I have the right to do
what I want with my own money?
Or are you envious because
I am generous? (Matt 20:8-16).
Lord, we realise the kingdom of
God is all about Your Generosity
for we don’t get there by working
our way. Help us O Holy Spirit
to Develop a Generous spirit
rather than be jealous or have
a calculative mindset. Amen.

Lord, we purpose to Love Others:
One of the Pharisees, an expert
in the law, tested Jesus with this
question: Teacher, which is the
greatest commandment in the
Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the first & greatest
commandment. And the second
is like it: Love your neighbour
as yourself. All the Law and the
Prophets hang on these two
commands (Matt 22:34-40).
Lord, help us as we mature in
the faith that love will motivate us
to Transmit Grace to others. For
we purpose to Love Others as an
expression of our love of U.Amen.

Lord,we’ll be Humble & Authentic:
The greatest among you will be
your servant. For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled and
those who humble themselves
will be exalted… Woe to you,
teachers of the law & Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth
but you have neglected the more
important matters of the law –
justice, mercy and faithfulness.
You should have practised the
latter, without neglecting former.
Woe to u Pharisees, Hypocrites!
For you are so careful to clean
the outside of the cup & the dish,
but inside you are filthy. First
wash the inside of the cup and
dish and then the outside will
become clean too (Mt 23:11-26).
Lord, help us to have a Servant
Mindset in service and humility.
Help us to Live Out our Christian
faith in truth and not as a show to
others or in hypocrisy, pretending
to be someone we are not. Amen.

Sermons of the Kingdom (Nov 21)

Matthew records many crucial
incidents from Jesus’ life in these
four chapters. Though Christ
takes time to heal an epileptic boy,
pay His temple tax and confront
the increasingly hostile Pharisees,
it is clear that His primary concern
is for His disciples: those He would
soon leave behind to continue
the work He had begun. Healings
and discourses, miracles and
parables – all focus on Jesus’
faithful followers to prepare them
for the difficult days just ahead.

In Matthew 16-19, Jesus is preparing
His disciples for challenges ahead
in taking the Gospel to the world.
God has all the resources you need
to do the task He left you on earth.
There is just one thing He lacks:
your availability and willingness
to put your total trust in Him.
Lord, we purpose to boost Your
Kingdom by sharing the gospel.
Lord, we will Be Wary of Unbelief.
Lord, we will Work on Faith in You.
Lord, we will Pray In Agreement.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, we will be Wary of Unbelief:
One day the Pharisees came to
test Jesus’ claims by asking him
to show them a miraculous sign.
He replied: Only faithless would ask
for a miraculous sign… Later after
they crossed to the other side of the
lake, the disciples discovered they
had forgotten to bring any food.
Watch out! Beware of yeast of the
Pharisees… Jesus said You have so
little faith! Why are u worried about
having no food. Don’t you remember
the 5000 I fed with five loaves and
the (12) baskets of food left over?
Don’t you remember the 4000
I fed with seven loaves, with
(7) baskets of food left over?
So again I say: Beware of the
yeast of the Pharisees (Mt 16: 1-11)
Lord, Thank You for giving us
faith in You that is real & personal.
We will not demand any extra
proof as an excuse for unbelief.
And we will remember God’s
provision in the past and trust
Him for future provision. Amen.

Lord, we’ll work on Faith in You:
The disciples asked: Why couldn’t
we cast out that boy’s demon?
So Jesus said to them: Because
of your unbelief; for assuredly
I say to you, if you have faith
as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain: Move from here
to there, and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible for you.
But this kind does not go except
by prayer & fasting (Mt 17:19-21).
Lord, the mountain of my situation
seems so large and heavy yet
You are the source of my strength.
Although my faith seems small, yet
when placed in the Creator’s hands,
it can produce a greater harvest
than I could ever imagine possible.
Lord, take my tiny seed of faith
and multiply it with Your strength.
Thank You for assuring me nothing
is impossible with You. Amen.

Lord, we will Pray In Agreement:
Assuredly I say to you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Again I say to you that if two of you
agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for
them by My Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathering
together in My name, I am there
in the midst of them (Matt 18:18-20)
Lord, help me to find believers with
whom I can agree in prayer on a
regular basis. I pray we will be in
agreement about the truth of Your
Word and the power of Your Spirit.
You have said that one can put a
thousand to flight and two can put
ten thousand to flight. I pray for
prayer partners to put the enemy’s
forces attacking our lives to flight.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Experiencing God thro Obedience

The purpose of Galatians is to call
Christians to faith and freedom
in Christ; while that of Ephesians
is to strengthen believers in their
faith by explaining the purpose
of the church, the body of Christ.
This week we understand the
importance of right belief thus
positioning rightly to encounter Him.
On Monday we learn from
Gal 2 to Live by Faith In Christ.
On Tuesday, we learn from
Gal 6 to Keep On Doing Good.
On Wed, we learn from Eph 1
to Seek Spiritual Insight.
On Thursday, we learn from Eph 4
to Live In Unity and In Humility.
On Friday, we learn from Eph 5
to Live Wisely In the Light.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.
Click PrayerThots.com to see full.

Live Wisely In the Light (Nov 20)

God Enables Spirit Filled Life
Walk Worthy of your calling…You
are rich in Christ, so live that way!
The Christian’s conduct should 
be consistent with His calling.
You are rich in Christ, endowed
with spiritual blessings. So learn
to walk in the light of that wealth.
Also Live Wisely, Be Filled with
the Spirit & Give Thanks always.

Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely:
Once you were full of darkness,
but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light (Eph 5:8).
Be careful how you live. Don’t
live like fools, but like those who
are Wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of God is.
Let the Holy Spirit Fill and Control
you. Then you will sing hymns and
spiritual songs to the Lord. And you
will always Give Thanks for every-
thing to God (Eph 5:15-20) Amen.

Father, may Your Spirit keep us ever
walking in light of Your countenance.
Fill our hearts with the sense of
Your nearness and loving fellowship.
Order our steps Lord in Your way
and then walk with us, for in You
Lord there is no darkness at all.
Help us walk in Your light for
we are people of the light. Amen.

Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely
and make good use of our time.
Help us to sense Your presence
& purpose in every circumstance.
Help us see what You’re doing
and what You want to do thro us.
Help us reflect each day to sense
what You are doing in our life
and where You are leading us.
Help us develop a heart of deep
gratitude in all situations. Amen.

Holy Spirit, we welcome You to Fill
us and have full control of our life.
We welcome You personality fully,
Your character and Your attitudes.
Thank You for Your empowering,
Your gifts, all the ways You have
blessed us and all You have done
in our life. Holy Spirit, fill our
hearts with gratitude and praise.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Live In Humility & Unity (Nov 19)

Because God through Christ paid
our penalty for sin and forgave us,
we have been reconciled – brought
near to Him. We are a new society,
a new family. Being united with
Christ means we are t treat one
another as family members. As we
are one family in Christ, so there
should be no barriers, no divisions,
and no basis for discrimination.
We all belong to Him, so we should
live in harmony with one another.

Lord, Unite & Bind us together:
Be patient with each other, making
allowance for each other’s faults
because of Your love (Eph 4:2).
Make every effort to keep
yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together
with peace. For there is one body
and one Spirit, just as you have
been called to one glorious hope
for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and
one God & Father (Eph 4:3-6).
Let no corrupt word proceed out
of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification that it may
impart grace to the hearers (v29).

Lord God who searches hearts
and minds, help me accept human
imperfection in others and myself;
for we are all sinners in Your sight.
Help us to be more patient with
each other making allowance for
each other’s faults & weaknesses.
Help us to develop a right view
of others despite their annoying
faults, poor choices and non-
saintlike conduct. Help us to pray
for serenity to accept the things
that we could not change. Amen.

Lord, Help us keep unity of Spirit
in lowliness of heart and gentleness.
Let differences in our backgrounds,
experiences and personalities,
not divide us but instead enrich us.
Help us make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit; to treasure it,
to protect it and even promote it.
Bind us Lord together in love for
You made us one body & one spirit.
Teach us to appreciate and love one
another and live together in peace.
Lord blest the tie that binds! Amen.

Lord, may my heart and words
be full of encouragement and
may they give grace to others.
Work Your gentleness & patience
in me so that I won’t be so quick
to respond in ways that don’t
honour You. And may the words
of my mouth and the thoughts
of my heart be pleasing to You
O Lord, my rock & redeemer. Amen.

Seek Spiritual Insight (Nov 18)

The Ephesians had unlimited
spiritual wealth at their disposal,
yet they lived as spiritual paupers.
So Paul wrote to encourage
them to understand and claim
their heavenly resources. Only
then could they draw on them for
their earthly walk. And In Christ,
Christians are endowed with every
Spiritual Blessing as well as adoptn,
redemption, inheritance and power.

Lord, Enlighten Your Plans to us:
Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us… with every
spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3).    
(I am) asking God, the glorious
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to give you spiritual Wisdom and
Understanding, so that you might
grow in your Knowledge of God.
(I pray also) that the eyes of your
heart may Be Enlightened in order
that u may know the Hope to which
He has called you, the riches of His
glorious Inheritance in the saints,
and His incomparably great Power
for us who believe (Eph 1:17-19).

Father God, all Praise and Thanks
to You for Your abundant blessings.
How easy it is to forget that You
are the source of every good thing
and that You Yourself are good.
Your goodness to me is not because
of any goodness on my part; but
because of Christ and Your grace.
Because of Christ, I have been
given every spiritual blessing I need.
When I feel empty and dry, remind
me that You stand ready to give
whatever that I may need. Amen.

Lord, I am awed to think that You
have provided a way to give us
good Spiritual Insight about the
character of God, the hope He has
given us and the dynamic power.
Lord i can’t perceive these things
with my own intellect for they are 
spiritual truths. So Holy Spirit,
open my eyes and flood my heart
to behold these truths. Amen.

Lord, I pray that the eyes of my
heart will Be Opened to see the
Hope to which U have called me.
Help me to understand my true
Inheritance; and enable me to
comprehend the magnitude of
Your power for I believe in You.
And I seek more of Your presence
and Your power so that I can see
them manifested in my life. Amen.

Keep On Doing Good (Nov 17)

Backgrounder: Galatians is Paul’s
manifesto of justification by faith.
He directs this charter of Christian
freedom to people who are about
to forsake the priceless liberty they
possess in Christ. Jewish legalists
are influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we will Not Lose Heart:
Pay careful attention to your own
work, for then you will get the
satisfaction of a job well done.
For each one should bear his
own load (Galatians 6:4-5).
You will always Harvest what
you plant… But those who live
to please the Spirit will harvest
everlasting life (Gal 6:7-8).
And let us not grow weary while
doing good, for in due season we
Shall Reap if we Do Not Lose Heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all, especially to
the household of faith (9-10) Amen

Lord, I wholeheartedly desire to
live a purposeful life for Your glory.
I want to sink myself into the work
You gave me to do. And I want the
satisfaction of doing the job well
to please You in line with Your plan.
But when things are overwhelming,
help me to persevere, and remind
me that You reward faithfulness.
May knowledge of Your goodness
keep me going when weary. Amen.

Lord, we recognise whatever seeds
of priorities, habits and attitudes
we plant in our lives, eventually
will become what we harvest.
Lord, help us to keep planting
a spirit of praise and love for You
God and others; godly habits and
positive actions. For eventually
these seeds will grow; and become
a Harvest as promised by U. Amen

Lord, Thank You for teaching me
in my weariness that I can do
absolutely nothing apart from You.
I give myself to You for You are my
life, my strength and my salvation.
As I purpose Not to Lose Heart,
grant me the power of Your life
to restore joy. And renew my
vision to keep doing Your will and
to do good to those around me.
May knowledge of Your goodness
keep me going when I feel likely
which like quitting. In Jesus name.

Live By Faith In Christ (Nov 16)

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
great charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain Jewish legalists
are influencing the believers in
Galatia to trade their freedom
in Christ for bondage to the law.
Paul writes to refute their false
gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we purpose to Live For You:
For through the law I died to the
law so that I might Live For God.
I have been crucified with Christ;
it is no longer I who live, but
Christ Lives In Me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh
I Live By Faith in the Son of God,
who Loved Me and Gave Himself
for me (Galatians 2:19-20). Amen.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for loving
me and giving Yourself for me.
Thank You for Your desire to live
through me and enable me to
Live For You. What a wonder
that You Lord would take up
residence in my life. In gratitude,
I purpose to Live For You God.
And set me free to serve You
with all my heart and soul. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for enabling
me to Live By Faith this life. For
I have been crucified with Christ
and so I no longer live, but You
Christ Lives in me. May the truth
of Your Word give me the vision
to Trust You with all that I am so
that all You are may dwell in me.
Grant me the grace to live joyously
because of my Faith in You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your
great sacrificial Love for us. Thank
You that You died for us to pay for
sin’s penalty. Thank You for living
in us to purify us from sin’s power.
Teach me to Live by Confidence
In You instead of confidence in me.
Let the old ways of my flesh
die daily so that I can find new
resurrection life in You. Amen.

Hold Firm to God’s Promises

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first by establishing
his authority and documenting the
source of his revelation. He then
praises God for what He has done
for Timothy & him. In contrast to
the old covenant which condemned,
the glorious new covenant sealed
in Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold and effective
 to call pple to repentance.

Lord, Your Promises are Yes & Amen: 
All Praise to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… He comforts
us in all our troubles so that
we can comfort others. When
others are troubled, we will be able
to give them the same comfort
God has given us (2 Cor 1:3-4).
We should not trust in ourselves
but in God… who delivered us from so great a death and… we trust
that He will still deliver us (v9-10).
As God is faithful, our word to
you was not Yes and No… For
all the promises of God In (Christ)
are Yes and in Him Amen (v18-20).

Lord, Thank You for the times
You have comforted me. I know
that You have comforted me so
that I can do the same for others.
This world is full of people who
are hurting. Make me sensitive
to those I meet who need Your
touch of comfort. Keep me an
open vessel through which Your
love and comfort can flow. Amen.

Lord, we realise that Your way of
teaching us to rely on You God
more fully will likely mean that we
will be reduced to having only You
to rely on. And that sounds terribly
uncomfortable for us all. For most of
us have been taught since young to
be more self-reliant. But we still ask
You to teach us what it means to rely
more fully on U instead of ourselves.
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.

Lord, Thank You for Your great
and precious promises! Thank You
for reminding us that Jesus is the
“Divine Yes”, the affirmation of all
Your promises. Help me to sense
and experience Your love behind
every promise even as I trust in You.
And help me to pray with confidence
because I know that not one of Your
promises will ever fail. Amen & amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsMAXhc0QTs