Month: August 2021

Living Out Your Faith

Just as a human body that fails
to breathe is labelled a dead body,
so too a faith that fails to breathe
us labelled a dead faith. And the
breath of faith in the Christian life
is good works: demonstrating
concern for the poor, controlling
the tongue, exhibiting a spirit of
humility and building up others.
True faith and good works
cannot be divorced, for your
life is the laboratory in which
your faith is shown to be real.

Dear Lord, we realise You want
believers not only to hear the truth
but also to do it. Grant us grace
to commit to love and to serve;
and help us to seek ways of
Living Out Our Faith In You, for
they are evidence of true faith.
Help us to Seek You for Wisdom;
Help us to Be Slow to Anger; and
Help us to Live Out Our Faith. Amen.

Lord, we Seek You for Wisdom:
If any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding
fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe
and not doubt (James 1:5-6).
Lord, thank You that Your Word
promises that You will give
wisdom to us when we ask for it.
So I ask for wisdom, for I know
true wisdom comes only from You.
Help me to be wise in daily decision
especially when I must act quickly.
Help me to know what to do & what
not to do in any situation. Amen.

Lord, we will Be Slow to Anger:
Be quick to listen, slow to speak,
and slow to get angry. Your anger
can never make things right
in God’s sight. So get rid of all
the filth and evil in your lives,
and humbly accept the message
God has planted in your hearts…
to save Your souls (Jas 1:18-21).
Lord, thank You for being slow to
angry and full of mercy & patience.
Forgive my quick & angry reactions
Help me be quick to listen, slow to
speak and slow to anger, as U are.
Work in me by Your Holy Spirit.
Help me to pour out to You the
things that frustrate me; and help
me rely on You to work in difficult
situations in ways I can’t. Amen.

Lord, we will Live Out our Faith:
What good is it… if someone
claims to have faith but has no
deeds?.. Faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say: You have
faith; I have deeds. Show me your
faith without deeds, and I’ll show u
my faith by my deeds (Jas 2:14-18)
Lord, we realise as believers, we are
to show our faith by good deeds.
Help us to be Obedient in
trusting You; and help us do
acts of kindness for someone.
Whilst we may mess up from
time to time, help us learn from
the mistakes and move on. Amen.

Knowing God thru His Names

The purpose of the book of Acts
is to give an accurate account of
the growth of the Christian church.
This week we understand God better
thru knowing His attributes, mostly
related to His ability to meet needs.
On Monday, we learn from Acts 1-2
about Holy Spirit the Promised Gift.
On Tuesday, we learn from Acts 4
about Cornerstone Strenghtens.
On Wed, we learn from Acts 5-7
about Princely Lord and Saviour.
On Thursday, we learn from Acts 9
about God of Divine Encounter.
On Friday, we learn from Acts 13-14
about God Acts When We Pray.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face…In Jesus’ name.

God Acts When We Pray

Backgrounder on Acts 13-15:
Acts 13 marks the beginning
of Paul’s missionary career.
Returning to Antioch at the end
of their first missionary journey,
Paul and his travelling companion
Barnabas report to their home
church and seek to resolve
the issue of including Gentiles in
the previously all-Jewish church.

Lord, we’ll Seek You in Prayer:
As they ministered to the Lord
and fasted, the Holy Spirit said:
Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called
them. Then having fasted & Prayed…
they sent them away (Acts 13:2-3)
They came to Antioch… On the next
Sabbath almost the Whole City came to hear the word of God (v14, 44)
Paul & Banabas returned to Lystra,
Iconium and Antioch, strengthening
the souls of the disciples, exhorting
them to continue in the faith… So
when they had appointed elders
in every church and Prayed With
Fasting, they commended them
to the Lord… Now… they reported
all that God had done with them,
that He had opened the doors of
faith to the Gentiles(Acts 14:21-27)

Lord, I realise calling is revealed
in prayer; and tend to be defined
within a church body of believers.
For it’s tough to develop to one’s
full potential independent of others.
Grant us unity for it adds power
to our prayers and confidence
that God will answer in power.
And enable me to be set apart
for the work You’ve for me. Amen.

Lord, I realise whenever important
decisions had to be made, prayer
are often accompanied by fasting.
Lord, I know when I fast and pray
my prayers can gain new power.
Help me Lord to do that whenever
I have to make important decisions
and need to have Your guidance.
Help me to restart the discipline of
fasting & make me ready to handle
the opportunities ahead. Amen.

Lord, I will come to You in prayer
I will seek Your face
I will stand within the gap
There will I intercede.
For every time I pray
I move the hand of God
My prayer does the things
My hands cannot do.
For every time I pray
The mountains are removed
The paths are made straight
And nations turn to You…
I am weak and helpless Lord
You, my strength shall be
Guide me with Your gracious hand
There will my victory be. Amen.

God of Divine Encounter

Two years after Commission, only
Jerusalem had heard the good news.
Then persecution hits, scattering
disciples into Judea and Samaria.
Phillip extends his witness to Africa
thro conversion of visiting dignitary.
And Saul encounters the risen
Lord on the road to Damascus,
transforming him from Saul the
Antagonist to Paul the Missionary.

Lord, we seek to Encounter You:
The Lord told (Ananias): Go to house
of Judas on Straight Street and ask
for a man from Tarsus named Saul
for he is Praying. And in a vision he
has seen you putting your hand on
him… Go for he is a chosen vessel
of Mine to bear My name before
Gentiles… Immediately he preached
Christ in the synagogues that He
is the Son of God (Acts 9:11-20).
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he
tried to meet with the believers, but
they were all afraid… Then Barnabas
brought him to the apostles & told
them how Saul had seen the Lord
on the way to Damascus (v26-27).
Then the Churches throughout
Judea, Galilee and Samaria…were
edified. And they… multiplied (v34)

Lord, You gave Paul a dramatic
Encounter on the road to Damascus.
Throughout history many have told
of encounters and the fruit of their
lives validated their testimonies.
An Encounter with You can turn
anyone into a passionate believer
who will earnestly give You glory.
So step into our experiences in
powerful and life-altering ways
and show us Your glory. Amen.

Lord, You appeared to Saul, blinded
him to get his attention and then
turnaround his life. Likewise, You
may allow me to get to a dark place
where I can’t see without Your help.
At those times, help me to do as
Paul did and Pray fervently so that
my spiritual sight can be restored
and Your Will Be Done. Amen.

Lord, help me to see others with
Your eyes; and make me to be
an encourager like Barnabas.
Give me the vision to see the
potential U have deposited in them.
Fill me with courage to stand with
those in trouble and need my help.
Make me an encouragement from
Your heart to the hearts of others.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Princely Lord & Saviour

The advance of the gospel is all
too soon opposed by adversaries
of the gospel. Attacks from without
and within threaten to fracture
the body of believers in Jerusalem.
Selfish lies (c5), ethnic squabbles
(c6) & brutal martyrdom (c7) each
falls upon the young congregation.
However, prompt discipline,
wise leadership and unflinching
commitment serve to enlarge
the church as the number of the
disciples multiplies in Jerusalem.

Lord, we Submit in Obedience:
Peter and the apostles replied:
We must obey God rather than
any human authority. God… raised
Jesus from the dead after you killed
Him by hanging him on a cross.
Then God put Him in the place
of honour at His right hand as
prince and Saviour (Acts 5:29-31).
Brethren, seek out 7 men of good
reputation, full of the Holy Spirit
and wisdom, whom we may appoint
over this business; but we will give
ourselves continually to prayer and
ministry of the word (Acts 6:3-4).
The Most High does not dwell
in temples made with hands,
as the prophet says: Heaven is
My throne and earth is My footstool.
What kind of house will you build
for Me? says the Lord (Acts 7:48-49).

Lord Jesus, we praise You as
Saviour and Prince of peace.
Thank You Father God for raising
Your Son from the dead and
seating Him at Your right hand
in the place of highest honour.
We worship You and give You
all praise and love because
You are worthy of our obedience
rather than any human authority.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, grant me a heart to spend
time with You and be ready to pray.
Open my heart to understand the
privilege to access Your throne.
Pray the leadership of the church
be more in line with Your heartbeat.
Bless the pastors, staff members
and their families, that they be led
by Your Spirit, be kept safe from
attacks of the enemy and further
Your kingdom on earth. Amen.

Lord, thank You that You have
purchased me; and I proclaim
that the members of my physical
body are instruments that God
can use; I yield them to Him
and I purpose not to defile them.
For my Father has made me;
for Christ redeemed me at a price,
for my body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit who is within me
and for I belong to God. Amen.

Cornerstone Saves & Strenghtens

With Jesus’ last instruction still
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite of
mocking, threats & physical abuse.
The advance of the gospel is soon
opposed by adversaries;but prompt
discipline & resolute commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
Then Peter filled with the Holy
Spirit said to them: Rulers of
the people and elders of Israel:
This is the stone which was
rejected by you builders, which
has become the chief Cornerstone.
Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under
heaven given among men by which
we must be saved (Acts 4:8-12).
O Lord, hear their threats, and give
us Your servants great boldness in
preaching Your word. Stretch out
Your hand with healing power;
may miraculous signs and wonders
be done through the name of
Your Holy Servant Jesus (v29-30).
And when they had prayed, the place
where they were assembled was
shaken; and they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and they spoke the
word of God with boldness (v31).

Father God, free each one of us:
From the Timidity that worries more
about what others will think of us;
From the Selfishness that doesn’t
want to invest the time and
energy in other people’s lives;
From the Rationalization that says
it isn’t my calling or my season;
From the Indifference that affirms
truth but doesn’t act in them;
From the Busyness that dominates
our lives with non-essential things.
Replace these emotions & realities
with passion and mindset of one beggar pointing to another to
where bread may be found. Amen.

Lord, I ask that You would open
the eyes of my friends, loved ones
as well as the areas of influence
to see Your great salvation. And
I ask that You will give me the
appropriate boldness to see
opportunities as they arise.
And I pray that words be given me
that I may open my mouth boldly
to make known the mystery of
the gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, You seems to speak most
clearly and give Your servants
greater boldness in times of distress.
Increased access to Your Spirit’s
blessings seems to accompany
increased hardships & oppression.
Perhaps that’s because intensity
of our prayers increased with
the intensity of our circumstances.
Or perhaps it’s simply because
You God gives us everything
that we need to follow You well.
Lord, we long for the boldness
and power of the early church.
And when we face with radical
hardships, bless us with radical
fruitfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Holy Spirit the Promised Gift

With Jesus’ last instruction still
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite of
mocking, threats & physical abuse.
The advance of the gospel is soon
opposed by adversaries;but prompt
discipline & resolute commitment
only serve to enlarge the church.

Lord, we’ll Be Open to Holy Spirit:
Wait for the Promise of the Father…
for… you shall be baptized with
the Holy Spirit… You Shall Receive
Power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you Shall
Be Witnesses to Me…(Acts 1:4-5,8)
In the last days… I will pour
out of My Spirit on all flesh…
and whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved (v17-21).
Having received from the Father the
promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see & hear…
Peter said: Repent & be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit (v33, 38).
They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching, to fellowship
and to prayer… And the Lord added
to the church daily those who
were being saved (v42,47) Amen.

Lord Jesus, thanks for giving us
Your Holy Spirit when we accepted
You, to Be Empowered and Be
Your Witness. Give me ears to hear
and teach me how to listen to You.
Enable me to better understand
virtues like grace, forgiveness,
eternity; and most of all You.
Keep me from the distraction
of busyness and draw me closer
to You Lord more each day. Amen.

Spirit, reveal any obstacle between
us or any change of heart I need
to make? Fill me and empower
me in concrete ways that I know
I will never be the same again; for
I’m open & have Your way in me.
Fill me with whatever gift You
may offer; for I want to experience
the reality of Your presence. And
may Your character & Your ways
rub off on me so that my heart can
become more like Yours. Amen.

Father, help me be diligent to the
study of Your Word and teach me
so that I understand it perfectly.
Draw me to be in fellowship and
communion with other believers.
Help me plan time for prayer for it
often gets set aside by other things.
Enable me to maintain that direct
line to You by praying constantly as
You bring things to my mind. Amen

Christ the True Vine

The Upper Room Disgcourse
contains Jesus’ final words of
instruction and encouragement
to His disciples before His death.
Only John records these intimate
moments between Jesus & His men
as He models true humility (c13),
describes the Holy Spirit who will
comfort & empower them (c14-16)
and intercedes for protection and
unity of His disciples worldwide (17)

Lord, we purpose to Remain in You:
I am the true vine and My Father
is the gardener. He cuts off every
branch in me that bears no fruit
while every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes so that it will
be even more fruitful (Jn 15:1-2).
I am the vine; you are the branches.
IF You REMAIN In Me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart
from Me you can do nothing…
By this My Father is glorified that
you bear much fruit (Jn 15:5-8).
IF You KEEP my commandments,
you will abide in My love. This is My
commandment that you Love one
another as I have loved you (v10-12)
You are My friends IF You DO
what I command. I no longer call
you servants… Instead I have
called you friends (v14-15) Amen.

Lord, as I purpose to Remain in You,
help me to walk closely with You
each day and stay constantly
in communication with You –
both by talking and listening
to You speak into my heart.
Help me to stay deeply in Your
Word, getting to know You better.
And help me to increase in the knowledge of Your ways & will. Amen

Lord, we note Your command
to love one another as You have
loved us sacrificially. Help me
Follow Your command to love
others with Your kind of love.
And help me to do good works
and share the gospel so that
others will come to believe in You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, I desire that You will
become my Best Friend & help me
Develop Deep Friendship with You.
Help me enjoy staying deeply in
Your Word, learning more about
Your nature, Your ways & Your will.
Help me to stay constantly
in communication with You –
both by talking and listening to
You speak to my heart. And help
me most of all do Your will. Amen.

Christ Our Example to Life of Faith

Hebrews closes with an appeal
for a persevering Faith that relies
on the promises of God regardless
of the circumstances. Writing to
an audience whose actions were
shaped by pressure from the world
rather than promises from God,
the author of Hebrews urges the
kind of Faith inspired walk that
characterised so many OT saints.
These men & women were so
convinced of God’s Faithfulness
that they intentionally ordered
their lives according to His Word.
Follow their commendable example
and walk by Faith; and not by sight!

Lord Jesus, praise You for being
superior over everyone & everything.
Thank You Lord for all that
You have done for us, saving us.
Thank You we can access directly
to You for help in our challenges.
Help us lead a life of obedience and
complete trust to please the Father.
Grant us confidence as we approach
Your throne with pleas for grace:
that You Increase Our Faith in You;
that You help us Endure the Race and
that You Equip us Do Your Will. Amen.

Lord, Increase Our Faith in You:
Faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen… But without faith
it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him (Heb 11:1, 6).
Lord, increase my faith so that
I can trust You even when the way
is dark and uncertain. As I pray,
enable me to believe that You are
who You say You are in Your Word
& You reward those who seek You.
And I purpose to live by faith
in God who truly loved me, so as
to please Him. In Jesus’ name.

Lord, help us Endure the Race:
Since we are surrounded by
so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and
the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross (Heb 12:1-2).
Father, I want to keep my eyes
on Jesus, my Saviour and Master.
Grant me the grace to consciously
turn my eyes away from the things
of this world as well as problems.
Help me focus on Christ whom my faith depends on from start to finish.
Open up my ears to Your voice
and soften my heart to live closely
with You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord, Equip us to Do Your Will:
May the God of peace,who brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus
Equip you with all you need for
doing His will. May He produce
in you, through the power of Jesus
Christ, all that is pleasing to Him.
Jesus is the great Shepherd of the
sheep by an everlasting covenant,
signed with His blood. To Him
be glory forever (Heb 13:20-21).
Lord, prepare me in every way
for what you’re preparing for me.
Equip me Lord with every good
thing so that I can do Your will.
Open my heart to the working of Your Spirit so that my life will Honour You.
And produce in me thru the power of Christ all that’s pleasing to U. Amen.

Christ Ushers New Covenant

The writer of Hebrews highlighted
the superiority of Christ by pointing
out the heart of the human problem
is the problem of the human heart.
The old covenant was inadequate
because it was unable to deal
permanently with sin. But God’s
new covenant written in Christ’s
own blood which He shed on
the cross – makes full provision
for the forgiveness of sins.

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You
for all that You have done for us.
Thanks for the book of Hebrews
that shows You are superior
over everyone and everything.
Thanks we can access directly
to You for help in our challenges.
Grant us confidence as we claim
all the truths in Hebrews 8-10:
that You Pave Better Covenant;
that You Enable Ready Excess and
that You Mold Our Mindset. Amen

Lord, You Pave Better Covenant:
This is the new covenant I will
make with the people of Israel
on that day, says the Lord: I will
put My laws in their minds so they
will understand them, and I will
write them on their hearts so they
will obey them. I will be their God,
& they will be My people (Heb 8:10)
Father, Thank You for lifting me to
intimacy with You through Jesus.
Thank You for the freedom and
rest to realise that through the
new covenant in Christ Jesus
I am enabled to obey Your words.
Empower me to cling to You O Lord
and write Your words in my heart.
Open my eyes to see Your great
work in those who believe. Amen.

Lord, You Enable Ready Excess:
Only the high priest goes into
the Most Holy Place, and only
once a year & always with blood,
which he offers to God to cover
his own sins & the sins the people
have committed in ignorance. By
these regulations the Holy Spirit
revealed that the Most Holy Place
was not open to the people(H9:7-8)
Lord Jesus, Thank You with all
my heart for being the perfect
sacrifice for my sins and the sins
of the whole world. When Your
blood was presented on the
heavenly mercy seat and You
offered up Your Spirit, the veil
of the temple was forever rent.
Thank You Lord for providing us
ready access into the presence
of God the heavenly Father. Amen

Lord, You Mold Our Mindset:
This is the covenant I will make
with them after that time, says
the Lord. I will put my laws in
their hearts, and I will write them
on their minds. Then he adds:
Their sins & their lawless deeds I’ll
remember no more (Heb 10:16-17)
Father God, Thank You for Your
new covenant which is not only
gracious but also encouraging.
Guide me according to the truth
and instructions that You have
written on my heart and mind.
Even as I purpose to obey them,
grant me the grace to be willing
to do Your will each day. Amen.