Month: November 2022

Completing the Given Assignment

A short time after Paul returns
from his second journey,
it is time to leave on the third!
At Ephesus Paul’s gospel message
produces some of the greatest
response and sharpest opposition
– of any of the places he visits.
Leaving the city in an uproar,
Paul later returns to deliver
a tearful farewell at Miletus.
From this point on, He is determined
to visit Jerusalem knowing full well
the reception awaits him there.

Lord, we Seek to Do Your Will:
(Paul declared): Now I am bound
by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem.
I don’t know what awaits me,
except that the Holy Spirit tells
me in city after city that jail and
suffering lie ahead (Acts 20:22-23).
My life is worth nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work
assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the
work of telling others the Good News
about the wonderful grace of God…
Therefore… shepherd the church
of God which He purchased
with His own blood (v24 & v28).
I have shown you that in every way…
that you must support the weak.
And remember the words of the
Lord Jesus, that He said: It is more
blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had said these things,
he knelt down and prayed
with them all (v35-36).

Spirit of truth, counsel and of power,
I confess of being tired of dead
ends and continuing sufferings.
But I purpose to stay bound to You
and to put You Lord first & foremost.
So steadily lead me on straight
into God’s perfect plan for my life.
In Your grace, grant me the courage
and strength for the assignment.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, we noted that
Paul a previous Christian killer
says his life purpose was to share
the Good News of God’s grace.
Once we sinners have a personal
encounter with You Jesus, we will
want to share our joys with others.
Shore me up Lord with more of You,
so that feeling of inadequacy will
not overtake me. In Jesus’ name.

Lord Jesus, we purpose to be
more like Paul who showed by
his hard work to help the weak.
Help me Lord to have regard
for those who are struggling.
And I ask that You as the Shepherd
in compassion & loving kindness
will provide for and care for them,
even as I intercede for them.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Seek God who Is Near You

Paul’s second missionary journey
begins with a new companion
– Silas. The team soon doubles
in size as Timothy and Luke are
added. Initially given a warm
reception in Philippi, Paul & Silas
soon experience flogging and
imprisonment for disrupting the
profitable soothsaying business.
But God uses even this to bring
a jailer and his family to salvation.

Lord, You Are Always Near Us:
He is the God who made the world
and everything in it… From one man
He created all the nations throughout
the whole earth. God decided
beforehand when (nations) should
rise and fall, and He determines
their boundaries (Acts 17:24-26).
His Purpose in all of this was that
the nations should Seek After God
and perhaps feel their way towards
Him and find Him – though He Is
Not Far from any one of us (v27).
For In Him We Live and move
and have our being (v28).

Lord, help me to live with a strong
sense of purpose; and be open
to Your Purpose You have for me.
Help me to slow down enough
to see opportunities; not just big
things but also in everyday things.
Help me to be sensitive to people
and their needs; and be willing
to be Your hands & feet to them.
Help me Lord fulfill the spiritual
assignment You have for me. Amen.

Lord, You may seem nearer to
us when we draw near to You.
But the reality and today’s passage
remind us that You’re always Near us.
Help me Lord notice Your Presence
in every situation, watching over me.
Praise You Lord for being my Provider,
Guide, Shield, Healer and Comforter.
And even when it seems You are far
away, You are actually Nearby. Amen.

Lord, we want You to be the one
In Whom We Live & have our being.
We want to hear Your voice Lord,
above all other voices in our lives.
But we get bogged down in routine
and things that want our attention.
And we relegate You to Sundays and
times when we need You to rescue us.
Lord, with all our human failings,
help us recognize Your presence.
Challenge, inspire & make us into
the people You want us to be. Amen.

Praising God Releases Power

Paul’s second missionary journey
begins with a new companion
– Silas. The team soon doubles
in size as Timothy and Luke are
added. Initially given a warm
reception in Philippi, Paul & Silas
soon experience flogging and
Imprisonment for disrupting the
profitable soothsaying business.
But God uses even this to bring
a jailer and his family to salvation.

Lord, we Claim Power of Praise:
Around midnight, Paul and Silas
were praying and Singing Hymns
to God, and the other prisoners
were listening. Suddenly, there was
a great earthquake…All the doors
flew open and the chains of every
prisoner fell off. The jailer woke up
to see the prison doors wide open.
He assumed the prisoners had
escaped, so he drew his sword
to kill himself. But Paul shouted:
Stop! Don’t kill yourself!
we are all here! (Acts 16:25-28).
Trembling with fear, the jailer…
fell down before Paul and Silas.
And he brought them out and said:
Sirs what must I do to be saved?”
So they said: Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
you and your household (v29-31).
Then he brought them into his house
and set a meal before them. He and
his entire household rejoiced because
they all believed in God (v34).

Lord, we magnify Your Name for
there is none like You; we thank
and praise You for grace in our lives.
When I face difficult circumstances
and may be tempted to give up;
remind me Lord of Paul and Silas in
prison & how You intervened for them.
Then put words of Praise in my mouth;
for You are my hope and saviour
in the midst of troubles. Amen.

Lord, I purpose to praise and
worship You in every situation;
for things bow to Your Presence
when I bow to Your Presence.
Trust that You will respond to my
praise of You, sometimes visibly
in power and sometimes invisibly.
But either way, Your Presence
is real when my heart is in syn
with the truth of Your glory. Amen.

Lord, the circumstances may not
be pretty and there are things
that I don’t quite understand.
What are You doing in this situation?
What do You want to do through me?
Although I may be hurting but
may Your sovereign will be done.
I’m open to whatever You want to do;
and help me Lord join You at work,
incl declaring Your salvation. Amen.

God Acts on Prayer with Fasting

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 Seek You In Earnest Prayer:
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).
It pleased the apostles and elders…
to send chosen men… to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas… They wrote
this letter… For it seemed good to
the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon
you no greater burden than these
necessary things: that you abstain
from things offered to idols, from
blood… and from sexual immorality.
If you keep yourselves from these,
you will do well (Acts 15:22-28).

Lord, the strenuous missionary work
facing the apostles called for great
intensity of spiritual life of which
prayer with fasting are the norms.
Paul and Barnabas recognised
these two acts as necessary prep
for the solemn work of appointing
people to key spiritual functions.
Holy Spirit, please influence our
thoughts, discussions & decision
making, for You are our Guide. Amen.

Lord, we notice whenever important
decisions had to be made, prayer
are often accompanied by fasting.
Lord, we know when we fast and pray
our prayers can gain new power.
Prompt 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.