Author: tanahmerah

Thank God for Being Always Near

Backgrounder on Acts 16-18:
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:
God decided beforehand when
(nations) should rise and fall, and
He determines their boundaries.
His Purpose was for the nations
to Seek After God and perhaps
feel their way towards Him and
find Him – though He Is Not Far
from any one of us. For In Him
We Live and move and have
our being (Acts 17:26-28) Amen.

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 and feet.
And help me fulfill the spiritual
assignment You have for me.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

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

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

Thank God for Power Source

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:
On the day of Pentecost, seven
weeks after Jesus’ resurrection,
the believers were meeting in
one place… There was a sound
from heaven. And they were Filled
with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).
In the last days… I will pour out
of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons
and daughters shall prophesy…
and whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved (v17-21).
They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer… And the Lord added
to the church daily those who
were being saved (v42,47) Amen.

Lord Jesus, grant us the unity
and fervency in prayer that Your
followers had in the upper room.
We long to see Your kingdom
expand, Your Spirit Poured Out
in power and the accomplishment
of Your will & purpose in our time.
Give us hearts that take an active
role in laying the tracks for your
Spirit’s work in our generation.
In Jesus’ mighty name, 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.
Help me to be in communion
with other believers so that
we can be in prayer together.
Help me make prayer priority by
setting aside time for it; for often
it gets set aside for other things.
Enable me to maintain that direct
line to You by praying constantly
as U bring things to my mind. Amen

Lessons in Facing Life Challenges

The time has come for the final
journey to Canaan. After a special
celebration of the Passover, the
people watch as the pillar of cloud
begins to move. It’s time to march!
But the thrill of expectation soon
gives way to tedium of travel. And
Moses is faced with numerous
problems: complaints about travel
conditions and food, longings for
the good old days in Egypt, greedy
hoarding of the quail God supplies
and jealousy by Miriam and Aaron
toward his position of leadership.
In spite of the difficulties, the
people finally arrive at Kadesh-
Barnea, on the doorstep of Canaan!

Dear Heavenly Father, You are a
Faithful God with good plan for us.
But like Israelites going through life
journey,we can still face challenges.
Help us Recognise Your Leading &
Follow Your Guidance in our life.
Help us to be Grateful & Thankful
for your provision and protection.
Help us Seek Help from You rather
than Murmuring and Complaining.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we’ll Follow Your Guidance:
Whenever the cloud lifted from
the Tent, the Israelites set out;
wherever the cloud settled, the
Israelites encamped… At the
Lord’s command they encamped,
and at the Lord’s command they
set out. They obeyed the Lord’s
order, in accordance with his
command thro Moses (N9:17-23)
Lord, guide me in my journey
thro life. Help me understand and
recognise Your leading in every
decision I make. Give me clear
direction so that I can stay on
the path You have for me. I know
following You doesn’t mean every
thing will be easy. Help me not lose
faith when the road gets tough.
For I want to always arrive at the
place You want me to be. Amen.

Lord, reminds us to Be Thankful:
Then the foreigners who were
travelling with the Israelites began
to crave the good things of Egypt.
And the people of Israel also began
to complain: Oh for some meat!
they exclaimed. We remember
the fish we used to eat in Egypt.
And we had all the cucumbers,
melons, leeks onions and garlic
we wanted. But now our appetites
are gone. All we ever see is
these manna! (Num 11:4-9).
Holy Spirit, help us not to grumble
by directing our attention on the
right things. Help us to be careful
not to let dissatisfaction reigns
when our attention shifts fr what
we have to what we don’t have.
We purpose to Be Thankful for
what God has given us & not allow
our unfulfilled desires to cause
us to forget God’s gifts. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Direct Complains to You:
Moses heard the people weeping…
So Moses said to the Lord: Why
have You afflicted Your servant?
And why have I not found favour
in Your sight that You have laid the
burden of all these people on me?
I am not able to bear all these
people alone because the burden
is too heavy for me. If You treat me
like this, please kill me here & now.
So the Lord said to Moses: Gather
70 men of the elders of Israel.
They will help you carry the burden
of the people so that you will not
have to carry it alone (N11:10-17).
God, I lift to You the areas of my
life that are overwhelming. I have
not come to You to complain, but
rather to seek Your help. Where
I have tried to handle everything
in my own strength instead of
depending on You, I ask Your
forgiveness. I pray U enable me
to rise above the challenges. Amen

Preparation For Life Journey

At Mount Sinai, Israelites received
specific directions for their life-
style in the new land God would
give to them. A census was taken &
the 2nd Passover was celebrated,
marking one year of freedom
from slavery in Egypt. The people
were now prepared to continue
their journey to the Promised Land.

Lord, just as You prepared the
Israelites, You also prepare us for
our life journey toward Your plan.
Lord, help us follow instructions
to Prepare and Take Inventory.
Help us Do the Right Thing; and
Thanks for Your Blessings. Amen

Lord,we’ll Prepare & Take Inventory:
A year after Israel’s departure from
Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses
in the Tabernacle in the wilderness:
Take a census of all the children of
Israel by their families; every male
from 20 years old and above –
all who are able to go to war in
Israel. You and Aaron shall number
them by their armies. (Num 1:1-3)
At transition points in life, it is
important to take inventory of our
resources for better organisation.
While You God do not want us
to trust in our material resources,
believe that You do want us to use
well what we have, then use what
U have given for Your glory. Amen.

Lord, we will Do the Right Thing:
When a man or women wrongs
another in any way and so is
unfaithful to the Lord, that person
is guilty and must confess the sin
he had committed. He must make
full restitution for his wrong, add
one fifth to it and give it all to the
person he has wronged (N5:6-7).
Holy Spirit, I pray U will show me
if I have hurt anyone in any way.
If I have, show me how I can
make it up to them so that things
are right between us. Help me
to apologise and to ask for that
person’s forgiveness. I want to
have a clear conscience so that
nothing will undermine the
closeness I have with You. Amen.

Lord, thank You for Your blessing:
The Lord said to Moses: Tell Aaron
and his sons to bless the people
of Israel with this special blessing:
May the Lord bless you and
protect you. May the Lord smile
on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show u His favour &
give you His peace (Num 6:22-26)
Lord, what a good God You are
to bless us, protect us, smile on us,
extend grace to us, show us Your
favour and give us Your peace.
Lord, may my tongue be an
instrument of Your shalom.
May I impart Your goodness to
others through my words, and
may Your Spirit inhabit those
words in mighty power. Amen.

Preview on Numbers 

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 on the
sovereignty of God in the time of
Abraham before covering Leviticus
on Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
And for the last two weekends, we
meditated on Leviticus which is a
Hebrew guidebook for holy living.

Next, we proceed to Numbers,
which records Israel’s 40 years of
wandering between Sinai & Moab.
Named for the two numbering
of the nation, the book begins in
the second year after the people
left Egypt and ends as the new
generation prepares to cross
the Jordan River and occupy the
Promised Land. Detailing the lives
of such men of God as Moses,
Caleb and Joshua, the book of
Numbers teaches that while
God’s discipline may sometimes
be severe, He patiently waits to
reward those who obey His Word.

We’ll cover Numbers over 3 week-
ends in the following six divisions:
N1-8: Counting & Cleansing People
N9-12: The People Complaining
N13-16: Spying Out the Land
N17-25:Brass Serpent & Brash Seer
N26-30: The Second Census
N31-36: Preparing to Possess Land
Let’s meditate through Numbers,
learning of how Israel prepared
to enter the promised land,
how they sinned & were punished
and how they prepared to try again.
And let’s truly learn not to treat the
Lord our God with contempt. Amen

Thank God for Intercession

The Upper Room Discourse
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,
describes the Holy Spirit who
will comfort and empower them;
and Intercedes for Protection and
Unity of His disciples worldwide.

Lord, we pray for Unity among us:
I do not pray that You should take
them out of the world, but that You
should Keep Them fr the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as
I am not of the world. Sanctify them
by Your Truth… As You Sent Me
into the world. I also Have Sent
them into the world (Jn 17:15-18).
My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will
believe in me thro their message,
that all of them May Be One…
that they also may be One In Us,
that the world may believe that
You sent me (Jn 17:20-21). Amen.

Lord Jesus, I praise You for your
great salvation for all mankind.
Thank you for not only saving me
but also being my permanent and
great High Priest, Caring for me.
Thank you Lord for the promise
Heb 7:25 that You will always
Intercede for me before Father God
Provide & protect me and enable
my life actions conform to your will.
In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Lord, You have sent us into
the world with an assignment.
While we are in the world, You
have made provision thro Yr Word
for us to live in the world & still be
protected fr its worldly influence.
Help us soak our mind, will and
emotion with Your Word; and let
it flavour every aspect of our life.
And help us to be truly salt of the
earth & light of the world. Amen.

Lord, I pray for Unity with family
members & with other believers
regardless of any differences
in views, values, race or culture.
And may we be truly one with the
Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit.
May our unity show the world, that
You Jesus came from the Father.
May this Unity I have with You
and with others draw unbelievers
to You, so that they too may
experience Your love. Amen.

Thank God for Helper Spirit

The Upper Room Discourse
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 look to Your Spirit for Help:
Very truly I tell you, it is for your
good that I am going away. Unless
I go away, the Helper will not come
to u; but if I go, I will Send Him to u.
When He comes, He will convict
the world of sin, of righteousness
and of judgment (John 16:7-8).
When the Spirit of truth comes,
He will Guide you into all truth…
He will tell you about the future…
He will glorify me by telling u what-
ever he received from me (v13-14).
These things I have spoken to you,
that in Me you may have Peace.
In the world you will have tribulation
but be of good cheer, I have
Overcome the world (v33) Amen.

Lord Jesus, hard times are to be
expected in this life; but Thank You
for sending Your Spirit to help us.
I don’t go through difficulty alone;
for You are always with me to
help, counsel and pray for me.
And Thank You for Your powerful
presence. As I yield to You and
follow Your leading, let Your
power flow through me. Amen.

Holy Spirit, only You can sort out
the voices in my mind; and I trust
You to do just that. Keep me from
deception & lead me to the truth.
Show me enough of the future
and how it fits with Your purposes.
Lord Jesus, let the Spirit bring You
glory in me by revealing Your truth
to me that I can share with others.
And let me experience You as
personally as disciples did. Amen.

Father God, trials and tribulations
are normal part of this life. I don’t
like this truth, but it reminds me
of my need for You God. I praise
You for being more powerful than
any worldly troubles I may face.
Remind me always to keep me
looking to You. And I can take
heart in the fact that You who
are for me will always have the
final word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank God for Being Shepherd

Christ’s claim draw the attention
of more than the hungry and sick.
The Pharisees, religious leaders
concerned about status quo,
respond with angry resistance.
But how do you refute a Man
who preaches that He is the
Light of the World, then proves
it by giving sight to the blind? …
who claims He is the resurrection,
then validates that claim by raising
a man from the dead. The choice
is clear: Either believe Him or seek
to silence Him once and for all.

Lord, we will Hear & Follow You:
A Shepherd enters thro the gate.
He Calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out… He walks
ahead of them, and they Follow
Him because they recognise
His voice (John 10:2-4).
I have come that they may
Have Life and have it to the Full.
I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd gives
His life for the sheep (v10-11).
And I give them eternal life,
and they shall Never Perish,
neither shall anyone snatch them
out of My hand (v28). Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being
my good shepherd and making
me one of your sheep. What
a privilege to belong to You!
Thank You for providing for me,
guiding me and protecting me.
You Call me by name and speak
to my heart. With all the voices
clamouring in the world, quieten
my mind and heart, so that I will
recognise Your Voice and Follow
only You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord Jesus, You did not come
just to forgive our past deeds and
offer us hope of heavenly glory.
You came to give us full satisfying
existence and a meaningful life.
Forgive me for the times I settle
for a dull and uninteresting life.
And forgive me when I am too
preoccupied with earthly stuff.
Help me to hear you & seek You.
Help me to pursue things eternal
and further Your kingdom, knowing
U will Provide all my needs. Amen.

Lord Jesus, I am so blessed that
You are my caring Shepherd and
because of that I can Fear No Evil.
For You have always promised
to provide, lead and protect me.
Though evil may come, it has no
power over me and I can live with
confidence that I am Safe in You.
Keep me trusting You not worrying
& help me to stay close to You so
that I need not worry at all for You
will be Watching over me. Amen.

Thank God for Giving Bread of Life

Early in His ministry, Christ issues
a challenge: Search the scriptures
for they testify of me (Jn 5:39).
Now His public declarations and
miraculous demonstrations serve
to confirm what the Old Testament
said would be true of Him. Using
the Jewish feast days as public
forum, Jesus declares Himself
to be the Bread of Life (6:35),
the Sent One of God (7:28),
the Forgiver of Sins (8:11) and
the Light of the World (8:12).

Lord, we’ll Come to You for Help:
Then Jesus said to them: Most
assuredly I say to you, Moses did
not give you the bread from heaven
but My Father gives you the true
bread from heaven. For the bread
of God is He who comes down
from heaven and gives life to
the world. Then they said to Him:
Lord, gives us this bread always.
Jesus replied: I’m the Bread of Life.
No one who comes to me will ever
be hungry again.Those who believe
in me will never thirst. And the
one who comes to Me, I will by no
means cast out (Jn 6:32-37) Amen

Lord Jesus, as the Bread of Life,
forgive me for seeking after
things that will never really satisfy
or fulfill my deepest longings.
Forgive me for focussing on what
You can do for me materially
instead of seeking the true life
that comes from You. Cause me
to hunger and thirst for You and
your life each day. And let Your
Word fill my mind, rule my heart
and guide my feet today. Amen.

Lord, You are our great resource.
When I am anxious over a problem
and I look to myself, I may get
downhearted due to inadequacy.
And when I look to others for
help, I may get disappointed.
But when I look to U Jesus as my
great resource I’ll get encouraged.
Christ, I surrender my challenge
to U. Help me shift my focus from
my inadequacy to Your sufficiency.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Lord, You have said everyone
who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved. Thank you for
the promise to hear and answer
my cries for help. Your rescue
may not end up looking like what
I imagine, but You do promise
to deliver. Grant me the faith
to believe with all my heart.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Thank God for Giving Eternal Life

Jesus’ ministry is not reserved for
the temple or synagogue. At any
time and in all places He is ready
with a word and a healing touch.
Nicodemus comes by night seeking
answers and finds second birth.
Samaritan woman comes seeking
water at the well and leaves to
tell her city about a source of
living water that will never run dry.
The paralytic at the pool finds even
38 years of lameness is no problem
to miracle-working Son of God.
Jew or Samaritan, religious leader
or religious outcast, Christ Jesus’
compassion knows no bounds.

Lord, we’ll Respond to Your Love:
For God so loved the world that
He gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life
(John 3:16). Whoever believes
in the Son has eternal life, but
whoever rejects the Son will
not see life for God’s wrath
remains on them (v36). Amen.

Father, thank you for loving me
even beyond what I could imagine.
It amazes me that You would love
me even when I didn’t love You.
It amazes me that You sent Your Son to pay the ultimate price
so that I could have eternal life.
Grant Your love to flow thro me
so that even more people may
sense Your boundless love. Amen.

Jesus, it is hard to comprehend
love so great as Yours. You laid
down Your life so that I can live
forever with You. My response
to Your first loving me is to love
You Wholeheartedly in return.
Help me to lay down my life fully
for You in serving Your purpose
here on earth and thereby also
fulfilling my prepared destiny. Amen

Lord, thank you for your grace
and the promise of eternal life:
the abundant life that begins now
here on earth. And I look forward
to being With U forever in heaven;
a much better place, of eternal
joy and where there’s no tears.
And be reunited to loved ones,
and friends who had gone before.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FnVGRC0Cl98