Author: tanahmerah

Preview on Paul’s Pastoral Letters

We have been Chronologically
covering the Bible. In the Gospels,
Jesus is being presented as
the obedient Servant in Mark,
the Savior of the world in Luke,
Israel’s Messianic King in Matthew
and the Son of God in John gospel.
We have also covered Acts which
chronicles Growth of the Church.
Then Paul urges the Galatians to
live by Faith alone, Thessalonians
to Serve ahead of Second Coming,
to Corinthians to Live Rightly,
to Romans Justification by Faith,
Ephesians living as Body of Christ
to Colossians Doctrinal Purity; and
to Philippians the Call to Unity.

Next, we go to the pastoral letters:
Timothy, a young disciple Paul
discovered on his 2nd missionary
journey (Act 16:1) enjoyed a unique
relationship with the apostle.
Referred to as his “own son in
the faith”, Timothy ministered
side by side with Paul as a
missionary, and later received
the challenging assignment of
pastoring the church at Ephesus.
Paul’s first letter to him resembles
a manual for building church
leadership. More generally, it is
a rich mine of principles for anyone
who wishes to have a spiritual
impact in the lives of others.
Continue reading “Preview on Pastoral Letters (Jul 21)”

God Promises We Shall Reap

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:
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
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 20)”

God Gives You Spiritual Fruitfulness

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 Yield to Your Control:
When the Holy Spirit Controls
our lives, He will produce this
kind of fruit in us: Love, Joy, Peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Gal 5:22-23) Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 19)”

God Frees Us To Serve

Backgrounder: Letter to Galatians
is essentially Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. Paul directs
this 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 are Free to Serve You:
It is for freedom that Christ has
set us free. Stand firm then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened
again by a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1)
You were called to be free. But do
not use your freedom to indulge
the fresh; rather serve one
another humbly in love (v13) Amen
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 18)”

God Adopts You As His Child

Backgrounder: Letter to Galatians
is essentially Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. Paul directs
this 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.

Father God, we Love You:
When the set time had finally
come, God sent His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption
to sonship (Gal 4:4-5).
So you are no longer a slave,
but God’s child; and since you
are His child, God has made you
also an heir (Gal 4:7). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 17)”

Christ Living in Me

Backgrounder on Galatians 1-3:
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 will 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. (Gal 2:19-20). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 16)”

Resting in God’s Peace
(Prayer Walk thro Phil 3-4)

Backgrounder: Philippians is a
joyful letter, written by Paul from
a prison cell in Rome to one of
the churches he founded on
his second missionary journey.
It is a letter of encouragement in
the midst of persecution. There
is much for Paul to rejoice about:
the Philippians’ repeated financial
assistance, the hope of visiting
the Philippian believers soon,
and the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel. Though
that testimony is threatened by
divisions in the church, Paul is
confident unity will be restored
as they imitate the humility and
servanthood of Christ. And Paul
urges: Rejoice in the Lord always.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that
we can rejoice at all times because
we know You & You are in control.
Help us to Rest in Your Peace even
as we aim to further Your kingdom.
Help us Focus on the Goal;
help us Pray & Give Thanks; and
help us Fix on Positive Thots. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Philippians (Jul 15)”

Joy in Suffering & Serving
(Prayer Walk thro Phil 1-2)

Backgrounder: Philippians is a
joyful letter, written by Paul from
a prison cell in Rome to one of
the churches he founded on
his second missionary journey
(Acts16). In spite of Paul’s adverse
circumstances, Philippians is a
letter of encouragement in the
midst of persecution. There is
much for Paul to rejoice about:
the Philippians’ repeated financial
assistance, the hope of visiting
the Philippian believers soon,
and the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that
we can rejoice at all times because
we know You & You are in control.
Help us to be joyful in every
circumstance, even when things
are going badly and even when
we feel like only complaining.
Help us to Humble ourselves;
and Help us to Obey Your Will.
And thank U for the promise that
You will Complete the Good Work
that You have started. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Philippians (Jul 14)”

Preview on Philippians

We have been Chronologically
covering the Bible phase by phase.
We start the Gospels, with Jesus
presented as the Servant in Mark,
the Savior of the world in Luke,
Israel’s Messianic King in Matthew
and the Son of God in John gospel.
We have also covered Acts which
chronicles Growth of the Church.
Then Paul urges the Galatians to
live by Faith alone, Thessalonians
to Serve ahead of Second Coming,
to Corinthians to Live Rightly,
to Romans Justification by Faith,
Ephesians living as Body of Christ
and to Colossians Doctrinal Purity.

Next, we continue into Philippians.
Paul is now a prisoner in Rome.
In spite of difficult circumstances,
he remains joyful and writes to
commend the Philippians for their
faithfulness and to challenge them
to make Christ the center of their
experience. Jesus’ life & ministry,
described in P2:6-11, is the life
pattern believers should follow
so that their faith might become
evident to others.Paul recognises
that divisions sometimes exist
among believers but is confident
that unity will be restored as they
imitate the servanthood of Christ.
Continue reading “Preview on Philippians (Jul 14)”

God’s Strength In Your Weakness

Backgrounder on 2 Cor 6-13:
Paul defended his ministry by
showing how individuals can be
reconciled to a loving God. And
he pleads with the Corinthian
church to be reconciled to
him as their spiritual father.
In his final words, Paul draws upon
his authority as an apostle to exhort
the rebellious to repent so that
his approaching visit can be a time
of rejoicing rather than rebuke.

Lord, we will be Enabled by You:
Three different times I begged
the Lord to take (my thorn in the
flesh) away. Each time He said:
My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.
So now I am glad to boast about
my weaknesses, so that the power
of Christ can work through me.
That’s why I take pleasure in
my weaknesses, hardships and
troubles that I suffer for Christ.
For when I am weak, then I am
strong (2 Cor 12:8-10). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (Jul 13)”