Category: 2017 Prayers

Dear Friends, 
As the Bible is arranged by genre, to
enhance understanding of context
we’re covering it by time sequence.
We begin with the 5 books of Laws
to appreciate the Redemptive Plan
of God for mankind and Job (which
occurs in the time of Genesis) to
understand the sovereignty of God.
In the Second Phase, we meditated
Josh to 2Sam & 1 Chron, up to King
David: the high point of Israel history.
and poetry book of Psalms where
we learn to pray and praise God.
Then we go to the Third Phase on 
the reign of King Solomon in 1 Kings
& cover wisdom poetry in Proverbs,
Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes.

Continuing, Solomon’s zeal for God
cools as pagan wives turn his heart
away from godly worship. The next
century sees the decline of the two
nations,indifferent to God’s precepts.
In 2 Kings, the author weaves the
historical threads of two nations
into one fabric. In Israel, 19 wicked
kings in succession led the people
even further from God. Despite the
efforts of Elisha & other prophets,
judgment can no longer be stayed.
Israel finally went into captivity,
being dispersed by the Assyrians.
To the south, Judah survives 150
years longer. But in the end, the
damage done by corrupt leadership
again brings a bitter harvest:
70 years of exile in Babylonia.

We’ll cover 2 Kings over 3 weekends
under the following six divisions:
2Kgs 1-3: Ministry of Elisha
2Kgs 4-8: Ministry of Elisha
2Kgs 9-12: Jehu and Joash
2Kgs 13-17: Assyria Destroys Israel
2Kgs 18-21: Hezekiah the Reformer
2Kgs22-25:Babylon Conquers Judah
Lord, we learn from 2 Kings of the
disastrous end of those who shut
God out of their lives. We believe
in You and help us to live for You
in our lives & in Your church. Amen.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven was a man who had
experienced friendship of Jesus
thro a life filled with personal tragedy.
When Scriven was a young man
in Ireland, his fiancée drowned
the evening before their wedding.
Soon after he set sail for Canada.
He seemed destined to live alone
with Jesus as his only close friend.
Scriven never intended to publish
this hymn. He wrote the words to
accompany a letter to his mother,
who was ill in Ireland. He had no
material resources to send her –
only a reminder the most perfect of
friends, Jesus himself was nearby.

Lord, we pour our burdens to You:
Don’t worry about anything,
instead pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and
thank Him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything
we can understand. His peace
will guard your heart and mind as
you live in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7).

Lord, Enable me lift up in praise
& worship of whatever facing me.
Help me Lord not to be anxious
or worry about anything but
instead to pray and intercede.
Help me to refuse to think of
negative and what-if thoughts.
Help me to bring every concern
before you & leave it at your feet.
Fill me with Your peace that passes
all understanding so that my heart
and mind will be protected. Amen.

Lord, here is my need & worry;
and I give them to You and ask
that You calm my anxious heart
and quiet my racing thoughts.
Center them on Christ Jesus
and on His power & sufficiency,
Because I belong to You Lord,
I know that Your peace will
guard my heart and my mind.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer. Amen.

Preview on Poetry Bk of Job

Whilst the Holy Bible is largely
theological history, it is arranged
by types of writings: laws, history,
poetry, prophets, gospel & letters.
To enable you better appreciate
the Bible especially the flow of OT,
exposition will be chronological.
Continuing from book of Genesis,
instead of going to Exodus, we
will meditate next on book of Job
who lives during time of Abraham.

The book of Job addresses the
issue of man’s suffering, one of
life’s most perplexing questions.
Overnight the patriarch finds his
blessings turned into heartaches
as he loses his health, wealth and
family in a series of tragedies.
Seeking to know why, Job soon
finds the wisdom of his four human
counsellors inadequate. Finally,
Job questions God Himself and
learns valuable lessons on the
sovereignty of God and the need
for complete trust in the Lord.
Continue reading “Preview on Poetry Bk of Job (Feb 9)”

Thank God for Giving Strength

Trapped between the Red Sea
and the rapidly approaching
chariots of Egypt, the people
cry out in desperation; and God
answers in a miraculous fashion.
The Red Sea parts, the nation
crosses over on dry ground,
and shouts of panic turn to hymn
of praise as the Egyptian army
disappears in a watery grave.

Lord, bless and give us Strength:
Then Moses stretched out his hand
over the sea; and the Lord caused
the sea to go back by a strong
east wind all that night and made
the sea into dry land & the waters
were divided… Thus Israel saw
the great work which the Lord had
done in Egypt; so the pple feared
the Lord and believed the Lord and
His servant Moses (Ex 14:21-31).
Then Moses and the children of
Israel sang this song to the Lord
and spoke saying: The Lord is
my strength and He has become
my salvation; He is my God, and
I will praise Him (Ex 15:1-2) Amen.
Continue reading “Thanksgiving in Exo 14 & 15 (Jan 4)”

Christ Teaches Being Ready

Seventy disciples are sent out to
heal the sick & say: The kingdom
of God is come nigh unto you.
Their enthusiastic return prompts
Jesus to rejoice in praise to God.
But confrontation is gathering.
Some attribute His miracles to
Satan rather than God. Others
clamour for more miraculous signs.
And Jesus denounces the religious
leaders for their hypocrisy and
warns the disciples to Be Watchful.

Lord, we’ll be Ready for Yr Return:
Jesus said to His disciples: Don’t
Worry about your life… Who of
you by worrying can add a single
hour to his life? (Luke 12:22-25).
Be dressed for service and
well-prepared, as though you
were waiting for your master to
return from the wedding feast…
There will be Special Favour for
those who Are Ready and waiting
for His Return (v35-38). Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Luke 12 (Nov 28)”