Month: November 2018

Christ With Authority On Our Side

Luke introduces the ministry of
Jesus with His baptism by John
the Baptist & temptation by Satan.
Christ’s genealogy ties Him to
David the king, Abraham the
patriarch and Adam the first man.
Rejection in His hometown of
Nazareth causes Him to shift to
Capernaum where He ministers
for two years. There Christ calls
12 men calls 12 men to be His
travelling companions. And there
by the shores of Galilee He begin
to prepare them for ministry
He will soon entrust to them.

Lord,we’re amazed by Yr Authority:
Jesus was led by the Spirit in
the desert, where for 40 days he
was tempted by the devil. He ate
nothing during those days and
at the end of them he was hungry
The devil said to him: If you are
the Son of God, tell this stone to
become bread. Jesus answered:
It is written: Man does not live
on bread alone. (Luke 4:1-8).
Jesus went to Capernaum and
talk there in the synagogue every
Sabbath day. The people were
amazed at the things he said
because he spoke with authority..
Amazed the people exclaimed:
What authority & power this man’s
words possess (v31-36) Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Luke 4 (Nov 20)”

Christ’s Obedience to Father

Dr Luke – physician, historian
and writer of the longest gospel
account clearly states his purpose
for writing in the opening verses:
That thou might know the certainty
of those things thou has instructed
He begins with details surrounding
the miraculous birth of John the
forerunner and Jesus the Messiah.

Dear Lord Jesus, we realise
we are not isolated from the
pressures and temptations of life.
And there are no shortcuts as we
prepare for a life of service to U.
Help us live out our Destiny;
help us remain Devoted to U and
help us to be Obedient. Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Luke 2 (Nov 19)”

With God Nothing Impossible

Dr Luke – physician, historian
and writer of the longest gospel
account clearly states his purpose
for writing in the opening verses:
That thou might know the certainty
of those things thou has instructed
He begins with details surrounding
the miraculous birth of John the
forerunner and Jesus the Messiah.

Lord, we Will Believe Your Word:
The angel said: Do Not Be Afraid,
Zacharias, for your prayer is heard;
your wife will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John…
But behold you will be mute until
the day these things take place
because u did not Believe my words
which will be fulfilled (Lk 1:13-20)
The angel said: Behold you will
conceive in your womb and bring
forth a Son and shall call His name
Jesus… For With God Nothing
will be Impossible. Then Mary
said: Let It Be to me According
to Your Word (Luke 1:31-38).
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Luke 1 (Nov 18)”

Preview on Luke Gospel (Nov 18)

The Gospel is the good news that
God in Jesus Christ has fulfilled
His promises to Israel, and that a
way of salvation has been opened
to all. But the Gospel is not just
about salvation in terms of eternal
and abundant life, it is also about
the power of God and living out
the Gospel in gratitude to Christ.

Following Mark gospel which
portrays Jesus as Perfect Servant
who came to minister to mankind;
and Matthew which records Jesus
fulfiling Old Testament prophesies
as God’s Messiah & Eternal King;
we meditate on Luke gospel which
presents Jesus as the perfect Man
who came to save sinful people.

Luke builds his narrative on
a chronological presentation
of Jesus’ life, tracing the twin
themes of growing belief and
growing opposition. While Jesus’
followers are challenged to count
the cost of discipleship, those
who oppose Him are plotting
His undeserved death. But His
death and resurrection validate
His claims, thwart His enemies
and empower His disciples to
continue His ministry to the lost.
Continue reading “Seeking God thro Gospel Truths”

Simply Trust & Obey (Oct 17)

Friends, we’ve completed five
weeks in our fifth discipling series
on Seeking God thro Gospel Truths
following Claiming God’s Promises,
Knowing, Thanking & Praising God.
Before continuing, let’s consider
the significance of the Gospel.
The Gospel is the good news that
God in Jesus Christ has fulfilled
His promises to Israel, and that a
way of salvation is opened to all.
But the Gospel is not just about
salvation & abundant life, it’s also
about the power of God & learning
to live Gospel Truths in gratitude.

Dear Almighty & All-Loving God,
I pray even as Yr People meditate
on the holy and precious Gospel
that Your Spirit minister to their
soul and Will Energise them;
that they Will Experience
the blessings of a praying life;
that their Faith Will Arise and
they Will Trust & Obey You more
each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friends, the Gospel Truths from
Mark & Matthew are listed below:
Mark’s Gospel focussing on the
works of Christ encourages one
to respond to life’s challenges
In Faith rather than fear; while
Matthew’s Gospel portrays Christ
as King & is a Discipleship manual.
For Today’s Devotion, pick a post
that addresses your current need
or challenges you in discipleship.
Scroll to calender for post.
Continue reading “Seeking God thro Gospel Truths”

Go and Make Disciples !!

The events during the final two
days of Jesus’ earthly life carry
the shadow of the cross: the
anointing in Bethany, the Passover
Observance and Lord’s Supper
and the prayer in Gethsemane.
Jesus is arrested and tried first
by the Jews, then by the Romans;
He is condemned, executed and
placed in a tomb. But in glorious
triumph, Jesus comes forth from
the grave in resurrection power.
The Kings of the Jews Lives again,
a message which His followers
are commissioned to share.

Lord,we purpose to make disciples:
Then Jesus came to them & said:
All authority has been given
to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations & teaching
them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely
I am with you always, to the very
end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Matt 28 (Nov 16)”

Obey the Father’s Will

The events during the final two
days of Jesus’ earthly life carry
the shadow of the cross. Everything
He says and does foreshadows
that symbol of shame, sacrifice
and salvation: the anointing in
Bethany, the Passover observance,
the Lord’s Supper and the prayer
in Gethsamane. Jesus is arrested
and tried, first by the Jews, then
the Romans; He is condemned,
executed and placed in a tomb.
But the story does not end there.
In glorious triumph, Jesus comes
forth from the grave in resurrection
power. Indeed, the King of the
Jews lives again, a message of
Good News which His followers
are commissioned to share.

Lord Jesus, the final two days
of Your earthly life foreshadow
your impending sacrificial death:
the anointing in Bethany, Lord’s
Supper and prayer in Gethsamane.
Your obedience to the Father’s
will inspires us; and we can only
respond with a heart of Gratitude.
Lord, You are our Master and King.
And we Your people purpose in
our heart to Offer Our Lives to You;
we Love You for U First Love us &
we’ll learn to Seek God’s will. Amen
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Matt 26 (Nov 15)”

Do God’s Assigned Tasks

Herod’s temple captured the
attention of all who passed by.
Commenting on its splendour, the
disciples set the stage for Jesus’
Olivet Discourse. His followers
are urged to watchful expectation
coupled with faithful service;
because despite signs of His
coming, the return of Christ will
be unannounced. His coming
will bring judgment on the nations
and rewards for His followers.

Lord, we will Do God’s Work:
The master replied: You wicked
and lazy servant! You think I’m
a hard man… harvesting crops
I didn’t plant and gathering
crops I didn’t cultivate? Well,
you should At Least have put my
money into the bank so I could
have some interest (Mt 25:26-27)
When the Son of Man comes,
He Will Separate the people…
Then the king will say to those on
his right: Take your Inheritance.
For I was hungry & you gave me
something to eat, I was sick and
you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me…
Whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers & sisters,
you did it for me (Matt 25:31-40).
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Matt 25 (Nov 14)”

Be Ready for Lord’s Return

Herod’s magnificent temple
captured the attention of all who
passed by. Commenting on its
beauty & splendour, the disciples
set the stage for Jesus’ Olivet
Discourse, a prophetic look at
future events. His followers are
urged to watchful expectation
coupled with faithful service
because, despite the signs of
His coming, the return of Christ
will be unannounced. His coming
will bring vengeance on His
enemies, judgment on the nations
and rewards for His followers.

Lord, we’ll Prepare for Your Return:
Immediately after the tribulation…
the sun will be darkened… Then…
they will see Son of Man Coming
on the clouds with power & great
glory. He will send forth his angels
with the sound of a mighty trumpet
& they will gather his chosen ones
from the farthest ends of the earth.
When you see the events I have
described beginning to happen,
u can know His Return is very near
right at the door (Matt 24:31-33).
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My Words will by No Means
Pass Away… Watch therefore,
for you do not know what hour
your Lord is coming… Therefore
you also Be Ready for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour you do
not expect (Mt 24:35-44) Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Matt 24 (Nov 13)”

Don’t Be Prideful but Be Authentic

After Peter’s dramatic confession
of Jesus as the Christ, the Son
of the living God, Jesus began to
shew unto His disciples how He
must go to Jerusalem and suffer
many things of elders and chief
priests, be killed & be raised again
the third day. After preparing
His disciples for the unexpected
events which would soon take
place, Jesus begins His final
journey to Jerusalem. Arriving
to a hero’s welcome, He is hailed
as King while making His humble
entrance into the city. It’s now the
final week of Christ’s earthly life.

Lord, help us to Be Authentic:
You must obey the Pharisees and
do everything they tell you. But
do not do what they do, for they
do not practice what they preach…
The greatest among you will be
your servant. For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled and
those who Humble themselves
will be exalted (Matt 23:1-12).
Woe to you, teachers of the law,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth
but you have neglected the more
important matters of the law –
justice, Mercy and faithfulness.
You should have practised the
latter, without neglecting former.
Woe to u Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you are so careful to clean
the outside of the cup & the dish,
but inside you are filthy. First Wash
the Inside… and then the outside
will become clean too (v13-26).
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in Matt 23 (Nov 12)”