Month: December 2018

Believe & Obey the Lord (Dec 31)

Friends, we have completed series
on Seeking God thro Gospel Truths.
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.

Lord, I pray even as Your People
meditate on the 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 Obey You more each day.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Continue reading “Seeking God thro Gospel Truths”

Christ Redirects & Refocuses Us

Following betrayal of Judas and
denial of Peter, John focuses on
the trial before Pilate & his futile
efforts to release Jesus. Yielding
to expediency, Pilate sentences
Jesus to be crucified. Many of the
details John includes are unique:
soldiers casting dice for Jesus’robe
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the post-resurrection appearances.
Thro it all, John clearly present
Jesus Christ as the Son of God
in His life, death and resurrection.

Lord, we will be Fishers of Men:
Jesus called out: Friends, have you
caught any fish? No, they replied.
Then he said: Throw out your net
on the right-hand side of the boat
and you’ll get plenty of fish!!
So they did, and they couldn’t
draw in the net because there
were so many fish in it (Jn 21:4-6)
(Peter) said: Lord, You know every
-thing. You know that I love You.
Jesus said:Then feed my sheep(17)
Peter…saw the disciple Jesus loved
…and asked Jesus: What about him
Lord? Jesus replied: If I want him to
remain until I return, what is that to
you? As for you, follow me (v20-22)
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 21 (Dec 30)”

Christ Teaches Blind Faith In God

Following betrayal of Judas and
denial of Peter, John focuses on
the trial before Pilate & governor’s
futile efforts to release Jesus.
Yielding to political expediency
and mob pressure, Pilate sentences
Jesus to be crucified. Many of the
details John includes are unique:
soldiers casting dice for Jesus’robe
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the post-resurrection appearances
including to Thomas. Through it all,
John’s purpose shines forth clearly
to present Jesus as the Son of God
in His life, death and resurrection.

Lord, we’ll Believe without seeing:
And Thomas answered and said
to Him: My Lord and my God!
Then Jesus told him: Blessed are
those who have Not Seen and
yet Have Believed (Jn 20:28-29).
The disciples saw Jesus do many
other miraculous signs in addition
to the ones recorded in this book.
But these are written so that
you may continue to Believe
that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God, and that By Believing
in him you will Have Life by the
power of his name (v30-31) Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 20 (Dec 29)”

Christ Models Finishing Mission

Following betrayal of Judas and
denial of Peter, John focuses on
the trial before Pilate & governor’s
futile efforts to release Jesus.
Yielding to political expediency
and mob pressure, Pilate sentences
Jesus to be crucified. Many of the
details John includes are unique
to his account: the Roman soldiers
casting dice for Jesus’ robe;
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the post-resurrection appearances
to Mary Magdalene, Thomas & 7
disciples. Thro it all, John’s purpose
shines forth clearly to present
Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God
in His life, death and resurrection.

Lord,U Reach Out to those In Need:
(At the cross) when Jesus saw
his mother beside the disciple he
loved, He said to her: Dear woman,
here is your son. And he said to
this disciple: Here is your mother.
And from then on this disciple
took her into his home(Jn19:26-27)
Jesus knew that everything was
now Finished and to fulfill the
Scriptures he said: I am thirsty…
So when Jesus had received the
sour wine, He said: It is Finished
and gave up His Spirit (J19:28-30)
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 19 (Dec 28)”

Christ Loves & Cares for Failures

Following betrayal of Judas and denial of Peter, John focuses on
the trial before Pilate & governor’s
futile efforts to release Jesus.
Yielding to political expediency
and mob pressure, Pilate sentences
Jesus to be crucified. Many of the
details John includes are unique
to his account: the Roman soldiers
casting dice for Jesus’ robe;
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the post-resurrection appearances
to Mary Magdalene, Thomas & 7
disciples. Thro it all, John’s purpose
shines forth clearly to present
Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God
in His life, death and resurrection.

Lord, You Care & Rescue Failures:
Jesus knowing all things… went
forward and said: Whom are you
seeking? They answered: Jesus
of Nazareth… And Judas who
betrayed Him stood with them…
Jesus said I am He, if you seek me,
let these go their way (Jn 18:4-8).
As Simon Peter was standing
by the fire warming himself, they
asked him again: You’re one of
his disciples, are you? He denied
it saying: No, I am not. But one
of the household slaves of the
high priest, a relative of the man
whose ear Peter had cut off, asked:
Didn’t I see you out there in the
olive grove with Jesus? Again
Peter denied it. And immediately
a rooster crowed (Jn 18:25-27).
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 18 (Dec 27)”

Christ’s Intercessory Prayer

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 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.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 17 (Dec 26)”

Christ Promises 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.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 16 (Dec 25)”

Christ Teaches Abiding In Him

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 purpose to Remain in U:
I am the vine; u are the branches.
IF You REMAIN in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart
from me you can do nothing…
By this My Father is glorified that
you bear much fruit (Jn 15:5-8).
IF You KEEP my commandments,
you will abide in My love. This is my
commandment that you Love one
another as I have loved u (v10-12).
You are my friends IF You DO
what I command. I no longer call
you servants… Instead I have
called you friends (v14-15) Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 15 (Dec 24)”

Christ Promises & Gives Peace

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 Receive Your Peace:
Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father’s house are
many mansions… I go to prepare
a place for you (John 14:1-2).
These things I have spoken to
you while being present with you.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send will teach
you all things; and bring to your
remembrance all things that I said
to you. Peace I leave with you,
and the peace I give isn’t like the
peace the world gives. So don’t be
troubled or afraid (v25-27) Amen.
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 14 (Dec 23)”

Christ Models Humility & Love

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 and His
men as He models true humility
(chap 13), describes Holy Spirit
who will comfort and empower
them (chap 14-16) and intercedes
for the unity and protection of
His disciples worldwide (chap 17).

Lord, we will follow Your Example:
When Jesus knew that His hour
had come that He should depart
from this world to the Father,having
loved His own,He loved them to the
end…So He got up from the table,
wrapped a towel around his waist
& poured water into a basin. Then
he began to wash the disciples’
feet, drying them with the towel
he had around him (John 13:1-5).
I have given you an Example, that
u should do as I have done to you…
Now that u know these things, God
will Bless u for Doing them (v15-17)
A new Commandment I give to
you that you love one another as
I have loved you, that you also love
another. By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another(v34-35) Amen
Continue reading “Gospel Truth in John 13 (Dec 22)”