Month: April 2019

Preparing to Possess the Land

During the final days of his life,
Moses is active as commander-
in-chief of Israel’s army, routing
Midian for its idolatrous influence;
deal with the request by the tribes
of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh to
settle east of the Jordan; & review
the travel route fr Egypt to Moab.
The book of Numbers closes with
a list of the boundaries of the
Promised Land and apportioning
the land to remaining 9 1/2 tribes.
Laws are established to provide for
justice in cases of manslaughter &
protect the inheritance of families
who have no surviving male heir.

Lord, just as you feed, guide and
protect Israel, we Thank You for
providing, leading & preserving us.
Help us Not to Jump to wrong
conclusions, assuming others
have wrong motives, but instead
take time to let the facts surface.
And help us to Uphold Justice &
Mercy; for we want to be holy as
You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord,we’ll Not Jump to conclusions
The tribes of Reuben & Gad owned
vast numbers of livestock. So when
they saw lands of Hazel and Gilead
were ideal suited for their flocks,
they came to Moses and… said:
Let us have this land instead of the
land across Jordan. “Do you intend
to stay here while your brothers go
across & do all the fighting? Moses
asked the men of Gad and Reuben.
Why do you want to discourage
the rest of the people of Israel from
going across to the land the Lord
has given them? (Num 32:1-7).
Lord, we note Moses jumped to the
wrong conclusion for the 3 tribes
fully intended to continue the fight
until all land conquered (v16-19).
Remind us not to assume others
have wrong motives, even if their
plans sound suspicious. Help us
take time to let the facts surface
before making up our mind. Amen.

Lord, U Provide, Guide & Protect:
This is the route the Israelites
followed as they marched out of
Egypt under the leadership of
Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s
direction, Moses kept a written
record of their progress. These are
the stages of the march, identified
by the different places where they
stopped along the way (N33:1-2).
Lord, as we think back through
the days and months and years
of our lives, we thank You for
the many points when You worked
in unmistakable ways on our behalf
We are grateful for Your divine
forgetfulness of our sins, that You
remove them as far as east from
west. And we thank You for all the
ordinary days when You fed, led
and preserved us as a family. Amen

Lord,we’ll consider justice & Mercy:
When u cross Jordan into Canaan,
designate cities of refuge to which
people can flee if they have killed
someone accidentally…The slayer
must not be put to death before
being tried by the community…
But if someone strikes and kills
another person with a piece of iron,
it is murder, and the murderer
must be executed (Num 35:10-15).
Holy Spirit, help us consider both
justice and mercy for it is unjust
both to overlook wrongdoing and
to jump to conclusions about guilt.
Help us Holy Spirit to stand for
justice, protect those not yet
proven guilty and listen carefully
to all sides of the story. Amen.

2nd Approach to Promised Land

Now that the journey is virtually
over, it is time for a second census
– both to assess Israel’s military
strength and to apportion the
soon-to-be conquered territory
of Canaan. In addition, it is time
to appoint Moses’ successor –
the one who will lead the people
in their conquest. God’s choice
is Joshua, one of the only two of
the generation which left Egypt to
survive the wilderness wandering
and enter the Promised Land.

Lord, help us Respond in Faith to
Your Instruction for we know the
serious consequences of unbelief.
Help us Choose Leaders of Faith.
Help us Honor our Promise. For
we want to Be Holy as He is. Amen.

Lord, we will Respond in Faith:
Take a (second) census of all the
congregation of the children of
Israel from 20 years old and above,
who are able to go to war. Those
who were numbered: 601,730.
These were numbered by Moses
and Eleazar the priest, in the plains
of Moab by the Jordan, across
from Jericho. But among these was
not a man who were numbered by
Moses and Aaron the priest when
they numbered the children of
Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai.
For the Lord had said: They shall
surely die in the wilderness. So
there was not left a man of them,
except Caleb & Joshua (N26:2-65)
Holy Spirit, we realise the serious
consequences of unbelief and not
heeding/obeying God’s instructions
You indeed work in quiet ways to
bring about His purpose. Help us
O Spirit, to respond in faith. Amen.

Lord,we’ll choose leaders Correctly
Moses said to the Lord: Please
appoint a new man as leader.
Give them someone who will guide
them… so the community… will
not be like sheep without shepherd
The Lord replied: Take Joshua who
has the Spirit in him. Present him to
Eleazar the priest before the whole
community & publicly commission
him to the people. So Moses did as
the Lord commanded (N27:15-22).
Holy Spirit, leaders are important
and the kind of people we choose
matters a great deal. We purpose
to do as Moses did – first ask God
for a person who is both able and
compassionate; then commission
and support the person. Amen.

Lord, we will Honour our Promise:
Moses summoned the leaders of
the tribes of Israel and told them:
Tis what the Lord has commanded:
A man who makes a vow to
the Lord or makes a pledge
under oath must never break it.
He must do exactly what he said
he would do (Num 30:1-2).
Lord, You have bound Yourself
to Your people with an oath so that
those who received the promise
could be perfectly sure that You
would never change Your mind.
Your promise and Your oath
are unchangeable because it is
impossible for You to lie. So, we
who fled to You for refuge can
have great confidence as we hold
to the hope that lies before us.
And help us to honour our promise
both to You and each other. Amen.

Thank God for Spiritual Fruit

Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the 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… Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the
sinful nature with its passions
and desires (Gal 5:22-24). Amen.

Lord, I realise the fruit of the
Spirit don’t reside within my flesh.
Teach me to keep my life cleared
of things that crowd out Yr Spirit.
Train me to Yield to the Control
of the Holy Spirit. Enable me
Lord to humble myself before You
and rely wholly on Your Spirit.
And may the fruit You produce
draw others to You. Amen.

Lord, I need the Joy that only You
can give. Forgive me for the times
I let circumstances control my
moods. And I want to be marked
by Your Peace and not to worry.
I need it for Your glory so that
others might see the comfort and
assurance available only in You.
And teach me to rest in knowledge
that You are in control. Amen.

Lord, grant me to overflow with
Your Love so that it will spill out
in my words and actions. Help me
pursue the path of love, even in
difficult circumstances or with
difficult people. And cause Your
Goodness to flow through me. For
it’s not easy to think of others or
think of glorifying U when my life
is filled with pain. And grant me
grace to live supernaturally. Amen.

Thk God for Strength In Weakness

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.

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.

Lord, I have plenty of weaknesses
to give You. You know all my
frailties that keep me feeling
insufficient. But You are my
sufficiency and my strength.
I depend on You; and I surrender
my frailties to You. And please
step into my gaps & weaknesses
with Yourself and Your help. Amen

Lord, You promise in Your Word
that Your power works best in
my weaknesses. So work in
and through my all weaknesses.
I am thankful and grateful that
I don’t have to be perfect so
that I can be useful to You. And
help me trust in Your strength.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, teach me the art of looking
to You God instead of being
just immersed at my problems.
Remind me that anything of
lasting value in my life is really
because of You, not me. For
Power & success come from You.
And give me eyes of faith that
I may press on even when I feel
being overwhelmed. Amen.

Thank God for Secured Hope

False teachers had been confusing
the Corinthians by denying the
doctrine of physical resurrection.
Paul defends the Resurrection
as a historical fact confirmed
by more than 500 eyewitnesses.
The Resurrection provides hope
for the believer’s body and soul
as well as motivates believers to
abound in the work of the Lord.

Lord, thanks for Confident Hope:
For when the trumpet is blown,
those who have died will Be Raised
to Live Forever. And we who are
Living will also be transformed…
O death, where is your victory ?
O death, where is your sting ?
But thank God! He gives us Victory
over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ (1Cor 15:52, 55-57).
Therefore… be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, knowing
that your labour is Not In Vain
in the Lord (1Cor 15:58). Amen.

Lord, in a world filled with gloomy
news, thank You that Your Word
holds Great Hope for the future.
Someday all believers of Christ
will be given new bodies. And
eternal life in heaven means a
joyful home with God far better
than anything we experience here.
Thank You we can be confident for
Your good plan for us and You are
in control of everything. Amen.

Lord, the sting of death is not dying
but rather what happens after.
There are two possible fates for
all people: one in heavenly bliss and
the other spending eternity in hell.
Thank You Lord for eliminating the
possibility of hell for all who believe
in Christ. Because Jesus had paid
for our sin on the cross and rose
from the dead, death has No Power
over the believer. In gratitude and
realising importance of the gospel,
help us be worthy witnesses. Amen

Lord, we recognise that you
have given us talents and gifts.
They may not be something overt
like teaching, writing and singing.
But instead practical skills like
cooking or greeting people. In fact,
it doesn’t matter what the gifts are.
For all that matters is that we use
them for the Lord. God promises
that Nothing done for Him will
be useless. And You Will Honour
us for the faithful service. Amen.

Thank God for Spiritual Gifts

Paul in 1 Cor 11-14 addresses
public issues: importance of the
Lord’s Supper, the use & abuse of
Spiritual Gifts and orderly worship.
Spiritual Gifts must be exercised
in love for the building up of
the body of Christ; for only then
is the church of God properly
worshipping the God of the church.

Lord, we Desire Spiritual Gifts:
There are different kinds of Gifts
but the same Spirit distributes them
for the common good (1Cor 12:4-9)
Pursue love & desire spiritual gifts,
especially that you may prophesy.
(For) one who prophesies is
helping others grow in the Lord,
encouraging & comforting them.
Ask God for those (gifts) that
will be of real Help to the whole
church (1 Cor 14:1-3 & 12) Amen.

Lord, Your Word says that You give
your people special gifts that they
can use to build your kingdom.
Thank you for the different kinds
of gifts that the Spirit has given me.
Give me wisdom & discernment
as well as opportunities to use
them so as to help accomplish
Your will here on earth.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, Make me aware of the
creative ways You may speak.
May I never place limits on what
I expect You to say. Instead open
my mind to that’s on Your heart.
Teach me to ask: What are U saying
before I ever think: Why is this
happening? And help me to hear
Your voice in others; to see past
their flaws and to recognise what
You are saying thro them. Amen.

Lord, I ask You to give me
the spiritual gifts that You know
will be of Real Help to the church
and will fulfil Your purpose.
Thank you for creating me with
particular interests and talents.
Help me to see opportunities
to use them to serve other s,
to fulfil your destiny for my life
and glorify Your name. Amen.

Thank God for Providing Way Out

Backgrounder on 1 Cor 7-16:
The Corinthian Church had sent
Apostle Paul a list of questions
on marriage, morality, liberty,
worship & resurrection. And Paul
answered them in a way meant
to correct abuses in the church
and to show how important it is
that they live what they believe.

Lord, we will Resist Temptation:
We should not lust after evil things.
Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken
you except what is common to
mankind. And God is faithful; He
will Not let u be Tempted Beyond
what you can bear. But when
you are tempted, He will also
Provide A Way Out so that u can
endure it (1 Cor 10:6,12-13) Amen.

Lord, it is a tough world out there,
with temptations lurking around
everywhere. Whilst U don’t promise
to protect us From temptation,
You clearly do promise Your help
In Resisting temptation when
we face it. Thank you for your
promise that No Temptation
will ever be So Strong that
we can’t stand up against it.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, thank you for your promise
in 1Cor 10:13 that those who
love God Can Always Escape the
temptation that comes our way.
We trust You O God to keep any
temptation from becoming so
strong that we have to give in.
We can trust You to provide a way
out even if it’s at the last minute.
Help us Lord to Resist or Flee
from temptation for altho it’s not
always easy to escape temptation,
it is always possible. Amen.

Lord, at times we may feel that
temptation is overpowering or
impossible to resist. But thank You
for Providing A Way Out; for the
Spirit show the way to escape.
Help us O Spirit to recognise
each tempting circumstance.
Help us stay away from every
activity we know that is wrong.
Help us consciously choose
to do only that which is right.
Help us O Lord for apart from
You we can do nothing. Amen.

Respecting & Obeying Holy God

As the Israelites march to Canaan,
they defeat three enemies, the
Canaanites, Amorites & Bashanites.
But on the heels of victory they
suffer defeat at the hands of a
persistent foe: grumbling. Because
of people’s constant complaining,
God sends fiery serpents to
chasten His rebellious nation. The
threat of Israel’s advance prompts
neighbouring pagan nations to hire
Balaam to bring down a curse upon
God’s people. But instead of curse,
Balaam delivers a sweeping witness
to the glorious future of Israel.

Lord, when Israelites complained
against You God and rebelled
against Moses, that led to disaster.
Help us to Be Careful when under
difficult and confusing situations.
Help us to Beware Grumbling and
Bitterness but focus on blessings.
Help us to Respect U & be careful
with words when under pressure.
Help us respond in faith, trusting
You & Obeying Your Instructions.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Beware of Grumbling:
There was no water for the people
to drink at that place, so they
rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
The people blamed Moses & said:
Why have you brought (us) into this
wilderness to die, along with all
our livestock? Why did you make
us leave Egypt and bring us here
to this horrible place? This land
has no grain, no figs, no grapes &
no water to drink! (Num 20:2-5).
Holy Spirit, help us to be watchful
of dissatisfaction and beware
of complaining and bitterness
over our present circumstances,
which can turn us against God as
they lead to resentment & rebellion
Help us O Holy Spirit to choose a
better attitude and focus on what
God has done & blessings. Amen.

Lord, we will Respect U at all times:
Speak to the rock before their eyes
and it will yield its water. So Moses
took the rod from the Lord & Aaron
gathered people before the rock,
and he said to them: You Rebels !
Must we bring water for you out
of this rock? Then Moses lifted
his hand and struck the rock twice
with his rod and water came out
abundantly… Then the Lord spoke
to Moses & Aaron: Because you
did not believe Me, to hallow Me
in the eyes of the children of Israel,
therefore you shall Not bring this
assembly into the land which
I have given them (Num 20:8-12).
Holy Spirit, help us be gracious &
Careful with our words when under
pressure or when we’re frustrated.
Help us not to trust and rely on our
past experience but instead Trust
You by obeying your instructions.
Help us Honor U as holy God.Amen

Lord, we will Obey Your Instruction:
The people came to Moses & said:
We sinned when we spoke against
the Lord and against you. Pray that
the Lord will take the snakes away
from us.. So Moses prayed for the
people. The Lord said to Moses:
Make a snake & put it up on a pole;
anyone who is bitten can look at it
and live. So Moses made a bronze
serpent and put it on a pole; and
so it was, if a serpent had bitten
anyone when he looked at the
bronze serpent, he lived (N21:7-9).
Lord Jesus, I look to U as Saviour
& to what U accomplished on the
cross as guarantee of my salvation.
Thank You for paying the price for
my sin. Forgive me if I’ve spoken
against You in any way, or have
been motivated by fear & doubt.
I come to You in Faith, believing
that You will answer my prayer.
Help me to always Obey U. Amen.

Choose Faith In God, Not Doubt

Following the Lord’s instructions,
Moses selects one representative
from each of the 12 tribes to form
a scouting party. Their assignment:
to spy out the defenses of the
land and bring back a sample
of the produce grown there.
The 12 return with a divided report!
Ten see only the obstacles while
two see opportunities. The nation
disheartened & faithless, threatens
to stone Moses and return to Egypt
rather than face what lies ahead.
As a result, God condemns that
unbelieving generation to forty
years wandering the wilderness.
Lord,help us see thro Eyes of Faith.
Help us not treat U with Contempt.
Help us Not to Doubt You. Amen.

Lord,we’ll Choose Faith Not Doubt:
Two of men who had explored the
land, Joshua and Caleb, said to
the community of Israel: The land
we explored is a wonderful land!
And if the Lord is pleased with us,
He will bring us safely into that land
and give it to us… Do not rebel
against the Lord and don’t be
afraid of the people of the land…
The Lord is with us (Num 14:6-9).
The Lord said to Moses: How long
will these people treat me with
contempt? Will they never believe
Me, even after all the miraculous
signs I’ve done among them (v11).
I have forgiven them as you asked.
Because these men who have seen
My glory and the signs I did in
Egypt and in the wilderness and
have put Me to the test 10 times
and have not heeded My voice,
they shall not see the land which
I swore to their fathers (N14:19-23)

Lord, open my spiritual eyes to
see those exceedingly good things
in my path. Forgive me for focusing
on the problems around me.
As I keep my eyes on You and
the purpose You’ve put before me,
may I go forth in faith, not in fear,
so that I don’t miss the beauty
and blessings each day. Amen.

Lord, it is so easy to let our
hearts be affected by negativity.
And I confess that I tend to live
by sight and not by faith. Please
help me reverse that tendency.
I purpose to hang on to Your truth,
even when it may contradict
the visible world and circumstance.
For I want to be a believer in
every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God, just as U delivered Your pple
out of Egypt, and You forgave them
and provided what they needed
every step of the way, I turn to You
for deliverance & forgiveness & ask
that You will provide for my needs.
Help me to never doubt that
You will always give me the
light I need for each step I take.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpqBEEY6as

Thank God for Overflowing Hope

What u believe affect how u behave
For 11 chapters Paul has set forth
the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The balance of his letter moves
into the practical outworking of
that faith. For every assignment,
there is a enablement from God:
Serve one another using the gifts
God gave you; be subject to higher
authorities; be sensitive to needs
of weaker brothers; be united
in purpose & have mind of Christ.

Lord,fill us with Joy, Peace & Hope:
Therefore receive one another
just as Christ also received us…
Jesus Christ has become a servant
to the circumcision for the truth
of God, to confirm the promises
made to the fathers, and that the
Gentiles might glorify God for His
mercy… May the God of Hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you
trust Him so that u may Overflow
with Hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit (Rom 15:7-13). Amen.

Lord, it is difficult to be peaceful
when facing difficult situations.
I need and want to overflow with
confident hope; and I appropriate
Apostle Paul’s prayer as my own.
As I continue to believe in You
and trust You, fill me with Your
peace, keep me happy and let me
overflow with hope through the
power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, help me to resist the things
that will minimise my strength or
deplete my soul. Fill me instead
with Your hope, peace and joy,
so much so that they overflow
from me to others. I praise You
for who You are and thank You
that as I do, Your Spirit pours
new life into me. Fill me afresh
with Your Spirit this day and
take all hopelessness away. Amen

Lord, it’s a pretty grim world out
there, full of self-centred people
and news of gloom and doom.
And prolonged trials can also
cause us to doubt. Fill me to
overflowing with Hope as I turn
my heart to You. Fill me with hope
& restore me even as I trust in U.
Help me take my eyes off the
heavy problems as I hope in You
and wait upon You to act. Amen.