Month: December 2019

Trusting & Receiving the Miraculous

GDr Luke – physician, historian and
writer of the longest gospel account
clearly states his purpose for writing
in the opening verses of his book:
That you may know the certainty
of those things in which you were
instructed (1:4). He begins with the
details surrounding the miraculous
births of two remarkable boys: John
the forerunner & Jesus the Messiah.

Dear Lord Jesus, we realise that
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 You.
Help us Believe In Your Word.
Help us Live Out Our Destiny.
Help us Remain Devoted to You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we Will Believe Your Word:
The angel said: Zacharias, your wife
will bear a son, and you shall call his
name John…But 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 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 (Lk 1:31-38)
Lord, help us not be discouraged
by the Long unyielding situations.
Help us to endure the long periods
that require patience and waiting.
Help us simply Believe Your Words.
And Lord, even when things does
Not Make Sense, remind me that
Your Word is the ultimate truth.
Help me embrace your promises,
though they seem impossible; for
You are the God who can create
new things out of nothing. Amen.

Lord, we will Live Out Our Destiny:
Simeon…eagerly expected the
Messiah to come rescue Israel…
When Mary and Joseph came to
present Jesus to the Lord, Simeon
took the child & praised God saying:
Lord now I can die in peace !
As you promised me, I have seen
the Saviour You have given to
all people. He is a light to reveal
God to the nations (Lk 2:25-32).
Lord, thank You for bringing us out
of darkness into Yr marvellous light.
Help us to shine Your light so that
everyone around will be drawn to U.
And help us like Simeon accomplish
Yr purpose & live our destiny. Amen.

Lord, we’ll Remain Devoted to You
Anna, a prophet Never Left the
Temple but Stayed worshipping God..
She came along just as Simeon
was talking with Mary & Joseph,
and she began praising God.
She talked about Jesus to every
-one who had been Waiting for
the promised King to come and 
deliver Jerusalem (Lk 2:36-38).
Lord, help me to let go of divided
desires & be wholly Devoted to You.
Capture & renew my heart Lord to
regularly wait upon You. And let the
eyes of my heart be awakened to see
You and to rejoice in You each day.
For U are worthy of all praise. Amen

Preview On Luke Gospel

Whilst the Bible is arranged by
types of writings, we meditate it
Chronologically to get better flow:
Genesis on God’s Plan for creation;
Job on Sovereignty of God; and
Exodus, Leviticus, Num-Deut on
Deliverance, Holiness & Obedience.
Then Joshua on Obedient Faith,
Judges on God Restoring Repentant;
Ruth on Faithfulness/Redemption;
1&2 Samuel on Rule of God in our
heart and the Consequences of sin;
1&2 Chronicles on Genuine Worship
and Psalms on hymns of worship.

Since it’s advent season and for
a change, we go to gospel of Luke;
who presents Jesus as the perfect
Man who came to save sinful people.
Luke builds his narrative on Jesus’
life by tracing the twin themes of
growing belief & growing opposition.
While Jesus’ followers are challenged
to count the cost of discipleship, His
opposers are plotting against Him.
But His death & resurrection validate
His claims, thwart His enemies and
empower His disciples to continue
His ministry to a lost world.

We will meditate Luke gospel over
4 weekends in following 8 divisions:
Lk 1-2: Arrival of the Son of Man
Lk 3-6: Authority of Son of Man
Lk 7-9: Ministry of Son of Man
Lk10-12: Admonition of Son of Man
Lk13-15: Parables of Son of Man
Lk16-18: Parables of Son of Man
Lk19-21: Teaching of Son of Man
Lk22-24: Triumph of Son of Man

Let’s soak in the revelation of our
Saviour, see the love of Jesus for
individuals and appreciate God’s
concern for our wholeness. And
Lord, we worship You in gratitude
and deep adoration. Amen.

Looking to Return of the Lord

Persecution from unbelievers can
be hard for Christians to bear, but
defection within the community of 
believers can be more devastating.
To counteract the effects of this
“poison”, Peter reminds his readers
of the timeless truths of the Faith
and exhorts them to continue
growing toward Christian Maturity.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
The Lord is not slack concerning
His promise… but is Longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should
come to Repentance (2 Pet 3:9).
But the day of the Lord will
come as unexpectedly as a thief.
Then… the earth & everything on it
will be found to deserve judgment…
what holy & Godly lives u should live.
But we are looking forward to the
new heavens and new earth He 
has promised, a world filled with
God’s righteousness (v10-13).

Lord, You display immense patience
as an example for those who will
believe and receive eternal life.
You are patient towards sinners and
grateful for showing mercy & not
treating me as my sins deserve.
So, help me encourage others to 
also seek Your mercy and grace.
For what You have done in my life,
You will surely do for others. Amen.

Lord, some Christians are facing
difficulties or suffering for their
faith & look forward for your return.
We know God is patiently waiting for
more people to repent. You’re moving
with perfect timing & not slowness.
Each day delayed is to give more
people opportunity to accept Jesus.
Help us use the time God has given
us to pray for the lost, sow seeds of
kindness & share the gospel. Amen.

Father, apostle Peter exhorts us
towards maturity & Godly Living
In this regard, help us O Lord,
to keep on knowing more of You,
remember what Christ taught us
& be diligent in faithful obedience.
Thank U for rescuing & freeing us,
thank You for being patient; and 
help us to be witnesses of You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Divine Enabling For Godly Living

Peter’s 2nd letter teaches opposing
internal spiritual attacks by Satan
with the knowledge of the truth.
Peter warns against apostasy within
the church, moral perversions
and the denial of Christ’s return
that false teachers propagate.
He exhorts his readers to grow in
grace & knowledge that come thro
Christ, thereby gaining strength
to resist error and avoid heresy.

Lord, You Enable Godly Living:
By His divine power, God has given
us everything we need for living a
godly life… He has given us great
…promises; which enable you to
share His divine nature (2Pet 1:3-4)
Brethren, be…diligent to make your
call & election sure, for if u do these
things you will never stumble (v10). 
And so we have the prophetic Word
confirmed, which u do well to heed…
for… holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by Holy Spirit (v19-21).

Father God, I claim your promises:
that You Give us Godly Nature
and that You Enable Godly Living.
Grant me grace of developing more
intimate relationship with You as
I know more of You & Christ Jesus.
Help me remember what You teach
& be diligent in faithful obedience.
Help me grow spiritually; so that
I may live wholly for You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving
me new life that will never end.
Your holy word says if anyone is in
Christ; the new creation has come:
The old has gone; the new is here.
And I purpose to make the call
and election sure. For I don’t have
to keep living the way I used to live.
And with Your empowerment, I have
the capacity to change & grow into
Your image. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Holy Spirit, teach me how to tap
into Your divine power so that I will
not lack anything that You offer.
Fill me continually Lord, and be
ever present within me; for I want
to experience You more and more.
Holy Spirit, increase the evidence
of Your presence in my life. And
make Your home in me so that
I will display more love, more power,
more of You in my life. Amen!!

Be Good Stewards of God

Peter writes to scattered Jewish
Christians who are undergoing
intense persecution for their faith.
God has begotten us again unto a
living hope. So don’t be surprised
when suffering comes your way;
prepare & respond to it correctly.
Purpose to do what is right and 
imitate Christ in submissive spirit.
And God will richly reward you
when the trials of life are over.

Lord, we will reflect Your Grace:
Most of all, continue to show deep
love for each other; for Love Covers
a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
Be hospitable to one another
without grumbling. As each has
received a gift, minister it to one
another as Good Stewards of the
manifold grace of God (v9-10).
If anyone speaks, they should do it
as one who speaks the Very Words
of God… so that in all things God
may be praised (1 Peter 4:11) Amen.

Lord, I confess a lack of love & need
for Your unfailing love toward some.
Help me to yield to Your Spirit and
experience deeer intimacy with You
and Your love for me. Then may
Your love so fill me that others may
feel splashes from the overflow.
And in those relationships that are
toughest, grant me Your Love which
covers a multitude of sins. Amen.

Lord, sometimes we neglect
relationships & erect boundaries
due to distrust and bitterness.
We also confess of commitment
phobia and sins of the flesh that
block us from Christlike love.
Grateful for the spiritual gifts that
the Holy Spirit has given to me.
Help me to use them well to serve
one another. In His name, Amen.

Lord, let me declare Your Words,
and let me recognise them in others.
We often ask You to speak to us,
and it only make sense that You
will use people to do so. Help me
to hear Your words in season for me.
And help me speak forth Your
thoughts for your people graciously.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Live as People of the Lord

Peter writes to scattered Jewish
Christians who are undergoing
intense persecution for their faith.
God has begotten us again unto a
living hope. So don’t be surprised
when suffering comes your way;
prepare & respond to it correctly.
Purpose to do what is right and 
imitate Christ in submissive spirit.
And God will richly reward you
 when the trials of life are over.

Lord,we’ll live as Yr Special People:
But you are a chosen generation, 
        a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
      His own Special People, that you
   may proclaim the praises of Him
    who called you out of darkness
        into His marvellous light (1Pet 2:9)
  Live such good lives among the
pagans that…they may see your
good deeds & Glorify God (v12).
      Live As Free People, but do not
         use your freedom as a cover-up
        for evil; live as God’s slaves (v16)

Lord, thank You for bringing me
out of darkness into Your wonderful
light because of Your mercy.
Thanks for making us Your Special
People, Your very own possession.
Help me to continually yield to
You so that the life and character
of Christ will be formed in me.
Then others may see Yr goodness
and will be drawn to You. Amen.

Lord, You are good and holy and
we pray our lives will honour You.
And I pray that You will enable me
have godly character so that my life
will be a Shining Example of You.
Lord, live in me and live through me
so that those who disagree or even
dislike me will be drawn to You and
to the saving knowledge of U. Amen

Lord, it is a phenomenal truth
that I am truely Free In Christ.
And I confess not always living it out.
Instead of joyful delight in Your
refreshing salvation, sometimes
I do feel like I am barely making it.
Nevertheless, I claim Your promise
that I am free. Help me live beyond
what I want to what You desire.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Living Word Gives Living Hope

Peter writes to scattered Jewish
Christians who are undergoing
intense persecution for their faith.
God has begotten us again unto a
Living Hope. So don’t be surprised
when suffering comes your way;
prepare & respond to it correctly.
Purpose to do what is right; by
Imitating Christ in your submissive
spirit. And God will richly reward
you when the trials of life are over.

Lord, we Value Our Inheritance:
Praise be to the God…In His Great
Mercy He has given us new birth
into a Living Hope through the
resurrection of Christ from the
dead into an inheritance that
can never perish… (1Pet 1:3-4).
Now for a little while you may have
had to suffer… in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that the
proven genuineness of your faith:
of Greater Worth than gold (v6-7).
Your new life will last forever
because it comes from the eternal
living word of God (v23). Amen.

Father, I thank you for the hope
and inheritance that you have
provided by the resurrection of
Your Son and our Saviour Jesus.
I praise You for the boundless
mercy that gave me the privilege of
being born again to a Living Hope.
Thank you for not only giving me
life but also a priceless inheritance
for all Your dear children. Amen.

Lord, help me realise that trials
are meant for my Ultimate Good;
so help me learn to rejoice in You.
Help me to hold on to what You
have promised for the future.
And as I face trials, pray that I will
continually seek Your guidance;
that my character be refined by U
and that U will strengthen my faith.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, when You have given us a
vision, we don’t need to ask about
current circumstances that are
inconsistent with it. Your purposes
are eternal; and Your Words to
us are based in those purposes.
Whatever You tell us will endure;
and we trust them for as long as
it takes to see them come to pass.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Praise the Praiseworthy God

The Fifth book of Psalms (107-150)
is similar to Deuteronomy being
anthems of praise and thanksgiving
for God & his Word. And Ps 146-150
builds to a climax of praise:
Praise God for Best Hope (146);
Praise God for His Care (147);
Praise God for His creation (148);
Praise God for His justice (149);
Praise God for His Greatness (150).
Praise the Praiseworthy God!!

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us
the book of Psalms that teaches us
how to pray and how to praise You.
And we praise you unceasingly
For You are our Best Hope,
For You are Caring and Mighty &
For You are completely Great.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, You are our Best Hope:
Praise the Lord! I tell myself.
I will praise the Lord as long
as I live. I will sing praises to my
God even with my dying breath.
Don’t put confidence in powerful
people; there is no help for u there.
But happy are those who have the
God of Israel as their helper, whose
hope is in the Lord their God, who
made heaven & earth (Ps 146:1-6).
Lord, forgive me for putting my
confidence in people instead of You
for You made heaven and earth.
You are unchanging and almighty,
and help to those who are in need.
You keep all your promises. I put my
hope in you & I praise You. Amen.

Lord, You are Caring & Mighty:
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
& bringing the exiles back to Israel.
He heals the broken-hearted.
His power is absolute! The strength
of a horse doesn’t impress him;
how puny in his sight is the strength
of a man. Rather, the Lord’s
delight is in those who honour Him,
those who put their hope in His
unfailing love (Ps 147:2-5, 10-11).
Lord, forgive me when I’ve relied on
someone/something other than You.
Those things are puny compared
to the Strength that You give
when we acknowledge our
weakness & dependence on You.
Lord, I purpose to honour You;
and I put my trust in your absolute
Power and unfailing love. Amen.

Lord, You are Completely Great:
Praise the Lord! Praise God…
Praise Him in His mighty heaven!
Praise Him for His mighty works;
praise His unequaled Greatness!l
Praise Him with a blast of trumpet…
Let everything that lives sing praises.
Praise the Lord! (Ps 150:1-3,6)
Lord, I join the heavenly hosts to
worship You for Your mighty works.
I praise Your unequalled Greatness.
I praise U for You have sustained me
for Yr faithfulness, love & provision.
May my heart and voice offer You
the praise Your glory deserves!
And let everything that lives
sing praises to the Lord! Amen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T2mrmCv2ccg

God Can Be Counted Upon !!

The Fifth book of Psalms (P107-150)
is similar to book of Deuteronomy
being anthems of praise and
thanksgiving for God & his Word.
And Ps 138-145 are attributed
to King David. In his hour of need,
David found God praiseworthy
for his unfailing Promises (138),
for his Omnipresence (139),
for he is a sure Refuge (140-142),
being a listening Ear (143), a strong
Arm (144) & a merciful King (145).

Lord, we thank and praise You for
being mighty, good and faithful.
And when in problems, we can run
to You to find refuge & deliverance.
For You Can Be Counted upon.
For You Reach Down to us &
For You Are Near when we pray.
For You Will Come & Save us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we are Counting on You:
Lord, I am calling to you. Plse hurry!
Listen when I cry to you for help!
Take control of what I say O Lord,
and keep my lips sealed. Don’t let
me lust for evil things; don’t let me
participate in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
of those who do evil (Psa 141:1-4)
Lord, I praise You that You are
a God I can count on to keep me!
Left to myself, I am not strong
enough to walk in Your paths.
Deliver me from choosing
my own way instead of Yours.
Strengthen my heart & work within
me according to Your plans. Amen.

Lord, You Reach Down to Us:
Blessed be the Lotd my Rock…
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield & the One…I take refuge.
O Lord, what are mortals that You
should notice us, mere humans
that You should care for us?…
Bend down the heavens, Lord,
and come down (to us) (Ps 144:1-5)
Lord, as we will be soon celebrating
Your birth, we praise You for coming
to earth so that we who believe in
You might receive Your forgiveness
and experience Your love. You are
Emmanuel, God with us. Although
we are mere humans, You reached
down from high and brought us out
of darkness into Yr marvellous light.
And You are also our Rock, our
shield and our deliverer. Amen.

Lord, You are Near when we pray:
The Lord is full of compassion.
The Lord is near to all who call…
to all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who
fear Him; He also will hear their cry
and save them. The Lord preserves
all who love Him (Ps 145:8, 18-20).
Lord, I confess having doubted You
were near to hear my prayers for
it seemed they went unanswered.
Help me to pray more fervently
during times of unanswered prayer
instead of being concerned that
nothing will change. For You are
full of compassion and You always
do what You promise. Amen.

Contending for the Faith

Alarmed by the presence of
 false teaching, Jude exhorts believers to stand firm for the truth.
He ends his short epistle with
a series of urgent commands:
Remember Christ’s words,
remain in God’s love and seek
to remove erring brothers from
the fiery danger of their ways.

Lord, You Will Keep Us:
Build each other up in… faith,
pray in the power of the Holy Spirit…
And you must show mercy to those
whose faith is wavering (Jude 20-22)
All glory to God, who Is Able to Keep
You from stumbling, and who will
bring you into His glorious presence
innocent of sin & with great joy (v24)
All Glory to Him, who alone is God
our Saviour, thro Christ our Lord.
Yes, glory, majesty, power and
authority belong to Him, now,
and forevermore (Jude 25) Amen.

Lord Jesus thank you for giving
me the hope that saved my life.
In gratitude, I choose to serve as
Your servant for the rest of my life.
And I also purpose to build others
in their faith and in their recovery.
Mold me to be more merciful and
help me to be tender with sinners.
Grant me the needed breakthrough
so that I can effectively testify the
message of hope, especially to
those whose faith is wavering. Amen

Father, You are powerful and loving
and can keep us from stumbling.
You God not only saves us but
also never leaves us or forsake us.
You will lead us step by step until
You bring us into Yr presence. And
You are Able to bring good out of
evil & keep everything that we have
committed until the day we see You
face-to-face. You are a God whose
promises we can count on. Amen.

Abba, thank You for the great gift
of salvation through Christ Jesus.
Thank You for being compassionate
& I purpose to constantly praise You.
Glory to You God, the one who is
able to bring me into Your glorious
presence blameless & with great joy!
Help me depend on Your Power
& strength as You work within me.
All glory, majesty and authority
belong to You now & forever. Amen.