Month: October 2024

God Gives Power to Obey 

Philippians is a joyful letter,
written by Paul from a prison cell
in Rome to the church he founded
on his second missionary journey.
Despite adverse circumstances,
Philippians is an encouraging letter
in the midst of persecution. There
is much for Paul to rejoice about
especially the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Lord, we’ll work out sanctification:
If there is any (encouragement) from
being united w Christ, if any comfort
from His love, if any fellowship of
the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,
fulfill my joy by being likeminded,
having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind (Phil 2:1-2)
Don’t be selfish. Be humble, think
of others as better than yourself.
Don’t think only about your own
affairs, but be interested in others
too…Your attitude should be the
same that Christ Jesus had (v3-5).
Continue to work out your
salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God Who Works in you
to Will and to Act in order to fulfill
His good purpose (Phil 2:12-13).

Lord of grace and wisdom, I want
to make the Father truly happy.
Help me to live in harmony with
my Christian brothers and sisters,
by loving them, and by working
together with one mind & purpose
to bring more people to Christ.
Grant me success in this important
endeavour. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lord, work in me the desire
to please You rather than to
impress others. Forgive me for
my selfishness and for focussing
on my life, my needs & problems.
Help me Lord to care more about
others as well as their needs too.
And help me to have a servant’s
heart so that You can truly do
Your work through me. Amen,

Lord, grateful You are at work
within me to fulfil Your purpose.
Help me to do what is right
and to obey with reverence.
Help me to hold on in faith, and
new power to live as I should.
Wean me from the excuse that
“I am too tired”, “I am too weak”
For Your strength is sufficient
to fulfill Your good purpose. Amen

God Completes Good Work

Philippians is a joyful letter, written
by Paul from a prison cell in Rome
to one of the churches he founded
on his second missionary journey.
Despite Paul’s adverse situation,
Philippians is an encouraging
letter in the midst of persecution.
There is much for Paul to rejoice
about: the Philippians’ repeated
financial assistance, the hope of
visiting the Philippian believers soon,
and the church’s steadfast
testimony for the gospel.

Lord, You’ll Complete Good Work:
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of
your partnership in the gospel…
Being confident of this, that He
who Began a good work in you
Will Carry it on to Completion until
the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:4-6).
That you may be able to discern
what is best and may be opure and
blameless until the day of Christ,
filled with fruit of righteousness
that comes through Christ (v9-11)

Lord, I am eternally linked to You
by grace through faith & I am part
of Your body for You are the head.
Thank You Lord that my needs
are fully met in You. Forgive me
for the times when I think and act
as though You are not enough.
For You will bring to completion
the good work that You began.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I praise You for Your great
salvation; for You not only took
away sin, but also gave me a new
nature that longs to please You.
Continue Lord Your work in me;
for there’s still much rough edges
and glad You do not give up on me.
Look forward Lord to the day when
Your work in me will be complete &
I’ll be blameless for Your glory. Amen

Lord, please help us to grow
spiritually as well as understand
what that really matters in life.
Help us not chase after things that
doesn’t matter. But instead we’ll
focus on our relationship with You
and on growing to be more like You.
Grant us the faith and the strength
so that You’ll realize in us the ideals
You have taught us to cherish. Amen

God Grants Gifts for Unity;                              Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Blest Be the Tie That Binds
John Fawcett was ordained as a
Baptist minister and began ministry
at a poor church in Wingate England.
The small congregation could only
afford to pay him a minimal salary.
After seven years of ministry,
Fawcett received offer from affluent
Carter’s Lane Church in London.
As he was saying his farewells
and saw the tears on the faces
of his people, he decided to stay.
Inspired by Eph 4, Fawcett wrote
this hymn for the congregation at
Wingate. He recognised the bond
of love he knew there was worth
more than any material wealth. For
being united with Christ means we
are to treat one another as family.

Lord, Unite & Bind us together:
Live a life worthy of the calling you
have received. Be humble & gentle…
Be patient with each other, making
allowance for each other’s faults
because of Your love (Eph 4:1-2).
Make every effort to keep
yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together
with peace. For there is one body
and one Spirit, just as you have
been called to one glorious hope
for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and
one God and Father (v3-6).
To each of us grace was given…
And He gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists
and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of body of Christ (v7-12).

Lord God, help me accept human
imperfection in others and myself;
for we are all sinners in Your sight.
Help us to be more patient with
each other making allowance for
each other’s faults & weaknesses.
Help us to develop a right view
of others despite their annoying
faults and non-saintlike conduct.
Help us pray for serenity to accept
things we could not change. Amen.

Lord, Help us keep unity of Spirit
in lowliness of heart and gentleness.
Let differences in our backgrounds,
experiences and personalities,
not divide us but instead enrich us.
Help us make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit and protect it.
Bind us Lord together in love for
You made us one body & one spirit.
Teach us to appreciate and love one
another and live together in peace.
Lord blest the tie that binds! Amen.

Father, You have appointed
for me apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers
to prepare me for works of service.
They are Your gift to the church to
build me up towards unity of faith
with all the saints, in the knowledge
of Christ Jesus, so that I may
become mature and attain the full
measure of Christ in my life. Amen.

Lord, Blest be the tie that binds
Our heart in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above…
Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers; Our
fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares…
We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear. Amen.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the epistle to
the Ephesians is to strengthen
the believers in Ephesus in their
Christian faith by explaining the
nature and purpose of the church,
which is the body of Christ.
The Ephesians had unlimited
spiritual wealth at their disposal,
yet they lived as spiritual paupers.
And Paul wrote to encourage them
to claim their Spiritual Blessings.

On Monday, we learn from Eph 1
that God Grants Spiritual Blessings.
On Tue, we learn from Eph 2 that
Christ Releases Amazing Grace.
On Wed, we learn from Eph 3
that God Loves & Empowers Us.
On Thursday, we learn from Eph 4
that God Grants Gifts for Unity.
On Friday, we learn fr Eph 5 that
God Enables Walking with Spirit.
On Saturday, we learn from Eph 6
that God Provides Spiritual Armour.

Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who Adore You:
For You are worthy of our Praise
as God Releases Amazing Grace
as well as Loves & Empowers Us.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Grants Spiritual Blessings
as well as Spiritual Gifts for Unity.
For You Enable Walking with Spirit
as well as Provide Spiritual Armour.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Provides Spiritual Armour;                  Stand Up & Stand Firm for Jesus

In 1858, churches in Philadelphia
united in a citywide evangelistic
effort. Dudley Tyng, a 29 year old
preacher spoke to 5,000 men and
1,000 responded to the gospel.
Four days later, however Tyng
was fatally injured in an accident.
As he lay dying, Tyng was still
thinking about the men who had
made decisions for Christ & said:
Tell them to stand up for Jesus.
Presbyterian minister George
Duffield preached next Sunday
on the text: “Stand Therefore”
and in conclusion read a poem
entitled Stand Up for Jesus. A
church member sent the poem to
a newspaper and was published.

Walk Worthy of your calling…You
are rich in Christ, so live that way!
The Christian’s conduct should
be consistent with his calling.
You are rich in Christ, endowed
with spiritual blessings; so learn
to walk in the light of that wealth.
A spiritual war rages & those who
use the armour of God will be able
to stand agst Satan’s wily attacks.

Lord, we will Put On Your Armour:
Put On the full Armour of God
so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood, but against the… powers
of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:11-12).
Take Up the Shield of Faith, with
which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God (v16-17).
And Pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers…
be alert and always keep on
praying for all the saints (v18).

Lord, I recognise because I have
aligned myself with You, the
enemy will wage war against me.
Help me Lord Put On the full spiritual
Armour that You have provided.
Help me understand the depth of
truth, righteousness, faith, solid
walk with Christ, salvation, prayer
& the sword of the Spirit Your Word.
Teach me how to use the armour
& perseverance practising it. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the Shield of
Faith to deflect Satan’s fiery arrows
and provide necessary protection.
Grant that assurance of salvation
will guard my mind amid difficulties
and doubts attempt to creep in.
Enlighten my mind Oh Spirit
to understand Your Word and
how it applies to my life. And
help me draw the sword when
Satan attacks with a lie. Amen.

Lord, enable us to know the
presence of Your Spirit within us
& walk in constant awareness of it.
May You freely live Your life in us,
express Your heartbeat to us
and Pray Your will through us.
We know Lord we simply can’t do
any of these on our own efforts,
but with You, nothing is impossible.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift up His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed…
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you;
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armour;
Each piece put on with prayer.
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there. Amen.

God Enables Walking with Spirit;                         O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee

Washington Gladden believed that
Christians should be involved in the
world’s problems. As a clergyman,
he crusaded against injustice. And
he often preached social gospel,
rousing his congregation to social
problems engulfing the country.
When Gladden wrote this hymn,
(inspired by Eph 5) in 1979, he said
the poem was an honest cry of the
need for divine companionship. And
if our friendship with Jesus doesn’t
lead to concern for our fellowmen,
then we better check how closely
we are walking with the Master.
For God Enables Spirit Filled Life &
we’re to Walk Worthy of our calling.

Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely:
Be imitators of God as dear
children. And Walk In Love,
as Christ also has loved us and
given Himself for us (Eph 5:1-2).
Once you were full of darkness,
but now you have light from the
Lord. So live as people of light.
Find out what is acceptable to
the Lord… Awake you who sleep…
and Christ will give you light (v8-14)
Be careful how you live. Don’t
live like fools, but like those who
are Wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of God is.
Let the Holy Spirit Fill and Control
you. Then you will sing hymns
and spiritual songs to the Lord.
And you will always Give Thanks
for everything to God (v15-20).

Father God, may Your Spirit help us
to imitate You to walk in love and
in the light of Your countenance.
Fill our hearts with the sense of
Your nearness and loving fellowship.
Order our steps Lord in Your way
and then walk with us, for in You
Lord there is no darkness at all.
Help us walk in Your light for
we are people of the light. Amen.

Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely
and make good use of our time.
Help us to sense Your presence
& purpose in every circumstance.
Help us see what You are doing
and what You want to do thru us.
Help us reflect each day to sense
what You are doing in our life
and where You are leading us.
Help us develop a heart of deep
gratitude in all situations. Amen.

Holy Spirit, we welcome You to Fill
us and have full control of our life.
We welcome You personality fully,
Your character and Your attitudes.
Thank You for Your empowering,
Your gifts, Your blessings and
all that You have done in our life.
O Lord God, fill our hearts with
gratitude, thanksgiving and praise;
& Lord let me walk with Thee.Amen.

O Master, let me walk with Thee
In lowly paths of service free
Tell me Thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Teach me Thy patience still w Thee
In closer, dearer company
In work tt keeps faith sweet & strong
In truth that triumphs over wrong.
O Master, let me walk with Thee
In closer, dearer company
O Master, let me walk with Thee
O let me walk with Thee.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down t future’s broadening way
In peace that only Thou canst give
With Thee, O Master, let me live.

God Grants Gifts for Unity; and           Inspiring Blest Be the Tie That Binds

I’m Blest Be the Tie That Binds
John Fawcett was ordained as a
Baptist minister and began ministry
at a poor church in Wingate England.
The small congregation could only
afford to pay him a minimal salary.
After seven years of ministry,
Fawcett received offer from affluent
Carter’s Lane Church in London.
As he was saying his farewells
and saw the tears on the faces
of his people, he decided to stay.
Inspired by Eph 4, Fawcett wrote
this hymn for the congregation at
Wingate. He recognised the bond
of love he knew there was worth
more than any material wealth. For
being united with Christ means we
are to treat one another as family.

Lord, Unite & Bind us together:
Live a life worthy of the calling you
have received. Be humble & gentle…
Be patient with each other, making
allowance for each other’s faults
because of Your love (Eph 4:1-2).
Make every effort to keep
yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together
with peace. For there is one body
and one Spirit, just as you have
been called to one glorious hope
for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, and
one God and Father (v3-6).
To each of us grace was given…
And He gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists
and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of body of Christ (v7-12).

Lord God, help me accept human
imperfection in others and myself;
for we are all sinners in Your sight.
Help us to be more patient with
each other making allowance for
each other’s faults & weaknesses.
Help us to develop a right view
of others despite their annoying
faults and non-saintlike conduct.
Help us pray for serenity to accept
things we could not change. Amen.

Lord, Help us keep unity of Spirit
in lowliness of heart and gentleness.
Let differences in our backgrounds,
experiences and personalities,
not divide us but instead enrich us.
Help us make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit and protect it.
Bind us Lord together in love for
You made us one body & one spirit.
Teach us to appreciate and love one
another and live together in peace.
Lord blest the tie that binds! Amen.

Father, You have appointed
for me apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers
to prepare me for works of service.
They are Your gift to the church to
build me up towards unity of faith
with all the saints, in the knowledge
of Christ Jesus, so that I may
become mature and attain the full
measure of Christ in my life. Amen.

Lord, Blest be the tie that binds
Our heart in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above…
Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers; Our
fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares…
We share each other’s woes,
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear. Amen.

God Loves & Empowers Us

The Ephesians had unlimited
spiritual wealth at their disposal,
yet they lived as spiritual paupers.
So Paul wrote to encourage
them to understand and claim
their heavenly resources. Only
then could they draw on them for
their earthly walk. And In Christ,
Christians are endowed with every
spiritual blessing as well as adoptn,
redemption, inheritance and power.

Lord, we Seek Your Empowerment:
We have boldness and access
with confidence thru faith in Him.
Therefore… do not lose heart…
I pray to the Father that
from His glorious unlimited
resources, He will empower you
with inner strength through
His Spirit (Ephesians 3:12-16);
that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith;
that you being rooted & grounded
in love may… comprehend…
the love of Christ…
that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God (v17-19).
Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory… forever (v20-21).

Lord, I have limited strength and
may not have much in reserve.
Even when I am strong, I will
still need to depend on You.
That’s more true when I am weak;
please show Yourself strong in me;
and fill me with Your Resources.
Holy Spirit, You who reside in me,
give me strength & faith to believe.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Lord, I want to understand and
experience Your Love in a deeper
way than I ever have before.
May Your Love be my secure
anchor as Your Spirit causes
my roots to sink deeper in You.
Grant me the power to understand
the limitless extent of Your Love.
Be the center of my life and reveal
Yourself to me each day. Amen.

Lord, we exalt You being awesome
possessing all wisdom and power.
Forgive us Lord for having just
a small view of You and Your will.
We affirm Lord You are Able to do
amazing things in and through us;
though they are not yet experienced.
Bring it up to the level of Your truth
and teach us to operate in the
Power that works within us. Amen.

Christ Enables Good Works

The Ephesians had unlimited
spiritual wealth at their disposal,
yet they lived as spiritual paupers.
So Paul wrote to encourage
them to understand and claim
their heavenly resources. Only
then could they draw on them for
their earthly walk. And In Christ,
Christians are endowed with every
spiritual blessing as well as adoptn,
redemption, inheritance and power.

Lord, we will Be Your Workmen:
For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God…
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God Prepared
beforehand that we should
Walk in them (Eph 2:8-10).
For through Him we both have
access by one Spirit to the Father.
Now… you are no longer strangers…
but fellow citizens with.. members
of the household of God (v18-19).
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
Cornerstone… in whom the whole
building being fitted together,
grows into a holy temple… in whom
you also are being built together
for a dwelling place for God(v20-22)

Father, what a gracious gift that
You saved us & we take no credit
for our salvation as You gave it to us.
Pray Lord that I will not degrade in
thinking that I’ve to do good deeds
to earn or hold onto Your salvation.
For I am saved by Your grace,
and good deeds are simply part
of Your plan for me to have a
purposeful & fulfilling life. Amen.

Father, Thank You for giving me
new and rich life that will never end.
Thanks for capacity to change and
help me grow to be more like Jesus.
Thanks Abba for adopting me
and placing me in Your household.
Give me spiritual gifts to serve
others; work in me & through me.
Help me lead a purposeful life,
to be a blessing to others and
thereby glorify Your name. Amen.

Father God, You laid the foundation
on the cornerstone building a
holy spiritual house for Your love.
Thanks for making it possible for
everyone to be part of Your family.
Lord Jesus, grateful for Yr sacrificial
act of love and the suffering You
went through for our salvation.
And I choose to live for You and to
do Your assignment that You have
specially prepared for me. Amen.

God Grants Spiritual Blessings

The Ephesians had unlimited
spiritual wealth at their disposal,
yet they lived as spiritual paupers.
So Paul wrote to encourage
them to understand and claim
their heavenly resources. Only
then could they draw on them for
their earthly walk. And In Christ,
Christians are endowed with every
Spiritual Blessing as well as adoptn,
redemption, inheritance and power.

Lord, so grateful for Your Blessing:
Praise be to the God & Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing… in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him…
that we should be holy & without
blame… having predestined us
to adoption as sons (Eph 1:3-5).
In Him we have redemption thru
His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
acc to the riches of His grace…
In Him also we have obtained
an inheritance, being predestined
according to His purpose (v7-11).
( I am) asking God… to give you
the spirit of wisdom & revelation
so that you might grow in your
Knowledge of God. (I pray also)
that the eyes of your heart may
Be Enlightened in order that
you may know the Hope to which
He has called you, the riches of
His glorious Inheritance… and His
incomparably great Power (v17-19)

Father God, all Praise and Thanks
to You for Your abundant blessings.
How easy it is to forget that You
are the source of every good thing.
Your goodness to me is not because
of any goodness on my part; but
because of Christ; and Your grace
giving the spiritual blessing I need.
When I feel dry & empty, remind me
Lord that You stand ready to give
whatever that I may need. Amen.

Lord, let reality of Your redemption
and forgiveness of our sins
flood our soul; and let the riches
of God’s grace overwhelm us.
Thank You Lord that we’ve been
assigned an inheritance in You;
and we claim this promise and
declare that as Your children and
heirs to all that You have for us.
So thankful Lord for Your blessings;
and in gratitude we purpose that
Your truths will renew us. Amen.

Lord, I pray that the eyes of my
heart will Be Opened to see the
Hope to which You’ve called me.
Help me to understand my true
Inheritance; and enable me to
comprehend the magnitude of
Your Power for I believe in You.
And I seek more of Your presence,
Your Love & Power so that I can see
them manifested in my life. Amen.