Author: Chiasochris

We have been Chronologically
covering the Bible phase by phase.
We start the Gospels, with Mark
presenting Jesus as the Servant
who gave his life for mankind.
Luke presents Him as the perfect
Son of Man saving the lost.
Matthew presents Jesus as the
Christ, Israel’s messianic King.
And John presents Jesus as
Son of God offering eternal life.
We have also covered Acts which
chronicles Growth of the church.
And in Galatians, we see the
Spirit’s call of Christians toward
Faith and Freedom in Christ.

Next, we continue into 1 Thess.
Prosperous, prominent and
thoroughly pagan, the seaport
city of Thessalonica first heard
the gospel on Paul’s second
missionary journey. A dynamic
fellowship developed there,
becoming a continual joy to Paul.
And he writes 1 Thessalonians
to encourage them. They were
being persecuted and he urges
them to persevere. Their city is
full of sensual temptation and
he exhorts them to hold to
Christian standards. Finally he
corrects some misunderstanding
about the return of Christ.
Continue reading “Preview on 1 & 2 Thessalonians(26/5)”

God Answers Prayers of Faith

Backgrounder on Mark 11-13:
The final week of Jesus’ earthly
life dawns – that period of time
which occupies more space in
the gospels than any other stage
of Jesus’ ministry. His arrival in
Jerusalem coincides with the
preparations for the Feast of
Passover. Though events move
quickly, Jesus is never hurried.
There is time to clean out the
temple,watch the widow contribute
her two mites and give final
instructions to the disciples.

Lord, grant us Forgiving Faith:
As they passed by, they saw the
fig tree dried up from the roots…
Jesus said: Have Faith in God.
For assuredly I say to you, whoever
says to this mountain: Be removed
and does not doubt in his heart,
but Believes that those things
he says will be done, he will have
whatever he says. Therefore I say
to you, whatever things you ask
when you pray, Believe that you
receive them & you will have them.
And whenever you stand praying,
if u have anything against anyone,
Forgive him, that your Father
in heaven may also forgive you
your trespasses (Mark 11:21-26).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 25)”

God Will Enable & Reward You

Backgrounder on Mark 8-10:
As opposition to Jesus’ ministry
increases, it is no longer safe to
move openly in Galilee. So Jesus
traverses the regions of Decapolis,
Caesarea & Perea & avoids crowds.
In the final days of His ministry,
Jesus begins to prepare His
disciples for the faithful journey to
Jerusalem that will mark the end
of His life and the beginning of
their role as bearers of glad tidings.

Lord, You Don’t Short-Change Us:
Jesus said: How hard it is for those
who trust in riches to enter the
kingdom of God… With men
it is impossible, but not with God;
for With God all things are Possible.
And I assure you that everyone
who has given up house or brothers
or sisters… or property for My sake
and for the Good News Will Receive
in return a hundred times … And in
the world to come that person will
have eternal life (Mark 10:24-30)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 24)”

God of Your Desired Outcome

Backgrounder on Mark 8-10:
As opposition to Jesus’ ministry
increases, it is no longer safe
to move openly in Galilee. So Jesus
traverses the regions of Decapolis,
Caesarea Philippi & Perea, thereby
avoiding the crowds and the deadly
plots of the religious leaders.
In the final days of His ministry,
Jesus begins to prepare His
disciples for the faithful journey to
Jerusalem that will mark the end
of His life and the beginning of
their role as bearers of glad tidings.

Lord, You are the Key to Outcome:
One of the crowd said Teacher,
I brought You my son who has
a mute spirit… I asked Your
disciples to cast out the evil
spirit but they couldn’t do it…
Have mercy on us and help us.
Do something if you can.
What do you mean, if I can?
Jesus asked. Anything Is Possible
If A Person Believes. The father
instantly replied: I do believe,
but help me Not To Doubt…
Jesus said This kind can come out
Only By Prayer (Mark 9:17-24, 29)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 23)”

Christ Our Bread of Life

Backgrounder on Mark 8-10:
As opposition to Jesus’ ministry
increases, it is no longer safe
to move openly in Galilee. So Jesus
traverses the regions of Decapolis,
Caesarea Philippi and Perea,
thereby avoiding both the crowds
and the deadly plots of the
religious leaders. In the concluding
days of His earthly ministry, Jesus
begins to prepare His disciples
for the faithful journey to
Jerusalem that will mark the end
of His life and the beginning of
their role as bearers of glad tidings.

Lord, You are our Bread of Life:
Another great crowd had gathered
& the people ran out of food again.
Jesus told his disciples: I feel sorry
for these people. They have been
with me for three days and have
nothing to eat. And if I send them
home without feeding them, they
will faint along the road..How many
loaves of bread do you have?
He asked. Seven, they replied…
Now those who had eaten were
about four thousand (Mark 8:1-9)
When the Pharisees heard that
Jesus had arrived, they came to
argue with him. Testing him to see
if he was from God,they demanded:
Give us a miraculous sign from
heaven to prove yourselves.
When he heard this he sighed
deeply and said: Why do you
people keep demanding a
miraculous sign? (Mark 8:11-12).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 22)”

God’s Help to Fight Temptation

Backgrounder on Mark 1-3:
Mark begins his gospel with
the ministry of John the Baptist,
the forerunner who would prepare
the way for Jesus’ ministry of
servanthood. Mark’s emphasis
throughout the gospel is on
Christ’s works rather than His
words, as befitting a Servant.

Lord, help us Resist Temptation:
John came baptising & preaching
a baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins…And he preached
saying: There comes One after me
who is Mightier than l… I indeed
baptised you with water, but He
will baptise u with the Holy Spirit.
It came to pass that Jesus came
from Nazareth and was baptised
by John in the Jordan..Immediately
the Spirit drove Him into the
wilderness. And He was there
in the wilderness forty days,
Tempted by Satan…and the angels
Ministered to Him (Mark 1:4-13).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 21)”

Liberty & Freedom In Christ
(Prayer Walk thro Gal 4-6)

Backgrounder: This epistle is
essentially Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. Paul directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain 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, thank You that faith in Christ
brings about true freedom from
sin and from futile attempt to be
right with God by keeping the law.
It also frees us to serve Christ
out of gratitude, which results in
living purposeful & fulfilling lives.
Lord, Grant us grace as we purpose
to live as Your Grateful Children,
to move into Your Freedom and
to Not Lose Heart in service. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Galatians (May 20)”

Living For Jesus By Faith
(Prayer Walk thro Gal 1-3)

Backgrounder: This epistle has
been called the charter of Christian
liberty. It is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
great charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the priceless liberty they possess
in Christ. Certain 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.

Dear Lord, thank you for Your
loving kindness and grace to us.
Our acceptance by You God
comes by believing in Christ alone.
Through the lessons from Gal 1-3,
Help us to Seek Your Approval;
Help us to Live For You; and
Help us to Live By Faith. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Galatians (May 19)”

We have been Chronologically
covering the Bible phase by phase.
We start the Gospels, with Mark
focussing on acts of Jesus and
presents Him as the Servant who
came to give His life as a ransom.
Luke focuses on Jesus’ teachings
and presents Him as the perfect
Son of Man whose mission was to
seek and save that which was lost.
Matthew presents Jesus as the
Christ, Israel’s messianic King.
And John presents Jesus as the
Son of God so offered eternal
life to all who believe in Him.
We have also covered Acts of
the Apostles, which chronicles
the Growth of the church.

Next, we continue into apostolic
letters, beginning with Galatians.
Paul doesn’t open with his usual
greeting of praise & prayer for the
saints; for there is an emergency
at hand! The Galatians have
listened to false teachers who
have come into the church teaching
that salvation is a mixture of works
and grace. Paul warns the believers
about the bondage this type of
deception brings and exhorts them
to return to the Freedom that is
theirs in Jesus Christ. He goes
on to show that it is the Spirit,
not the flesh, that the Christian
life is to be successfully lived.
Continue reading “Preview on Galatians (May 19)”

Lord Jesus With You Always

Backgrounder on Matthew 26-28:
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,
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, You are Always With Us:
Go and make disciples of all the
nations… teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded u;
and lo I am With you Always,
even to the end of the age
(Matthew 28:19-20). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 18)”