Author: tanahmerah

The Passover Lamb Is Worthy

Backgrounder to 1 Corinthians 1-6:
Churches aren’t perfect because
churches are full of imperfect pple.
Paul writes to believers at Corinth
to correct errors in their public
and private behaviour which
are detracting their gospel witness.
These include factions, immorality
and lawsuits between believers.
Paul sets forth godly guidelines
for conduct consistent with the
grace of God given by Christ.

Lord, we’ll live Worthy of Passover:
Do you not know that a little leaven
leavens the while lump. Therefore
purge out the old leaven so that
you can stay pure. For Christ
our Passover Lamb has been
sacrificed for us (1Cor 5:6-7).
Your sins have been washed away
and you have been set apart
for God. You have been made
right with God because of what
the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of
our God have done for u (1C6:11).
Flee sexual immorality…
Do you not know that your body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you… For you were
bought at a price; therefore
glorify God in your body (v19-20).

Lord Jesus, our Passover Lamb,
You had indeed bought us at
a high price; and being indwelt by
the Holy Spirit, we belong to You.
Lord urge us to flee from sexual sins;
and in the world, we can see
families torn apart and much pain,
from the misuse of Your good gift.
Help us to appreciate Your gift of
sex & use it as You intended. Amen

Lord, as we seek a deep sense
of holiness, we find ourselves
pushing against a very strong tide.
Only the power of Your gospel and
the reality that we belong to You
have pushback power against
this tide. Give us the word and
the Will to keep up the fight,
realising that our bodies indeed
belong to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Lord Jesus, You indeed bought
us at a heavy price and rightly
we purpose to love You and
consecrate for faithful service.
O Lord, I give myself to You;
for I am born to be Yours, to be
Your instrument to serve You.
Grant me the grace to abide
in You, to seek Your ways and
to be obedient to You. Amen.

Spirit of God Gives Insights

Churches aren’t perfect because
churches are full of imperfect pple.
Paul writes to the believers at
Corinth to correct errors in their
public & private behaviour which
are detracting from their witness.
These include factions, immorality
and lawsuits between believers.
And Paul set forth godly guidelines
for conduct consistent with the
grace of God given by Christ.

Lord, we Seek Your Insight:
I thank my God… that you were
enriched by Him in… all knowledge…
God, no eye has seen, no ear heard,
no mind has conceived what You
have prepared for those who love
You, but You have revealed it to us
by Your Spirit. The Spirit teaches
us all things, even the deep thing
of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 9-10).
What we have received is..the Spirit
who is from God, so that we may
understand what God has freely
given us. This is what we speak…
in words taught by the Spirit,
explaining Spiritual Realities
with Spirit-taught words (v12-13).
Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?
But we understand these things,
for we have the Mind of Christ (v16)

Lord, when we need insights and
direction or facing challenges,
we tend to seek worldly counsel.
But there is a more reliable and
excellent source of ultimate
knowledge, the Holy Spirit.
Thank You Father for giving us
the Holy Spirit who lives inside us.
O Spirit, do make clear spiritual
realities to us and enable us to
make correct decisions. Amen.

Lord, as I ponder on Scripture
each day, they lead me to see
Your instruction and direction.
As I consider my convictions and
as I think about the things people
are saying, I can sense Your voice.
And as I bring issues before You
and consider the circumstances,
I can see evidence of Your leading.
When I take all these together, I get
a sense of how You’re leading me.
Confirm Lord the inner impression
with Your Secrets and peace. Amen.

Lord, let me see as U see to enable
me to act according to Your vision.
And I also need to know clearly
Your will for only then can I be
confident of doing the right thing.
Lord, it can be very challenging
to decipher Your sovereign will.
Plant Your thots in me & move me
as You desire; for Your Word says:
we Have the Mind of Christ. Amen.

Christ Frees Us from Condemnation        & Inspiring hymn “And Can It Be”

Backgrounder on Romans 6-8:
Paul anticipates questions arising
fr hearing gospel of grace. If God’s
grace is free, then am I free to sin?
If I am free from the law, then can
I ignore the ethical demands of
the law? Paul has no illusions that
becoming a Christian means the
end of your troubles. But the life
-giving Spirit provides confidence,
for victorious Christian living
in the storms of everyday life.

Charles Wesley is probably the
greatest hymn writer the church
has ever known. From the time of
conversion in 1738, Wesley wrote
an average of two hymns a week
for 50 years composing five to six
thousand hymns during his lifetime.
Most of these hymns were written
as he travelled with his brother John,
ministering to thousands of poor
farmers and illiterate coal miners.
These were people at the margin
of society, people most churches
did not bother to think about. It
was for them that Charles Wesley
composed his hymns, where
people experienced the love of God.
The vastly popular hymn “And Can
It Be” was inspired by Romans 8.

Lord, we’ll Flow with the Spirit:
There is No Condemnation for
those who are In Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the
flesh but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death…
For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things
of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the things
of the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 5).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes
for us… He who searches our hearts… intercedes… in accordance with the will of God (v26-27).
And we know that in all things God
Works for the Good of those who
love Him, who have been called
according to His purpose (v28).

Lord Jesus, No Condemnation are
two of the most beautiful words.
Yet some days they are hard to
believe, hard to really take hold of.
On one hand, I may be quick some-
time to blame others for the problem
but deep down I condemn myself.
Help me Lord to live in the reality
of the freedom that comes from
Your grace and be at peace. Amen.

Father, forgive me for the times
that I wrongly think You want
to punish me for my failures.
For Jesus took my punishment
and gave me His righteousness.
Because of that Father You see me
as perfect and precious. And Lord,
help me to better understand Your
grace and mercy so that I might be
more gracious and merciful. Amen.

Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness
by interceding for me and thru me.
You know the will of the Father
and You know what to pray for.
Guide me and teach me especially
when I have exhausted all words.
Help me to communicate to God
my deepest thoughts, feelings,
fears and doubts, so that my
prayers are pleasing to God. Amen

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s Blood;
Died He for me who caused His Pain
For me, who Him to death pursued;
Amazing love! how can it be That
Thou my Lord, should Die for me?..
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His Grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For O my God, it found out me…
No condemnation now I dread
Jesus and all in Him is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head And
Clothed in righteousness divine;
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne &
Claim the crown, thru Christ my own.

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the apostolic letter
of Romans is to introduce Paul as
well as to give a sample of his key
message before he arrives in Rome.
Paul wrote that due to our rebellion
against God—against what is right—
all humanity has been condemned.
But God is merciful and gracious
and offers us justification, or
a way to be made right, through
faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.
By Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we
have been redeemed and saved.

On Monday, we learn from Rom 1
that God Releases Power In Gospel.
On Tuesday, we learn from Rom 3
that God Delivers Us From Sin.
On Wed, we learn from Rom 5
that God Uses Trials for Good.
On Thu, we learn from Rom 8 that
Christ Frees us from Condemnation.
On Friday, we learn from Rom 11
that Christ Amazes With His Love.
On Saturday, we learn from Rom 12
that God Renews & Transforms Us.

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 You Release Power in the
Gospel and Deliver Us from sin;
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as You Use Trials For Our Good
and Free Us From Condemnation;
For Christ Amazes us with His Love
and You Renew & Transform Us.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

God Renews & Transforms Us;        Inspiring: Take My Life & Let It Be

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 an 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.

British hymnwriter Frances Ridley
Havergal wrote this hymn in Feb
 1874.

1874. Two months earlier, she
had made a complete surrender
of herself to Christ. She wrote:
I just yielded myself to Him, and
utterly trusted Him to keep me.
And in so doing I experienced
blessedness of true consecration
Ever, only All for Thee. The hymn:
      “Take My Life & Let It Be” was
      largely inspired by Romans 12.

Lord, we Consecrate our being to U:
Give your bodies to God. Let them
be a Living Sacrifice… When you
think of what He has done for you,
is this too much to ask? (Rom 12:1)
Don’t copy the behaviour and
customs of this world, but let God
Transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
Then you will Know what God
wants you to do, and you will
know how good and pleasing
and perfect His will really is (v2).
Let love be without hypocrisy… Be
kindly affectionate to one another…
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord…
continuing steadfast in prayer(9-12).

Lord, I don’t really know what
these days will hold, but I offer
myself to You as a living sacrifice.
Fill me with Your spirit of love, joy,
peace and patience. Renew and
transform my mind with Your truth.
Make me to be a new person, and
show me what You want me to do,
the person You want me to minister.
And all glory be unto You. Amen.

Lord, help me grow closer to You.
Help me understand the difference
between what You desire and
what the world offers. Teach me
not to apply the behaviours and
customs of this world but Be
Transformed into a new person.
As I seek to follow You, let me know
Your will. And help me Lord stay on
the right track as I purpose to take
small steps of faith each day. Amen

Lord, do Your transforming work
in me through Your Word that I may
learn to know Your heart desires.
Give me the mind of Christ so that
I’ll be able to make wise decisions
that will also be pleasing to You.
Guide me Lord in Your way and
by Your Word to embrace Your will.
And work in me Lord not only to will
but to do Your good pleasure. Amen.

Lord, Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee;
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise(2).
Take my hands & let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee (x2)…
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne…Amen.

Christ Amazes With His Love

Charles Gabriel was born in 1856
Iowa. He is credited with writing
up to 8,000 hymns and songs in
his life. Some of his hymns include
His Eye is on the Sparrow, The Old
Rugged Cross & Away in a Manger.
Gabriel wrote both the words and
melody for I Stand Amazed in
the Presence. Rev Carlton Young,
editor of United Methodist Hymnal,
notes: This song of gratitude
for the atoning death of Jesus is
a personal interpretation of Luke’s
account of Jesus’ sweating blood
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And we stand amazed at the depth
of God’s love and the way He works.
The hymn also inspired by Rom 11.

Lord, we’re Grateful and we Adore:
(Jesus) withdrew from them… and
He knelt down and prayed: Father,
if it is Your will, take this cup away
from Me; nevertheless not My will,
but Yours, be done…Being in agony,
He prayed more earnestly. Then
His sweat became like great drops
of blood falling down (Lk 22:41-44)
Frankly, I Stand Amazed at the
unfathomable complexity of God’s
wisdom and God’s knowledge.
How could man ever Understand
His Reasons for action or explain His
methods of working?(Rom11:33-34)

Lord Jesus, we enter into praise
and thanksgiving because of
Your Deep Love for each of us.
Fact that Jesus says “not My will
but Yours” shows Jesus loves
us more than He loves Himself.
Realising how much Jesus loves
us, challenges us how much
we should love Him in Gratitude.
And one day we will be in heaven
standing before our Savior, thanking
Him for His Great Love to me! Amen.

Lord, I will stop thinking that I must
understand everything You are
doing before I’m willing to accept it.
Forgive me for foolishly thinking
my plans will be better than Yours.
Forgive me for arrogantly thinking
I know more than You about the
solutions to my problems. I may
not understand Your decisions,
but I purpose to accept them.
And though I may not be able
to trace Your ways, but I will go
wherever You may lead. Amen.

I stand amazed in the presence
of Jesus the Nazarene, and
wonder how He could love me,
a sinner, condemned, unclean…
How marvelous! How wonderful
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
is my Savior’s love for me!!
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He bore the burden to Calvary,
and suffered and died for me…

Christ Frees Us from Condemnation& Inspiring the hymn: And Can It Be

Backgrounder on Romans 6-8:
Paul anticipates questions arising
fr hearing gospel of grace. If God’s
grace is free, then am I free to sin?
If I am free from the law, then can
I ignore the ethical demands of
the law? Paul has no illusions that
becoming a Christian means the
end of your troubles. But the life
-giving Spirit provides confidence,
for victorious Christian living
in the storms of everyday life.

Charles Wesley is probably the
greatest hymn writer the church
has ever known. From the time of
conversion in 1738, Wesley wrote
an average of two hymns a week
for 50 years composing five to six
thousand hymns during his lifetime.
Most of these hymns were written
as he travelled with his brother John,
ministering to thousands of poor
farmers and illiterate coal miners.
These were people at the margin
of society, people most churches
did not bother to think about. It
was for them that Charles Wesley
composed his hymns, where
people experienced the love of God.

Lord, we’ll Flow with the Spirit:
There is No Condemnation for
those who are In Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit. For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the
law of sin and death (Rom 8:1-2).
The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to
pray for, but the Spirit intercedes
for us with groans that words
cannot express. He who searches
our hearts… intercedes for the
saints in accordance with the
will of God (v26-27). And we know
that in all things God Works for
the Good of those who love Him,
who have been called according
to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Amen.

Father, forgive me for the times
that I wrongly think You want
to punish me for my failures.
For Jesus took my punishment
and gave me His righteousness.
Because of that Father You see me
as perfect and precious. And Lord,
help me to better understand Your
grace and mercy so that I might be
more gracious and merciful. Amen.

Lord Jesus, No Condemnation are
two of the most beautiful words.
Yet some days they are hard to
believe, hard to really take hold of.
On one hand, I may be quick some-
time to blame others for the problem
but deep down I condemn myself.
Help me Lord to live in the reality
of the freedom that comes from
Your grace and be at peace. Amen.

Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness
by interceding for me and thru me.
You know the will of the Father
and You know what to pray for.
Guide me and teach me especially
when I have exhausted all words.
Help me to communicate to God
my deepest thoughts, feelings,
fears and doubts, so that my
prayers are pleasing to God. Amen

God Uses Trials for Good; and              Inspiring: It Is Well With My Soul

After painting humanity’s sorry
condition, Paul turns to God’s
merciful solution. Jesus’ death on
the cross has paid sin’s penalty and
satisfied God’s righteous demand.
To the one who in faith accepts
Jesus’ payment, God stamps
across the debt of sin: Paid in Full.
That is justification. Its basis is
the work of Christ; its means is
the grace of God; its requirement
is faith in God and His promise.

Knowing his friend Dwight Moody
was going to preach in England in
fall 1871, Horatio Stafford decided
to take his family to England. His
wife & 4 daughters went ahead on
SS Ville and he planned to follow
a few days. But on Atlantic Ocean
the ship was struck by an iron
vessel and sank. 260 lives were lost
including Spafford’s four girls; and
Mrs Spafford cabled her husband:
Saved alone. Horatio Spafford
booked passage on the next ship.
Crossing the Atlantic, the captain
pointed the place where he thot
SS Ville had gone down. And that
night Spafford penned the words:
When sorrows like sea billows roll…
It is well, it is well with my soul;
inspired also by Romans 5.

Lord, we Allow Trials Shape us:
Having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
thru whom we’ve gained access
by faith into this grace(Rom 5:1-2)
We can rejoice when we run into
trials, for they help us to Endure.
And endurance develops strength
of character in us, and character
strengthens confident expectation
of salvation. And this expectation
will Not Disappoint us. For God
loves us dearly (Rom 5:3-4).
Having now been justified by
His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him…
We can rejoice because of what
Jesus has done for us in making
us Friends of God (v9-11). Amen.

Father, I rejoice in my relationship
with You God because of what
Jesus Christ has done for me.
Having an intimate relationship
with Jesus also enables me have
an eternal perspective about
anything that may happen to me.
I gratefully praise You for the joy
& peace such a friendship brings.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, I place my Hope in You.
I trust that You are working on
my behalf, no matter how difficult
the circumstances can become.
For I believe that You won’t just
put me through trials; but that
You also plan joys for me too.
Please fill me Lord with hope
the kind that comes from Your
Spirit and cannot disappoint. And
help me live in that hope. Amen.

Lord, You want me to Trust You
in the hard times. But rejoicing
isn’t natural for me, so make it
my supernatural response to the
pressures and difficulties in life.
Lord, I surrender and allow myself
to be molded and shaped by trials.
Teach me Lord to Endure so
that my faith will grow steadily
and get stronger over time.
Be Still My Soul & in Your mercy
do restore me Lord and I will
Be Complete In You. Amen.

God Delivers Us From Sin

Backgrounder on Romans 1-3:
Paul begins by describing the
helpless condition of humanity. A
rebellious nature has led to rejectn
of the Creator & worship of creation
God in turn has permitted the
sinful nature of human beings
to express the fullness of its
corruption and the whole human
race stands helpless before God.
Truly, all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. But
the gift of God is eternal life
In Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord, we’re Grateful for Your Mercy:
All have sinned; all fall short
of God’s glorious standard.
Yet now God in his gracious
kindness declares us Not Guilty.
He has done this through
Christ Jesus, who has Freed
us by Taking Away our sins.
For God sent Jesus to take
the punishment for our sins…
We are made right with God
when we believe that Jesus
shed his blood, sacrificing His
life for us (Rom 3:23-25). Amen.

Father,thanks for loving us so much
that You make us right with You.
As You could not overlook sins,
You sent Yr Son as sacrifice to take
the punishment our sins required.
Grateful we made right with U when
we trust Your Son take away our sins
and You remember them no more.
Because of Jesus’ death, You God
declares me Not Guilty; and sees
Christ’s righteousness instead of
my sin. Thanks for giving the Spirit
to empower me not to sin. Amen.

Lord, praise You for being Merciful.
And thank You for not giving us
the eternal death that we deserve;
instead we’re given life in Christ.
Jesus had said blessed are the
merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Teach me to Be Merciful also by
overlooking the wrongs of others.
Grant me grace to be willing to bless
those who don’t deserve it. Amen.

Lord, challenge us to sow seeds
of kindness so that people’s
hearts be softened & open to the
gospel which can set them free.
Open our spiritual eyes that we
might see those in our life who are
hurting & open to the Good News.
Grant us Lord courage to seize
every opportunity and share the
gospel message with them. Amen.

God Releases Power In Gospel.                  (Christ for the World We Sing)

In his introductory greeting to
the believers in Rome, the apostle
Paul begins his legal brief by
describing the helpless condition
of humanity. A rebellious nature
has led to rejection of the Creator
and worship of the creation.
God in turn has permitted the
sinful nature of human beings
to express the fullness of its
corruption and the whole human
race stands helpless before God.
Truly, all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.
But the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord!!

Samuel Wolcott wanted to be
missionary in Syria, but after 2 years
there he had to return to America.
While attending a YMCA convention
in Cleveland, he was captivated
by a huge banner with the words:
“Christ for the World and the
World for Christ”. As Wolcott left
the meeting, the words for this
hymn took shape in his mind;
inspired also by Romans 1:16-17.
Wolcott learned that the “world”
for whom Christ died included
not only distant lands like Syria
where he had tried to serve,
but also the poor, the burdened,
the lost, sorrow-worn in needy
places where he ministered.

Lord, we will Share the Gospel:
The gospel promises beforehand
through His prophets… regarding
His Son… who through the Spirit…
was declared to be the Son of God,
by His resurrection from the dead
Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 1:2-4).
I want you to know… that I planned
many times to visit you… So, I am
eager to come to you in Rome too
to preach God’s Good News(v13-15)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who
believes… For in it the righteousness
of God is revealed from faith to faith;
as it is written: The just shall
live by faith (Romans 1:16-17).

Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus
into this world so that through Him
we have been declared righteous
and that we can be freed from sin.
Enlarge our appreciation & affection
for Christ Jesus and Your gospel.
Let the good news of righteousness
provided to us in Christ transform
our interactions and expectations.
And work in us Lord through the
good news of Your grace toward
those who yet to know You. Amen.

Lord, we have treasure in Your
gospel which does for us what
we cannot possibly accomplish.
What You Christ has done means
that my sins have been forgiven,
that I’ve right standing with God;
and that God is at work to produce
the righteous life He desires.
Deepen my gratitude to You so that
I live worthy of the gospel. Amen.

Lord Jesus, we thank You for the
gospel that enables us to receive
forgiveness & have peace with God.
Help us look at others through
Christ’s eyes; for You seek and
reach out to the spiritually poor.
Help us sow deeds of kindness
and share the gospel to the lost.
Help us live out the message:
Christ for the world we live! Amen.

Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With loving zeal —
The poor and them that mourns,
The faint and over-borne,
Sin-sick and sorrow-worn,
For Christ to heal…
Christ for the world we sing;
The world to Christ we bring
With fervent prayer —
The wayward and the lost,
Reclaimed from error’s lot,
Redeemed at countless cost
From dark despair. Amen.