PrayerThots Devotional

Growth of the Church
(Prayer Walk thro Acts 1-7)

Backgrounder: With Jesus’ last
words of instruction still ringing
in their ears, the disciples go forth
speaking words of eternal life,
first to the Jews & Jewish officials.
Visited by their resurrected Lord
and empowered by the promised
Comforter, they fearlessly follow
their marching orders in spite of
mocking, threats & physical abuse.
The advance of the gospel is
soon opposed by adversaries. But
prompt discipline, wise leadership
and unflinching commitment only
serve to enlarge the church as
the number of disciples multiplies
in Jerusalem greatly (Acts 6:7).

Dear Lord, thank you for the
book of Acts which records the
growth of the Christian church.
Our faith is supernatural and
we need to be more Spirit’s
conscious rather than problem
conscious as well as claim Holy
Spirit’s power to do Christ’s work.
When the Holy Spirit work, there
is power, excitement and growth.
Help us Pray for Church Growth;
Help us Be Open to Holy Spirit &
Help us Pray for Church leadership.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Acts (May 5)”

We’ve Chronologically covered the
Old Testament, phase by phase:
OT1: Five Books of Laws incl Job.
OT2: Israel History to King David
OT3: United & Divided Kingdoms
OT4: Return from the Exile
We had also meditated on the
synoptic gospels & John gospel.
(All accessible in PrayerThots.com
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We now continue with Book of Acts.
Beginning with a frightened band
of disciples in an upper room,
Acts traces the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem
following the ascension of Christ
and the subsequent spread and
growth of Christianity throughout
the Roman Empire. Written by
Luke, Acts records the fulfilment
of Jesus’ Great Commission
as Spirit-transformed disciples
carry the gospel to Jerusalem…
Judea and Samaria and into the
uttermost part of the earth (A1:8).
Continue reading “Preview on Acts of Apostles (May5)”

God Will Provide Your Needs

Backgrounder on Matthew 5-7:
Jesus claimed to be the Messiah,
the king of the Jews. And this
section traditionally called the
Sermon on the Mount, presents
His statement of heaven.
Relationship to God (rather than
adherence to ritual) and inward
attitude (not outward action)
become the focus of His message.

Lord,You’ll Take Care of Our Needs:
Do not worry saying: What Shall
We Eat..or What shall we wear? For
the pagans run after these things
and Your Heavenly Father knows
that you need them. But Seek
First the Kingdom of God and
His righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well.
Therefore Do Not Worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself (Matt 6:31-34). Amen
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 4)”

God Blesses those Depend on Him

Backgrounder on Matthew 5-7:
Jesus claimed to be the Messiah,
the king of the Jews. And this
section traditionally called the
Sermon on the Mount, presents
His statement of heaven.
Relationship to God (rather than
adherence to ritual) and inward
attitude (not outward action)
become the focus of His message.

Lord, we will Depend on You:
Blessed are the Poor in spirit
(and realise their need for Him)
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the Meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the Merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
(Matthew 5:3, 5, 7). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 3)”

God’s Word Keeps You from Sin

Backgrounder on Matthew 1-4:
Matthew begins his gospel with
the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Whilst Genesis traces the creation
of man, Matthew shows the advent
of Jesus begins a new creation.
From the call of Abraham, God
has been moving to accomplish
His great redemption plan. Jesus
the prophesied Messiah, fulfills
the OT promises in every facet of
His life: birth, boyhood & baptism.

Lord, Your Word keeps us from Sin:
Jesus was led into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil. And
when He had fasted 40 days,
He was hungry. Now the tempter
came to Him and said: If You are
the Son of God command these
stones become bread. But (Jesus)
answered: It is written: Man shall
not live by bread alone but by
every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God (Matt 4:1-4).
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 2)”

God Is Always With You

Backgrounder on Matthew 1-4:
Matthew begins his gospel with
the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Whilst Genesis traces the creation
of the universe and man, Matthew
now shows that the advent of
Jesus inaugurates a new creation.
From the call of Abraham, God
has been moving to accomplish
His great redemption plan. Jesus the prophesied Messiah, fulfills
the OT promises in every facet of
His life: birth, boyhood & baptism.

Lord, You’re With Us Always:
An angel of the Lord appeared
to (Joseph) in a dream, saying:..
She will bring forth a Son and
you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from
their sins. So all this was done
that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the Lord thro the prophet saying: Behold the virgin
shall be with child and bear a Son
and they shall call His name
Immanuel, which is translated:
God With Us (Matt 1:20-23). Amen
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 1)”

Significance Reinstated (Apr 30)

Dear Friends,
We have completed six months
of devotion on God’s Promises,
following three earlier series on
Adoring God thro Thanksgiving,
Knowing God’s thro His Names
and Praising God thro Hymns.
Before continuing into the NT,
let’s pause to note the significance
of Imploring God on His Promises.

There are so much to pray about:
our dreams, hopes and plans.
But often we are held up by our
own doubts: Does God really
care about this request of ours?
How assuring to pray back to God
the promises found in His Word.
Then we no longer wonder if this
is something God cares about,for
He brought it up in the 1st place.
Continue reading “Imploring God thro His Promises:”

Crucifixion of the Son of God
(Prayer Walk thro John 18-21)

Backgrounder: In his account of
Jesus’ trials, John focuses on
the appearances before Pilate
and the governor’s futile efforts
to release Jesus. Yielding at last
to political expediency and mob
pressure, Pilate sentences Jesus
to be crucified. Many of the details
John includes are unique to his
account: the Roman soldiers
casting dice for Jesus’ robe;
the spear trust into Jesus’ side;
the post-resurrection appearances
to Mary Magdalene, Thomas & 7 disciples. Thro it all, John’s purpose
shines forth clearly to present Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God in His life, death and resurrection.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that
in Your death and resurrection
You showed your caring love as
well as instructed the disciples
why & how to continue to believe.
Out of gratitude and adoration,
Help us Believe without seeing;
Help us Reach Out to the thirsty &
Help us be Fishers of Men, so that
we’ll be Yr light of the world. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro John (April 29)”

Comfort from the Son of God
(Prayer Walk thro John 13-17)

Backgrounder: The Upper Room
Discourse contains Jesus’
final words of instruction and encouragement to His disciples
before His death. Only John
records these intimate moments
between Jesus and His men as
He models true humility (chap 13),
describes the coming Holy Spirit
who will comfort and empower
them (chap 14-16) and intercedes
for the unity and protection of
His disciples worldwide (chap 17).

Dear Lord Jesus, in this world,
we can face many challenges.
But we thank you for Your final words of encouragement and
instructions at the Upper Room
which reveals yr heartbeat for us.
Lord, we receive your Gift of Peace
and Gift of the Spirit to help us.
We purpose to Remain in You; and
we pray for Unity among us. Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro John (April 28)”

God Saves & Rejoices Over You

Backgrounder on Zephaniah 1-3:
Writing at one of the lowest points
in the spiritual life of Judah,
Zephaniah’ primary concern is
the impending Day of the Lord.
That day signifies the final judgment of God on earth and the
ensuing time of blessing & peace.
Zephaniah knows when Judgment
is over God will once again look
with favour on His people: Restore
their fortunes, Rejoice over them
and dwell among them (Z3:14-18).

Lord, You are Mighty to Save:
In that day… do not fear; Zion,
let Not your hands be weak.
The Lord your God is With you,
He is Mighty To Save.
He will Take Great Delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will Rejoice over you with
singing (Zep 3:17-18). Amen,
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (April 27)”