Adoring God In Eph 1 (Oct 14)

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.

Thought for the Week: Galatians 5

God Grants Us Fruitful Freedom 

Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
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, we Yield to Your Control:
Stand fast… in the liberty by
which Christ has made us free,
and do not be entangled
again with a yoke of slavery…
For you have been called to liberty;
only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:1,13)
The works of the flesh are evident:
hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions… envy,
murders… and the like (Gal 5:19-21)
When the Holy Spirit Controls
our lives, He will produce
this kind of fruit in us:
Love, Joy, Peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Father God, You made us
free beings having a free will
to choose without compulsion.
We are abundantly grateful and
blessed to be Your chosen ones.
We praise You for giving us Your
Spirit inside of us to live a life
of holiness, and righteousness.
God, help us to experience the
fullness of the freedom we have,
not to do whatever we want,
but the freedom to do whatever
You want which is best for us.Amen

Lord, we can be vulnerable to
the works of the flesh, including
contentions and fleshly emotions.
As fruit of the Spirit doesn’t reside
within my flesh, keep my life cleared
of things that crowd out Your Spirit.
Enable me Lord to humble myself
before You and rely on Your Spirit.
Train me to Yield to the Control of
the Holy Spirit and may the fruit You
produce draw others to You. Amen.

Lord, I need the Joy that only You
can give; and I want to be marked
by Your Peace and not to worry.
Forgive me Lord for the times I let
circumstances control my mood.
I need Your joy and peace so that
others might see the comfort and
assurance available only in You.
And teach me to rest in knowledge
that You are in control. Amen.

Loving Lord, grant me to overflow
with Your Love so that it will
spill out in my words and actions.
Help me pursue the path of love,
in difficult circumstances or with
difficult people; and cause Your
Goodness to flow through me.
For it’s not easy to think of others
or think of glorifying You when my
life is filled with pain. So, grant me
grace to live supernaturally. Amen.

Reflection on letter to Galatians

Adoring God thru Thanks & Praise

The purpose of the epistle to the
Galatians is to refute the Judaizers
(who taught that Gentile believers
must obey Jewish law to be saved)
as well as to call Christians to
faith and to freedom in Christ.
Apostle Paul goes on to show
that it is in the Spirit, and not
the flesh, that the Christian life
is to be lived successfully.

On Mon, we learn from Gal 1 that
God Approves Us thru the Gospel.
On Tuesday, we learn from Gal 2
that Christ Jesus Is Living In Me.
On Wed, we learn from Gal 3
that God Justifies Us By Faith.
On Thursday, we learn from Gal 4
that God Adopts Us as His Children.
On Friday, we learn from Gal 5
that God Grants Freedom & Fruit.
On Sat, we learn from Gal 6 that
God Promises Reaping Harvest.

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 Approves thru the Gospel and that Christ Jesus Lives In Me.
For You are worthy of our Thanks
as God Justifies Us By Faith and
that He Adopts Us as His Children.
For You God Grant Freedom & Fruit
as well as Promise Reaping Harvest.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Adoring God In Galatians 6 (Oct 12)

God Promises Reaping Harvest

Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
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, we’ll Press On to Do Good:
Pay careful attention to your own
work, for then you will get the
satisfaction of a job well done.
For each one should bear his
own load (Galatians 6:4-5).
You will always Harvest what
you plant… But those who live
to please the Spirit will harvest
everlasting life (Gal 6:7-8).
And let us not grow weary while
doing good, for in due season we
Shall Reap if we Do Not Lose Heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all, especially to
the household of faith (v9-10).

Lord, I desire to live a meaningful
and purposeful life for Your glory.
I want to sink into the task You’ve
assigned me, to do it well to please
You and to enjoy the satisfaction.
But when things are overwhelming,
help me to persevere, and remind
me that You reward faithfulness.
And let knowledge of Your goodness
keep me going when weary. Amen.

Lord, we recognise whatever seeds
of priorities, habits and attitudes
we plant in our lives, eventually
become what we will harvest.
Help us Lord to keep planting spirit
of praise and love for God & others;
godly habits and positive actions.
For eventually these seeds will
grow; and become a Harvest
as You have promised. Amen

Lord, Thank You for teaching me
in my weariness that I can do
absolutely nothing apart from You.
I give myself to You; for You’re my
life, my strength and my salvation.
Grant me the power to restore joy;
even as I purpose Not to lose heart.
Renew my vision Lord to keep
doing Your will and to do good.
And let knowledge of Yr goodness
energise me when I feel down.Amen

Adoring God In Galatians 5

God Grants Freedom & Fruit (Oct 11)

Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
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, we Yield to Your Control:
Stand fast… in the liberty by  which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled  again with a yoke of slavery. For you have been called to liberty;  only do not use liberty as an 

opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:1,13.             The works of the flesh are evident:

hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions… envy,
murders… and the like (Gal 5:19-21)
When the Holy Spirit Controls
our lives, He will produce
this kind of fruit in us:
Love, Joy, Peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

Lord, we can be vulnerable to
the works of the flesh, including
contentions and fleshly emotions.
As fruit of the Spirit doesn’t reside
within my flesh, keep my life cleared
of things that crowd out Your Spirit.
Enable me Lord to humble myself
before You and rely on Your Spirit.
Train me to Yield to the Control of
the Holy Spirit and may the fruit You
produce draw others to You. Amen.

Lord, I need the Joy that only You
can give; and I want to be marked
by Your Peace and not to worry.
Forgive me Lord for the times I let
circumstances control my mood.
I need Your joy and peace so that
others might see the comfort and
assurance available only in You.
And teach me to rest in knowledge
that You are in control. Amen.

Loving Lord, grant me to overflow
with Your Love so that it will
spill out in my words and actions.
Help me pursue the path of love,
in difficult circumstances or with
difficult people; and cause Your
Goodness to flow through me.
For it’s not easy to think of others
or think of glorifying You when my
life is filled with pain. So, grant me
grace to live supernaturally. Amen.

Adoring God In Galatians 4 (Oct 10)

God Adopts Us As His Children

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the 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 and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Father God, we Love You:
When the set time had finally
come, God sent His Son, born
of a woman, born under the law,
to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption
to sonship (Galatians 4:4-5).
And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit
of His Son into your hearts,
crying out, “Abba Father!”
So you are no longer a slave,
but God’s child; and since you
are His child, God has made
you also an heir (v6-7).
Now we, brethren… are children
of promise… (And) we are not
children of the bondwoman
but of the free (v28-31).

Dear God, You are not just the
powerful Creator & righteous Lord,
You are also my loving Father.
And when I go thru hard times,
You care and listen to my pleas,
and will guide, provide & protect.
You are never impatient with me
and will not be “too busy” for me.
Lord Jesus, Thks for saving me; and
because of Yr grace & my faith in U,
I’m a child of the living God. Amen.

Lord, in times of severe trials,
we can be bombarded by doubts:
Why are all these happening to me?
I can’t believe a loving God will
let His children go thru such trauma.
And tough times can made me
wonder if I really am Your child.
Thank You Lord for the presence of
Your Spirit, who provides assurance
that I belong to You forever. Amen.

Lord, a key and great truth about
You God is that You are personal.
You want us to know You deeply
and intimately; for You Lord are
our Abba Father, Papa, Daddy.
I can readily come to You anytime
and say: Papa, please help me
with this problem. For You Lord are
a personal God; and You promise
to make Yourself real to us. Amen.

Adoring God in Galatians 3

God Justifies Us By Faith (Oct 9)

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the 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 and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we will Live By Faith:
Did u receive the Spirit by the works
of the law or by hearing of faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun in
the Spirit, are you now being made
perfect by the flesh (Gal 3:2-3).
He who supplies the Spirit to you
and works miracles among you,
does He do it by the works of
the law or by the hearing of faith?
Just as Abraham believed God
and it was accounted to him
for righteousness (v5-6).
So then those who are of faith are
blessed with believing Abraham…
No one is justified by the law
in the sight of God is evident, for
the just shall Live By Faith (v9-11).

Father God, I did not receive the
Holy Spirit by the works of the law
but by the hearing of Faith. I am
not so foolish to turn to self efforts
to justify myself after I’ve admitted
that I can’t and that I need Jesus.
I am not the fool who begins new
life in the Spirit, then turns back
to works for justification; for Jesus
alone makes me perfect. Amen.

Father God does not give me His
Spirit because of the good works
that I do; or because I am sinless,
which I am obviously not at all.
He does these things because
I believe in Christ and in His Word,
and speaks it in the spirit of faith.
My belief becomes the springboard
for goodness in my life, and not
the works of righteousness. Amen.

Lord, I believe in Your power to do
miracles; and I desire to witness
the evidence of Your mighty work.
Help me Lord to believe fully in You
and to expect great things from You.
And I come to You believing not only
that You exist, but also believing
that You are a rewarder of those
who diligently seek You. Amen.

Adoring God in Galatians 2 (Oct 8)

Christ Jesus Is Living In Me

This epistle is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith and the liberty
that produces. Paul directs this
charter of Christian freedom to
people who are about to forsake
the 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 and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we purpose to Live For You:
Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law but by faith
in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus, that we
must be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law;
for by the works of the law
no flesh shall be justified (Gal 2:16)
For through the law I died to the
law so that I might Live For God.
I have been crucified with Christ;
it is no longer I who live, but
Christ Lives In Me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh
I Live By Faith in the Son of God,
who Loved Me and Gave Himself
for me (Galatians 2:19-20). Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You that I have
been justified by Faith in You.
And thank You Lord for enabling
me to Live By Faith in this life. For
I’ve been crucified with Christ & so
I no longer live, but You Live in me.
May the truth of Yr Word enable me
to Trust You so that You dwell in me.
Grant me the grace to live joyously
because of my Faith in You. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving
me and giving Yourself for me.
Grateful for Your desire to live thru
me and enable me to Live for You.
What a wonder Lord that You want
to take up residence in my life.
In gratitude,I purpose to Live
wholly for You. Set me free Lord
to serve You with all my heart
and soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your
great sacrificial Love for us; for
dying for us to pay for sin’s penalty.
And Thank You for living in each
of us to purify us from sin’s power.
Teach me to Live by Faith in You
instead of confidence in myself.
Help me Lord to let the old ways of
my flesh die daily so that I can find
new resurrection life in You. Amen.

Adoring God In Galatians 1 (Oct 7)

God Approves through the Gospel

This epistle has been called
the charter of Christian liberty.
It is Paul’s manifesto of justification
by faith & 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 and to show the
superiority of justification by faith.

Lord, we will Seek Your Approval:
Grace… and peace from God the
Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for our sins,
that He might deliver us from
this present evil age (Gal 1:3-4).
I marvel that you are turning
away so soon from Him who
called you in the grace of Christ,
to a different gospel (v6).
If anyone preaches any other
gospel than the one you received,
let God’s curse fall upon that
person. Obviously I’m not trying
to be a people’s pleaser! No, I am
trying to please God. If I were
still trying to please people, I would
not be Christ’s servant (v9-10).

Thank You Father God and
Thank You Lord Jesus for
granting us grace and peace.
Thank You Lord Jesus for giving
Your life for our sins, just as
Father God planned to rescue us
from this evil world. Thank You
Lord for coming to my rescue
when I could not save myself.
All glory to God forever & ever.Amen

Lord, grant us discernment and
open our eyes to see the truth.
Pray that You would keep people
from being deceived by evil one.
Keep us and keep others from
being deceived and also keep us
from deceiving others inevitently.
And just as Apostle Paul exhorted
the Galatians, help us Lord hold
fast to the gospel each day. Amen.

Lord, I desire to live as Christ’s
servant & not as a people pleaser.
For I realise that I can’t seek
approval of others even as
I choose to live for You Lord.
It’s Your Approval I seek, for that’s
the one approval that really counts.
Help me Lord to speak and act
with boldness & love as I serve You.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Thought for the Week: 2 Cor 1

God of Compassion Delivers Us

Paul opens his second epistle
to the Corinthians the same way
he began his first by establishing
his authority and documenting the
source of his revelation. He then
praises God for what He has done
for Timothy & him. In contrast to
the old covenant which condemned
the glorious new covenant sealed
in Jesus’ own blood, makes
God’s ministers bold & effective
in calling people to repentance.

Lord, Your Promises are Secure:
All Praise to God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ…
He comforts us in all our troubles
so that we can comfort others.
When others are troubled,
we will be able to give them
the same comfort God has
given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
We should not trust in ourselves
but in God who raises the dead,
who delivered us from so great
a death and does deliver us;
in whom we trust that
He will still deliver us (v9-10).
As God is faithful, our word to
you was not Yes and No… For
all the promises of God In (Christ)
are Yes and in Him Amen (v18-20).

Lord, Thank You for the times
You have comforted me. I know
that You have comforted me so
that I can do the same for others.
As this world is full of people who
are hurting; make me sensitive
to those I meet who need Your
touch of comfort. Keep me an
open vessel through which Your
love and comfort can flow. Amen.

Lord, we realise that Your way
of teaching us to rely on You God
more fully may mean that we will
be having only You to rely on.
And that can be uncomfortable,
for many of us have been taught
since young to be more self-reliant.
So Lord, we ask You to teach us
what it means to rely more fully
on You instead of ourselves. Amen.

Lord, Thank You for Your great
and precious promises! Thank You
for reminding us that Jesus is the
“Divine Yes” of all Your promises.
Help me mighty Lord to sense and
experience Your love behind Your
promise even as I trust in You.
Help me Lord pray with confidence
because I trust that not one of Your
promises will fail. Amen & amen!