Read Romans 7:15-25
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. –Philippians 4:13
A young boy was at the barber’s for a haircut. The room was filled with cigar smoke. The lad pinched his nose and exclaimed, “Who’s been smoking in here!” the barber sheepishly confessed. “I have.” the boy responded, “Don’t you know it’s not good for you?” “I know,” the barber replied. “I’ve tried to quit a thousand times but I just can’t.” The boy commented, “I understand. I’ve tried to stop sucking my thumb, but I can’t quit either!”
These two remind me of the way believers sometimes feel about their struggle with sins of the flesh. Paul summed it up well by crying out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). His spiritual battle might have left him in despair if he had not found the solution. Following his agonising question, he declared with triumph, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v 25).
Are you struggling to break some stubborn habit? Like Paul, you can overcome. If you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, victory is possible through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Confidently affirm with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) You can do it! -Richard De Haan
I have tried and I have struggled
From my sin to be set free;
Not by trying but through trusting,
Jesus gives me victory. –Complin
Think less of the power of things over you and more of the power of Christ in you.
Prayer:
¨ That Patrick and his family will find a safe haven and experience God's comfort and peace.
¨ Pray that al-Shabaab's attacks on Christians will cease and that their leaders will come to know Jesus' love and forgiveness.
Saturday 31 December 2011
Friday 30 December 2011
Friday 30 December 2011
Read Exodus 33:12-17
Do not fear or be dismayed; … for the Lord is with you
– 2 Chronicles 20:17
When our son Brian was small, I took him with me to pick up our babysitter. As I approached the house, I noticed that her dog, usually penned in the back garden, was lying by the front door. At first glance, the dog looked calm. But to my alarm he sprang to his feet and attacked Brian, who leaped for my leg, climbed up to my waist, and somehow ended up wrapped around my neck and shoulders.
I, on the other hand, was left to fend off the dog. We danced for a while—the dog trying to get in a bite and I a kick—until, to my relief, the owner came around the house and called off the beast. All of us—dog, boy and I—escaped unscathed.
Later, as we were walking to the car, Brian looked up to me and said, “Dad, I’ll go anywhere with you.” His confidence was misplaced; I can fail him. But I often think of his words when I grapple with fear.
As Moses faced uncertain circumstances, he implored God, “Show me now your way … that I may find grace in Your sight” (Exodus 33:13). The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you” (v 14).
Whenever we enter frightening circumstances, or face furious assaults, we can say with confidence, “Lord, I’ll go anywhere with you”. –David Roper
Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone,
Other friends may fail me—He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over dreary ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise. –Pounds
Prayer:
¨ Continue to pray for Patrick’s two sons and their grandmother Rachel who have all suffered serious burns during the attack and were rushed to hospital.
Do not fear or be dismayed; … for the Lord is with you
– 2 Chronicles 20:17
When our son Brian was small, I took him with me to pick up our babysitter. As I approached the house, I noticed that her dog, usually penned in the back garden, was lying by the front door. At first glance, the dog looked calm. But to my alarm he sprang to his feet and attacked Brian, who leaped for my leg, climbed up to my waist, and somehow ended up wrapped around my neck and shoulders.
I, on the other hand, was left to fend off the dog. We danced for a while—the dog trying to get in a bite and I a kick—until, to my relief, the owner came around the house and called off the beast. All of us—dog, boy and I—escaped unscathed.
Later, as we were walking to the car, Brian looked up to me and said, “Dad, I’ll go anywhere with you.” His confidence was misplaced; I can fail him. But I often think of his words when I grapple with fear.
As Moses faced uncertain circumstances, he implored God, “Show me now your way … that I may find grace in Your sight” (Exodus 33:13). The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you” (v 14).
Whenever we enter frightening circumstances, or face furious assaults, we can say with confidence, “Lord, I’ll go anywhere with you”. –David Roper
Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone,
Other friends may fail me—He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over dreary ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise. –Pounds
Prayer:
¨ Continue to pray for Patrick’s two sons and their grandmother Rachel who have all suffered serious burns during the attack and were rushed to hospital.
Thursday 29 December 2011
Thursday 29 December 2011
Read 1 John 4:7-21
We have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love. –1John 4:16
I’ve heard it said that there are three things a person needs to be happy:
1. Something to do—meaningful work or helping others.
2. Someone to love—someone to whom we can give of ourselves, such as a spouse, a child, or a friend.
3. Something to look forward to—a holiday, a visit to a loved one, improved health, the realisation of a dream.
Those things may bring some temporary happiness. But for lasting fulfilment, they can all be found in a relationship with Jesus, God’s Son.
Something to do. As believers, we have been given gifts from the Holy spirit to serve our Saviour by serving others in God’s family (Romans 12:1-16). We are also called to spread the gospel around the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
Someone to love. We love God because He first loved us (1John 4:19). And we love others, “for love is of God” (vs 7).
Something to look forward to. One day we’ll be welcomed into God’s pretence forever, where we will enjoy a perfect place prepared especially for us (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:3-4). We’ll see Jesus and be like Him (1John 3:2).
For lasting fulfilment, Jesus Christ truly is everything we need. –Anne Cetas
Please help me, Lord, in everything I do
That all my work may show my love for you;
And as I talk with others on the way,
I’ll tell them that you may come back today. –Hess
Prayer:
We have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love. –1John 4:16
I’ve heard it said that there are three things a person needs to be happy:
1. Something to do—meaningful work or helping others.
2. Someone to love—someone to whom we can give of ourselves, such as a spouse, a child, or a friend.
3. Something to look forward to—a holiday, a visit to a loved one, improved health, the realisation of a dream.
Those things may bring some temporary happiness. But for lasting fulfilment, they can all be found in a relationship with Jesus, God’s Son.
Something to do. As believers, we have been given gifts from the Holy spirit to serve our Saviour by serving others in God’s family (Romans 12:1-16). We are also called to spread the gospel around the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
Someone to love. We love God because He first loved us (1John 4:19). And we love others, “for love is of God” (vs 7).
Something to look forward to. One day we’ll be welcomed into God’s pretence forever, where we will enjoy a perfect place prepared especially for us (John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:3-4). We’ll see Jesus and be like Him (1John 3:2).
For lasting fulfilment, Jesus Christ truly is everything we need. –Anne Cetas
Please help me, Lord, in everything I do
That all my work may show my love for you;
And as I talk with others on the way,
I’ll tell them that you may come back today. –Hess
Prayer:
- Suspected extremists from Somalia's militant group al-Shabaab threw a grenade into the home of a church warden of an East Africa Pentecostal Church, killing 5 members of his family. Pray for healing for Patrick Mutinda and his family as they recover from the physical and emotional trauma of this attack.
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Read Psalms 2:1-9
The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. –Proverbs 2:6
Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what’s there. Here are the seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible:-
1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you’ll neglect it.
2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.
3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine for gold, you have to dig.
4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.
5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.
6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
7. Don’t get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there’s enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionise your life if you apply it.
Now read today’s verses again with these principles in mind. Then try it again tomorrow. You will begin to discover the treasures in the Bible. –Haddon Robinson
When reading God’s Words, take special care
To find the rich treasures hidden there;
Give thought to each line, each precept clear,
Then practice it well with godly fear. –Anon
The Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.
Prayer:
¨ Praise God for the PresCare Board of Directors, who continue to volunteer their time freely and seek to meet the challenges of aged care.
¨ Pray for the families who lost loved ones during 2011.
The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. –Proverbs 2:6
Profitable Bible study involves more than just opening to a chapter and reading what’s there. Here are the seven guidelines to help you make the most of your study of the Bible:-
1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you’ll neglect it.
2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.
3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine for gold, you have to dig.
4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.
5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.
6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
7. Don’t get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there’s enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionise your life if you apply it.
Now read today’s verses again with these principles in mind. Then try it again tomorrow. You will begin to discover the treasures in the Bible. –Haddon Robinson
When reading God’s Words, take special care
To find the rich treasures hidden there;
Give thought to each line, each precept clear,
Then practice it well with godly fear. –Anon
The Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.
Prayer:
¨ Praise God for the PresCare Board of Directors, who continue to volunteer their time freely and seek to meet the challenges of aged care.
¨ Pray for the families who lost loved ones during 2011.
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Read Matthew 6:25-34
We walk by faith, not by sight. –2Corinthians 5:7
We often wish we could see what lies around the corner in life. Then we could prepare for it, control it, or avoid it.
A wise person has said, “Though we can’t see around corners, God can.” How much better and more reassuring that is!
One day my 10-year-old granddaughter Emily and I were boiling eggs for breakfast. As we stared into the boiling water and wondering how long it would take to get the eggs just right, Emily said, “Pity we can’t open them up to see how they’re doing.” I agreed. But that would have spoiled them, so we had to rely on guesswork, with no guarantee of results.
We began talking about other things we would like to see but can’t—like tomorrow. Too bad we can’t crack tomorrow open, we said, to see if it’s the way we would like it. But meddling with tomorrow before its time, like opening a partly cooked egg, would spoil both today and tomorrow.
Because Jesus has promised to care for us every day—and that includes tomorrow—we can live by faith one day at a time (Matthew 6:33-34)
Emily and I decided to leave tomorrow safely in God’s hands. Have you? -Joanie Yoder
I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things just happen -
Everything by Him is planned. –A. Smith
You’re only cooking up trouble when you stew about tomorrow.
Prayer:
¨ Pray for the PresCare coordinators and for their teams as new rosters are implemented with new clients coming on board.
¨ Pray that the generous individuals and companies support the vital work of
PresCare & who have made a donation to the PresCare Christmas Appeal.
We walk by faith, not by sight. –2Corinthians 5:7
We often wish we could see what lies around the corner in life. Then we could prepare for it, control it, or avoid it.
A wise person has said, “Though we can’t see around corners, God can.” How much better and more reassuring that is!
One day my 10-year-old granddaughter Emily and I were boiling eggs for breakfast. As we stared into the boiling water and wondering how long it would take to get the eggs just right, Emily said, “Pity we can’t open them up to see how they’re doing.” I agreed. But that would have spoiled them, so we had to rely on guesswork, with no guarantee of results.
We began talking about other things we would like to see but can’t—like tomorrow. Too bad we can’t crack tomorrow open, we said, to see if it’s the way we would like it. But meddling with tomorrow before its time, like opening a partly cooked egg, would spoil both today and tomorrow.
Because Jesus has promised to care for us every day—and that includes tomorrow—we can live by faith one day at a time (Matthew 6:33-34)
Emily and I decided to leave tomorrow safely in God’s hands. Have you? -Joanie Yoder
I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things just happen -
Everything by Him is planned. –A. Smith
You’re only cooking up trouble when you stew about tomorrow.
Prayer:
¨ Pray for the PresCare coordinators and for their teams as new rosters are implemented with new clients coming on board.
¨ Pray that the generous individuals and companies support the vital work of
PresCare & who have made a donation to the PresCare Christmas Appeal.
Monday 26 December 2011
Monday 26 December 2011
Read Matthew 22:34-40
You shall love your neighbour as yourself. –Leviticus 19:18
Somehow the command to love doesn’t get through to us. We may confess that we lack a strong faith, but seldom do we admit that we are deficient in love. Perhaps we feel we’re as loving as the next person, and maybe a little bit more.
After all, we’re sensitive to the hurts of other people. Our hearts go out to battered wives and abused children when we read about them in the newspaper. We shift uneasily in front in front of our TVs when we see little children sobbing with hunger or sitting in silent despair beyond crying.
But deep inside we know that genuine caring reaches beyond feelings to action. Caring, like steam or electricity, isn’t worthy much unless something happens as a result of it. Love without deeds is useless, just as talent not demonstrated in creative ways is wasted. Both must be expressed or they are no better than a myth.
Because we can’t do everything, we often don’t do anything. If you want to be a loving person, don’t start by taking on the needs of the whole world. Start with caring about one person and build from there.
You can’t do everything, but you can do something. What you can do, you should do. Today, determine that in the power and grace of God you will do it. –Haddon Robinson
Let us be Christ’s true disciples,
Looking to another’s need,
Making stony pathways smoother
By a gentle word or deed. –Thorson
In a world that couldn’t care less, we are to be people who wouldn’t care more.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks that we are able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
¨ Pray that we will continue to show to the world, the Real Reason for the Christmas Season.
You shall love your neighbour as yourself. –Leviticus 19:18
Somehow the command to love doesn’t get through to us. We may confess that we lack a strong faith, but seldom do we admit that we are deficient in love. Perhaps we feel we’re as loving as the next person, and maybe a little bit more.
After all, we’re sensitive to the hurts of other people. Our hearts go out to battered wives and abused children when we read about them in the newspaper. We shift uneasily in front in front of our TVs when we see little children sobbing with hunger or sitting in silent despair beyond crying.
But deep inside we know that genuine caring reaches beyond feelings to action. Caring, like steam or electricity, isn’t worthy much unless something happens as a result of it. Love without deeds is useless, just as talent not demonstrated in creative ways is wasted. Both must be expressed or they are no better than a myth.
Because we can’t do everything, we often don’t do anything. If you want to be a loving person, don’t start by taking on the needs of the whole world. Start with caring about one person and build from there.
You can’t do everything, but you can do something. What you can do, you should do. Today, determine that in the power and grace of God you will do it. –Haddon Robinson
Let us be Christ’s true disciples,
Looking to another’s need,
Making stony pathways smoother
By a gentle word or deed. –Thorson
In a world that couldn’t care less, we are to be people who wouldn’t care more.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks that we are able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
¨ Pray that we will continue to show to the world, the Real Reason for the Christmas Season.
Sunday 25 December 2011
Christmas Day
Merry Christmas
May the Lord bless you greatly this season as you celebrate and rejoice in His love. Christmas time is traditionally busy, stressful and filled with so many things and errands and preparations that it’s often hard to take a moment to reflect and to actually enjoy the season.
Let me encourage you to take time out regularly this Christmas season to sit quietly and reflect on the love that God has for you and your family. Take time to praise God together, to sing His glory and to rejoice in His goodness. Take time out regularly to simply be with God, basking in His love and faithfulness.
Make sure that this Christmas you and your family and your friends talk about and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
But even more so, make sure that you take the time to personally thank God for Christmas, for the greatest gift ever - the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. Take time to offer up praise and adoration and heartfelt thanks for this blessed gift.
Let your joy overflow this Christmas so that others may see Christ in you.
Pastor Esa Hukkinen.
May the Lord bless you greatly this season as you celebrate and rejoice in His love. Christmas time is traditionally busy, stressful and filled with so many things and errands and preparations that it’s often hard to take a moment to reflect and to actually enjoy the season.
Let me encourage you to take time out regularly this Christmas season to sit quietly and reflect on the love that God has for you and your family. Take time to praise God together, to sing His glory and to rejoice in His goodness. Take time out regularly to simply be with God, basking in His love and faithfulness.
Make sure that this Christmas you and your family and your friends talk about and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
But even more so, make sure that you take the time to personally thank God for Christmas, for the greatest gift ever - the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. Take time to offer up praise and adoration and heartfelt thanks for this blessed gift.
Let your joy overflow this Christmas so that others may see Christ in you.
Pastor Esa Hukkinen.
Saturday 24 December 2011
Saturday December 24, 2011
Read Luke 3; Isaiah 40:3
Let’s do some detective work even though we have said quite categorically that this Jesus narrative is not a detective book or mystery novel. The writers want us to understand as soon as possible who Jesus is.
But let’s put the jigsaw pieces together so we can understand more correctly who Jesus is. Turn to Isaiah 40:3 and notice that it’s the same quote as used in Luke 3. Isaiah 40:3 prophesies that someone will come along declaring and making the way for the Lord.
Now I want you to notice the word Lord in vs 3. Notice that it’s spelt in capitals? It’s LORD, not Lord. The capitalised word Lord is a simple way of representing the personal name of God Almighty. In Hebrew it’s Yahweh. Some older Bibles have Lord written as Jehovah.
Now here’s where we have to get our detective hats on. Back in Luke’s gospel when John the Baptist comes along telling everyone about Jesus, he quotes that passage in Isaiah 40:3. He is crying out ‘prepare the way for the .....’. What word goes there? Lord! Can you see what John the Baptist is saying? Can you hear what Luke’s gospel is saying? Jesus is God come to us. Jesus is the one who is the exact representation of God’s being. Jesus is God in flesh. When Jesus comes to us, God Himself comes to us.
In a few short words we have a major clue as to the identity of Jesus. He is God! He is the Lord. He often made such a claim. See John 10:31-33. People recognised Him as God. See John 20:28. The Bible writes about Him as God. John 1:1. The overwhelming testimony is that Jesus is God come to us.
But some people will tell you He wasn't God. He was only God’s son. They might say He was only a good teacher. They might say He was a myth or a legend, or the stories grew up and evolved to saying that He was God. You need to ask yourself, ‘Who will you believe, the Word of God or some guy that has an axe to grind?’
Christmas time is a time when we celebrate, not some fat man in a ridiculous red suit trying to come down your non existent chimney to give presents to only your good children, but to celebrate the love of God. He chose to come to us in the person of Jesus, to rescue us, to bring us to God and to allow us to re-enter a relationship of peace with God. Christmas time is a time where you can receive the greatest present of all - the gift God gave you of His Son, the Saviour. Christmas time is a time of love because God has poured out His love onto the world. God, through Christ Jesus, has broken into our brokenness to bring healing, wholeness & dignity.
Prayer:
As Christians celebrate the meaning of Christmas, pray that God would bring many non-believers into our churches to hear the wonderful truth behind the glitter and hype the world portrays as Christmas.
Let’s do some detective work even though we have said quite categorically that this Jesus narrative is not a detective book or mystery novel. The writers want us to understand as soon as possible who Jesus is.
But let’s put the jigsaw pieces together so we can understand more correctly who Jesus is. Turn to Isaiah 40:3 and notice that it’s the same quote as used in Luke 3. Isaiah 40:3 prophesies that someone will come along declaring and making the way for the Lord.
Now I want you to notice the word Lord in vs 3. Notice that it’s spelt in capitals? It’s LORD, not Lord. The capitalised word Lord is a simple way of representing the personal name of God Almighty. In Hebrew it’s Yahweh. Some older Bibles have Lord written as Jehovah.
Now here’s where we have to get our detective hats on. Back in Luke’s gospel when John the Baptist comes along telling everyone about Jesus, he quotes that passage in Isaiah 40:3. He is crying out ‘prepare the way for the .....’. What word goes there? Lord! Can you see what John the Baptist is saying? Can you hear what Luke’s gospel is saying? Jesus is God come to us. Jesus is the one who is the exact representation of God’s being. Jesus is God in flesh. When Jesus comes to us, God Himself comes to us.
In a few short words we have a major clue as to the identity of Jesus. He is God! He is the Lord. He often made such a claim. See John 10:31-33. People recognised Him as God. See John 20:28. The Bible writes about Him as God. John 1:1. The overwhelming testimony is that Jesus is God come to us.
But some people will tell you He wasn't God. He was only God’s son. They might say He was only a good teacher. They might say He was a myth or a legend, or the stories grew up and evolved to saying that He was God. You need to ask yourself, ‘Who will you believe, the Word of God or some guy that has an axe to grind?’
Christmas time is a time when we celebrate, not some fat man in a ridiculous red suit trying to come down your non existent chimney to give presents to only your good children, but to celebrate the love of God. He chose to come to us in the person of Jesus, to rescue us, to bring us to God and to allow us to re-enter a relationship of peace with God. Christmas time is a time where you can receive the greatest present of all - the gift God gave you of His Son, the Saviour. Christmas time is a time of love because God has poured out His love onto the world. God, through Christ Jesus, has broken into our brokenness to bring healing, wholeness & dignity.
Prayer:
As Christians celebrate the meaning of Christmas, pray that God would bring many non-believers into our churches to hear the wonderful truth behind the glitter and hype the world portrays as Christmas.
Friday 23 December 2011
Friday December 23, 2011
Read Matthew 2:13-23
There’s much written about King Herod in history. It’s not only the Bible that tells us what he did! But we do know that he was an arrogant man who would not tolerate any rivals. He was a violent man that would go to any lengths to remove anyone who even apparently threatened his reign. Even though he was a great architect and dreamer that accomplished many great architectural feats, his goodness was overshadowed by his cruelty.
When Herod realised that another king had been born, he was jealous and sought to use the magi or ’wise men’ to find this baby. He wanted to kill Him not worship Him.
But he was frustrated and went on a rampage. He ordered the death of every baby two years old and under. We don’t know how many innocent lives were lost that day. But we do know that God was fully in control and saved His new born King, the one called the Son of God.
Herod, for all his pomp and power and tantrums was outwitted. Jesus would grow and mature. He would start His ministry at about 30 years of age. At 33 He would be falsely tried and accused of crimes and words He never committed. He would hang on a cross and He would die accursed by God. He would suffer in our shoes as our scapegoat.
Biblically speaking, God did not let anything get in the way of His plan being fulfilled. And what was God’s plan? To send His one and only Son into the world to die for the sins and rebellions of the world so that forgiveness could be offered to all who turn to Jesus and trust Him.
Prayer:
¨ "I heard the message of Christ's great love of him dying for us to get everlasting peace, and there and then I decided to believe in Christ. After a month, the news that I had converted to Christianity reached my father, a devoted Muslim, and that was the beginning of my troubles with him.”
¨ Susan's father still wants nothing to do with her and no family member is willing to care for her. Susan is spiritually stronger, loves praying and enjoys singing hymns.
There’s much written about King Herod in history. It’s not only the Bible that tells us what he did! But we do know that he was an arrogant man who would not tolerate any rivals. He was a violent man that would go to any lengths to remove anyone who even apparently threatened his reign. Even though he was a great architect and dreamer that accomplished many great architectural feats, his goodness was overshadowed by his cruelty.
When Herod realised that another king had been born, he was jealous and sought to use the magi or ’wise men’ to find this baby. He wanted to kill Him not worship Him.
But he was frustrated and went on a rampage. He ordered the death of every baby two years old and under. We don’t know how many innocent lives were lost that day. But we do know that God was fully in control and saved His new born King, the one called the Son of God.
Herod, for all his pomp and power and tantrums was outwitted. Jesus would grow and mature. He would start His ministry at about 30 years of age. At 33 He would be falsely tried and accused of crimes and words He never committed. He would hang on a cross and He would die accursed by God. He would suffer in our shoes as our scapegoat.
Biblically speaking, God did not let anything get in the way of His plan being fulfilled. And what was God’s plan? To send His one and only Son into the world to die for the sins and rebellions of the world so that forgiveness could be offered to all who turn to Jesus and trust Him.
Prayer:
Uganda - Teenager tortured for her faith set to make 'full recovery'
¨ "I heard the message of Christ's great love of him dying for us to get everlasting peace, and there and then I decided to believe in Christ. After a month, the news that I had converted to Christianity reached my father, a devoted Muslim, and that was the beginning of my troubles with him.”
¨ Susan's father still wants nothing to do with her and no family member is willing to care for her. Susan is spiritually stronger, loves praying and enjoys singing hymns.
Thursday 22 December 2011
Thursday December 22, 2011
Read Luke 2:1-12
You’ve read about it and sung about and probably been in a Christmas pageant more that speaks about the three wise men who came to Jesus to worship Him and give Him presents.
Let’s look afresh at what this passage tells us about Jesus. “We are told in vs 1-2 that He was born as a king and had a heavenly sign, the star, to announce His arrival. Being a King, one would expect Him to have subjects and to demand or expect loyalty from those subjects. No wonder King Herod was threatened. As a King, He is to be worshipped!
We are also told that He will be a ruler and a shepherd. Contrary to modern day cattle breeders and farmers, shepherds in Jesus day were on-the-job men who cared dearly for their sheep. Technology did not do the work for them. Often when they slept, they would enclose the sheep and sleep in the entry/exit at the gate so that sheep could not get out and wolves etc could not get in. They guarded the sheep with their very lives. Jesus is the perfect shepherd. He guards his followers and leads them to green pastures. His rod and staff comfort and direct the sheep. He watches over them and makes sure that they are always safe.
The gifts brought to Jesus show us more of who He is. Gold is a fitting gift for a king. Jesus was born a King, more correctly, The King, and deserved gold. Frankincense was the resin of a particular tree used in sacrifices. Jesus would be offered as The Sacrifice, once for all, to bring us to God so it was suitable to give Him frankincense. Myrrh was used in the burial ritual. When a person died they were covered with myrrh to hide the decaying smell. Jesus would die a painful death on a cross rejected by man and God. He would die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He would die as a substitute for your sins and my sins. Jesus, by being a sacrifice that died, would make it possible for you and I to be loved by God and adopted by Him.
Prayer:
Please continue to pray for Christians in Israel, and pray that both Jews and Arabs would come to know Jesus as their Saviour.
You’ve read about it and sung about and probably been in a Christmas pageant more that speaks about the three wise men who came to Jesus to worship Him and give Him presents.
Let’s look afresh at what this passage tells us about Jesus. “We are told in vs 1-2 that He was born as a king and had a heavenly sign, the star, to announce His arrival. Being a King, one would expect Him to have subjects and to demand or expect loyalty from those subjects. No wonder King Herod was threatened. As a King, He is to be worshipped!
We are also told that He will be a ruler and a shepherd. Contrary to modern day cattle breeders and farmers, shepherds in Jesus day were on-the-job men who cared dearly for their sheep. Technology did not do the work for them. Often when they slept, they would enclose the sheep and sleep in the entry/exit at the gate so that sheep could not get out and wolves etc could not get in. They guarded the sheep with their very lives. Jesus is the perfect shepherd. He guards his followers and leads them to green pastures. His rod and staff comfort and direct the sheep. He watches over them and makes sure that they are always safe.
The gifts brought to Jesus show us more of who He is. Gold is a fitting gift for a king. Jesus was born a King, more correctly, The King, and deserved gold. Frankincense was the resin of a particular tree used in sacrifices. Jesus would be offered as The Sacrifice, once for all, to bring us to God so it was suitable to give Him frankincense. Myrrh was used in the burial ritual. When a person died they were covered with myrrh to hide the decaying smell. Jesus would die a painful death on a cross rejected by man and God. He would die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He would die as a substitute for your sins and my sins. Jesus, by being a sacrifice that died, would make it possible for you and I to be loved by God and adopted by Him.
Prayer:
Please continue to pray for Christians in Israel, and pray that both Jews and Arabs would come to know Jesus as their Saviour.
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Wednesday December 21, 2011
Read Luke 1:1-38
This is no detective novel. It is not a mystery ‘Who dunnit?’ Luke was a historian and probably a doctor who did much research and interviews with contemporaries of Jesus before he wrote his gospel. He tells us outright about this child being born in Bethlehem on the very first Christmas.
He is to be called Jesus - which means God saves. But what does He save us from? Obviously the rebellion of Genesis 3 that we read about yesterday but also from the rebellion that we’ve all committed in our hearts. We’ve all done what our first parents did - turned our back on God and went our own way instead of His. Jesus - whose name means ‘God saves’ - has come to rescue us from rejecting God.
But we’re also told that He will rule on the throne of David and that His kingdom will never end. So? Jesus was born to take up an eternal kingship. He will rule over a kingdom that will span literally “forever”: Jesus’ mission was to tell people about that kingdom and to invite us all into that kingdom.
When God created the world He meant for humans to live for eternity. Death came into the world because of our rebellion against God (Genesis 3). But, as we’ve seen already, God didn’t abandon us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to set up an eternal kingdom - one that will never end. And here’s the juicy bit. Jesus is inviting you and I into the kingdom. He’s opened it for us.
But how do I get into that Kingdom? What must I do? To understand we need to flick forward to end of Jesus’ earthly life. God Himself tells us:
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Have you given your heart to Jesus? Have you said ’Yes’ to His offer of an eternal kingdom? Have you cried out ’Jesus is Lord’ with your mouth and believed in your heart that He was raised from the dead ? If not, do it now. If yes, share that wonderful news with someone else.
Try to capture the real meaning of Christmas this week by sharing your faith in Jesus with at least one other person.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks to God for the important ministry of reconciliation that is taking place in Israel.
¨ The power of the Gospel is bringing the ministry of reconciliation in the very place where Jesus reconciled the world to Himself on the cross.
This is no detective novel. It is not a mystery ‘Who dunnit?’ Luke was a historian and probably a doctor who did much research and interviews with contemporaries of Jesus before he wrote his gospel. He tells us outright about this child being born in Bethlehem on the very first Christmas.
He is to be called Jesus - which means God saves. But what does He save us from? Obviously the rebellion of Genesis 3 that we read about yesterday but also from the rebellion that we’ve all committed in our hearts. We’ve all done what our first parents did - turned our back on God and went our own way instead of His. Jesus - whose name means ‘God saves’ - has come to rescue us from rejecting God.
But we’re also told that He will rule on the throne of David and that His kingdom will never end. So? Jesus was born to take up an eternal kingship. He will rule over a kingdom that will span literally “forever”: Jesus’ mission was to tell people about that kingdom and to invite us all into that kingdom.
When God created the world He meant for humans to live for eternity. Death came into the world because of our rebellion against God (Genesis 3). But, as we’ve seen already, God didn’t abandon us. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to set up an eternal kingdom - one that will never end. And here’s the juicy bit. Jesus is inviting you and I into the kingdom. He’s opened it for us.
But how do I get into that Kingdom? What must I do? To understand we need to flick forward to end of Jesus’ earthly life. God Himself tells us:
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Have you given your heart to Jesus? Have you said ’Yes’ to His offer of an eternal kingdom? Have you cried out ’Jesus is Lord’ with your mouth and believed in your heart that He was raised from the dead ? If not, do it now. If yes, share that wonderful news with someone else.
Try to capture the real meaning of Christmas this week by sharing your faith in Jesus with at least one other person.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks to God for the important ministry of reconciliation that is taking place in Israel.
¨ The power of the Gospel is bringing the ministry of reconciliation in the very place where Jesus reconciled the world to Himself on the cross.
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Tuesday December 20, 2011
Read Genesis 3
To really understand the Christmas story you need to understand the world in which we live from a Biblical perspective. Biblically speaking, God created the world in six days (Genesis 1) and put mankind in a special Garden to work it and keep it (Genesis 2). God declared that the world which He made was very good. He’d been calling it all ‘good’ throughout the ficedays but when mankind was created, God sat back and declared that it was all ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31).
In this “very good” world we notice that there is no death or dying. There is no killing or murder or helpless seals being attacked by hungry sharks. There is no disease nor anything bad or negative at all. It was, as God said, ‘very good’.
Yet when the angel in heaven, called Lucifer, rebelled in heaven against God he was hurled to earth and waged war against all mankind because mankind was the pinnacle of God’s creation. He came into the garden and tempted Eve and Adam to disobey God. He wanted them to die through their disobedience, because God had sworn to them that as soon as they ate from a particular tree, they would be subject to death.
As you know they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree and were kicked out of the Garden. The world they entered was our world - a world of mayhem, deceit, disease and sickness and death and dying. It was a world where a brother is killed because his offering is more acceptable. It’s a world where people are laughed at and mocked for worshipping the one true living God. It’s a world where payback is multiplied seven fold from the original offense. It short, the world we are so accustomed to is the result of disobedience to God.
But here’s where being special kicks in. God didn’t abandon the world. He didn’t abandon you. He could have spat the dummy and started all over again with another world. But He didn’t.
In Genesis 3:15 God made a promise:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
God promised to send a child (an offspring of a woman) who would crush the serpent’s head, even though He’d be bruised, so to speak.
Though the whole Bible is leading up to that one child and forms the backdrop to that child, the Christmas narrative is the start of that promise being fulfilled.
Since the creation of the world, God has not forgotten His promise and He hasn’t abandoned His creation. That should make us feel special.
How often do you praise and adore God for that?
Prayer:
Pray for Jews and Arabs in Israel
¨ Messianic Jews and Arab Christians in Israel live in a very tense environment. To live in the midst of constant conflict is very difficult, and whether Jewish or Arab, those who put their faith in Christ face hatred and rejection from their own people.
¨ In Gaza, pressure from the government continues to force Christians to leave, and on the West Bank, church leaders face threats for sharing the gospel with Muslims.
¨ Messianic Jews are shunned by their neighbourhoods, being subject to intimidation, protests and being labelled as traitors.
To really understand the Christmas story you need to understand the world in which we live from a Biblical perspective. Biblically speaking, God created the world in six days (Genesis 1) and put mankind in a special Garden to work it and keep it (Genesis 2). God declared that the world which He made was very good. He’d been calling it all ‘good’ throughout the ficedays but when mankind was created, God sat back and declared that it was all ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31).
In this “very good” world we notice that there is no death or dying. There is no killing or murder or helpless seals being attacked by hungry sharks. There is no disease nor anything bad or negative at all. It was, as God said, ‘very good’.
Yet when the angel in heaven, called Lucifer, rebelled in heaven against God he was hurled to earth and waged war against all mankind because mankind was the pinnacle of God’s creation. He came into the garden and tempted Eve and Adam to disobey God. He wanted them to die through their disobedience, because God had sworn to them that as soon as they ate from a particular tree, they would be subject to death.
As you know they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree and were kicked out of the Garden. The world they entered was our world - a world of mayhem, deceit, disease and sickness and death and dying. It was a world where a brother is killed because his offering is more acceptable. It’s a world where people are laughed at and mocked for worshipping the one true living God. It’s a world where payback is multiplied seven fold from the original offense. It short, the world we are so accustomed to is the result of disobedience to God.
But here’s where being special kicks in. God didn’t abandon the world. He didn’t abandon you. He could have spat the dummy and started all over again with another world. But He didn’t.
In Genesis 3:15 God made a promise:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
God promised to send a child (an offspring of a woman) who would crush the serpent’s head, even though He’d be bruised, so to speak.
Though the whole Bible is leading up to that one child and forms the backdrop to that child, the Christmas narrative is the start of that promise being fulfilled.
Since the creation of the world, God has not forgotten His promise and He hasn’t abandoned His creation. That should make us feel special.
How often do you praise and adore God for that?
Prayer:
Pray for Jews and Arabs in Israel
¨ Messianic Jews and Arab Christians in Israel live in a very tense environment. To live in the midst of constant conflict is very difficult, and whether Jewish or Arab, those who put their faith in Christ face hatred and rejection from their own people.
¨ In Gaza, pressure from the government continues to force Christians to leave, and on the West Bank, church leaders face threats for sharing the gospel with Muslims.
¨ Messianic Jews are shunned by their neighbourhoods, being subject to intimidation, protests and being labelled as traitors.
Monday 19 December 2011
Monday December 19, 2011
Read Luke 3:21-37
I hope you didn’t find any apes or monkeys in the genealogy or family line of Jesus, did you? I pray that there were no amoebas and accidental genetic changes in this long list of fore fathers! As we draw
near to Christmas I pray that you begin to realise just how magnificent you are in God’s eyes.
Now I know that the reading for today was hard going and it was difficult to wade through the list of names and some of them were hard to pronounce. But did you notice where the list ended? Adam, the first man was the Son of God because he was created by God. The Bible assures us that God did not use evolution to create humanity. Nor did the world evolve from an accident. You are not the product of time and chance (key factors in evolution) that accidently happened from an electrified soup of goo.
You and I are made in the image of God not in the image of an ape or a chimp. We were designed and created by God for a specific purpose - to relate to Him and to enjoy Him forever. You are so much more than an animal. You are so much more than a mix of water and chemicals. You are so much more than a bag of bones and flesh. You are a human being with a soul, with a conscience, with dignity and purpose and you are made in God’s very own image.
Do you feel special? You should because God tells us in His Word that He created mankind as the very pinnacle of His creation. The world and everything in it was only complete and was only ‘very good’ (as God called it) when mankind had been created. Only then was God happy to sit back and rest from His work of creation.
You are special because God has made you. How often do you thank and praise God for that?
Prayer:
¨ Many people this Christmas won’t feel special because they don’t have enough money to feed the kids and to buy presents. Rather than pray for them alone, pray that you and your church would be able to bless these people and to show them that they too are special to God.
¨ Pray that our Christmas service would be well attended by non believers and that many would turn to Christ for salvation.
I hope you didn’t find any apes or monkeys in the genealogy or family line of Jesus, did you? I pray that there were no amoebas and accidental genetic changes in this long list of fore fathers! As we draw
near to Christmas I pray that you begin to realise just how magnificent you are in God’s eyes.
Now I know that the reading for today was hard going and it was difficult to wade through the list of names and some of them were hard to pronounce. But did you notice where the list ended? Adam, the first man was the Son of God because he was created by God. The Bible assures us that God did not use evolution to create humanity. Nor did the world evolve from an accident. You are not the product of time and chance (key factors in evolution) that accidently happened from an electrified soup of goo.
You and I are made in the image of God not in the image of an ape or a chimp. We were designed and created by God for a specific purpose - to relate to Him and to enjoy Him forever. You are so much more than an animal. You are so much more than a mix of water and chemicals. You are so much more than a bag of bones and flesh. You are a human being with a soul, with a conscience, with dignity and purpose and you are made in God’s very own image.
Do you feel special? You should because God tells us in His Word that He created mankind as the very pinnacle of His creation. The world and everything in it was only complete and was only ‘very good’ (as God called it) when mankind had been created. Only then was God happy to sit back and rest from His work of creation.
You are special because God has made you. How often do you thank and praise God for that?
Prayer:
¨ Many people this Christmas won’t feel special because they don’t have enough money to feed the kids and to buy presents. Rather than pray for them alone, pray that you and your church would be able to bless these people and to show them that they too are special to God.
¨ Pray that our Christmas service would be well attended by non believers and that many would turn to Christ for salvation.
Sunday 18 December 2011
Saturday December 17, 2011
Read Matthew 10:39; Mark 8:35
If you were to google ‘”How To Be Really Happy” you’d get some 724 million results. Google ‘Happy’ by itself and you get 2billion, 630 million hits!!! WOW! It appears that everyone in the world (there’s only about 6.4 billion people) wants to be happy. It appears that everyone is chasing happiness.
Yet I know of and have read of literally thousands of people who have sought happiness in many areas and have come to realise that what they thought would make them happy was really a lie. They were left empty and disillusioned. Some sought happiness in more money but it failed. Others sought it in promotions and work. It too failed. Others sought it in sex and drugs. They ended up absolutely miserable and with a wrecked life.
Jesus’ words in vs 39 are telling and speak volumes for us about ‘happiness’. What Jesus is saying is paramount. If we ‘find’ our life in this world and enjoy all the trappings and blessings of this world then we will actually lose it. The epitome of this is the rich man who indulges himself in every area but ends up miserable and lonely, destitute and without friends or family beside him. The things of this world cannot buy happiness. Countless testimonies exist of this fact.
But the man, woman or child who loses his or her life for Jesus’ sake will find life. That person will find true and full life. Why? Because he/she is actually serving a greater power/being above himself. Self centredness and self indulgence may bring a 5 minute thrill but it will never ever give that deep satisfaction and joy of a full life worth living. Serving and giving others, especially Christ Jesus, brings a deep sense of peace and security that nothing else in this world can replicate or imitate.
Unfortunately many people get caught in a spiralling vortex of self indulgence. They are mistaken when they think that happiness is found in self - self fulfilment, self indulgence, self promotion etc. But as the first attempt brings failure they try harder at something else. When that fails to please, they try even harder at seeking self fulfilment. The cycle continues until tragedy inevitably strikes! A self indulgent lifestyle almost invariably ends in disaster. Addictions are a common outcome. Suicide, depression and apathy have resulted in other cases. Further afield, families and friends and relationships have been destroyed by self indulgent people seeking to maximise their own pleasure. The carnage from one self indulgent, pleasure seeking life can be enormous.
But at the other extreme, a life lived for Christ’s sake, a life of cross carrying and blessing others can have an incredible impact on people’s lives and the world of others. Blessing others and giving to others creates an adrenaline rush that no amount of self can ever replicate. Even more so, when that other centredness comes out of your love for Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
¨ In a desperate call for prayer one Syrian Christian pleaded: "Please be praying for the situation here. The extremists will take advantage of the situation and things will get worse. Syria needs more prayers, now please!"
¨ Pray that Open Doors' team members in Syria will be able to continue their work providing literature and training and establishing links with the Orthodox Church and protestant denominations.
¨ Pray for an end to the violence and for peace and stability to be restored.
Ask the Lord what one thing you can do today that is other centred and a blessing to someone else. Having asked, do it!
If you were to google ‘”How To Be Really Happy” you’d get some 724 million results. Google ‘Happy’ by itself and you get 2billion, 630 million hits!!! WOW! It appears that everyone in the world (there’s only about 6.4 billion people) wants to be happy. It appears that everyone is chasing happiness.
Yet I know of and have read of literally thousands of people who have sought happiness in many areas and have come to realise that what they thought would make them happy was really a lie. They were left empty and disillusioned. Some sought happiness in more money but it failed. Others sought it in promotions and work. It too failed. Others sought it in sex and drugs. They ended up absolutely miserable and with a wrecked life.
Jesus’ words in vs 39 are telling and speak volumes for us about ‘happiness’. What Jesus is saying is paramount. If we ‘find’ our life in this world and enjoy all the trappings and blessings of this world then we will actually lose it. The epitome of this is the rich man who indulges himself in every area but ends up miserable and lonely, destitute and without friends or family beside him. The things of this world cannot buy happiness. Countless testimonies exist of this fact.
But the man, woman or child who loses his or her life for Jesus’ sake will find life. That person will find true and full life. Why? Because he/she is actually serving a greater power/being above himself. Self centredness and self indulgence may bring a 5 minute thrill but it will never ever give that deep satisfaction and joy of a full life worth living. Serving and giving others, especially Christ Jesus, brings a deep sense of peace and security that nothing else in this world can replicate or imitate.
Unfortunately many people get caught in a spiralling vortex of self indulgence. They are mistaken when they think that happiness is found in self - self fulfilment, self indulgence, self promotion etc. But as the first attempt brings failure they try harder at something else. When that fails to please, they try even harder at seeking self fulfilment. The cycle continues until tragedy inevitably strikes! A self indulgent lifestyle almost invariably ends in disaster. Addictions are a common outcome. Suicide, depression and apathy have resulted in other cases. Further afield, families and friends and relationships have been destroyed by self indulgent people seeking to maximise their own pleasure. The carnage from one self indulgent, pleasure seeking life can be enormous.
But at the other extreme, a life lived for Christ’s sake, a life of cross carrying and blessing others can have an incredible impact on people’s lives and the world of others. Blessing others and giving to others creates an adrenaline rush that no amount of self can ever replicate. Even more so, when that other centredness comes out of your love for Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
¨ In a desperate call for prayer one Syrian Christian pleaded: "Please be praying for the situation here. The extremists will take advantage of the situation and things will get worse. Syria needs more prayers, now please!"
¨ Pray that Open Doors' team members in Syria will be able to continue their work providing literature and training and establishing links with the Orthodox Church and protestant denominations.
¨ Pray for an end to the violence and for peace and stability to be restored.
Ask the Lord what one thing you can do today that is other centred and a blessing to someone else. Having asked, do it!
Friday 16 December 2011
Friday December 16, 2011
Matthew 10:38; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
A cross not a cushion. Nails not a nail manicure. Persecution not a pat on the back. Trouble not a tickle! These are harsh and troubling words aren’t they? Yet they represent the essential core of Jesus’ teaching.
As disciples of Jesus, as His followers, we must be ready to take up our cross and to follow Jesus where ever He may lead us. We must be ready to bear the weight of the cross, to feel its splinters and to trudge up that hill to Calvary in His own footsteps. As we walk the long and winding road to the crucifixion sight the crowd may ’boo’ and ‘hiss’ as we pass. The soldiers may flog us with their inhumane whips. We may fall exhausted but Christ bids us rise, take up thy cross and follow Him.
We get excited and motivated when a boxer trains hard and fights hard. We feel pumped when a tennis player or a football team plays hard puts all their determination and grunt into the court or field. When a dancer dances with passion and energy struts her stuff we are filled with joy that the dedication and hard work has paid off.
How much more should we, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, train hard and play hard at life! How much more should we willingly take up the cross to follow Jesus. Paul captured the sentiment in 1Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Paul saw the Lord do many great things. Part of the reason is that he gave his whole body over to serving God. He put God first in everything and used all that he had (including his own body) to do the work of Christ Jesus.
As you and I pour ourselves into serving the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see Him do mighty things. We will see the kingdom grow. We will see the Lord glorified and lifted up. We will see the fruit of the victory that Christ has won for us.
Prayer:
SPORTS-NEWS ANCHOR FIRED FOR SAYING: “I believe in marriage”
You won’t believe this! This is what you can expect if we let the homosexual lobby go unchallenged in this country. Pray and pray that Christians will stand up for Biblical marriage only between man and a woman.
A cross not a cushion. Nails not a nail manicure. Persecution not a pat on the back. Trouble not a tickle! These are harsh and troubling words aren’t they? Yet they represent the essential core of Jesus’ teaching.
As disciples of Jesus, as His followers, we must be ready to take up our cross and to follow Jesus where ever He may lead us. We must be ready to bear the weight of the cross, to feel its splinters and to trudge up that hill to Calvary in His own footsteps. As we walk the long and winding road to the crucifixion sight the crowd may ’boo’ and ‘hiss’ as we pass. The soldiers may flog us with their inhumane whips. We may fall exhausted but Christ bids us rise, take up thy cross and follow Him.
We get excited and motivated when a boxer trains hard and fights hard. We feel pumped when a tennis player or a football team plays hard puts all their determination and grunt into the court or field. When a dancer dances with passion and energy struts her stuff we are filled with joy that the dedication and hard work has paid off.
How much more should we, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, train hard and play hard at life! How much more should we willingly take up the cross to follow Jesus. Paul captured the sentiment in 1Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Paul saw the Lord do many great things. Part of the reason is that he gave his whole body over to serving God. He put God first in everything and used all that he had (including his own body) to do the work of Christ Jesus.
As you and I pour ourselves into serving the Lord Jesus Christ, we will see Him do mighty things. We will see the kingdom grow. We will see the Lord glorified and lifted up. We will see the fruit of the victory that Christ has won for us.
Prayer:
SPORTS-NEWS ANCHOR FIRED FOR SAYING: “I believe in marriage”
You won’t believe this! This is what you can expect if we let the homosexual lobby go unchallenged in this country. Pray and pray that Christians will stand up for Biblical marriage only between man and a woman.
Thursday 15 December 2011
Thursday December 15, 2011
Read Matthew 10:34-37
“It’s ok to be Christian. Just don't be fanatical!” How often I’ve heard those words. Fanatical Christians scare most people in the Western world, even people in the church! Radical Christianity turns a lot of people away because they are scared or worried about what it will bring.
Jesus in talking about the family advocates a radical and fanatical reordering of our priorities. God has always and will always continue to
love the family unit and support it. But in this radical new ordering God is to be the head of the husband and wife. God is to be the head of the children. Our first priority, whether we are parent or child, is towards God.
That radical new outlook affects everything we do. Parents strive to obey the Lord first and foremost. They seek to raise their children in the love and fear of the Lord. Their standard is set by God’s Word not the world, not the TV and not some pop psychology child expert. They model and live out their love for God and rear their children spiritually as well as physically, emotionally and educationally. Children for their part, show their love for God primarily by obeying their parents. As the children grow and mature they show their love for God by respecting their parents and by continuing to obey and by helping their parents. Even when children leave home, the call to respect does not die down. Geographical distance does not negate the call to obey and respect our parents.
In today’s world of broken families and non-biblical family units a Biblical family speaks volumes. There is something inherently attractive about a Biblical family unit that draws people to Christ and models in real ways the love of Christ for the world. Your family (be it you and your spouse, you and your spouse and your children or you and your parents or you and your siblings) are a great tool for shining and sharing the love of Christ to the world around you. You are in a beautiful position to show the world in which you engage what it means to live under the headship of God, to have Christ as your Lord and to be in harmony with the one true living God.
Read Ephesians 5:22-6:3.
Spend time thinking about your family role and how you might change to glorify God more .
Prayer:
¨ Children Homes at State of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. We have been able to feed and educate the poor and needy orphan children and refugee victim’s children. The total number of children we have is 210, out of that 200 children are getting support; we still require support for other 10 children.
¨ Please pray for them to receive hope of Christ in their lives.
“It’s ok to be Christian. Just don't be fanatical!” How often I’ve heard those words. Fanatical Christians scare most people in the Western world, even people in the church! Radical Christianity turns a lot of people away because they are scared or worried about what it will bring.
Jesus in talking about the family advocates a radical and fanatical reordering of our priorities. God has always and will always continue to
love the family unit and support it. But in this radical new ordering God is to be the head of the husband and wife. God is to be the head of the children. Our first priority, whether we are parent or child, is towards God.
That radical new outlook affects everything we do. Parents strive to obey the Lord first and foremost. They seek to raise their children in the love and fear of the Lord. Their standard is set by God’s Word not the world, not the TV and not some pop psychology child expert. They model and live out their love for God and rear their children spiritually as well as physically, emotionally and educationally. Children for their part, show their love for God primarily by obeying their parents. As the children grow and mature they show their love for God by respecting their parents and by continuing to obey and by helping their parents. Even when children leave home, the call to respect does not die down. Geographical distance does not negate the call to obey and respect our parents.
In today’s world of broken families and non-biblical family units a Biblical family speaks volumes. There is something inherently attractive about a Biblical family unit that draws people to Christ and models in real ways the love of Christ for the world. Your family (be it you and your spouse, you and your spouse and your children or you and your parents or you and your siblings) are a great tool for shining and sharing the love of Christ to the world around you. You are in a beautiful position to show the world in which you engage what it means to live under the headship of God, to have Christ as your Lord and to be in harmony with the one true living God.
Read Ephesians 5:22-6:3.
Spend time thinking about your family role and how you might change to glorify God more .
Prayer:
¨ Children Homes at State of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. We have been able to feed and educate the poor and needy orphan children and refugee victim’s children. The total number of children we have is 210, out of that 200 children are getting support; we still require support for other 10 children.
¨ Please pray for them to receive hope of Christ in their lives.
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Wednesday December 14, 2011
Read Matthew 10:34-36; Micah 7
I read the sad story of a Christian family man under the regime of Saddam Hussein. This dictator demanded total loyalty and support from every single citizen. When he appeared on a TV broadcast, everyone (literally, everyone without exception) was expected to watch and listen. This particular Christian man turned off his TV and commented casually about the lies that had been sprouted for years. The child of that man made an innocent comment about the event at school a few days later. The Christian man was soon arrested, taken away and was never seen again.
In Hitler’s Germany, children were actively encouraged to spy on their parents and to report any suspicious anti-Nazi activity or conversation. Many many people disappeared in the wee hours of the night because
their children were more loyal to the party than to their parents. Many Christians and Jews disappeared because their allegiance to Christ was greater than their allegiance to a political party.
Following Christ will cause hardship and problems. Following Christ will cause division - even in the basic family unit. We should not be surprised and dismayed when trouble arises in our families.
But what should we do? The prophet Micah that penned vs 6 also wrote immediately after that verse :
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.
We need to be watching for God, waiting for Him, knowing that God will indeed hear us. We need to be pleading our cause with God and casting our cares upon Him. We need to be trading our sorrows for the peace that Christ offers us. We need to be drawing near to God, blow for blow, as the world around us cracks and crumbles. Only God can bring restoration and hope.
If you are struggling with family at present, call a close Christian friend and make a regular time to pray exclusively about your situation.
Prayer:
Shiloh Church Ministries
During the last 6 months, 160 pastors of SCM in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, have visited 720 new houses, and spread the good news of Christ to 405 people. We were able to baptize 222 people, and also distribute 3200 Gospel tracts.
I read the sad story of a Christian family man under the regime of Saddam Hussein. This dictator demanded total loyalty and support from every single citizen. When he appeared on a TV broadcast, everyone (literally, everyone without exception) was expected to watch and listen. This particular Christian man turned off his TV and commented casually about the lies that had been sprouted for years. The child of that man made an innocent comment about the event at school a few days later. The Christian man was soon arrested, taken away and was never seen again.
In Hitler’s Germany, children were actively encouraged to spy on their parents and to report any suspicious anti-Nazi activity or conversation. Many many people disappeared in the wee hours of the night because
their children were more loyal to the party than to their parents. Many Christians and Jews disappeared because their allegiance to Christ was greater than their allegiance to a political party.
Following Christ will cause hardship and problems. Following Christ will cause division - even in the basic family unit. We should not be surprised and dismayed when trouble arises in our families.
But what should we do? The prophet Micah that penned vs 6 also wrote immediately after that verse :
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.
We need to be watching for God, waiting for Him, knowing that God will indeed hear us. We need to be pleading our cause with God and casting our cares upon Him. We need to be trading our sorrows for the peace that Christ offers us. We need to be drawing near to God, blow for blow, as the world around us cracks and crumbles. Only God can bring restoration and hope.
If you are struggling with family at present, call a close Christian friend and make a regular time to pray exclusively about your situation.
Prayer:
Shiloh Church Ministries
During the last 6 months, 160 pastors of SCM in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, have visited 720 new houses, and spread the good news of Christ to 405 people. We were able to baptize 222 people, and also distribute 3200 Gospel tracts.
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Tuesday December 13, 2011
Read John 14
Take a moment to complete the following sentence "I feel loved when..." You can talk about 5 or 6 or even more things if you like.
Obviously we feel loved when people act and speak and treat us in certain ways. While there may be some variation in answers I suspect that most people would have a similar range of answers. I suspect that certain things would be excluded from almost everyone’s list. What would these things include? Can you list 5 or 10 of them?
The reason that we are all so similar is that God created us in His own image and He made us in a certain mould that knows good and evil, right and wrong and so on. When it comes to feeling loved we have an inbuilt radar that knows when someone is for us or against us by the way they speak to us, treat us and even their body language. That creation also governs the way that we relate to God. God knows when we love Him or hate Him or are indifferent to Him (which really is hatred of Him) by the way we relate to Him.
Jesus made it very clear. There is no ambiguity or uncertainty about Jesus’ words - if you love me you will obey what I command. What we have is a simple conditional statement which says that if this is true then
something else will follow. OBEDIENCE is the hall mark and trademark of Christian love for God. It is the essential element of spirituality above and beyond all spiritual gifts and miraculous works etc. Quickly read Matthew 7:21-23 and take note of the type of people that Jesus sent to eternal condemnation! It was the miracle workers, the demon exorcisors and the prophets who were DISOBEDIENT. That’s a scary passage.
Obedience speaks volumes to a world living in hatred of God. Obedience challenges and threatens the world. My own family get annoyed and angry when they realise that I tithe and give to the Lord at least 10% of my income. Friends and acquaintances are irritated when I put the Lord first and foremost in all of my life. Obedience is challenging. Obedience to Jesus shows where your allegiance lies and people will find that threatening.
The good news, however, is that many will see your obedience and will be drawn to find the Saviour that has empowered you to walk in such radical obedience.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks to God for the commitment of many ladies to came to the Itchin’4Stitching nights through this year.
¨ Ask God to bless the recipients of the lap quilts made, that they would see the love of Christ through these practical gifts provided to them.
Take a moment to complete the following sentence "I feel loved when..." You can talk about 5 or 6 or even more things if you like.
Obviously we feel loved when people act and speak and treat us in certain ways. While there may be some variation in answers I suspect that most people would have a similar range of answers. I suspect that certain things would be excluded from almost everyone’s list. What would these things include? Can you list 5 or 10 of them?
The reason that we are all so similar is that God created us in His own image and He made us in a certain mould that knows good and evil, right and wrong and so on. When it comes to feeling loved we have an inbuilt radar that knows when someone is for us or against us by the way they speak to us, treat us and even their body language. That creation also governs the way that we relate to God. God knows when we love Him or hate Him or are indifferent to Him (which really is hatred of Him) by the way we relate to Him.
Jesus made it very clear. There is no ambiguity or uncertainty about Jesus’ words - if you love me you will obey what I command. What we have is a simple conditional statement which says that if this is true then
something else will follow. OBEDIENCE is the hall mark and trademark of Christian love for God. It is the essential element of spirituality above and beyond all spiritual gifts and miraculous works etc. Quickly read Matthew 7:21-23 and take note of the type of people that Jesus sent to eternal condemnation! It was the miracle workers, the demon exorcisors and the prophets who were DISOBEDIENT. That’s a scary passage.
Obedience speaks volumes to a world living in hatred of God. Obedience challenges and threatens the world. My own family get annoyed and angry when they realise that I tithe and give to the Lord at least 10% of my income. Friends and acquaintances are irritated when I put the Lord first and foremost in all of my life. Obedience is challenging. Obedience to Jesus shows where your allegiance lies and people will find that threatening.
The good news, however, is that many will see your obedience and will be drawn to find the Saviour that has empowered you to walk in such radical obedience.
Prayer:
¨ Give thanks to God for the commitment of many ladies to came to the Itchin’4Stitching nights through this year.
¨ Ask God to bless the recipients of the lap quilts made, that they would see the love of Christ through these practical gifts provided to them.
Monday 12 December 2011
Monday December 12, 2011
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-9
I counselled a young man who had been abusive towards his wife and children. Unfortunately this had been a pattern of behaviour for several years. What astounded me was the claim he continued to make as we sat and chatted in my office. Over and over again he said these words,
‘I love my wife’. Would you feel loved if someone were bashing you or ridiculing you or hurting your children? The claim ‘I love you’ is meaningless unless it is backed up by actions and words and conduct. Otherwise it’s a lie. Love cannot exist in our minds and hearts in isolation from our actions and words and conduct.
As I look at the world I see a world that does not love God. On the contrary, it shows its utter hatred of God by the way it conducts itself. It’s not hard to find examples of the kind of conduct that Paul talks about in 1 Timothy 3 - self love, pleasure seeking, a lack of gratitude, treachery, disobedience to parents, a total abandon to physical desires and so on. What is really sad is the self inflicted blindness of the world towards God and His raised right hand of judgement.
But the church (not the building), the people of God are to be markedly opposite to what you see in this list. If you were to put a list of complete opposites you’d start seeing that Christians by their actions and lifestyle show that they love God more than anything else in the world. “By their fruit you shall know them” said our Lord and Saviour.
In many parts of the world the Christian church is growing because believers are letting their love for God flow out in their words, their actions, their conduct and their treatment of others. Africa once had about 4% Christians and has rapidly grown to 46% because of such love and lifestyle. India is following a similar trend. South America and China are on the same track.
What a joy to think that our lifestyle speaks volumes to a lost world about our Saviour’s love and grace. What a blessing to know that the way we live can be used by the Lord as a magnet to draw others to Christ. How fulfilling to know that my conduct, my words, my treatment of others can be and is a testimony to the awesome God I worship.
Make a covenant or pact with God to live out your faith no matter what the cost.
Prayer:
¨ Ask God to continue to bless the new Teen Challenge Girls Facility.
¨ Pray that the girls in the programme will come to a saving knowledge of Christ early and have this time to grow in His grace.
I counselled a young man who had been abusive towards his wife and children. Unfortunately this had been a pattern of behaviour for several years. What astounded me was the claim he continued to make as we sat and chatted in my office. Over and over again he said these words,
‘I love my wife’. Would you feel loved if someone were bashing you or ridiculing you or hurting your children? The claim ‘I love you’ is meaningless unless it is backed up by actions and words and conduct. Otherwise it’s a lie. Love cannot exist in our minds and hearts in isolation from our actions and words and conduct.
As I look at the world I see a world that does not love God. On the contrary, it shows its utter hatred of God by the way it conducts itself. It’s not hard to find examples of the kind of conduct that Paul talks about in 1 Timothy 3 - self love, pleasure seeking, a lack of gratitude, treachery, disobedience to parents, a total abandon to physical desires and so on. What is really sad is the self inflicted blindness of the world towards God and His raised right hand of judgement.
But the church (not the building), the people of God are to be markedly opposite to what you see in this list. If you were to put a list of complete opposites you’d start seeing that Christians by their actions and lifestyle show that they love God more than anything else in the world. “By their fruit you shall know them” said our Lord and Saviour.
In many parts of the world the Christian church is growing because believers are letting their love for God flow out in their words, their actions, their conduct and their treatment of others. Africa once had about 4% Christians and has rapidly grown to 46% because of such love and lifestyle. India is following a similar trend. South America and China are on the same track.
What a joy to think that our lifestyle speaks volumes to a lost world about our Saviour’s love and grace. What a blessing to know that the way we live can be used by the Lord as a magnet to draw others to Christ. How fulfilling to know that my conduct, my words, my treatment of others can be and is a testimony to the awesome God I worship.
Make a covenant or pact with God to live out your faith no matter what the cost.
Prayer:
¨ Ask God to continue to bless the new Teen Challenge Girls Facility.
¨ Pray that the girls in the programme will come to a saving knowledge of Christ early and have this time to grow in His grace.
Saturday 10 December 2011
Saturday December 10, 2011
Read Matthew 10:32-33
Yousef Nadarkhani may be executed before you read this. This Iranian pastor sits in a jail on death row because he loves Jesus and refuses to deny Christ. He refuses to sign any papers abdicating his faith and he refuses to turn to any other religion. Yousef is not ashamed of Christ. As the authorities pressure Yousef and threaten him, he remains strong in Christ.
A female believer imprisoned for her faith stated these words, ‘A lady prison guard tortured me and cut off my hair... They [prisoners and staff] hated me... They wanted me to die without any medical help.’ Yet she would not deny Christ. She was not ashamed to own Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
From Burma we read this account. ‘When the troops saw them [believers], they shot several rounds of bullets into the sanctuary. The 49 year-old father-of-four, Jangma Awng Li, decided to speak to the troops as he is fluent in Burmese. He was beaten in his head with a rifle butt, and injured his forehead when he hit a concrete wall. He and four other men were handcuffed and detained by the soldiers.’ Yet they were not ashamed of Christ and did not deny Him.
In Orissa, India, Christians are merciless beaten almost daily even as police and guards circle and turn their backs to violent atrocities and even cold blooded murder of Christians. Yet they do not deny Christ. They do not feel ashamed or embarrassed to own Jesus and to proclaim His name. They do not turn away from Christ in the hour of temptation and pressure. They stand firm.
I’ve often wondered why the world hates followers of Jesus - followers who profess peace, love for enemies and good works towards all mankind. Apart from the obvious (the world is following satan and is in his complete control. See 1 John 5:19, the hatred springs up because Jesus demands total allegiance. When a person becomes a follower of Jesus he is no longer a slave to tradition or false religion or the mob mentality or the old ways. That change of allegiance threatens the world and rears up in anger and violence.
Yet it is that very allegiance to Christ that causes believers to stand strong in the face of the storm. It is that God given and God driven allegiance that allows believers to react in love, to avoid retaliation and to continue praying for one’s persecutors. It is that allegiance that stops a true believer from denying Christ.
One day, when this world is done, when time has ended and Jesus sits on His majestic throne the world with all its persecutors and angry atheists will be punished and dealt with. Then Jesus will call to Himself all those who owned Him in this life. All the suffering, all the pain, all the rejection and persecution will end as the glorious heavens are opened up and the faithful are welcomed home with arms open wide.
Log on to compassdirect.org and pray for the persecuted believers. Make a habit of logging on every 2 or 3 days and praying for the persecuted believers.
Prayer:
¨ Pray that God would bless the Glenvale Combined carols evening tomorrow night.
¨ Pray that many from the community would come and hear the true meaning of Christmas.
¨ Praise God that through the witness of song and drama, J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) will be presenting the truth of Christmas.
Yousef Nadarkhani may be executed before you read this. This Iranian pastor sits in a jail on death row because he loves Jesus and refuses to deny Christ. He refuses to sign any papers abdicating his faith and he refuses to turn to any other religion. Yousef is not ashamed of Christ. As the authorities pressure Yousef and threaten him, he remains strong in Christ.
A female believer imprisoned for her faith stated these words, ‘A lady prison guard tortured me and cut off my hair... They [prisoners and staff] hated me... They wanted me to die without any medical help.’ Yet she would not deny Christ. She was not ashamed to own Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
From Burma we read this account. ‘When the troops saw them [believers], they shot several rounds of bullets into the sanctuary. The 49 year-old father-of-four, Jangma Awng Li, decided to speak to the troops as he is fluent in Burmese. He was beaten in his head with a rifle butt, and injured his forehead when he hit a concrete wall. He and four other men were handcuffed and detained by the soldiers.’ Yet they were not ashamed of Christ and did not deny Him.
In Orissa, India, Christians are merciless beaten almost daily even as police and guards circle and turn their backs to violent atrocities and even cold blooded murder of Christians. Yet they do not deny Christ. They do not feel ashamed or embarrassed to own Jesus and to proclaim His name. They do not turn away from Christ in the hour of temptation and pressure. They stand firm.
I’ve often wondered why the world hates followers of Jesus - followers who profess peace, love for enemies and good works towards all mankind. Apart from the obvious (the world is following satan and is in his complete control. See 1 John 5:19, the hatred springs up because Jesus demands total allegiance. When a person becomes a follower of Jesus he is no longer a slave to tradition or false religion or the mob mentality or the old ways. That change of allegiance threatens the world and rears up in anger and violence.
Yet it is that very allegiance to Christ that causes believers to stand strong in the face of the storm. It is that God given and God driven allegiance that allows believers to react in love, to avoid retaliation and to continue praying for one’s persecutors. It is that allegiance that stops a true believer from denying Christ.
One day, when this world is done, when time has ended and Jesus sits on His majestic throne the world with all its persecutors and angry atheists will be punished and dealt with. Then Jesus will call to Himself all those who owned Him in this life. All the suffering, all the pain, all the rejection and persecution will end as the glorious heavens are opened up and the faithful are welcomed home with arms open wide.
Log on to compassdirect.org and pray for the persecuted believers. Make a habit of logging on every 2 or 3 days and praying for the persecuted believers.
Prayer:
¨ Pray that God would bless the Glenvale Combined carols evening tomorrow night.
¨ Pray that many from the community would come and hear the true meaning of Christmas.
¨ Praise God that through the witness of song and drama, J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) will be presenting the truth of Christmas.
Friday 9 December 2011
Friday December 9, 2011
Read Matthew 10:26-27
These verses are often read over and forgotten about because they make little sense. We rarely stop to think about them. Jesus has sent the disciples out on a mission and He sends us out on that same mission.
Part of that mission is exposing the sinfulness of the world. That which is concealed and hidden will be revealed and brought into light. Ultimately that will happen on the day that Jesus judges the world but as we preach the Word and take Jesus to the nations, part of that mission is to reveal the sinfulness of the world. What Jesus reveals to us and speaks to us is to be proclaimed loudly from the rooftops.
And, obviously, as we reveal the sinfulness of the world, the world will get angry. Nobody likes having their sins exposed. That’s why Jesus surrounds these two verses with the encouragement not to be afraid. Have a look again at the verses and notice the ‘fear not’ injunction at the start and end of these verses about revealing the sins of the world.
As believers we need to be exposing the sinfulness of abortion. We need to be revealing the sinfulness of pornography and the trade of humans and children in the sex industry. We need to be speaking out about the evils of sexual perversion and the like. And as we do, rest assured, the world will get angry with us.
But Jesus whispers to us the very same words of comfort that He gave the disciples ’So do not be afraid of them... Do not be afraid of those who kill the body...’ Can you hear the words of Jesus? Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.....
Prayer:
¨ That God would uphold Pastor Nadarkhani.
¨ For peace, strength and comfort for Pastor Nadarkhani’s family.
¨ For wisdom and eloquence for Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyer who is also facing legal difficulties.
¨ That God would comfort members of Pastor Nadarkhani’s church and denomination.
These verses are often read over and forgotten about because they make little sense. We rarely stop to think about them. Jesus has sent the disciples out on a mission and He sends us out on that same mission.
Part of that mission is exposing the sinfulness of the world. That which is concealed and hidden will be revealed and brought into light. Ultimately that will happen on the day that Jesus judges the world but as we preach the Word and take Jesus to the nations, part of that mission is to reveal the sinfulness of the world. What Jesus reveals to us and speaks to us is to be proclaimed loudly from the rooftops.
And, obviously, as we reveal the sinfulness of the world, the world will get angry. Nobody likes having their sins exposed. That’s why Jesus surrounds these two verses with the encouragement not to be afraid. Have a look again at the verses and notice the ‘fear not’ injunction at the start and end of these verses about revealing the sins of the world.
As believers we need to be exposing the sinfulness of abortion. We need to be revealing the sinfulness of pornography and the trade of humans and children in the sex industry. We need to be speaking out about the evils of sexual perversion and the like. And as we do, rest assured, the world will get angry with us.
But Jesus whispers to us the very same words of comfort that He gave the disciples ’So do not be afraid of them... Do not be afraid of those who kill the body...’ Can you hear the words of Jesus? Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.....
Prayer:
¨ That God would uphold Pastor Nadarkhani.
¨ For peace, strength and comfort for Pastor Nadarkhani’s family.
¨ For wisdom and eloquence for Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyer who is also facing legal difficulties.
¨ That God would comfort members of Pastor Nadarkhani’s church and denomination.
Thursday 8 December 2011
Thursday December 8, 2011
Read Matthew 10:26-31
How can we overcome fear? How can we move forward and be a light to the world? How can we reverse the trend we may have seen in our life of hiding, cowering and refusing to stand up and speak up? Part of the answer lies in keeping an eternal perspective.
There are so many things here in this mortal, non eternal life that we fear losing - our status, our reputation, our creaturely comforts, our job and our friends and so on. These things chain us in fear. But as we take on an eternal perspective we begin to put all these things into their proper place. To get that eternal outlook we need to spend time with God. We need to meditate on the joys and riches of heaven. We need to cast our eyes upwards to the Lord and off the things of this world. We need to talk of heaven’s joys with each other and praises to the One who has signed our heavenly citizenship papers with the blood of His Son.
Jesus encourages us not to fear those who can only kill the body. These people that persecute Christians can do nothing against our eternity. Rather than fear these people and regimes we are to fear the One who has the power over people’s eternity. We are to fear the One who can kill the body and send the soul into eternal destruction and torture. We are to fear the One who knows and holds every sparrow in the palm of His hands. We are to fear the One who knows every hair on our head. God, our God, is in control of eternity. We have no reason to fear people or regimes in this life.
I read the story of a small statured man whom the Lord called to go to a particular cafe. At this cafe he was sitting next to a mean looking, overly tattooed fellow that had obviously lived a violent and wild life. Yet the Lord called this small statured man to witness to the other fellow about Jesus. Meekly and somewhat mildly he leant over and spoke of Christ to this other fellow. Most of us would have run in fear and given in. But this small statured man did not! He spoke of Jesus. A short time later this violent and wild young man gave his heart to the Lord. He is now evangelising many more people from drug filled, violence ridden lives. Praise the Lord. You have nothing to fear!
I read of an African pastor being chased by a Muslim mob intent on
killing him for his faith in Jesus. This man stopped, turned to the mob and declared that he does not fear them. The mob, miraculously, went away. He lived to tell about it. His church began to grow and thrive because many saw Jesus in this man. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! You have nothing to fear.
Prayer:
¨ Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani never practiced the Muslim faith and converted to Christianity at age 19, becoming a pastor later.
¨ For God to stay the hand and change the hearts of the Iranian judiciary, that they would reconsider the death sentence handed down.
¨ That the international community would swiftly take decisive and effective action on behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani.
How can we overcome fear? How can we move forward and be a light to the world? How can we reverse the trend we may have seen in our life of hiding, cowering and refusing to stand up and speak up? Part of the answer lies in keeping an eternal perspective.
There are so many things here in this mortal, non eternal life that we fear losing - our status, our reputation, our creaturely comforts, our job and our friends and so on. These things chain us in fear. But as we take on an eternal perspective we begin to put all these things into their proper place. To get that eternal outlook we need to spend time with God. We need to meditate on the joys and riches of heaven. We need to cast our eyes upwards to the Lord and off the things of this world. We need to talk of heaven’s joys with each other and praises to the One who has signed our heavenly citizenship papers with the blood of His Son.
Jesus encourages us not to fear those who can only kill the body. These people that persecute Christians can do nothing against our eternity. Rather than fear these people and regimes we are to fear the One who has the power over people’s eternity. We are to fear the One who can kill the body and send the soul into eternal destruction and torture. We are to fear the One who knows and holds every sparrow in the palm of His hands. We are to fear the One who knows every hair on our head. God, our God, is in control of eternity. We have no reason to fear people or regimes in this life.
I read the story of a small statured man whom the Lord called to go to a particular cafe. At this cafe he was sitting next to a mean looking, overly tattooed fellow that had obviously lived a violent and wild life. Yet the Lord called this small statured man to witness to the other fellow about Jesus. Meekly and somewhat mildly he leant over and spoke of Christ to this other fellow. Most of us would have run in fear and given in. But this small statured man did not! He spoke of Jesus. A short time later this violent and wild young man gave his heart to the Lord. He is now evangelising many more people from drug filled, violence ridden lives. Praise the Lord. You have nothing to fear!
I read of an African pastor being chased by a Muslim mob intent on
killing him for his faith in Jesus. This man stopped, turned to the mob and declared that he does not fear them. The mob, miraculously, went away. He lived to tell about it. His church began to grow and thrive because many saw Jesus in this man. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! You have nothing to fear.
Prayer:
¨ Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani never practiced the Muslim faith and converted to Christianity at age 19, becoming a pastor later.
¨ For God to stay the hand and change the hearts of the Iranian judiciary, that they would reconsider the death sentence handed down.
¨ That the international community would swiftly take decisive and effective action on behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani.
Wednesday December 7, 2011
Read Deuteronomy 1:19-46
We all give into fear at times and are defeated by it. We’re human and frail and often somewhat fickle. But we need to realise that giving into fear and choosing our path rather than the Lord’s chosen path can have disastrous results.
God had promised the Israelites safe entry into the promised land. He had sworn to deliver the enemy over them. As the spies came back from the land they brought the fruit of the land, succulent and juicy. But the people grumbled and rebelled against God. They gave way to fear and refused to enter the land. God was angry with them and swore that the entire generation of fearers (except Joshua and Caleb, who did not give into fear) would die before the nation entered the Promised Land. The book of Numbers is the story of the Israelites wandering around the desert for 40 years as that generation died off. This was the disastrous result of their disobedience and fear. But the generation heard what God was saying and foolishly ran off to make war against the enemy in the hill country. Though warned that God would not go with them, they marched into battle. But because they had given into fear, they were severely defeated. That day saw great weeping and anguish before the Lord as many Israelites lay strewn across the battlefield. This was the second disastrous consequence of giving into fear.
Fear has disastrous consequences because we are inadvertently saying that God is not able to handle the situation that I am fearing. God is not big enough or strong enough to deal with this situation or person that I fear. We are declaring that God has lost control and I need to take charge because my way is better than God’s. We are, when we give into fear, reducing God and elevating something or someone else to the status of a ‘god’. God will not tolerate this. Disastrous consequences follow.
As you grow to know God more and as you mature in Him you will grow to realise that there is no situation and no person that you need fear. The only one we need to fear is the Lord Himself!
Have there been disastrous consequences to your life because you gave into fear? Ask the Lord to reveal these things to you. Confess these fears to the Lord and ask His blessing in these areas.
Prayer:
¨ For wisdom for Christians in Kazakhstan as they respond to the new laws.
¨ For the Christians to be strengthened and prepared for the difficult times ahead.
¨ That Christians will stand firm in their faith and find ways to continue meeting together.
We all give into fear at times and are defeated by it. We’re human and frail and often somewhat fickle. But we need to realise that giving into fear and choosing our path rather than the Lord’s chosen path can have disastrous results.
God had promised the Israelites safe entry into the promised land. He had sworn to deliver the enemy over them. As the spies came back from the land they brought the fruit of the land, succulent and juicy. But the people grumbled and rebelled against God. They gave way to fear and refused to enter the land. God was angry with them and swore that the entire generation of fearers (except Joshua and Caleb, who did not give into fear) would die before the nation entered the Promised Land. The book of Numbers is the story of the Israelites wandering around the desert for 40 years as that generation died off. This was the disastrous result of their disobedience and fear. But the generation heard what God was saying and foolishly ran off to make war against the enemy in the hill country. Though warned that God would not go with them, they marched into battle. But because they had given into fear, they were severely defeated. That day saw great weeping and anguish before the Lord as many Israelites lay strewn across the battlefield. This was the second disastrous consequence of giving into fear.
Fear has disastrous consequences because we are inadvertently saying that God is not able to handle the situation that I am fearing. God is not big enough or strong enough to deal with this situation or person that I fear. We are declaring that God has lost control and I need to take charge because my way is better than God’s. We are, when we give into fear, reducing God and elevating something or someone else to the status of a ‘god’. God will not tolerate this. Disastrous consequences follow.
As you grow to know God more and as you mature in Him you will grow to realise that there is no situation and no person that you need fear. The only one we need to fear is the Lord Himself!
Have there been disastrous consequences to your life because you gave into fear? Ask the Lord to reveal these things to you. Confess these fears to the Lord and ask His blessing in these areas.
Prayer:
¨ For wisdom for Christians in Kazakhstan as they respond to the new laws.
¨ For the Christians to be strengthened and prepared for the difficult times ahead.
¨ That Christians will stand firm in their faith and find ways to continue meeting together.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Tuesday December 6, 2011
Tuesday December 6, 2011 Read Acts 4
Richard Wurmbrand watched the prison guards kill many of his fellow prisoners and, especially, many of his brothers in the Lord. The Communist leaders had no qualms in eradicating Christians and the prison guards followed suit - shooting, beating to death, starving and torturing believers. Even so, at every opportunity Richard would share the love of Christ with the guards that beat him, tortured him and sought to kill him.
The Apostles Peter and John found themselves in a similar situation. Jesus had been crucified by the Sanhedrin and now the Apostles were standing before them trying to explain the miracle of the beggar healed at the gate called Beautiful. This group masterminded the death of Jesus and they could easily exterminate His associates. But as Peter spoke, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with courage, not fear. In vs 13 we see that the Jewish leaders saw the courage of Peterand John. Peter was able to declare the work of Christ, His death and resurrection He was able to declare that salvation was found in no one else for no other name was given to mankind to be saved.
You and I have no reason to fear mankind. We have a God that is incredibly bigger and stronger and more powerful than any person on this planet. God is sovereign over every single situation and not even a sparrow or leaf falls to the ground apart from His will. This was beautifully illustrated in India recently. A gunman burst into the church and demanded that the pastor be silent and stop speaking of Jesus. The gun was pointed at his head. The pastor courageously kept preaching. The gunman pulled the trigger. The gun backfired and the gunman was killed instantly. The other terrorists quickly fled. Who knows what would have happened had the preacher given into fear and fell silent.
You have nothing to fear because you are on God‟s side and God is watching over you. BE brave. BE strong. BE courageous. BE all that God wants you to be.
Prayer: Kazakhstan
All of their activities; including meeting in house churches, church
events, Sunday school, training, social work and evangelism, are banned without recognition under the new laws. It is expected that the number of raids, detentions, interrogations, threats, and physical violence against them will increase.
Some Christians in Kazakhstan are deciding not to register out of principle. They know what is coming their way and are already facing oppression from the authorities. Unfortunately, there will also be a big new group of Christians who fail to meet the new registration requirements. They will need to prepare themselves for difficult times ahead.
Richard Wurmbrand watched the prison guards kill many of his fellow prisoners and, especially, many of his brothers in the Lord. The Communist leaders had no qualms in eradicating Christians and the prison guards followed suit - shooting, beating to death, starving and torturing believers. Even so, at every opportunity Richard would share the love of Christ with the guards that beat him, tortured him and sought to kill him.
The Apostles Peter and John found themselves in a similar situation. Jesus had been crucified by the Sanhedrin and now the Apostles were standing before them trying to explain the miracle of the beggar healed at the gate called Beautiful. This group masterminded the death of Jesus and they could easily exterminate His associates. But as Peter spoke, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with courage, not fear. In vs 13 we see that the Jewish leaders saw the courage of Peterand John. Peter was able to declare the work of Christ, His death and resurrection He was able to declare that salvation was found in no one else for no other name was given to mankind to be saved.
You and I have no reason to fear mankind. We have a God that is incredibly bigger and stronger and more powerful than any person on this planet. God is sovereign over every single situation and not even a sparrow or leaf falls to the ground apart from His will. This was beautifully illustrated in India recently. A gunman burst into the church and demanded that the pastor be silent and stop speaking of Jesus. The gun was pointed at his head. The pastor courageously kept preaching. The gunman pulled the trigger. The gun backfired and the gunman was killed instantly. The other terrorists quickly fled. Who knows what would have happened had the preacher given into fear and fell silent.
You have nothing to fear because you are on God‟s side and God is watching over you. BE brave. BE strong. BE courageous. BE all that God wants you to be.
Prayer: Kazakhstan
All of their activities; including meeting in house churches, church
events, Sunday school, training, social work and evangelism, are banned without recognition under the new laws. It is expected that the number of raids, detentions, interrogations, threats, and physical violence against them will increase.
Some Christians in Kazakhstan are deciding not to register out of principle. They know what is coming their way and are already facing oppression from the authorities. Unfortunately, there will also be a big new group of Christians who fail to meet the new registration requirements. They will need to prepare themselves for difficult times ahead.
Monday 5 December 2011
Monday December 5, 2011
Read Isaiah 43:1-11
What or whom do you fear? If you‟re like me, then your macho instincts are probably kicking in and you‟re thinking something like, „Nothing! No one. I‟m not afraid of anything‟. But God knows that we are afraid and that certain situations scare the heebee geebees out of us.
When Jesus sent the disciples out to minister and preach like sheep among wolves He knew that it would be a scary and fearful situation for them. He encouraged and commanded them not to fear mankind. Isaiah, similarly, spoke the Word of the Lord to His people. The Lord called His people to „Fear not!‟ because Yahweh was their deliverer. Yahweh was/is the one true living God who would walk with them to the New Promised Land. He would be their guard and their shield. Neither the waters, the rivers, the fire nor the nations could remove the salvation that Yahweh had wrought for them.
In fact, the history of Israel from Abraham (even beyond Abraham) shows the truth that God‟s people need not fear. Abraham learnt that he had nothing to fear when he entered Egypt because God was with him. He had nothing to fear when he was old and Sarah was still barren for the Lord would bring forth the child of the promise. The Israelites, when in slavery in Egypt didn‟t need to fear Pharaoh for God would deliver them with an outstretched arm. When they stood on the shore of the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his armies were galloping towards them, they did not have to fear for God would deliver them. When they were commanded to enter the land and attack the nations, 7 nations stronger, more numerous and better armed than they were, they had no reason to fear because God would fight for them. As the nation marched out to war to protect the promised land from the invaders they had nothing to fear. As Israel cowered before the Philistines and their champion Goliath, David knew that they had nothing to fear because God was their deliverer.
Do you know this God that fights for us and delivers us and always keeps His Word? Do you know His might and power? Do you know His protection? More particularly, when someone teaches lies about the Lord and His Bible do you know the Lord‟s power or do you clam up and hide? When a door is opened to speak of Jesus do you confidently and fearlessly speak up or do you stare at the ground waiting for the time to pass quickly? When an outreach event is run at church do you fearlessly invite your neighbourhood or do you make excuses about being too busy? Do we talk and share Jesus with our friends and family or are we too scared of the consequences?
Fear can cripple us. But the one whom we should fear liberates us and let‟s the light shine so brightly that men will see our good deeds and give glory to God who is in heaven.
Spend some time alone with the Lord and ask Him to reveal your real fears to you. Confess each one and ask the Lord to fill you with courage.
Prayer:
Kazakhstan has adopted a new religious legislation which will
restrict religious activities to a great extent.
Under the new legislation, all religious communities are required
to re-register. The process of registering and meeting the requirements is complicated, and will be especially difficult for smaller Christian groups. The laws will inflict harsh punishment on groups who are not registered under the new system.
What or whom do you fear? If you‟re like me, then your macho instincts are probably kicking in and you‟re thinking something like, „Nothing! No one. I‟m not afraid of anything‟. But God knows that we are afraid and that certain situations scare the heebee geebees out of us.
When Jesus sent the disciples out to minister and preach like sheep among wolves He knew that it would be a scary and fearful situation for them. He encouraged and commanded them not to fear mankind. Isaiah, similarly, spoke the Word of the Lord to His people. The Lord called His people to „Fear not!‟ because Yahweh was their deliverer. Yahweh was/is the one true living God who would walk with them to the New Promised Land. He would be their guard and their shield. Neither the waters, the rivers, the fire nor the nations could remove the salvation that Yahweh had wrought for them.
In fact, the history of Israel from Abraham (even beyond Abraham) shows the truth that God‟s people need not fear. Abraham learnt that he had nothing to fear when he entered Egypt because God was with him. He had nothing to fear when he was old and Sarah was still barren for the Lord would bring forth the child of the promise. The Israelites, when in slavery in Egypt didn‟t need to fear Pharaoh for God would deliver them with an outstretched arm. When they stood on the shore of the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his armies were galloping towards them, they did not have to fear for God would deliver them. When they were commanded to enter the land and attack the nations, 7 nations stronger, more numerous and better armed than they were, they had no reason to fear because God would fight for them. As the nation marched out to war to protect the promised land from the invaders they had nothing to fear. As Israel cowered before the Philistines and their champion Goliath, David knew that they had nothing to fear because God was their deliverer.
Do you know this God that fights for us and delivers us and always keeps His Word? Do you know His might and power? Do you know His protection? More particularly, when someone teaches lies about the Lord and His Bible do you know the Lord‟s power or do you clam up and hide? When a door is opened to speak of Jesus do you confidently and fearlessly speak up or do you stare at the ground waiting for the time to pass quickly? When an outreach event is run at church do you fearlessly invite your neighbourhood or do you make excuses about being too busy? Do we talk and share Jesus with our friends and family or are we too scared of the consequences?
Fear can cripple us. But the one whom we should fear liberates us and let‟s the light shine so brightly that men will see our good deeds and give glory to God who is in heaven.
Spend some time alone with the Lord and ask Him to reveal your real fears to you. Confess each one and ask the Lord to fill you with courage.
Prayer:
Kazakhstan has adopted a new religious legislation which will
restrict religious activities to a great extent.
Under the new legislation, all religious communities are required
to re-register. The process of registering and meeting the requirements is complicated, and will be especially difficult for smaller Christian groups. The laws will inflict harsh punishment on groups who are not registered under the new system.
Saturday 3 December 2011
Saturday December 3, 2011
Saturday December 3, 2011
Read Matthew 10:17-25; 1 Corinthians 16:13
Centuries ago an expedition crew was required. The word went out that a dangerous yet adventurous journey required volunteers. It was made clear that it would be a struggle. It would entail hardship and suffering. it was going to be arduous and difficult. Death was possible on this voyage. Interestingly, thousands of men lined up to volunteer for that voyage.
Jesus made it clear that the Christian mission would not be easy. He told us in plain simple Aramaic that we were like sheep going into a ravenous pack of wolves. He warned us to expect trouble, to know for sure that persecution would be forth coming and that even the members of our own household would attack us, ridicule us and reject us.
Jesus is calling the men of the church to lead the charge! He wants men to step up and lead themselves, their families and their groups onward in the dangerous, yet exciting mission He‟s given us. All too often we see churches dominated and led by women (Be assured I have nothing against women!!!) while the men cower and hide away, looking down, kicking the ground and fiddling their thumbs. Men it‟s time to step up. It‟s time to be men of courage. It‟s time to take on the world and accomplish the work that God has given us to do. It‟s time to roar like the lion God made us to be and to step up into the work that is waiting for us. Be men of courage! Be strong! Be all that God created you to be. Replace the cowardly heart with a warrior heart. Step up. Step out. Lead with conviction and let God speak through you.
Prayer:
Religious Instruction in State Schools -
(a) (b)
Give God thanks for this open opportunity of students hearing why Jesus came.
For 2012:-
more teachers as 5 classes were untaught this year
Mentoring is available and instructors need to be Blue Card ready and have a letter from their church.
This is an amazing open door. 25 minutes to teach a Biblically based curriculum to attentive students, supervised by our teachers.
(c)
“Press in the fields which are white, ready to harvest”. John 4:35.
Read Matthew 10:17-25; 1 Corinthians 16:13
Centuries ago an expedition crew was required. The word went out that a dangerous yet adventurous journey required volunteers. It was made clear that it would be a struggle. It would entail hardship and suffering. it was going to be arduous and difficult. Death was possible on this voyage. Interestingly, thousands of men lined up to volunteer for that voyage.
Jesus made it clear that the Christian mission would not be easy. He told us in plain simple Aramaic that we were like sheep going into a ravenous pack of wolves. He warned us to expect trouble, to know for sure that persecution would be forth coming and that even the members of our own household would attack us, ridicule us and reject us.
Jesus is calling the men of the church to lead the charge! He wants men to step up and lead themselves, their families and their groups onward in the dangerous, yet exciting mission He‟s given us. All too often we see churches dominated and led by women (Be assured I have nothing against women!!!) while the men cower and hide away, looking down, kicking the ground and fiddling their thumbs. Men it‟s time to step up. It‟s time to be men of courage. It‟s time to take on the world and accomplish the work that God has given us to do. It‟s time to roar like the lion God made us to be and to step up into the work that is waiting for us. Be men of courage! Be strong! Be all that God created you to be. Replace the cowardly heart with a warrior heart. Step up. Step out. Lead with conviction and let God speak through you.
Prayer:
Religious Instruction in State Schools -
(a) (b)
Give God thanks for this open opportunity of students hearing why Jesus came.
For 2012:-
more teachers as 5 classes were untaught this year
Mentoring is available and instructors need to be Blue Card ready and have a letter from their church.
This is an amazing open door. 25 minutes to teach a Biblically based curriculum to attentive students, supervised by our teachers.
(c)
“Press in the fields which are white, ready to harvest”. John 4:35.
Friday 2 December 2011
Friday December 2, 2001
Read Acts 2:42; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word „church‟ has several different meanings and implications. What do you think of when you hear the word „church‟? Write down, in the space provided, what you think „church‟ means.
Biblically speaking the church is the gathered people of God and consists of the saved and the unsaved. It exists even if the church isn‟t gathered together but is best represented by the gathering of believers.
The church is often called the body of Christ and exits to do the work of Christ in the world. We‟ve talked a lot this week about purpose and goals and what God would have us do. To spell it out clearly, today‟s passages reveal that the church has a multitude of areas where it is to be functioning.
These can be summarised under various headings:
Witness: reaching the world with the love and compassion and Word of Christ. God‟s work and God‟s Word need to go hand in hand if the world is going to see our Lord and Saviour in us.
Walk: The Church needs to be actively, even proactively, walking in the paths God has given it. Holiness and righteousness are the ways of the church and its individual members. They need to be applying the Word each and every day.
Word: The Church, if it is to stay on track, must be committed to the Word of God, the teaching of the Apostles. The centre and focus of the Church must be the Word.
Worship: The church exists to worship God, to bring Him glory and honour. The church is to light the world with the glory of the Lord. This includes obedience to the Lord through the Word and caring for one another.
One Another: The church, as we‟ve seen, is called to love one another and to equip/disciple one another so that the body is ready for its God given mission. There is a genuine call on all believers to deny themselves and to put others ahead of their own needs. Prayer: Obviously the Church needs to be a house of prayer. It needs to be filled with believers seeking the Lord and singing His praises constantly.
Think and pray about Ephesians 4:16 today.
Are you a part of the church or do you just sit in a building?
Prayer:
Praise God that our cell times at Youth have continued to be times of growth and encouragement..
Pray for our Youth who have now completed Year 12.
The word „church‟ has several different meanings and implications. What do you think of when you hear the word „church‟? Write down, in the space provided, what you think „church‟ means.
Biblically speaking the church is the gathered people of God and consists of the saved and the unsaved. It exists even if the church isn‟t gathered together but is best represented by the gathering of believers.
The church is often called the body of Christ and exits to do the work of Christ in the world. We‟ve talked a lot this week about purpose and goals and what God would have us do. To spell it out clearly, today‟s passages reveal that the church has a multitude of areas where it is to be functioning.
These can be summarised under various headings:
Witness: reaching the world with the love and compassion and Word of Christ. God‟s work and God‟s Word need to go hand in hand if the world is going to see our Lord and Saviour in us.
Walk: The Church needs to be actively, even proactively, walking in the paths God has given it. Holiness and righteousness are the ways of the church and its individual members. They need to be applying the Word each and every day.
Word: The Church, if it is to stay on track, must be committed to the Word of God, the teaching of the Apostles. The centre and focus of the Church must be the Word.
Worship: The church exists to worship God, to bring Him glory and honour. The church is to light the world with the glory of the Lord. This includes obedience to the Lord through the Word and caring for one another.
One Another: The church, as we‟ve seen, is called to love one another and to equip/disciple one another so that the body is ready for its God given mission. There is a genuine call on all believers to deny themselves and to put others ahead of their own needs. Prayer: Obviously the Church needs to be a house of prayer. It needs to be filled with believers seeking the Lord and singing His praises constantly.
Think and pray about Ephesians 4:16 today.
Are you a part of the church or do you just sit in a building?
Prayer:
Praise God that our cell times at Youth have continued to be times of growth and encouragement..
Pray for our Youth who have now completed Year 12.
Thursday 1 December 2011
Wednesday November 30, 2011
Wednesday November 30, 2011 Read Luke 24:46-49
Imagine being able to buy yourself a candy apple red Ferrari 458 Italia- 21 inch mags, super charged engine, dual clutch 7 speed gearbox, 419KW of raw power, 0-100km in 3.4 seconds. Just dream with me. You bring home this little beauty and then, horror of horrors, you park it in the garden and leave it there as a garden ornament.
As you get up off the floor from shock and as you recompose yourself, just think for a moment about what an absolute waste of a beautiful car. A Christian without a purpose or without a sense of mission is a lot like that Ferrari sitting in the garden pretending to be a garden gnome.
But a lot of believers still have trouble discerning their role or their part in the wider mission of the church. Many believers have no idea of their spiritual giftings and sit idly within the church. What an absolute waste of a beautiful life!!! To find one‟s purpose and mission within the church there are several things that need to be done.
First and foremost we need to be praying fervently that God would show us His goals, His will and His plan for our lives.
Secondly, we need to personally take on the mission and purpose of the church in our own lives. If we can‟t adopt the plan and purpose of the church, we will never know or discover God‟s personal will for our own lives.
Then we need to discover where our passions lie. God rarely gives us a passion and then calls us to work in unrelated areas.
Next we need to seek out opportunities to serve in the local church in that particular passion area. It‟s vital to be actively involved in the church. Once we start serving we need to stick at it for some length of time that allows us to make a reasonable assessment of our performance, Six to twelve months is a good time frame. After that time, we should sit with a mature Christian and have them assess our performance. If we have made a reasonable impact into people‟s lives then that area of ministry or service could easily form a part of our personal mission statement/goal.
It‟s much like sitting at the base of a huge mountain that is before us. We can sit at the base of that mountain all day, wondering how we‟ll ever get up it. Alternatively we could actually start walking and make some progress. It‟s easier to conquer the mountain if you‟re actually walking. It‟s easier to conquer idleness and purposelessness if you‟re actively involved and ministering and serving others.
Work through the process outlined in today's reading and seek to discover your spiritual gifting so that you can serve and minister to others.
Prayer:
Praise and give thanks to God for Ken Davis „ ministry here tomorrow night.
Pray for every person who does not understand the truth will be touched by God and have their spiritual eyes opened.
Imagine being able to buy yourself a candy apple red Ferrari 458 Italia- 21 inch mags, super charged engine, dual clutch 7 speed gearbox, 419KW of raw power, 0-100km in 3.4 seconds. Just dream with me. You bring home this little beauty and then, horror of horrors, you park it in the garden and leave it there as a garden ornament.
As you get up off the floor from shock and as you recompose yourself, just think for a moment about what an absolute waste of a beautiful car. A Christian without a purpose or without a sense of mission is a lot like that Ferrari sitting in the garden pretending to be a garden gnome.
But a lot of believers still have trouble discerning their role or their part in the wider mission of the church. Many believers have no idea of their spiritual giftings and sit idly within the church. What an absolute waste of a beautiful life!!! To find one‟s purpose and mission within the church there are several things that need to be done.
First and foremost we need to be praying fervently that God would show us His goals, His will and His plan for our lives.
Secondly, we need to personally take on the mission and purpose of the church in our own lives. If we can‟t adopt the plan and purpose of the church, we will never know or discover God‟s personal will for our own lives.
Then we need to discover where our passions lie. God rarely gives us a passion and then calls us to work in unrelated areas.
Next we need to seek out opportunities to serve in the local church in that particular passion area. It‟s vital to be actively involved in the church. Once we start serving we need to stick at it for some length of time that allows us to make a reasonable assessment of our performance, Six to twelve months is a good time frame. After that time, we should sit with a mature Christian and have them assess our performance. If we have made a reasonable impact into people‟s lives then that area of ministry or service could easily form a part of our personal mission statement/goal.
It‟s much like sitting at the base of a huge mountain that is before us. We can sit at the base of that mountain all day, wondering how we‟ll ever get up it. Alternatively we could actually start walking and make some progress. It‟s easier to conquer the mountain if you‟re actually walking. It‟s easier to conquer idleness and purposelessness if you‟re actively involved and ministering and serving others.
Work through the process outlined in today's reading and seek to discover your spiritual gifting so that you can serve and minister to others.
Prayer:
Praise and give thanks to God for Ken Davis „ ministry here tomorrow night.
Pray for every person who does not understand the truth will be touched by God and have their spiritual eyes opened.
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