Read: Matthew 7:1-2, Matthew 18:21-35
The wounds of the Global Financial Crisis have been slow to heal and will leave lasting scars for businesses all over the world. In the USA, and to a much smaller extent here in Australia, people have been horrified by big banks which have received aid from the governments of the world while relentlessly pursuing their debtors, often to bankruptcy. The idea of receiving charity but refusing to give it seems to people to be a heinous crime yet how often do we do the same?
Granted, we do not receive billions of dollars of bailout money from government whilst pursuing our debtors in court, but our sin is perhaps more grievous. We have received unmerited, immeasurable grace from God for our sins and yet we turn around and judge others for even the slightest sin against us. Jesus clearly shows us the heinous nature of this sin in His parable in Matthew 18. So often we are like the debtor who, although forgiven a large debt, turns and shows no forgiveness to his debtor. Jesus clearly shows us the consequence for this sort of rebellion against God, the debtor is turned over to the jailers to pay the consequences for his crime. Particularly chilling is vs 35, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
This is the same principal which Jesus is talking about in vs 2 of today's reading. God has shown us mercy by judging us on the basis of Christ's righteousness instead of according to what our sins deserve. If we turn around and judge others without extending them the same grace which God has extended us, our punishment is clear: God will not show us mercy. This does not undo the work of Christ on the cross to justify us before God or mean that we can lose our salvation in Jesus. Rather, Jesus is saying that if we do not extend grace to others we need to question whether or not we are actually in Christ and have been transformed by our relationship with Him. To put it simply: If we do not show grace to others, are we really saved?
There is one more thing we can understand from these words. The antidote to our self-righteousness and judgment of others is to truly understand our Christ-rightousness and to remember the judgment we have been spared because of His sacrifice. By keeping Christ's work in our minds we can deal with our own self-righteous judgment and extend the grace of Christ to others.
This is a challenging word from Christ. Think about your own life. Think about some of the sins in your past which Christ has freely forgiven you for. Do you judge others for these same sins? Do you extend the same grace God has given to you to others or do you judge harshly? Take a moment to thank and praise God for His forgiveness to you and to pray that He would help you to be gracious with others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for His great grace to you. Pray that everyone in the congregation at Christlife would extend the same grace to others and that as a result many would come to know Jesus.
¥ Pray for PlayPals tomorrow as the mums of our church and the community gather together to play with their children. Pray that the mothers from the community would see the love of the Christlife mothers and would be drawn to faith in Christ.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Based on today's reading from Matthew 18 is there a limit to how many times we should forgive one another?
2. What are some practical ways that you can keep the righteousness of Christ and the forgiveness God has given you in the forefront of your mind this week?
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Monday 29 April 2013
Weekly Challenge
Meet with another believer this week and invite them to tell you where they see sin in your life. Rather than get defensive pray together that the Holy Spirit would help you to be more like Jesus in this area.
Read: Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:1-9
"Do not judge" is possibly the most misquoted Bible passage of the 21st century. It almost seems to be the catchcry of the 21st century. This phrase is used out of context to defend all sorts of moral shortcomings ranging from homosexuality to unethical business practices. This phrase is even used in religious debates: how can you judge my religion to be any more or less true than yours? But is this really what Jesus had in mind? Is Jesus really prohibiting all forms of right judgment and advocating an "anything goes" attitude towards each other? Let's find out...
The key to understanding Jesus' point in this passage lies in His examples in vs 3-5. Jesus does not say, "Don't ever judge". Instead, He commands His followers to practice careful self-examination before bringing judgment to another. It is clear from this example that Jesus is not prohibiting any and all judgment, instead Jesus is prohibiting self-righteous, hypocritical judgment which is quick to see the shortcomings of others before looking at oneself.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel, David gives us a clear example of what it looks like to practice this type of judgment. The prophet Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, using a simple parable. Notice David's reaction in vs 5 and 6. David, not realising the story is actually about him, is quick to condemn a man to death just for stealing a sheep! How much more does David deserve God's judgment for stealing a man's wife and putting her husband to death to cover up his crime. David was quick to recognize and condemn the sins of others but was blind to his own sin.
How easily do we fall into the same sin. Even when talking about judging others it is far easier for us to identify others who judge self-righteously than to identify our own judgment. Spend a moment to think about your own life. What are some areas where you are quick to judge others but slow to see your own sin? Do you have one standard for yourself and another standard for others? Spend a moment to pray this morning that God would show you sin in your own life before you judge others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you sin in your life through His Holy Spirit. Pray that He would help you to overcome that sin in your life and to live a holy life before Him. Pray that God would work in the hearts of the whole congregation to convict of sin and to change lives.
¥ Pray for all the cell groups that are gathering throughout this week. Pray that that God would change lives through His word and that we would challenge and encourage each other to live out our faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some of the obvious ways that we judge others?
2. What are some of the ways that we judge others which are more subtle?
3. Based on this passage would it be acceptable for a Christian to become a judge in the courts? Why or why not?
Meet with another believer this week and invite them to tell you where they see sin in your life. Rather than get defensive pray together that the Holy Spirit would help you to be more like Jesus in this area.
Read: Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:1-9
"Do not judge" is possibly the most misquoted Bible passage of the 21st century. It almost seems to be the catchcry of the 21st century. This phrase is used out of context to defend all sorts of moral shortcomings ranging from homosexuality to unethical business practices. This phrase is even used in religious debates: how can you judge my religion to be any more or less true than yours? But is this really what Jesus had in mind? Is Jesus really prohibiting all forms of right judgment and advocating an "anything goes" attitude towards each other? Let's find out...
The key to understanding Jesus' point in this passage lies in His examples in vs 3-5. Jesus does not say, "Don't ever judge". Instead, He commands His followers to practice careful self-examination before bringing judgment to another. It is clear from this example that Jesus is not prohibiting any and all judgment, instead Jesus is prohibiting self-righteous, hypocritical judgment which is quick to see the shortcomings of others before looking at oneself.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel, David gives us a clear example of what it looks like to practice this type of judgment. The prophet Nathan confronts David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, using a simple parable. Notice David's reaction in vs 5 and 6. David, not realising the story is actually about him, is quick to condemn a man to death just for stealing a sheep! How much more does David deserve God's judgment for stealing a man's wife and putting her husband to death to cover up his crime. David was quick to recognize and condemn the sins of others but was blind to his own sin.
How easily do we fall into the same sin. Even when talking about judging others it is far easier for us to identify others who judge self-righteously than to identify our own judgment. Spend a moment to think about your own life. What are some areas where you are quick to judge others but slow to see your own sin? Do you have one standard for yourself and another standard for others? Spend a moment to pray this morning that God would show you sin in your own life before you judge others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you sin in your life through His Holy Spirit. Pray that He would help you to overcome that sin in your life and to live a holy life before Him. Pray that God would work in the hearts of the whole congregation to convict of sin and to change lives.
¥ Pray for all the cell groups that are gathering throughout this week. Pray that that God would change lives through His word and that we would challenge and encourage each other to live out our faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What are some of the obvious ways that we judge others?
2. What are some of the ways that we judge others which are more subtle?
3. Based on this passage would it be acceptable for a Christian to become a judge in the courts? Why or why not?
Saturday 27 April 2013
Saturday April 27, 2013
Read Matthew 6:19-34
Tomorrow is church. I wonder what heart you will take with you to church tomorrow. If I were to ask you whether or not your heart is at church, you might reply that you care nothing for the building. Great answer! By church I mean the people of God and the presence of God. Tomorrow, when you gather with God’s people in God’s presence, is that where your heart will be? Do you love God and His people so much that you yearn to be with them? Do you love God and His household so deeply that other family, other chores, other work will just have to wait? Is your heart so firmly set at church that you can think of nothing better than to be with God and His people?
Our hearts are with our treasure. If our treasure is the bank, our hearts will be there. If our treasure is in the children’s sporting match or the economy or the relatives visit then our heart will be there. Church will become something we have to endure before we can get to the really good stuff.
I’ve always struggled with Jesus’ words in verse 22-23 but what He is saying is that we can look at life from two very different angles. If we look at life in terms of our treasure and seek to fulfil ourselves in terms of that treasures then our body will be filled with eternal darkness. But if we love God and see the world through Him, then our body will be filled with light.
From another angle Jesus teaches the same thing. He tells us that we can have only 1 master for we must ultimately choose who we will serve. And whatever or whomever we serve is our master.
Think about that practically. If Jack puts sport above Church each week then sport is his master. No matter how hard he tries to argue otherwise, sport is his master. If Jill refuses to give to the work of the Lord then money is her master. If Mary Ann refuses to fellowship midweek with other believers because of work then work is her master. Jesus is clear when He says that we will worship one and despise the other. We simply cannot have two masters.
God’s heart is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. He promises that all those things that we think we need will be given to us in their proper turn. God wants us to serve Him wholeheartedly, even above and beyond the daily needs that we have. He wants us to put Himself above food, clothing, friends, family and even the grand Dollar Bill.
Tomorrow’s church service is not an isolated event in your weekly calendar. It’s the culmination of who you are and what you’ve done all this week. It is the culmination of every word, every thought and every action that you’ve engaged in this week. If you have lived this week for yourself and sought your own happiness, your own indulgence and your own pleasure, church will be something to endure and put up with. But if you’ve sought to bring glory to God and to worship God with your entire being, with every word, every thought and every action, church will become a finale, a climax where you and your Christian family stand in the presence of the Almighty God. If you have sought to worship God all week, tomorrow will be a home coming, a reunion and a foretaste of the most exquisite time in your life - that time when you and I will stand in God’s presence for all eternity.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your Lord and Saviour to prepare you for Church tomorrow and to prepare you to meet with Himself. Pray this for your congregation and ask the Lord to make it a wonderful time of focussing on God and edifying each other.
¥ Pray that God would use your church powerfully to grow the kingdom of God.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How can you tell what or who your master really is?
2. What things show that Jesus is really a person’s master?
Tomorrow is church. I wonder what heart you will take with you to church tomorrow. If I were to ask you whether or not your heart is at church, you might reply that you care nothing for the building. Great answer! By church I mean the people of God and the presence of God. Tomorrow, when you gather with God’s people in God’s presence, is that where your heart will be? Do you love God and His people so much that you yearn to be with them? Do you love God and His household so deeply that other family, other chores, other work will just have to wait? Is your heart so firmly set at church that you can think of nothing better than to be with God and His people?
Our hearts are with our treasure. If our treasure is the bank, our hearts will be there. If our treasure is in the children’s sporting match or the economy or the relatives visit then our heart will be there. Church will become something we have to endure before we can get to the really good stuff.
I’ve always struggled with Jesus’ words in verse 22-23 but what He is saying is that we can look at life from two very different angles. If we look at life in terms of our treasure and seek to fulfil ourselves in terms of that treasures then our body will be filled with eternal darkness. But if we love God and see the world through Him, then our body will be filled with light.
From another angle Jesus teaches the same thing. He tells us that we can have only 1 master for we must ultimately choose who we will serve. And whatever or whomever we serve is our master.
Think about that practically. If Jack puts sport above Church each week then sport is his master. No matter how hard he tries to argue otherwise, sport is his master. If Jill refuses to give to the work of the Lord then money is her master. If Mary Ann refuses to fellowship midweek with other believers because of work then work is her master. Jesus is clear when He says that we will worship one and despise the other. We simply cannot have two masters.
God’s heart is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. He promises that all those things that we think we need will be given to us in their proper turn. God wants us to serve Him wholeheartedly, even above and beyond the daily needs that we have. He wants us to put Himself above food, clothing, friends, family and even the grand Dollar Bill.
Tomorrow’s church service is not an isolated event in your weekly calendar. It’s the culmination of who you are and what you’ve done all this week. It is the culmination of every word, every thought and every action that you’ve engaged in this week. If you have lived this week for yourself and sought your own happiness, your own indulgence and your own pleasure, church will be something to endure and put up with. But if you’ve sought to bring glory to God and to worship God with your entire being, with every word, every thought and every action, church will become a finale, a climax where you and your Christian family stand in the presence of the Almighty God. If you have sought to worship God all week, tomorrow will be a home coming, a reunion and a foretaste of the most exquisite time in your life - that time when you and I will stand in God’s presence for all eternity.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your Lord and Saviour to prepare you for Church tomorrow and to prepare you to meet with Himself. Pray this for your congregation and ask the Lord to make it a wonderful time of focussing on God and edifying each other.
¥ Pray that God would use your church powerfully to grow the kingdom of God.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How can you tell what or who your master really is?
2. What things show that Jesus is really a person’s master?
Friday 26 April 2013
Friday April 26, 2013
Read Matthew 19:16-29. 1 Tim 6:6-12
There are some things in this world that grab our heart and cling to it like a lion with its claws firmly embedded in its victim. Money or wealth is one of those things.
The rich young ruler that came to Jesus learned this difficult lesson. He asked Jesus the things that are required for eternal life. Most self respecting Jews would ask a similar question - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus, as always, knows the true heart of this man and after some talk about general commands, comes to the very heart of the matter. Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and to give to the poor. The man turned and with heavy shoulders walked away from Jesus. He was rich and wealth had grasped his heart. He would rather miss out on eternal life than give up his great wealth.
Those who are rich and those who yearn to be rich open themselves up to many temptations because money and wealth are a source of many great evils. Some, like this rich man, turn away from God’s kingdom and pursue wealth.
The antidote that Jesus proposes is to put wealth in its proper perspective. We are to flee from the pursuit of wealth, much like we would flee from a lion. It’s not just a mind thing but a lifestyle thing as well. We are to flee the desires of wealth and we are to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. This pursuit can be through active involvement in ministry, through counselling and godly input into our lives and through a better stewardship of our finances. The key word is pursue. We are to actively engage in chasing the characteristics that God talks about here.
If we find that our heart is gripped by wealth then all is not lost. Even though it’s easier for a literal camel to be pushed and shoved through the eye of a sewing needle, there is still hope. With God nothing is impossible. God can change your heart He can give you a new heart of flesh, having removed your old heart of stone. He can change you from the inside out. If we find that we need a radical heart transplant then we can do several things.
Firstly, we need to invite God into our heart and ask Him to perform that transplant. We need to stop grasping at that thing that has grasped our heart. Secondly, we need to put that thing in its proper perspective. For the rich young ruler that meant selling everything and giving to the poor. For you it may mean increasing your giving to 2 or 3 or 4 tithes. It may mean volunteering in a refuge or soup kitchen. It may mean changing to a less affluent lifestyle. It may mean many things. Thirdly, seek input from your elders and pastor and spend time praying with them and listening to their input. Finally, conscript friends and family to pray for you consistently and constantly. Make yourself accountable to at least one other believer and meet regularly for encouragement and edification.
The reality of life is that some things grab our hearts with such strength and emotion that we need external help to be freed. Money/wealth is one such thing. We need to take radical action to protect our hearts and to be freed from such ravages again.
It’s never to late to ask God for a heart transplant.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How important should money/wealth be to believers?
2. What does the bible teach about wealth and believers?
3. How can we use our wealth to glorify God.
There are some things in this world that grab our heart and cling to it like a lion with its claws firmly embedded in its victim. Money or wealth is one of those things.
The rich young ruler that came to Jesus learned this difficult lesson. He asked Jesus the things that are required for eternal life. Most self respecting Jews would ask a similar question - what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus, as always, knows the true heart of this man and after some talk about general commands, comes to the very heart of the matter. Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and to give to the poor. The man turned and with heavy shoulders walked away from Jesus. He was rich and wealth had grasped his heart. He would rather miss out on eternal life than give up his great wealth.
Those who are rich and those who yearn to be rich open themselves up to many temptations because money and wealth are a source of many great evils. Some, like this rich man, turn away from God’s kingdom and pursue wealth.
The antidote that Jesus proposes is to put wealth in its proper perspective. We are to flee from the pursuit of wealth, much like we would flee from a lion. It’s not just a mind thing but a lifestyle thing as well. We are to flee the desires of wealth and we are to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. This pursuit can be through active involvement in ministry, through counselling and godly input into our lives and through a better stewardship of our finances. The key word is pursue. We are to actively engage in chasing the characteristics that God talks about here.
If we find that our heart is gripped by wealth then all is not lost. Even though it’s easier for a literal camel to be pushed and shoved through the eye of a sewing needle, there is still hope. With God nothing is impossible. God can change your heart He can give you a new heart of flesh, having removed your old heart of stone. He can change you from the inside out. If we find that we need a radical heart transplant then we can do several things.
Firstly, we need to invite God into our heart and ask Him to perform that transplant. We need to stop grasping at that thing that has grasped our heart. Secondly, we need to put that thing in its proper perspective. For the rich young ruler that meant selling everything and giving to the poor. For you it may mean increasing your giving to 2 or 3 or 4 tithes. It may mean volunteering in a refuge or soup kitchen. It may mean changing to a less affluent lifestyle. It may mean many things. Thirdly, seek input from your elders and pastor and spend time praying with them and listening to their input. Finally, conscript friends and family to pray for you consistently and constantly. Make yourself accountable to at least one other believer and meet regularly for encouragement and edification.
The reality of life is that some things grab our hearts with such strength and emotion that we need external help to be freed. Money/wealth is one such thing. We need to take radical action to protect our hearts and to be freed from such ravages again.
It’s never to late to ask God for a heart transplant.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How important should money/wealth be to believers?
2. What does the bible teach about wealth and believers?
3. How can we use our wealth to glorify God.
Thursday 25 April 2013
Thursday April 25, 2013
Read Acts 4:32-5:11
You can tell where a person’s heart is by what they are (or what they are not) willing to give for the betterment or welfare of others. Just think of the ANZACS as they landed at Gallipoli during the first World War. For 8 months these men gave their lives for the welfare of others, for a nation of individuals who, for the most part, they had never personally known or met.
When a person is willing to give sacrificially for the sake of others, their heart is clearly sacrificial. When a person gives reluctantly or under compulsion you see greed, selfishness and corruption in their heart.
In the book of Acts we see that the church was filled, by and large, with people with large, joy filled hearts. They gave so generously that there no needy people among them. Can you imagine what impact Christianity would have in the world today if there were no needy people in the world? From time to time people would sell their land, their houses, their cars...errr camels and so on and give the money to the church for the support of the needy. The result was that more and more people came into the church.
Yet one married couple came forward and boasted of their generosity. It appears that their hearts were corrupt. They also sold the land and presumably with pomp and ceremony gave the funds to the church. But the husband was struck down for his sin, not of withholding some of the funds, but for lying to God and the Holy Spirit. Later his wife was questioned and she too was struck down for lying and seeking to deceive the Lord and His people. Their hearts were corrupt. They loved praise and adoration from men more than they loved God. They loved money so much that they kept a part of the funds, which was theirs to keep anyway, and lied to God and His people. The result was that God’s wrath and anger visited immediately upon them. They were struck down for their deception.
What is it that you and I are willing to give for the welfare of others? Are we willing to part with 1/100 of our weekly income so that the church can support the poor and needy? Would we joyously raise that amount to 1/4 or 1/3 or even 1/2? Would we, as many have done in the past, give God 9/10s of our income and live off 1/10? The question is not one of giving but one of the heart. We need to ask, where is our heart? Where is my treasure? What is it that I really worship?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray that your church would be exceedingly generous and giving as you worship your Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God love generosity?
2. How can we move, as a church, to the situation described in Acts 4:34?
3. Why should church members look after each other?
You can tell where a person’s heart is by what they are (or what they are not) willing to give for the betterment or welfare of others. Just think of the ANZACS as they landed at Gallipoli during the first World War. For 8 months these men gave their lives for the welfare of others, for a nation of individuals who, for the most part, they had never personally known or met.
When a person is willing to give sacrificially for the sake of others, their heart is clearly sacrificial. When a person gives reluctantly or under compulsion you see greed, selfishness and corruption in their heart.
In the book of Acts we see that the church was filled, by and large, with people with large, joy filled hearts. They gave so generously that there no needy people among them. Can you imagine what impact Christianity would have in the world today if there were no needy people in the world? From time to time people would sell their land, their houses, their cars...errr camels and so on and give the money to the church for the support of the needy. The result was that more and more people came into the church.
Yet one married couple came forward and boasted of their generosity. It appears that their hearts were corrupt. They also sold the land and presumably with pomp and ceremony gave the funds to the church. But the husband was struck down for his sin, not of withholding some of the funds, but for lying to God and the Holy Spirit. Later his wife was questioned and she too was struck down for lying and seeking to deceive the Lord and His people. Their hearts were corrupt. They loved praise and adoration from men more than they loved God. They loved money so much that they kept a part of the funds, which was theirs to keep anyway, and lied to God and His people. The result was that God’s wrath and anger visited immediately upon them. They were struck down for their deception.
What is it that you and I are willing to give for the welfare of others? Are we willing to part with 1/100 of our weekly income so that the church can support the poor and needy? Would we joyously raise that amount to 1/4 or 1/3 or even 1/2? Would we, as many have done in the past, give God 9/10s of our income and live off 1/10? The question is not one of giving but one of the heart. We need to ask, where is our heart? Where is my treasure? What is it that I really worship?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray that your church would be exceedingly generous and giving as you worship your Lord and Saviour.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God love generosity?
2. How can we move, as a church, to the situation described in Acts 4:34?
3. Why should church members look after each other?
Wednesday 24 April 2013
Wednesday April 24, 2013
Read Isaiah 29:13-16. 1 John 1:8-2:2
Someone once said, ‘The single greatest cause of atheism today is people who honour Jesus with their lips but deny Him with their lives.’ That’s a powerful statement that captures the essence of worship. God is not interested in part time worshippers, Sonday pew warmers or half hearted disciples. God is into commitment! God wants our all. God wants us to serve Him with the passion and dedication of an Olympian.
Why is it that God wants so much from us? Basically it’s because He gave so much to us. Not only did God create us in His image, but when we rejected God He went to great lengths to save us. He sent His one and Only Son into the world to die under the curse that you and I deserved. He sent Jesus to be punished in our place. God gave us everything and in return wants us to give Him everything. God spared nothing in saving us and wants us to spare nothing in serving Him.
I often laugh at myself, when like Israel, I think that I can hide my sins from God and then continue to worship Him on Sondays as though nothing has happened. Even when we sin in the darkness of night or when we remove ourselves from everybody, God is still there seeing our actions. I can’t hide my sins from God. I can’t pretend that God’s not present. I can’t believe the lie that after a few weeks God will forget my sins and I can press on as though nothing happened.
When I do sin I need to confess my sins to God and to those I’ve hurt or offended. I need to seek their forgiveness and by God’s grace and power I need to promise to live in a way that is different.
No single Christian can claim to be perfect and without sin. No single person in the church can claim to have their act completely together. When we do fall what the world needs to see is honest repentance and reconciliation. As they see this, they will realise that even though we do sin, we are worshipping God with our lives, not just our lips.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Ask the Lord to bless the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar and the Mustard Seed Orphanage, also in Myanmar with all their needs to continuing caring for the needy and training ministers. Pray that God would be gracious and generous in meeting their daily needs.
¥ Pray that God would raise the level of generosity in your congregation so that together you may be able to share and spread the love of Christ to more and more people in your local community.
Jesus Challenge: In the early church the disciples would meet each morning to break bread and to encourage one another. They would sing together and spur one another on to love and good deeds.
See if your cell group can also be spurring one another on to greater heights of love and service.
For one whole week, Seek to meet together for prayer, for praise and for encouragement each and every single morning or afternoon.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God want us to worship Him with our lips and our lives?
2. What should we do when we have sinned?
Someone once said, ‘The single greatest cause of atheism today is people who honour Jesus with their lips but deny Him with their lives.’ That’s a powerful statement that captures the essence of worship. God is not interested in part time worshippers, Sonday pew warmers or half hearted disciples. God is into commitment! God wants our all. God wants us to serve Him with the passion and dedication of an Olympian.
Why is it that God wants so much from us? Basically it’s because He gave so much to us. Not only did God create us in His image, but when we rejected God He went to great lengths to save us. He sent His one and Only Son into the world to die under the curse that you and I deserved. He sent Jesus to be punished in our place. God gave us everything and in return wants us to give Him everything. God spared nothing in saving us and wants us to spare nothing in serving Him.
I often laugh at myself, when like Israel, I think that I can hide my sins from God and then continue to worship Him on Sondays as though nothing has happened. Even when we sin in the darkness of night or when we remove ourselves from everybody, God is still there seeing our actions. I can’t hide my sins from God. I can’t pretend that God’s not present. I can’t believe the lie that after a few weeks God will forget my sins and I can press on as though nothing happened.
When I do sin I need to confess my sins to God and to those I’ve hurt or offended. I need to seek their forgiveness and by God’s grace and power I need to promise to live in a way that is different.
No single Christian can claim to be perfect and without sin. No single person in the church can claim to have their act completely together. When we do fall what the world needs to see is honest repentance and reconciliation. As they see this, they will realise that even though we do sin, we are worshipping God with our lives, not just our lips.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Ask the Lord to bless the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar and the Mustard Seed Orphanage, also in Myanmar with all their needs to continuing caring for the needy and training ministers. Pray that God would be gracious and generous in meeting their daily needs.
¥ Pray that God would raise the level of generosity in your congregation so that together you may be able to share and spread the love of Christ to more and more people in your local community.
Jesus Challenge: In the early church the disciples would meet each morning to break bread and to encourage one another. They would sing together and spur one another on to love and good deeds.
See if your cell group can also be spurring one another on to greater heights of love and service.
For one whole week, Seek to meet together for prayer, for praise and for encouragement each and every single morning or afternoon.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God want us to worship Him with our lips and our lives?
2. What should we do when we have sinned?
Tuesday 23 April 2013
Tuesday April 23, 2013
Read Ezekiel 36:22-27. John 14:15-21
People that need a heart transplant are suffering from the end stage heart failure brought about by either some disease, a hereditary condition or some catalyst such as alcohol, drugs etc. Without a transplant things look grim for these people.
Spiritually speaking each and every single person needs a heart transplant. The Bible is clear that we have all suffered from terminal heart failure. Our heart towards God has failed and rather than loving God wholeheartedly as we should (see yesterday’s notes) we have loved ourselves and sought our own well being and entertainment/happiness above and beyond all other things and all other people. The Bible calls this “sin”. The Bible is equally adamant that the only cure for this heart condition is radical surgery that gives us a new heart. Without the operation, the future looks very bleak.
But God in His grace and mercy offers a heart transplant to all who would turn to Him in faith. He offers to wash you clean, to remove all the cause of heart failure and to give you a new heart. Even more so, He offers you a better heart that is actually tuned into God and actually wants to serve and love God.
God can do this through His Holy Spirit. God promises that His Holy Spirit will dwell with each and every single person who puts their faith and trust in Christ Jesus.
But what does that mean? Picture Jack. For the first time in his life he hears the truth about Jesus. He hears that Jesus came from God into our world through the virgin Mary. He hears that Jesus lived a perfect life but died on the cross for the heart failure of the world. He hears of the resurrection to eternal life on the 3rd day and the coming judgment, where all those with heart failure will receive their eternal reward. He also hears that all those who turn to Jesus in faith will be given a new heart and are adopted as God’s children and will receive not condemnation but glorious salvation.
Jack is convicted and knows deep within that he has put himself above God and has not given God the glory due to Him. Jack makes a firm decision to turn his heart and mind around. He tells God that he’s sorry for the way he’s lived his life. He asks for forgiveness and invites God into his life. He thanks God that Jesus died and rose for him personally.
The Bible is clear that at that point Jack has become a child of God. He has been forgiven for every thing in his life that has displeased or offended God. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and has turned over a new leaf, an eternal new leaf. Life for Jack can never be and will never be the same. He has had a spiritual heart transplant.
Jack attaches himself to a local church and starts to worship with other heart transplant patients in that local gathering. Over time he realises that God wants to be Lord of his finances, his work life, his family, his words and even his TV viewing habits. Jack willingly and joyfully gets rid of the things in his life that are contrary to loving God. He even starts bringing his friends and wider family to church so that they too can hear about the life saving heart transplant that he’s experienced.
Jack finds that more and more his heart is pulled towards God, away from the things in the past that used to give him pleasure. He is finding that he doesn’t want to speak like he used to or watch the things he used to watch or even to do some of the things he used to do. Jack is finding that the Spirit is moving more powerfully in his life and is calling him to adventures and projects that previously would have been impossible to even contemplate. But, having had a heart transplant not only is Jack filled with eager anticipation, he’s joyous and trusting God wholeheartedly.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Do you know people that need a spiritual heart transplant? Pray for each one now by name. Ask God to shower these people with his love and mercy and grace. Pray that God would be preparing these people for a transplant and that he would use you in the surgery.
¥ Pray that God would continue to provide for Shiloh Church Ministries in India and that he would supply all their needs in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. List the people you know that need a spiritual heart transplant.
2. What is your role and what is God’s role in their heart transplant?
3. Pray for each one today.
People that need a heart transplant are suffering from the end stage heart failure brought about by either some disease, a hereditary condition or some catalyst such as alcohol, drugs etc. Without a transplant things look grim for these people.
Spiritually speaking each and every single person needs a heart transplant. The Bible is clear that we have all suffered from terminal heart failure. Our heart towards God has failed and rather than loving God wholeheartedly as we should (see yesterday’s notes) we have loved ourselves and sought our own well being and entertainment/happiness above and beyond all other things and all other people. The Bible calls this “sin”. The Bible is equally adamant that the only cure for this heart condition is radical surgery that gives us a new heart. Without the operation, the future looks very bleak.
But God in His grace and mercy offers a heart transplant to all who would turn to Him in faith. He offers to wash you clean, to remove all the cause of heart failure and to give you a new heart. Even more so, He offers you a better heart that is actually tuned into God and actually wants to serve and love God.
God can do this through His Holy Spirit. God promises that His Holy Spirit will dwell with each and every single person who puts their faith and trust in Christ Jesus.
But what does that mean? Picture Jack. For the first time in his life he hears the truth about Jesus. He hears that Jesus came from God into our world through the virgin Mary. He hears that Jesus lived a perfect life but died on the cross for the heart failure of the world. He hears of the resurrection to eternal life on the 3rd day and the coming judgment, where all those with heart failure will receive their eternal reward. He also hears that all those who turn to Jesus in faith will be given a new heart and are adopted as God’s children and will receive not condemnation but glorious salvation.
Jack is convicted and knows deep within that he has put himself above God and has not given God the glory due to Him. Jack makes a firm decision to turn his heart and mind around. He tells God that he’s sorry for the way he’s lived his life. He asks for forgiveness and invites God into his life. He thanks God that Jesus died and rose for him personally.
The Bible is clear that at that point Jack has become a child of God. He has been forgiven for every thing in his life that has displeased or offended God. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and has turned over a new leaf, an eternal new leaf. Life for Jack can never be and will never be the same. He has had a spiritual heart transplant.
Jack attaches himself to a local church and starts to worship with other heart transplant patients in that local gathering. Over time he realises that God wants to be Lord of his finances, his work life, his family, his words and even his TV viewing habits. Jack willingly and joyfully gets rid of the things in his life that are contrary to loving God. He even starts bringing his friends and wider family to church so that they too can hear about the life saving heart transplant that he’s experienced.
Jack finds that more and more his heart is pulled towards God, away from the things in the past that used to give him pleasure. He is finding that he doesn’t want to speak like he used to or watch the things he used to watch or even to do some of the things he used to do. Jack is finding that the Spirit is moving more powerfully in his life and is calling him to adventures and projects that previously would have been impossible to even contemplate. But, having had a heart transplant not only is Jack filled with eager anticipation, he’s joyous and trusting God wholeheartedly.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Do you know people that need a spiritual heart transplant? Pray for each one now by name. Ask God to shower these people with his love and mercy and grace. Pray that God would be preparing these people for a transplant and that he would use you in the surgery.
¥ Pray that God would continue to provide for Shiloh Church Ministries in India and that he would supply all their needs in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. List the people you know that need a spiritual heart transplant.
2. What is your role and what is God’s role in their heart transplant?
3. Pray for each one today.
Monday 22 April 2013
Monday April 22, 2013
Weekly Challenge
This week we are looking at the heart and whether or not we really worship God as opposed to other things like wealth. This week I challenge you to give God a larger portion of your time. Plan to spend 1 hour a day in God’s presence—reading, praying and worshipping.
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Deuteronomy 7:26
Our rugged individualism has done little to help people in our society, let alone in our churches. Broken people with desperate needs are hiding behind the scenes desperately waiting for someone to break through the veneer of superficiality to bring hope, light and peace.
If we as a church are to make inroads in supporting people and in equipping people to live powerful and productive lives and if we are going to reach the world for our Lord and Saviour we must break through this veneer of superficial individualism.
The Great Commandment that Yahweh spells out for us here applies at every level. But it is written, not to the individual, but the to nation of Israel. Corporately the nation was to love the Lord their God.
Even though we are not a nation, the passage can be applied first and foremost to us as the Christian Church, the people of God. As a church we are to love God wholeheartedly. The entire focus of the church must be to love God, to serve Him and to bring glory and honour to Him. It cannot and should not be about worship services, music styles or even “my’ role in the church or “my” satisfaction with the church. It’s about God, not us.
Closer to home, the passage applies next to the family and not to the individual. Notice that parents are told to teach their children what it means to love God and to fill their houses with things that pertain to loving God. Deuteronomy 7 tells us to banish all ungodly and unclean things from our homes, lest God strike us down. Pornography, certain videos, possibly certain styles or genres of music, lying, proceeds from theft/deception etc etc have no place in the Christian home. They must be destroyed and removed.
Finally, we can apply the passage to ourselves as individuals. But we must never think that I can love God individually and in isolation from others. Worship really isn’t a ‘private’ thing. It’s a corporate thing. In the Old Testament God created a nation for Himself. In the New Testament God created a church for Himself. If you are serious about God then you are serious about corporate worship of God. Individualism has a role to play but it isn’t the be-all and end-all of worship that western Christendom has blessed it as.
As an individual believer my personal and private worship of God affects and determines the quality of our corporate Church worship. When I live for God throughout the week and serve Him with humility and passion our gatherings are holy and pleasing to the Lord. But if I serve myself and live throughout the week for my own pleasures our corporate worship time is reduced and together we become a stain in the Lord’s garment. What I do affects what we do corporately and the quality of our worship.
Put bluntly Biblical worship that glorifies God is about more than just me. It’s about us. But even more so, it’s about God.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would equip and allow your church to worship Him acceptably in reverence and in awe. Pray that each believer would be coming along to church to worship with a pure and humble heart that has sought all week to bring glory and honour to God.
¥ Pray that God would bring many people into the Kingdom through the quality and visibility of your life for Christ. Pray that this would be true for everyone in your Kingdom Worship Centre.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God desire whole families to worship Him?
2. Is it fair that our life during the week affects our worship of God on Sondays? Explain your answer.
3. How can we encourage each other to live for God each and every day of the week?
This week we are looking at the heart and whether or not we really worship God as opposed to other things like wealth. This week I challenge you to give God a larger portion of your time. Plan to spend 1 hour a day in God’s presence—reading, praying and worshipping.
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Deuteronomy 7:26
Our rugged individualism has done little to help people in our society, let alone in our churches. Broken people with desperate needs are hiding behind the scenes desperately waiting for someone to break through the veneer of superficiality to bring hope, light and peace.
If we as a church are to make inroads in supporting people and in equipping people to live powerful and productive lives and if we are going to reach the world for our Lord and Saviour we must break through this veneer of superficial individualism.
The Great Commandment that Yahweh spells out for us here applies at every level. But it is written, not to the individual, but the to nation of Israel. Corporately the nation was to love the Lord their God.
Even though we are not a nation, the passage can be applied first and foremost to us as the Christian Church, the people of God. As a church we are to love God wholeheartedly. The entire focus of the church must be to love God, to serve Him and to bring glory and honour to Him. It cannot and should not be about worship services, music styles or even “my’ role in the church or “my” satisfaction with the church. It’s about God, not us.
Closer to home, the passage applies next to the family and not to the individual. Notice that parents are told to teach their children what it means to love God and to fill their houses with things that pertain to loving God. Deuteronomy 7 tells us to banish all ungodly and unclean things from our homes, lest God strike us down. Pornography, certain videos, possibly certain styles or genres of music, lying, proceeds from theft/deception etc etc have no place in the Christian home. They must be destroyed and removed.
Finally, we can apply the passage to ourselves as individuals. But we must never think that I can love God individually and in isolation from others. Worship really isn’t a ‘private’ thing. It’s a corporate thing. In the Old Testament God created a nation for Himself. In the New Testament God created a church for Himself. If you are serious about God then you are serious about corporate worship of God. Individualism has a role to play but it isn’t the be-all and end-all of worship that western Christendom has blessed it as.
As an individual believer my personal and private worship of God affects and determines the quality of our corporate Church worship. When I live for God throughout the week and serve Him with humility and passion our gatherings are holy and pleasing to the Lord. But if I serve myself and live throughout the week for my own pleasures our corporate worship time is reduced and together we become a stain in the Lord’s garment. What I do affects what we do corporately and the quality of our worship.
Put bluntly Biblical worship that glorifies God is about more than just me. It’s about us. But even more so, it’s about God.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would equip and allow your church to worship Him acceptably in reverence and in awe. Pray that each believer would be coming along to church to worship with a pure and humble heart that has sought all week to bring glory and honour to God.
¥ Pray that God would bring many people into the Kingdom through the quality and visibility of your life for Christ. Pray that this would be true for everyone in your Kingdom Worship Centre.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why does God desire whole families to worship Him?
2. Is it fair that our life during the week affects our worship of God on Sondays? Explain your answer.
3. How can we encourage each other to live for God each and every day of the week?
Saturday 20 April 2013
Saturday April 20, 2013
Read Matthew 6:16-18. Zechariah 8:19
In a goldfish eating contest in Oakland, California, Leonard McMahan swallowed 501 goldfish in about four hours. Back then he set the new world record (P L Tan, Encyclopedia of 77,000 Illustrations).
At the Metropolitan hospital in New York doctors performed an operation on a patient. During the operation the surgical team counted more than 300 coins, including quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies and subway tokens. They said they found broken thermometers, can openers, knives, forks, spoons, nuts, bolts, chains and car keys. (P L Tan, Encyclopedia of 77,000 Illustrations).
Try to imagine what the above two people would look like after their particular feats. Would our gold fish eating friend be filled with joy? I doubt it. Would our metal-object-eating friend be smiling and beaming with happiness? I doubt it.
The Pharisees and religious people of Jesus’ day similarly lacked any joy or contentment in fasting. They would disfigure their faces and make a show. They would boast in their pain and distress. Jesus sternly condemns such boasting and showy pretence.
Christian fasting, on the contrary, is not to be a showy performance of pain and suffering. It is not to be an outward marker of piety or personal devotion. Rather Christian fasting is to be a time of joy and contentment. It is to be a time of drawing near to the Lord, of being close and intimate with Him and being filled with His Spirit. It is a time of prayerful reflection and meditation in which the externals and physical aspects of life give way to the spiritual and eternal. Even though fasting can be painful and arduous, Christians are not to focus on the negative but on the positive of God.
The Lord God Almighty spoke of a time when fasting would become a time of joy and happiness. Through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour and through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, that time of joy has come upon us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray for the work at Teen Challenge in Toowoomba. Pray that the clients there would grow to know Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and that all the needs would be provided for by the Lord.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. If you have fasted share about the joy that you experienced. If you didn’t have joy, why do you think that was so?
2. Is there a place for cells to fast in the church? Please explain.
3. Having studied fasting for a week, share your thoughts about fasting.
In a goldfish eating contest in Oakland, California, Leonard McMahan swallowed 501 goldfish in about four hours. Back then he set the new world record (P L Tan, Encyclopedia of 77,000 Illustrations).
At the Metropolitan hospital in New York doctors performed an operation on a patient. During the operation the surgical team counted more than 300 coins, including quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies and subway tokens. They said they found broken thermometers, can openers, knives, forks, spoons, nuts, bolts, chains and car keys. (P L Tan, Encyclopedia of 77,000 Illustrations).
Try to imagine what the above two people would look like after their particular feats. Would our gold fish eating friend be filled with joy? I doubt it. Would our metal-object-eating friend be smiling and beaming with happiness? I doubt it.
The Pharisees and religious people of Jesus’ day similarly lacked any joy or contentment in fasting. They would disfigure their faces and make a show. They would boast in their pain and distress. Jesus sternly condemns such boasting and showy pretence.
Christian fasting, on the contrary, is not to be a showy performance of pain and suffering. It is not to be an outward marker of piety or personal devotion. Rather Christian fasting is to be a time of joy and contentment. It is to be a time of drawing near to the Lord, of being close and intimate with Him and being filled with His Spirit. It is a time of prayerful reflection and meditation in which the externals and physical aspects of life give way to the spiritual and eternal. Even though fasting can be painful and arduous, Christians are not to focus on the negative but on the positive of God.
The Lord God Almighty spoke of a time when fasting would become a time of joy and happiness. Through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour and through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, that time of joy has come upon us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord to work powerfully in tomorrow’s services. Pray that God would prepare each and every single person to meet with Himself and that He would be working powerfully to grow us in Christ-likeness and humility. Pray that the Word would be powerfully proclaimed tomorrow in both services and that the believers would be equipped and the non believers convicted to bow the knee and to confess Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
¥ Pray for the work at Teen Challenge in Toowoomba. Pray that the clients there would grow to know Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and that all the needs would be provided for by the Lord.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. If you have fasted share about the joy that you experienced. If you didn’t have joy, why do you think that was so?
2. Is there a place for cells to fast in the church? Please explain.
3. Having studied fasting for a week, share your thoughts about fasting.
Friday 19 April 2013
Friday April 19, 2013
Read Matthew 6:16-18
Just as “I” is found in the middle of sin, so “I” is found in the middle of pride. Pride is a killer. Pride is like a corrosion that destroys our heart, our outlook and our ministry.
When Jesus talked about fasting, He again talked about pride. Rather than disfiguring our faces and walking around moaning and groaning and rubbing our bellies because of our aching and hunger pains, we are to put oil on our heads and not let people know we are fasting. We are to wash our faces and look refreshed. Jesus wants us to avoid pride. The Pharisees often boasted and took pride in their piety as they fasted. They had ticked off another religious achievement and felt self-assured. Jesus declares that such people have received their reward in full. God will not pay attention to their fasting and he certainly will not answer their prayers and cries from the heart.
Rather, we are to cover our fasting and fast to the Lord. Jesus is not decrying corporate fasting at this point. He is not saying that churches must not fast together. He is decrying pride. When God sees you fast in humility and with a contrite heart He will answer your prayers and pay attention to your fast. When God sees that we seek not approval from men but from Him alone, He will hear and respond. When God sees our utter dependence upon Himself, He will draw near to us and answer our prayers. Fasting, like prayer and giving and oath taking etc, is not for show or public performance. None of these things are designed to make us look good in the eyes of others. None of these things are given to us to boast in. They are designed to draw us near to God and when executed in a right spirit with a right heart, they are a powerful means of drawing near to God and communing with Him.
If you want to draw near to God, if you want to have intimate communion with God, if you want to move beyond your current level of relationship with God try humble and contrite fasting and prayer. If you’ve never fasted, start small. Fast for one meal and spend the time that you would have spent preparing, eating and cleaning up in prayer and fasting. Next time, fast for two meals in the day. After that, fast for three entire meals and then see if you can work your way up to one entire week. Perhaps you might talk to your physician first, if you have any concerns. What you’ll find is a depth of relationship and intimacy with God that you’ve rarely, if ever, experienced. You’ll grow and mature and draw nearer to God than you’ve ever been.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would grow your congregation though conversions. Ask the Lord to put evangelism on the heart of every believer and pray that each one would have the courage to speak up and invite people into the kingdom. Pray that through these initiatives we would see the Kingdom grow.
¥ Pray for the people in your life that are currently hell bound without Christ. Pray that God would be merciful to them and that he would bring salvation to their house. Pray that you would be the person that brings the Word to them
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Would you commit to fasting and prayer regularly? Why or why not?
2. What factors do you need to consider and be aware of before starting?
Just as “I” is found in the middle of sin, so “I” is found in the middle of pride. Pride is a killer. Pride is like a corrosion that destroys our heart, our outlook and our ministry.
When Jesus talked about fasting, He again talked about pride. Rather than disfiguring our faces and walking around moaning and groaning and rubbing our bellies because of our aching and hunger pains, we are to put oil on our heads and not let people know we are fasting. We are to wash our faces and look refreshed. Jesus wants us to avoid pride. The Pharisees often boasted and took pride in their piety as they fasted. They had ticked off another religious achievement and felt self-assured. Jesus declares that such people have received their reward in full. God will not pay attention to their fasting and he certainly will not answer their prayers and cries from the heart.
Rather, we are to cover our fasting and fast to the Lord. Jesus is not decrying corporate fasting at this point. He is not saying that churches must not fast together. He is decrying pride. When God sees you fast in humility and with a contrite heart He will answer your prayers and pay attention to your fast. When God sees that we seek not approval from men but from Him alone, He will hear and respond. When God sees our utter dependence upon Himself, He will draw near to us and answer our prayers. Fasting, like prayer and giving and oath taking etc, is not for show or public performance. None of these things are designed to make us look good in the eyes of others. None of these things are given to us to boast in. They are designed to draw us near to God and when executed in a right spirit with a right heart, they are a powerful means of drawing near to God and communing with Him.
If you want to draw near to God, if you want to have intimate communion with God, if you want to move beyond your current level of relationship with God try humble and contrite fasting and prayer. If you’ve never fasted, start small. Fast for one meal and spend the time that you would have spent preparing, eating and cleaning up in prayer and fasting. Next time, fast for two meals in the day. After that, fast for three entire meals and then see if you can work your way up to one entire week. Perhaps you might talk to your physician first, if you have any concerns. What you’ll find is a depth of relationship and intimacy with God that you’ve rarely, if ever, experienced. You’ll grow and mature and draw nearer to God than you’ve ever been.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would grow your congregation though conversions. Ask the Lord to put evangelism on the heart of every believer and pray that each one would have the courage to speak up and invite people into the kingdom. Pray that through these initiatives we would see the Kingdom grow.
¥ Pray for the people in your life that are currently hell bound without Christ. Pray that God would be merciful to them and that he would bring salvation to their house. Pray that you would be the person that brings the Word to them
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Would you commit to fasting and prayer regularly? Why or why not?
2. What factors do you need to consider and be aware of before starting?
Thursday 18 April 2013
Thursday April 18, 2013
Read Acts 13:1-4, Acts 14:20-23
Fasting had become a vital and important part of the early church. It is there in the background consistently throughout the history of the church but is never detailed nor expounded. To my knowledge, no church is rebuked for their perversion or misuse of this practice of fasting.
In Acts 13 it appears that the practice of fasting was united with the church’s time of worship. Of course we would all agree that our entire life is worship and that we worship with every aspect of our life and fibre of our being. But the use of the word ‘worship’ in Acts 13:2 seems to be a technical use much like we use the word ‘worship’, much to the chagrin of some believers, to speak of our Sonday morning or evening church service. If, on the contrary, the word ’worship’ referred to all of life worship then the use of the word ’while’ also in 13:2 would suggest that there are times when all of life is not worship. Such a thought is an abomination throughout the entire New Testament.
It is while the early church at Antioch was gathered and worshipping God and fasting that the Holy Spirit spoke to them and called Paul and Barnabas into mission. Many churches fast in times of doubt or times of repentance. Few that I’ve heard of fast as a regular part of their worship service. The church would do well to fast regularly during its time of worship and to seek out the direction of the Holy Spirit. The church would do well to fast and pray regularly before and during its times of worship. Perhaps you can lead the charge and start the trend.
In Acts 14:20-23 Paul and Barnabas win many people to the Lord through the preaching of the gospel. Within each city they appoint elders over the flock and commit them to the Lord through prayer and fasting, having warned the new disciples that there will be many hardships to pass through before entering into the Kingdom of God. Again the contemporary church would do well to set apart elders with prayer and fasting and even to support and uphold current elders with prayer and fasting. You can start the ball rolling by fasting and praying individually or with your cell group. You can declare one day this week to be a day of fasting and praying.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for the many Mums and children from the community who attend M.O.P.s and Playpals. Pray that their hearts will continue to be opened to God’s truths and that they would in turn, see His face and forgiveness.
¥ Ask God to bless the work of PIM (Presbyterian Inland Mission), a ministry that sends gospel workers into outback Australia. These padres need fellowship, perseverance and often finances to keep themselves and their vehicles going. Pray that God would provide and that he would open doors for them to share the gospel and to bring many to the Lord in repentance and faith.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How could your church incorporate fasting into its regular time of worship?
2. What role does individual fasting have in corporate worship?
3. Would you be ready and willing to fast and pray as part of your worship of God?
Fasting had become a vital and important part of the early church. It is there in the background consistently throughout the history of the church but is never detailed nor expounded. To my knowledge, no church is rebuked for their perversion or misuse of this practice of fasting.
In Acts 13 it appears that the practice of fasting was united with the church’s time of worship. Of course we would all agree that our entire life is worship and that we worship with every aspect of our life and fibre of our being. But the use of the word ‘worship’ in Acts 13:2 seems to be a technical use much like we use the word ‘worship’, much to the chagrin of some believers, to speak of our Sonday morning or evening church service. If, on the contrary, the word ’worship’ referred to all of life worship then the use of the word ’while’ also in 13:2 would suggest that there are times when all of life is not worship. Such a thought is an abomination throughout the entire New Testament.
It is while the early church at Antioch was gathered and worshipping God and fasting that the Holy Spirit spoke to them and called Paul and Barnabas into mission. Many churches fast in times of doubt or times of repentance. Few that I’ve heard of fast as a regular part of their worship service. The church would do well to fast regularly during its time of worship and to seek out the direction of the Holy Spirit. The church would do well to fast and pray regularly before and during its times of worship. Perhaps you can lead the charge and start the trend.
In Acts 14:20-23 Paul and Barnabas win many people to the Lord through the preaching of the gospel. Within each city they appoint elders over the flock and commit them to the Lord through prayer and fasting, having warned the new disciples that there will be many hardships to pass through before entering into the Kingdom of God. Again the contemporary church would do well to set apart elders with prayer and fasting and even to support and uphold current elders with prayer and fasting. You can start the ball rolling by fasting and praying individually or with your cell group. You can declare one day this week to be a day of fasting and praying.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for the many Mums and children from the community who attend M.O.P.s and Playpals. Pray that their hearts will continue to be opened to God’s truths and that they would in turn, see His face and forgiveness.
¥ Ask God to bless the work of PIM (Presbyterian Inland Mission), a ministry that sends gospel workers into outback Australia. These padres need fellowship, perseverance and often finances to keep themselves and their vehicles going. Pray that God would provide and that he would open doors for them to share the gospel and to bring many to the Lord in repentance and faith.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How could your church incorporate fasting into its regular time of worship?
2. What role does individual fasting have in corporate worship?
3. Would you be ready and willing to fast and pray as part of your worship of God?
Wednesday 17 April 2013
Wednesday April 17, 2013
Read Luke 18:9-14
By the time of Jesus, fasting had become nothing more than a religious icon, a practice through which one could bolster and highlight one’s own piety. It was a marker of religious fervour that could be dropped into conversation to show one’s religious piety.
The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable looked down on everyone else and thought he was close to God because of his religious observances. He boasted about his Monday and Thursday fasting. He had a list of regularly completed performances that he could boast in. The first of these was fasting. He was self-secure in his religious performance.
But to the utter shock of all the hearers, and especially the Pharisees, Jesus pronounces that the tax collector went home right before God, not the religious Pharisee who fasted twice a week.
Fasting shows our utter and total dependence upon God. Fasting is a self denial that allows us to depend on God and to know and experience intimately the vital truth that ’man does not live on bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord’ (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). By fasting and calling upon the Lord we are driven closer to Him and learn to depend solely on Him. Food, water, clothing and shelter and all our wants are put in their proper perspective. You really open up to the Lord when you are literally starving and relying on God to carry you through the entire day.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your God to provide all the needs for the Reformed Bible College in Burma. Ask the Lord to provide for their financial needs, their food needs and materials for the staff and students. Pray that God would bless the students as they study and that He would grow/stretch them and form them into formidable preachers of the gospel.
¥ Pray likewise that the Mustard Seed Orphanage would have all its needs met in Christ Jesus. Ask God to provide the daily needs for the orphans, widows and disabled people who are being supported through Mustard Seed.
Jesus Challenge: The early church fasted and prayed while worshipping God. it was during this time that the Lord spoke powerfully to the church and revealed His will for the church.
Plan for your cell group to fast and pray on each Sonday for the next month. See if you can plan to attend the 8am prayer service each sonday and, if possible, to meet again after the evening service to pray.
By the time of Jesus, fasting had become nothing more than a religious icon, a practice through which one could bolster and highlight one’s own piety. It was a marker of religious fervour that could be dropped into conversation to show one’s religious piety.
The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable looked down on everyone else and thought he was close to God because of his religious observances. He boasted about his Monday and Thursday fasting. He had a list of regularly completed performances that he could boast in. The first of these was fasting. He was self-secure in his religious performance.
But to the utter shock of all the hearers, and especially the Pharisees, Jesus pronounces that the tax collector went home right before God, not the religious Pharisee who fasted twice a week.
Fasting shows our utter and total dependence upon God. Fasting is a self denial that allows us to depend on God and to know and experience intimately the vital truth that ’man does not live on bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord’ (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). By fasting and calling upon the Lord we are driven closer to Him and learn to depend solely on Him. Food, water, clothing and shelter and all our wants are put in their proper perspective. You really open up to the Lord when you are literally starving and relying on God to carry you through the entire day.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask your God to provide all the needs for the Reformed Bible College in Burma. Ask the Lord to provide for their financial needs, their food needs and materials for the staff and students. Pray that God would bless the students as they study and that He would grow/stretch them and form them into formidable preachers of the gospel.
¥ Pray likewise that the Mustard Seed Orphanage would have all its needs met in Christ Jesus. Ask God to provide the daily needs for the orphans, widows and disabled people who are being supported through Mustard Seed.
Jesus Challenge: The early church fasted and prayed while worshipping God. it was during this time that the Lord spoke powerfully to the church and revealed His will for the church.
Plan for your cell group to fast and pray on each Sonday for the next month. See if you can plan to attend the 8am prayer service each sonday and, if possible, to meet again after the evening service to pray.
Tuesday 16 April 2013
Tuesday April 16, 2013
Read Isaiah 58:1-11
As you read through the Scriptures it appears that fasting soon became a sign of one’s piety through which boasting and bolstering one’s image was possible. One could even fast religiously and continue living a wickedly sinful night. With such things, the Lord is greatly grieved.
To see how this grieves God, imagine that Jordan comes to your church’s weekly Sonday morning prayer meeting. As he sits he prays a few short prayers that sound elegant, nice and, well, insightful and godly. But even though he prays such fine sounding prayers, Jordan spent the previous night boozing with his friends, viewing pornography and trying to pick up a couple of girls. Is God pleased with such prayers? Of course not!
Israel found herself in such a predicament. She would cry out to God because God seemed silent through her fasts. God was not answering her prayers. The self-humbling had proved in vain. But all the while, Israel was sinning in the back ground, extortion was rife. Stand over tactics were engaged in. Wages were withheld. Fights were common. Sin was abundantly flowing out of their lives but they would religiously put on sackcloth and go through the motions of fasting.
Genuine fasting that God finds acceptable includes the head, the heart and the hands. In our head we have to think rightly. We have to call sin ‘sin’ and avoid it at all costs. We have to consider the welfare of others and we have to think through what God likes and dislikes. In our heart we love God. We have to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We have to banish feelings of anger, hatred and desires for revenge. With our hands we have to help the poor and needy, care for the ill stricken, seek justice for the oppressed and release those that are falsely imprisoned.
If our head, heart and hands are not included in our fasting then we cannot and should not expect the Lord to pay any attention. Nor should we expect Him to hear and answer our prayers. But if we do engage our head, heart and hands, if we fast as God intended …
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the many people who came to our Easter Service who do not regularly attend church. Pray that these people who have hear the gospel clearly presented would be convicted by the Holy Spirit to bow the knee and to confess Jesus as Lord. Pray that the believers would be encouraged and spurred on to greater heights of love and service.
¥ Pray for the work of Straight Talk as Jim and Faye continue share the message of waiting until marriage before engaging in sex. Pray that many students would hear and accept the message. Pray that many would come to Christ in faith. Ask the Lord to strengthen Jim and Faye in this vital ministry.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why is God concerned with our heart while we fast?
2. How can we make sure our heart is in the right place before we fast?
3. What do you think fasting would achieve for you and your church?
As you read through the Scriptures it appears that fasting soon became a sign of one’s piety through which boasting and bolstering one’s image was possible. One could even fast religiously and continue living a wickedly sinful night. With such things, the Lord is greatly grieved.
To see how this grieves God, imagine that Jordan comes to your church’s weekly Sonday morning prayer meeting. As he sits he prays a few short prayers that sound elegant, nice and, well, insightful and godly. But even though he prays such fine sounding prayers, Jordan spent the previous night boozing with his friends, viewing pornography and trying to pick up a couple of girls. Is God pleased with such prayers? Of course not!
Israel found herself in such a predicament. She would cry out to God because God seemed silent through her fasts. God was not answering her prayers. The self-humbling had proved in vain. But all the while, Israel was sinning in the back ground, extortion was rife. Stand over tactics were engaged in. Wages were withheld. Fights were common. Sin was abundantly flowing out of their lives but they would religiously put on sackcloth and go through the motions of fasting.
Genuine fasting that God finds acceptable includes the head, the heart and the hands. In our head we have to think rightly. We have to call sin ‘sin’ and avoid it at all costs. We have to consider the welfare of others and we have to think through what God likes and dislikes. In our heart we love God. We have to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We have to banish feelings of anger, hatred and desires for revenge. With our hands we have to help the poor and needy, care for the ill stricken, seek justice for the oppressed and release those that are falsely imprisoned.
If our head, heart and hands are not included in our fasting then we cannot and should not expect the Lord to pay any attention. Nor should we expect Him to hear and answer our prayers. But if we do engage our head, heart and hands, if we fast as God intended …
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the many people who came to our Easter Service who do not regularly attend church. Pray that these people who have hear the gospel clearly presented would be convicted by the Holy Spirit to bow the knee and to confess Jesus as Lord. Pray that the believers would be encouraged and spurred on to greater heights of love and service.
¥ Pray for the work of Straight Talk as Jim and Faye continue share the message of waiting until marriage before engaging in sex. Pray that many students would hear and accept the message. Pray that many would come to Christ in faith. Ask the Lord to strengthen Jim and Faye in this vital ministry.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why is God concerned with our heart while we fast?
2. How can we make sure our heart is in the right place before we fast?
3. What do you think fasting would achieve for you and your church?
Monday 15 April 2013
Monday April 15, 2013
Weekly Challenge
If possible, see if you can spend a whole day in fasting and prayer this week. Journal your feelings, prayers and what you learnt from the fast.
Read 1 Samuel 7:1-11
Many believers don’t fast because of a lack of knowledge about the how, why and what of fasting.
This week we will seek to explore several biblical passages on fasting and, God willing, to be able to fast in a biblical manner with full confidence that such fasting pleases the Lord.
Obviously, fasting is abstaining from food and/or drink for a set period of time. Biblically, there were private and public fasts with varying time frames . No imperative is set for the length of a fast. Similarly, there seems to be no word about whether one should abstain from food or from water or from both water and food.
Throughout the Old Testament we see Israel fasting several times, often in times of remorse with much weeping and repentance. Fasting is used as a means to cry out to God and to plead with Him to turn from His righteous anger. In 1 Samuel 7 we see the continuation of the cycle so prevalent throughout the book of Judges: Israel rejects God, she is ruled by a foreign power as punishment by the Lord and she then turns back to God in repentance. Here in 1 Samuel 7 the people fast and confess their sins to the Lord. They humble themselves as they put away their false gods and icons.
As you and I know, the Lord loves a humble heart. He lifts up the humble and exalts them. Here in 1 Samuel 7 we see that God lifts up the Israelites and grants them victory over the Philistines. Their fasting and confession was acceptable to God because it was humble, contrite and genuine.
Fasting is an acceptable way to show contrition, remorse for our lifestyle and/or sinful choices. Even more so, no matter what the reason for our fast, it will only be acceptable to the Lord when it comes from a humble and contrite heart that is genuine. God cannot and will not be mocked.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pride is the big killer of churches and ministry efforts. Pray that your congregation from the leadership down would be humble, contrite and willing to submit to the will and the Word of the Lord. Pray that this submission and humility would flow freely from a heart that has been immensely changed by the love of God.
¥ Pray that God would humble all the false religions and the organisations that set themselves up against the Lord and His chosen Son, Christ Jesus. Pray that these groups would be brought to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Should a NT believer fast? Why or why not?
2. Is fasting mandatory in the NT? Defend your answer?
3. Have you ever fasted? Share your experiences.
If possible, see if you can spend a whole day in fasting and prayer this week. Journal your feelings, prayers and what you learnt from the fast.
Read 1 Samuel 7:1-11
Many believers don’t fast because of a lack of knowledge about the how, why and what of fasting.
This week we will seek to explore several biblical passages on fasting and, God willing, to be able to fast in a biblical manner with full confidence that such fasting pleases the Lord.
Obviously, fasting is abstaining from food and/or drink for a set period of time. Biblically, there were private and public fasts with varying time frames . No imperative is set for the length of a fast. Similarly, there seems to be no word about whether one should abstain from food or from water or from both water and food.
Throughout the Old Testament we see Israel fasting several times, often in times of remorse with much weeping and repentance. Fasting is used as a means to cry out to God and to plead with Him to turn from His righteous anger. In 1 Samuel 7 we see the continuation of the cycle so prevalent throughout the book of Judges: Israel rejects God, she is ruled by a foreign power as punishment by the Lord and she then turns back to God in repentance. Here in 1 Samuel 7 the people fast and confess their sins to the Lord. They humble themselves as they put away their false gods and icons.
As you and I know, the Lord loves a humble heart. He lifts up the humble and exalts them. Here in 1 Samuel 7 we see that God lifts up the Israelites and grants them victory over the Philistines. Their fasting and confession was acceptable to God because it was humble, contrite and genuine.
Fasting is an acceptable way to show contrition, remorse for our lifestyle and/or sinful choices. Even more so, no matter what the reason for our fast, it will only be acceptable to the Lord when it comes from a humble and contrite heart that is genuine. God cannot and will not be mocked.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pride is the big killer of churches and ministry efforts. Pray that your congregation from the leadership down would be humble, contrite and willing to submit to the will and the Word of the Lord. Pray that this submission and humility would flow freely from a heart that has been immensely changed by the love of God.
¥ Pray that God would humble all the false religions and the organisations that set themselves up against the Lord and His chosen Son, Christ Jesus. Pray that these groups would be brought to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Should a NT believer fast? Why or why not?
2. Is fasting mandatory in the NT? Defend your answer?
3. Have you ever fasted? Share your experiences.
Saturday 13 April 2013
Saturday April 13, 2013
Read Matthew 6:12-15. Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus spends more time in the Lord’s prayer and it’s exposition on forgiveness than on any other topic throughout the Sermon on the Mount. Don’t you find that fascinating? It’s basically because our human nature this side of heaven finds it very hard to let go of hurts, to turn the other cheek and to offer genuine, heartfelt forgiveness.
Even as we seek forgiveness through the Lord’s Prayer, the words sting in our heart. Do we honestly want to ask God to forgive us in the same way or to the same degree that we have forgiven others? Do we want God to treat us the way that we have treated others? That’s a scary thought when we recall that we have often forgiven only in word but not in heart. It’s scary to think that we can mouth out the words, ‘I forgive you’ but not really mean it. It’s hard to admit that we can say the words but still cling to hurt and anger and revenge in our heart. It’s amazing that our memory can improve dramatically when that same person sins against us yet again and we blast them without any remorse whatsoever.
When we pray this part of the Lord’s prayer we are asking God to treat us as we have treated others. It’s a bold prayer to pray but also one that necessitates action on my part. I need to be forgiving and letting go of the sins of others against me. I need to make sure that I offer forgiveness to those who hurt me or inconvenience me or let me down or refuse to dance to my tune.
In fact, withholding forgiveness from others is a sure sign that the particular person has neither received nor understood the forgiveness offered by God.
A church goer may pray elaborate prayers. They might sing with a voice like an angel. They might even preach powerfully but if they harbour unforgiveness, it’s a clear sign that they have not received nor experienced God’s own forgiveness. When we know deep in our heart that our debt to God is cancelled or more correctly, paid in full, we will joyously and willingly forgive those who have a debt against us. What we receive from God flows outwards into the lives of others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Pray that your congregation and every individual in it would be a forgiving individual enjoying the love/forgiveness of God and offering forgiveness to others. Pray that strained or broken relationships will be restored and renewed. Pray that a spirit of love and togetherness would come upon your congregation.
¥ Pray that God would be upholding and strengthening the other churches in your area. Pray that all the churches would work together in unity and harmony to bring the gospel to the entire region.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why is forgiveness so necessary among God’s people?
2. What happens if we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us or sinned against us?
Jesus spends more time in the Lord’s prayer and it’s exposition on forgiveness than on any other topic throughout the Sermon on the Mount. Don’t you find that fascinating? It’s basically because our human nature this side of heaven finds it very hard to let go of hurts, to turn the other cheek and to offer genuine, heartfelt forgiveness.
Even as we seek forgiveness through the Lord’s Prayer, the words sting in our heart. Do we honestly want to ask God to forgive us in the same way or to the same degree that we have forgiven others? Do we want God to treat us the way that we have treated others? That’s a scary thought when we recall that we have often forgiven only in word but not in heart. It’s scary to think that we can mouth out the words, ‘I forgive you’ but not really mean it. It’s hard to admit that we can say the words but still cling to hurt and anger and revenge in our heart. It’s amazing that our memory can improve dramatically when that same person sins against us yet again and we blast them without any remorse whatsoever.
When we pray this part of the Lord’s prayer we are asking God to treat us as we have treated others. It’s a bold prayer to pray but also one that necessitates action on my part. I need to be forgiving and letting go of the sins of others against me. I need to make sure that I offer forgiveness to those who hurt me or inconvenience me or let me down or refuse to dance to my tune.
In fact, withholding forgiveness from others is a sure sign that the particular person has neither received nor understood the forgiveness offered by God.
A church goer may pray elaborate prayers. They might sing with a voice like an angel. They might even preach powerfully but if they harbour unforgiveness, it’s a clear sign that they have not received nor experienced God’s own forgiveness. When we know deep in our heart that our debt to God is cancelled or more correctly, paid in full, we will joyously and willingly forgive those who have a debt against us. What we receive from God flows outwards into the lives of others.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
Pray that your congregation and every individual in it would be a forgiving individual enjoying the love/forgiveness of God and offering forgiveness to others. Pray that strained or broken relationships will be restored and renewed. Pray that a spirit of love and togetherness would come upon your congregation.
¥ Pray that God would be upholding and strengthening the other churches in your area. Pray that all the churches would work together in unity and harmony to bring the gospel to the entire region.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Why is forgiveness so necessary among God’s people?
2. What happens if we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us or sinned against us?
Friday 12 April 2013
Friday April 12, 2013
Read Matthew 6:11
Jesus has taught us about how NOT to pray and then models for us how we ought to pray. Notice that Jesus doesn’t do or promote anything He’s decried in His earlier teaching? He shows us how to pray in a way that is acceptable to our great and mighty God.
In seeking that our daily needs be met, we simply have to ask. There is no need to seek to manipulate God with babbling. Nor is there need for showy or lengthy prayers or for any hocus-pocus that seeks to magically conjure up that which we think we need. Our God knows what we need before we even ask. Thus we can faithfully and trustingly ask God to meet our daily provision by giving us the bread we require for sustenance.
But it’s hard for us to ask God for our daily bread when we know that we’ll be paid next week or fortnight. We know that there’ll be food on the table. We know that we’ll have enough. In a society as rich and blessed as ours, such prayers as ‘give us today our daily bread’ mean little, if anything.
But the Greek Text speaks of asking God to grant us the bread we need today to sustain us. We are asking neither too much nor too little but exactly what we need to be sustained for another day’s service to our Lord and Saviour.
Corporately such a prayer may mean little in terms of a gathered congregation. But as a family, the plural aspect can be kept. Imagine a family praying each morning that God would grant them their daily needs and sustenance. Imagine a family so devoted and committed that they diligently and lovingly seek God’s provision for their sustenance each and every single day. Such a family will be rejoicing and praising God for every meal they share together and even for those meals they take to work or school or wherever.
The word ‘today’ here in the Lord’s prayer suggests that we are to seek God daily and not to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough worries of its own so we are to concern ourselves with the here and now and seek God’s provision for today. Each and every single day is another day in which we can rely on and depend on our God.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ What are the needs you have at the moment? Ask God to provide for these needs.
¥ What needs does your congregation have at present? Ask God to meet these needs.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Even though we live in a blessed and rich land, why should we ask God to provide our needs each and every single day?
2. Is it wrong to list your needs to God and to ask Him about each one? Defend your answer.
Jesus has taught us about how NOT to pray and then models for us how we ought to pray. Notice that Jesus doesn’t do or promote anything He’s decried in His earlier teaching? He shows us how to pray in a way that is acceptable to our great and mighty God.
In seeking that our daily needs be met, we simply have to ask. There is no need to seek to manipulate God with babbling. Nor is there need for showy or lengthy prayers or for any hocus-pocus that seeks to magically conjure up that which we think we need. Our God knows what we need before we even ask. Thus we can faithfully and trustingly ask God to meet our daily provision by giving us the bread we require for sustenance.
But it’s hard for us to ask God for our daily bread when we know that we’ll be paid next week or fortnight. We know that there’ll be food on the table. We know that we’ll have enough. In a society as rich and blessed as ours, such prayers as ‘give us today our daily bread’ mean little, if anything.
But the Greek Text speaks of asking God to grant us the bread we need today to sustain us. We are asking neither too much nor too little but exactly what we need to be sustained for another day’s service to our Lord and Saviour.
Corporately such a prayer may mean little in terms of a gathered congregation. But as a family, the plural aspect can be kept. Imagine a family praying each morning that God would grant them their daily needs and sustenance. Imagine a family so devoted and committed that they diligently and lovingly seek God’s provision for their sustenance each and every single day. Such a family will be rejoicing and praising God for every meal they share together and even for those meals they take to work or school or wherever.
The word ‘today’ here in the Lord’s prayer suggests that we are to seek God daily and not to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will have enough worries of its own so we are to concern ourselves with the here and now and seek God’s provision for today. Each and every single day is another day in which we can rely on and depend on our God.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ What are the needs you have at the moment? Ask God to provide for these needs.
¥ What needs does your congregation have at present? Ask God to meet these needs.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Even though we live in a blessed and rich land, why should we ask God to provide our needs each and every single day?
2. Is it wrong to list your needs to God and to ask Him about each one? Defend your answer.
Thursday 11 April 2013
Thursday April 11, 2013
Read Matthew 6:9-10
Not having grown up in a Christian home, I’d never been in a church where Lord’s Prayer was prayed each Sonday so you can imagine my surprise when, as a new minister in my first parish, a particular member chided me for leaving out the Lord’s Prayer so regularly.
Of course the danger of praying the prayer weekly is that we can easily fall into autopilot praying - the words roll out of our mouth but our hearts are still dreaming of next week’s multimillion dollar Lotto win. Conversely, the danger of not praying the Lord’s prayer is falling into disobedience. Jesus taught us what not to do in prayer, namely praying in vain glory and in vain repetition but He also taught us what we should do , namely praying the Lord’s Prayer.
But before we turn to the actual words of the prayer instituted by Jesus, we need to realise that the prayer was intended for corporate prayer. The pronouns (our, we , us etc) are all plural suggesting that this prayer was a corporate prayer not an individual, behind closed doors type prayer.
The first part of the Lord’s prayer protects us from both errors mentioned above. The opening words of the prayer reorient our heart and mind to God. We are set right when we pray the opening words. We are praying to God, our Father in heaven. Our prayers are directed to His Majesty who sits in the highest heavens and watches over all the earth. Fear, awe and wonder well up as we realise who we are praying to.
When we pray ‘hallowed be your name’ we are asking that God’s name be glorified and lifted up. We are asking that the world stand in the same majesty and awe of God that we ourselves have come to. Selfish prayers, flippant prayers and half hearted prayers have no place before the God whose name is hallowed.
As we pray, ‘thy kingdom come’ we are praying that the Lord’s rule would extend over the entire world. But of course it starts with us. “Lord rule over me and rule over my heart and then rule over this world”, is what we are praying. We are asking that God would extend His Lordship over all peoples, over all situations, over all evil and wickedness and rebellion.
When we pray, ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ we are inviting God to work in His way in this world and in the situations that I find myself in. We are asking that the sovereign Lordship and the fearful respect given to God by the heavenly beings be extended to all the earthly beings. But when we pray this prayer and then tell God how to fix all our problems we are inadvertently praying, ‘My will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.
Can you see how the opening lines of the Lord’s Prayer prevents both errors? As I focus on God and His will, His kingdom and His hallowed name my heart and my perspective are set right. They point to God instead of to me and my needs.
I simply cannot regurgitate such a prayer from a stone-crusted heart. I simply cannot make route praying a reality when I glimpse at God’s grandeur. And if I am not praying for God’s will and God’s glory then there is a high chance that God will neither hear nor answer my prayers.
What a great way to start our prayers - focussing on God and seeking His will, His glory and His kingdom to come upon us and our world. Be encouraged as you pray the Lord’s prayer.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ If you are in cell, pray the Lord’s prayer together.
¥ Pray for the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar. Ask God to grow and stretch the students as they seek to learn His Word and be equipped to minister in their country. Pray that God would grant the college all it needs to continue ministering and serving and training up pastors and preachers.
Jesus Challenge:
As a cell group plan an all night prayer vigil from say Friday afternoon to Saturday mid morning.
Assign different people in your cell to gather prayer points for different people and ministries. Collate them and send out before hand.
Assign another person to incorporate times of worship into the prayer vigil and another to organise devotionals throughout the night.
be creative and perhaps try fasting for the entire vigil.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How often do you pray the Lord’s prayer? Explain your answer.
2. Should a church pray the Lord’s prayer each and every week? Defend your answer.
Not having grown up in a Christian home, I’d never been in a church where Lord’s Prayer was prayed each Sonday so you can imagine my surprise when, as a new minister in my first parish, a particular member chided me for leaving out the Lord’s Prayer so regularly.
Of course the danger of praying the prayer weekly is that we can easily fall into autopilot praying - the words roll out of our mouth but our hearts are still dreaming of next week’s multimillion dollar Lotto win. Conversely, the danger of not praying the Lord’s prayer is falling into disobedience. Jesus taught us what not to do in prayer, namely praying in vain glory and in vain repetition but He also taught us what we should do , namely praying the Lord’s Prayer.
But before we turn to the actual words of the prayer instituted by Jesus, we need to realise that the prayer was intended for corporate prayer. The pronouns (our, we , us etc) are all plural suggesting that this prayer was a corporate prayer not an individual, behind closed doors type prayer.
The first part of the Lord’s prayer protects us from both errors mentioned above. The opening words of the prayer reorient our heart and mind to God. We are set right when we pray the opening words. We are praying to God, our Father in heaven. Our prayers are directed to His Majesty who sits in the highest heavens and watches over all the earth. Fear, awe and wonder well up as we realise who we are praying to.
When we pray ‘hallowed be your name’ we are asking that God’s name be glorified and lifted up. We are asking that the world stand in the same majesty and awe of God that we ourselves have come to. Selfish prayers, flippant prayers and half hearted prayers have no place before the God whose name is hallowed.
As we pray, ‘thy kingdom come’ we are praying that the Lord’s rule would extend over the entire world. But of course it starts with us. “Lord rule over me and rule over my heart and then rule over this world”, is what we are praying. We are asking that God would extend His Lordship over all peoples, over all situations, over all evil and wickedness and rebellion.
When we pray, ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ we are inviting God to work in His way in this world and in the situations that I find myself in. We are asking that the sovereign Lordship and the fearful respect given to God by the heavenly beings be extended to all the earthly beings. But when we pray this prayer and then tell God how to fix all our problems we are inadvertently praying, ‘My will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.
Can you see how the opening lines of the Lord’s Prayer prevents both errors? As I focus on God and His will, His kingdom and His hallowed name my heart and my perspective are set right. They point to God instead of to me and my needs.
I simply cannot regurgitate such a prayer from a stone-crusted heart. I simply cannot make route praying a reality when I glimpse at God’s grandeur. And if I am not praying for God’s will and God’s glory then there is a high chance that God will neither hear nor answer my prayers.
What a great way to start our prayers - focussing on God and seeking His will, His glory and His kingdom to come upon us and our world. Be encouraged as you pray the Lord’s prayer.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ If you are in cell, pray the Lord’s prayer together.
¥ Pray for the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar. Ask God to grow and stretch the students as they seek to learn His Word and be equipped to minister in their country. Pray that God would grant the college all it needs to continue ministering and serving and training up pastors and preachers.
Jesus Challenge:
As a cell group plan an all night prayer vigil from say Friday afternoon to Saturday mid morning.
Assign different people in your cell to gather prayer points for different people and ministries. Collate them and send out before hand.
Assign another person to incorporate times of worship into the prayer vigil and another to organise devotionals throughout the night.
be creative and perhaps try fasting for the entire vigil.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How often do you pray the Lord’s prayer? Explain your answer.
2. Should a church pray the Lord’s prayer each and every week? Defend your answer.
Wednesday 10 April 2013
Wednesday April 10, 2013
Read Matthew 6:8. Ephesians 3:20-21. Acts 12:5-11
The early church had many good points and many not so good points about it. One of the positives was that they prayed expectantly. They prayed with an expectant heart, knowing that God would act in powerful ways. Sometimes I sit in churches today and hear prayers that are the exact opposite - prayers are offered to God with a an attitude of “un-expectancy”. It’s almost as though some believers pray these kinds of words to God, ‘Lord I don’t think you’ll answer this prayer and I don’t really believe that you are listening but…’ Have you ever prayed like that? Have you ever felt that God isn’t listening? Have you ever prayed with a blackened heart wondering if God has more important things to tend to than sitting and listening to you?
Repent and be encouraged. God loves you so much that before you even pray, He knows exactly what you need. He knows every hair on your head. He knows all about you. He knows every thought and desire in your heart. He knows you and what you need. That shouldn’t make you pray less but even more and even more intensely with passion and purpose.
Our God can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. If we pray for one conversion God can bring thousands, if not millions. If we ask for an open door, God can clear us a multilane highway. Again, God’s gracious character should cause us to pray expectantly and with great fervour. When the church was earnestly praying for Peter they couldn’t imagine that God would free him. Read Acts 12:13-15 and you’ll see that there were praying for Peter, probably to die well and in a way that glorified Christ. Peter being freed was not in their realm of imagination. But our God is a God who can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Nothing is impossible for our God. Our God can do what ever He pleases.
Be encouraged. When you pray, don’t pray half heartedly. Don’t pray like God isn’t listening. Don’t pray like God doesn't care about you. You are dearly loved by God. Jesus died on the cross and rose to eternal life for you. Jesus gave His all so that you can pray to God. You are God’s beloved child. You have a God who can do the impossible. You have a God that knows your every need. You have a God who can do more than you could ever ask or imagine. Pray accordingly.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask God to change your heart and mind towards prayer and to show you the power of prayer. Ask God to raise the priority you have put on prayer in the past. Pray all of this for 5-10 other people in your congregation.
¥ Pray for the work of Student Life and Uni Impact (NZ). Pray that God would be a provider for all their needs and that He would open doors for students to hear and respond positively to the gospel. Pray that there would be a spiritual awakening among our universities and that many thousands would come to faith in Christ across both countries.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What factors stop you from praying expectantly?
2. Do you believe God hears and will answer your prayers? Why or Why not?
The early church had many good points and many not so good points about it. One of the positives was that they prayed expectantly. They prayed with an expectant heart, knowing that God would act in powerful ways. Sometimes I sit in churches today and hear prayers that are the exact opposite - prayers are offered to God with a an attitude of “un-expectancy”. It’s almost as though some believers pray these kinds of words to God, ‘Lord I don’t think you’ll answer this prayer and I don’t really believe that you are listening but…’ Have you ever prayed like that? Have you ever felt that God isn’t listening? Have you ever prayed with a blackened heart wondering if God has more important things to tend to than sitting and listening to you?
Repent and be encouraged. God loves you so much that before you even pray, He knows exactly what you need. He knows every hair on your head. He knows all about you. He knows every thought and desire in your heart. He knows you and what you need. That shouldn’t make you pray less but even more and even more intensely with passion and purpose.
Our God can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. If we pray for one conversion God can bring thousands, if not millions. If we ask for an open door, God can clear us a multilane highway. Again, God’s gracious character should cause us to pray expectantly and with great fervour. When the church was earnestly praying for Peter they couldn’t imagine that God would free him. Read Acts 12:13-15 and you’ll see that there were praying for Peter, probably to die well and in a way that glorified Christ. Peter being freed was not in their realm of imagination. But our God is a God who can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Nothing is impossible for our God. Our God can do what ever He pleases.
Be encouraged. When you pray, don’t pray half heartedly. Don’t pray like God isn’t listening. Don’t pray like God doesn't care about you. You are dearly loved by God. Jesus died on the cross and rose to eternal life for you. Jesus gave His all so that you can pray to God. You are God’s beloved child. You have a God who can do the impossible. You have a God that knows your every need. You have a God who can do more than you could ever ask or imagine. Pray accordingly.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask God to change your heart and mind towards prayer and to show you the power of prayer. Ask God to raise the priority you have put on prayer in the past. Pray all of this for 5-10 other people in your congregation.
¥ Pray for the work of Student Life and Uni Impact (NZ). Pray that God would be a provider for all their needs and that He would open doors for students to hear and respond positively to the gospel. Pray that there would be a spiritual awakening among our universities and that many thousands would come to faith in Christ across both countries.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What factors stop you from praying expectantly?
2. Do you believe God hears and will answer your prayers? Why or Why not?
Tuesday 9 April 2013
Tuesday April 9, 2013
Read 1 Kings 18:21-40. Matthew 6:7
I wish a movie producer would make an epic movie about 1 Kings 18 where Elijah takes on the false prophets at the battle of Mt Carmel. What a movie it would be as we see the false prophets cutting themselves and dancing frantically and calling on their dumb and mute gods to help them. Can you picture Elijah standing somewhat cockily, taunting them and encouraging them to dance harder, to cut themselves even more and to shout louder? And as Elijah steps up for his turn in this epic battle of power, he calls for 3 rounds of water to be poured over the wood. He doesn’t perform or do any hocus-pocus. He simply and humbly prays. As he does, the heavens erupt and thunder. Fire falls down and licks up the water, the wood and the offering. The false prophets are slain for their perversion. It has all the elements of a best selling block buster movie.
But it’s no movie. It’s no fantasy. It’s not science fiction. This is the one true living God whom you and I worship. Our God looks at the heart. He is not swayed by outward appearances. He does not want us to dance and sing or perform or to hocus-pocus our way into manipulating Him.
God sees the heart and wants us to pray with a contrite and right heart. God is not swayed by our babbling and repetition. He is not turned by our conning or bargaining - Lord if you do this I’ll make sure that I… We’ve all been there haven’t we? God looks at our heart.
Again God is not decrying genuine, heartfelt petitioning. God commands us in Philippians 4:6 to petition Him and promises the peace of God. But what God is forbidding is the babbling, the showy pretence that seeks to manipulate God into doing my will, not His will.
You and I should be encouraged and motivated to pray because when we come to God in humility, with a right heart, we know that God hears us and loves to answer our prayers. We know that we don’t have to seek to con God or manipulate Him. We don’t have to nag Him or berate Him into answering. God loves to answer your prayers.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Choose a particular Christian charity or mission organisation that is close to your heart and spend time praying for that organisation.
¥ Choose 5 families from your congregation and spend time praying for each one.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Explain why God hates babbling in prayer.
2. Can you explain why this teaching does not stop us from petitioning God or praying for long periods?
I wish a movie producer would make an epic movie about 1 Kings 18 where Elijah takes on the false prophets at the battle of Mt Carmel. What a movie it would be as we see the false prophets cutting themselves and dancing frantically and calling on their dumb and mute gods to help them. Can you picture Elijah standing somewhat cockily, taunting them and encouraging them to dance harder, to cut themselves even more and to shout louder? And as Elijah steps up for his turn in this epic battle of power, he calls for 3 rounds of water to be poured over the wood. He doesn’t perform or do any hocus-pocus. He simply and humbly prays. As he does, the heavens erupt and thunder. Fire falls down and licks up the water, the wood and the offering. The false prophets are slain for their perversion. It has all the elements of a best selling block buster movie.
But it’s no movie. It’s no fantasy. It’s not science fiction. This is the one true living God whom you and I worship. Our God looks at the heart. He is not swayed by outward appearances. He does not want us to dance and sing or perform or to hocus-pocus our way into manipulating Him.
God sees the heart and wants us to pray with a contrite and right heart. God is not swayed by our babbling and repetition. He is not turned by our conning or bargaining - Lord if you do this I’ll make sure that I… We’ve all been there haven’t we? God looks at our heart.
Again God is not decrying genuine, heartfelt petitioning. God commands us in Philippians 4:6 to petition Him and promises the peace of God. But what God is forbidding is the babbling, the showy pretence that seeks to manipulate God into doing my will, not His will.
You and I should be encouraged and motivated to pray because when we come to God in humility, with a right heart, we know that God hears us and loves to answer our prayers. We know that we don’t have to seek to con God or manipulate Him. We don’t have to nag Him or berate Him into answering. God loves to answer your prayers.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Choose a particular Christian charity or mission organisation that is close to your heart and spend time praying for that organisation.
¥ Choose 5 families from your congregation and spend time praying for each one.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Explain why God hates babbling in prayer.
2. Can you explain why this teaching does not stop us from petitioning God or praying for long periods?
Monday 8 April 2013
Monday April 8, 2013
Read Matthew 6:5-6. 1 Samuel 16:7
The prophet Samuel learnt an important lesson as he was seeking to anoint the Lord’s chosen one. Jesse’s sons had marched before him and Samuel was certain, when he saw Eliab, that this one was the one that the Lord would choose. Eliab was tall and handsome. He was a perfect specimen for a king. But God chided Samuel, ‘Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’.
While the above statement by the Lord was not about prayer, the principle still holds true. As we pray, the Lord looks at the heart. We hear a person’s words but the Lord sees inside. The Lord sees the motives, the true intentions and the real state of the prayer’s heart.
As such, it’s fitting that Jesus decries and denounces those who pray with a show. He declares that those who love to pray and receive adoration and accolade from others have already received their reward in full. God will not hear their prayers, let alone answer them, because their hearts are not right before God. It would do us well to check out heart before we turn to the Lord in prayer. Why am I praying this prayer? What do I hope to achieve? For who’s glory am I praying?
Jesus then tells us to enter a room and to close the door and to pray in secret. Such a command is not an all-out removal of corporate prayer. Just read the Lord’s prayer quickly and notice that most of the pronouns are in the plural. What Jesus is telling us is that we should work hard at NOT being hypocritical. We need to build in checks and balances rather than seeking to glorify ourselves or promote our selves.
The pronouncement of the Lord is much like the pronouncement He made regarding giving. When we humble ourselves, whether in giving or in prayer, God will reward us. We can be confident when we seek God with a pure and right heart that He will hear our prayers. We know that He will answer. We can come before God with confidence and expectation.
Be encouraged by the words of 1 John 3:21-22.
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.
Be encouraged and humbly seek the Lord in prayer.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would provide abundantly for Straight Talk Ministries in terms of finances, open doors and conversions to Christ in repentance and faith. Pray that God would sustain Jim and Faye as they serve and minister to students.
¥ Ask the Lord to provide for Mustard Seed Orphanages in Myanmar. Pray that they would have enough food, clothing, shelter etc to provide for the orphans and widows and disabled people.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What signs can we look for that a person is boasting in their corporate praying?
2. If someone is found to be using prayer as a platform, what should we do?
3. If a person refuses to pray, what should we do?
The prophet Samuel learnt an important lesson as he was seeking to anoint the Lord’s chosen one. Jesse’s sons had marched before him and Samuel was certain, when he saw Eliab, that this one was the one that the Lord would choose. Eliab was tall and handsome. He was a perfect specimen for a king. But God chided Samuel, ‘Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’.
While the above statement by the Lord was not about prayer, the principle still holds true. As we pray, the Lord looks at the heart. We hear a person’s words but the Lord sees inside. The Lord sees the motives, the true intentions and the real state of the prayer’s heart.
As such, it’s fitting that Jesus decries and denounces those who pray with a show. He declares that those who love to pray and receive adoration and accolade from others have already received their reward in full. God will not hear their prayers, let alone answer them, because their hearts are not right before God. It would do us well to check out heart before we turn to the Lord in prayer. Why am I praying this prayer? What do I hope to achieve? For who’s glory am I praying?
Jesus then tells us to enter a room and to close the door and to pray in secret. Such a command is not an all-out removal of corporate prayer. Just read the Lord’s prayer quickly and notice that most of the pronouns are in the plural. What Jesus is telling us is that we should work hard at NOT being hypocritical. We need to build in checks and balances rather than seeking to glorify ourselves or promote our selves.
The pronouncement of the Lord is much like the pronouncement He made regarding giving. When we humble ourselves, whether in giving or in prayer, God will reward us. We can be confident when we seek God with a pure and right heart that He will hear our prayers. We know that He will answer. We can come before God with confidence and expectation.
Be encouraged by the words of 1 John 3:21-22.
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.
Be encouraged and humbly seek the Lord in prayer.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would provide abundantly for Straight Talk Ministries in terms of finances, open doors and conversions to Christ in repentance and faith. Pray that God would sustain Jim and Faye as they serve and minister to students.
¥ Ask the Lord to provide for Mustard Seed Orphanages in Myanmar. Pray that they would have enough food, clothing, shelter etc to provide for the orphans and widows and disabled people.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What signs can we look for that a person is boasting in their corporate praying?
2. If someone is found to be using prayer as a platform, what should we do?
3. If a person refuses to pray, what should we do?
Saturday 6 April 2013
Saturday April 6, 2013
Read Mark 12:41-44
I remember reading the true story of a multi-millionaire who put a large cheque of several million dollars in the offering plate in a particular congregation. It’s astounding to even think about. But put yourself in the shoes of the person counting the offering. You read the cheque and are left gob smacked. Naturally, you praise and adore God. Then you open another envelope and a $10 note falls out. Isn’t it easy to think, ‘Whoopee do’!
As Jesus and the disciples watched people put money into the Temple treasury they noticed many people throw in large amounts, some people really make a fanfare and show out of their giving. The disciples may have been tempted to praise God and to stand in awe of what was given.
But Jesus notices an old widow over by the side wall. She’s too embarrassed to draw attention to herself. She doesn’t throw her money and announce it with a trumpet blast. She quietly and humbly honours God with her two small, almost worthless coins.
As she drops her coins into the treasury, Jesus makes His pronouncement.
"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
God is more interested in the heart than in the dollar amount. He wants us to give cheerfully, with a joyous heart. He wants us to give sacrificially, not with a grasping fist or a tight heart but with the joy of the Lord. God wants us to give to Him, even out of our poverty.
If you and I are to give in a way that honours God we need to give generously. We need to give sacrificially. We need to avoid the Sonday morning rummage through the purse or wallet seeking all our left over coins. We need to set an amount aside for God and joyously stick to it regardless of what life throws at us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for every individual in your congregation. Pray God’s blessing over 5-10 particular individuals.
¥ Pray that your congregation would be a generous congregation.
¥ Pray that God would bring great blessing and relief to our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who fear constant attack and who are persecuted for their faith. Pray that many of the persecutors would see Christ in the believers and be drawn to Him in repentance and faith.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How do you feel about giving to God?
2. How can you cultivate a healthy attitude and practice re giving to God?
I remember reading the true story of a multi-millionaire who put a large cheque of several million dollars in the offering plate in a particular congregation. It’s astounding to even think about. But put yourself in the shoes of the person counting the offering. You read the cheque and are left gob smacked. Naturally, you praise and adore God. Then you open another envelope and a $10 note falls out. Isn’t it easy to think, ‘Whoopee do’!
As Jesus and the disciples watched people put money into the Temple treasury they noticed many people throw in large amounts, some people really make a fanfare and show out of their giving. The disciples may have been tempted to praise God and to stand in awe of what was given.
But Jesus notices an old widow over by the side wall. She’s too embarrassed to draw attention to herself. She doesn’t throw her money and announce it with a trumpet blast. She quietly and humbly honours God with her two small, almost worthless coins.
As she drops her coins into the treasury, Jesus makes His pronouncement.
"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
God is more interested in the heart than in the dollar amount. He wants us to give cheerfully, with a joyous heart. He wants us to give sacrificially, not with a grasping fist or a tight heart but with the joy of the Lord. God wants us to give to Him, even out of our poverty.
If you and I are to give in a way that honours God we need to give generously. We need to give sacrificially. We need to avoid the Sonday morning rummage through the purse or wallet seeking all our left over coins. We need to set an amount aside for God and joyously stick to it regardless of what life throws at us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Praise God for every individual in your congregation. Pray God’s blessing over 5-10 particular individuals.
¥ Pray that your congregation would be a generous congregation.
¥ Pray that God would bring great blessing and relief to our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who fear constant attack and who are persecuted for their faith. Pray that many of the persecutors would see Christ in the believers and be drawn to Him in repentance and faith.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. How do you feel about giving to God?
2. How can you cultivate a healthy attitude and practice re giving to God?
Friday 5 April 2013
Friday April 5, 2013
Read Matthew 6:1-4. Matthew 19:23-24
When Le Tourneau began his company he covenanted with God to give Him 90% of the income earned. Through thick and thick, through bad years, very bad years and even worse years Le Tourneau stuck to his covenant and never reneged and continued to give God 90%. Even when profits started to soar and ascend into the millions, he stuck by his covenant and gave 90% to God.
We often tend to think that it’s easier for a rich man to give to God. But statistically, the reverse is true. The most generous people throughout the world, regardless of culture, are the poorer peoples. While we find heart warming examples such as this one, wealth often creates a corrupting desire in our hearts that pulls us away from God. In fact, the lure of wealth is so strong that Jesus said that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle or for an elephant to be shoved into a matchbox!
In Matthew 6 Jesus isn’t speaking to the rich people of the world. He’s teaching His followers. He’s not assuming that you have a high disposable income, He’s assuming you are a follower of Jesus. He’s not talking to people with six figures in their bank accounts but to those who have decided to follow Him. And interestingly, doesn’t command us to give to the needy, He simply assumes it will be done. He says, “When you give to the needy…” assuming that following Jesus necessitates such giving.
As we give to the needy we are NOT to give with a fanfare and trumpet blast. We are not to boast and brag and promote ourselves in giving. We are not to turn the giving back to ourselves and show the world how wonderful and awesome we are. Rather we are to give quietly, in full submission to God. We are to give secretly so that people don’t turn their attention to us and perhaps sing our praises.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ To give without blowing one’s own trumpet requires humility. Ask the Lord to grant you humility and meekness. Pray that everyone in your own congregation would have such humility as well.
¥ Pray that God would continue to provide for Shiloh Church Ministries. Pray that God would allow each child to have enough food, clothing and resources for a positive education. Ask God to remove the local threats to the orphanages and to provide a safe, loving home for them to grow up in.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What would hypocritical giving look like in today’s church?
2. How can we give humbly and without hypocrisy?
3. What is a Christian attitude towards giving to God at church?
When Le Tourneau began his company he covenanted with God to give Him 90% of the income earned. Through thick and thick, through bad years, very bad years and even worse years Le Tourneau stuck to his covenant and never reneged and continued to give God 90%. Even when profits started to soar and ascend into the millions, he stuck by his covenant and gave 90% to God.
We often tend to think that it’s easier for a rich man to give to God. But statistically, the reverse is true. The most generous people throughout the world, regardless of culture, are the poorer peoples. While we find heart warming examples such as this one, wealth often creates a corrupting desire in our hearts that pulls us away from God. In fact, the lure of wealth is so strong that Jesus said that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle or for an elephant to be shoved into a matchbox!
In Matthew 6 Jesus isn’t speaking to the rich people of the world. He’s teaching His followers. He’s not assuming that you have a high disposable income, He’s assuming you are a follower of Jesus. He’s not talking to people with six figures in their bank accounts but to those who have decided to follow Him. And interestingly, doesn’t command us to give to the needy, He simply assumes it will be done. He says, “When you give to the needy…” assuming that following Jesus necessitates such giving.
As we give to the needy we are NOT to give with a fanfare and trumpet blast. We are not to boast and brag and promote ourselves in giving. We are not to turn the giving back to ourselves and show the world how wonderful and awesome we are. Rather we are to give quietly, in full submission to God. We are to give secretly so that people don’t turn their attention to us and perhaps sing our praises.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ To give without blowing one’s own trumpet requires humility. Ask the Lord to grant you humility and meekness. Pray that everyone in your own congregation would have such humility as well.
¥ Pray that God would continue to provide for Shiloh Church Ministries. Pray that God would allow each child to have enough food, clothing and resources for a positive education. Ask God to remove the local threats to the orphanages and to provide a safe, loving home for them to grow up in.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What would hypocritical giving look like in today’s church?
2. How can we give humbly and without hypocrisy?
3. What is a Christian attitude towards giving to God at church?
Thursday 4 April 2013
Thursday April 4, 2013
Read 1 Samuel 2:6-10
Can you imagine how hard it would be to shove a full grown elephant into a matchbox? Virtually impossible, right? That’s what we often try to do with God. We seek to put Him into a nice, neat box but just like that elephant, God refuses to be shoved into a matchbox. It simply can’t be done!
When it comes to wealth and poverty, this mentality is obvious. We’ve all heard the proverbial TV preacher bidding us to send him more money and God in return would send us ten fold, hundred fold and in some arrogant cases, they’ve declared that God would even repay us 1,000 fold! I always wonder why these preachers refuse to give everyone in the audience and everyone watching just $50. By their own teaching God will repay them 10, 100, even 1,000 for every $50 they give out in faith. Maybe their faith isn’t big enough to give generously. OUCH!
But if we are poor then our faith is lacking and we simply haven’t trusted God. Can you see the box we are trying to put God in? As we read 1 Samuel 2:6-10 we are thrown into confusion. God is the sovereign Lord over all things, even money. He doesn’t give and provide as you and I stipulate or desire. He is the one who creates wealth and poverty. Sometimes we may scratch our heads wondering why He chose to bless that person with wealth or to doubly bless that other family with poverty. But our ability to fathom God’s working doesn’t lessen His sovereignty or change the way He has to work.
God is totally and completely in control of all things, even your wealth. A mark of secure trust and maturity in our faith is trusting God and not grasping for more money at every opportunity. The secure believer has no need nor any desire to play or win Lotto. The secure and mature believer can give his tithe faithfully week in week out knowing that God will provide. The trusting God fearer can be generous and give to the needy without a clutching heart. The mature man of God can sleep in peace because he knows that God, his God, will provide through all circumstances.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord your God to raise up a spirit of love and generosity in your congregation. Pray that each and every person would love God with their entire heart and soul and mind and strength and financial resources as well.
¥ Pray that the Committee of Management would be wise in the way that it deals with and distributes the resources God has entrusted it with.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. If God is in control of all wealth and poverty what does this mean for rich people? What does it mean for poor people?
2. If God is sovereign over wealth what does it mean for our weekly giving to God?
3. How would you answer the person who refuses to God because he/she doesn’t feel they have enough money?
Can you imagine how hard it would be to shove a full grown elephant into a matchbox? Virtually impossible, right? That’s what we often try to do with God. We seek to put Him into a nice, neat box but just like that elephant, God refuses to be shoved into a matchbox. It simply can’t be done!
When it comes to wealth and poverty, this mentality is obvious. We’ve all heard the proverbial TV preacher bidding us to send him more money and God in return would send us ten fold, hundred fold and in some arrogant cases, they’ve declared that God would even repay us 1,000 fold! I always wonder why these preachers refuse to give everyone in the audience and everyone watching just $50. By their own teaching God will repay them 10, 100, even 1,000 for every $50 they give out in faith. Maybe their faith isn’t big enough to give generously. OUCH!
But if we are poor then our faith is lacking and we simply haven’t trusted God. Can you see the box we are trying to put God in? As we read 1 Samuel 2:6-10 we are thrown into confusion. God is the sovereign Lord over all things, even money. He doesn’t give and provide as you and I stipulate or desire. He is the one who creates wealth and poverty. Sometimes we may scratch our heads wondering why He chose to bless that person with wealth or to doubly bless that other family with poverty. But our ability to fathom God’s working doesn’t lessen His sovereignty or change the way He has to work.
God is totally and completely in control of all things, even your wealth. A mark of secure trust and maturity in our faith is trusting God and not grasping for more money at every opportunity. The secure believer has no need nor any desire to play or win Lotto. The secure and mature believer can give his tithe faithfully week in week out knowing that God will provide. The trusting God fearer can be generous and give to the needy without a clutching heart. The mature man of God can sleep in peace because he knows that God, his God, will provide through all circumstances.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Ask the Lord your God to raise up a spirit of love and generosity in your congregation. Pray that each and every person would love God with their entire heart and soul and mind and strength and financial resources as well.
¥ Pray that the Committee of Management would be wise in the way that it deals with and distributes the resources God has entrusted it with.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. If God is in control of all wealth and poverty what does this mean for rich people? What does it mean for poor people?
2. If God is sovereign over wealth what does it mean for our weekly giving to God?
3. How would you answer the person who refuses to God because he/she doesn’t feel they have enough money?
Wednesday 3 April 2013
Wednesday April 3, 2013
Read Deuteronomy 24:10-15. James 2:1-4
I wonder how our churches would react if we had a wave of desperately poor people come in to them? I recall being in one church that started an outreach to the homeless. What a blessing to the Lord. All was going well until they started coming along to Church. People were angry and scared and worried about their things. People wouldn’t talk to these poor, homeless folk and certainly wouldn’t include them. Some were told blatantly not to touch anything. I have no doubt that everyone was well meaning.
But it’s all to easy to make judgements and to treat people according to their physical appearance. It’s all to easy to write people off as irrelevant and unimportant because they don’t wear a suit or have to walk barefoot because they can’t afford shoes. This was dramatically brought home to me as I watched an interview with a homeless man. It was very easy to dismiss him as another vagabond, a vagrant who skimmed off society. But he turned out to be a well spoken, articulate and exceedingly pleasant person! As he spoke rather intelligently, it became clear that he was a university lecturer and through no fault of his own lost his job and his family both within a short space of time. First impressions aren’t always correct!
Even more so, God loves the poor and needy. His heart goes out to them. God wants His people to treat the poor and needy with dignity, with love and with justice. We are not to show favouritism or partiality to someone because of their income or social status. We are not to take advantage of the poor or to abuse them or to think less of them because they are poor.
Our motivation for loving the poor comes from God Himself. We read in 2 Corinthians 8:9 - “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through Hs poverty might become rich.” God has sent Jesus into our world to save us and to give us all the inheritance of heaven. In Christ we are billionaires. God wants us to share that wealth with those who are needy and poor. God wants us to love them as He Himself has loved us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would raise up a spirit of generosity within your church. Pray that the weekly giving would be reflective of the generosity that we have received from our Lord and Saviour. Pray that your Committee of Management would be able wisely steward the funds given to them by the Lord.
¥ Pray that our governments at all levels would be working towards a fair and equitable distribution of funds and resources. Pray that justice and fairness would not be deprived from the poor and needy.
Jesus Challenge: There are many people suffering quietly in the pews.
As a Cell Group see if you can pick one person or family that may be in need and give them a gift/love donation from your cell.
As you plan to help a particular person make sure that people don’t just transfer their tithe to the Lord. That portion of our giving should remain with the Lord. Our offerings go above and beyond our tithes.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. In what ways does our society deny justice and equality to the poor and needy?
2. How can the church support the poor and needy?
3. Many churches can not afford to pay all their bills, let alone support the poor and needy. What does this communicate to the world?
I wonder how our churches would react if we had a wave of desperately poor people come in to them? I recall being in one church that started an outreach to the homeless. What a blessing to the Lord. All was going well until they started coming along to Church. People were angry and scared and worried about their things. People wouldn’t talk to these poor, homeless folk and certainly wouldn’t include them. Some were told blatantly not to touch anything. I have no doubt that everyone was well meaning.
But it’s all to easy to make judgements and to treat people according to their physical appearance. It’s all to easy to write people off as irrelevant and unimportant because they don’t wear a suit or have to walk barefoot because they can’t afford shoes. This was dramatically brought home to me as I watched an interview with a homeless man. It was very easy to dismiss him as another vagabond, a vagrant who skimmed off society. But he turned out to be a well spoken, articulate and exceedingly pleasant person! As he spoke rather intelligently, it became clear that he was a university lecturer and through no fault of his own lost his job and his family both within a short space of time. First impressions aren’t always correct!
Even more so, God loves the poor and needy. His heart goes out to them. God wants His people to treat the poor and needy with dignity, with love and with justice. We are not to show favouritism or partiality to someone because of their income or social status. We are not to take advantage of the poor or to abuse them or to think less of them because they are poor.
Our motivation for loving the poor comes from God Himself. We read in 2 Corinthians 8:9 - “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through Hs poverty might become rich.” God has sent Jesus into our world to save us and to give us all the inheritance of heaven. In Christ we are billionaires. God wants us to share that wealth with those who are needy and poor. God wants us to love them as He Himself has loved us.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that God would raise up a spirit of generosity within your church. Pray that the weekly giving would be reflective of the generosity that we have received from our Lord and Saviour. Pray that your Committee of Management would be able wisely steward the funds given to them by the Lord.
¥ Pray that our governments at all levels would be working towards a fair and equitable distribution of funds and resources. Pray that justice and fairness would not be deprived from the poor and needy.
Jesus Challenge: There are many people suffering quietly in the pews.
As a Cell Group see if you can pick one person or family that may be in need and give them a gift/love donation from your cell.
As you plan to help a particular person make sure that people don’t just transfer their tithe to the Lord. That portion of our giving should remain with the Lord. Our offerings go above and beyond our tithes.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. In what ways does our society deny justice and equality to the poor and needy?
2. How can the church support the poor and needy?
3. Many churches can not afford to pay all their bills, let alone support the poor and needy. What does this communicate to the world?
Tuesday 2 April 2013
Tuesday April 2, 2013
Read Deuteronomy 15:4, 15:11, Acts 4:34
The most basic need of all humans is to be loved. If you could comprehend more fully just how much you are loved by God your life would be revolutionised. But as humans with a finite and limited mind, it’s hard to comprehend what it cost God Almighty to send His one and only Son into our world to die a humiliating and extremely painful death upon the cross. It’s hard to fathom how Jesus could willingly take upon Himself the anger of God so that you can be totally and utterly forgiven.
As you understand more of that genuine, selfless love you won’t see a contradiction in Deuteronomy 15:4 and 11. God’s loving desire is that we share the love we have received from Him and out of that love seek to eradicate poverty in the world. It’s a sad fact that enough food is thrown out each year to feed all the people of the world at least three times over. Verse 11 states the reality of life. There will always be poor people in the world. There will always be greed and greedy people. There will always be (until Jesus’ returns) robbers and rip-off merchants and people who exploit others.
God’s heart is that we taste and indulge in His love and then share that love with others in real, practical ways.
Everyone loves to hear those 3 wonderful words, ‘I love you’. But words can be cheap and easy. Everyone needs to see those 3 wonderful words in action. Bridges of friendship are built by putting love into action. Restoration and reconciliation is opened up acts of love. Hatred is diminished by real, tangible acts of love. People are lifted out of the pit when we climb into the pit and help them with genuine selfless acts of love.
Soon after the New Testament Church started from Peter’s preaching there were over 5,000 people gathered in the church. Three thousand were converted in one sermon (every preacher’s dream come true) and God added daily to the number being saved. One would expect that the church resources were drained and that there was very little to share and to give around. Yet we read in Acts 4:34 that there were no needy persons among them. What God desired in Deuteronomy 15:4 had for a time, at least, become reality. Hallelujah!
You and your church may not be able to solve world poverty. But you can make a huge impact in someone’s world and you can show them that they are dearly loved simply by being generous.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church Ministries as they seek to care for widows, orphans and others who are poor and needy. Pray that God would provide all their needs and bring all the required resources. Pray that the Gospel would spread throughout the land as more and more Christians minister generously.
¥ Pray that your church would be known as a generous church and that this is reflected in the giving at your local church.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What does it mean to be generous?
2. Can you think of one way you can be generous this week?
3. How can you grow a heart like God’s in Deut 15:4 and Acts 4:34?
The most basic need of all humans is to be loved. If you could comprehend more fully just how much you are loved by God your life would be revolutionised. But as humans with a finite and limited mind, it’s hard to comprehend what it cost God Almighty to send His one and only Son into our world to die a humiliating and extremely painful death upon the cross. It’s hard to fathom how Jesus could willingly take upon Himself the anger of God so that you can be totally and utterly forgiven.
As you understand more of that genuine, selfless love you won’t see a contradiction in Deuteronomy 15:4 and 11. God’s loving desire is that we share the love we have received from Him and out of that love seek to eradicate poverty in the world. It’s a sad fact that enough food is thrown out each year to feed all the people of the world at least three times over. Verse 11 states the reality of life. There will always be poor people in the world. There will always be greed and greedy people. There will always be (until Jesus’ returns) robbers and rip-off merchants and people who exploit others.
God’s heart is that we taste and indulge in His love and then share that love with others in real, practical ways.
Everyone loves to hear those 3 wonderful words, ‘I love you’. But words can be cheap and easy. Everyone needs to see those 3 wonderful words in action. Bridges of friendship are built by putting love into action. Restoration and reconciliation is opened up acts of love. Hatred is diminished by real, tangible acts of love. People are lifted out of the pit when we climb into the pit and help them with genuine selfless acts of love.
Soon after the New Testament Church started from Peter’s preaching there were over 5,000 people gathered in the church. Three thousand were converted in one sermon (every preacher’s dream come true) and God added daily to the number being saved. One would expect that the church resources were drained and that there was very little to share and to give around. Yet we read in Acts 4:34 that there were no needy persons among them. What God desired in Deuteronomy 15:4 had for a time, at least, become reality. Hallelujah!
You and your church may not be able to solve world poverty. But you can make a huge impact in someone’s world and you can show them that they are dearly loved simply by being generous.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the work of Shiloh Church Ministries as they seek to care for widows, orphans and others who are poor and needy. Pray that God would provide all their needs and bring all the required resources. Pray that the Gospel would spread throughout the land as more and more Christians minister generously.
¥ Pray that your church would be known as a generous church and that this is reflected in the giving at your local church.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. What does it mean to be generous?
2. Can you think of one way you can be generous this week?
3. How can you grow a heart like God’s in Deut 15:4 and Acts 4:34?
Monday 1 April 2013
Monday April 1 2013
Weekly Challenge
See if you can help one poor person this week in a real, positive way.
Read Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22
“God helps those who help themselves.” I’ve heard this bandied around the church hundreds, if not thousands, of times over the years. There’s only one slight little problem. It’s not actually in the Bible.
The Biblical version is something like, “God helps those who cannot help themselves” and “He does it through His people.” The God of the Bible has a soft spot for poor people and commands His people to help them through poverty towards viability.
In ancient Israel that meant making sure that you didn’t glean or harvest your fields right to the very edges. It meant leaving a section for the poor to have for food and so on. It meant deliberately leaving a portion for the poor.
In the New Testament this focus on the poor continues and we see whole churches and whole regions supporting the poor. Paul the Apostle even took a collection from the Macedonian churches to support the brothers in Jerusalem.
In our day, supporting the poor is actually a lot more difficult. Of course we can give to aid organisations but often the name of God is not exalted or lifted up or praised through that. Here are a few ideas that you could take up to help the poor and needy in your world:
ª Increase your giving by 10-20% and ear mark it for poor relief. If 100 to 200 people did this in one church that church would have ample funds to reach out to the poor and needy.
ª Volunteer for a Christian aid organisation for 1/2 to 1 day a week and get actively involved.
ª Sponsor a child through a Christian organisation such as Compassion.
ª Donate food stuff to your local church and help them distribute it through their avenues.
ª Walk around your neighbourhood and take note of who may need help and seek to meet that need.
It’s not hard to be proactive in helping and supporting the poor. All it takes is a little bit of commitment and drive. Are you up for it?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your church would be a generous church that has ample funds to reach out to the poor and needy and to show them the love of Christ Jesus. Pray that the Kingdom of God would grow through your church’s generosity.
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you who the poor are in your area and how you and your church can be meeting those needs.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Someone says to you, “I am too poor to help anyone else.’ How do you respond?
2. Describe one thing you can do to help the poor and the needy.
3. What factors stop the church from helping the poor and needy?
See if you can help one poor person this week in a real, positive way.
Read Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22
“God helps those who help themselves.” I’ve heard this bandied around the church hundreds, if not thousands, of times over the years. There’s only one slight little problem. It’s not actually in the Bible.
The Biblical version is something like, “God helps those who cannot help themselves” and “He does it through His people.” The God of the Bible has a soft spot for poor people and commands His people to help them through poverty towards viability.
In ancient Israel that meant making sure that you didn’t glean or harvest your fields right to the very edges. It meant leaving a section for the poor to have for food and so on. It meant deliberately leaving a portion for the poor.
In the New Testament this focus on the poor continues and we see whole churches and whole regions supporting the poor. Paul the Apostle even took a collection from the Macedonian churches to support the brothers in Jerusalem.
In our day, supporting the poor is actually a lot more difficult. Of course we can give to aid organisations but often the name of God is not exalted or lifted up or praised through that. Here are a few ideas that you could take up to help the poor and needy in your world:
ª Increase your giving by 10-20% and ear mark it for poor relief. If 100 to 200 people did this in one church that church would have ample funds to reach out to the poor and needy.
ª Volunteer for a Christian aid organisation for 1/2 to 1 day a week and get actively involved.
ª Sponsor a child through a Christian organisation such as Compassion.
ª Donate food stuff to your local church and help them distribute it through their avenues.
ª Walk around your neighbourhood and take note of who may need help and seek to meet that need.
It’s not hard to be proactive in helping and supporting the poor. All it takes is a little bit of commitment and drive. Are you up for it?
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that your church would be a generous church that has ample funds to reach out to the poor and needy and to show them the love of Christ Jesus. Pray that the Kingdom of God would grow through your church’s generosity.
¥ Pray that God would reveal to you who the poor are in your area and how you and your church can be meeting those needs.
Discussion Questions For Families and Groups
1. Someone says to you, “I am too poor to help anyone else.’ How do you respond?
2. Describe one thing you can do to help the poor and the needy.
3. What factors stop the church from helping the poor and needy?
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