Read 2 Chronicles 5:3, 7:1-22; John 10:22-30
There are many observances that show and encourage the people of Israel to remember the Lord’s deliverance through the faithful Maccabees. Modern Jewish homes use lights to celebrate the deliverance. Eight candles on a candelabra or Menorah are lit one by one each night until all 8 are lit to remind the people of the deliverance many years ago. In Jerusalem marathon runners are sent to Modin, the place of the original revolt. They light their freedom torches and carry the flame back to Jerusalem where the great Menorah is lit. Gifts are given and games are played in many households. Like most other celebrations around the world it is also a time for food and feasting.
The lights arose from Israel’s history. When Solomon dedicated the temple for the first time he did so at the Feast of Tabernacles. 2 Chronicles 5:3. During that dedication the glory of the Lord descended upon the temple and the light of the sacrificial altar was divinely lit 2 Chronicles 7:1. The Feast of Tabernacles later developed an impressive light celebration each night in the temple. Since Hanukkah celebrated the relighting of the fire upon the purified altar and was patterned after Tabernacles, the emphasis upon lights was kept.
During Hanukkah Jesus’ thoughts of national deliverance were high in people’s hearts. The people and the establishment looked for the ultimate deliverer, Messiah, who would remove foreign rule and establish the Kingdom of God forever. He would sit on David’s throne for ever and ever. Messiah would make it possible for the Shekinah glory to return to the temple as in Solomon’s day. It’s no wonder that they asked Jesus, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
But Jesus had shown them clearly and had verified it through the miracles. But they refused to listen because He refused time and time again to meet their messianic expectations of a military messiah that would immediately launch the offensive.
When Jesus challenged them and told them that He and the Father are one, they were so enraged that they sought to stone Him to death.
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 be blessing and growing the work of the reformed Bible College in Myanmar. Pray that He would provide all their resources and needs so that the gospel is the main agenda and focus for teachers and students.
¥ Pray that God would be powerfully at work in the Student Life and University Impact organisations. Pray again that many would come to Christ through their ministry and that God again would prove Himself to be their provider.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Friday, 16 November 2012
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Thursday November 15, 2012
Read Deuteronomy 20
The pain of the Jewish nation continued. In the small town of Modin, about 27 km north west of Jerusalem, an altar to Zeus was erected. The towns folk were called out to offer sacrifices to it. An aged Priest named Matthias was chosen from the crowd and was forced to offer the pig sacrifice in honour of the pagan god, Zeus. He refused. The crowd knew that after the sacrifice they would be forced to eat the unclean meat as an act of identification with their offering. While another Priest offered to make the sacrifice, Matthias ripped a sword from the hand of a Syrian officer and killed him. He also killed the apostate Priest. Matthias’ 5 sons joined in and killed the soldiers present. The revolution had begun. Soon Matthias died and his son Judah took over the reigns. He was a brilliant strategist and the rebel army grew in number. He was given the name Maccabee which many believe came from the Hebrew word which meant ‘Hammer’. The revolt raged for three years. The rebels fought hard and frustrated the Syrian army. They won many great victories and soon opened the way back to Jerusalem.
They were not prepared for the devastation and destruction they saw in Jerusalem. But none the less, they rebuilt the altar to the Lord three years to the day after it was desecrated.
Years after the event, a tradition arose that told of how the rebels found only a small vile of unpolluted oil to use in burning before the Lord. It contained one day’s worth of oil. But, the legend says, it burnt for 8 days until new batch of oil could be consecrated. Thus arose the explanation of why Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days.
Sometimes the Lord calls us to battle against the world. When we are called to fight we fight boldly and confidently knowing that the Lord is with us and fighting on our behalf. At present the Lord has called us to battle for the truth. Genesis 1-12 is attacked and ridiculed by people both inside and outside the church. The Word of God in its entirety is being questioned and ridiculed and minimized. The God given institution of marriage is being attacked. The role and rights of parents are being eroded as is the Biblical concept of the family. We must fight for the truth and we must uphold the truth. We must be ready to defend the truth and to stand up for what we believe.
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 Christians would be ready to stand up for the truth of God’s Word. Pray that all believers would have the courage of their convictions and that there would be less and less compromise in the church. Pray that we would see the entire bible, cover to cover, as the reliable and infallible Word of God.
¥ Pray that God would raise up individuals and churches and leaders to champion the cause of marriage in this country. Pray that we would see a resurgence of people who wish to keep marriage as per the biblical definition. Pray that God would be strengthening families and marriages in our churches.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
The pain of the Jewish nation continued. In the small town of Modin, about 27 km north west of Jerusalem, an altar to Zeus was erected. The towns folk were called out to offer sacrifices to it. An aged Priest named Matthias was chosen from the crowd and was forced to offer the pig sacrifice in honour of the pagan god, Zeus. He refused. The crowd knew that after the sacrifice they would be forced to eat the unclean meat as an act of identification with their offering. While another Priest offered to make the sacrifice, Matthias ripped a sword from the hand of a Syrian officer and killed him. He also killed the apostate Priest. Matthias’ 5 sons joined in and killed the soldiers present. The revolution had begun. Soon Matthias died and his son Judah took over the reigns. He was a brilliant strategist and the rebel army grew in number. He was given the name Maccabee which many believe came from the Hebrew word which meant ‘Hammer’. The revolt raged for three years. The rebels fought hard and frustrated the Syrian army. They won many great victories and soon opened the way back to Jerusalem.
They were not prepared for the devastation and destruction they saw in Jerusalem. But none the less, they rebuilt the altar to the Lord three years to the day after it was desecrated.
Years after the event, a tradition arose that told of how the rebels found only a small vile of unpolluted oil to use in burning before the Lord. It contained one day’s worth of oil. But, the legend says, it burnt for 8 days until new batch of oil could be consecrated. Thus arose the explanation of why Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days.
Sometimes the Lord calls us to battle against the world. When we are called to fight we fight boldly and confidently knowing that the Lord is with us and fighting on our behalf. At present the Lord has called us to battle for the truth. Genesis 1-12 is attacked and ridiculed by people both inside and outside the church. The Word of God in its entirety is being questioned and ridiculed and minimized. The God given institution of marriage is being attacked. The role and rights of parents are being eroded as is the Biblical concept of the family. We must fight for the truth and we must uphold the truth. We must be ready to defend the truth and to stand up for what we believe.
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 Christians would be ready to stand up for the truth of God’s Word. Pray that all believers would have the courage of their convictions and that there would be less and less compromise in the church. Pray that we would see the entire bible, cover to cover, as the reliable and infallible Word of God.
¥ Pray that God would raise up individuals and churches and leaders to champion the cause of marriage in this country. Pray that we would see a resurgence of people who wish to keep marriage as per the biblical definition. Pray that God would be strengthening families and marriages in our churches.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Wednesday November 14, 2012
Read Revelation 13:1-10
We sat around the dinner table chatting, having read our “devotion” from the well known book, ’Jesus Freaks’. My daughter commented that it would be very scary to die at the hands of a non-believer. How right she was! But after we reflected on the statement, we concluded that if God ever did call us to such an act of service He would give us the strength to glorify Himself through it.
Such was the case in the dark days of Antiochus the madman. Many faithful believers fled to the hills and to the caves and gave their lives in sacrifice to their God.
Eleazar was a 90 year old priest who had faithfully served and followed God all his life. He was killed in hand copying the Scriptures (hence he was a scribe). The mad ruler declared that he should eat swine, the epitome of unclean animals for the Jews. Eleazar refused. He was ordered to eat his own lawful meat as though it were swine. Again he refused, knowing that many would be deceived by his example. He was mercilessly beaten until the Lord took him home.
The Lord assures us that a time is coming when a world power will command all peoples to worship himself and his image. This is no different to what happened in the dark days of God’s silence. The ruler will declare war on the saints and many will be put to death. Even up to that day, many will be harassed and persecuted and ridiculed for their faith in Christ Jesus.
But do not fear. Do not fret and do not hide the light of Christ. The Lord will walk by you and He will strengthen you. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear and when you are surely tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under that testing. If you are called to give your life as a dying testimony to your God, He will hold your hand the entire way. He will be by your side each and every second. He not forsake you. He will not leave you. Be confident in Him. Walk tall in Him. Stand up, speak out and shine for Him and because of Him.
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 strengthen and encourage and challenge believers to be speaking up and living out their faith in Christ. Pray that He would give more and more opportunities to share your faith and to model the love of Christ to many.
¥ Pray for the 5 non Christians you prayed for earlier this week. Pray that God would grant them repentance and faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
We sat around the dinner table chatting, having read our “devotion” from the well known book, ’Jesus Freaks’. My daughter commented that it would be very scary to die at the hands of a non-believer. How right she was! But after we reflected on the statement, we concluded that if God ever did call us to such an act of service He would give us the strength to glorify Himself through it.
Such was the case in the dark days of Antiochus the madman. Many faithful believers fled to the hills and to the caves and gave their lives in sacrifice to their God.
Eleazar was a 90 year old priest who had faithfully served and followed God all his life. He was killed in hand copying the Scriptures (hence he was a scribe). The mad ruler declared that he should eat swine, the epitome of unclean animals for the Jews. Eleazar refused. He was ordered to eat his own lawful meat as though it were swine. Again he refused, knowing that many would be deceived by his example. He was mercilessly beaten until the Lord took him home.
The Lord assures us that a time is coming when a world power will command all peoples to worship himself and his image. This is no different to what happened in the dark days of God’s silence. The ruler will declare war on the saints and many will be put to death. Even up to that day, many will be harassed and persecuted and ridiculed for their faith in Christ Jesus.
But do not fear. Do not fret and do not hide the light of Christ. The Lord will walk by you and He will strengthen you. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear and when you are surely tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under that testing. If you are called to give your life as a dying testimony to your God, He will hold your hand the entire way. He will be by your side each and every second. He not forsake you. He will not leave you. Be confident in Him. Walk tall in Him. Stand up, speak out and shine for Him and because of Him.
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 strengthen and encourage and challenge believers to be speaking up and living out their faith in Christ. Pray that He would give more and more opportunities to share your faith and to model the love of Christ to many.
¥ Pray for the 5 non Christians you prayed for earlier this week. Pray that God would grant them repentance and faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Tuesday November 13, 2012
Read John 10:22-24; Daniel 8:1-12, 11:32-33
Hanukkah means ‘dedication’ and is celebrated in winter in the month of Kislev, roughly equivalent to our December. The apocryphal books* of 1 and 2 Maccabees are the earliest record of Hanukkah.
In 326BC Darius III came to power in Medo-Persian empire, the military super power of the world. In the west in Macedonia, Alexander also ascended to the throne. At only 20 years of age, he was already known as a brilliant commander. Within 3 years his military genius allowed him to defeat the great Darius III at Issus.
By his 30th birthday he had conquered all the known world from Europe to Egypt and to the boards of India. He unified the known world under the Greek culture and religion known as Hellenism.
Unfortunately Alexander died at 33 years of age without an heir to the throne. The vast empire was divided into four regions - Seleucus ruled Syria and Eastern Asia Minor, Ptolemy ruled Egypt, Lysimachus ruled Thrace and Western Asia Minor (Turkey) and Cassander ruled Macedonia and Greece.
In this fourfold division Israel sat between the Seleucid empire and the Egyptian or Ptolemaic empire. Whoever controlled Israel had a key strategic position. For almost 2 centuries the Promised Land was greatly fought over. In 171BC Antiochus IV came to the throne. This ruler was harsh, cruel and extreme. He called himself Antiochus Epiphanes (that’s right as in epiphany - it translates to ‘Antiochus the visible god) believing he was deity in the flesh. Using a pun, his enemies called him Antiochus Epimanes - Antiochus the madman! His goal was to unite all the people in his realm under the Hellenistic way of life and religion.
In Israel two parties developed. The Orthodox party wanted to be ruled by the Ptolemies in Egypt. This was the lesser of two evils because Hellenism deified natures, set up temples with many false gods and promoted immorality in the worship of these gods. The progressives saw no advantage in sticking to the faith of their fathers and saw only the economic and social benefits of embracing the Hellenistic way of life and religion. They thus desired rule by the Syrians -
those allied with the madman. The result was intrigue, assassination and internal strife that lasted for centuries.
Antiochus, suffering defeat at the hands of the Egyptians (who were supported by the Romans), ransacked Jerusalem and even attacked and desecrated the temple. A statue of Zeus was set upon the holy altar. He later sacrificed a pig, the most unclean animal to Jews, on that altar. He poured its broth over the holy scrolls and cut them to pieces and burned them. He even outlawed Judaism on pain of death. Sabbath could not be kept. Dietary laws were to be abandoned. Circumcision could not be performed. Entire families were put to death and babies and women were mercilessly killed.
How would God’s people react? How would they survive? How would they go forward?
* The apocrypha are a set of non-biblical books written between 200BC and 100AD. They present us with a valuable source of history.
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 believers who are willing to stand firm on His Word and not to compromise on the Word or their application of the Word. Pray that a spirit of conviction would sweep through your church and the churches of this land.
¥ Pray that we would also see a spirit of generosity in our churches so that God would be glorified as we are revealed to be Jesus’ disciples and so that the churches can effectively reach out to the poor and needy.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Hanukkah means ‘dedication’ and is celebrated in winter in the month of Kislev, roughly equivalent to our December. The apocryphal books* of 1 and 2 Maccabees are the earliest record of Hanukkah.
In 326BC Darius III came to power in Medo-Persian empire, the military super power of the world. In the west in Macedonia, Alexander also ascended to the throne. At only 20 years of age, he was already known as a brilliant commander. Within 3 years his military genius allowed him to defeat the great Darius III at Issus.
By his 30th birthday he had conquered all the known world from Europe to Egypt and to the boards of India. He unified the known world under the Greek culture and religion known as Hellenism.
Unfortunately Alexander died at 33 years of age without an heir to the throne. The vast empire was divided into four regions - Seleucus ruled Syria and Eastern Asia Minor, Ptolemy ruled Egypt, Lysimachus ruled Thrace and Western Asia Minor (Turkey) and Cassander ruled Macedonia and Greece.
In this fourfold division Israel sat between the Seleucid empire and the Egyptian or Ptolemaic empire. Whoever controlled Israel had a key strategic position. For almost 2 centuries the Promised Land was greatly fought over. In 171BC Antiochus IV came to the throne. This ruler was harsh, cruel and extreme. He called himself Antiochus Epiphanes (that’s right as in epiphany - it translates to ‘Antiochus the visible god) believing he was deity in the flesh. Using a pun, his enemies called him Antiochus Epimanes - Antiochus the madman! His goal was to unite all the people in his realm under the Hellenistic way of life and religion.
In Israel two parties developed. The Orthodox party wanted to be ruled by the Ptolemies in Egypt. This was the lesser of two evils because Hellenism deified natures, set up temples with many false gods and promoted immorality in the worship of these gods. The progressives saw no advantage in sticking to the faith of their fathers and saw only the economic and social benefits of embracing the Hellenistic way of life and religion. They thus desired rule by the Syrians -
those allied with the madman. The result was intrigue, assassination and internal strife that lasted for centuries.
Antiochus, suffering defeat at the hands of the Egyptians (who were supported by the Romans), ransacked Jerusalem and even attacked and desecrated the temple. A statue of Zeus was set upon the holy altar. He later sacrificed a pig, the most unclean animal to Jews, on that altar. He poured its broth over the holy scrolls and cut them to pieces and burned them. He even outlawed Judaism on pain of death. Sabbath could not be kept. Dietary laws were to be abandoned. Circumcision could not be performed. Entire families were put to death and babies and women were mercilessly killed.
How would God’s people react? How would they survive? How would they go forward?
* The apocrypha are a set of non-biblical books written between 200BC and 100AD. They present us with a valuable source of history.
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 believers who are willing to stand firm on His Word and not to compromise on the Word or their application of the Word. Pray that a spirit of conviction would sweep through your church and the churches of this land.
¥ Pray that we would also see a spirit of generosity in our churches so that God would be glorified as we are revealed to be Jesus’ disciples and so that the churches can effectively reach out to the poor and needy.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Monday, 12 November 2012
Monday November 12, 2012
Weekly Challenge
Grab a note pad and write down throughout the week as many reasons as you can to explain the reasons why God would choose not to answer our prayers. Discuss with as many believers as you can throughout the week.
Read Malachi 4:1 - Matthew 1:17
Do you realise the momentous thing you have just done? Do you realise the significance of what has just happened? You’ve just read over 400 years of history and here’s the totally amazing and mind boggling bit - for most of that 400 years God was absolutely silent. There was no prophecy no Word from the Lord. There was no cry in the temple, ‘Thus says the Lord…’ There was no messenger sent from God. There were no visions and no angelic visits.
Often God is silent in our own world. We really don’t cope well. We live in a world that decries being still in God’s presence. We walk in a world that deplores inactivity and unproductiveness. We inhabit a world that demands answers and when God is loudly silent we crumble into despair. In desperation we cry out to God. We speculate upon the reasons for God’s silence. We comfort ourselves and often lie to ourselves. We look for God in every nook and cranny. We turn to substitutes, making them our temporary gods, be they drugs, alcohol, self pleasure or whatever. Yet through it all we feel hopeless because we are deafened by God’s silence.
It was during those 400 years of silence that many things happened. The synagogue service developed. The Pharisees and Sadducees developed. Rome became the dominating world power and gained control over the Bible lands. The stage was set for the fulfilment of all God’s plans. Everything was ready for Messiah to enter onto centre stage and bring all God’s promises and plans to fruition and fulfilment.
In times of God’s silence I don’t need to panic or seek to do it my way. I don’t need to take up plan B or C or D or E. I don’t need to run to another temporary god. I don’t need to fall into a heap. I need to trust God. I need to walk by faith. I need to be at peace in His presence. God has promised that ‘all things work for the good of those who love Him’ (Romans 8:28) and this certainly includes his times of silence. Trust God… Don’t force it. As Corrie Ten Boom would often say, ‘Nestle, don’t wrestle.’ Nestle into God’s love and grace. Don’t wrestle with Him.
Sometimes we are on a need to know basis and, put bluntly, in times of God’s silence we don’t need to know. We need to trust. We need to nestle into God’s loving arms. We need to stop wrestling with God. God hasn’t lost control. God hasn’t forgotten you. God hasn’t missed the moment. God is powerfully at work, albeit behind the scenes. God is doing something grand.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ A small team is headed off to Myanmar very soon. Pray that God would use them powerfully to teach the students and to bring great blessing to them. Pray that the team would be unified and that they would work well together as they teach and preach. Pray that the students would be greatly blessed by the team’s presence in Myanmar.
¥ Pray that Christians all around the world would be ready and willing to make the most of the Christmas season in terms of reaching out and evangelising friends and family. Pray that we would see many conversions to Christ throughout the festive season. Pray specifically for 5 non-Christians in your life that you would love to see come to Christ in repentance and faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Grab a note pad and write down throughout the week as many reasons as you can to explain the reasons why God would choose not to answer our prayers. Discuss with as many believers as you can throughout the week.
Read Malachi 4:1 - Matthew 1:17
Do you realise the momentous thing you have just done? Do you realise the significance of what has just happened? You’ve just read over 400 years of history and here’s the totally amazing and mind boggling bit - for most of that 400 years God was absolutely silent. There was no prophecy no Word from the Lord. There was no cry in the temple, ‘Thus says the Lord…’ There was no messenger sent from God. There were no visions and no angelic visits.
Often God is silent in our own world. We really don’t cope well. We live in a world that decries being still in God’s presence. We walk in a world that deplores inactivity and unproductiveness. We inhabit a world that demands answers and when God is loudly silent we crumble into despair. In desperation we cry out to God. We speculate upon the reasons for God’s silence. We comfort ourselves and often lie to ourselves. We look for God in every nook and cranny. We turn to substitutes, making them our temporary gods, be they drugs, alcohol, self pleasure or whatever. Yet through it all we feel hopeless because we are deafened by God’s silence.
It was during those 400 years of silence that many things happened. The synagogue service developed. The Pharisees and Sadducees developed. Rome became the dominating world power and gained control over the Bible lands. The stage was set for the fulfilment of all God’s plans. Everything was ready for Messiah to enter onto centre stage and bring all God’s promises and plans to fruition and fulfilment.
In times of God’s silence I don’t need to panic or seek to do it my way. I don’t need to take up plan B or C or D or E. I don’t need to run to another temporary god. I don’t need to fall into a heap. I need to trust God. I need to walk by faith. I need to be at peace in His presence. God has promised that ‘all things work for the good of those who love Him’ (Romans 8:28) and this certainly includes his times of silence. Trust God… Don’t force it. As Corrie Ten Boom would often say, ‘Nestle, don’t wrestle.’ Nestle into God’s love and grace. Don’t wrestle with Him.
Sometimes we are on a need to know basis and, put bluntly, in times of God’s silence we don’t need to know. We need to trust. We need to nestle into God’s loving arms. We need to stop wrestling with God. God hasn’t lost control. God hasn’t forgotten you. God hasn’t missed the moment. God is powerfully at work, albeit behind the scenes. God is doing something grand.
Prayer:
Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ A small team is headed off to Myanmar very soon. Pray that God would use them powerfully to teach the students and to bring great blessing to them. Pray that the team would be unified and that they would work well together as they teach and preach. Pray that the students would be greatly blessed by the team’s presence in Myanmar.
¥ Pray that Christians all around the world would be ready and willing to make the most of the Christmas season in terms of reaching out and evangelising friends and family. Pray that we would see many conversions to Christ throughout the festive season. Pray specifically for 5 non-Christians in your life that you would love to see come to Christ in repentance and faith.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Saturday, 10 November 2012
Saturday November 10, 2012
Read John 7:14-53
Jesus was no slouch. He utilized every opportunity to teach and present the message of the Kingdom of God. During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus again spoke revolutionary words.
On each day of the Feast, at the start of the day a water libation (sacrificial pouring out of a liquid) was offered to the Lord as a visual prayer for rain. Shortly after dawn, again each day, the High Priest was followed by a rejoicing crowd and worshippers down to the Pool or Siloam. He carried at golden pitcher and filled it at the Pool, taking it back to the Temple.
At the same time another group would gather willow branches and bring them back to the Temple and place them over the altar to form a drooping canopy over them.
As the High Priest entered the Temple through the Water Gate (so called because of this ceremony) three trumpet blasts would sound. The Priests would recite Isaiah 12:3 - With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. The High Priest would ascend to the altar and pour out his libation. At the proper time the people would wave branches and sing Psalm 118:25 - a messianic Psalm that gave the Feast a messianic emphasis.
On the final and greatest day of the Feast, the temple services reached a climax. The water pouring ceremony took on great significance and there was a great anticipation of rain. Everything was exaggerated on this day. There were more trumpet blasts and more laps around the altar (7 circuits as opposed to 1) and Psalm 118:25 was sung with even greater gusto. It was called the Great Hosanna. Messianic fervour was at its pitch.
It is in the midst of such celebration and high pitched fervour that Jesus interrupted the Temple service, crying out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in NMe, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
What was Jesus saying? Nobody present would have missed the point of Jesus’ words. Here I am. I am Messiah. I am the answer to your prayers. I am the one who can give you true, living water so that you never thirst for salvation again. No wonder we read in vs 44 that some wanted to seize Him. He had questioned their religious authority. He had claimed to be Messiah. The religious leaders called a hasty meeting and sent the Temple guard to arrest Jesus but they returned empty handed. They were too stunned by His response to arrest Him. “No one ever spoke like this man”, they replied. Indeed no one ever did and no one has ever since.
Will you listen to Jesus? Will you come to Him to get that living water? Will you allow Jesus to baptise you in the Holy Spirit? Will you submit to His teaching? Will you let His truth set you free? Will you bow the knee and confess Him as Lord?
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 pour out His living water through Christ Jesus in your community/local area. Pray that you would be a vehicle of pouring out into the lives of many around you. Pray that God would be glorified in Christ through this.
¥ Pray that this weekend’s church service would bring great glory to Christ. Pray that He would be powerfully present bringing healing where necessary and needed, faith to those who don’t believe and deep maturity to those who already do believe.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
Jesus was no slouch. He utilized every opportunity to teach and present the message of the Kingdom of God. During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus again spoke revolutionary words.
On each day of the Feast, at the start of the day a water libation (sacrificial pouring out of a liquid) was offered to the Lord as a visual prayer for rain. Shortly after dawn, again each day, the High Priest was followed by a rejoicing crowd and worshippers down to the Pool or Siloam. He carried at golden pitcher and filled it at the Pool, taking it back to the Temple.
At the same time another group would gather willow branches and bring them back to the Temple and place them over the altar to form a drooping canopy over them.
As the High Priest entered the Temple through the Water Gate (so called because of this ceremony) three trumpet blasts would sound. The Priests would recite Isaiah 12:3 - With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. The High Priest would ascend to the altar and pour out his libation. At the proper time the people would wave branches and sing Psalm 118:25 - a messianic Psalm that gave the Feast a messianic emphasis.
On the final and greatest day of the Feast, the temple services reached a climax. The water pouring ceremony took on great significance and there was a great anticipation of rain. Everything was exaggerated on this day. There were more trumpet blasts and more laps around the altar (7 circuits as opposed to 1) and Psalm 118:25 was sung with even greater gusto. It was called the Great Hosanna. Messianic fervour was at its pitch.
It is in the midst of such celebration and high pitched fervour that Jesus interrupted the Temple service, crying out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in NMe, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
What was Jesus saying? Nobody present would have missed the point of Jesus’ words. Here I am. I am Messiah. I am the answer to your prayers. I am the one who can give you true, living water so that you never thirst for salvation again. No wonder we read in vs 44 that some wanted to seize Him. He had questioned their religious authority. He had claimed to be Messiah. The religious leaders called a hasty meeting and sent the Temple guard to arrest Jesus but they returned empty handed. They were too stunned by His response to arrest Him. “No one ever spoke like this man”, they replied. Indeed no one ever did and no one has ever since.
Will you listen to Jesus? Will you come to Him to get that living water? Will you allow Jesus to baptise you in the Holy Spirit? Will you submit to His teaching? Will you let His truth set you free? Will you bow the knee and confess Him as Lord?
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 pour out His living water through Christ Jesus in your community/local area. Pray that you would be a vehicle of pouring out into the lives of many around you. Pray that God would be glorified in Christ through this.
¥ Pray that this weekend’s church service would bring great glory to Christ. Pray that He would be powerfully present bringing healing where necessary and needed, faith to those who don’t believe and deep maturity to those who already do believe.
My Additional Prayer Points.
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Friday, 9 November 2012
Friday November 9, 2012
Read Matthew 17:1-9
I’ve ended up with my foot in my mouth so many times that I wonder if I don’t suffer from foot in mouth disease. Peter is often described as a rash and impetuous believer. He often puts his foot in his mouth because he speaks before he thinks. Haven’t we all have suffered from this at some point in our lives?
But Peter wasn’t being rash and thoughtless. Being a devout and zealous Jew Peter knew that the new kingdom would come and the Feast of Booths would be celebrated by all and sundry. Perhaps he was wanting to get in first and to revel in the new kingdom that he thought was about to be inaugurated. The presence of Moses and Elijah may have confirmed in his mind that this was the time for the kingdom to be inaugurated.
And as soon as Peter suggested setting up three booths - which has nothing to do with resting for the night as many suggest (as if a heavenly being needed to rest for the night) - a glory cloud envelopes them and the heavenly voice tells the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God and that they must listen to Him. They must listen to Him.
The disciples need to learn that the Kingdom comes only through the death and resurrection of Messiah. He must die on the cross for the sins of the world. He must rise from the dead and ascend to the heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit must be poured out as well before the kingdom can come in all its glory and power. There is no short cut. There is no easy road. Jesus must suffer and die before the kingdom comes.
Sometimes we may be like Peter and the other 2 disciples - unwilling to listen to Jesus and wanting to take short cuts. How often do we pray for an end to hard times or for God to bless us in the dry times. How often do we want to run straight into the blessings of God. But like Peter we need to listen to Jesus. Sometimes there are no short cuts. Sometimes we have to walk the heavy road. Sometimes we have to carry a burden. But even so, the Kingdom will come. Jesus will be glorified and all peoples will bow the knee at His Lordship.
In the midst of your narrow road you can still praise the Lord.
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 as your church gathers this weekend to meet with God that He would be powerfully present and that He would grant every single person ears that hear the Word of the Lord. Pray that the non believers would hear the call of God and turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. Pray that the believers would hear the voice of God and walk in obedience to Him.
¥ Pray that God’s work in China would continue to grow and spread. Pray that God would rise up more and more people willing to serve Him and reach out further with the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Pray that this would happen in Australia as well.
¥
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
I’ve ended up with my foot in my mouth so many times that I wonder if I don’t suffer from foot in mouth disease. Peter is often described as a rash and impetuous believer. He often puts his foot in his mouth because he speaks before he thinks. Haven’t we all have suffered from this at some point in our lives?
But Peter wasn’t being rash and thoughtless. Being a devout and zealous Jew Peter knew that the new kingdom would come and the Feast of Booths would be celebrated by all and sundry. Perhaps he was wanting to get in first and to revel in the new kingdom that he thought was about to be inaugurated. The presence of Moses and Elijah may have confirmed in his mind that this was the time for the kingdom to be inaugurated.
And as soon as Peter suggested setting up three booths - which has nothing to do with resting for the night as many suggest (as if a heavenly being needed to rest for the night) - a glory cloud envelopes them and the heavenly voice tells the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God and that they must listen to Him. They must listen to Him.
The disciples need to learn that the Kingdom comes only through the death and resurrection of Messiah. He must die on the cross for the sins of the world. He must rise from the dead and ascend to the heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit must be poured out as well before the kingdom can come in all its glory and power. There is no short cut. There is no easy road. Jesus must suffer and die before the kingdom comes.
Sometimes we may be like Peter and the other 2 disciples - unwilling to listen to Jesus and wanting to take short cuts. How often do we pray for an end to hard times or for God to bless us in the dry times. How often do we want to run straight into the blessings of God. But like Peter we need to listen to Jesus. Sometimes there are no short cuts. Sometimes we have to walk the heavy road. Sometimes we have to carry a burden. But even so, the Kingdom will come. Jesus will be glorified and all peoples will bow the knee at His Lordship.
In the midst of your narrow road you can still praise the Lord.
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 as your church gathers this weekend to meet with God that He would be powerfully present and that He would grant every single person ears that hear the Word of the Lord. Pray that the non believers would hear the call of God and turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. Pray that the believers would hear the voice of God and walk in obedience to Him.
¥ Pray that God’s work in China would continue to grow and spread. Pray that God would rise up more and more people willing to serve Him and reach out further with the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Pray that this would happen in Australia as well.
¥
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
3/.
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