What are your thoughts about the Old Testament? Plan to read through at least one book of the Old Testament in October.
Read Mark 14:12-26
Have you ever realised that all of the gospel writers except John, who doesn’t really deal with the Last Supper, stress that it is the Pass Over meal that Jesus is eating as His Last Supper? There are many reason for this. Can you think of any before we move on?
Jesus chooses to have His last supper at this time because this meal with the disciples will be used to reinterpret the Pass Over. It will be fulfilled in Christ. That is why He is called the Passover Lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7. Jesus and the salvation wrought by Him at the cross is all that the Pass Over meal prefigured and looked forward to. On that day a lamb was to be sacrificed as a suitable substitute for the people. Jesus is the fulfilment of that sacrifice and is the true Passover meal. He is the one that brings freedom from sin as opposed to freedom from captivity in Egypt. Again, it’s a fulfilment motif. In the Old Testament a covenant began when God freed Egypt and now, through the blood of Christ a New Covenant is inaugurated. The Old Covenant allowed people to meet with God but required regular sacrifice for sin and the mediation of a High Priest. Now sin is dealt with once for all and The Great High Priest allows us to meet with God at any time. No earthly High Priest is needed because Jesus is our mediator before God. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence. The Old Covenant opened the door for the people to enter into the Promised Land. Jesus, through the New Covenant opens the door for the people to enter into the heavenly Promised Land. Again it’s a fulfilment motif. The Old is fulfilled. The New has begun.
In studying the Old Testament we see the character of God and we learn more of His eternal plan of salvation through Christ Jesus. Let no one ever tell you that the Old Testament is irrelevant. Turn to 2 Tim 3:16-17 and read what it says. If you can, make a poster of this verse and stick it somewhere prominent so that you'll never forget that all Scripture, all Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, is the inspired Word of God and is useful for us.
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving see if you can focus your prayers on the Lord’s Supper and what it really means.
How will you be praying today???
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that Straight Talk Ministries will be blessed with more open doors in schools to share the value of abstinence before marriage. Pray that many young children and students will not only understand this and commit to purity but also that we would see many come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Pray that Jim and Faye would be greatly blessed by the Lord for their service.
¨ Pray for the Reformed Bible College in Burma. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be working powerfully in and among the students. Ask God to grow and mature the students in their faith, their knowledge and their desire to spread the Word. Pray that we would see a transformation in their society as more people come to Christ for salvation.
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Friday, 28 September 2012
Friday September 28, 2012
Write out a plan of your typical day. Find a spot where you can meet with God for about 30 minutes.
Read Exodus 12:14
It’s so easy to forget about God. With life running at such a hectic pace, God often just dissolves into the background. We don’t intentionally plan to forget about God but it just happens. He just dissolves. There’s the kids, the spouse, the shopping, the workload, the sports and on and on it goes. I often think that full time ministry is a recipe for forgetting God. We have all the above plus more concerns and worries that can often drive us away from God.
How often we look back longingly to the good old days when life was simpler. But let me share with you a typical day in the life of a Christian woman in my grandmother’s era. She would get up around 4:30am and spend an hour or two in prayer. Then she’d make breakfast for the entire family - 5-8 children plus a husband on average, not the average 2.3 kids of today. Breakfast was a cooked meal. Cardboard food in a box hadn’t been invented yet! Clean up was the mother’s duty. Then the house had to be cleaned from top to bottom. The shopping had to be done and the garden kept. Most things that we take for granted in the kitchen and think that they came from the supermarket aisle (bread, cakes etc) had to be baked. After all this, the children arrived home and washing, ironing etc had to be done. When “Father” came home dinner was on the table and ‘Mother’ diligently cleaned up. Before bed she had had an hour or two with God and had already taught the kids from the Word of God and sung several hymns with the family.
Christian ministers were equally busy but never complained. They spent hours in prayer early and late in the day. They visited the congregation regularly, travelled hours to preach in various villages and often wrote 2 or more sermons during the week as well as engaging in many civic duties throughout the town.
Truth be told, not many of us would really long for the good old days if we could experience just one day in their life.
Yet it seems that even in their business they had right and good priorities. They didn’t work 24/7.They didn't worship money and riches. They had no need for that have-it-all lifestyle. They made God a priority. They spent time with God. They spent time with God’s people. They kept and protected the Sabbath and they valued relationship. What they valued and prioritised is encapsulated in one single verse, Exodus 12:14.
Our problem today is not being overly busy. Our problem is not the great amount of stress in our lives. Our problem is not that we have so much to do in so little time. Our problem is that we fail to prioritise. We fail to put God as our number one priority. We fail to appoint time in our diaries with God. We fail to protect the idea of the Sabbath and we plan more and more and more into our week with out concern for God, for His Word and for relationship.
Perhaps if we put God first and refused to compromise on our time with Him then everything else would fall into place.
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on your busy lifestyle and ask God for wisdom, insight and the courage to make changes.
How will you be praying today???
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God would be showing you and 20 other people in your congregation (pray for them by name) the beauty of resting in God and the necessity of prioritising time with Him.
¨ Pray for Shiloh Church ministries that God would be raising up workers and resources for them to continue feeding and caring for orphans, caring for widows, training up and skilling widows in sewing, supporting people with rick-shaws and so on.
Read Exodus 12:14
It’s so easy to forget about God. With life running at such a hectic pace, God often just dissolves into the background. We don’t intentionally plan to forget about God but it just happens. He just dissolves. There’s the kids, the spouse, the shopping, the workload, the sports and on and on it goes. I often think that full time ministry is a recipe for forgetting God. We have all the above plus more concerns and worries that can often drive us away from God.
How often we look back longingly to the good old days when life was simpler. But let me share with you a typical day in the life of a Christian woman in my grandmother’s era. She would get up around 4:30am and spend an hour or two in prayer. Then she’d make breakfast for the entire family - 5-8 children plus a husband on average, not the average 2.3 kids of today. Breakfast was a cooked meal. Cardboard food in a box hadn’t been invented yet! Clean up was the mother’s duty. Then the house had to be cleaned from top to bottom. The shopping had to be done and the garden kept. Most things that we take for granted in the kitchen and think that they came from the supermarket aisle (bread, cakes etc) had to be baked. After all this, the children arrived home and washing, ironing etc had to be done. When “Father” came home dinner was on the table and ‘Mother’ diligently cleaned up. Before bed she had had an hour or two with God and had already taught the kids from the Word of God and sung several hymns with the family.
Christian ministers were equally busy but never complained. They spent hours in prayer early and late in the day. They visited the congregation regularly, travelled hours to preach in various villages and often wrote 2 or more sermons during the week as well as engaging in many civic duties throughout the town.
Truth be told, not many of us would really long for the good old days if we could experience just one day in their life.
Yet it seems that even in their business they had right and good priorities. They didn’t work 24/7.They didn't worship money and riches. They had no need for that have-it-all lifestyle. They made God a priority. They spent time with God. They spent time with God’s people. They kept and protected the Sabbath and they valued relationship. What they valued and prioritised is encapsulated in one single verse, Exodus 12:14.
Our problem today is not being overly busy. Our problem is not the great amount of stress in our lives. Our problem is not that we have so much to do in so little time. Our problem is that we fail to prioritise. We fail to put God as our number one priority. We fail to appoint time in our diaries with God. We fail to protect the idea of the Sabbath and we plan more and more and more into our week with out concern for God, for His Word and for relationship.
Perhaps if we put God first and refused to compromise on our time with Him then everything else would fall into place.
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on your busy lifestyle and ask God for wisdom, insight and the courage to make changes.
How will you be praying today???
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God would be showing you and 20 other people in your congregation (pray for them by name) the beauty of resting in God and the necessity of prioritising time with Him.
¨ Pray for Shiloh Church ministries that God would be raising up workers and resources for them to continue feeding and caring for orphans, caring for widows, training up and skilling widows in sewing, supporting people with rick-shaws and so on.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Thursday September 27, 2012
Do you understand the relationship between faith and works? See if you can write it out clearly and then seek to share it with someone who doesn't know.
Read Exodus 12:12-13
On the night of the original Pass Over the Israelites were to take the lamb that had been slaughtered and they were to put blood from the lamb on their door posts - both the sides and the tops. That very night God would come to Egypt and bring great judgement upon the people. The first born of every household would be struck down. But for every house with the blood of the lamb painted on the door frames, there would be a Passing Over of judgement, hence the name Pass Over.
Several things were happening here. Firstly, there was a real substitution happening. God would Pass Over each house with lamb’s blood on the door frames because the lamb was accepted as a substitute in place of the first born in that house. Secondly, faith was a necessary part of the entire operation. The household trusted that God would Pass Over their house and not bring judgement because the acceptable sacrifice had been slain on their behalf. Thirdly, God was dealing with entire households, not just individuals. The family slaughtered the lamb and painted their door frames together, Each individuals did not have to paint a door frame. Fourthly, faith for Israel was active, not dead. Simply giving mental assent to the truth that God would Pass Over the homes that killed the Paschal Lamb was not enough. One had to have true faith that resulted in fruit - the lamb had to be killed and the blood had to be painted on the door frames.
Now slap yourself in the forehead if you can’t see here a direct relationship to our own salvation through Christ Jesus. Just like the lamb, Jesus (who is called our Pass Over Lamb) is accepted as a suitable substitute in our place. And don’t we need faith? Didn’t the Israelites need faith? Doesn’t James 2 talk about real faith as opposed to dead faith being a faith that produces work? Real faith results in fruit, action and a new lifestyle. And if you read Acts 16 you’ll see that God still deals with entire households.
Far too many believe the ridiculous lie that Israel was saved by works but we are saved by grace. How absurd! Does the Bible say for nothing that “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”? Think about it! Israel was enslaved by Pharaoh and cried out to God for salvation. God didn’t give them the Torah (Law) and say ‘Keep this and you will be free.” God graciously saved them from slavery and then gave them the Law as guide on how to live as God’s people. You and I are in the same boat aren’t we? God saves us from slavery to sin and then shows us how to live as His people. How blessed we are?
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on your salvation.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Spend time praying for the salvation of 3 other people you know. Ask God to grant them repentance and faith.
¨ Ask God to grow the ministry and outreach of Student life in Australia and Uni Impact in NZ. Pray that both of these groups will be able to make many disciples, winning many over to the Lord.
Read Exodus 12:12-13
On the night of the original Pass Over the Israelites were to take the lamb that had been slaughtered and they were to put blood from the lamb on their door posts - both the sides and the tops. That very night God would come to Egypt and bring great judgement upon the people. The first born of every household would be struck down. But for every house with the blood of the lamb painted on the door frames, there would be a Passing Over of judgement, hence the name Pass Over.
Several things were happening here. Firstly, there was a real substitution happening. God would Pass Over each house with lamb’s blood on the door frames because the lamb was accepted as a substitute in place of the first born in that house. Secondly, faith was a necessary part of the entire operation. The household trusted that God would Pass Over their house and not bring judgement because the acceptable sacrifice had been slain on their behalf. Thirdly, God was dealing with entire households, not just individuals. The family slaughtered the lamb and painted their door frames together, Each individuals did not have to paint a door frame. Fourthly, faith for Israel was active, not dead. Simply giving mental assent to the truth that God would Pass Over the homes that killed the Paschal Lamb was not enough. One had to have true faith that resulted in fruit - the lamb had to be killed and the blood had to be painted on the door frames.
Now slap yourself in the forehead if you can’t see here a direct relationship to our own salvation through Christ Jesus. Just like the lamb, Jesus (who is called our Pass Over Lamb) is accepted as a suitable substitute in our place. And don’t we need faith? Didn’t the Israelites need faith? Doesn’t James 2 talk about real faith as opposed to dead faith being a faith that produces work? Real faith results in fruit, action and a new lifestyle. And if you read Acts 16 you’ll see that God still deals with entire households.
Far too many believe the ridiculous lie that Israel was saved by works but we are saved by grace. How absurd! Does the Bible say for nothing that “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”? Think about it! Israel was enslaved by Pharaoh and cried out to God for salvation. God didn’t give them the Torah (Law) and say ‘Keep this and you will be free.” God graciously saved them from slavery and then gave them the Law as guide on how to live as God’s people. You and I are in the same boat aren’t we? God saves us from slavery to sin and then shows us how to live as His people. How blessed we are?
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on your salvation.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Spend time praying for the salvation of 3 other people you know. Ask God to grant them repentance and faith.
¨ Ask God to grow the ministry and outreach of Student life in Australia and Uni Impact in NZ. Pray that both of these groups will be able to make many disciples, winning many over to the Lord.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Wednesday September 26, 2012
List 50 things that you are thankful to God for. Now praise the Lord for each one.
Read Exodus 12:7-11
There’s something special about a roast meal together with family. Each and every year when Israel celebrated her New Year she was to eat roast lamb in a very special way. The meal was symbolic of all that the Lord had done for them. Families were to celebrate together, in gratitude for the Lord’s Salvation.
The meat was to be roasted over a fire and eaten with bitter herbs and yeast-free bread. The bitter herbs reminded them of the bitterness of slavery. The unleavened bread reminded them that on that first Pass Over night the Israelites did not have time to let the bread dough rise before baking it. God acted speedily that night. Added to this, they were to eat the meal dressed and ready to head out for the night. Their cloaks were to be tucked into their belts and their sandals were to be tied and ready. Their staff was to be at the ready. They were to be ready to run out of the door. It
was a special meal for generations to come that pictured in graphic detail what God had done for them that very first Pass Over night.
Have you ever wondered why we eat the Lord’s Supper together in churches? Like the Passover meal, it would be very easy to allow this meal to become a ritual that we just sit through and endure. But like the Pass Over, the Lord’s Supper meal reminds us of something. When Jesus took the bread and broke it, he said, ‘This is my body, do this in remembrance of me’. When you eat the Lord’s Supper you are remembering that Jesus died on the cross wearing the wrath of God that you deserved. You are effectively praising Him and thanking Him for that sacrifice. The way you approach that supper is really between you and God. You can sit idly by and roll your eyes and grimace about everything. You can be uninvolved or disengaged. Or you can engage with God and pour out your heartfelt thanks to Him. You can reflect deeply on what Jesus did for you personally on that night. You can allow the broken bread to draw you closer to God through Christ. It’s really the same with every blessing the Lord gives us isn’t it? We can open our arms wide and be blessed or we can stand by hard hearted and remain at arm’s length. Choose today how you will approach God and His blessings.
Prayer:
Think about Jesus’ last week on this planet, up to and including his death and resurrection. How does that lead you to adoration, confession and thanks? Jot down some thoughts and get praying.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Spend time praying for the salvation of 3 other people you know. Ask God to grant them repentance and faith.
¨ Spend time praying for an open heart and caring heart towards the poor and needy in your town. Pray that this attitude would be granted to others in your church as well.
Read Exodus 12:7-11
There’s something special about a roast meal together with family. Each and every year when Israel celebrated her New Year she was to eat roast lamb in a very special way. The meal was symbolic of all that the Lord had done for them. Families were to celebrate together, in gratitude for the Lord’s Salvation.
The meat was to be roasted over a fire and eaten with bitter herbs and yeast-free bread. The bitter herbs reminded them of the bitterness of slavery. The unleavened bread reminded them that on that first Pass Over night the Israelites did not have time to let the bread dough rise before baking it. God acted speedily that night. Added to this, they were to eat the meal dressed and ready to head out for the night. Their cloaks were to be tucked into their belts and their sandals were to be tied and ready. Their staff was to be at the ready. They were to be ready to run out of the door. It
was a special meal for generations to come that pictured in graphic detail what God had done for them that very first Pass Over night.
Have you ever wondered why we eat the Lord’s Supper together in churches? Like the Passover meal, it would be very easy to allow this meal to become a ritual that we just sit through and endure. But like the Pass Over, the Lord’s Supper meal reminds us of something. When Jesus took the bread and broke it, he said, ‘This is my body, do this in remembrance of me’. When you eat the Lord’s Supper you are remembering that Jesus died on the cross wearing the wrath of God that you deserved. You are effectively praising Him and thanking Him for that sacrifice. The way you approach that supper is really between you and God. You can sit idly by and roll your eyes and grimace about everything. You can be uninvolved or disengaged. Or you can engage with God and pour out your heartfelt thanks to Him. You can reflect deeply on what Jesus did for you personally on that night. You can allow the broken bread to draw you closer to God through Christ. It’s really the same with every blessing the Lord gives us isn’t it? We can open our arms wide and be blessed or we can stand by hard hearted and remain at arm’s length. Choose today how you will approach God and His blessings.
Prayer:
Think about Jesus’ last week on this planet, up to and including his death and resurrection. How does that lead you to adoration, confession and thanks? Jot down some thoughts and get praying.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Spend time praying for the salvation of 3 other people you know. Ask God to grant them repentance and faith.
¨ Spend time praying for an open heart and caring heart towards the poor and needy in your town. Pray that this attitude would be granted to others in your church as well.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Tuesday September 25, 2012
Do you have a recurring sin in your life?
Ring a mature Christian today and talk about it over coffee.
Read Exodus 12:3-6
My children get upset every time I suggest we have chicken for dinner - not just any chicken but one of the four fat hens out back that give us eggs each day. It’s not that they like eggs. I‘m the only egg eater in this household. They simply don’t want to eat their pets. I totally understand - but I still have fun teasing them.
The Paschal Lamb that was chosen and offered as a sacrifice to God was to function in the same way. That lamb was to be a part of the family from the 10th day of the month until the 14th day. The family was to feed it, care for it and tend to it in a special way. It was not to be among the other sheep, aimlessly wandering around the paddock.
The Paschal Lamb allowed each family to realise that there was a real cost to their redemption. It took the death of the beloved lamb to be freed. I wonder if you and I have come to that same point with our own redemption from sin. Do we realise the real cost for Jesus to redeem us from evil and sin? Can we genuinely weep knowing that it was our sin that drove the one we love, Jesus, to the cross to die in our place. Does our heart ache as we contemplate the price Jesus paid for us to be set free from the power of sin?
It’s only when we can truly experience the pain of knowing that Jesus, the one we love, has paid the price in full that we will willingly and joyously lay down the sin in our lives. When we internalise that truth and receive it by faith and love then and only then will our passions and longings strive for holiness and push sin and sinful desires away.
If you have recurring sin in your life (which most of us do) the answer is not in trying harder. Neither is it in giving up and simply accepting that sin as normal and unescapable. We need to spend time in the Word, meditating deeply and constantly on the price that Jesus paid for us. We need to feel the pain of Jesus’ suffering and His immense love for us deep in our bowels so that this love washes over us and changes us from the inside out. We need to open ourselves to Christ and let Him bring the deep motivation to change.
Are you open to Christ? Do you experience His love daily? Do you sit in His presence regularly and thank Him deeply for that love?
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on what God has done for you through Christ Jesus at Calvary.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray for those churches in your area in which the Gospel seems to take a low priority. Ask God to motivate them to put the Word of God and the gospel as the number one priority. Pray that we would see more and more congregations getting excited about the gospel and going to great lengths to get it out into the local community, the nation and the world.
¨ Pray that our cell leaders would be equipped to lead, to teach and to pastorally care for the people in their cell. Pray that more people in the congregation would enter in a cell group.
Ring a mature Christian today and talk about it over coffee.
Read Exodus 12:3-6
My children get upset every time I suggest we have chicken for dinner - not just any chicken but one of the four fat hens out back that give us eggs each day. It’s not that they like eggs. I‘m the only egg eater in this household. They simply don’t want to eat their pets. I totally understand - but I still have fun teasing them.
The Paschal Lamb that was chosen and offered as a sacrifice to God was to function in the same way. That lamb was to be a part of the family from the 10th day of the month until the 14th day. The family was to feed it, care for it and tend to it in a special way. It was not to be among the other sheep, aimlessly wandering around the paddock.
The Paschal Lamb allowed each family to realise that there was a real cost to their redemption. It took the death of the beloved lamb to be freed. I wonder if you and I have come to that same point with our own redemption from sin. Do we realise the real cost for Jesus to redeem us from evil and sin? Can we genuinely weep knowing that it was our sin that drove the one we love, Jesus, to the cross to die in our place. Does our heart ache as we contemplate the price Jesus paid for us to be set free from the power of sin?
It’s only when we can truly experience the pain of knowing that Jesus, the one we love, has paid the price in full that we will willingly and joyously lay down the sin in our lives. When we internalise that truth and receive it by faith and love then and only then will our passions and longings strive for holiness and push sin and sinful desires away.
If you have recurring sin in your life (which most of us do) the answer is not in trying harder. Neither is it in giving up and simply accepting that sin as normal and unescapable. We need to spend time in the Word, meditating deeply and constantly on the price that Jesus paid for us. We need to feel the pain of Jesus’ suffering and His immense love for us deep in our bowels so that this love washes over us and changes us from the inside out. We need to open ourselves to Christ and let Him bring the deep motivation to change.
Are you open to Christ? Do you experience His love daily? Do you sit in His presence regularly and thank Him deeply for that love?
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on what God has done for you through Christ Jesus at Calvary.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray for those churches in your area in which the Gospel seems to take a low priority. Ask God to motivate them to put the Word of God and the gospel as the number one priority. Pray that we would see more and more congregations getting excited about the gospel and going to great lengths to get it out into the local community, the nation and the world.
¨ Pray that our cell leaders would be equipped to lead, to teach and to pastorally care for the people in their cell. Pray that more people in the congregation would enter in a cell group.
Monday, 24 September 2012
Monday September 24, 2012
What are your plans for New Year’s Eve this year?
Plan something more godly than drunken revelry.
Read Exodus 12:1-2
Aussies love to party. Any excuse is a good excuse to party. And perhaps the biggest partying is reserved for New Year’s Eve, especially the ones with special meaning like the bicentennial New Year. Several hundred thousand people gathered around Sydney Harbour that year to celebrate and to watch the fire works and to party, drink and celebrate.
Though God hates drunkenness and alcohol fuelled violence, He called His people to celebrate, especially every new year. Israel was called to rejoice and celebrate each and every single year in remembrance of what God had done. Over 400 years ago God made a promise to Abram (later called Abraham) and entered into a covenant with Him. A covenant is a special relational bond that is sealed in blood and with certain legal and life threatening conditions for its breach. Over the next 400 years Abraham’s descendants ended up in Egypt (that’s the story of Genesis 12-50). They increased in number and eventually became slaves of Pharaoh. For centuries they cried out to God and now He heard them. As you read Exodus 1-11 you see how God powerfully and miraculously defeated Pharaoh, Ra on Earth, and brought Israel out of Egypt. God knocked Pharaoh to the canvas in a 10 round fight.
Each year Israel was to celebrate her freedom, her formation as a nation and pay homage to the God who had freed them and formed them.
We still have a party hard mentality in Australia and in some ways Christians are no different. But wouldn’t it be great if Christians used times like the New Year to remember what God has done in their lives, to pay homage to Him and to give Him the glory. Rather than waking up with a hangover, a headache and blurred vision, we might wake up with a smile, with driving passion and irremovable joy in our hearts. Hmm, is it worth trading in in partying for remembering God? You try it and you decide!
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on what God has done in you through Christ Jesus.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Ask the Lord to bring great blessing to the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar. Pray that they would have the resources needed to continue teaching students and equipping them to minister the gospel. Pray that we would continue to hear of God’s good work and grace poured out to many.
¨ Pray that Mustard Seed Orphanage in Myanmar would also be equipped and stocked with enough resources to continue helping, supporting and training up orphans, widows and disabled people in their distress. Pray that God would be glorified through their ministry.
Plan something more godly than drunken revelry.
Read Exodus 12:1-2
Aussies love to party. Any excuse is a good excuse to party. And perhaps the biggest partying is reserved for New Year’s Eve, especially the ones with special meaning like the bicentennial New Year. Several hundred thousand people gathered around Sydney Harbour that year to celebrate and to watch the fire works and to party, drink and celebrate.
Though God hates drunkenness and alcohol fuelled violence, He called His people to celebrate, especially every new year. Israel was called to rejoice and celebrate each and every single year in remembrance of what God had done. Over 400 years ago God made a promise to Abram (later called Abraham) and entered into a covenant with Him. A covenant is a special relational bond that is sealed in blood and with certain legal and life threatening conditions for its breach. Over the next 400 years Abraham’s descendants ended up in Egypt (that’s the story of Genesis 12-50). They increased in number and eventually became slaves of Pharaoh. For centuries they cried out to God and now He heard them. As you read Exodus 1-11 you see how God powerfully and miraculously defeated Pharaoh, Ra on Earth, and brought Israel out of Egypt. God knocked Pharaoh to the canvas in a 10 round fight.
Each year Israel was to celebrate her freedom, her formation as a nation and pay homage to the God who had freed them and formed them.
We still have a party hard mentality in Australia and in some ways Christians are no different. But wouldn’t it be great if Christians used times like the New Year to remember what God has done in their lives, to pay homage to Him and to give Him the glory. Rather than waking up with a hangover, a headache and blurred vision, we might wake up with a smile, with driving passion and irremovable joy in our hearts. Hmm, is it worth trading in in partying for remembering God? You try it and you decide!
Prayer:
As you engage in adoration, confession and thanksgiving focus on what God has done in you through Christ Jesus.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Ask the Lord to bring great blessing to the Reformed Bible College in Myanmar. Pray that they would have the resources needed to continue teaching students and equipping them to minister the gospel. Pray that we would continue to hear of God’s good work and grace poured out to many.
¨ Pray that Mustard Seed Orphanage in Myanmar would also be equipped and stocked with enough resources to continue helping, supporting and training up orphans, widows and disabled people in their distress. Pray that God would be glorified through their ministry.
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Saturday September 22, 2012
How can you change from wishing to hoping as a biblical concept?
Read Exodus 31:12-18, Matt 11:28-30
What do you hope for? What do you hope in? We tend to use the word “hope” as a synonym for “wish”. We teach our children to wish upon a star or to blow a flower and to make a wish or to blow out the candles on the cake and make a wish. We say that we wish/hope that things work out, hoping and wishing that we might gain some fortuitous stroke of luck or we hope/wish to win lotto, knowing it probably won’t happen.
The Sabbath rest functions as a source of hope. It serves as an eternal sign showing us or pointing us to the ideal which is just ahead. The ideal rest (pictured by God in the unadulterated Garden of Eden) is the goal of God’s creation. All creation is headed towards that rest. Some will enter it and, unfortunately some won’t!
Our Sabbath rest is a foretaste of that rest. If we enjoy God’s Sabbath and rest in Him weekly we will be more apt to know the hope to which we are called. If we give God one hour a week and are distracted and concerned by other things throughout that hour then our hope will be whimsical and we’ll have nothing to hold onto. Without the hope of God to hold onto, everything else becomes more attractive. Of course I’ll play Lotto each week if I have no hope in God. Of course I’ll drown my anxieties in alcohol or perverted sexuality if I’ve never tasted or experienced the hope of God on a regular basis.
Jesus, the Messiah is the fulfilment of the Sabbath rest. All who are weary can come to him for rest, for shalom. Are you weary from the world? Are you weary from fighting the world? Are you tired and worn out from carrying financial burdens, responsibilities and heartache? Come to Christ and find rest for your soul. Come to Christ and exchange your burden for his light and easy yoke. Come to Him and taste his eternal rest.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration and confession and thanks.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Are you carrying some burden? Tell God about it. Pour your heart out to Him and let Him know about it. Spend time telling God about your burden and take His yoke in exchange. Cry out to Him. He will never turn you away!
¨ Pray for our brothers and sisters in Mexico who carry a daily burden. In a country run by drug cartels and drug lords believers live a tenuous life. Pray that God would take their burdens and carry them, as on wings like eagles. Pray that they would soar and be able to rise up sin, temptation and the evil and wickedness around them. Ask God to powerfully use their testimony to bring many to Christ.
Read Exodus 31:12-18, Matt 11:28-30
What do you hope for? What do you hope in? We tend to use the word “hope” as a synonym for “wish”. We teach our children to wish upon a star or to blow a flower and to make a wish or to blow out the candles on the cake and make a wish. We say that we wish/hope that things work out, hoping and wishing that we might gain some fortuitous stroke of luck or we hope/wish to win lotto, knowing it probably won’t happen.
The Sabbath rest functions as a source of hope. It serves as an eternal sign showing us or pointing us to the ideal which is just ahead. The ideal rest (pictured by God in the unadulterated Garden of Eden) is the goal of God’s creation. All creation is headed towards that rest. Some will enter it and, unfortunately some won’t!
Our Sabbath rest is a foretaste of that rest. If we enjoy God’s Sabbath and rest in Him weekly we will be more apt to know the hope to which we are called. If we give God one hour a week and are distracted and concerned by other things throughout that hour then our hope will be whimsical and we’ll have nothing to hold onto. Without the hope of God to hold onto, everything else becomes more attractive. Of course I’ll play Lotto each week if I have no hope in God. Of course I’ll drown my anxieties in alcohol or perverted sexuality if I’ve never tasted or experienced the hope of God on a regular basis.
Jesus, the Messiah is the fulfilment of the Sabbath rest. All who are weary can come to him for rest, for shalom. Are you weary from the world? Are you weary from fighting the world? Are you tired and worn out from carrying financial burdens, responsibilities and heartache? Come to Christ and find rest for your soul. Come to Christ and exchange your burden for his light and easy yoke. Come to Him and taste his eternal rest.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration and confession and thanks.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Are you carrying some burden? Tell God about it. Pour your heart out to Him and let Him know about it. Spend time telling God about your burden and take His yoke in exchange. Cry out to Him. He will never turn you away!
¨ Pray for our brothers and sisters in Mexico who carry a daily burden. In a country run by drug cartels and drug lords believers live a tenuous life. Pray that God would take their burdens and carry them, as on wings like eagles. Pray that they would soar and be able to rise up sin, temptation and the evil and wickedness around them. Ask God to powerfully use their testimony to bring many to Christ.
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