One of the most powerful prayer is found in the Lord's prayer. It is Your kingdom come, Your will be done.
When we pray for the lost, we know that God is smiling on us. He is pleased as we are aligning our will with His. Praying for the lost is endorsed by God. Reaching out to the lost is an activity blessed by God.
Sharing Christ with others is the most joyful experience. Whether or not they receive Jesus is another matter but the fact that you gave them a chance to hear the Good News you are being a blessing to them.
Many people in this world do not have a chance to know Jesus. It is an awful thing to live this life and yet not having the chance to hear about the Gospel. I thank God for the chance to hear the Gospel and to respond to it! I thank God for the group of Uni mates who never gave up on me despite my stubborn and rebellious nature.
2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance"
God is not willing that any should perish. The word is "any" even the most hard-core unbeliever, even the most idolatrous, even the most stubborn and rebellious!
God needs us to soften their hearts through our prayers!
Praying for the lost is in God's heart. When we pray God's heart, God hears.
1 John 5:14-15 "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him"
There are 4 reasons to pray for the lost:
1. Because of God's love
2. Because it's God's will
3. Because Jesus and Paul prayed for the lost
4. Because the prayer for the lost has great impact
1. Because of God's love
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
God's love has reached out to us. Let us reach out to others with that same love.
I was from a very staunch Buddhist background. In Penang, I would go to the biggest temple with the sleeping Buddha and participate in the Buddhist rituals which included chanting and marching around the temple. Even the priest at the temple knew me and my family. During exam times, I would write my exam time table and place slips of paper behind the Buddha hoping for blessings.
I was also into the occult reading books like astral traveling and even writing to Lobsang Rampa, a Tibetan monk. He even replied my letters.
Now I realize that all these are lies, deceit and falsehood. However at that time I was genuinely searching for God. From my experience, I realize that those who seek Him will find Him when they search for Him with all their hearts.
In the University, a group of dedicated Christian sisters started what they call a buddy system, where a senior befriended a junior not just to tell us about Jesus but also to see how they can help us settle down to university life in anyway.
Gradually I saw the love that they had for me. It was a genuine love. One of them in particular had such gentleness of character that I really wanted to be like her. At that time I did not know it but she was reflecting the love of Christ to me!
I searched for God. One day while in church, I just prayed a prayer to this unknown God asking if there is such a God and if all these things that the Christians are saying to me are true, then please reveal yourself to me as I cannot reach you being so deep in idolatry and sin. Suddenly I felt a presence flood me from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. It was the awesome presence of God. I spoke in tongues for the first time.
I looked around and saw everyone with the love of God. I heard a voice telling me that everything I had heard was true and that God did die for my sins and that Jesus would come again for me one day. This was the love of God and it flooded my heart. I believed.
How did I receive the love of God? Who is the love of God? Is the love of God a person?
I received this love by faith and through prayer. The love of God is a person. He is the Holy Spirit and He is REAL.
Rom 5:5 "Because hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us"
It is because of this love that I am able to love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. With this love which I love God with, I can love my neighbor - Matt 22:37-40
The word 'neighbor' means pleison in Greek. It means someone close by and refers to people we know. Using the prayer card write down the names of people to pray for their salvation.
In my card, I have 6 names, 3 of which have come to Christ and 2 have said they will think about what I have shared. I am waiting to witness to the last person!
There is no need to write down names of people whom we do not know but focus on those who are close by, those whom we know! Write their names in the prayer card and pray for them daily. God will move on our behalf!
"To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them" - John Calvin
This interesting devotion question was discussed during the first day of the camp and the answers were interesting. Duly compiled checklist:
I know I am following Jesus:
1. What others say about me - 1 Cor 11:1
Can I say to others follow me as I follow Christ? What will others say about me when they see me? Follow this person as it is evidenced from her life that she is following Christ.
2. Consistency in prayer and the word of God - Ps 1:2
I know I am truly following Jesus when I have a consistent prayer life and a spend time consistently in the word of God. If I say that I am His follower but my Bible is hardly touched and I hardly fellowship with Him but spend time on the computer or watching TV then I cannot truly say I am a follower of Jesus.
3. Peace in the midst of storms/difficulties - Is 26:3
It is not that a follower of Jesus has no problems. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all - Ps 34:13.
Problems we may have but the important thing is not to focus on the problems but to keep our eyes on Jesus.
4. Thankful heart (no matter what we are going through) - 1 Thess 5:18
In everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. No matter what we are going through, no matter how hard the experience, no matter how bitter we are - learn to give thanks! This is the mark of a follower of Jesus.
5. Make a stand/set the boundaries - Matt 6:33
A follower of Christ is not a follower of men. A follower of Christ fears God more than he fears man. Thus I make it a point to make a stand with it comes to church meetings. I informed my boss that I need to go back early on weekdays to attend prayer meeting and life group. I also text her when I am on leave to attend church events so that she will not disturb me with her whatsapp messages.
6. Treat others well (do not be mean with our words and actions) - Eph 4:32
Christianity is practical. A truly Christ like person is not mean with their words. A truly Christ like person is gentle and kind toward others. A follower of Jesus will not show their power or authority toward the powerless or try to lord it over them. A follower of Christ will try to treat others well and with humility.
7. Heart for souls - Prov 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise"
Jesus said follow me and I will make you fishers of me. Thus a clear mark of a follower is one who has a heart for souls. Have you lost your passion for souls? Ask God to restore it to you!
Remembering the vision God gave me of my good friend standing before God sitting on His judgment seat and the question that was asked of her, I realize that I need to make souls and disciple-making my life consuming passion and mission!
The more I read the Psalms, the more God has given me understanding of this thing called 'wickedness'.
What is wickedness? Is it a person or a thing or a group of persons or a spirit or a cluster of demonic hosts?
The Psalms makes mention of wickedness countless of times. Psalms 10 gives me some idea.
Wickedness is a character flaw that resides in the heart of man. I believe that when it comes in a cluster, it is a spirit. Psalms 10 tells me that wickedness has many friends:
1. Pride - v2
2. Persecution - v2
3. Greedy -v3
4. Renounces God - v3
5. Does not seek God - v4
6. Cursing - v7
7. Deceitful - v7
8. Oppressive - v7
9. Troubling others - v7
10. Murderous - 8
Wickedness is a cluster or consists of a group of the above. A person who displays some of the above qualities or all of the above is a wicked person.
I personally know people who are like this. In the office, they make life miserable for others. They write all sorts of emails scolding others, condemning people, putting others down, oppressing those who are weak and trampling down others with their words. Sometimes they come in a group all displaying signs of wickedness in their behavior and actions.
A sure sign of wickedness in a person is PRIDE!
As long as we are in this world, we cannot escape from being harassed or oppressed by this spirit.
Thank God that Psalms 10 has a way out. The helpless are troubled by wickedness. Even children of God suffer from the hands of the wicked but there is a way out for them:
1. Commit to God the actions of the wicked - v14
2. Seek God's help against wickedness - v14
3. Pray against wickedness until we find none (destroy the works of the wicked through prayer) - v15
4. Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God - v17
My favorite verse is v17:
"Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause Your ear to hear"
God hears me even before I pray especially when my heart is humble. God gives me the prayer to pray from a heart of humility. More than that, God will hear such prayers even if they are not mouthed!
We serve an excellent God!
This is a sure declaration which is undeniable and is repeated twice in this Psalm as though the emphasis can never be enough:
Ps 8:1 "O Lord, our Lord, How excellent your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!"
Ps 8:9 "O Lord, our Lord, How excellent Your name is in all the earth!"
The word "excellent" here means addiyr in Hebrew. It means powerful, gallant, famous, glorious, mighty, noble, worthy.
The "name" here means shem which carries the idea of being in a conspicuous position, individuality, character, renown.
Why is God's name described as excellent in all the earth?
He is excellent in creation:
1. He created babes and nursing infants - v2
Is there any scientist in this world who can create another human being even with cloning and all the latest scientific discoveries? Man can never make man. They may have discovered the science of test tube babies but God still has to do the creating of babies and nursing infants, bringing together the sperm and the egg!
2. He created the heavens, the moon and the stars - v3
Is there any science in the world who can create the galaxies, the stars, the milky way, the black hole, the constellations, the planets? Is there any science in the world who can create the moon and the sun to give light to the world by day and by night?
This is why His name is excellent in all the earth!
3. He created the sheep and the oxen, the beasts of the field on the earth - v 7
No science can create the animals on the earth out of nothing. Even cloning requires cells of animals!
4. He created the birds of the air, the fish of the sea that passes through the paths of the seas - v 8
No science can create the birds flying in the air or the fish that swim under the sea. Where was man when God created the corals, the underwater world, the seabed?
I really love this verse which mentions the "paths of the seas". God made the seabed and the things that reside at the bottom of the bottomest part of the great oceans even the parts of the seabed where no man has ever walked.
I remember my friends who love deep sea diving. No wonder they love it so much. It must be very beautiful down there.
Once I described to my friend who is an avid diver, the beauty of the underwater seaworld, the corals, the fishes that swim by and I even described to her the absolute silence and stillness of the seaworld until my friend was shocked and asked me "have you gone deep sea diving?"
I said "No, but I have deep dived with God into the depths of His awesome presence where is great stillness, great peace and great rest. There I hear His still small voice drowning out all other voices. My heart is absolutely still and quiet in the depths of His love.Believe me it is more beautiful than the beautiful diving spots of the world you have ever been to. If only you can experience it too!"
This is why I believe with all my heart that God knows where MH370 is. If it is under the ocean and resting in the deepest part of the ocean floor, God sees it.
5. God's greatest creation is still man! - v5
Although man is "made a little lower than the angels", God has honored him in this manner:
- being mindful of him - v5
- crowned him with glory and honor - v5
- given him dominion over the works of God's hands - v 6
- put all things under his feet - v 6
It's simply wonderful to be a creation of God with so much care, attention and empowerment from God! A humbling experience!
God knows our troubles
1. Bones are troubled - v 2 for e.g arthritis, pains, body aches, headaches etc
2. Troubled in our soul - v 3
3. Weariness - v 6
4. Grief - v7
Tears & weeping have a voice - v8 & 9
God hears & delivers - v10
Morning Prayer
What we do:
1. Worship v7
2. Prayer v3
3. Confession of sins - falsehood, deceit, iniquity, pride & boastfulness v5,6 & 7
What we receive:
1. Straight paths v8
2. God's defence v11
3. Favor v12
We win when we cry
1. We cry to God - v4
2. We always WIN when we cry -
- protection v3
- sustenance v 5
- salvation v7
- blessings v8
What to do when we are distressed by others?
1. Call upon God - v1
2. Commit to react in a godly manner - v2
3. Confess our anger toward the person - v3
4. Consciously thank God for the person who hurt us - v5
Here are 3 blessings of being anointed in Christ:
1. Authority in prayer - v8 to v
"Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron,You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel"
2. A right attitude in serving - v11
"Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling"
Serving God is a real joy!
3. A reverential fear of the Lord - v12
"Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him
How to remain godly in an ungodly world?
1. Remain in the company of the godly - v1
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful"
2. Remain in the word of God - v2
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper"
3. Remain in the knowledge that God will deliver us no matter what we go through - v6
"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish"
