29 January - Acts 13:52 ~ God
fills His children with joy
In spite of their persecution (Acts 13:50), the disciples
were filed with joy (Acts 13:52). Joy is the opposite of despair and
despondency.
It was an adequate and timely antidote for their suffering (Acts
13:50). They fact that they were filled with it while under suffering
means
that God gave it to them (see Acts 14:17; 1 Thess. 1:6). It also
means He gave it to them in abundance, more than enough for their suffering.
While enemies persecuted them on account of the gospel (Acts 13:50),
God cushioned off the effect of their persecution by filling them
with
joy (Acts 13:52). This joy enabled them to persevere in the work
of the gospel, in spite of severe suffering. God is with His children
even in suffering. He will never abandon them to despair. This joy
is also available to us today, especially in moments and times of
suffering
on account of the gospel. We all need it in order to overcome the
storms of life and persevere to the end, even to death.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please fill me with your own joy,
as you filled the early disciples.
2. Father, please enable me to be wholly dependent on you always,
even in suffering
30 January - 1 Cor.1: 2 ~ The Church must
be sanctified
This passage describes the Church in Corinth as those
sanctified in Christ (1 Cor. 1:2). This description is quite pertinent.
When some
people think of the Church, they do so in terms of a particular
building or denomination. This is quite wrong. The Church is
not a building
or denomination but those whom Christ has set apart for Himself
on account of their faith in Him (Jn. 1:12-13). Those not so
set apart
do not belong to the Church. True Church membership depends
on
being set apart by Christ on account of one Church, not to
a building or
denomination. This indeed is the true Church. This is the only
right Church to belong to. Anyone who does not belong to this
Church is
not a member of the true Church, his denomination notwithstanding.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please make me a member of the
true Church
2. Father, please take away whatever it is that can keep me
from being a
member of the true Church
31 January - Matt. 1:22-23 ~ Jesus is
God
According to this passage, Prophet Isaiah did not
only foretell the birth of Jesus, he also foretold who He is (Is. 7:14;
Matt. 1:22-23).
Therefore, the one who is born the Christ is Immanuel
or
God with us (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23). He does not become
God after
His
birth, He is born God. The deity of Jesus was a question
of on which they
demanded and insisted on His execution (see Jn. 10 33-38;
cf. Matt. 26:63-67). But with this Scripture and others,
this question
is
answered most conclusively (Matt. 1:22-23; Jn. 1:1-3;
Col. 1:19-20). This
passage
confirms that our Savior Jesus Christ is God, not an
impostor. In Him we do have a legitimate and competent Savior (Acts
4:12).
PRAYER: 1. Lord Jesus, please enable me never to doubt
or question your deity
2. Lord Jesus, please be the
Lord and
God of my life 1 February - Acts 13:52 ~ God fills the disciples with the Holy
Spirit
In the face of severe persecution
(Acts 13:50), God also filled the disciples with
the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52). The filling of the
Holy
Spirit during persecution (Acts 13:50) confirmed God’s presence
with the disciples and enabled them to cope and persevere under it.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is the most appropriate and most sufficient
antidote to suffering. Anyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit can
overcome the most severe trials or persecution. No help can compare
with that of the Holy Spirit when it comes to persevering under suffering.
We all need the filling of the Holy Spirit to overcome persecution
(see Acts 4:5-12; Acts 1:8). We cannot do without His filling, especially
under persecution and suffering. And He is ready, willing, adequate
and an unfailing partner for this purpose (Acts 1:8).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please fill me
with the Holy Spirit
2. Holy Spirit, please be my portion in every situation
2 February - Ps.4:8 ~ God provides safety
According to the Psalmist, God alone
provides safety (Ps. 4:8). The provision of safety
can be done by
Him alone (Ps. 4:8; Ps. 127:1-2).
This means that there is no other reliable or safe source for safety
than the Lord (Ps. 4:8; Ps. 127:1-2). Those who seek safety from someone
or anyone else are not only seeking it from the wrong source but seeking
in vain (Ps. 127:1-2). There can be no safety outside of the Lord (Ps.
127:1-2). All other sources or means of safety are not only illegitimate
but unreliable and impotent (see 1Chron. 16:26). It is true that the
Lord alone can provide safety (Ps. 4:8; Ps. 127:1-2). Anyone who seeks
safety from the Lord seeks it from the right and unfailing source (Ps.
127:1-2).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please give me
your own safety
2. Father, enable me to depend on you alone for my
safety
3 February - Gen. 21:
1-2 ~ God keeps His word
Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was barren(Gen.16:1). The Lord promised
Abraham that Sarah will have a son(Gen.18:10). Both Abraham and Sarah
were old, and Sarah passed the age of childbearing(Gen.18:11). In spite
of their old age(Gen.18:11), God did for Sarah what He promised, at
the exact time He promised it(Gen.21:1- 2). This incident confirms
that God is indeed able to do all things, and nothing is impossible
or too hard for Him(LK.1:37;cf.Gen.18:14). It also confirms that the
Lord keeps all His promises, and none of His promises ever failed(see
Jos.23:14). Therefore, omnipotence and faithfulness are truly His attributes.
We can put all our trust in Him for all our needs without being disappointed(Rom.10:11).
PRAYER: 1. Father, thank you for
all your promises.
2. Father, please let all you destined for me come
to pass.
3. Father, please enable me to put all my trust
in you for all my needs
4 February - 1Cor. 1:2 ~ The
Church must be holy
According to this passage, believers are called holy
(Lev. 11:44-45; Lev. 19:1-2; 1Pet. 1:15-16). Where there is holiness
there is the Church. Where there is no holiness there is no Church.
Holiness is the mark of the true Church. One who is holy is part of
the true Church, but one who is not holy has no part in it (Heb. 12:14).
This characteristic defines not only the Corinthian Church but the
Church everywhere. There is no true Church where this characteristic
is absent. And whoever lacks this attribute lacks a place in the true
Church.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please make me holy unto you
2. Father, please take away from me whatever hinders me from being holy
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