March | 2012 | Reflections of a New Creation

Focusing on 1 Kings 4-5
The beginning of Solomon’s reign gives so much hope
There is peace in the land
Solomon has great wisdom
Solomon has great foreign relations with other nations
Solomon has a great cabinet for his government
And Solomon makes abundant provisions to build the Temple of God
In so many ways, Solomon looks like the answer to God’s promise to David for a glorious eternal reign

How Points to Christ

But, as we will see, Solomon began well, but ended poorly
After Solomon, the kingdom quickly declines
And in the NT, Jesus Himself says, someone much greater than Solomon is here
Jesus is David’s Greater Son, the Promised Davidic King whose reign will greatly surpass the reign of David and Solomon

Apply

Please pray that I would constantly point people to Jesus
It is so easy to get excited about earthly representations of Jesus
It is easy to focus more on the good qualities of these people, like Solomon, which is good
But, what is better is to use these earthly representatives of Jesus to point people to Jesus
Someone Greater than Solomon is in Jesus – we are to worship and follow Jesus
Please pray that this would be true in my life
And please pray that as I pastor, that I would point people to follow Jesus, not me

Read Full Post »

March 30 – Prayer for the World and Unreached

Posted in Evangelism, Prayer on March 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

May God increase our desire for His glory to spread to all nations and peoples – Operation World. and Joshua Project!

Unreached of the Day

Please pray for the …

Tatar of Russia

Population: 5,492,000

Language: Tatar

Religion: Islam

Evangelical: 0.04%

For more details…

Read Full Post »

March 29- Exodus 10-11, 1 Kings 3, Psalm 97, Luke 12:1-21

Posted in Devotions on March 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Bible Reading Commitment, Encouragement, and Challenge

March 29- Exodus 10-11, 1 Kings 3, Psalm 97, Luke 12:1-21

Observe with some (Interpretation in Parentheses)

Focusing on Luke 12:1-21
The parable of the rich fool was extremely relevant for Jesus’ day and for our day filled with secularism and materialism
Jesus says, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
(This reality is so contrary to the deceptions of our modern day consumeristic world)
(Advertisements and marketing often seek to work on people’s covetousness, trying to show that the enjoyment of life does consist in the abundance of our possessions)
(Will we believe the world or Jesus?)
The parable of the rich fools gives perspective
No matter how many possessions on has or seeks to acquire, death is always knocking on our door
We have no idea when death takes us (the majority of deaths in this world are not expected)
We take none of our possessions with us at death
(Working hard and earning wealth and having possessions is not bad – but coveting and not being rich toward God and those whom God created in His image is bad)

How Points to Christ

God is the richest giver – giving us the gift of His Son
God has been rich toward us, calling us to reflect His character by being rich to Him and others

Apply

Please pray that I would fight coveting in all forms (not just material possessions, but coveting the size and beauty of another person’s church, or the size of the congregation)
Life and ministry are not about our kingdom – it is all about God’s Kingdom
Many times, we need to give our best people for the spread of God’s Kingdom to the nations
Please pray that I would be characterized by being rich toward God and other people

Read Full Post »

March 29 – Prayer for the World and Unreached

Posted in Evangelism, Prayer on March 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

May God increase our desire for His glory to spread to all nations and peoples – Operation World. and Joshua Project!

Unreached of the Day

Please pray for the …

Vakkaliga of India

Population: 5,884,000

Language: Kannada

Religion: Hinduism

Evangelical: 0.00%

For more details…

Read Full Post »

March 28- Exodus 9, 1 Kings 2, Psalm 96, Luke 11:27-54

Posted in Devotions on March 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Bible Reading Commitment, Encouragement, and Challenge

March 28- Exodus 9, 1 Kings 2, Psalm 96, Luke 11:27-54

Observe with some (Interpretation in Parentheses)

Focusing on Psalm 96
God is worthy to be worshiped and sung about in all the earth
God is the only one who brings true salvation
God is the only great Lord, greatly to be praised and greatly to be feared above all gods
All the other gods of all peoples are worthless idols
None of them created the heavens and the earth
Given the uniqueness and greatness of the One True God, we ought to worship Him
And we ought to open our mouth to declare His greatness

How Points to Christ

God’s great salvation leads to the glory and greatness of His Son Jesus Christ
The Unique Son of God who lived the perfect life, died the substitutionary, sacrificial death, and who was the Only One who conquered sin and death through resurrecting from the dead in victory

Apply

If I lived my life regularly meditating on the greatness and glory of God – how would my life change?
Everything would change!
Selfish ambition and pride would be gone
Evangelism would be constantly on my mind and heart to declare the greatness of God to others
Please pray that I would meditate on the majesty and glory and strength and greatness of God all throughout the day!

Read Full Post »

March 28 – Prayer for the World and Unreached

Posted in Evangelism, Prayer on March 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

May God increase our desire for His glory to spread to all nations and peoples – Operation World. and Joshua Project!

Unreached of the Day

Please pray for the …

Naxi of China

Population: 309,000

Language: Naxi

Religion: Ethnic Religions

Evangelical: 0.07%

For more details…

Read Full Post »

March 27- Exodus 8, 1 Kings 1, Psalm 95, Luke 11:1-26

Posted in Devotions on March 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Bible Reading Commitment, Encouragement, and Challenge

March 27- Exodus 8, 1 Kings 1, Psalm 95, Luke 11:1-26

Observe with some (Interpretation in Parentheses)

Focusing on Luke 11:1-26
Everybody prays
The question is whether our prayer is consistent with God’s desires and whether it will be answered or not
In Luke, Jesus teaches us not a formula for certain prayer, but principles for prayer that exalts God
The glory of God the Father must be our ultimate aim and motivation for prayer
In wanting God to be glorified, it naturally progresses that we want God’s Kingdom to be magnified
The glory of God’s Kingdom is that He provides all we need, especially the forgiveness of sins and freedom from the power of sin to no longer live for the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of self, but to live for the Kingdom of God
So consistent with God’s will, after praying for God’s name to be hallowed and glorified, and for God’s Kingdom to come, we pray for daily provision, the forgiveness of sins (and forgiving others as a natural implication), and help amidst temptation
(God delights in prayer and delights to answer prayer)
As earthly fathers give good gifts to their children, how much more will God
But notice the difference in verse 13 – God defines the greatest gift He will give to His children who ask
(Not whatever “good” gift we think is good for our lives)
But the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

How Points to Christ

Prayer to God the Father is only possible through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection
The Holy Spirit’s role is to keep pointing us to Christ

Apply

Please pray that I would grow in praying God-exalting prayers, so that I would grow in praying with faith that God will answer
And please pray that I would discipline myself to set aside time to pray and grow in daily dependence on God to have a lifestyle of unceasing prayer

Read Full Post »