Why do you think God often waits before answering our prayers, keeping us in the storms of life for a while, before he answers our prayers? . Why does he wait until there is humanly speaking no hope or solution for a crisis?
The Bible doesn't tell us. But we do know that God is a God of perfect timing. He waits until just the right time so that we can learn, grow , come closer to him and during this time be educated for our place and roll in his community.
We see this with the Israelites in Egypt. Why did God wait for 300 years before taking His people out of Egypt? He waited until they realized that God was their only hope. He waited until just the right moment.
Deut 8:2-3 and 5 explains this in detail, saying: Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (3) He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (5) Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
The direct route from Egypt to Palestine would take only eleven days by foot. But God took the Israelites a way which took over 40 years.
God waits until just the right moment, because God is teaching us humility and discipline. He is making us more and more into his image and likeness. He teaches us that man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord!
Were you yesterday in church to be fed on the words from the mouth of the Lord!
Will you make time for personal devotions today, and every day, to be fed on the words from the Lord?
May you be blessed when you learn the life changing and life supporting value of personal time with God and of time with God in fellowship with his Church!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tip#6 on Quiet Times: Keep it up, maintain it and put it into practice!
In this, our final devotion about meaningful personal devotions, or quiet times, lets encourage each other to maintain this valuable source of Spiritual motivation and growth. Lets always continue to do this, not forgetting what we heard from God, but while keeping it up, also put into practice what we learn from our God.
James puts it in these words:
James1:23-25: 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
Its easy to deal with our fellowship with God in the same way as someone who looks into a mirror, only to immediately forget what he or she looks like, because we (hopefully) never had the intention to live our lives according to that mirror image. But when we look into God’s mirror during our personal devotions, we need to apply what we see during our daily “spiritual make over”, our quiet times.
1) What we have learned from God about whom we are, what we should be and where we should go, by looking intently into his perfect will for our lives, we must do and apply. This will be the source of our blessings and of accomplishing God’s purpose for us.
2) All relationships have an impact on us. It either makes us depressed and anxious or it motivates us, brings us joy and provides us with the emotional energy with which to continue our lives. As relationships grow and become more intimate and important to us, we depend more and more on them, learn from then and are motivated by them.
Our quiet times bring about a closer and more meaningful relationship with our God. As we worship, listen, pray and learn, we become more dependent on God to live purposeful and satisfying lives. We become dependent on our special, personal time with God. Eventually we will not be able to imagine taking on life’s challenges and our calling, without our exceptional times of fellowship with God.
3) But then we must understand the importance of concentration, discipline and perseverance. We must in a disciplined way, intently, look into the mirror of God’s will and plan every day, and not be sidetracked or tempted to neglect our relationship with our Saviour. Even under pressure of daily responsibilities, we have to persevere in seeking communion, yes communication, with our God!
Tip#6 on quiet times is then, prayerfully depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to maintain your quiet times and to put into practice what you learn during these personal devotions.
If you resolve to do this, and prayerfully expect God to help you to do so, you will enrich your life, grow in your love-relationship with God, find meaning and purpose, serve God better and with more fruit and live a life that brings glory to his Name. We will be blessed in whatever we do.
May God help us to seek his face, do his will and live in an intimate, personal relationship with him!
James puts it in these words:
James1:23-25: 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
Its easy to deal with our fellowship with God in the same way as someone who looks into a mirror, only to immediately forget what he or she looks like, because we (hopefully) never had the intention to live our lives according to that mirror image. But when we look into God’s mirror during our personal devotions, we need to apply what we see during our daily “spiritual make over”, our quiet times.
1) What we have learned from God about whom we are, what we should be and where we should go, by looking intently into his perfect will for our lives, we must do and apply. This will be the source of our blessings and of accomplishing God’s purpose for us.
2) All relationships have an impact on us. It either makes us depressed and anxious or it motivates us, brings us joy and provides us with the emotional energy with which to continue our lives. As relationships grow and become more intimate and important to us, we depend more and more on them, learn from then and are motivated by them.
Our quiet times bring about a closer and more meaningful relationship with our God. As we worship, listen, pray and learn, we become more dependent on God to live purposeful and satisfying lives. We become dependent on our special, personal time with God. Eventually we will not be able to imagine taking on life’s challenges and our calling, without our exceptional times of fellowship with God.
3) But then we must understand the importance of concentration, discipline and perseverance. We must in a disciplined way, intently, look into the mirror of God’s will and plan every day, and not be sidetracked or tempted to neglect our relationship with our Saviour. Even under pressure of daily responsibilities, we have to persevere in seeking communion, yes communication, with our God!
Tip#6 on quiet times is then, prayerfully depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to maintain your quiet times and to put into practice what you learn during these personal devotions.
If you resolve to do this, and prayerfully expect God to help you to do so, you will enrich your life, grow in your love-relationship with God, find meaning and purpose, serve God better and with more fruit and live a life that brings glory to his Name. We will be blessed in whatever we do.
May God help us to seek his face, do his will and live in an intimate, personal relationship with him!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Our majestic God cares for us!
According to Psalm 8, for David the majesty of God is especially evident in his vast, marvellous creation. David looks at the sun, moon, and stars, at the birds, fish, and animals and at man. He sees all that God has made and he says:
(Ps 8:1,) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
(Ps 8:4) What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? David asks. "Man" refers to the frail, vulnerable and sinful being made of dust and returns to dust. Compared to the awesome majesty of God, what really is man? Compared to God, man seems to be someone very small and insignificant.
What amazes David, is that our majestic God cares for this small weak creature called man and is mindful of him: remembers him and his needs. It seems inconceivable that the incomparable, invincible God, who has made the heavens and the earth, should be concerned with man. Yet our Lord is. Because God remembers us and what we need, he forgives us our sins by the blood of Christ. He has given us the gifts of salvation, new life, conversion, repentance and faith. He unites us with Christ, sanctifies us and forges us into a community of believers. And he gives us our daily bread.
But, then, what else can we expect of our God? Yes, he is the majestic One, but he is also our LORD and Saviour. To be any other way, would be to deny himself, his character, his person and his name.
What do we want God to believe: when we pray and worship and say thank-you, or when we complain and live ungrateful lives?
Be blessed when you praise, worship and give thanks to our majestic God, saying:
(Ps 8:1) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Why? Because, (Ps 8:4) he remembers us and all our needs and cares for each one of us.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Quiet Times (6): Remember the power of prayer (B)
Powerful prayer means praying in the Spirit.
Tip#5 for our Quiet Times is: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus. We discussed this last week. Today we share more guidelines on the practical implementation of Tip#5, namely that we will only experience powerful prayer in the Name of Jesus, if we pray “in the Spirit”.
Ephesians 6:18: ”And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Jude 20: “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
When we pray in the Name of Jesus, his Holy Spirit inspires and leads us in prayer that God the Father answers.
1) True prayer is prayer in the Spirit, that is, the prayer the Spirit inspires and directs. When we come into God’s presence, we should recognise our ignorance of what we should pray for or how we should pray for it, and in accepting our inability to pray according to God’s will, we should look up to the Holy Spirit, depending on him to direct our prayers, to lead our desires, and to guide our words.
2) When we first come into God’s presence, we should be silent before him. We should look up to him to send his Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray. We must wait for the Holy Spirit and surrender ourselves to the Spirit, then we shall pray according to God’s will.
Christ, our Head, in who’s Name we pray, will teach us how to pray, as he taught the disciples. This happens through the work of the Spirit he sent to guide and inspire us.
3) When we feel least like praying, it is the time when we most need to pray. We should wait quietly before God and tell him how cold and without prayer our hearts are, and look up to him for help, trusting him and expecting him to send the Holy Spirit to warm our hearts, inspiring us to pray.
4) When we wait upon the Spirit to guide us, we will pray with faith, and praying with faith, will make us bold.
In Mark 11:24 Jesus said: “Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Prayer that believes that we received what we prayed, follows our consideration of the Scriptures. We believe that we received, because we ask what the Bible promises and proclaims.
5) Praying boldly in the Spirit requires first of all that we in faith acknowledge our union with Christ. Those who live in the Body of Christ are able to pray in the Spirit – the Spirit that unites us with Jesus and each other.
John 15:7: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you’”.
To remain in Christ, to live in the Body of Christ, is to:
· renounce every thought, every purpose, every desire, every affection of our own, looking day by day and hour by hour for Jesus Christ to shape his thoughts, purposes, affections and desires in us;
· listen to his Word to know and understand his thoughts, purposes, affections and desires;
· pray what we hear to be his thoughts, purposes, affections and desires.
Praying in the Name of Jesus enables us to pray in the Spirit. Our union with Christ, our living in his Body and our relationship with him, ensures that his Spirit that dwells in us, inspires and leads our understanding of his Word, and therefore teaches us to pray.
Now, let all the Tips on Quiet Times come together:
Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
The Holy Spirit will help us to hear God’s voice.
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Quiet down and ensure that God’s message reaches the control centre of your being.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Make your personal devotions a time of fellowship based on both an understanding of what God says and a faith-and-love-relationship with him.
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
Be educated and encouraged for your challenges and calling.
Tip#5: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus!
When we pray in the Name of Jesus, his Holy Spirit inspires and leads us in prayer that God the Father answers.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Do not fall away!
Jesus said that in the end times there is a warning against the falling away of many from living in the Body of Christ, his Church. But there is also a promised harvest!
Matthew 24:13 – 14 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
While both a warning and a promise might seem contradictory, this is not really the case. For as the challenges to be faithful to the Lord increase, many who have but a shallow faith, or no real faith at all, will fall by the wayside. Yet many others, inspired by the true message of Jesus, will be attracted to Him. Opposition and it being tough to be faithful to Christ and his church, will either build or kill your faith.
Not everyone is willing to make the necessary commitment. Even Jesus had a failure in Judas! But Jesus never gave up, even when the disciples were way out of line. Then finally, all were sufficiently 'discipled' to give up their lives for him, first spiritually and finally committing everything to his service.
If you walked away from living in die Body of Christ since the beginning of the year, because it was too hard and asked for too many personal sacrifices, come back before you loose everything - especially your calling, your personalised service, your contribution of love to Christ's work and your own growth as his disciple.
There is not much time left during 2009 to correct our spiritual failures. And the coming of the Lord, is near!
May you be blessed if you return to live and serve wholeheartedly in the redeemed Body of Christ.
Matthew 24:13 – 14 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
While both a warning and a promise might seem contradictory, this is not really the case. For as the challenges to be faithful to the Lord increase, many who have but a shallow faith, or no real faith at all, will fall by the wayside. Yet many others, inspired by the true message of Jesus, will be attracted to Him. Opposition and it being tough to be faithful to Christ and his church, will either build or kill your faith.
Not everyone is willing to make the necessary commitment. Even Jesus had a failure in Judas! But Jesus never gave up, even when the disciples were way out of line. Then finally, all were sufficiently 'discipled' to give up their lives for him, first spiritually and finally committing everything to his service.
If you walked away from living in die Body of Christ since the beginning of the year, because it was too hard and asked for too many personal sacrifices, come back before you loose everything - especially your calling, your personalised service, your contribution of love to Christ's work and your own growth as his disciple.
There is not much time left during 2009 to correct our spiritual failures. And the coming of the Lord, is near!
May you be blessed if you return to live and serve wholeheartedly in the redeemed Body of Christ.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Quiet Times (5) - Remember the power of prayer
Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying, for all the saints.”
A time of personal devotion without prayer, is unthinkable, because
1. Prayer is God’s appointed way to receive from God what we need. The main reason why we lack God’s complete provision, is the neglect of prayer.
2. The holy men and women in the Bible regarded prayer as the most important activity of their lives. Give a prominent place to prayer during your Quiet Times.
3. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important role in the earthly life of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Follow his example.
4. Praying is now the most important part of the ministry of our risen Lord in heaven. Ask Jesus to pray for you.
5. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for us to receive mercy, and obtaining grace to help us in time of need. Remember to ask for mercy – “In your mercy, Lord, hear my prayer.”
6. Prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ is the way he has appointed for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy.
7. Prayer is the means that God has appointed that we may receive freedom from anxiety and the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Just tell him what scares you, makes you anxious and is the challenge you face.
8. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby we will not be overcome by the cares of this life. Tell God about your worries and concerns.
9. Prayer promotes our spiritual growth. It is fellowship with God. Also share with God what makes you happy and excited – thanking him for it.
10. Prayer brings power into our work for him. Ask for the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit.
11. Prayer benefits the needs of others. Name the needs of those who's troubles and challenges are on your heart.
12. Prayer brings blessings to the church. Pray for the congregation you attend, the current agenda points you are aware of, the minister, the elders, all the leaders, members who asked for prayer - by name, for the children and youth ministries and for the outreach where the church is involved.
Pray in the Name of Jesus:
Jesus said: “And I will do whatever you ask in my Name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my Name and I will do it.”
But what do we mean when we say we pray in the Name of Jesus?
It is like going to the bank of heaven when I go to God in prayer. I have nothing deposited there; I have absolutely no credit there, and if I go in my own name, I will get absolutely nothing; but Jesus Christ has unlimited credit in heaven, and he has granted me the privilege of going to the bank in heaven with his Name on my cheques; and when I go, believing I may draw on his credit, not relying on my own goodness, my prayers will be honoured.
Remember Hebrew 10:19 “ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus….”
God is pleased with his Son, Jesus Christ. He always listens to him, and therefore listens to us, if we approach him in Name of his Son. Our prayers become the prayers of Jesus before the Father, when we pray in his Name.
Tips on praying:
· Speak to God respectfully, yet boldly, because you come to him not because you are just, but because Jesus is most holy and the Father loves his Son. Say to the Father: Father I come to you, because I am one with Jesus – please listen to me for his sake.
· Be sincere. Do not try to pray in the words of your spiritual hero’s – just tell God what is on YOUR mind, in the words YOU usually use to speak to your friends.
· Prepare your prayer: Make use of the prayer schedule provided by your church and other Christians. Speak to God about your needs, not forgetting the needs being brought to your attention by the church.
· Pray with the attitude of obedience. Ask from God what you understand to promote his honour, his will and the coming of his kingdom. Pray from your Bible reading journal, reminding God of the promises you came across in Scripture, asking protection as a result of the warnings you noted and answering God about the message you received through considering his Word.
Therefore Tip#5 for our Quiet Times is: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus.
Jesus said: John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you’.
(Next week we have more tips on prayer in the Name of Jesus.)
Have you implemented Tips# 1 – 4 for your Quiet Times yet?
Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
Then now also practice Tip#5: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus!
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying, for all the saints.”
A time of personal devotion without prayer, is unthinkable, because
1. Prayer is God’s appointed way to receive from God what we need. The main reason why we lack God’s complete provision, is the neglect of prayer.
2. The holy men and women in the Bible regarded prayer as the most important activity of their lives. Give a prominent place to prayer during your Quiet Times.
3. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important role in the earthly life of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Follow his example.
4. Praying is now the most important part of the ministry of our risen Lord in heaven. Ask Jesus to pray for you.
5. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for us to receive mercy, and obtaining grace to help us in time of need. Remember to ask for mercy – “In your mercy, Lord, hear my prayer.”
6. Prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ is the way he has appointed for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy.
7. Prayer is the means that God has appointed that we may receive freedom from anxiety and the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Just tell him what scares you, makes you anxious and is the challenge you face.
8. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby we will not be overcome by the cares of this life. Tell God about your worries and concerns.
9. Prayer promotes our spiritual growth. It is fellowship with God. Also share with God what makes you happy and excited – thanking him for it.
10. Prayer brings power into our work for him. Ask for the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit.
11. Prayer benefits the needs of others. Name the needs of those who's troubles and challenges are on your heart.
12. Prayer brings blessings to the church. Pray for the congregation you attend, the current agenda points you are aware of, the minister, the elders, all the leaders, members who asked for prayer - by name, for the children and youth ministries and for the outreach where the church is involved.
Pray in the Name of Jesus:
Jesus said: “And I will do whatever you ask in my Name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my Name and I will do it.”
But what do we mean when we say we pray in the Name of Jesus?
It is like going to the bank of heaven when I go to God in prayer. I have nothing deposited there; I have absolutely no credit there, and if I go in my own name, I will get absolutely nothing; but Jesus Christ has unlimited credit in heaven, and he has granted me the privilege of going to the bank in heaven with his Name on my cheques; and when I go, believing I may draw on his credit, not relying on my own goodness, my prayers will be honoured.
Remember Hebrew 10:19 “ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus….”
God is pleased with his Son, Jesus Christ. He always listens to him, and therefore listens to us, if we approach him in Name of his Son. Our prayers become the prayers of Jesus before the Father, when we pray in his Name.
Tips on praying:
· Speak to God respectfully, yet boldly, because you come to him not because you are just, but because Jesus is most holy and the Father loves his Son. Say to the Father: Father I come to you, because I am one with Jesus – please listen to me for his sake.
· Be sincere. Do not try to pray in the words of your spiritual hero’s – just tell God what is on YOUR mind, in the words YOU usually use to speak to your friends.
· Prepare your prayer: Make use of the prayer schedule provided by your church and other Christians. Speak to God about your needs, not forgetting the needs being brought to your attention by the church.
· Pray with the attitude of obedience. Ask from God what you understand to promote his honour, his will and the coming of his kingdom. Pray from your Bible reading journal, reminding God of the promises you came across in Scripture, asking protection as a result of the warnings you noted and answering God about the message you received through considering his Word.
Therefore Tip#5 for our Quiet Times is: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus.
Jesus said: John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you’.
(Next week we have more tips on prayer in the Name of Jesus.)
Have you implemented Tips# 1 – 4 for your Quiet Times yet?
Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
Then now also practice Tip#5: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Do not quit doing good!
(Gal 6:9) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Whenever we are tempted to do less than our best in God’s work, or we are perhaps tempted to quit worshipping and serving God completely, we ought to remember this verse and the truths that it contains.
Whenever we find ourselves getting tired of or losing enthusiasm for the Lord's work, we need to remember these words.
Don’t quit! Pray not to become weary!
Be blessed with tenacity in working for God!
In preparing yesterday’s sermon, I came across this, from an anonymous writer:
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest pride.
Think big anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway!
Whenever we are tempted to do less than our best in God’s work, or we are perhaps tempted to quit worshipping and serving God completely, we ought to remember this verse and the truths that it contains.
Whenever we find ourselves getting tired of or losing enthusiasm for the Lord's work, we need to remember these words.
Don’t quit! Pray not to become weary!
Be blessed with tenacity in working for God!
In preparing yesterday’s sermon, I came across this, from an anonymous writer:
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest pride.
Think big anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Quiet Times (4): Read the Bible well!
Romans 15:4: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
We are reminded of the wealth of education that the Scriptures contain. Being well versed in what God decided should be revealed to us in his Book, enables us to endure in the race for God’s work. Like an athlete prepares for his challenge, Scripture prepares for the testing of our faith and it remains the only encouragement that ensures that we remain in the hope of God, even under the most severe pressure.
Reading the Bible well will be of great benefit to us.
Therefore Tip#4 for our Quiet Times is: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
While it remains true that our Quiet Times are not for Bible Study, it remains central to our conversation with God, our fellowship with him and our Spiritual growth through meaningful communication with our God to read the Bible well.
It means that we do not just dip into Scripture at random.
Follow a plan. Read through a Gospel, even if it is only about a third of a chapter at a time. One could also read according to many Bible reading rosters that are available; some follow a theme and others are designed to help us to understand the complete message revealed in the whole Bible. This prevents us from reading only from our “favourite” Bible Books or the passages we consider to be “easy”, as this method results in us missing a part of God’s message that will have a great impact on our lives, intervening and guiding us on our way. The point is: be systematic.
It has three benefits:
1. It creates continuity between yesterday, today and tomorrow.
2. It helps you get a fuller picture. When we read at "random" we tend to go to what we know all the time and never expand our horizons.
3. It broadens our general knowledge of God’s Word.
Here follows one method – a simple yet valuable and helpful one:
Read through a gospel (Matt, Mark, Luke or John) at the rate of at least one third of a chapter at a time. Then over two or more weeks read 10 psalms, depending on how long the Psalms are. Then turn to some of Paul's letters, or to Acts, and then go back to one of the gospels.
Once you have covered all of these, start with other books, (remember the Old Testament forms the largest part of our Bible) - but regularly come back to the Gospels, learning from the ministry of Jesus as your central source.
Reading according to a systematic plan is beneficial and builds a good foundation.
Making notes helps to remember what we read, and it deepens the process of reflection and enables considering what God is saying to me.
In your journal, have specific topics under which you note the messages over a period of time. Your Quiet Time journal may have the following “chapters” where you make the various notes:
Statements worth noting.
Warnings.
Promises and prophecies.
Messages that have a profound impact on me and my decisions.
Commands, decrees and instructions.
You end up with a personalised journal that you can go back to, to often find a message, a solution or a promise you really need at the time. This is how we ensure that we are educated and encouraged through the Bible reading during our Quiet Time.
We now covered the following tips on Quiet Times:
Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
The Holy Spirit will help us to hear God’s message!
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Talk to your soul! Quiet down and ensure that God’s message reaches the control centre of your being.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Make your personal devotions a time of fellowship based on good understanding of what God says.
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
Be educated and encouraged for your challenges and calling.
(Thanks to Theo Groeneveld whose devotions on this topic gave very specific direction to the thoughts in this series on Quiet Times).
We are reminded of the wealth of education that the Scriptures contain. Being well versed in what God decided should be revealed to us in his Book, enables us to endure in the race for God’s work. Like an athlete prepares for his challenge, Scripture prepares for the testing of our faith and it remains the only encouragement that ensures that we remain in the hope of God, even under the most severe pressure.
Reading the Bible well will be of great benefit to us.
Therefore Tip#4 for our Quiet Times is: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
While it remains true that our Quiet Times are not for Bible Study, it remains central to our conversation with God, our fellowship with him and our Spiritual growth through meaningful communication with our God to read the Bible well.
It means that we do not just dip into Scripture at random.
Follow a plan. Read through a Gospel, even if it is only about a third of a chapter at a time. One could also read according to many Bible reading rosters that are available; some follow a theme and others are designed to help us to understand the complete message revealed in the whole Bible. This prevents us from reading only from our “favourite” Bible Books or the passages we consider to be “easy”, as this method results in us missing a part of God’s message that will have a great impact on our lives, intervening and guiding us on our way. The point is: be systematic.
It has three benefits:
1. It creates continuity between yesterday, today and tomorrow.
2. It helps you get a fuller picture. When we read at "random" we tend to go to what we know all the time and never expand our horizons.
3. It broadens our general knowledge of God’s Word.
Here follows one method – a simple yet valuable and helpful one:
Read through a gospel (Matt, Mark, Luke or John) at the rate of at least one third of a chapter at a time. Then over two or more weeks read 10 psalms, depending on how long the Psalms are. Then turn to some of Paul's letters, or to Acts, and then go back to one of the gospels.
Once you have covered all of these, start with other books, (remember the Old Testament forms the largest part of our Bible) - but regularly come back to the Gospels, learning from the ministry of Jesus as your central source.
Reading according to a systematic plan is beneficial and builds a good foundation.
Making notes helps to remember what we read, and it deepens the process of reflection and enables considering what God is saying to me.
In your journal, have specific topics under which you note the messages over a period of time. Your Quiet Time journal may have the following “chapters” where you make the various notes:
Statements worth noting.
Warnings.
Promises and prophecies.
Messages that have a profound impact on me and my decisions.
Commands, decrees and instructions.
You end up with a personalised journal that you can go back to, to often find a message, a solution or a promise you really need at the time. This is how we ensure that we are educated and encouraged through the Bible reading during our Quiet Time.
We now covered the following tips on Quiet Times:
Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
The Holy Spirit will help us to hear God’s message!
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Talk to your soul! Quiet down and ensure that God’s message reaches the control centre of your being.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Make your personal devotions a time of fellowship based on good understanding of what God says.
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.
Be educated and encouraged for your challenges and calling.
(Thanks to Theo Groeneveld whose devotions on this topic gave very specific direction to the thoughts in this series on Quiet Times).
Monday, June 1, 2009
Pentecost 2009
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. We desired and prayed for a passionate, powerful Pentecost and the Lord heard our prayers! We, his Chruch, were blessed through our Lord’s presence in praise, worship, prayer, preaching and touched and changed lives. Bring thanks and glory to his Name.
Before Jesus left his disciples and returned to heaven, he promised that he would send them a helper, the Holy Spirit. The word helper means, "one called alongside." He stands beside us to help us. Because of the Spirit, we who are believers in Christ, fight no battles and face no issues alone. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit should and does make a difference in our lives everyday.
A Spirit-filled people proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to a world lost in sin. God makes his gracious, saving voice heard through them.
And a Spirit filled people have the power of God in order to be faithful to their calling:
(Acts 1:8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes ...
This power helps us to lead a victorious Christian life and pursue a life of Christian character. Through the power of the Spirit we are blessed with spiritual fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
May the Lord bless us all with Pentecostal grace!
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