"1 Kings 8:22-9:9
Your heart should be fully committed to the Lord
As Solomon dedicates the temple, he prays to the Lord, ‘There is no God like you … You who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way’ (8:23).
God’s own heart is for his people and he sees and knows the hearts of all people: ‘You alone know every human heart’ (v.39).
Solomon’s prayer recognises the fact that we fail. We sin. He does not say ‘if’ they sin. Rather he says, ‘When they sin against you – for there is no one who does not sin’ (v.46) (see also Romans 3:23).
Thankfully, there is still hope. It is possible to have ‘changed hearts’ (1 Kings 8:47, MSG). It is possible for our hearts to turn back to God (v.48). He prays that God will ‘turn our hearts to him’ (v.58). God is full of mercy and forgiveness (vv.28,30,34,36,39,50). He relentlessly loves and he keeps his word (v.23, MSG).
The better you get to know God – his heart, his character and his love for you – the easier it becomes to obey him with all your heart.
We must never settle for second best. As Solomon puts it, ‘Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God’ (v.61). God wants you to walk before him with ‘integrity of heart and uprightness’ (9:4). The people determined to live like that and went home ‘joyful and glad in heart’ (8:66). Like the disciples, their hearts were full of joy.
Lord, you see my heart. May my heart be fully committed to you. You know how often I fail. Please forgive and have mercy on me. Thank you that you enable me to turn back to you each day. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. Thank you that you fill my heart with joy. Help me to follow you wholeheartedly each day."
1. Thank You for helping me sustain a whole year of being grateful through short notes.
2. Thank You for the combination of lemon and milk tea. Sehr lecker!
3. Thank You for the strength, protection, energy, hope in every change and journey I undertake. Thank You, Lord!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Always Look to the Heart
"Acts 14:8-28
Your heart can be full of joy in spite of outward circumstances
Joy comes from the heart and is not necessarily connected with your outward circumstances. Sometimes you face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right.
Paul faced huge difficulties but was filled with joy because he was doing something right and making a massive difference to the world.
He was conducting the first deliberate evangelistic campaign into the Gentile world. It was this that led to Christianity becoming not just a Jewish sect, but a world ‘religion’. God ‘used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in’ (v.27, MSG).
Paul speaks of ‘all that God had done through them’ (v.27). Yet outwardly the odds were stacked against him. He appeared very unimpressive (2 Corinthians 10:10). One description of Paul’s physical appearance at this time (in a second-century document called ‘The Acts of Paul and Thecla’) describes him as ‘a man little of stature, thin-haired upon the head, crooked in the legs, of good state of body, with eyebrows joining, and nose somewhat hooked, full of grace: for sometimes he appeared like a man, and sometimes he had the face of an angel.’
He not only looked unimpressive but he suffered from some physical illness (Galatians 4:13). In addition to all this, his body must have been battered and bruised by all the physical persecution he had suffered. On this occasion, the crowd beat him unconscious and left him for dead (Acts 14:19).
Like so many who have followed in Paul’s footsteps, in spite of all his physical suffering, his heart was full of joy, and God worked through him. God used Paul in his weakness. This encourages us to believe that God can also work through us in our weakness.
This heartfelt joy is one of a variety of different kinds of hearts we see in this passage:
Faith-filled hearts
Paul followed the Lord’s example and looked at the heart. He saw ‘a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked’ (v.8). As Paul looked at him he saw his heart and ‘saw that he had faith to be healed’ (v.9). Sometimes God enables us to see into people’s hearts – to see that they have the faith to be healed, to be filled with the Spirit or to receive some gift.
Later we read of how God ‘opened the door of faith to the Gentiles’ (v.27). Faith is the key to salvation.
Fickle hearts
When the crowd saw the man healed they began treating Paul and Barnabas as gods. They pointed out, ‘We’re not gods!’ and that they were only human beings, bringing good news of ‘the living God’ to whom the crowd needed to turn (v.15). However, the hearts of the crowd were fickle. They were soon won over by Paul’s opponents and almost in an instant they went from trying to offer sacrifices to Paul to stoning him (vv.18–19).
Full-of-joy hearts
This was just one of the many ‘hardships’ (v.22) that Paul and his companions went through. Yet Paul can speak of how God ‘fills your hearts with joy’ (v.17). Again, he is saying that the inside is so much more important than the outside.
Paul ‘strengthened’ and ‘encouraged’ the disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (vv.21–22). The way he encouraged and strengthened them was not by saying that the Christian life was easy. Paul tells them that although their sins were behind them, their troubles were ahead of them. He says, ‘Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times’ (v.22, MSG). Jesus did not come to make life easy; he came to make people great.
Lord, thank you so much for the inspiring example of those like the apostle Paul and many who have followed in his footsteps. Whatever the outward appearance or circumstance, may my heart be full of joy. May I not judge people or situations by how they look from the outside, but like you, always look to the heart."
1. Thank You greatly Lord for real examples of heroes. May my heart be indeed full of joy.
2. Thank You Lord for a busy but good day with tackling variety of tasks.
3. Thank You for the sharing of good stories from the past.
Your heart can be full of joy in spite of outward circumstances
Joy comes from the heart and is not necessarily connected with your outward circumstances. Sometimes you face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong, but because you are doing something right.
Paul faced huge difficulties but was filled with joy because he was doing something right and making a massive difference to the world.
He was conducting the first deliberate evangelistic campaign into the Gentile world. It was this that led to Christianity becoming not just a Jewish sect, but a world ‘religion’. God ‘used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in’ (v.27, MSG).
Paul speaks of ‘all that God had done through them’ (v.27). Yet outwardly the odds were stacked against him. He appeared very unimpressive (2 Corinthians 10:10). One description of Paul’s physical appearance at this time (in a second-century document called ‘The Acts of Paul and Thecla’) describes him as ‘a man little of stature, thin-haired upon the head, crooked in the legs, of good state of body, with eyebrows joining, and nose somewhat hooked, full of grace: for sometimes he appeared like a man, and sometimes he had the face of an angel.’
He not only looked unimpressive but he suffered from some physical illness (Galatians 4:13). In addition to all this, his body must have been battered and bruised by all the physical persecution he had suffered. On this occasion, the crowd beat him unconscious and left him for dead (Acts 14:19).
Like so many who have followed in Paul’s footsteps, in spite of all his physical suffering, his heart was full of joy, and God worked through him. God used Paul in his weakness. This encourages us to believe that God can also work through us in our weakness.
This heartfelt joy is one of a variety of different kinds of hearts we see in this passage:
Faith-filled hearts
Paul followed the Lord’s example and looked at the heart. He saw ‘a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked’ (v.8). As Paul looked at him he saw his heart and ‘saw that he had faith to be healed’ (v.9). Sometimes God enables us to see into people’s hearts – to see that they have the faith to be healed, to be filled with the Spirit or to receive some gift.
Later we read of how God ‘opened the door of faith to the Gentiles’ (v.27). Faith is the key to salvation.
Fickle hearts
When the crowd saw the man healed they began treating Paul and Barnabas as gods. They pointed out, ‘We’re not gods!’ and that they were only human beings, bringing good news of ‘the living God’ to whom the crowd needed to turn (v.15). However, the hearts of the crowd were fickle. They were soon won over by Paul’s opponents and almost in an instant they went from trying to offer sacrifices to Paul to stoning him (vv.18–19).
Full-of-joy hearts
This was just one of the many ‘hardships’ (v.22) that Paul and his companions went through. Yet Paul can speak of how God ‘fills your hearts with joy’ (v.17). Again, he is saying that the inside is so much more important than the outside.
Paul ‘strengthened’ and ‘encouraged’ the disciples in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch (vv.21–22). The way he encouraged and strengthened them was not by saying that the Christian life was easy. Paul tells them that although their sins were behind them, their troubles were ahead of them. He says, ‘Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times’ (v.22, MSG). Jesus did not come to make life easy; he came to make people great.
Lord, thank you so much for the inspiring example of those like the apostle Paul and many who have followed in his footsteps. Whatever the outward appearance or circumstance, may my heart be full of joy. May I not judge people or situations by how they look from the outside, but like you, always look to the heart."
1. Thank You greatly Lord for real examples of heroes. May my heart be indeed full of joy.
2. Thank You Lord for a busy but good day with tackling variety of tasks.
3. Thank You for the sharing of good stories from the past.
Monday, October 26, 2015
God Sees Your Heart
"Paul Swala was in prison in Zambia. He was charged with treason. He was accused of being involved in a coup to overthrow the government. While in prison he did Alpha. He encountered Jesus and cried out for God to save him. Extraordinarily, he was the only one of the group of sixty accused who was acquitted. Three years ago, during Alpha International Week, his face radiated the joy of the Lord. He told us how, as Alpha Prisons’ Coordinator for Zambia, he has now been into every prison in Zambia sharing the good news about Jesus Christ and how, even in the direst of situations, Jesus can bring hope. God has filled his heart with joy.
The word ‘heart’ appears in all the passages for today. In fact, it is used seventeen times in total. It is used in these passages to mean everything that is going on inside of us. When we think of the heart we tend to associate it with emotions. The Hebrew understanding was wider than that. It included the emotions, but it also involved the mind, the conscience and the will.
Only God sees and knows the hearts of every human being (1 Kings 8:39). In the passages for today, we learn about how God sees our hearts, and fills them with joy – even in the most unlikely circumstances.
Proverbs 15:11-20
Your face reflects your heart
Some people’s faces radiate love and joy. Their smile puts us at ease and cheers us up. Others may have a rather more sour expression on their face and can make us feel very uncomfortable.
Our face often reflects our heart. ‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit’ (v.13). I remember a good friend of ours, Michael Coates (now in his eighties), saying that the life we have lived eventually shows on our face and, therefore, everybody over forty is responsible for their face!
Even where you manage to hide your heart from those around you, God can still see it. ‘Even hell holds no secrets from God – do you think he can’t read human hearts?’ (v.11, MSG).
God is interested in your heart. This passage gives some wise advice on how you can feed your heart. ‘The discerning heart seeks knowledge’ (v.14). ‘A cheerful heart fills the day with song’ (v.15b, MSG). The writer gives an example of how the inside is so much more important than the outside. ‘Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate’ (v.17, MSG). Love and friendship are what make an evening fun. The quality of the food is of lesser importance.
Thank you, Lord, that you see beyond the outward appearance into my heart. Through your Spirit within me, fill my heart with joy. May my face reflect the love and joy you put in my heart and bring encouragement and confidence to everyone I encounter."
1. Thank You for the joy You give even in the most unlikely circumstances.
2. Thank You that I can breathe my heart out. But Lord guard my heart and my words because I may go overboard.
3. Thank You for this emotional test that I may draw myself to You more.
The word ‘heart’ appears in all the passages for today. In fact, it is used seventeen times in total. It is used in these passages to mean everything that is going on inside of us. When we think of the heart we tend to associate it with emotions. The Hebrew understanding was wider than that. It included the emotions, but it also involved the mind, the conscience and the will.
Only God sees and knows the hearts of every human being (1 Kings 8:39). In the passages for today, we learn about how God sees our hearts, and fills them with joy – even in the most unlikely circumstances.
Proverbs 15:11-20
Your face reflects your heart
Some people’s faces radiate love and joy. Their smile puts us at ease and cheers us up. Others may have a rather more sour expression on their face and can make us feel very uncomfortable.
Our face often reflects our heart. ‘A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit’ (v.13). I remember a good friend of ours, Michael Coates (now in his eighties), saying that the life we have lived eventually shows on our face and, therefore, everybody over forty is responsible for their face!
Even where you manage to hide your heart from those around you, God can still see it. ‘Even hell holds no secrets from God – do you think he can’t read human hearts?’ (v.11, MSG).
God is interested in your heart. This passage gives some wise advice on how you can feed your heart. ‘The discerning heart seeks knowledge’ (v.14). ‘A cheerful heart fills the day with song’ (v.15b, MSG). The writer gives an example of how the inside is so much more important than the outside. ‘Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate’ (v.17, MSG). Love and friendship are what make an evening fun. The quality of the food is of lesser importance.
Thank you, Lord, that you see beyond the outward appearance into my heart. Through your Spirit within me, fill my heart with joy. May my face reflect the love and joy you put in my heart and bring encouragement and confidence to everyone I encounter."
1. Thank You for the joy You give even in the most unlikely circumstances.
2. Thank You that I can breathe my heart out. But Lord guard my heart and my words because I may go overboard.
3. Thank You for this emotional test that I may draw myself to You more.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Experience God's Presence
"1 Kings 7:23-8:21
Glory of God’s empowering presence
Why in the world would we not want to spend time with God? We spend hours on social media, watching TV or on the telephone. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘We seem to have no problem investing our time in those pursuits. The truth is this: The devil fights us more in the area of our spending time with God than he does in any other area of our Christian lives. In fact, Satan would much prefer that we get involved in all kinds of religious activity rather than spend time with the Lord.’
This passage helps us to understand how amazing it is to spend time in the presence of God – the extraordinary privilege that is available to every follower of Jesus.
This Old Testament passage – about the building of the physical temple in Jerusalem (a place for God to dwell forever, 8:13) – takes on a whole new meaning when we read it in the light of the New Testament. We see that the temple in Jerusalem prefigured God’s dwelling place in believers’ hearts in the New Testament.
In particular, the ark of the covenant represented the presence of the Lord. The climax of this temple, both in it being prepared for use (8:3–9) and in Solomon’s praise (vv.15–21), was the placing of the ark of the covenant in the temple. The ark had nothing in it ‘except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it’ (v.9) – in other words the Ten Commandments. When the people of God live under the Word of God we discover the Spirit of God increasing our experience of the presence of God.
We read, ‘When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are praying for a greatly increased sense of the presence of God to come among us. This is what we so often experience when we pray that prayer.
Although God is present everywhere, we do not always sense his presence. Surely, what is being described here is a greatly increased sense of the presence of God. This is what Solomon was describing when he said, ‘I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever’ (v.13, MSG).
There can be particular moments when we experience God’s presence when we are with others, but you can also experience God’s presence as you spend time with him by yourself.
You don’t need to be legalistic about it, but a regular time with God helps. As you read the Bible, as you talk to your Father in prayer, as sometimes you listen to Christian music or just sit in silence, you begin to experience God’s presence. Indeed, sometimes the prayer ‘Come Holy Spirit’ can be answered with total peace, calm and stillness.
Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your people. Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to prioritise our time and enjoy your awesome presence with us."
1. Thank You for Your awesome presence, may I learn to bask in it everytime.
2. Thank You for the German Class reunion and a great buffet with it.
3. Thank You for Your grace that I may also show it to others.
Glory of God’s empowering presence
Why in the world would we not want to spend time with God? We spend hours on social media, watching TV or on the telephone. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘We seem to have no problem investing our time in those pursuits. The truth is this: The devil fights us more in the area of our spending time with God than he does in any other area of our Christian lives. In fact, Satan would much prefer that we get involved in all kinds of religious activity rather than spend time with the Lord.’
This passage helps us to understand how amazing it is to spend time in the presence of God – the extraordinary privilege that is available to every follower of Jesus.
This Old Testament passage – about the building of the physical temple in Jerusalem (a place for God to dwell forever, 8:13) – takes on a whole new meaning when we read it in the light of the New Testament. We see that the temple in Jerusalem prefigured God’s dwelling place in believers’ hearts in the New Testament.
In particular, the ark of the covenant represented the presence of the Lord. The climax of this temple, both in it being prepared for use (8:3–9) and in Solomon’s praise (vv.15–21), was the placing of the ark of the covenant in the temple. The ark had nothing in it ‘except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it’ (v.9) – in other words the Ten Commandments. When the people of God live under the Word of God we discover the Spirit of God increasing our experience of the presence of God.
We read, ‘When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are praying for a greatly increased sense of the presence of God to come among us. This is what we so often experience when we pray that prayer.
Although God is present everywhere, we do not always sense his presence. Surely, what is being described here is a greatly increased sense of the presence of God. This is what Solomon was describing when he said, ‘I’ve built this splendid Temple, O God, to mark your invisible presence forever’ (v.13, MSG).
There can be particular moments when we experience God’s presence when we are with others, but you can also experience God’s presence as you spend time with him by yourself.
You don’t need to be legalistic about it, but a regular time with God helps. As you read the Bible, as you talk to your Father in prayer, as sometimes you listen to Christian music or just sit in silence, you begin to experience God’s presence. Indeed, sometimes the prayer ‘Come Holy Spirit’ can be answered with total peace, calm and stillness.
Lord, how can we praise you enough for the way that you have fulfilled your promise in us? Praise you Lord that as your glory filled the temple of Solomon, so now your glory fills your people. Thank you that all your promises are fulfilled in us (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Fulfil your promise among us again today. Thank you that every time we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ the Holy Spirit comes and we experience an increased sense of the presence of God among us. Help us to prioritise our time and enjoy your awesome presence with us."
1. Thank You for Your awesome presence, may I learn to bask in it everytime.
2. Thank You for the German Class reunion and a great buffet with it.
3. Thank You for Your grace that I may also show it to others.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
If God is with Us, Who can be Against Us?
"Acts 13:42-14:7
Filled with God’s empowering presence
From the day of Pentecost, God’s empowering presence came upon his people. In today’s passage we read that they were, once again, ‘filled … with the Holy Spirit’ (13:52). Every Christian now has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them (Romans 8:9).
In this passage, we the see the impact of God’s empowering presence when people are filled with the Holy Spirit:
Effectiveness
In Antioch, crowds gathered to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 13:44–45). In Iconium, ‘they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed’ (14:1).
The Lord confirmed his message by enabling them to do signs and wonders (v.3). This does not mean that everyone in the church will necessarily enjoy perfect health in this life. Rather, we see an in-breaking of the future kingdom of God so that the gospel may go forth and triumph.
Opposition
In Antioch, some people ‘went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene’ (13:45, MSG). ‘They stirred up persecution … and expelled them from their region’ (v.50).
In Iconium, those who refused to believe ‘worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street’ (14:2, MSG). They organised to ‘beat them up’ (v.5, MSG). We can often assume that if God is with us then we will not encounter any significant opposition. These incidents remind us that actually the opposite is often the case. Where God is at work the enemy tries to stir up opposition and difficulty.
Joy
Their happiness was not dependent on what was happening to them. They had a deep joy that came from God’s presence. As the psalmist writes, ‘Your presence is fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11, AMP). In the middle of all the opposition and after they had been forced to leave Antioch, they went on to the next town, Iconium, ‘brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples’ (Acts 13:52, MSG).
Boldness
The Holy Spirit gave them boldness in spite of opposition. In Antioch, ‘Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first” ’ (v.46). In Iconium, ‘Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord’ (14:3). In spite of opposition and ‘a plot afoot’ (v.5) they ‘continued to preach the good news’ (v.7).
Lord, fill me today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help me to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help me not to be put off by opposition, stirring or plots. Give me courage to speak boldly for the Lord. And Lord, I pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders."
1. Thank You that You are at work when the enemy tries to make it difficult for us. Thank You that we can source strength from You.
2. Thank You for the opportunities to travel. This is just an amazing channel to learn and enjoy this gift of life.
3. Thank You for new and fun friends we met from the trip.
Filled with God’s empowering presence
From the day of Pentecost, God’s empowering presence came upon his people. In today’s passage we read that they were, once again, ‘filled … with the Holy Spirit’ (13:52). Every Christian now has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them (Romans 8:9).
In this passage, we the see the impact of God’s empowering presence when people are filled with the Holy Spirit:
Effectiveness
In Antioch, crowds gathered to hear the word of the Lord (Acts 13:44–45). In Iconium, ‘they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed’ (14:1).
The Lord confirmed his message by enabling them to do signs and wonders (v.3). This does not mean that everyone in the church will necessarily enjoy perfect health in this life. Rather, we see an in-breaking of the future kingdom of God so that the gospel may go forth and triumph.
Opposition
In Antioch, some people ‘went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene’ (13:45, MSG). ‘They stirred up persecution … and expelled them from their region’ (v.50).
In Iconium, those who refused to believe ‘worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street’ (14:2, MSG). They organised to ‘beat them up’ (v.5, MSG). We can often assume that if God is with us then we will not encounter any significant opposition. These incidents remind us that actually the opposite is often the case. Where God is at work the enemy tries to stir up opposition and difficulty.
Joy
Their happiness was not dependent on what was happening to them. They had a deep joy that came from God’s presence. As the psalmist writes, ‘Your presence is fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11, AMP). In the middle of all the opposition and after they had been forced to leave Antioch, they went on to the next town, Iconium, ‘brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples’ (Acts 13:52, MSG).
Boldness
The Holy Spirit gave them boldness in spite of opposition. In Antioch, ‘Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first” ’ (v.46). In Iconium, ‘Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord’ (14:3). In spite of opposition and ‘a plot afoot’ (v.5) they ‘continued to preach the good news’ (v.7).
Lord, fill me today with the Holy Spirit and with joy. Help me to speak so effectively that many will believe. Help me not to be put off by opposition, stirring or plots. Give me courage to speak boldly for the Lord. And Lord, I pray that you will confirm the message of your grace with miraculous signs and wonders."
1. Thank You that You are at work when the enemy tries to make it difficult for us. Thank You that we can source strength from You.
2. Thank You for the opportunities to travel. This is just an amazing channel to learn and enjoy this gift of life.
3. Thank You for new and fun friends we met from the trip.
Friday, October 23, 2015
"Come, Holy Spirit"
"Spending time in the presence of God is the most important activity of our lives. We need God’s presence in our lives more than we need anything else. But where do we find the presence of God?
I remember so well the first time I heard someone pray one of the most ancient prayers of the church, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, with a real expectation that the Holy Spirit would come! It was on a Sunday night in 1982. We had a meeting in the crypt after our evening service at HTB. As we prayed, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ we saw remarkable events occur.
God is always present with his people today by his Holy Spirit. When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are asking for an increased sense of the presence of God. There are times in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit filled a gathering of people sovereignly and spontaneously (Acts 2:2; Acts 10:44). There are other times when the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit: ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 4:31).
In the Old Testament passage for today we read how ‘the glory of the Lord filled his temple’ (1 Kings 8:11). Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God’s empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 76:1-12
Longing for God’s empowering presence
The temple in Jerusalem was not primarily a place of sacrifice, but the place of God’s presence. The psalmist writes, ‘In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling-place in Zion’ (vv.1–2). ‘Salem’ is the old Jebusite name for Jerusalem. ‘Zion’ is a word often used to refer to Jerusalem as the focal point of God’s presence (v.7, AMP), amongst his people in the Old Testament. This is the place of his tent (‘abode’, RSV). This is where God dwells.
This is why the people of God were so passionate about Jerusalem, and in particular the temple. They longed, as we all do deep inside, for the presence of God. The amazing truth is that, through Jesus, we can know the presence of God in and among us, his people, wherever we are. He dwells in us by his Spirit.
Lord, I long for your presence with me. Thank you that your dwelling place is with your people. Please fill us again today with your Holy Spirit and make your name great among us."
1. Thank You for Your presence even if at times I am stubborn or hard-headed. Thank You.
2. Thank You for the idea of discovery and adventure when it comes to food. It is one of those ways of understanding the culture.
3. Thank You for giving girl friends who give comfort and laughter.
I remember so well the first time I heard someone pray one of the most ancient prayers of the church, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, with a real expectation that the Holy Spirit would come! It was on a Sunday night in 1982. We had a meeting in the crypt after our evening service at HTB. As we prayed, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ we saw remarkable events occur.
God is always present with his people today by his Holy Spirit. When we pray, ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we are asking for an increased sense of the presence of God. There are times in the New Testament when the Holy Spirit filled a gathering of people sovereignly and spontaneously (Acts 2:2; Acts 10:44). There are other times when the disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit: ‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 4:31).
In the Old Testament passage for today we read how ‘the glory of the Lord filled his temple’ (1 Kings 8:11). Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God’s empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 76:1-12
Longing for God’s empowering presence
The temple in Jerusalem was not primarily a place of sacrifice, but the place of God’s presence. The psalmist writes, ‘In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His tent is in Salem, his dwelling-place in Zion’ (vv.1–2). ‘Salem’ is the old Jebusite name for Jerusalem. ‘Zion’ is a word often used to refer to Jerusalem as the focal point of God’s presence (v.7, AMP), amongst his people in the Old Testament. This is the place of his tent (‘abode’, RSV). This is where God dwells.
This is why the people of God were so passionate about Jerusalem, and in particular the temple. They longed, as we all do deep inside, for the presence of God. The amazing truth is that, through Jesus, we can know the presence of God in and among us, his people, wherever we are. He dwells in us by his Spirit.
Lord, I long for your presence with me. Thank you that your dwelling place is with your people. Please fill us again today with your Holy Spirit and make your name great among us."
1. Thank You for Your presence even if at times I am stubborn or hard-headed. Thank You.
2. Thank You for the idea of discovery and adventure when it comes to food. It is one of those ways of understanding the culture.
3. Thank You for giving girl friends who give comfort and laughter.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
We are God's House
"1 Kings 6:1-7:22
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit prefigured with symbolic typology
Have you ever wondered whether God is really interested in the details of your life? As we read the precise instructions for the building of the temple, we see how carefully God prepared, anticipated and prefigured the far greater temple that is unveiled in the New Testament. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘He is even more concerned about the particulars of your life. If something matters to you, it matters to Him!’
Typology is about symbolic representation. It is a key part of our understanding of the Old Testament as Christians. Some of the great New Testament truths are anticipated in the Old Testament history of salvation. For example, Adam is described as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14, NASB).
The temple in the Old Testament can be seen as ‘a type’ of the temple in the New Testament (the people of God). In this passage, we have a description of the temple, which Solomon spent seven years building (1 Kings 6:38). It was designed to be the dwelling place for the presence of God on earth: ‘I’ll personally take up my residence’ (v.13, MSG).
Hence, excellence was of the upmost importance because it was the place of God’s presence. God’s name was at stake. They did everything as well as they possibly could. It was ‘dazzling’ (v.22, MSG) and ‘no expense was spared’ (7:9, MSG). If excellence was a high value for them, it should be an even higher value for us now that God’s presence is in us.
The temple in the Old Testament points forward to the people of God. We are God’s house. God lives in us individually. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The church today is the holy temple of the Lord in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). This is God’s ‘house’ today.
Lord, thank you for the inexhaustible treasures of the Bible. Help me to understand it better. Help me to interpret it faithfully. Open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your word. Help me to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the truth of the Bible expressed in all its different languages and images. Above all, help me to see Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead – the one whom the whole Bible is about."
1. Thank You for the Bible for it gives only what is true and good.
2. Thank You for giving me joy in teaching.
3. Thank You for surrounding me with great people.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit prefigured with symbolic typology
Have you ever wondered whether God is really interested in the details of your life? As we read the precise instructions for the building of the temple, we see how carefully God prepared, anticipated and prefigured the far greater temple that is unveiled in the New Testament. As Joyce Meyer writes, ‘He is even more concerned about the particulars of your life. If something matters to you, it matters to Him!’
Typology is about symbolic representation. It is a key part of our understanding of the Old Testament as Christians. Some of the great New Testament truths are anticipated in the Old Testament history of salvation. For example, Adam is described as a type of Christ (Romans 5:14, NASB).
The temple in the Old Testament can be seen as ‘a type’ of the temple in the New Testament (the people of God). In this passage, we have a description of the temple, which Solomon spent seven years building (1 Kings 6:38). It was designed to be the dwelling place for the presence of God on earth: ‘I’ll personally take up my residence’ (v.13, MSG).
Hence, excellence was of the upmost importance because it was the place of God’s presence. God’s name was at stake. They did everything as well as they possibly could. It was ‘dazzling’ (v.22, MSG) and ‘no expense was spared’ (7:9, MSG). If excellence was a high value for them, it should be an even higher value for us now that God’s presence is in us.
The temple in the Old Testament points forward to the people of God. We are God’s house. God lives in us individually. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The church today is the holy temple of the Lord in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21–22). This is God’s ‘house’ today.
Lord, thank you for the inexhaustible treasures of the Bible. Help me to understand it better. Help me to interpret it faithfully. Open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your word. Help me to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the truth of the Bible expressed in all its different languages and images. Above all, help me to see Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead – the one whom the whole Bible is about."
1. Thank You for the Bible for it gives only what is true and good.
2. Thank You for giving me joy in teaching.
3. Thank You for surrounding me with great people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)