THE PURPOSE OF FASTING
Matthew 17:14-21, Matthew 6:16-18
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
Matthew 17:14-21
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.
19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”
20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Matthew 6:16-18
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I believe that the Lord is speaking to me through His word. Therefore I will respond to it earnestly so that I will experience transformations in both my mind and character.
1. Why did Jesus ask the disciples to fast? [Matthew 17:21]
2. What are the wrong motivations in fasting [meditate on Matthew 6:16-18]
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
Today I will protect myself from the lusts and things that try to pollute my thoughts.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare James 5:16, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I pray an agreement prayer with my family.
LESSON:
Jesus taught the disciples to take up fasting. He said: “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16). Fasting is one form of spiritual disciplines that is normally done by restraining oneself from consuming food and water for a certain period of time; it’s usually done for a certain moment or situation. These days there are many forms of fasting: some fast from food and water from morning till the evening, while others only fast from food. There are those who fast from certain kind of food (e.g. salt or meat). There are those who fast themselves from going online, instead spending their time reading the Bible or having quite time.
What’s important of all is the determination and purpose of fasting; that is to draw near to God, to hone one’s sensitivity to God’s presence, and to control oneself from any fleshy desires. Therefore, don’t fast for wrong reasons/motivations (due to peer pressure, church’s obligations, or, worse still, to lose weight). If it’s done right, fasting produces God’s power. Fasting is the form of act of self-humiliating before the Lord, praying fervently, repenting, and seeking God’s will.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
FASTING AND REPENTANCE
Jonah 3:1-10
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
Jonah 3:1-10
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
1 Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”
3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.
6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes. 7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:
“No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I believe that the Lord is speaking to me through His word. Therefore I will respond to it earnestly so that I will experience transformations in both my mind and character.
1. Why did the Lord wanted to destroy Nineveh? What actions did the citizen of Nineveh take that brought them to restoration?
2. What about my own daily repentance? [Make the time to do self evaluation]
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
Today I will fast from my favorite past times [Internet, shopping, food, watching TV, etc] and try to spend the time to pray and read the Bible.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday and also add James 4:8, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.“
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will share my commitment today with my believer friends and pray together in agreement prayers.
LESSON:
The fasting that we observe is indeed used by the Lord to bring us into true repentance. This repentance reflects our lives that are worthy of God’s heart and honoring the holiness of live. Therefore this repentance is not found in traditions or religious customs, but on true repentance. Joel 2:13 says, “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” What the Lord expects from us is a true heart that’s been ‘broken’; a heart that regrets all the past mistakes and sin, not a torn garment. This brings up the hope that through fasting, we can experience transformations, becoming wiser in dealing with struggles and problems that arise. When we’re fasting, we should be more loving and forgiving toward one another. Fasting can help us overcoming our mistakes, weaknesses and sin – and converting them to strengths. Fasting helps us to be more humble; purging the need to be proud, selfish, instead to care more for other people’s needs. Let us straighten our motivations so that our fasting can become more effective. During fasting, make sure we make the time to pray. A pray-less fasting is indeed a diet.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
CROSS YOUR EGO
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life…
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord:
1. what’s my role in the Body of Christ? What characters that ought to be avoided in order to maintain the unity?
2. What should I do to maintain the unity of the Body of Christ? [Verses 22-26]
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
I will become motivators to my friends who are weak in faith.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday thru Tuesday, and add 1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will pray in agreement with a friend from cell group with topics from our VIP prayer list and also for our own prayer topics.
LESSON:
In any ministry, ego can be a stumbling stone and the source of problem – self-appraisal, trying to show off, etc. Ministries are indeed the collections of different services. We will always be on dependency on others in our ministry. Paul illustrates the church as parts of the body – each with their own different functions and responsibilities – no one is more important than others. Therefore the main factor in ministering one another, is how we can put our ego aside and to show Christ in our lives.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
ANGER CONTROL
James 4:1-6
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
James 4:1-6
Drawing Close to God
1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord:
1. According to God’s word today, what causes the quarrels and fights among us?
2. How can I deal with the issue of jealousy? [Meditate on verses 1-3 and make the time for self-evaluations]
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
I will not let my emotions affecting my speech or actions today.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday thru Wednesday, also add James 4:7, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will share what I get form today’s devotional to believer friends who are backsliding and start to bring them back to the Lord.
Today I will pray in agreement with my family with prayer topics from our VIP list.
LESSON:
The writer of James 4 dissected one of our roots to a deep issue: we’re often fall in our own evil desires – following our own ways and desires. If not met, our desires can blow into anger that hurt others and us. Yet though we get what we wanted, we often feel discontented.
It’s better for us to ask God to fulfill our desires through His own hands, His timing and His methods. It’s better for us to surrender our will to His and pray like Jesus did: Not my will, but your will, be done” (Luke 22:42).
It’s not good to always think about unfairness, trying to manage everything according to our own plan, or to let our emotions take over our decisions. Seeking pleasures by following our desires can bring up quarrels and fights – both to ourselves and to others (James 4:10).
Before our anger explodes, we can retrieve for a second and walk Him who cares and understands us more than we do and realize. We can vent our anger to Him and think about things together with Him.
We can plead Him to fulfill our needs according to His way. James wrote, “He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires” (verse 6).
Friday, 12 February 2010
BE CAREFUL WITH BUSYNESS
2 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Corinthians 15:33
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
2 Timothy 3:1-7
The Dangers of the Last Days
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of[a] vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. 7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)
1 Corinthians 15:33
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord:
1. what are the characteristics of the people in the last days (this century)? [Ponder on this issue and examine yourself if you think you might have one of the characteristics]
2. What’s God’s advice so that I will not sway from His way? [1 Corinthians 15:33] Make the time to evaluate your current relationship with the Lord.
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
I will pray today for family members or friends that still live in sin.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday thru Thursday, also add 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will pray in agreement with a friend from cell group with topics from our VIP prayer list and also for our own prayer topics.
LESSON:
Busy often becomes the closest word people use on their lives today. Many are trapped in their own busyness that gives them the excuses not to pray, read the Word, or help others.
At many places, quite often people struggle with time. As a result many don’t have the time for themselves, their family, or even God. Time is wasted. As the consequences, kids are going into rebellions and fighting for attentions. There’s a saying in Chinese language that explains the word busy as some kind of ‘dysfunctional heart’. Busyness often makes people to lose their sense of feeling. It steals what becomes the most precious in us – our sensitivity. Buy people lose their sensitivities over God’s presence and others. Worse still, busy people often become selfish – care less about others, but themselves.
Apostle Paul reminded one of His students, Timothy, about the conditions of mankind in the end times, where people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred (2 Timothy 3:2). As God’s children, we need to have the spiritual sensitivity in observing the sign of end times, so that we’ll not be trapped in the busyness that can bring us to spiritual paralyze.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
RESPONSE TO EVERY WARNING
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in meditating on the Word of God so that I am able to experience an encounter with God, in His truth and experience change.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord:
1. Have I ever suffered from doing good? What’s God’s advice today on sufferings? (Verse 17)
2. How can we love like in verses 8-11?
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
Today I will carry all the tasks and responsibilities in prayers so that I will not fall into evil thoughts and actions.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday thru Friday, and also add 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. “
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will call or visit one person on my VIP list and do well to them.
AGREEMENT PRAYER:
I will pray today with my cell group friend and pray for the people on our VIP list.
LESSON:
When we believe one advice, our actions will be affected. This is valid for every part of our lives, including our spiritual walk.
Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica and reminded them that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Tess 5:2). He urged them to avoid spiritual conflicts and at the same time be alert, on the lookout and to have self control (verse 6). His challenges was to repeat what Jesus said to His disciples about the unknown nature of coming of the day of the Lord (Matt 24:44).
If we believe God’s word about his coming, how can that influence the way we think and act today?
Sunday, 14 February 2010
DON’T GIVE INTO THE DEVIL’S
Matthew 4:1-11
[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
I will direct my heart and mind to meditate on today’s Word of God. But first I will pray that today’s Word is able to change my life.
Matthew 4:1-11
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
” ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[b]”
7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[c]”
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[d]”
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
[C] – CONTEMPLATE / MEDITATE ON:
I will meditate on the verses above and answer the questions below honestly before the Lord:
1. How did Jesus face the temptations from the Devil?
2. What did the Devil do when he saw Jesus fought back using God’s word? [verse 11]
[T] – TAKE ACTION / APPLY:
Today I will say NO to every temptation to sin.
DECLARATION OF GOD’S WORD:
Declare God’s word from Monday thru Saturday, and also add 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
[S] – SHARE / STRENGTHEN:
I will share what I get from today’s devotional with one of my believer friends who are backsliding and pray in agreement prayer for them to be revived.
AGREEMENT PRAYER:
Today I will pray in agreement with my believer friends for America and God’s churches.
LESSON:
We can keep ourselves away from troubles by not giving into temptations or not letting our anger to take over us. We protect ourselves by not giving in. By not giving into lies, we keep ourselves from losing our self-honoring and wrong view about ourselves. By not giving into temptations of becoming greedy, we keep ourselves away from being discontented or dissatisfied. Yet the most important thing is that by not giving into temptations, it means that we’re pleasing God’s heart.
In every temptation, God provides solutions (1 Corinthians 10:13). You will find them by drawing near to Him and seeking His guidance in every moment.