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Reflection on 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

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2 Cotinthians

Scripture

For God says, “At just the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.” Indeed the right time is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Observation

Paul urges his readers not to ignore the gift of grace. Now is the hour of salvation.

Paul works to avoid causing people to stumble or to find fault with him. He has faced hardships of every kind.

Paul proves his faith by letting the Holy Spirit fill him with love, understanding and purity. He serves God regardless of the response of people.

Therefore, because Paul overflows with love to the Corinthians, he asks them to open their hearts to him.

Application

There are times when serving God is welcomed by the people around us. At other times our work for the Lord is despised and mocked- even by other christians.

How should we respond? Like Paul we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We know that His love never fails. Even if the world rejects us, still Christ’s love sustains us. It is His approval that matters, not the world’s.

Prayer

Father, help me to stand firm in you when fmaily and friends despise me for your sake. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Samuel 18:1-16

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Scripture
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

Observation
Soon after David kills Goliath, he meets Saul’s son Jonathan. There is an immediate bond between the two and they make a covenant friendship.

Saul has David join his forces, and David does all that Saul asks of him. Saul makes David commander over all the army.

On their way home from the victory over the Philistines, some women meet them in the street with tambourines and cymbals, extolling Saul for killing thousands and David for killing tens of thousands. Consequently Saul becomes jealous of David.

The very next day Saul is overwhelmed by a tormenting spirit. On at least two occasions, Saul tries to kill David with a spear.

Application
Jealousy of someone on our own side, even a friend, is a very debilitating thing. For Saul this resulted in a tormenting spirit that drove him mad.

David was a man of great faithfulness, and Saul had nothing to fear from him. Instead of being jealous, Saul could have harnessed David’s talent and popularity to build up the nation. Instead he gave in to fear and jealousy.

We must be very wary of thoughts of jealousy, envy, coveting the gifts or abilities of others. This is a big gateway for through which satan can get in and ruin lives, churches and even whole nations.

Prayer
Father God, please protect my heart from jealousy. Let me always have a pure heart before you. Amen.

Reflection on Mark 4:26-34

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mustard-seed

Scripture
He did not say anything without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Observation
The kingdom of God is like a seed scattered on the ground. The seed sprouts and grows by itself- first the stalk, the the head and then the kernel.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which is tiny, but when planted it becomes the largest of garden plants so that the birds shelter in it.

Jesus taught the word with many parables, but when He was alone with the disciples, He explained their meaning.

Application
God’s kingdom is something that grows without human understanding. Starting with just the seed of God’s word, it grows without restraint.

We can have all the church growth, church planting, evangelisation strategies the human mind can invent, but it is God who causes the kingdom to grow.

From the beginning, the church started with a handful of people and grew to cover the whole earth. Even today, the fastest expansion is taking place in countries considered untouched just a decade ago.

We don’t need to fear the darkness because the light is in the world and has overcome the darkness.

Prayer
How does your kingdom grow Lord? It seems like a mystery. Help me to live in obedience to you every day so that I do my part in your world-changing plans. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

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Scripture
To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.

Observation
The man in Corinth who had opposed Paul was resisted by the church, and for Paul this is enough. He urges forgiveness and comfort for this man so that he is not overcome by discouragement.

God has made us His captives and leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession. Our lives are like a fragrant offering to the Lord. To those who are saved this is a sweet fragrance of life, but for those who are perishing it is the smell of death.

Application
We are like captives in Christ’s procession of triumph. Yes we are free because of Christ, but our freedom comes by submitting ourselves to the rule of Christ. We are trophies of His grace, signs of His victory over sin.

Our lives are like a fragrant incense offering to the Lord. Those who are being saved perceive this to be a sweet smell, but those who are lost in sin perceive it to be a reminder of the judgement over their lives.

We should not be surprised when the world reacts harshly to the gospel or to the lives of Christians because it is reacting against Christ in us the hope of our glory.

Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the privilege of being your trophy of grace. Amen.

Reflection on Psalm 92

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praise

Lord I will praise you

In the morning when I rise

And the evening when I sleep

I will worship you with music

And sing your praises.

_

You thrill me Lord

You excite me with your deeds

And exhilarate me with your presence

I will praise you in church

I will worship you at home

And declare you are my God.

Reflection on Ezekiel 17:22-24

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Scripture

It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed.

Observation

The time will come, says the Lord, when He will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar and plant it on Israel’s highest mountain. It will grow tall and strong, and birds will shelter in it.

All the trees will know that it is the Lord who pulls trees down and makes trees grow, who kills one tree and raises another to life.

Application

This parable is about the church, the Kingdom of God. It started off as a cutting (or perhaps a mustard seed), is planted on top of Israel’s mountain and becomes a mighty tree that even shelters the birds of the air.

God’s kingdom is huge with members in every nation, It is God who is establishing it and causing it to grow. It exists by the grace of God and for His glory.

And whenever any part of that church steps away from God’s grace, He will strike it down.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for bringing me into the tree of your kingdom. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 8:12-17

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Scripture

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

Observation

We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us and therefore have no obligation to give in to sin. If we live by the flesh we will die, but if we crucify our flesh by the power of the Spirit we will live.

The Spirit confirms we are children of God. We are no longer slaves but fully adopted children, and God’s Spirit enables us to call God “Abba, Father.”

Being God’s children by adoption means we inherit with Christ everything of God’s glory. This implies we share also in Christ’s suffering.

Application

it is an awesome privilege to be bearers of God’s Spirit. Not only does the Holy Spirit equip us to be servants of God, He assures us that we are children of God not slaves.

We are adopted into God’s family- truly sons and daughters of he King of Kings.

This means that we are heirs with Christ to the entire creation- both what is seen and what is unseen. We get a share in the infinite glory of God!

Prayer

Lord, like a peasant summoned to live in the palace, I can scarcely comprehend what you intend for me. Thank you for this incalculable grace. Amen.

Reflection on Isaiah 6:1-8

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Scripture

It was the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

Observation
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, Isaiah sees the Lord. He is high on a throne with a robe whose train fills the whole building. Mighty seraphim surround the throne and cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord. The whole earth is full of His glory!”

The voices shake the Temple and smoke fills it.

Isaiah is filled with dread for he knows he is a sinful man and he should die in the presence of the Lord. A seraph takes a burning coal from the altar and touches it to Isaiah’s lips saying it has now removed his guilt.

The Lord then asks who will be His messenger to the people of Israel. Isaiah responds, “Here I am. Send me.”

Application
What an awesome revelation this must have been for Isaiah. But this vision is not for Isaiah’s pleasure or excitement. The Lord is looking for a man who will carry His message to His people.

God is holy; God is awesome; God is powerful; God is a sender.

God is looking for men and women who will take His message to a people group. Our response to this call must be like Isaiah’s, “Here I am. Send me.”

Prayer
Lord fill all your people with a willingness, a desire to go with your message. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 8:22-27

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holy-spirit-fire

Scripture

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Observation

All of creation is groaning, awaiting the new creation- the new heavens and the new earth.

Believers also groan, looking for an end to sin and suffering. We look forward to receiving our full inheritance as children of God.

In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. When we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans that cannot be expressed in words.

Application

Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to direct our praying.

The world is such a broken place, people are so caught in sin, that it is hard to know how to pray for people, situations or nations. But the Holy Spirit can show us exactly how to pray. Listening to the Spirit is essential to effective prayer.

This ministry of intercession is part of the gift of tongues. When we pray in the Spirit, we are allowing the Spirit of God to direct and form the words we use. Our words, incomprehensible to us, become a part of the groaning of the Spirit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, teach me how to listen to you in my prayer times and to let you direct the words I use. Amen.

Reflection on Acts 2:1-21

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holy-spirit-fire

Scripture

“No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.”

Observation

It is the Jewish feast of Pentecost and all the believers are together. Suddenly there is a sound like a mighty wind-storm, and something that looks like tongues of fire appears ad settles on each one.

Everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit and they begin peaking in tongues. Onlookers from around the world are amazed at the noise and the fact that they can hear the believers praising God in their own native languages.

Some mock them as being drunk, but Peter refutes this . This is the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all people.

Application

The Holy Spirit is the birth right of all born again believers. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the power that makes evangelism, and all ministry, possible.

We all need a regular infilling, a “top up” of Holy Spirit power because it is so easy to take our attention away from the presence of God and focus on the things we can see.

The gift of tongues is the gateway gift to the other gifts. If we let Holy Spirit control our tongue, He has control of every part of us.

“All flesh”, every true follower of Jesus, has access to the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. Call on Him today.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come. Come and fill me in the same way you filled those early disciples. Empower me, equip me, overflow in me. Amen.