Exekiel's Prayer Burden
(Entry Date : Jan 15th, 2012)
Scripture
Ezekiel 10:18 – “Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.”
Observation
What a sad day for Israel - the glory of God moved from the Holy of Holies and began to depart from the temple. Why? It all began with idolatry in the temple (Eze 8) – there was an image at the door, and there were idolatrous pictures in the inner chamber. Men and women worshipped idols openly, and others did it in the “dark” (8:12); but all were guilty. What happened in the temple was indicative of what happened in Israel; the nation has already been given over to the worship of idols.
This vision of the defilement of God’s temple (Eze 8) led to the destruction of God’s people (Eze 9), and eventually the departure of God’s glory (Eze 10). That day, Ezekiel walked away with a deep prayer burden (9:8) which prepared him to preach the word (11:25).
Application
HC, your best messages will come from your strongest prayer burden. Translate your present prayer burden on the superficiality of this age to help people hear God’s voice and be grounded in God’s Word.
Prayer
Father, I sense Your burden for Your people in this superficial age. Teach us to hear Your voice so that your written Word may become a rhema Word for us each day. Create fertile soil in our hearts so that we may anchor deep in Your Word. Let it start with me today. Amen!
How To Deal With Slander
(Entry Date : Mar 6th, 2011)
Scripture
Psalm 7:1 – “O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me.”e to you that the LORD will build a house for you…”
Observation
David did not react to man’s accusations but responded by bringing his case before God:
First, he took refuge in God (v1).
Second, he asked God to examine his own heart (v2-5).
Third, he asked God to be his Judge (v6-9).
Fourth, he surrendered his grievance to God (v10-16).
Finally, he gave thanks (v17).
Application
If others slander you, HC, be wise and let God be your defense. Like David, take refuge in God and ask Him to first examine your own heart. Take your case to him because “God is a righteous judge” (v11a). The God Most High is your shield!
Prayer
Dear God, You are my righteous Judge. Thank you for your promise to always act on my behalf when I choose to take refuge in you. Amen!
The Lord Will!
(Entry Date : Oct 29th, 2010)
Scripture
1 Chronicles 17:10b - “…I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you…”
Observation
Ten times in this chapter David is called “servant.” David, as a servant, does not command the master. Rather, the master commands the servant. And what a wonderful Master the Lord is! Whether David looked at the past (“I took you” [v. 7]; “I have been with you” [v. 8]), or the future (God says “I will” ten times), he saw the grace and goodness of the Lord!
Warren Wiersbe wrote, "It is one thing to know God’s promises and quite something else to claim them by faith." Like a little child, David went in and “sat before the Lord”, thanking God for the mercies He had promised, and then he said, “Lord, do it!” Faith turns God’s promises into reality, but before praying, take time to praise Him.
Application
HC, know for certain that your Master will not shortchange you. As you serve Him, give Him your very best. He handpicked you; He has been with you; and He will continue to provide for you.
Prayer
O God, I praise You for Your grace and goodness in picking me to pastor Your beloved church; it is my privilege to serve You full-time. You have been faithful to bless me so much with all Your provision, presence and power. I must not forget You! Please keep my eyes focused on You and the task ahead. Fill me with a fresh anointing on this day, I pray. Amen!
You Are God’s Possession!
(Entry Date : Oct 1st, 2010)
Scripture
Deut 4:7-8- “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nations is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?”
Observation
God’s people are privileged people! Why? Because:
- Provision (v5) – No other people can enjoy the land chosen by God for their possession.
- Presence (v7) – No other people can enjoy such closeness to God and with God. He is near us when we pray.
- Protection (v8) – No other people can enjoy the protection and guidance by God. His law is righteous and a tree of life.
Hence, they are not to forget:
- What God had done for them (v9)
- How God had come to them (v15)
- What God had said to them (v19), and
- What God expected of them because of His covenant (v23).
Application
HC, you are God’s possession! Enjoy the wonderful privileges you have as His child. Base your identity in Christ. The key to know yourself is to know God!
Prayer
Dear Father God, thank you for calling me your possession! Thank you for renewing my perspective in ministry and granting me the wisdom to make wise decisions. Pl continue to lead and direct every area of my mind and heart so I may follow you. Amen!
Secrets Behind David's Strength
(Entry Date : Aug 20th, 2010)
Scripture
2 Sam 3:39- And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!
Observation
David was a man of reconciliation but Joab and Abner were men of retaliation. Because of their greed for power, 3 murders will occur before David takes the throne: Asahel (Chap 2), Abner (Chap 3) and Ishbosheth (Chap 4). While Abner grew in strength (3:6), David also grew stronger and stronger (3:1). But David’s strength was not the same kind as Abner’s. His was found in weakness (v39). He may be the anointed king yet he was weak. Because he can be weak in himself, the Lord can then be strong through him (2 Cor 12:10).
Application
HC, what kind of strength do you have? Is it Abner’s kind or David’s kind? May the Lord give you the grace to be weak so that you can truly be strong in Him and through Him!
Prayer
Lord, You are the all-wise God who always choose to use weak vessels to display Your glory. Please teach me to see my weaknesses as a platform where you can use to display Your greatest glory. Amen!
GIDEON - A MIGHTY WARRIOR
(Entry Date : May 9th, 2010)
Scripture
Judges 6:15–“But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
Observation
If anyone ever thinks he has no potential, consider Gideon. In almost every aspect, he was an unlikely candidate for the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:
When God called him, he was hiding (v11). When God spoke to him, he raised problems instead of trusting promises (v13, 15, 17, 36, 39). His favorite words were “If” (v13, 17, 36) and “But Lord” (v13, 15). When Gideon did start to obey God, he worked at night (v27) and had to have repeated assurances that the Lord was with him (v17-22, 36-37, 39).
But God saw Gideon’s potential and called him a “mighty warrior”. God did not see who Gideon was but he was to become! Jesus did the same thing to Peter when he said: “You are… you shall be…” (John 1:42). God is so gracious that He was willing to accommodate our weaknesses in order to develop our faith
Application
HC, whenever you lose courage, think about Gideon. Remember God did not just see who you are today, but who you will become one day. Learn this principle deeply and begin to see people through God’s eyes. Steward your authority and empower them today. They are the Lord’s “mighty warriors”!
Prayer
Dear Lord, teach me to see that in my life and others today, and help me to release a word of faith to others that they may find courage like Gideon has found in you.
The Gift Of Discernment
(Entry Date : December 28th, 2009)
Scripture
Lev 11:47– You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.
Observation
As God’s people, Israel had to be separated from everything that God called unclean. Other nations can, but they cannot. They are to “be holy, because God is holy” (v44). If they wanted to be pleasing to God, they need to practice discernment (v46–47). As for the priests, they were supposed to teach them God’s will (Ezekiel 44:23).
Application
HC, as God’s child, you are called to be different! The dietary laws are temporary (Mark 7:14–23; Acts 10:9–18; 1 Tim. 4:1–5) but the principle is permanent: Exercise discernment and avoid what is unclean.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful principle on discernment. Teach me wisdom so I may be able to distinguish between good and evil, and more importantly, between the good and the best, between a “good-thing” and a “God-thing”. In Jesus' name. Amen!
Paul's Secret To Joyful Living
(Entry Date : June 24th, 2009)
Scripture
Phi 1:21 – For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Observation
For Paul, to live is good but to die is even better. Is that true of Christians today? Unfortunately, it seems that many carry another kind of life philosophy – “to live is not gain but pain, and to die is even greater pain”! Either way, it’s a lose-lose situation. At this point, Paul is writing out from prison. He is coming to the near end of his life. He has gone through much suffering and near death experiences (2 Cor 11). He could have become bitter by what he saw and experienced. He could well become another casualty in ministry. But this was not the case at all! Here in this letter, we saw a Paul who is still full of joy. He doesn’t mind dying for it is gain to him. And he wouldn’t mind living either because that means continuing the “fruitful labor” (v22). This brings me to the question: “Paul, what is your secret of joy?” Sum up in two words: Right Perspective!
* In spite of various trials that the believers go through, he remains confident that God “who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (v6). God is in control!
* In spite of his chains, he saw that “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (v14).
God is at work!
* In spite of ministry challenges, in this case, having teachers preaching with wrong motives, he rejoiced simply because Christ is still preached. (v18).
God’s Kingdom is advanced!
Application
HC, learn from the Apostle Paul’s philosophy of life. Let this be your guiding compass to navigate every issue in life and ministry. Your sovereign God is in control! He is still at work! His Kingdom will continue to advance!
Prayer
Dear Sovereign Lord, you are LORD! More than just sovereign, you are so good! You saw all my needs and you are always ready to provide not just the good but the best. Help me carry this philosophy of life and never again miss the vision that in spite of every setback and challenges in life and ministry, you are forever in control, that you’re at work, and your Kingdom will continue to advance! =)
The Discipline Of Confession
Scripture
Acts 19:17-18 – When this became known for the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
Observation
John Ortberg wrote: “One of the most formative practices in a small group is confession… the appropriate disclosure of my brokenness, temptations, sin, and victories for the purpose of healing, forgiveness, and spiritual growth… Without confession we cannot accomplish our God-given calling to transform people.”
Profound words! Without confession, there is no transformation. But confession is not something natural. We all wear masks. We hide from each other. It’s part of our fallenness. In this text, confession flows from the fear of the Lord. They started confessing their evil deeds only when they recognized the fear of the Lord and begin to hold him in high honor. In the church, confession must be freely offered – never manipulated. A small group serious about transformation should be moving into ever deeper confession – removing masks to reveal our core feelings and fears, sins we still struggle with, and areas where we're not growing. Through the discipline of confession, we acknowledge the reality of who we are and open ourselves to God's transforming work.
Application
HC, confession is good for your soul! Create a safe environment for people to share their pains, struggles and temptations. Beware of “confession killers” like a judgmental spirit, jokes (inappropriate use of humor), lack of follow-through, etc.
Prayer
Father, thank you for teaching me the power of confession. Cultivate in me a posture where there is nothing to prove, nothing to hide, nothing to lose!