Devo June 26

John 1:9-13

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

What's being said?
Jesus Christ is the true light.  The world did not recognize and receive him.  For those who received and believed in Jesus Christ, God gave the right to become children of God.

How is this related to me?
Jesus Christ is the true light.  When I was young, I did not recognize and receive him.  When I received and believed in Jesus Christ, God gave me the right to become a son of God.

How to apply this today?
I am thankful for my identity as God's beloved son.  Out of this identity, I am accepted and loved by God regardless of my abilities and performances.  Because of the acceptance and love from God, my attitudes and values become different than how I was when I was lost in this world.

Devo June 20 John 5:31-47, Revelation 17:1-14

John 5:31-47
What's being said? Jesus was challenging the religious leaders that they look forward to praises from people and not from God.  The religious leaders do not believe in Jesus Christ, yet they claim that they believe in Moses and being the chosen people of God.

How do I related to what's being said?
Jesus said "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."  I study and read God's Words very often.  Do I fall into the trap of the religious leaders thinking just by reading and knowing more will allow me to have a blessed life?  It is when I read and took God's Words to my heart.  God's Words is alive when I live it out as a response to love for Jesus.

How to apply that today?
Later, I would have some time for worship practice with my friends.  I would like to share this insight and encourage each other to worship God in spirit and in truth.  I would like my brothers and sisters to keep me accountable to listening and obeying God's Words.


1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come,
I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.
2With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the
earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman
sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had
seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and
was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her
hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5This title was
written on her forehead: Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes,
and of the Abominations of the Earth. 6I saw that the woman was drunk with the
blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw
her, I was greatly astonished.… …
12”The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom,
but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13They
have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14They
will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he
is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and
faithful followers.”

Meditation
1. The judgment scene comes to an end with the portrayal of the Great
Prostitute. Although Prostitute is a sexual image, here it is about spiritual
infidelity. This figure embodies those people and institutions that, across the
ages, have betrayed the living God and sold themselves to Satan’s forces,
doing their bidding in order to enjoy privilege and riches.
2. In fact, we, too, also quickly follow other gods. We are so easily seduced into
idolatry of one kind or the other. What are some the temptations that would
draw Christians from God?
3. Think: What are the temptations that I face today? What can help me to
remain faithful to the very end to “FINISH WELL”? Sit quietly before the Lord
and pray for His protection and empowerment.

Devo June 19: John 5:16-30, Revelation 16:1-9

John 5:16-30
What's being said?  The Jews persecuted Jesus for healing the disabled man on Sabbath.  Jesus claimed that he was doing what God had sent him to do.  He said that whoever hears his word and believes God who sent Jesus has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

How is this related to me? The religious and social elites persecute Christians for channelling healing to broken people.  I as a follower of Jesus Christ is to follow what Jesus Christ has done.  I am hearing Jesus' Words and believes God who sent Jesus and have eternal life.

How to apply this TODAY?  God is telling me to bring channel healing by witnessing for God.  There are oppositions to the work of God.  I am going to pray and go to where God ask me to bring His words of comfort and encouragement to whom he asked.


Revelation 16:1-9
1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go,
pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” 2The first angel went
and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the
people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. 3The second
angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead
man, and every living thin,g in the sea died. 4The third angel poured out his bowl
on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5Then I heard the
angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are
and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; 6for they have shed
the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink
as they deserve.” 7And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true
and just are your judgments.” 8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun,
and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9They were seared by
the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these
plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

Meditation
1. In this scene, the seven angels leave heaven to pour out their bowls
filled with God’s wrath. The seven bowls, similar to the seven trumpets,
are reminiscent of the judgments plagues in Egypt. This reinforces John’s
emphasis on worship because the ten plagues on the Egyptians not because
they were extraordinarily evil but for their determination to prevent Israel
from worshipping God.
2. It has been said, “The greatest evil that people of faith face from the outside
is the obstruction of worship. The greatest evil that they face from the
inside is the subversion of worship.” Can I identify some these forces in our
contemporary society? How should the church counteract these external
and internal forces?
3. Have I noticed such forces in me - either hindering my worship of God or
corrupt my sense of significance of worship? Have I ever hindered others
from worshipping God by my behaviours or attitudes? How do I need to
repent, and claim victory in Christ?

Devo June 18

John 5:1-15
What's being said?
Jesus Christ healed a disabled man at the pool.  The man tries to get in the pool, but some one else goes down ahead of him.  If the pool really could heal people, why would there still a great number of disabled people there.  The pool is like an idol we trust in for healing.

How do I relate to what's being said?
I behave like this disabled man.  Sometimes, I am paralyzed by fear for the challenges ahead of me and I lack of faith in God.  I trusted in things other than Jesus for healing and deliverance.  I blamed others when Jesus asked me "Do you want to get well?"  Jesus tells me to "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."   Despite how much challenges are ahead of me, I am to walk and move forward.  Also, Jesus said, "See, you are well again.  Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

How to apply this today?
Jesus Christ has healed me.  My fears and lack of faith are lies from Satan.  I am to get up and walk in faith with Jesus Christ.  In the midst of planning and taking actions in leading myself, my family, and Jesus's church, I am going to walk as I am being led by Jesus Christ every step of the way.


Revelation 15:1-4
1I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven
last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2And I saw
what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those
who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of
his name. They held harps given them by God 3and sang the song of Moses the
servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your
ways, King of the ages.
4Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your
righteous acts have been revealed.”

Meditation
1. In a turbulent world where we are constantly getting disoriented, worship
is the way we get re-orientated. Worshipping God in all areas of our lives—
daily giving all of our selves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)—is our
powerful weapon in the midst of a spiritual warfare.
2. In my spiritual journey, how does worship and spiritual battle play a role in
my spiritual growth?
3. With my most reverence to God, read slowly vv3-4 a few times as my worship
to God this day.

June 15 Devotions

It seems to me that everyone are on different pages when we are engaging in personal devotions.  Currently, PGC as a whole is studying the book of Revelation.  During through the Bible chapter by chapter classes, we are studying the book of John.  Personally, I am reading through the Bible again for the 4th time and I am on 2 Chronicles.  I am going to introduce three different ways of personal devotions for you to choose from.

Method 1: Follow the PGC 260 Devotion (Read the passage, apply the meditation questions)

Method 2: Center the devotion around the last Bible class ie) Let say you studied John 4 last Sunday, pick 4 passages from John 3-5.  Our expectation is you engage in devotion (4/6) days from Monday to Saturday.

From the passage you selected, you answer the following three questions:

1. What was God doing during this period?
2. What were the people doing in response to God?
3. How can I relate to the timeless truth in the passages?
4. How can I apply what God spoke to me TODAY?


Method 3: Go through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation:
1. Spend 8-10 minutes reading the Bible in chronological order, try to finish at the end of a chapter.  Try to do this (4/6) days from Monday to Saturday.
2. What was God doing during this period?
3. What were the people doing in response to God?
4. How can I relate to the timeless truth in the passages?
5. How can I apply what God spoke to me TODAY?

Illustration for method 1: Revelation 13:11-17


In the Devil’s design, Satan will deploy his troops. The land beast will dupe
us and coerce us into idolatry. On the other hand, Satan tries to deceive us
by disguising itself as the world’s saviour, claiming to deliver health, wealth,
happiness and immortality. Do I see Satan’s activities in our society today?
How prepared am I in facing the political persecution, or the economic
temptation? How am I engaged in the daily deliberate practices of Bible
reading (260) and prayer as they are part of the effort
toward spiritual maturity, sensitivity and defences?

Illustration for method 2: John 4:39-42
Jesus Christ visited the Samaritan woman.  Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus Christ because of the woman's testimony.  Many people including myself may relate to the Samaritan woman.  We may feel unworthy, unpopular, despised, and we make excuses for not witnessing for Christ.  God can use any willing person for His glory.  I can apply this truth today by boldly witness for Christ regardless of how others think of me.  I am going to share the joy of experiencing God to the friends I may see tonight at fellowship.

Illustration for method 3: 1 Chronicles 23-26
God was helping David his nation with setting up a structure of Levites, priest, singers, gatekeepers, and officials.  The names and duties of the officials were listed.  The people were faithful in carrying out the duties that were assigned to them.  God called me to serve Him by modelling how to worship and pray to God.  I can apply this truth today by faithfully carrying out the duties God assigned me TODAY.

Revelation 12:7-12

7And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon,
and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not strong enough,
and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon was hurled down—that
ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He
was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses
them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
11They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
12Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

Meditation
1. Satan is alive and is roaming the earth as roaring lion. His goal is to keep
people from coming to know Jesus personally, and to tempt and fool the
believers. How often we fall traps to the tricks of Satan!
2. But Christians are reminded of the victory of Christ over Satan and death.
Salvation is assured and God’s rule is intact. No matter how daunting the
Dragon, Christ will prevail. Believers have to keep trusting God and persist in
their witness, proclaiming that Christ reigns.

Personal Note:
As I look at people I know, some of them are going through tremendous suffering, some of them are questioning the meaning of life, and some of them are losing hope.  I see how Satan is alive and is attacking people from coming to know Jesus personally.  I pray that I trust in Christ's victory over Satan.  I am able to stand firm in the midst of all my challenges because of God's love for me.  I pray that God's love and the assurance of salvation will help my friends who are going through challenges.

Revelation 11:1-4

1I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the
temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2But exclude the
outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They
will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two
witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These
are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the
earth.

Meditation
1. The two unnamed witnesses have the characteristics of the Old Testament
prophets Elijah and Moses. Through the centuries, these two men have
accumulated symbolic greatness – Moses being the giver of Law and Elijah
the giver of prophecy. They direct the attention of all humanity to the Christ
as Lord and Saviour. There can be no complete witness when either Law or
Prophecy is omitted, for Christ is both the fulfillment of the Law and the
fulfillment of prophecy.
2. The Christian church stands in this world as a witness for Christ. You and
I are members of the body of Christ. Am I following the steps of the two
witnesses, in my smaller ways, as a faithful witness for Christ?

Personal Note:
After reading the whole chapter, despite the great things that these two witnesses did for Christ.  They were overpowered by the beast and was killed.  After three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they were taken up to heaven.  Crossroad stands as a witness for Jesus Christ.  Is Crossroad witnessing for Christ?

Revelation 10:8-11

8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take
the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and
on the land.”
9So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to
me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will
be as sweet as honey.” 10I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it.
It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach
turned sour. 11Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples,
nations, languages and kings.”

Meditation
1. John is told to eat the book. Eating a book means that one takes it all in,
assimilating it into one’s body. Witnesses must first become what they say
before they say it. Am I assimilating God’s word so that I can be a speaker
on His behalf?
2. Every witness experiences the opposite sensations of sweetness and
bitterness. The Word is sweet because it is from God; a bitter feeling will
linger when it is rejected by others. What are some of my recent experiences
with God’s word?
3. Recount some of my sweet moments and the bitterness I experience when
my witness is being rejected. Sit quietly before God and continue to linger
for a few minutes at the situations the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

Personal Note:
I feel delighted when some brothers and sisters are responding to our invitations for discipleship and follow up.  I feel somewhat rejected when people are not responding to God's Words.

Revelation 9:1-6

1The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the
sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2When he
opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.
The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3And out of the
smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of
scorpions of the earth. 4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any
plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their
foreheads. 5They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for
five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion
when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find
it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
20The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent
of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of
gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality
or their thefts.

Meditation
1. Joel’s prophecy (Joel 1:2-2:11) of locusts is to call for repentance of the
Israelites to return to God. He emphasized the final judgment and terrible
consequence of refusing to repent. Only in true repentance are we saved
from the terror of sin.
2. Despite God’s judgment, those who are temporarily spared still go on their
merry way (vv20-21). Pharaoh also refused to repent after the ten plagues.
And sometimes, we are just like them. During such times, God is actually
forcing us, through difficult circumstances, to look inside ourselves for
persistent stubbornness that dismisses such invitation of grace from God. If
it’s an honest look, what we see should humble us, and that humility should
pave the way to the grace of repentance.
3. Sit silently. Allow the Holy Spirit to show areas of my “persistent
stubbornness”. Pray for humility to see and grace to repent.

Personal Note:
The end goal of discipleship, evangelism, and worship is for a person to repent of sin and obey God's will.  Repentance means change of mind, change of actions, and change of words.

Revelation 8:1-5

1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half
an hour.
2And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given
seven trumpets.
3Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was
given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden
altar before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of
the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5Then the angel took the
censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came
peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Meditation
Before the seventh seal, there is silence. An angel comes before the altar
with a censer and mixes the prayers of believers with the incense. When
the censer plummets, the earth rumbles. Prayers bring incalculable effects.
Even the smallest words of mine can result in great effects. How would this
awareness help my prayer life?

There will be great disasters at the end of the world.  I do not know when, but it is bound to happen.  Before disasters strike, usually there is a period of silence and peace.  I am to prepare my life for eternity.

Revelation 7:9-12

9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could
count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne
and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm
branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around
the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the
throne and worshiped God, 12saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

Meditation
1. Ever heard it said that the sole purpose of our life is to worship God?
2. Read this passage aloud one more time and listen to the words of the
worshippers. Think, why is God worthy of my worship?
3. Consider lying down on my face before him as I tell him (with specifics), just
as the angels, elders, and animals do in this passage. Respond to him with
thanksgiving, authenticity, honesty and passion.

Is God's glory what I have vision for in my life?

Revelation 2:1-7

1”To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and
walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work
and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you
have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them
false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have
not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you
did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand
from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the
tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Meditation
1. Think about our own church. In what ways is it similar to the church at
Ephesus?
2. Focus on the relationship between me and the Lord. How does v.4 speak to
me? Have I walked away from my first love for the Lord?
3. How can I regain that first love? What have distracted me from the Lord? In
what areas should I repent? If I haven’t walked away from my first love, how
can I continue to be faithful and in love with God?

Personal Note:
In my church, I see there is a group of brothers and sisters who are willing to labour and endure hardship because of the name of Jesus Christ.  When I reflect on myself, am I engaging in the actions because of the love of Jesus Christ?  When ministry work is done apart from the response to God's love, it is futile and useless.

There is nothing I can do in my own will and power to regain that first love.  God's grace of salvation was a free gift in the beginning.  To regain that first love, I have to humble before God and repent.  Just like how he unconditionally loved and saved me when I was a young believer, I can continue to be faithful and in love with God through repentance and do the things I did at first.

The things I did at first was praying for all occasions.  I remembered that I used to spend lots of time praying for pretty much anything by myself and with brothers and sisters.  Secondly, I had a great interest in God's Words and who God is.  I remembered that I spend lots of time reading and reflecting on God's Words.  Thirdly, I was eager to bond with brothers and sisters and have some burdens to pray for them and encourage them.

Revelation 1:4-8

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the
earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made
us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and
power for ever and ever! Amen.
7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall
it be! Amen.
8”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and
who is to come, the Almighty.”

Meditation:
1. Read the passage aloud and pay attention to the characteristics and actions
of God described in this passage.
2. Look at the sky, or close your eyes and reflect on how God has brought
victory to all mankind, including me.
3. What does the proclamation in v8 “I am alpha and omega” mean to my faith
and life today?

Personal Note:
Jesus Christ is the God eternal.  He is here from the beginning till the end.  Glory and power to Jesus Christ as we have conquered death and sin.

In the world I live in, we have this defeated attitude in almost every arenas in life.  I see people living out defeated attitude in their school life, social life, marriage, career, family, addictions, etc.  People are seeking to find victory and accomplishments through success in gaming, career, lust, etc...  As followers of Christ, we have overcome death and evil in this world, through the blood of Christ.