Devo Oct 29 Hebrews 5

The difference between “milk” and “meat” is not between a little knowledge and a lot. The difference is found in the way we process Scripture. For those who hear but do not apply Scripture, the truths
they know are milk. But to those who hear and apply the Word of God, the same truths become solid and sustaining meat.

My spiritual appetite now is pretty low.   I give thanks for the past weekend where I was fed spiritually by the message from a missionary who reaches out to Muslim people.  I was inspired by his message.  On the back on my mind, I was thinking how I am able to apply his message as I do not have any Muslim friends.  I felt discouraged because I felt like I gained head knowledge and I have no way of applying God's powerful truth.

Two days later, as I was labouring in my house along with people we hired to renovate our house.  I had the opportunity to get to know the people we hire.  I learned that my workers were Muslim believers.  I shared that I am a follower of Christ and he shared his faith.  At that moment, I realized how weak I was in witnessing my faith to a Muslim neighbour.  I realize how much I need prayer.  I could not come up with words to say.  Even though I should be a teacher feeding on solid food, I realize I still need to be fed with milk at times.

In another blog post, I am going to share my thoughts on the greatest enemy to my spiritual walk.

Hebrews 5:7-14

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with
loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he
was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned
obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became
the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by
God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you
have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the
oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives
on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment
trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Devo Eph 3 Sept 5

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family
in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious
riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your
inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I
pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that
you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Reflection
1. In the second half of the previous chapter, Paul looks at the salvation
for the Gentiles. Through Christ’s dying on the cross, Gentiles
and Jews are reconciled and became one in the new community
- church. In this chapter, Paul explained that the goal of his ministry
is to display God’s wisdom in bringing different peoples into a
unified church (v1-13). Since God has blessed us so greatly, Paul
prayed that believers (and all Christians) would comprehend fully
the extent of God’s love for them (vv. 14-21).
2. Paul repeatedly mentions “love” and “power” in this passage. He
earnestly desired that God’s people be “rooted and established in
love” in order that we have power “together with all the saints” to
grasp and know the love of Christ (vv18-19). How can we grasp or
understand love? By experiencing the width and length and height
and depth of the love of Christ. What do you learn about power and
love in these verses?

The power to make disciples is rooted in the love of Christ.

Devo Aug 29 Galatians 3

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes
that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you
only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with
faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being
perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed
it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles
among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just
as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the
nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along
with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written,
“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book
of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified
before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the
law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for
us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so
that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so
that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Reflection
1. Continuing from the last part of Ch 2, Paul further developed the
argument of Justification by faith alone. He pointed out the Galatians’
own experience (v1-5) and Abraham’s example; they all demonstrated
that salvation is by faith and not law (v6-14). Law never
abandoned promise as the key to God’s dealings with man (v15-25)
and in Christ believers become sons of God (v26-29).

2. The Galatians had been taught that they had received the Holy Spirit
by faith and not by obeying the law. However, they still thought
it was too simplistic to be saved by faith only. They wanted to
have some rules and creeds to follow in order to feel closer to God.
Spiritual exercises such as prayer and Bible reading as well as serving
may help us grow spiritually but it can never replace the work
of the Holy Spirit. Paul raised some pointed questions (vv1-4), and
tried to help them to restore Christ as the center of their faith.

3. Do you think it is not realistic to depend on faith alone for salvation?
Do you think your faith is too simplistic? Would you think that perhaps
a bit more work on your part may bring more assurance? Stay
at this point for a while.

Personal Note:
I am called to work as a pastor in building up the people in PGC.  I need to work diligently.  I plan, prepare, preach, visit, lead, teach my brothers and sisters to do the will of God.  My salvation does not depend on the work I do.  I have faith that my sins are forgiven and my relationship with God through Christ is certain.  I work because it gives me joy and it is what God designed me to do.

Devo Aug 27 Galatians 1

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the
brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according
to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever
and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in
the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there
is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the
gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to
you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you
a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying
to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant
of Christ.

Reflection
1. Paul greeted the Galatians (v1-5) and immediately launched a defense
of his gospel (v6-10). He received this gospel directly from
God (v11-23).
2. The gospel these false teachers taught to the Galatians was essentially
different from the Gospel of God (vv6-9). Paul said it’s no
gospel at all. Any message that tells us “try harder” is not good
news at all. No matter how hard we may try, we can never be
good enough to escape the bondage of “the present evil age.” Only
God’s grace, through the person of Jesus Christ, is truly Gospel
– “Good News.”
3. What are some ways the gospel is being distorted today? How can
you ensure that the gospel you believe and preach is the true gospel?
How can you increase your understanding of the gospel?
4. How might the way you present the gospel be different if you are
seeking the approval of people vs of God (v10)? Ask the Holy
Spirit to show you your true intention and pray for God’s forgiveness
and/or empowerment to bear truthful and fruitful witness for
Him.

Devo Aug 20 2 Corinthians 10

¹By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ²I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

⁷You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. ⁸For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

REFLECTION

1. From Paul’s example here, what is supposed to be the “normal” way Christians exercise leadership over one another?  On a scale from 1 – 10, how well do you demonstrate Christ’s gentleness and meekness in leading others?
2. What will you work on this week that demonstrates your interest in building people up and not pulling them down?

As I reflect on how to lead as a pastor, I thank God for the insights and convictions from the Retreat on how to build brothers and sisters up in loving Jesus Christ.  The "normal" way for making disciples is to lead with gentleness and meekness.  Being meek, I am to be God fearing, humble, teachable, patient, submissive to Jesus...)  Coming up, I am led to care and reach out to many young people personally and individually over the next couple of weeks.  I am reminded that I am to engage brothers and sisters with gentleness and meekness.  

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Aug 13

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
¹⁷“Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

REFLECTION

1. Christians are to be completely separated unto the Lord, with that separation as sharp as the dividing line between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, and between the temple of God and a shrine where idols are worshiped.  In short, we are to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” (7:1) God is our Father, but when we sin, sin’s contamination separates us from God.  Similarly, when sin comes into a relationship between two people, it’ll be felt like a grain of sand entering into the eye, the relationship will be affected.  So, the issue isn’t whether we could have intimate relationship with non-Christians, rather, if we want to maintain this close relationship with God the Father.  Our loving father is calling us: “I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.”  How do you respond?
2. Imagine you are taking a walk with the Lord in the garden.  Listen to God telling you, “I will be your father, and you shall be my son/daughter.” What would you say to him right now?  The Lord is listening.  Speak to him slowly and listen to his fatherly talking, too.

Devo July 30 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

¹⁷ But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ²⁰ When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. ²¹ For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

²³For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.³²When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

REFLECTION

1. The communion service is a memorial.  As the Israelites ate the Passover meal, each family relived the experience of its ancestors.  Today through the bread and cup, we return to the foot of the cross.  So, in the communion service, as we are united with Christ through faith, we share His death and His resurrection.   “Do this in remembrance” invites us to experience the awesome moment when our salvation was won.  It invites us to experience the holy God and to offer Him our thanks, our worship, and our praise.
2. If possible, kneel down to pray.  Tell God all your gratitude and other emotions for all that Jesus has done on the cross for you.  During next communion service, remember to take Communion“in remembrance” of Jesus and His Sacrificial Love.

Personal Note:

A maturing church is a church that is consistent with confession, repentance, and reconciliation.  Communion service is what the LORD ordained believers to remember what Jesus Christ did so that we have life to the full.  

Currently in my congregation, there is no communion service.  Communion service in reserved for baptised believers.  The basis for not opening communion for everybody including unbelievers is for the following reason "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself."
 God laid in the hearts of the elders and myself to introduce communion to the congregation.  We believe that believers mightily experiences the presence of the Holy Spirit as they partake in communion.  Since communion is a sacred and revered experience, we invite believers who had taken the step of obedience to receive baptism for taking communion.  A baptised believer had proclaimed his/her faith and made a vow to God in front of brothers and sisters and family and friends.

We will continue to seek God's guidance on when to introduce communion in the English congregation.  

Devo July 23 1 Corinthians 6

260 Devotional, July 23, 1 Corithians 6

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

REFLECTION

1. The Internet, newspaper, television and roadside billboard are all covered with sexual images.  How do you see these things?  Nothing wrong? Uneasy but couldn’t help it? Disgusted and turned away?
2. Have a quiet time with God. Silently consider your own body.  It’s for God and belongs to God and united with God.  Listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you, pointing out any unclean, unjust behaviour or thought.  Ask for forgiveness and God’s help to honor God with your body.

Today's devotion is on a passage I often teach and speak on when I teach on sexual integrity.  The battle for sexual temptation today is less intense than the times when I was younger (this is what the Holy Spirit convicts Paul to speak in the next chapter, 1 Corinthians 7).  Unclean and wicked thoughts come when I am battling other temptations.  I thank God for reminding me to rely on the Holy Spirit in order to live with integrity and purity for God's glory.

Devo July 16 1 Corinthians

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²²Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

²⁶Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

REFLECTION

1. In the first chapter, Paul expressed thanks for the Corinthian believers, but warned against divisions within the church which reflect human foolishness rather than the wisdom of the Cross.
2. The Corinthian Christians boasted in (bragged about) worldly wisdom and those who taught it. They also felt intellectually and spiritually superior to others. How does the message of the cross destroy all such boasting (vv. 18-25)? What had they forgotten about their past and the reason God chose them (vv. 26-29)? What does it mean to “boast in the Lord” (vv. 30-31)?
3. As you reflect on your own past, what reasons do you have for being humble rather than proud? How can genuine humility promote unity in your church or cell group?

As I reflected upon this passage, I had been proud over so many things in the past when I was a younger believer.  Today, I reflected on things that I highly value in life and I am humbled to see God graciously provided for me.  I cannot say that the valuable things in life are obtained by my own wisdom and effort.

Having a community of believers that loves one another and challenging one another to grow is a great gift from God.  I am reminded not to lean on my own efforts and wisdom in facilitating this community.  After all, a community of faith belongs to God.  Let's boast of what God has done in our lives.

Devo Romans 8 July 3

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Reflection

1. In vv18-25, Paul used a bold metaphor to illustrate the sufferings in the world, that is the pregnant woman’s labor pains, birth pangs. These are signs of an imminent and glorious birth – the “redemption of our bodies”. This is certainly a different way of understanding groans and suffering. Christians thus are able to realize that there is no comparison between the present hard time and the glorious future (v18). And they wait with eager longing(v19) and with patience(v25).
   How would this understanding help you better prepared to face the harsh situations in life at present time?
2. In vv 26-30, when we pray, we are never “on our own”. The Spirit at all times is praying in and for us. Therefore, prayer involves not just God’s listening to us; more importantly, rather it is the Holy Spirit’s active intercessory presence in our lives.
3. How do you pray? How can you experience the Holy Spirit’s active intercession for you? How would this encourage your intercession for other believers?

Devo July 2 Romans 7

¹³ Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Reflection

1. There is no use looking for a “secret” to the spiritual life that exempts us from trouble and conflict, defeat and doubt, despair and inadequacy.  No doubt we are “at war” (v23).  There are fierce difficulties with the resurrection life.  Have you uttered the cry as Paul did: “Who will rescue me”?
2. Read slowly:
   God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce His people to usefulness.  Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on God and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be of much value.  

Lord, I come humbly to you and admit that I am weak, cold and easy to fall into sin.  Depending on myself, I will only be worse and sink deeper. Thank you for your salvation and the continued deliverance that I will be able to overcome sin and temptation.  Thank you, Lord.

Devo May 28 Acts 10

⁹About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹²It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”  ¹⁴“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”  ¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”  ¹⁶This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.  ¹⁷While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.  ¹⁹While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.

²⁷Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Meditation

1. The Jews did not want to interact with the Gentiles, they don’t go into their homes, or touch their things, or eat at their table, etc.  This is mainly because the Gentiles eat what was forbidden by Jewish laws, they are ceremonially unclean, and interacting with the Gentiles would make the Jewish people unclean.
2. However, while Cornelius’ messengers were on their way to Peter, God used the vision to change Peter’s view toward the Gentiles.
3. Is there anything (of culture, background, custom, habits, education, interests) that have limited or prohibited you of true fellowship or reaching out to others?
4. Reflect on you prayer experiences.  In what areas have you experienced God’s guidance in prayer?
5. What are some of the social and cultural barriers that you need to break through as you seek to reach out to your friends for the gospel?

Devo Acts 6:1-7 May 22

¹In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.²So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  ⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.  ⁷So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Meditation

1. The life of Early Church was full of miracles, sharing, and fellowship.  How wonderful it would have been to be a member of this “Perfect” church.  In fact, the Early Church also had problems just like today.  There is no perfect church until the coming of Christ in union with believers.
2. If you have been frustrated with your church, are you willing to spend the same amount of energy to pray for your church and pastors?
3. Spend a few minutes to pray for your church, pastors, ministries and other believers.

Devo Acts 5 May 21

¹Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ²With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.  ³Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”  ⁵When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.  ⁷About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”  ⁹Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”  ¹⁰At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Notes:

The sin that Ananias and Sapphira committed wasn’t that they’ve kept some money for themselves.  After all, the sale of the property and the amount to donate were their decisions.  They sinned in deceiving God and His people.  They were severely punished for deception for greed will corrupt the church and the work of the Holy Spirit.  It seems Ananias and Sapphira were bound by their desire for approval or acclaim.  They couldn’t give freely and honestly as led by the Holy Spirit, but rather needed to use their giving to increase their reputation.  God could not allow such motives to pollute the powerful work of his Spirit in this first body of Christians.

Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes, and let your no be no."  The temptation to deceive God's people into thinking that I am very spiritual or generous is always present.  It is necessary to cleanse ourselves of all deceit and evil.  In what ways are you not being true to who God made you to be?

Devo Acts 1:6-14 May 15

⁶So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  ⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  ⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  ¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Reflection:

During the days between his resurrection and ascension, Jesus demonstrated and spoke truth about himself in order to prepare his disciples for a clearly defined task.  Jesus instructed His disciples to witness to the world, but they must first wait for the Holy Spirit.  Similarly, when God entrusts us with a task, we need to first depend on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do I like to get ahead of God and try to depend on your own abilities and enthusiasm, not knowing that WAITING is also part of God’s plan?

I need to pray for the Holy Spirit to show you specific areas where I am “impatient to wait” and have gone ahead of God with your own ideas of what is good.

Devo May 14 John 21:15-23

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Personal Note:
Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?" three times.  Jesus did not try to shame and humiliate Peter, but rather affirm and commission him to do the work of a pastor/shepherd by feeding the sheep.  We have all failed God, but when we repent by faith, God accepts us and affirms us to do His work that brings glory to God.

Regarding the disciples' pondering on what happen to Judas, Jesus challenged the disciples to just focus on following Him instead of being judgemental.  I struggle when I see leaders who claim to follow Christ sinned shamefully and disgrace God's name.  God reminds me that "If it is my will that those Christian leaders remain until Jesus comes, what is that to you?  You follow me."

Devo May 1 John 12:20-26

²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. ²¹ So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Meditation:

1. What does Jesus mean when he talks about a grain of wheat dying and reproducing itself?  Every spring, many of us would bury seeds in our gardens and in a few weeks enjoy the bloom of flowers and the nourishment of vegetables.  Jesus is teaching us that instead of grasping more tightly to whatever we value, we are to hold it more loosely, letting it fall from our hands into the ground.  Then, “if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.”(v24, The Message Bible)
2. Wait for Jesus to show an area of your life – a relationship, a decision to be made, and so on, – in which you are holding on to the status quo, and not allowing God to bring growth or change.  In what way might this be destructive or suffocating?

Devo April 30 John 11:17-35

¹⁷ Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, ¹⁹ and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. ²⁰ So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”²⁷ She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

²⁸ When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” ²⁹ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³² Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. ³⁴ And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”³⁵ Jesus wept.

Meditation:

1. What stands out and draws your attention in this passage? The deep love of the two sisters for their brother?  Their grief?  Jesus’ weeping?
2. Mary said to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here…”. Have you also had similar thought?  What was your complaint or accusation of the Lord?

April 25 Devo John 8

¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. ³ The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst ⁴ they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ⁶ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁷ And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰ Jesus stood up and said to her, Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Meditation:

1. Imagine yourself in the crowd that day.  Picture the embarrassed and shamed expression on the woman’s face.  Hear the condescending voices of the religious leaders.  Feel the dirt blowing against me as Jesus bends down and writes something in it.
2. Come honestly before God and ask the Spirit to reveal to you the sins you’ve engaged in recently.  Then imagine yourself in the same situation as this woman.  You’re caught in this sin, exposed.  Imagine you and Jesus having the same conversation: “Does no one condemn you?”  “No one, Master.”  He looks you in the eye.  “Neither do I.  Go on your way.  From now on don’t sin.”  What are you feeling?  Thinking?

Devo April 23 John 6:35-51

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

⁴¹ So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” ⁴³ Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— ⁴⁶ not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Meditation:

1. Some folks “hope” they have eternal life.  Others “trust they will have” eternal life.  And other folks insist “How can you know until you’re dead?”  Others will say, “What makes you think you’re so much better than me?”  Pause for a moment and ask yourself: what is your understanding or belief about eternal life?
2. Jesus wants us to know that we have eternal life (v37).  After we responded to God, He will keep us safe, forever.  Again, in vv 39-40, it’s not “will have” eternal life, not “may have”, and not “maybe has”.  It’s “he who believes has everlasting life.”(v47)
3. Since Jesus says you have eternal life and you can take His word for it. Take the time to thank God for His salvation and eternal life for you.

Devo April 15 Luke 24:13-32

¹³Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him.  ¹⁷He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  ¹⁹“What things?” he asked.  ”About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”  ²⁵He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  ²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  ³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Meditation:

1. How many times have we lurched with broken spirits because the unexpected seized the place of the expected and that with a wrenching disappointment?  In such moods even if what was expected comes to us, we cannot see it.  It is unrecognizable to our pain and our splintered hopes and wishes.  The two disciples saw it when Jesus broke the bread and blessed it.  Their hearts began to burn.
2. So we too can be surprised and blessed by the God who is expected, but rarely appears where and when and how we imagine.  It is God’s way to come disguised.  It is his way to come when the storm is peaking or fear deepest or when hope is almost gone or, if we are honest, utterly gone.  It has always been his way.  No resurrection without Golgotha.  No freedom without Gethsemane.
3. Tell it all to Jesus, all the heartaches, broken spirit, dashed expectations.  Then, wait quietly for God’s whispering and His hidden cloaked work.