Silence
1. Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence
2. Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace. Exhale your worries.Praise and Thanksgiving
1. Think through your day, all the times that made you smile
2. Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people3. Open your heart to praise the Lord
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1
Confession and repentance
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
“Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
2. Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
"Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
The Word
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:12-17
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
My Listening
Yesterday we talked about how Jesus shows how to get away from the attack of Satan. Today's passage tells us how Jesus went to Capernaum trying to help people experience the same victory as he did in the temptation.
Jesus wants to show the people He is the light as prophesied by Isaiah as in Isaiah 9:1-2 so that if they follow Him they can be able to turn away from darkness and enter into His light. That's what repentance really is: to make a U-turn from walking deeper into darkness to the opposite direction towards the light, and then into the Light, that is, Jesus Himself.
Jesus wants to show the people He is the light as prophesied by Isaiah as in Isaiah 9:1-2 so that if they follow Him they can be able to turn away from darkness and enter into His light. That's what repentance really is: to make a U-turn from walking deeper into darkness to the opposite direction towards the light, and then into the Light, that is, Jesus Himself.
It's all about a personal relationship with Jesus, the Light. You have Jesus as your Lord; you have the light shining on you and you are in great light. And, you can be able to bring light to those people in darkness.
Where are you recently? In darkness? Are your eyes being opened by the Holy Spirit to see Jesus each day so that you can follow the Light to bring light to this world and to extend God's Kingdom to this world?
The topic I received from Jesus today is :
New Light : Are you in darkness or in the light?
What I received from Jesus today is a very clear question but not easy to answer. Because most people in darkness do not know that they are in darkness. They just cannot see the things Jesus wants them to see but can be able to see those things Satan wants them to see.
Even when Jesus was standing in front of them, most of them missed the light. They saw a person but not the light. If you really have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus then you should be able to see the Light. And because you are so close to the light you can become a reflection of His light.
So, let Jesus asks you again, "Are you in darkness or in my Light?"
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your coming to us so that we can see the Light and be in the Light. Lead us to be able to bring more people into repentance so that they can get away from darkness, and they see you and be with you into your light. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflect on these questions:
1. Where are you recently, in darkness or light? What has caused that, and how does it look like?
2. What is the way to take people or yourself out of darkness? How can Jesus' words, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near," help people to be in the light (v.17)?
3. How can today's passage help you? How can you dwell in Jesus' presence and bring people to light rather than darkness?
Family Corner:
1. In your family, how do you encourage each other?
2. Would you say there is a culture of encouragement? If not, why not? And, how could you begin a culture of encouragement that reflects Jesus' light?
Praise and Thanksgiving
Let's give thanks for God with us. Let us praise Him:
10,000 Reasonshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
2. What is the way to take people or yourself out of darkness? How can Jesus' words, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near," help people to be in the light (v.17)?
3. How can today's passage help you? How can you dwell in Jesus' presence and bring people to light rather than darkness?
Family Corner:
1. In your family, how do you encourage each other?
2. Would you say there is a culture of encouragement? If not, why not? And, how could you begin a culture of encouragement that reflects Jesus' light?
Praise and Thanksgiving
Let's give thanks for God with us. Let us praise Him:
10,000 Reasonshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
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