Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Do not be afraid of this vast army of COVID-19. For the battle is not yours, but God's!

 



Please click this link for the video version:   https://youtu.be/l9i8Zk0Bmws   


Bible in one year by Nicky Gumbel:

Nicky Gumbel's Bible in one year today:

https://preview.mailerlite.com/w0x6q6w2e8/2003402986092501773/k4h0/

Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence
2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. 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 people
3.   Sing a song to praise God (you are welcome to use "Father, I adore you" which I have been singing every morning for the past 20 years or your own choice to praise God)

          Father, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Jesus, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
          Spirit, I adore You, lay my life before You, how I love You.
      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:


     “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 and having Jesus as my Lord. 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 sins 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 gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."


    
    The link to today's Time with Abba passages:   http://api.pastoralcareschool.org/twa/
    Time with Abba passages: (Psalm 78:65-72, 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:14-11:12; Proverbs 20:4-6)

    Today's key passage: 

     
         Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
2 Chronicles 20:14-17


Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to him.

    My Listening
    The topic I received today isDo not be afraid of this vast army of COVID-19. For the battle is not yours, but God's!

    When King Jehoshaphat was facing with the vast army of enemy, he was instructed by Prophet Jahaziel that he did not need to fight, just commanded all his soldiers to take up their positions and stand firm. Wow! God sent an ambush to destroy all his enemies!

    Many people missed what did King Jehoshaphat did before God acted like that. Just as King Jehoshaphat's eighth generation, King Hezekiah did not need to fight but God sent an angel and then that night killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. So, what did Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah do?

    Fasting and praying, put on sackcloth and repent, cry out to God!

    The whole world is being attacked by the vast army of COVID-19. Many super nations have been doing lots of research trying to solve this crisis but everyone is still waiting!

    I strongly believe if we have Jahaziel in Jehoshaphat time and Isaiah in Hezekiah's time to ask people to fast and pray, to put on sackcloth and repent, to cry out to God. God will act and COVID-19 will be no more!

     Dear Lord Jesus,  
     Help us to know that if we are willing to fast and pray, to put on sackcloth and repent, to cry out to God, You will act and COVID-19 will be gone. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
      
     Reflect on these questions:
     1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch?
      
      2.  What is your next step?

      Family Corner:
     Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 
     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link: https://www.pastoralcareschool.org

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