Bible Study 2025
THURSDAY 20th MARCH 2025
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‘THE GRIEF JOURNEY’
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“Death has descended on my life like darkness. Losing people that I love has felt like stepping into the shadows.
I consider the world to be a darker place without them.’’ (from the book Good Grief.
Some things that grieving people may say : “this feels unreal, I cannot believe this is happening to me”
or “this happens to other people but not to us.”
Read Job 16:16
The Bible character Job, as his life is stripped back and he felt like he had lost everything cries out
“My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness on my eyelids.” Dark shadows circle his eyes.
This image of darkness resting on Job’s eyelids is powerful. The light is gone.
In many ways, death can be a dark place for those in grief.
The impact can be varied :
PHYSICALLY - from appetite, digestion to draining you of energy and lacking desire to exercise. Sleep is interrupted.
Maybe dehydrated due to tears.
Jesus understands physical suffering. He cares as the Great Physician.
Medical attention is advisable to address grief’s physical impact on you.
EMOTIONALLY - a wide range of emotions like sorrow, despair, anger, may be felt/expressed.
A Christian writer said, “and when you catch your breath, take a deep inhale of hope.
Drink deeply the rich words joy that the Scriptures offer you.”
You are not a failure even though you are expressing such emotions.
It’s ok NOT to be ok. You do not need to be ashamed.
SPIRITUALLY - it is ok to ask “why”, especially after a shocking loss.
We take comfort that even Jesus, as He hung on the cross, lamented :
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me ?” (Matthew 27:46).
Perhaps Jesus repeatedly screams with a hoarse, loud voice.
He names the grief that He feels. He was always in the Father’s presence, yet He feels forsaken now.
We may not understand ‘’the why’s.” Yet God in His mercy sustains us.
COMFORTING THOSE WHO GRIEVE - what to do or not do ?
Some tips on what NOT to do/say :
Don’t say:
‘God picks his best flowers first’ - because the child who died was not a flower.
‘The Lord must have needed another angel in heaven’ - do people become angels ? Not right theologically.
‘I know what you are going through my dog just died’ - you don’t know their particular pain.
‘If one person comes to Christ because of the loss of your son, it’s all worth it.’ - God sent His Son to die.
He did not need my son to die for someone to come to Christ.
‘Rejoice your son is in heaven.’—Yes he is in heaven, but I am sad because he is no longer on earth with me.
Don’t ask a mourner if their loved died by suicide, how did they do it,
or what signs did you see that he was planning to commit suicide.
These comments might be well-intentioned because we want to relate to others in grief.
But such a comment may not be appropriate at the time.
Read Proverbs 25:11
“Timely advice (right word at the right time) is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.”
Read Isaiah 50:4 (NLT)
“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary …”
The idea of weariness here is that individuals can feel overwhelmed with life’s burdens and grief.
It shows human frailty and the need for Divine strength and refreshment.
Some tips on what TO do/say :
We may not be able to answer the “why did this happen“ question. We can answer the “who do we turn to?“ question.
To the Lord Whom we know.
If the loved one is a believer, you know where they are. You know, you will see them again.
The loved one who has left you is part of your past and they are part of your future.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) — share their grief.
So you can say it’s ok to cry, even to cry out to God : if they mourn properly, they will heal properly.
The place of tears can become a place of springs, as you discover the sustaining presence of God.
Be a listening ear : Allow the mourner to vent, complain, to feel mad, glad, sad, angry — these are all some core feelings.
Facilitate their grief by being there; don’t let them grief in isolation.
Share a memory of the loved one with those who grieve.
Read Psalm 84: 5-7
The “Valley of Baca” can translate into “valley of tears.”
Knowing that this life isn’t all there is gives courage as you walk through the valley filled with sadness, tears, and pain.
This knowledge makes the valley of tears into a ‘place of springs.’
God will provide the strength by His Spirit in the place of uncertainty, vulnerability, and weakness.
You can go from ’strength to strength’ with the hope that Christ has already done everything needed
to secure our eternal future.
We will be welcomed by God !
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THURSDAY 13th MARCH 2025
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‘THE GRIEF JOURNEY’
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Over the next few weeks we will be spending time discussing the topic of Grief :
What does the Bible say about Grief ? How can we negotiate loss and grief ? How does grief change us ?
There is also the reassuring truth that God is with us each step in the journey of grief.
Our prayer is that in your time of grief or someone you know who is grieving,
that you will discover that God is strong enough to carry you in your time of grief.
What is loss ?
The act of losing possession of someone or something important.
It is inevitable, can be sudden and may present in may forms (like being a victim of crime, some illness, someone dies).
Grief can be defined as deep sadness over a loss; sorrow. It is a feeling or emotional response caused by a significant loss.
Grief is a natural part of the healing process after a loss. God uses this process to bring us into that place of wholeness.
It is good thing.
The pain of the loss brings grief and it is unique to an individual.
The process cannot be rushed — each grieving person responds differently. You cannot ”snap out of it and get with it.”
C.S.Lewis speaks of grief as being like fear, or concussion, or being mildly drunk.
ECCLESIASTES 3:1-11 (read)
These verses give us a representation of different life experiences /rhythms of life. Different season in life.
We like some (like a cool autumn) and we hate some (like a hot summer !) We humans have no control over times and changes.
We are to embrace the changes that come with seasons of life. God has purposed these seasons Sovereignly.
In our lives, there will be seasons of loss and grief.
There will be times when your grief cannot be articulated in words, only tears.
STORY : There was a poem about “loss” carved in stone. It was only three words long.
Two of the words had been scratched out of the rock, with only the word ‘loss’ remaining.
The reason for that ? Sometimes loss can find no words.
“What we need above and beyond everything else, is time.
Time to grieve, to weep. Time to shout. Time to be. Time to be honest, open, and vulnerable…” (from the book ‘Good Grief’).
A part of everyone’s story is sorrow and grief. Losing someone you love is inexplicable.
But it is not the end of your story. No experience is wasted God is using everything you experienced and making it beautiful.
If God purposed it, He can be trusted with it.
ISAIAH 53:3-4 (read from ESV)
Whether grief has blown on you like a hurricane suddenly knocking down houses
or slowly like a steady drop of rain bringing gloom and sadness,
we can take comfort in this truth : The suffering Servant, Jesus knows grief too.
We need to remind ourselves that our Saviour Jesus Christ is acquainted with grief. The facts speak for themselves.
In verses 3 -4 we read words like “despised, forsaken/rejected, acquainted with grief, borne our griefs, carried our sorrows..”
Sometimes all you want to do is wrap yourself in a blanket, maybe read a book - although you are expected to be at work.
Or you might be leading a meeting. As you drag yourself out of bed and get dressed, you may ask yourself :-
“Did the others forget that my wife/husband/child/close friend died a few months ago?”
As you do that, you are becoming a person acquainted with grief.
Jesus not only knows grief, He has also borne our grief for us. He enters our suffering, pain, loss, and grief.
He knows what it is to be broken. He takes our grief and sorrow upon Himself, as if they were His.
He steps into the painful experiences of His people. He carries the people’s burdens of griefs and sorrows.
So in your journey of grief with all its twists and turns, you are united to the Saviour Who is compassionate.
We all may grieve differently - but we still grieve deeply.
PRACTICAL TIP : When a person grieves, it is good to come alongside the person.
Just being present is enough to support them.
You may not necessarily have to use words.
As a fellowship, we are to follow Jesus’ example of carrying another’s burdens.
Paul exhorts us to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
While we have hope and optimism of a future in Christ,
we must allow the mourner space to address the confusion and uncertainty of their pain.
It is possible that even as they navigate their darkness of grief,
this could be an opportunity for them to have a real encounter with God.
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THURSDAY 6th MARCH 2025
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DEVOTIONAL : “BATTLE PLAN - WORSHIP MORE, WORRY LESS”
JOSHUA 5:13-15 (READ)
Here we read Joshua is on the outskirts of the pagan city of Jericho.
He is about to lead the people of God into the promised land.
He and the Israelites have a battle to face. They have to get past the secure wall/gates of Jericho.
I imagine there is a lot going through Joshua’s mind at this pivotal moment in his life.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a situation ?
If ever someone might feel overwhelmed at a situation totally out of their control, Joshua’s experience facing Jericho was it.
Not only did the wall surrounding Jericho 'look' invincible, there was also the issue
of Israel’s army lacking the proper weapons for tackling such an impressively guarded city.
You can’t pull walls down with spears and arrows !
They needed battering rams and catapults which were not part of their arsenal.
Suddenly the presence of God meets him in that moment.
The scripture says a man stood in front of Joshua with a sword in his hand.
This man is ready for battle.
Perhaps Joshua is seeking reassurance to clear up any doubts in his mind.
Maybe he is not so confident so he asks an honest question :
“Are you for us or for our enemies ?” (Verse 13)
In response to Joshua’s question, the man identifies himself to Joshua as the Captain or Commander of the Lord’s army.
This is no mere human
(Many scholars believe this experience is an encounter with God in human form-theophany, or with Christ - Christophany).
So at this critical moment for Joshua, the Lord who is ultimately in command speaks to Joshua.
Joshua must take orders from the Commander of the army of the Lord.
I wonder what kind of message Joshua was expecting, or even longing for.
Maybe a message detailing war strategies and tactics ?
Verse 15 : Joshua receives a call to worship. He is told to take off his sandals, for the place he is standing is holy
This is an invitation for Joshua to worship the One who is big enough to handle the battle at hand.
Joshua is invited also to worship a loving God Who is able to address any doubts and fears
that may be running through his mind.
And as Joshua removes his sandals, it reminds me of what I need in the face of my own challenges,
and seemingly insurmountable situations : I need to worry less and worship more.
Focus on the One Who is greater than any battle I face.
It is a reminder that :-
when I really want God to show me the bigger picture or the details of my situation,
when I am ruminating over ‘what ifs’ or trying hard to find answers, or
when I am wondering if God is for me …
I need to stop/pause and lift my eyes to the One — as the psalmist says, 'to the Lord from where my help comes,'
and worship Him.
Worship honours God. It gives us Divine perspective for our battles. Worship changes us.
It is easier said than done. So it’s not the first thing we might do when we feel overwhelmed.
Yet as we worship, we remind our anxious and trembling hearts that God is mighty and loving.
We are declaring that God is able and in control.
It helps us refocus, preparing our hearts and minds for whatever out battle looks like
Our responsibility is not try to figure things. The Lord Who is Sovereign is taking charge.
Our responsibility is to bow before Him.
Realise that as you follow God’s lead and His Spirit lives in you, you are always on holy ground.
The Commander-in-Chief, our Lord will lead His people into victory.
So put the battle plan into action : Worship more. Worry less.
Trust the One Who never fails and is always good. God is good at being God !
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THURSDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2025
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DEVOTIONAL: 'OUR GOD SEES, HEARS, AND KNOWS'
THURSDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2025
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BIBLE STUDY TOPIC : ‘HOW TO STEWARD YOUR SEASON OF SUFFERING WELL’.
(Based on verses from Daniel 1 and 2 )
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How can you stay on course when “life as you know it” is disrupted ? How do you respond when life does not go as planned ?
When you find yourself in a hard place, how can you lean wholly on the One Who holds every circumstance in His hands ?
In our dark season of pain and suffering, sometimes we can lack the confidence that God’s power is still at work in our lives.
You need a confidence boost in the Lord.
CONTEXT : Daniel was a Jew who was taken captive along with many other Jews during the Babylonian exile.
Daniel’s life was literally turned upside-down when the Babylonians invaded Israel. In verse 1, Jerusalem was ‘besieged.’
In the Hebrew, this word implies being shut in or confined. It paints a picture of being surrounded on all sides by the enemy.
There is turmoil all around Daniel, yet his life is focused and untroubled.
His heart is settled and at peace in the midst of dire circumstances.
What can we learn from Daniel’s life that can help us steward and manage well seasons of suffering that we experience ?
In Daniel’s life there are noteworthy features that helped him stay on course even after his ‘life as he had once known it’ was disrupted.
Firstly, Daniel PURPOSED to stay obedient
READ CHAPTER 1:8
Daniel chooses obedience and to live purposefully.
He is not allowing his decisions to be dictated by the new culture or by circumstances.
Instead of buckling under pressure, Daniel resolves to live faithfully as a worshipper of the true God.
He is not ‘going with the flow’ in the midst of a people who serve many gods and glorified a pagan culture
instead of the one true God
To eat Babylonian foods was to be Babylonian. It was more than a meal — it was a matter of identity.
How do you think that kind of resolve in Daniel’s life was established ?
Certainly not in one day. Daniel had a habitual practice of surrendering his day to God.
All the “ifs, ands, and buts’’ of life did not change his pattern of behaviour when his city was besieged.
So, too, we can stand firm if our hearts are well-established and confident in Christ Jesus.
When we are suddenly besieged by unexpected circumstances we remain purposeful and so we don’t drift away.
Secondly, Daniel was PRUDENT in his responses
READ CHAPTER 2 :14 and 23
Daniel stewards this season well by the way he responds in the time of crisis.
The well-known executioner Arioch is ready to put all the wise men to death as decreed by the angry King Nebuchadnezzar.
The wise men could not reveal the content of the king’s dream.
How did Daniel respond to the king’s harsh decree ?
With prudence and discretion or wisdom and tact.
The word 'Prudence' here implies having discretion and a full understanding and wise counsel.
He did not respond purely emotionally to this seemingly impossible situation.
He is relying on his faith in God. He knows the Word of the Lord and he lets this guide his responses.
A prudent response can diffuse a really difficult situation (Refer to the Book of Proverbs).
So too for us :
When facing seasons of adversity, we can ask the Holy Spirit to give us wise, right words at the right time
to communicate rather than just ‘reacting’ in the heat of the moment.
Thirdly, Daniel turned to PRAYER…instead of panicking
READ CHAPTER 2:17-18
What action did Daniel take in stewarding this situation ?
Daniel invites his friends to join him in interceding for God’s mercy in their dire situation.
Prayer is Daniel’s first response, not panic. He relies on God’s strength.
Their very lives are at stake. They don’t despair. They put their faith into action through prayer.
Faith in action means confidently ‘praying for’ and ‘patiently waiting’ our Lord’s perfect will and timing.
Like Daniel and his friends, we might be called to walk difficult paths.
Yet we can turn to the great Mystery Revealer and Problem-Solver, Jesus.
When have you faced difficult, daunting or dire circumstances where you needed to put your faith into action ?
(Share your experience)
Be encouraged. Like Daniel, you can press in to prayer instead of giving way to panic.
This helps you to persevere when the storms are raging and you are experiencing your darkest hour.
Fourthly , Daniel PRAISED God
READ CHAPTER 2:19-23
Daniel blesses the ‘God of heaven’ who reveals deep and hidden things and for His gracious mercy He has shown.
God answers their prayers by revealing the king’s secret dream and its interpretation to Daniel.
Note the name “God of heaven” : this surely would bring comfort to the displaced Israelites.
Jerusalem is in ruins, but not the true and living God !!
Daniel acknowledges that God is still on the throne and in control of circumstances, events, kings, and nations.
He adopts a posture of praise to God who is his source of strength.
Daniel acknowledges humbly it was God Who has done these things.
It is God Who reveals to us what we could not possibly know otherwise (vv. 20-23).
How does remembering that God is on the throne change the way you view your struggles and challenges ?
TO WRAP-UP :
So these are four ways to steward your season of suffering well. They all begin with the letter “P” :
Purpose - Daniel purposed to live obediently
Prudent - Daniel was prudent in his responses
Prayer - Daniel prayed instead of panicking
Praise - Daniel praised God, acknowledging God as the source of his strength
In this fallen world, we all experience hard, painful situations. How we steward suffering is a ministry in the Kingdom of God.
We must understand that Jesus takes everything - our past, present, and future and fully redeems it all for His glory.
God brings beauty out of ashes and restores the broken pieces of our lives.
Out of the tests, God gives us a unique testimony that we can share with others
and encourage them with our story of God’s grace.
Be encouraged.
The steadfast love of the Lord gives you the strength to stand firm as you steward your season of suffering.
Wait well.
God is fighting for you !
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THURSDAY 13th FEBRUARY 2025
Changing your perspective, changing your mind
Intro
* In problems, challenges, trauma or even day to day, how do we change our perspective?.
1. Look back...
Maybe David remembered his days as a shepherd, finding grass, providing winter feed, giving shelter, protecting
Making sure they lacked nothing
When we look back we get confidence
"Hey, he's done it before, he can do it again..."
We see the bigger picture
It changes our perspective
2. Look in...
David would take his sheep through the valleys because he know there were rivers and pools and rich vegetation
Note: THE VALLEYS ARE THE BEST WAY TO GET TO HIGHER GROUND
The sheep did not understand but the shepherd knew best
When we look in we get comprehension
"Hey, God is inside me too, I am not alone..."
We see the bigger picture
It changes our perspective
3. Look up...
Maybe David remembered when he went ahead to higher ground and prepared the land, dug out the weeds,
He was preparing the table for his sheep
GOD PREPARES A TABLE FOR HIS SHEEP
and it has exactly what you need
When we look up we get capability
"Hey, I have resources, I am not empty handed"
We see the bigger picture
It changes our perspective
4. Look forward ...
Maybe David remembered coming down from the higher ground towards the sheepfold
David was looking forward because.....NOTHING CAN FOLLOW YOU UNLESS YOU'RE MOVING
Maybe David saw his flock healthy and he saw the ground healthy too. They had eaten the weeds, they had cleaned up the land and left behind healthy ground
THE PRESENCE OF THE SHEPHERD GUARANTEES THE BLESSING OF THE SHEEP
When we look forward we get courage
"Hey I have a hope and a future..."
We see the bigger picture
It changes our perspective
Final thoughts:
Look back it gives you confidence..
We live in a visible world and when we meet Jesus, we wake up to an invisible one.
2 Cor 4 18, 1 Cor 13 12, Eph 6 12.
We operate in the visible world but there is (should that be are, I don't know?) ocean loads of provision in God's world.
1. LOOK BACK
Because when we look back we get CONFIDENCE
V1 The Lord is my SHEPHERD. I LACK NOTHING.
V2 He makes me LIE DOWN in green pastures,
He LEADS ME beside quiet waters
2. LOOK IN
Because when we look in we get COMPREHENSION
V3 He REFRESHES MY SOUL
He GUIDES ME along the right paths for his names sake
V4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will FEAR NO EVIL,
for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they COMFORT ME
3. LOOK UP
Because when we look up we get CAPABILITY
V 5 You prepare A TABLE before me in the presence of my enemies.
You ANOINT MY HEAD with oil;
My cup OVERFLOWS
4. LOOK FORWARD
Because when we look forward we get COURAGE
V6 Surely you goodness and love will FOLLOW ME all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
THURSDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2025
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BIBLE STUDY TOPIC : 'BECOMING A STORM EMBRACER'
Have you ever walked through something so difficult, so terrifying, that you’ve caught yourself asking, “Jesus, where are You?’’
Sometimes when life gets messy, it can feel like our Messiah has gone missing.
How do you make sense of suffering ?
In this fallen world, problems, and struggles are inevitable.
It is in these hard times, we might ask why God is allowing what is happening.
Why would a good God allow so much bad into the lives of His people.
God wants us to lean in to Him, so He can get us through whatever dark and difficult seasons we experience in life.
The storms we face in this life are not without God’s providential care. Storms may surprise us; they never surprise God.
And storms do not get the final say in our lives.
Read from MARK 6:45-52
Context : Jesus had just fed the 5,000 plus people miraculously.
He immediately sends His disciples away, telling them to return to the boat and go ahead of Him.
Jesus then goes to pray to His Father. His whole ministry depended on Him remaining in unity with the Father.
Now, Jesus knows everything. He knew there would be a messy storm, but He sent his disciples into the boat anyway.
I think when we face really hard times we can feel like if Jesus does not see us.
Why would Jesus allow them to go into the boat ?
Three realties of storms we face in this life :
1 - God allows storms
It does not make sense to inflict pain or struggle into our lives in our natural thinking. We can feel betrayed by God.
When Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat,” this means He was literally urging them strongly.
The Greek word used here gives the sense that Jesus pressed them to embark.
Have you ever questioned your trust in Jesus when He sent you into a storm ?
Have you ever asked : is God good when life feels so bad ? The feeling could be one of disillusionment.
I have struggled that storms are allowed when I was being faithful to God.
But we need to understand that storms are part of life.
And that there is comfort in knowing that Jesus already knows about the storm. He is in the storm with you.
Do you think there is a purpose for your storm ?
There is a purpose in the storm - this does not make sense to our worldview of a comfortable life.
Yet it makes sense in a fallen world to know that we have a Sovereign God Who remains in complete control.
2 - God’s timing is simply not our timing in storms
Another reality we can struggle with is this : We want deliverance from the storm immediately, pronto !!
But this passage says Jesus went to pray.
Then Jesus saw the disciples struggling. BUT… it was not until later that He intervened.
Have you ever felt that God is delaying too long while you were in a storm ?
Sometimes it feels really long ! And it can make us battle weary.
When did Jesus walk on the surface of the lake towards them ?
In their darkest hour — During the fourth watch of the night which is between 3a.m. and 6 a.m.
There is a beauty in trusting God’s goodness while you wait.
Read Psalm 27:13-14
While you wait in the storm, God is still at work whether it is through a miracle or giving you the grace to persevere.
He is with you. He wants you to learn more to depend on Him. He want to be your refuge IN the storm.
So when it seems that God is taking too long, it is a good time to remind yourself of your need.
>>Your need : God’s presence in the storm and His purposes for your life rather than the removal of the storm.
3 - Jesus reveals Himself in storms
The disciples are all terrified. They might have lost sight of hope in the storm. But Jesus never loses sight of us.
They are scared, thinking He is a ghost as He “passes by.”
This phrase -“to pass by”(v.48) can be understood as a test of faith for the disciples.
It is similar to God’s “passing by” Moses in Exodus 33:19-22, revealing His glory, magnificence, and His incomparable power.
It invites the disciples to recognise Jesus’ Divine nature and call out to Him in their trouble,
so they don’t miss the miracle in their mess.
Jesus is revealing Himself to His disciples.
It teaches us to embrace the storm as part of God’s plan for us.
Verses 50-51 : What is Jesus’ response to His disciples who cried out in fear, not faith ?
Immediately Jesus speaks reassuringly to them : “Take courage ! It is I ! Don’t be afraid.”
He instills confidence, dispels fear. He reveals who He is … the Great I AM. He is God Himself !
His presence brings peace and calm in the storm as He joins them in the boat.
WRAP-UP :
We would rather avoid storms in life.
But consider that if we avoided a storm, we might just miss an encounter with God and maybe even a miracle.
Verse 52 - it was a long process to bring the disciples into a changed mind-set
that included the supernatural and was not limited by natural thinking.
The disciples had seen Jesus do the miracle of feeding the five thousand with the loaves and fishes.
They were inspired, but their perspective did not change.
They had not applied personally what they had seen and heard of Jesus.
Heart transformation comes when we apply the truth of God - what we have learnt - to our lives.
We see Jesus more clearly.
So when we encounter natural problems, we are to remind ourselves of this truth :
We have a Supernatural God Who is not limited by the laws of nature nor by anything or by anyone.
We are to learn to embrace storms as part of God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
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THURSDAY 30th JANUARY 2025
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‘DEVOTIONAL FOR PRAYER, FASTING AND GREATER INTIMACY WITH JESUS’
As a fellowship we have been engaging in two weeks of seeking God more and drawing closer to Him.
We have been calling out to God. We have been saying ’no’ to the flesh and ‘yes’ to His Spirit as we spend more time with Him.
Here is some spiritual encouragement as we conclude this special time today.
I believe God is ushering us into a new season of spiritual fruitfulness, Christ-likeness and refreshing by His Spirit.
Oh, how we need His Spirit !!
JOEL 2:28-29 (read)
Context :
The prophet Joel paints a dark picture in the first part of this book.
There is pain, struggle and unrepentance in the midst of a plague of locusts.
Every aspect of the lives of God’s people have been disrupted.
The prophet instructs the people to cry out to the only One who can save them.
God promises to hear their cry and restore their land.
This echoes the words God spoke to King Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14.
God promises to bless his people IF they humble themselves and seek Him and turn with repentant hearts to God.
In the last half of Joel chapter 2, there is a shift.
The Lord answers that He will restore the relationship with his people and renew their land.
You could just imagine the joy this brings to a people who are weary.
Perhaps they can still smell the ‘stench’ of dead locusts that brought terror and famine.
Nestled within God’s offer of renewal and restoration is yet another promise. God will "pour out" His Spirit on all people.
Read Joel 2:28-29
God’s Spirit - the Holy Spirit is available to everyone regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or any other variable.
We read of the outworking of this in Acts 2 when the gift of the Holy Spirit came.
"I will pour out My Spirit." This is one of the greatest statements in the Bible.
The letter "I" — speaks of the Sovereignty of God
The word "WILL" — speaks of God’s determination
The words "POUR OUT" —speaks of God’s generosity
The words "MY SPIRIT"— speaks of God’s personality
This is how God ignites kingdom life in us, His people. He pours out His Spirit on them and they are never the same again.
So when God promises to 'pour out' His Spirit, it is more than a trickle.
God releases the floodgates of heaven into our hearts !
This is God doing only what He can do.
This is God coming by the Spirit and indwelling everyone who calls on the name of the Lord —
who worships and prays to Him. (Verse 32).
We simply need to acknowledge our wrongs humbly and turn to God.
Then we become His - where He lives in us and we live in Him by His Spirit.
Ask God to refresh you by His Spirit. Take some God-alone time.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live our lives like God wants us to live : for His glory and for the good of His people.
“COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME!”
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THURSDAY 23rd JANUARY 2025
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‘DEVOTIONAL FOR PRAYER , FASTING AND GREATER INTIMACY WITH JESUS’
As a fellowship, we are continuing in our two weeks of seeking God and drawing closer to Him.
It is more about what God is filling us with when we decide to give up certain activities to seek Him.
When we make such sacrifices, we are not losing but gaining in many ways.
We are saying ‘no’ to the flesh and ‘yes’ to the Spirit of God
So this is some spiritual encouragement to help us keep focussed during these two weeks. For, it’s all for His Glory.
In his early years as king, Solomon was passionate about God’s people encountering God’s presence
in a heart-transforming way.
In 2 Chronicles 6, Solomon prays.
He believes the temple he built would ultimately open the door for God’s transforming work in the people.
God’s responds to Solomons prayer
READ 2 CHRONICLES 7:12-15
VERSE 14 : The Lord says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray
and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins
and restore (heal) their land.” (NLT )
So God gives three promises/blessings to His people : "I will hear you. I will forgive you. I will heal your land."
But there are conditions God requires from His people :
1 ) WE ARE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES - Humility allows us to let go and look up.
It is the starting point for a great move of God.
Humility recognises how inadequate we are while at the same time declaring that God is All-sufficient.
2) WE ARE TO PRAY AND SEEK GOD - we are to be hungry for God. Seeking involves searching with purpose.
It means desiring His presence more than anything else and going deeper in our relationship with Jesus over these 14 days.
Jesus says when you long for Him — when you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be completely satisfied.
So the hunger precedes the filling according to Jesus (Matthew 5).
3 ) WE ARE TO TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS - as we turn TO God, we are to turn FROM wicked ways.
God has no interest dwelling with wickedness. Turn from, repent and leave behind the old ways. Change direction !
God responds to our humble hearts, to us seeking Him and to our repentant hearts.
God draws near with compassion to those who turn from sin. He responds to those
who adopt a posture of repentance and humility.
He responds in mercy, forgiveness and healing and restoring.
We need to examine our hearts before God. Ask ourselves questions like
Is my heart looking to God with reverence and awe ?
Or is there something that holds your attention and your affection more than Jesus ?
Am I humbly seeking the Lord with a repentant heart ?
READ SONG OF SONGS 2:15
“You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship.
For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you.
Will you catch them and remove them for me ? We will do it together.” (TPT )
We must be aware of the 'little foxes' that can interfere with our relationship with Jesus.
These could be attitudes that are not Christ-like. Things we might have left unattended like unforgiveness, selfishness, pride, self-sufficiency instead of God-sufficiency.
They are like compromises that are hidden deep in our hearts.
They are areas where we have not yet allowed the victory of Christ to shine into or reign.
They keep the fruit of the Spirit from growing within us.
The only thing I believe that can make a difference is the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in our hearts.
That will happen when we are intentional about seeking God.
When we are so dissatisfied with the status quo or the way things are that we begin to cry out to God for Him to intervene.
God waits for us to bow low before Him, to humble ourselves, to turn away from wicked ways and turn to Him.
He will hear us as we cry out to Him.
He will restore and bring freedom in our lives so we live continuously in Jesus’ victory.
"COME, HOLY SPIRIT, COME !"
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THURSDAY 16th JANUARY 2025
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‘DEVOTIONAL FOR PRAYER, FASTING, AND GREATER INTIMACY WITH JESUS’
This is some spiritual encouragement as we begin two weeks of seeking God and drawing closer to Jesus.
The prophet Jeremiah gives the children of Israel news that they are going into Babylonian captivity for 70 years.
Now this would seem like a lifetime of hardship without a lifeline of hope.
READ JEREMIAH 29:10-14
This is what God told His people in the difficult season of their lives.
The Lord assures His people that His thoughts and intentions towards them are fixed and established.
But the people have a responsibility. God reminds them what they must do, as they await the fulfilment of His promises.
What is the part they must play ?
The children of Israel need to call on the Lord. They need to intentionally and wholeheartedly seek Him.
Seeking God would allow us to see God at work more. And we gain His perspective as we start to see more of what He sees.
And so our hearts are willing to trust Him more — so our trust in Him grows as His good plans for us unfold.
Seeking God is more than just emotion. It’s about giving all of our will and energy.
Verse 13 - the Lord says, “You will seek Me and find Me, WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”
It’s about sacrificing the the things I feel compelled to chase, so I can be available to follow God’s clear direction.
It’s more about being so wrapped up in Jesus,
to fall so much in love with Jesus that you don’t want lesser desires of this world.
The point is that God works in partnership with us, as His Kingdom advances.
God never planned to leave His people in captivity in Babylon. He is the God Who restores
Yes, He was disciplining them in love to bring them to repentance, obedience, and restoration.
The prophecies of Jeremiah inspired Daniel (now about 80 years old) to pray and cry out to the Lord.
Israel’s restoration from 70 years of captivity was imminent.
And Daniel entered into a time of humble fasting and prayer, partnering with God to see it happen.
READ DANIEL 9:1-4
Daniel turns to the Lord by seeking Him in prayer and pleas for mercy.
He acts in obedience to seek the Lord as Jeremiah prophesied.
He cries out to the Lord.
He intercedes for his people because of their disobedience. He asks God to forgive as they repent.
In verse 4, Daniel addresses God as “the awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love
with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
Daniel’s prayer teaches us to draw near to God : to confess our sins humbly, to plead for God’s mercy,
to declare truths and God’s promises and in all of that to seek God’s Glory.
Such a prayer will be answered.
Let’s cry out to Him friends. Let’s seek Him today and over the next 14 days.
And let’s see God bring breakthrough like a dam bursting with God’s favour upon us.
PRAY WITH ME :
“O God, hear the prayers and petitions of your people.
For Your sake, Lord, look with favour on our lives, our fellowship and our community.
Give ear, our God, and hear. We cry out to You.
You see our hearts and the things that are competing with Your holy desires for us.
We want to be a people who bear Your Name.
We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.
Forgive us, when we have chosen lesser things instead of You.
We repent and turn to You, for You have the words of life.
Lord, listen ! Lord, forgive ! Lord, hear and act ! For Your sake, O God, do not delay.
Intervene and by Your Holy Spirit restore us and birth something new in our hearts .
That we would desire greater intimacy with You. That we would truly be people who bear Your Name and live for Your Glory.”
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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THURSDAY 9th JANUARY 2025
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"HOW TO PREPARE FOR A BETTER YEAR"
Each year is an opportunity for a fresh start.
Actually every day God graciously blesses us with is an opportunity for a new beginning.
The week between Christmas and the New Year helps us to refocus on what God has for us in the coming year.
In a way we get to reset our lives. And in the first few days of the New Year we begin to implement some of our goals/plans.
SOME WAYS THAT COULD HELP US REFOCUS ARE :
1 - Remembering God’s faithfulness
‘Remembering‘ is a very Biblical word. God encourages us to remember His faithfulness.
For example, where did you see God come through for you in 2024 ?
As you look back, how can you recount His mercy and goodness ?
Was there a moment in 2024, where God supernaturally strengthened and comforted you ?
You sensed God’s favour upon you ?
‘Remembering’ strengthens your faith.
You get a sense of confidence that the same God Who has been faithful in the past,
He is going to continue to be faithful in 2025.
READ PSALM 106:9-15
This is an encouraging, yet troubling and sobering passage. God leads His people into the promised land.
He does miraculous things for them. They start with faith and praise. Yet quickly they forget what He had done !
Are we guilty of forgetting what God has done for us in 2024 ?
When we share stories or memories, we are reinforcing in our minds the faithfulness of God … over time.
‘What gets repeated gets remembered.’
So when you sense God’s favour showing up in your life, it is good to share it. You ‘repeat’ it and it gets remembered.
Practical tips to help remember God’s faithfulness :
- keep a journal of those “God moments.”
- keep a ‘Grace jar’ with little reminders written on notecards of where God showed up in your life,
your family, during the year.
2 - Reprioritising your goals/routines
As you move from the chaos of Christmas time into the New Year, there is a realigning that needs to take place.
For example, eating habits at Christmas time can be erratic.
It may not be in alignment with your goal to lose weight or not put on weight.
Can think of another example ?
We have to be intentional about arranging our lives so that it reflects what we prioritise.
Things like :
- My time alone with God and how that impacts in relationships like marriage, work, or social relationships/activities.
- Physical health concerns and prioritising those in any given week.
- Seasons of life have to be taken into account, as you reset your life for the New Year.
Your priorities/goals help you to move towards the trajectory you want your life to go.
Arranging our lives with intentionality reflects what we prioritise.
It reflects what we value and this is evident in our day-to-day, week-to-week rhythms and habits.
READ PSALM 90:12
Moses contemplates the brevity of life and that life has a deadline. He acknowledges that God is eternal in nature.
In humility he asks the Lord to "teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
We can pray similarly : to remember our days are short and to live wisely,
understanding that the things we do for God’s glory have eternal value.
READ ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8
King Solomon says that seasons or rhythms of life come into our lives.
Every season has hardship and every season has blessing.
A lesson we can learn is that we are to identify the season we are in and embrace the change that comes with it.
That way we can live in whatever season God has appointed us with confidence and purpose.
So be INTENTIONAL about the realignment of godly goals. Think about what is eternally valuable to you.
How is that reflected in the way you spend your time ?
3 - Renewing your mind and recommitting to serve the Lord
It is so easy to get stuck in a rut doing the 'same old habit/routine.' Then we miss the 'new' that our God desires to do.
READ ROMANS 12:1-2
Paul reminds the believers that God has been merciful to them. And he appeals or begs them to respond to God’s mercy.
How? By surrendering yourself to God; to live sacrificially for His purposes.
He also says that you are to stop imitating the ideals/opinions of the culture around you and be inwardly transformed
by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.
This is the key to a better 2025 : Change the way you think.
New thoughts come from new godly perspectives. New thoughts bring new responses.
So how can we do this ?
Immerse yourself in God’s Word. Seek Him more.
Engage in praying and fasting. This is a way of reminding yourself that you will not be ruled by your flesh.
That you don’t have to make decisions out a lack of self-control.
(Galatians 5:16) You are controlled by the Holy Spirit. So we are to ‘go on walking’ by the Spirit.
It’s a healthy habit spiritually.
The Spirit produces in believers the fruit of self-control.
Let the beginning of this New Year be significant for you. It seems such a natural time for renewal and recommitting.
Invite God’s favour, direction, and blessing on your life.
And let it be a year of spiritual fruitfulness in your life and for His Glory.
To Ponder:
What do you think needs to change in your heart and mind to help you fully release your godly priorities and plans ?
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