EPIPHANY • 8

Are we living by human ways, timing and words or are we living according to God’s ways, timing and words?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

reading for: Tuesday Night, 14 February

Matthew 17:1-9

The Human Way is Usually Not God’s Way

  • READ

    Are you too comfortable with Jesus? Do you assume the way that He will work in your life?

    Have situations in your life and unanswered prayers caused you to doubt that Jesus is God Himself?

    The disciples had been with Jesus for sometime now. Seeing him in all sorts of scenarios, hanging out with him in various settings. They had seen him perform many miracles (chapters 8-10), healing a leper, calming the storm and casting out demons. And had heard many of his teachings (chapters 5-7 and 13). But just as things were reaching a high point, he starts to tell his disciples about the next part of his journey. That he would have to suffer and ultimately be killed before being raised again from the dead (16:21). And this is where the disciples (represented by Peter) begin to feel the shock (16:22).

    It would be ridiculous that Jesus would need to suffer and be killed! What kind of king is a king who is powerless against that? If he would heal a leper, calm the storm and cast out demons, if he could feed thousands, surely he can become king and save Israel without suffering and being killed!

    It is in such a moment that the transfiguration of Jesus happens. This miraculous moment on a mountain echoes the historical moments where God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and also later gave him the law. Where Moses’ face glowed so brightly (Exodus 34:29-35) that a veil had to be put on him. And just in case we do not see the significance, Moses himself appears together with Elijah, representing the prophetic books of the Old Testament (17:3).

    And a voice from the sky speaks to affirm that Jesus is God’s dearly loved son, who brings Him great joy. That He stands above and beyond Moses and Elijah, as great as they were. For Jesus is the appointed King and very presence and fullness of God Himself. This revealing of Jesus as God is seen by Peter, James and John. And in that moment of doubt and question, is a reminder to the disciples that Jesus isn’t just a human being, but God Himself. And as close as they have gotten with him, they should never take Him for granted.

  • REFLECT

    We all experience times of doubt in our life, especially in trying and difficult times. And when our prayers go unanswered, we cannot help but feel like things are not going our way. This was exactly how the disciples felt after hearing that Jesus would suffer many things that would ultimately lead to his death. Humanly they never thought that the Messiah would need to suffer and experience death. Humanly they thought that if Jesus could do so many miracles, and if He was truly the King, suffering and death would not be necessary for someone so powerful. They had assumed their way and their thinking was God’s way.

    We need to remember that our thoughts are nothing like God’s thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We also can rest assured that our Heavenly Father knows all of our needs (6:32).

    In what areas are you struggling to see God? Have you settled into a place of doubt and unbelief in Him? Come to Jesus afresh and anew again today and bring all your doubts and questions to Him. And as you do that, allow Him to bring light to you to see that He is very much with You. Pray and ask that He opens your eyes to see things as He sees. And to help you continue to live in faith and trust in Him.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 15 FEBRUARY

Exodus 24:12-18

The Human Timing is Usually Not God’s Timing

  • READ

    How long do you expect and think God will take to do things in your life? Are you becoming more and more frustrated with how long it seems like God is taking?

    In this familiar scene of God appearing to Moses and giving the law for Israel, we assume many things. How tall do you think Mount Sinai is and how long do you think it will take to climb up this mountain? How many times did Moses climb up Mount Sinai? How long do you think Moses was up there and how long did he have to wait?

    Firstly, Mount Sinai is about 2.28m above sea level. Not particularly high but imagine how long it would take an 80 year old to climb that. (Moses was 80 at that time)

    Second, did you know that Moses climbed up Mount Sinai 8 times in the entire book of Exodus? With this account in chapter 24 being his 6th.

    Third, after climbing up part of the mountain, Moses had to wait for 6 days, before God called out to Him from the cloud (24:16). Hearing God’s call, he climbed even further up the mountain and remained there for another 34 days and stayed in the mountain for a total of 40 days.

  • REFLECT

    We always expect God to do things quickly in our lives. Especially in an instant world where we have instant access to unlimited knowledge, instant access to any person in the world and food delivered at an instant to our doorstep. No wonder we expect God to work in an instant. After all, He is God and has the power to do things instantly. Why wouldn’t He?

    Why would He choose to call Moses when he was 80 years old and not younger? Why would He make him climb up a mountain 8 times? And why would He make him wait for 6 days before calling him to climb even further? Why make Moses stay on a mountain for 40 days?

    Simply put, we need to learn to wait for God’s timing. We need to learn to surrender our own idea and expectation of the best time to God. We need to learn to go up to the mountain and wait on Him. Its in the waiting that we grow and become transformed more and more into His likeness. For they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).  

reading for: Thursday Night, 16 february

2 Peter 1:16-21

The Human Word is Not God’s Word

  • READ

    Whose words are you listening to in your life? What words replay in your mind and heart early in the morning and late at night?

    Are those words creating more chaos and worry in your life or a peace that helps you rest?

    Peter writing to the church was speaking against false prophets and false teachers who were bringing destructive lies (2 Peter 2:1-3). Destructive lies that was evil and ultimately a denial of Jesus. In their teaching they promised freedom but they were actually enslaved to sin and corruption (2 Peter 2:19). Peter on the other hand was writing to remind the church about what God’s holy prophets had said and what Jesus commanded through the apostles (2 Peter 3:2).

    And it was in light of this that Peter’s own personal experience of the transfiguration stood in contrast to these false teachings and prophecies. The transfiguration moment was seen personally by 3 of the disciples (1:16). They also heard God’s own voice about Jesus that He was God’s beloved own son (1:17-18).

    And that experience gave them the confidence and assurance of all that was said in the Old Testament (1:19). That the words spoken were like a light shining in the dark. For they were the words of God (1:20-21), words that gave life.

  • REFLECT

    What are some of the emotions that you are feeling at the start and end of the day? When you wake up in the morning, how are you feeling? And just before you end the day, what are you feeling?

    If worry, anxiety and frustration are the feelings you are experiencing, what thoughts and words are driving them? It is quite likely that negative and fearful words and thoughts are replaying in your mind. "Things are only going to get worse." "There is no more hope." "You have tried so much but its no use." "Give up."

    Pray and ask the Lord to re-anchor your thoughts and heart on His word and presence instead. Pray through these words instead:

    "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

    "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

    "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

reading for: Friday Night, 17 february

PSALM 2

Human Kings are Powerless before God's King

  • READ

    There are many powerful figures in our world today, from political leaders who are in control of countries and governments, to financial leaders who are in control of huge amounts of resources. Then there are social leaders who have a large following on their social media accounts. Many times, it feels like they are the ones in control. They are the kings and rulers plotting against God and His people (v. 1-3).

    But it's quite clear that God is the one in control, in fact, He who is ruling in heaven laughs and scoffs at them (v.4). He has the power to rebuke and put them in their place (v. 5). And put the rightful King in place (v.6).

    This King is God's own beloved son (v. 7) and the nations and earth belong to Him (v.8). He can move and destroy them in an instance (v. 9).

    This is the King that all other rulers, influencers, political figures and financial leaders should submit to (v. 12), serve (v. 11), and act in accordance to (v. 10). For only in serving Him can there be any real joy and life (v. 12).

  • REFLECT

    The powerful figures that we experience in our daily life are our bosses, superiors, clients or perhaps the authoritative figure at home. Although they are powerful, we need to acknowledge that all of them ultimately submit to the only King, Jesus Christ. He is the One who is seated on His throne and holds ultimate power.

    Do we see our bosses, superiors and other authoritative figures as under Jesus the King? (This is regardless of their faith and submission to Jesus. Meaning even if they aren't submitted, Jesus is still in control and ruling)

    The difference it makes is that the instructions, demands and requests of our earthly bosses should only been taken if it doesn't clash with the requests and demands of our and only true King, Jesus. In other words, if our boss is making demands that is making us forsake our devotion and worship to Jesus (like working at ungodly hours for a continuous and extended period of time, so that it constantly takes us away from our quiet time, weekly LG or weekly worship). We need to learn to say no. So that we can say yes to Jesus, our true King.

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