PENTECOST • 4

What are you fearful of on a daily basis? What stresses you and keeps you awake at night?

*Note This week many of us are at church camp, so the guide will be shorter and exclude the Psalms.

SONGS FOR PRAYER

reading for: Tuesday Night, 20 JUNE

Matthew 10:24-39

Our fears in life

  • READ

    What are you fearful of? What worries you when you go to bed and arise in the morning?

    All of us experience fear in our lives, but Jesus in this week’s passage, reminds us his disciples, where our fear ought to be in.

    First, the fear of being wrongly accused by others. In other words, not wanting to look bad in front of others (v. 24-26). As disciples of Jesus, we ought to expect the same treatment as our teacher. So if Jesus was accused by others while on earth, what more us his disciples. Yet we need not fear them as all things will be revealed in time to come. The truth will be known and the wrong accusations will be exposed. Thus we’re invited to not live in fear of the words or the people.

    Second, the fear of speaking God’s word and truth (v. 27-28). We are sometimes worried not just about how we’re perceived by others but also if our position might be compromised. It might be our job, good standing with our boss or colleagues (physical and social standing) that might be compromised if we spoke the truth or exposed the bad practices at work. If we feel convicted by God about something wrong at work, we need to share it with the right party at the right time. Rather than fear the temporal consequences.

    Third, the fear of losing our security. If the sparrows are protected and taken care by the Father, what more us (v. 29-33). Therefore if we are in a situation where we need to acknowledge who our God is and what kind of person He is, we can do so without fear that our Father will let us be harmed.

    This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, a follower of Him our Master. Even if it means prioritising Him first before our own family (v. 34-39), we need to be ready as

    following Jesus also means taking up our cross. Yet it is in this place where we will find life.

  • REFLECT

Think back and reflect on your past week, what have you been worrying about or causing you anxiety? If you were to dig deeper and consider what was making you feel that way, what would you say? In other words, what were you really fearful of in that time?

Was it your “face” or reputation? Was it the “right image” you have been trying to keep at this workplace? Or was it that you might lose your job again and push you further into a worse financial position?

Following Jesus as our Master means remembering that He will correct all wrong impressions of you. Following Jesus means speaking his word and truth even if it might compromise your position. Finally, following Jesus means He will take care of You even if it seems like you might lose out temporarily. True and abundant life awaits all who follow Jesus.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 21 JUNE

Genesis 21:8-21

Fearing Our Future

  • READ

    Are we fearful of our future? Are we anxious of what might happen to us or our family?

    On the one hand, Genesis 21 seems like a domestic family dispute between the first wife of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar the second wife. What was dispute was the standing of their sons, Issac and Ishmael. Technically, Ishmael was the older son who would receive all the blessings and inheritance from Abraham. So Sarah, requested Abraham to disown and send both Hagar and Ishmael away.

    On the other hand, we can see a larger story and work of God through this. Despite being sent away, God wasn’t just going to protect Hagar and Ishmael, but in fact also grant to him the blessing of being a nation, as he was a descendant of Abraham. And we see how God took care of both of them in the wilderness, not just caring for their safety, but actually making him into a great nation also (v. 18).

    This shows how magnanimous, how great and how wide God’s character and ways are. Despite Abraham’s impatience to wait for God’s promises, despite Sarah’s fear of her son’s future, God extends his faithfulness through His care and provision for both Hagar and Ishmael.

  • REFLECT

    In Singapore we are taught to be very practical, to work hard, have a good career that will be able to pay and provide for our children’s education and success. Through social media and the news, its quite easy to compare what our family has or doesn’t have. And when we start comparing, we can easily slip into a mode where we are driven out of a fear of our future.

    Do you believe and trust in your God who has secured you and your family’s future? Do you work out of a sense of His provision, not fearing the future or do you work fearing what you might miss out.

    Acknowledge first of your fear of the future and bring that before God your Father. And as you do so, remember and also acknowledge that God is a God who is faithful to provide and secure your future. Not just yours but you and your family.

reading for: Thursday Night, 22 jUNE

Romans 6:1b-11

fear of missing out

  • READ

    Are we fearful of how our choices and decisions will be seen and understood by our friends, relatives and colleagues? Do we feel like we need to follow and keep up with the lives and standards of the majority?

    Do we honour and love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength? Or do we take His grace and love for us for granted?

    In chapter 5 of Romans, Paul has shown us that what God has done and accomplished through His Son Jesus, where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (5:20). Through Jesus we are offered life (5:18).

    Its in the light of this statement that Paul asks, should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? (v. 1). In other words, should we then take God’s grace and love for granted?

    Paul then reminds us about our baptism, to be baptised with Jesus means we are baptised with Him into his death and resurrection (v. 3-4). In other words, our old ways of sin, our old ways of rebellion is now dead (v. 6). It no longer has any lasting say or right over us and we are now free (v. 7). And now, just as Jesus has risen again into new life, we too have also been raised (v. 8-11). Raised into a new way of living, new way of loving and being God’s children and people in the world.

    Therefore, our lives, our choices and our actions should reveal this new way which is now possible in our baptism.

  • REFLECT

    The pressures we experience from those around us, whether its at work, in society, or on social media is very real and strong. For example, many of our friends can be seen moving on from their jobs frequently for better pay, better opportunity or better progression. Just as we see our friends upgrading their houses, their cars, watches or bags. We might not say that we do these things to fit in, but we also cannot deny that we are subtly being “pushed” and influenced by those around us.

    Where is God in such choices and decisions? Do we prayerfully bring these decisions before God first and allow Him to speak and direct our desires? And do our decisions reflect that we have been baptised and are no longer driven by the need or desires of the world?

Season of PentecostCNL