Matthew 6:13, Thine Is the Kingdom, Power and Glory
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Tag: December 2017
Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 53
Strengthening Our Devotional Life
Here are 7 elements to help our devotional life in the new year of grace 2018:
(1) Time – Quiet Time (Your Devotional Time)
It is imperative that we give the best time of our day for spiritual nourishment. Wholesome food for our overall well-being. A conscious prioritization is helpful. Set aside 20 to 30 minutes daily for devotion and meditation upon God’s Word.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
36. The Peace of Jerusalem, Psalm 122
Hymns: RHC 30 When This Passing World Is Done, 538 In the New Jerusalem, 43 God Is Still on the Throne
Psalm 122
1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. 2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good. Psalm 122:1-9 (KJV)
THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM
OUTLINE
Our Rejoicing (v1-2)
Our Praise (v3-5)
Our Prayer (v6-9)
Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 52
Family Day 2017
Thank God for gathering 43 members and friends for Family Day 2017 at the Rasa Sentosa Resort on 22 December.
The theme of our retreat was “Strengthening Our Devotional Life”. There were two messages – The Believer’s Quiet Time (Psalm 63:1-8) and Tools for the Trade (Joshua 1:8).
This is an excerpt of “The Believer’s Quiet Time”:
“The believer’s quiet time is private devotion time, set aside for the purpose of cultivating a rich spiritual life. It is an appointment with God. The believer’s quiet time seeks to move him from a state of stress to a state of rest. The cultivation of a calm spirit in the peace and joy of God is the frame of a man in touch with God. The believer’s quiet time is the high point of private worship. The elements of private devotion are prayer, the reading and meditation of God’s Word. What is God’s message for me this day? The quiet time must not deteriorate to a regiment. It must not take away the excitement and delight of the soul in the pursuit of God. Yet there is a need to have self-discipline to cultivate a habit of life-long devotion to God.
35. Tribute to Our Maker, Psalm 148
Hymns: RHC 3 Love Divine, 474a O Perfect Love, 143 O Holy Night
Psalm 148
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
TRIBUTE TO OUR MAKER
OUTLINE
From the Heavens Above (v1-6)
From the Earth Below (v7-13)
From God’s people (v14)
Matthew 6:12, Forgive Us Our Debts
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 51
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
John 10:10b I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Emily Elliot was born at Brighton, England, on July 22, 1836. Throughout her life she was associated with the evangelical faction of the Anglican Church. She gave of herself tirelessly in working with the rescue missions and Sunday Schools in her area. Emily was a niece of Charlotte Elliott, author of the hymn “Just As I Am”. For six years she edited a magazine called the Church Missionary Juvenile Instructor. Forty-eight of her hymns were published in a book entitled Under the Pillow, a book of verse for the special use of people who are ill in hospitals, infirmaries or at home.
34. Resolutions for True Christian Piety, Psalm 101
Hymns: RHC 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, 315 Walk in the Light, 317 The Solid Rock
Psalm 101
1 A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD. Psalm 101:1-8 (KJV)
RESOLUTIONS FOR TRUE CHRISTIAN PIETY
OUTLINE
Balance of mercy and justice (v1)
I will testify always (v1)
Personal Holiness (v2-3)
Integrity of heart (v2)
Purity of action (v3)
Public Piety (v4-8)
Avoid the Disobedient (v4)
Cut-Off the Proud Slanderer (v5)
Encourage the Faithful (v6)
Part Company with the Deceitful (v7)
Part Company with the Evil Doers (v8)
Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 50
The Meaning of Life
The grappling for meaning in life finds its ultimate rest with the Giver and Sustainer of life, the Person of Jesus Christ. The search to find the “meaning of life” finds its end point or beginning point in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures gives a full and abundant life.
John 1:1-4, 14 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men… 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 49
Paul and Silas in Prison
What would you do if you were unjustly thrown into prison? Some would grumble, growl, grouch, grouse, and gripe. Others would fume and fuss, moan and groan.
Paul and Silas were not only cast into prison but were stripped and beaten and severely flogged. They yearned to preach the Gospel. Instead, they were in solitary confinement – beaten and bloody, their feet fastened in tortuous stocks. What could they do?
The account reads: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25)Why were death-row inmates singing praises instead of the blues? Because God gave them a song that turned them into a duo with a duet in their dungeon. God was the “choir director” that night who provided the sheet music for his two- midnight minstrels. Paul and Silas had learned with afflicted Job that “God giveth songs in the night.”