Who can Argue With The King?

 

Scripture:

Isaiah 62:3  ‘He will hold you aloft in his hands for all to see – A splendid crown for the King of Kings.’

Observation:

Imagine.    The hours spent.  The Hairdresser, bathing, dressing, the make-up, the perfume.   The coach arrives to take you to the mansion.  The footman opens the coach and you alight. 

The ballroom is ready.  Decorated.  Refreshments at the ready.  The music stops.  The king approaches and takes your hand.  He holds it aloft – ever so lightly and delicately – stands apart so all can see you in your glory – and he  presents you.  Boldly and Confidently – passionately – he announces and introduces you to the crowd of strangers whom you are soon to meet.

You are his delight and very much so the jewel that belongs to the king.  Such honour – such recognition to be bestowed on an unknown person – of unknown statue – of unknown heritage.  But the one who is announcing you is reference enough.  If the King is presenting you – who is to argue with the King?

Application:

It is this recognition that is bestowed on me.  Not all know me by name, but my King does and he calls me his own.

Not all know my heritage, but my King does.

Not all know my past and if I am worthy to be presented as a jewel, but my King sees me as worthy - and who can argue with the King?

Prayer

Lord, my hair, my dress, the perfume I wear, the splendour of who I am – is not of me – it’s not mine and I don’t own them.  But your gifts I receive and wear with a look of wonder and amazement and I see me as you see me.  Presented before even my enemies as a precious jewel.

And who can argue with the King?

 

 

Terry B

 

Living stones

Scripture

1 Peter 2:5 “And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God”.

 

Observation

Each person has a purpose. We get to choose which purpose we want to put our energies into. We can either choose to build our own ambitions through deceitfulness or selfish motives or else we can become followers of Christ who is able to establish us and build us into the house he is constructing. Peter reminds the people that they have decided to follow Jesus and so they have been transformed into living stones. Alive and vibrant. Purposeful and focused. Each one set aside as a holy priest that serves the Lord Jesus with all of their hearts. The things they offer to him are now sacrifices that are pleasing to God.

 

Application

Having chosen to put my energies into following Jesus I realise that I have now been bricked into the house that He is building. Therefore my selfish ambitions and motivations aren’t compatible with the structure I am now inbuilt. At times I feel myself wriggling under the apparent restrictions of my own desires. Sometimes I try to rebel but all along I know that the house I have been fitted into is the one I was always made to fit. As I allow the Holy Spirit to shape my heart, healing it from the curse of sin and selfishness, I become more settled in the house that He has set me into. His house. His body. And with his constant assistance I find the sacrifices I offer please him.

 

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for saving my life from a pointless existence of self indulgence. Being fitted into your house as a living stone is such a privilege. My purpose has become eternal. Today’s passage from Peter has reminded me of my place in your body.

 

 

Jim Jung

 

Be Obedient

 

Scripture

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply,

Because the King had commanded, “Do not answer him.”

 

Observation

This was the response of the people – nothing! After hearing a messenger going into detail of what his king and army was going to do them.

The messenger was telling them how powerful the army was and there was no way of them not being defeated. He go’s on to question on why they don’t surrender?

How do they think they can win?

The messenger made sure he spoke loud enough for the people to hear on the wall, even suggesting King Hezekiah doesn’t know what he is doing by relying on his god.

The messenger was trying to insight the people to question their Kings command, trying to cause dissention, among the people.

 

Application

This how the enemy tries to work in our lives, he starts with small constantan niggles, questions to undermine, question our King.

Are we like the people who listen to the Kings command, do we obey our commander and chief?

Have we really given Lordship over to our King or are we still questioning his commands?

These people obeyed their King, they trusted their king, trusted him much more than the enemy. The enemy wants to destroy us, why would he give us a good option?

We need to be more like the people on the wall, as soon as we hear something not to go running around trying to fix it, or question what we have already been told.

Not to answer, when we have the answer. Trust our KING.

 

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to be like the people who when told by their king”do not answer him”, l also will not answer him but stand firm in you my KING. In Jesus name Amen

 

 Candice Pleiter

 

 

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Fixed on You

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.”

 

Observation:  There seem to be quite a few references to trusting the Lord in this portion of Isaiah.  Isaiah is speaking to a people who haven’t been trusting the Lord – as evidenced by their disobedience to Him (v 8). But Isaiah will continue to trust because he knows that the Lord is the only One who is totally trustworthy.  He is the eternal rock.  He is trustworthy forever!!  Where people will, by their very natures, let you down – and where Israel & Judah have even let God down by their disobedience (and there will be consequences for all because of that disobedience) – yet Isaiah is still able to look to the Lord and declare that He will keep those who trust in Him in a place of peace beyond all understanding.  Peace in the midst of turmoil.  Peace in the midst of pain.  Peace in the midst of war & destruction.  Perfect peace. Still waters without a ripple!  How?  By remaining fixed in thought upon the Lord – Who is the Big Picture!  Not by ignoring the surrounding realities of life, but by continually having the Lord at the centre of everything, of viewing things through His perspective.  Of knowing that He can & will hold you steady & sure no matter what!!

 

Application:  I can so easily and quickly lose my inner peace when ‘stuff’ happens!  Yet the Lord promises me His peace at all times!  - my part is to keep my thoughts fixed on Him!  On His perspective! On His Big Picture!  There is nothing in or on this earth – or beyond – that He cannot deal with on my behalf!  But, as with every area of my life, my choice is to trust Him – or not!  My choice is to pull my thoughts (which, left to their own devices, will be full of fear & inadequacy & doubt in the midst of the circumstances) away from being centred on those circumstances to the truth of His ability to instill courage, to make me more than a conqueror, and to enable me to operate out of faith in Him!!  Here is a mighty God – why wouldn’t I choose to trust Him wholeheartedly??

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, Thankyou for Your promise to keep me in perfect peace when I keep my thoughts fixed on You.  Pull my thoughts back to You when they start to drift away!!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Sue Otto

God dependence

Scripture

Micah 6:8 “…the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to have mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.

 

Observation

The Lord is not after extravagant or extreme offerings that attempt to absolve us from our short fallings. He has set His standards, outlined His expectations and now he looks for his people to do what is right according to those standards, to be merciful to those who are struggling and to ensure that pride and self assurance isn’t the foundation on which we stand. Walking humbly with our God is what he seeks – God dependence not self dependence.

 

Application

So often I find myself asking God “What do I need to do Lord?” Micah discovers the answer. Three things – do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Yet so often my selfish desires and my pride get in the way of carrying these simple requests out and I feel I need to do something extravagant to appease God in order to get back on track with him. But what amount of extravagance can impress God?? He simply calls me to obedience.

 

Prayer

Father, may these 3 things be the hallmarks of my daily walk with you. And when I fail may I simply come before you and start again afresh.

 

Jim Jung

A strong & trustworthy anchor

Scripture:  Hebrews 6:19 “This hope is a strong & trustworthy anchor for our souls.  It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary”

 

Observation: The hope the believer has in God is sure & true.  Because it is God Himself who holds out that hope– and He is the One who will never snatch the hope He promises away.  He is unchangeable, trustworthy, solid, sure.  His promises me, the believer, eternal life, abundant life, a fruitful life, a fulfilled life – as long as it is a surrendered life!  He doesn’t promise me an easy life, but He does promise to be my security when it seems that my world is tilting, to hold me fast & anchored to Him when all else may seem to be failing.  To have hopes dashed and disappointed is part of this life in a sin-sick & broken world.  Yet the hope the believer has in Christ is both Heaven-ward and of the greatest, solid practicality.  It leads us into the very Throne-Room of the One True God!!

 

Application:  I know all this with my head, but sometimes, when circumstances & situations are challenging my sense of security (& I like to feel secure), I have to remind myself that I AM secure, no matter what’s happening, because my Lord makes me so!!  He will never leave me nor forsake me.  He is my shield.  He is my provider.  He is my healer.  He is my very great reward!!  When I remind myself of these truths, how can I allow the concerns of this world to rattle my sense of security?  Instead, because of the hope I have in my Lord, I can come into the very Throne Room – come with boldness before His presence – lay my concerns before Him & rest in His security!!  Out of the peace & security of knowing Him and His love for me, I am enabled to make wise decisions.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, Thankyou for the anchor, the security, You give me as Your child.  Lord, forgive me for those times when I temporarily forget that my hope in You – a sure & certain hope – is my true anchor, not the people, things and circumstances of this world.  Lord, I declare afresh my trust in You for every area of my life – for You are trustworthy & true!!

 

In Jesus’ Name    Amen.

 

Sue Otto

 

Search & Rescue

Scripture:

Jude 1:23

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgement.  There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins.

 

Observation:

The influence I can have over peoples lives is powerful and should not be taken for granted, those that are struggling those that don’t know the Lord they all need to be snatched from the flames of judgement.  By coming along side people showing love & mercy by my influence they can be rescued from eternal death.

 

Application:

My dynamic of influence must always be on full charge.  The level of influence must always point to Jesus, I must always be honouring & resemble a Holy life style.  Those that I influence will be looking into my life that there would be answers, a hope, and trust.  These people are the ones that will be rescued from the “Flames of Judgement”

 

Prayer:

Father help me have a life that will always influence people towards you.  Let my life wear Jesus well, let there be many who’s lives have been rescued and snatched from the flames of judgement as a result of influence that I’ve had in their life. 

 

Father always remind me that the way I live my life is powerful never let me loose the power of Godly influence.

 

Amen

Stephen Hutchison

 

 

Boundaries of Love and Blessings

 

Scripture:

Jude 21  “Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you.”

Observation:

Boundaries.  We all need to understand boundaries.  Whether it be a physical wall or fence to keep something in or out, or even relational boundaries keeping yourself safe from getting too attached or keeping loved ones close.  God’s boundaries are in place so love and blessings can be found and grow in a safe environment.  The enemy has a barrier between the safe place of love and blessings – like a fortress - and it’s God’s desire for his loved ones to stay inside the boundaries to be nurtured and be safe.

Application:

Boundaries are good for me to observe.  Keeping my family safe from the weather by closing the front door – and the back.  Saying NO or YES when it is appropriate.  – it’s OK to say NO.  And it’s OK to stay within God’s boundaries where God’s blessings and love can reach me.

I know that if I step outside the wall of blessings and love, God may not be there.  I need to move in tight so I can reach Him.

Prayer:

 Lord, you say ‘stay always within your boundaries’ – thank you for reminding me – that’s where you are and that’s where I always need to be. 

Forgive me when I move out to see if I can perhaps sit on the fence and look at both sides, - for if I fall on the wrong side – you can’t reach me. 

Your blessings and love is where I want to stay and abide.

 

Terry