Viewpoint

Nov 25
2 Peter 3

Message
Peter reminds us to remember the words that the Prophets have given in the past, as well as the commands given by Jesus through the apostles

The scoffers will come and they will constantly tempt us into disbelief. They scoff at the Lord’s coming, thinking that the day will never come, even when they know that God created the world, and has once destroyed it by water. God has His own plans. They compare themselves to the Lord who is too great and incomparable, one day of the Lord is a thousand years. His day will come, and no one knows when. We should be grateful that we can prepare for the Lord’s coming because when God decides, all ungodly will be destroyed.

Let us be careful with understanding, listening to the interpretation of the Scriptures by others, or even by us that we do not twist or distort the words, because this leads to destruction.

We have been warned to be on guard, and to constantly grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus our Lord.

Application
Remember the words of the prophets – we need to constantly read and learn more about the words of God, shared to us by the prophets and the apostles of Jesus Christ

We need to be careful about those who ridicule, scoff, and distort the words of God – to be careful not to be influenced by their thoughts. God is all-powerful; we don’t know what His plans are, or when He decides on anything about this world. It can be the end today or tomorrow. For as long as God gives us another day to live, to repent and obey His commands, let us be grateful for the opportunity for we may never know the end can be anytime.

We need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ – to constantly read the Word of God, constantly study and know more and more about what God’s message to us is for this lifetime He has given us. That way our growth will prepare us for the coming of the Lord.

Exodus 14:15-31
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

How do you get out of a desperate situation to get to your destination?

1. No Shortcuts
Exodus 13
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”

– God did not make the people take the short cut.
– There is not short cut in following the Lord
– Discipleship has not shortcuts
– The process of change cannot be done by shortcut
– God is with us even when we have to take the longer path

Exodus 13
20 After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
o God is ahead of us.
o He will provide the light to guide us

2. Narrow Road

Exodus 14
10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

– The Lord led the Israelites to a situation where the Egyptians chased after them, and they were afraid that they questioned Moses about bringing them to the desert to die.

We may experience “narrow road” situations in our life that we are not comfortable with, but God is actually using these narrow roads, uncomfortable situations to lead us to our true destination. Let us open our eyes to see beyond the narrow roads that we encounter in order to reach the destination that God is leading us to. Trust in the Lord even during the difficult times we experience in life.

3. Move forward
Exodus 14
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

• GOD commanded Moses to:
– Fear not – overcome your fears
– Stand still – relax – the Lord is in control
– Move one – go forward
– Pick up your staff and raise your hands over the sea – just do as the Lord says – obey the Lord’s command, and He will do the rest for you. Look beyond the “water” before you. Look beyond the difficulties and you will find your destination. The person who has faith, trusts in the Lord, can overcome any challenge set before him.

taken from preaching by
Ptr Rey Francisco
CEC Crossworld

myDevo Nov 19

Message
1 Peter 2
Peter describes how we should desire for the Word of God, and how we grow within ourselves once we have experienced the Word of God in our life.

Living stone. Jesus is the first Living Stone, rejected by the people. And we are His living stones connected to Jesus, building ourselves for God, abstaining from sinful desires, respecting others, doing what is good and obeying authorities set upon us by the Lord.

Promise
1. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
2. 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
3. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him
4. — 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
5. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
6. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
7. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;
8. once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
9. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
10. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
11. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
12. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Commands
1. 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
2. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, –
3. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
4. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
5. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
6. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
7. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;
8. live as servants of God.
9. 17 Show proper respect to everyone:
10. Love the brotherhood of believers,
11. fear God,
12. honor the king.
13. 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
14. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Warning
1. 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, ” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for

Application
The Lord is good, and His word is good. When we have tasted the Word of God, we see His goodness and we should want for more of the Lord in our life. When we receive the Lord in our life, we become the chosen ones, bring glory to the Lord, and precious to Him who created us. Here we learn that is important to cleanse our thoughts and live good lives, inspite of all the evil around us, for when they see the good that we do, they, too will glorify the Lord. We should respect the authorities, and follow in the steps that the Lord has paved for us.

myDevo Nov 17

Message
James 5
Paul’s letter to James reminds us of the things we must do in preparation for the Lord’s coming

Command
1. be patient until the Lord’s coming
2. Don’t grumble, don’t judge
3. Do not swear
4. If someone is in trouble, let them pray
5. I someone is happy let them sing songs of praise
6. If anyone is sick, anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord
7. Offer a prayer for the sick
8. Confess your sins
9. If anyone wanders from the truth, bring the person back

Promise
1. those who persevere are blessed
2. the Lord is full of compassion and mercy
3. if a prayer is offered for the sick, the Lord will raise them up.
4. If a prayer is offered for the sinner, the Lord will forgive
5. Whoever turns a sinner from error will save them from death
6. whoever turns a sinner from error will cover a multitude of sins

Warning
1. rich people will weep and wail because of the misery
2. do not grumble or you will be judged
3. do not swear or you will be condemned

Application
We should always be alert and prepared for the coming of the Lord. We must pray, pray for others and have faith in our prayers. We must confess our sins in order to be forgiven, and help others turn away from sins.