Month: October 2018

October 30, Reading 1 – 1 Chronicles 10, 11

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

God Himself transferred the royal power from Saul to David. This is one of the foundation stones of the subsequent messianic prophecies and longings. The coming Messiah will be of David’s line! The Chronicler majors on David’s faith – the positive aspects of his reign and life. Everyone knew the failures. The Lord was with David in a way unique! David’s kingdom depended on these mighty men. What is our need of people of such might in our congregation?

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, may we be glad when it is said to us, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”.

“Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.”

Here is a list of battle-hardened warriors, fighting against impossible odds – Bravery and heroic deeds in abundance.

In church today – Do we have mighty folk of battle?

Perhaps there isn’t a need to be skilled with sword and bow.

Butt there is a battle.

Look at what these mighty men did for David,

“… Who gave him strong support in his kingdom,”

Do we give our King Jesus strong support in His kingdom?

He is the forever always King.

He builds His kingdom, always Him.

He does not need our support, there is no weakness in Him or strength that we can provide which is not already from Him.

But He is our king, and He calls for us to be living sacrifices, loving one another without thought of self – We are to bring our very lives in strong support of God’s kingdom.

Because He calls us to.

* Dear God,

Thank You that we are part of Your kingdom, and that we join together as branches of the vine, growing onwards in fruitfulness and blossoming.

We look forward to that great day approaching when we will be together with You in glory, the true and final fulfilment of Your promises to us.

Amen, Lord hasten that day.

Amen.

October 30, Reading 2 – Ezekiel 12

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Once again Ezekiel is a living visual aide to the Exiled Jews in Iraq. The teachers of Jerusalem taught that the exiles were the  cursed of God; that Jerusalem was the blessed; and that Ezekiel’s visions were false. It was like they said: It’s all religious claptrap! What was God saying?

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, please reveal more of You today from Your word.

“… For I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”

As with Ezekiel, so with us – The Lord chooses for us to be signs to those around us.

To a rebellious world, to a lost relative, to a wandering friend.

Even sometimes to His own people, to the church.

In the new testament, Peter writes of this purpose in 2 Peter 3,

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

The Lord gives us opportunity to witness to our neighbour, our friend, our family member and to the world around us – So that they should come to repentance!

Peter carries on the logic, encouraging us in our wonderful “not yet” hope,

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

This is part of the better story we have, the GOOD NEWS of Jesus – This broken old rundown world has a time-limit. But in Jesus we have a promise of MAKING ALL THINGS NEW.

Praise God for His work in us, through us and for us!

* Father God,

Thank You for saving us into Your kingdom, into an eternal inheritance.

Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, that You allow us opportunity to point people to You – So that we sinners can be saved.

Amen to this, amen!

October 30, Reading 3 – John 4:1-30

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Jesus says some of His most wonderful words to women. Consider verse 24. This says a lot about who God is and who we are. What does it mean for you in your church to worship in spirit and in truth?

SJA Notes

* Lord God Above, please open our hearts to hear Your word today.

“Jacob’s well was there;”

It is no coincidence that John points out that this well in the story was Jacob’s.

Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes, ISRAEL himself.

Here we have a Samaritan woman, someone bereft of bloodline and birthday in the eyes of the remnant of Israel that God brought back from Babylon.

John wants us to see the truth of what it means to be a child of God, as he writes in the first chapter of this gospel, of Jesus,

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Our earthly parentage and lineage, who we are born to – This has _no merit_ for our salvation!

Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman then are for us, a bell tolling down the ages; words of great encouragement to us!

“The water that I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Here is our King, giving us living water.

Not because of our earthly heritage, but because of GOD. His will. His love for us. His inheritance given and laid up in heaven for us.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Gracious Father God,

Thank You for calling us from darkness into life, wretched sinners though we are.

Thank You for our new birth, to be Your children, with such a great inheritance in store.

Thank You for Jesus, who gives us the water of life.

May we drink from it forevermore!

Amen.