Week 12

God’s grace and His love for us is endless – we can see from Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Often we rely on our ability when we deal with our daily things but in Psalm 16-22 tells us: that “no king is saved by size of his army or no warrior escapes by his great strength”. Even a horse “is in vain hope for deliverance despite his great strength it cannot save” but only God’s unfailing love for us and Him continually having mercy on us to deliver us from death and keep us alive!

Let us remember to fear God for “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” and the consequences of turning away from God would be forever forgotten by God – Psalm 34: 15-16

Week 13

Mon 21 Jul 2008	Genesis 48-50
Tue 22 Jul 2008	1Samuel 11-15
Wed 23 Jul 2008	Psalms 36-38
Thu 24 Jul 2008	Job 25-26
Fri 25 Jul 2008	Jeremiah 1-6
Sat 26 Jul 2008	Mark 5-6
Sun 27 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 9-10

1 Corinthians 7-8

• It's good for man not to have sexual relations (7:1). This was raised by the Corinthian church when communicating with Paul. But is this God's intention?
• But for the sake of temptation, should just get married. (v2)
• Once married, life is not about self anymore. Husband has authority over wife's body and likewise wife has authority over husband's body (v4)

• Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (8:8-9)
• While we know these things will not distant our relationship with God, we must be aware not do these things if it will make others stumble (also v13)

Mark 3-4

• Even the uncleaned spirit acknowledged Jesus is the son of God (3:11)
• Appointing the Apostles (v14-19)
• Jesus rebukes why the logic of Jesus being part of Satan to rid unclean spirits is flawed (v22-26)
• "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" (v28-29)
• What is blasphemy against Holy Spirit?
• For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." We are all part of God's one family (v35)

And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

-- Mark 4:18-19

• There are those who do not bear fruit, who enjoy God's word but also still get attached to the earthly desires, failing to spread God's word beyond to other people.
• We are the light of the world, so we should serve our purpose and do what we are supposed to do (v21)
• They are already with the Lord, who could they perish? (v38) Even the apostles are learning to live in faith.

Psalms 33-35

Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

-- Psalms 33:20-22

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

-- Psalms 34:13-16

1 Samuel 6-10

• Have the Philistines just made this guilt offering and its constituents up, but one thing is, they are living in fear of God (6:3-4)
• It's funny how even their priests and magicians acknowledge that their gods are below God. Then why aren't they throwing it away? (v5)

• They lament and feel bad. (7:2). Repenting always followed by your commitment to the repentance by throwing your old life out and coming back to God (v3)
• God wants us to understand that we are limited and acknowledge we can only rely on Him alone, and he will provide (v8-10)

• Israel wants Kings (8:5) now that Samuel's sons could not be successors. What happened to his sons? Why weren't Samuel blessed for the generations after him for following God? Does that mean we can't take things for granted?
• Wanting a king is rejecting God as his rule. (v6). I wonder whether that has any implications on the catholic church in particular with head of church
• God warns the consequences of departing God (v8-18), like today warns us the consequences of not submitting to Christ.

• Saul was a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, but God still chooses. O God's plans are different to what we perceive. (9:21)

• They wanted king and they got one, but them they complainedhe wasn't good enough (10:27)

Genesis 44-47

• Joseph is not angry at all but is thankful with the things the Lord has provided (45:5)
• Pharaoh looks after Joseph and leaves for him the best (v16-20)

• Israel gives thanks to God by offering to God immediately after good news (46:1). Today, if we thank God, what are we to offer?
• Jacob trusted God and took ALL family down to Egypt without any doubt about being killed by Pharaoh etc after seeing vision (v3-26)

Week 11

This week in 1 Corinthians 5-6, once again we examine about ‘worldly Christians’ and God’s judgment on Christian’s sinful behaviour.

In 5:11 warns us to flee from someone who claims themselves as brother but is someone who is sexually immoral, a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler!! For these people their heart are open both for God and for Satan!

In 6: 9-10 it specifically stated these people will not enter the kingdom of God.

This reminds me of previous week’s bible reading where it mentioned “our mind is willing (to be Godly) but our body is weak”. The only way to strengthen our body and stand firm against satan is to shut the door to satan and anything immoral including any person who would bring us close to immorality!

Week 12

Mon 14 Jul 2008	Genesis 44-47
Tue 15 Jul 2008	1Samuel 6-10
Wed 16 Jul 2008	Psalms 33-35
Thu 17 Jul 2008	Job 23-24
Fri 18 Jul 2008	Isaiah 62-66
Sat 19 Jul 2008	Mark 3-4
Sun 20 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 5-6

• Paul already "pronounced judgment" on clear sexual immorality (5:3). If we are clear of actions that are wrong, then we should voice out, not fold our hands and think its God's role to judge? (5:3)
• "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (v12-13)

• If you have disputes between brothers (and sisters), it should be done witihn the church (6:1-5)
• "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawyful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything (v12) This suggests that we are not bound by anything, so with the Holy Spirit from God, we could walk away without falling into any addictions. Further, although we possess this freedom, it does not mean we could do whatever we like. Do whatever is helpful.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral pperson sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

-- 1 Corithians 6:18-20

Mark 1-2

• John the baptist paves way for Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah (1:1-3)
• Prepares people to repent for the forgiveness of sins (v4)
• Were the people who repent believing the fulfilment of the prophecy? (v5)
• I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. (v8)
• Jesus is the belovede Son of God, declared by God immediately after baptism (v11)
• While Jesus is being tempted, why are there angels ministering him (v13b)
• Jesus he himself proclaims he has fulfilled the prophecy (v15), so repent!
• Demons believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God (v24)
• Simon's mother-in-law is healed (v30)
• Jesus has quiet time (v35)
• Leper implores Jesus to heal him if he will (v40)
• Jesus reaches out and touches him to heal him. He shows care (v41)
• Jesus has power to clean him, but still tells him to be endorsed by human-rule by telling him to be declared clean by priest (v44)

• Look how much they trusted Jesus in healing the paralytic, and hence so much effort just to get him to Jesus (2:1-4)
• The scribes were hard-hearted. Jesus clearly showed this "sign" and they just kept questioning (v8-12)
• Jesus helps those who are in need, those who are not righteous, that is the purpose why he is here on earth (v17)

Psalms 30-32

• The Lord saves (30:1-3)
• Gives thanks for the Lord's protection (v4)
• We may momentarily experience grief, but God will provide us Joy (v5)
• David's faith will not move (v6)
• God will turn what seems bad to good, hold on and give thanks to Him (v11-12)

• David being so powerful, remains humble and still asks for God to provide him refuge. (31:1)
• Reference to the Lord as the rock, the foundation (v2-3)
• Submitted himself entirely for God (v5)
• The challenges that David has faced has not changed his views that God provides and will love us without change (v7-8)

1 Samuel 1-5

• Hannah prays to God when she goes through grief, not blame God (1:10)
• Notice her prayer in v11, she asks if God will (in accordance to His will), to give her a son that she will dedicate to God
• There maybe times where we make the wrong judgment with our observations. (v12)
• Pray, and God will provide you peace (v18)
• God answers her prayers (v20)
• Is Hannah just fulfilling her responsibility in rearing the child until he has weaned? (v22), or is she postponing her promise in offering Samuel to God?
• She honours her promise in v24-28, “he is lent to the Lord”

• God – rock (2:2)
• Samuel remains to be consistently with God even though he is near bad influences such as Eli’s sons (v21b, v26)
• Characteristics of Faithful priest: does according to what is my heart and in my mind. God will build him a sure house, anointed forever. (v35)

• Sometimes, we are a bit like Samuel, we are not clear who is calling us (3:1-9). We need to make sure we leave time for God to speak to us (v10)
• Eli accepts what God will be going to do and acknowledges he is the Lord, and we should let Him do what seems good to Him (v18)

• Israel got it all wrong. God did not defeat them, God left them. And they thought bringing the ark would me God will be on their side. They do not realise it is God who gives them power, not the ark! (4:3) Today, we often place our emphasis on the wrong things thinking God is with us when we possess something symbolic. The question should be where our heart is. If our heart is with God, he will be there with us. Failing to know this, they lose the battle, losing what was symbolically meaningful to him as well, the ark itself! (v11)

Genesis 40-43

• Joseph is humble and honours God (41:16)
• After all these years of suffering, if finally has a chance for good lifestyle, but he still acknowledges others needs before his own. Although it was blatantly obvious that he was best person to help Pharaoh, he still did not sell himself as best candidate to lift himself from grief, but let Pharaoh make decision (v38)

• After all these years of suffering, Joseph does not have anger over his brothers, only filled with love and care over his family. (43:27-30)

Week 11

Mon 07 Jul 2008	Genesis 40-43
Tue 08 Jul 2008	1Samuel 1-5
Wed 09 Jul 2008	Psalms 30-32
Thu 10 Jul 2008	Job 21-22
Fri 11 Jul 2008	Isaiah 56-61
Sat 12 Jul 2008	Mark 1-2
Sun 13 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 5-6

Week 10

This week is Matthew 26-28, Jesus went away to pray and find his disciples were sleeping when he return.
Jesus told them to “watch and pray” so not to fall into temptation. Because the spirit is willing but the body is weak. This reminds us as Christian we are strangers and aliens on this earth and this ‘’earth” represent sins and temptations. Many times we know what is right to do but in the end we choose to do the opposite. So why would this happen? - that is because our body is weak!! If we do not stay awake and pray, we will be more prone to temptation.

1 Corinthians 3-4

• I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (3:6-7) Paul clarified to the Corinthian church who is the head of church, who was responsible for driving the church.
• Another analogy on buildings: or we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (v9-10)
• The foundation being Jesus Christ (v11)
• Your foundation is revealed on Judgment Day. Do you have christ or just earthly material? (v13-15)
• We are God's temple (v16-17)

• As Christians we should be trustworthy stewards (4:1-2)
• We are rich already if all we have is God's word. (v6-8)

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

-- 1 Corinthians 4:6

• We are only to take whatever is in the bible, nothing more.

Matthew 26-28

a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

-- Matthew 26:7-8

• We often think that things may be done in other ways for better utilisation. The apostles thought it could help others while Jesus here tells us that the woman who poured the perfume is not wrong because she had her priorities with the Lord.
• Betrayal by Judas (v14-16)
• Communion (v26-28)

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

-- Matthew 26:31-32

• Foretells that the apostles' heart won't be strong. Peter thinks he is better (v33) but Jesus goes into more detail for his denial of Christ.
• Jesus suffering badly. (v38-39) For God the son to experience such pressure of taking all sin of the world must be too great to comprehend
• God's will be done (v39, 42)
• He could have asked for backup but for God's will, he allowed them to seize him. (v53)
• Peter's betrayal (v69-75)

• A King who should be exalted actually gets mocked to full extent. If he was slightly tempted, the whole plan for salvation could have failed (27:26-35)
• The temple is torn down (v51)
• The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (v52-53)
• They secured the tomb as much as they can to ensure this is true about Jesus' resurrection (v63-66)

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you. (28:7) as promised in 26:32
And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (v17) Some had stronger faith than others
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

-- Matthew 28:18-20

Isaiah 51-55

• Reminds us who our foundation should be set on (51:1) and reminds up that God provides in the past (v2)

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations."

-- Isaiah 51:7- 8

• Reveals Jesus bearing our transgressions (53:1-5)
• Describes us as lost sheep (v6)

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

-- Isaiah 55:2-3

• We often waste our time, effort and money doing things that are not beneficial to ourselves. We should listen to our Lord.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

-- Isaiah 55:8-9

• We may sometimes not comprehend God's actions when we are going through grief, but we should trust that what he has for us are more meaningful than what we can imagine.

Job 19-20

Job still thinks that these bad encounters are not because of him doing wrong deeds. He feels that these are induced by God. Hope has been taken away from him. (19:1-10) We are told he is righteous enough to say this, but it sounds awfully similar to people complaining the bad things they go through and say God left them. Surely, they are not righteous as Job is!