Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Thu, 27 July – Ezekiel 43-48 ~ absolute holiness

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Ezekiel 43-48 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. – 1 Peter 2:5 (NLT)

Absolute holiness

Ezekiel 43:5-7, 10, 12 (NLT) – Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The Lord said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel.
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“Son of man, describe to the people of Israel the Temple I have shown you, so they will be ashamed of all their sins.
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And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.

Lord God: You are transforming me into a living stone to be used in the building your spiritual temple here on earth through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. As I consider the standard of absolute holiness for your Temple, I am ashamed of my sins and ask that you forgive me, cleanse me, and shape me into something you can use for your good purpose.

Holy priesthood

Ezekiel 44:4, 9, 15-16, 24 (NLT) – Then the man brought me through the north gateway to the front of the Temple. I looked and saw that the glory of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord, and I fell face down on the ground.
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“So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigners, including those who live among the people of Israel, will enter my sanctuary if they have not been circumcised and have not surrendered themselves to the Lord.
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“However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord. They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.
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“They will serve as judges to resolve any disagreements among my people. Their decisions must be based on my regulations.

Lord God: Show me your glory, that I may be awestruck by the wonder and beauty of your presence. Help me to persevere in faithfulness and obedience, that I may offer myself as a living sacrifice that pleases you, through faith in Jesus Christ my Lord. And allow me, according to your good purpose, to bring others into your presence as well.

Holy ground

Ezekiel 45:1, 3-4 (NLT) – “When you divide the land among the tribes of Israel, you must set aside a section for the Lord as his holy portion.
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“Within it the sanctuary of the Most Holy Place will be located. This area will be holy, set aside for the priests who minister to the Lord in the sanctuary. They will use it for their homes, and my Temple will be located within it.

Lord God: You set apart a specific portion of land in Jerusalem for the building of your physical temple, and claimed it as your holy ground. And, you have watched over the physical construction, destruction and desecration of your Temple on this land even to this day. Reclaim this land as your holy ground, as a place of prayer. Cleanse it and drive out all elements that would use it for any other purpose.

River of healing

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 12 (NLT) – In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side. The man brought me outside the wall through the north gateway and led me around to the eastern entrance. There I could see the water flowing out through the south side of the east gateway.
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Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.”

Lord God: Pour out your Spirit on us and through us, that we may taste and see that you are good. Heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and set free the captives now, in our day – even as we await the full revelation of your river of life, flowing out of the new Jerusalem, at the end of time.

Presence of God

Ezekiel 48:35 (NLT) – “The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’”

Lord God: Without your presence I am a homeless, defenseless wanderer. It’s your presence within me, through faith in your Son Jesus Christ, that sets me apart as a person belonging to you. Empower me by your Spirit to be a light in the darkness for all who seek the Lord.
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“Let Us Know Jehovah” – Sumphonia

Let us know Jehovah; Come, let us press on,
For His Day is certain, Certain as the dawn.
He will come to bless us, Like the fall of rain,
Like the rain of spring-time, Watering the plain.

Tho’ the Lord has torn us, He will heal again;
Tho’ the Lord has struck us, He will bind our pain.
After days of mourning, We will be restored,
Thus to live before Him, Let us seek the Lord.
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Wed, 26 July – Proverbs 15 ~ on gentleness, thoughtfulness and happiness

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Proverbs 15 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

On Gentleness

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT) – A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Heavenly Father: Fill me with your Spirit and produce in me the gentleness and kindness of Christ Jesus my Lord.

+ that I may speak words of truth and life to those around me
+ that I may speak words of healing and peace to those in conflict
+ that I may persevere in the pursuit of godly living with faith and love

On Thoughtfulness

Proverbs 15:28 (NLT) – The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

Heavenly Father: You alone are the source of all wisdom; teach me how to live a disciplined, godly life, and to do what is right and just and fair.

+ that I may offer good advice and encourage others to grow in knowledge and understanding
+ that I may encourage my children and grandchildren to live sensible, responsible, godly lives
+ that I may humbly receive advice and correction; and say the right thing at the right time

On Happiness

Proverbs 15: 15 (NLT) – For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Heavenly Father: You are the source of my hope through Christ Jesus my Lord; fill me with goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

+ that I may be content in all circumstances with what I have, and live my life with a happy heart
+ that I may overflow with confident hope, lifting the spirits of others and encouraging them in love
+ that I may grow in godliness and live in your presence – in harmony with others and at peace with you, my God

Through Christ Jesus my Lord, who lives in unity with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Kindness” – Chris Tomlin

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Tue, 25 July – 2 Kings16-20 ~ banished from God’s presence

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: 2 Kings 16-20 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Living God, help us to find ourselves in this reading of your Word, that we may truly understand what is happening today in our world; that, understanding, we may believe, and, believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking your honor and glory in all that we do; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Banishment

2 Kings 17:13-20 (NLT) – Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”

But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.

They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.

Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.

Syncretism

2 Kings 17:32-34 (NLT) – These new residents worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship. And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came. And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.

Faithfulness

2 Kings 18:5-8 (NLT) – Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. He also conquered the Philistines as far distant as Gaza and its territory, from their smallest outpost to their largest walled city.

Intercession

2 Kings 19:14-19 (NLT) – After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God.

“It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

Deliverance

2 Kings 19:35-36 (NLT) – That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there.

Respite

2 Kings 20:16-20 (NLT) – Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.”

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
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“Manifesto” – The City Harmonic

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Mon, 24 July – Leviticus 19-21 ~ you must be holy

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Leviticus 19-21 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

“Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:22b‭-‬23 (NLT)

Lord God: In your loving-kindness, you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ, to free us from sin and death; he came into our world not to condemn us, but to save all who put their faith and trust in him.

I bind this today to me forever: By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation; His baptism in Jordan river, His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb, His riding up the heavenly way, His coming at the day of doom. I bind unto myself today. [“St. Patrick’s Lorica” translated by Cecil Alexander (1889)]

Holiness in Personal Conduct

Leviticus 19:1-2 (NLT) – The Lord also said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy….”

Respect God: “I am the Lord your God.”

+ Keep the Sabbath days of rest, and show reverence toward my sanctuary
+ Respect my name; respect the living God; do not trust idols or images

Respect Others: “love your neighbor”

+ love your mother and father; show respect for the aged; don’t nurse hatreds for relatives, but confront people directly
+ respect the poor and disabled; deal honestly in business; pay wages promptly; use honest weights and measures; and respect other people’s property
+ speak the truth; seek justice; don’t slander your neighbor, but defend your neighbor when his life is threatened
+ don’t practice fortune-telling or witchcraft; don’t defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead
+ treat foreigners who live among you like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself

Punishments for Disobedience

Leviticus 20:1-2 (NLT) – The Lord said to Moses, “Give the people of Israel these instructions, which apply both to native Israelites and to the foreigners living in Israel.

“If any of them offer their children as a sacrifice to Molech, they must be put to death….”

Capital Offenses:

+ the sacrifice of children; dishonoring parents; adultery; incest; homosexuality; sex with animals; consulting mediums and spirits of the dead

Leviticus 20:7 (NLT) – So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

Lord Jesus: Thank you for being both our great High Priest; you understand our weaknesses, and you sacrificed yourself – once and for all – to take away our sins. Forgive us and make us clean; and fill us with your Spirit that we might live holy, godly lives as faithful witnesses to your love, your mercy and your grace. Amen.
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“Forgiven” – Sanctus Real

Well the past is playing with my head | And failure knocks me down again | I’m reminded of the wrong | That I have said and done | And that devil just wont let me forget

My mistakes are running through my mind | And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night | When I wrestle with my pain, struggle with my pride | Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry

When I don’t fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere | When I don’t measure up to much in this life | Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ | ‘Cause I’m forgiven
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Mon, 28 Nov – Psalm 121; Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11 ~ our help and hope

Monday in the First Week of Advent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence – (In the preparation days of Celtic Advent)

+ We have waited long for You. Deep has been our darkness.
+ We long for You to shine right here among us where we are.
+ We will not fear the shadows that surround us if only You will come among us!
+ We wait the sound of a cry in the night, the joy that follows pain, the coming of hope.
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Reading: Psalm 121 (NLT)

I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
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Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6 (NLT)

But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.

All who remain in Zion will be a holy people—those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment.

Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.
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Reading: Matthew 8:5-11 (NLT)

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 1nd I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Prayer:

Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth: we turn to Your Son, Jesus Christ, for help and protection as we begin our day. Come, Lord Jesus!

+ Christ, You are the Daystar, powerfully dispelling our darkness: awaken our faith from sleep.
+ Reveal Your presence in the world through the lives of Christian men and women.
+ Come to create a new world, where justice and peace may find a home.
+ End the long night of our pride, and make us humble of heart.

Lord God: Give us the grace to be ever on the watch for Christ Your Son. When He comes and knocks at our door, let Him find us ready and waiting, joyfully proclaiming His glory.
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“The Glory of God” – Matt Papa

Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God

Shining in splendor | Pure and forever enduring | The glory of God

Rising, our praises | For endless ages we’ll sing of | The glory of God

From all that’s passing | Lift up our eyes oh Lord | This is what we were created for | To see You on that day
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Blessing

As we make our hearts be ready for the King of Glory to come in; we pray, come dwell among us and be our peace today.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holly Spirit. Amen!

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