Thursday Morning: 26 Sep 2019 – Matthew 14:22-36 ~ “Don’t be afraid. Take courage, I am here!”

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our lives we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Matthew 14:22-36 (NLT)

Jesus Walks on Water

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
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Morning Reflection:

“Don’t be afraid. Take courage, I am here!”

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him.
“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
– Matthew 14:31 –

Jesus’ response to the disciples’ fear centered on, “I am here!” The disciples could take courage because Jesus was there. The words, “I am,” were a term Jesus used to claim deity.

On one hand, the disciples feared drowning because of the ferocity of the storm. On the other hand, Peter feared drowning because he climbed out of the boat. But in both cases the message is the same – “Don’t be afraid, I am here!” – Jesus stills the storm, and hauls Peter back into the boat.

Courage comes from knowing that Jesus – the One who is “I am” is present.

Questions for consideration:

What sort of storms have you experienced in your life? What was your greatest fear when you were caught up in the middle of it? Please explain.
How did Jesus see you through it? Did you experience his encouraging presence in the midst of it? Please explain.
Are you currently experiencing a storm in your life, or is there a storm on your horizon? What do you need Jesus to do for you? Do you believe that he will? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer – For Times of Suffering or Weakness

Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: I hold up all my weakness to your strength, my failure to your faithfulness, my sinfulness to your perfection, my loneliness to your compassion, my little pains to your great agony on the Cross. I pray that you will cleanse me, strengthen me, guide me, so that in all ways my life may be lived as you would have it lived, without cowardice and for you alone. Show me how to live in true humility, true contrition, and true love. Amen.
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“Be Not Afraid” – John Michael Talbot
(Video clips from the 1998 movie The Prince of Egypt)

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and 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.

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

Thursday Morning: 19 Sep 2019 – Matthew 12:22-37 ~ What’s in your heart?

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – Matthew 12:22-37 (NLT)

Jesus and the Prince of Demons

Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
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Morning Reflection:

What’s in your heart?

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart,
and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
And I tell you this,
you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

– Matthew 12:34-37 –

How can you know what’s truly in your heart- good or evil?

Jesus says you can tell by what you say – especially the things that come out of your mouth spontaneously (or idly), i.e. without a socially correct filter. What’s more, there will be an accounting.

Questions for consideration:

What kinds of things come out of your mouth when your speech is unfiltered? Are you ever embarrassed? Please explain.
How does your unfiltered speech reflect what’s in your heart? Please explain.
Is there an area within your heart that needs redemption, or purification? Please explain.
Is there something you have thought or said for which you need forgiveness? Have you asked? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer – For a Virtuous Heart (Thomas Aquinas)

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen.

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“A Pure Heart” – City Harvest Church, Singapore

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 12 Sep 2019 – Matthew 9:18-38 ~ “Lord, send more workers.”

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – Matthew 9:18-38 (NLT)

Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

Jesus Heals the Blind

After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.

When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.

But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”

The Need for Workers

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

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Morning Reflection:

“Lord, send more workers.”

_ Matthew 9:37-38 –
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Once again Jesus confounds his onlookers by announcing the Good News about the Kingdom, and demonstrating its presence and power through healing every kind of disease and illness. And today, in particular, Jesus demonstrates his compassion and healing mercy in response to the faith of sick people – the rabbi’s daughter, the woman in the crowd, the blind men, and the demonized. To be clear, the faith expressed is in Jesus’ power and authority over all forms of sickness and disease.

But perhaps even more remarkable is Jesus’ appeal for more workers to do what he was doing – i.e. to harvest the crop that God had already planted and prepared. The ministry that Jesus wants to share with us is a ministry of compassion and faithfulness.

Questions for consideration:

Do you know people who believe that Jesus is their Savior and Lord, and want to receive his healing mercy? Please explain.
Do you know people who are living confused and helpless lives? Do you feel compassion for them, or something else? Please explain.
When you think of God using you as a worker in his fields ripe for harvest, what is your response? Please explain.
When you think of God using you as a worker in his fields ripe for harvest, where would you begin. Please explain.

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Morning Prayer –

Ministry to the Sick:

Savior of the world, by your Cross and precious blood you have redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, heal this your servant, sustain him/her with your presence, drive away all sickness of body, mind, and spirit, and give to him/her that victory of life and peace which will enable him/hr to serve you both now and for ever. Amen.

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“Rescue” – Lauren Daigle

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 22 Aug 2019 – Matthew 6:1-18 ~ Jesus’ teaching on Giving, Prayer, and Fasting

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – Matthew 6:1-18 (NLT)

The Sermon on the Mount (Continued)

Teaching about Giving to the Needy

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

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.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair[d] and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
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Morning Reflection:

Pray like this….

When you pray, go away by yourself,
shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.
Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
– Matthew 6:6 –

In today’s reading, Jesus warns us not to display (show off) our righteousness in public. His concern is that we not fall into the trap of doing the right things for the wrong reasons. As we have already seen, God examines our hearts not simply our actions. Jesus cites giving as his first example: i.e. give your gifts quietly and privately.

Jesus’ second example addresses prayer and fasting. Like giving, prayer is to be done privately, without public display. And further, Jesus give us a model to follow in our own prayer life –

+ Our Father in heaven: reminds us of our privileged access into God’s sovereign, transcendent presence and of our need to treat Him respectfully.

The first three petitions deal with God and the last three with us – reminding us to put God’s interests before our own, in our praying as in our living. All the petitions have some connection with the kingdom. The first three deal with the coming of the kingdom, and the last three are appeals in view of the coming kingdom.

+ May your name be kept holy: God’s name includes His reputation and everything about Him. Not only are we not to take His name in vain (e.g. OMG), God’s name and that of His Son are to be revered.

+ May your Kingdom come soon: This petition reflects the believer’s longing for God to turn the world upside down, to make all things new, with the glorious return of Jesus and His righteous rule and reign.

+ May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven: Nothing better can happen than whatever God’s will involves. The precondition of answered prayer is that it conforms to God’s will.

The remaining petitions focus on our needs. We need all three of these things equally; we cannot get along without any of them.

+ Give us today the food we need: Daily bread refers to the necessities of life, not its luxuries. The request is for God to supply our needs day by day. We only live one day at a time, and each day we are dependent on God to sustain us.

+ Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us: Our forgiveness of others demonstrates our felt need of forgiveness. The person who does not forgive a brother’s offenses does not appreciate how much he himself needs forgiveness. Personal fellowship with God is in view here (not salvation from sin). We cannot walk in fellowship with God if we refuse to forgive others.

+ Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one: This petition acknowledges our felt human weakness to withstand severe trials of our character by the world, the flesh and the devil. God does not always rescue us from evil in the form of the world or flesh, but he does deliver us from the evil one – the devil.

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Morning Prayer – The Lord’s Prayer

Pray through the Lord’s Prayer making it your own. Pause and reflect on each petition – ask yourself what does this mean for me? How does this speak to my needs and concerns?

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 me today the food I need…
Forgive me my sins, as I have forgiven those who sin against me.
And don’t let me yield to temptation, but rescue me from the evil one…

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“The Lord’s Prayer “ – Shenandoah Christian Music Camp

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 15 Aug 2019 – Matthew 3:1-17 ~ Baptism with Water, the Holy Spirit, and Fire.

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – Matthew 3:1-17 (NLT)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”

John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducee coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
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Morning Reflection:

Baptism with Water, the Holy Spirit, and Fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance,
but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
– Matthew 3:11 –

In today’s Gospel account, Matthew introduces three baptisms – with water, the Holy Spirit, and fire – all in support of presenting Jesus as the Messiah and King of the Jews who will usher in the Kingdom of God. The high point is Jesus’ own baptism in which the Son receives the Father’s blessing (dearly loved, brings me great joy), and the Holy Spirit’s seal of approval (descending like a dove). The theophany displayed at Jesus’ baptism expressed the trinitarian presence and character of God.

But what of the three baptisms that John introduced?

+ Baptism of repentance with water – turn away from your sins and turn to God in preparation for the coming of God’s Kingdom. John’s baptism of repentance was a public sign that marked a a new direction, a new reason for living, in people’s lives

+ Baptism of power with the Holy Spirit – the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus was a display of God’s empowerment to accomplish the Messianic ministry he was about to begin. This empowerment was given to Jesus to speak and act with the authority of God. It is an authority that would be given later (after Pentecost) to all believers

+ Baptism of purification with fire – repentance and empowerment eventually lead every believe to confrontation with “the world, the flesh, and the devil” – the source of all temptation and the enemies of our souls. It’s in this baptism of fire that believers are purified and unbelievers are exposed.

Baptismal Questions for consideration:

Do you renounce the devil and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
Do you renounce the empty promises and deadly deceits of this world that corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Do you renounce the sinful desires of the flesh that draw you from the love of God?
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and confess him as your Lord and Savior?
Do you joyfully receive the Christian Faith, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
Will you obediently keep God’s holy will and commandments, and walk in them all the days of your life?

Answer: I will, the Lord being my helper.
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Morning Prayer – Baptismal Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, received them as your own children by adoption, made them members of your holy Church, and raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit, that they may enjoy everlasting salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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“Holy Spirit Rain Down” – Hillsong Worship