Monday 08/03/2010
GOD IS SALVATION
Judges 6:1-24
ACCEPT:
The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, not listening to His Word and worshipping other god, the gods of the Amorite. Thus, the Lord delivered them to the Midian and so the children of Israel suffered. Then they cried out to the Lord, if the Lord had delivered us out from the slavery in Egypt, He is the Lord that has not changed, the God who is our salvation. So the Lord appointed Gideon to save the children of Israel. Gideon felt incapable. He is the youngest in his family. But God used him to defeat the Midianites. The same God that you worship today is the God who is our salvation. What are your challenges today? Is it family or study or work? Through your hands, God uses His children, you.
CONTEMPLATE:
- Why did God deliver the children of Israel to the Midianites? (verse 1-6).
- What was God’s answer to the children of Israel when they cried out to Him? (verse 7-10).
- What did God say to Gideon? (verse 13). How did Gideon respond it? (verse 11-24).
TO DO:
Do you still wonder why is God doing this or why is God doing that? Where was Your wonderful work that you did in the past, God? God is the salvation to whoever calls Him. Have you call Him today?
SHARE:
Share to your colleague how did God save you from your problems?
Prayer topic:
Pray for the Christian to respond to God calling without excuse
Tuesday 09/03/2010
THE BEGINNING OF GIDEON”S FIDELITY
Judges 6:25-32
ACCEPT.
A famous motivational book author, John L Mason, once said, “Everybody can do many things. Start with what you can do, do not stop because of what you can’t do” (source: Anda dilahirkan orisinil, jangan mati sebagai salinan, John L. Mason, Harvest Publication House). We know how God had called some people with a big calling. Unfortunately, sometimes they do not start with the small things they are called unto. The first respond to God’s calling is to take up no matter how small the responsibility is while waiting for that big calling that God has for us. Let’s take a look at Gideon’s life. When God promised to be always with Him, he started from small thing, tear down his Father’s altar of Baal. How can we bear more responsibilities if we have no fidelity in small responsibilities? Gideon learned to be faithful in small things, so that his faith grew. John Mason said, “You are like a tea bag, insignificant until God pour hot water”. So, let’s be faithful to God and start to experience his wonderful miracles.
CONTEMPLATE:
- What did God tell Gideon to do that night? (verse 25-26).
- Although he is afraid, what did Gideon in his faith? (verse 27-29).
- How did Gideon’s faith manifest afterwards? (verse 30-32).
TO DO:
What rhema did you get from Gideon’s story? Write down your commitment
SHARE:
Share to your friends the blessings that you get from today’s devotion
Prayer topic:
Pray for the Christians to act in faith and not to be afraid with circumstances
Wednesday 10/03/2010
GOD IS GIDEON”S STRENGTH
Judges 6:33-40
ACCEPT:
Have you been chosen randomly to serve or to preach or to testify and you were afraid? Have you been chosen to be a leader in cell community or to be a coordinator of sudden event? Usually, people in that position feel afraid and pray fervently seeking God. This very same thing happened to Gideon. He had just learnt to be faithful in God when he saw the enemy was attacking. “Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.” (Judges 6:33). Gideon must have been afraid facing them. But praise God that God is His strength. It is written, “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him.” (Judges 6:34). Like Gideon, we should have no fear to the enemy because the Holy Spirit has come upon us. When He reigns in us, the victory is ours. Not by our might or strength but by the Holy Spirit we are victorious above all things.
CONTEMPLATE.
- Before the Holy Spirit came upon Gideon, what happened? (verse 33).
- What is the evidence that God is Gideon’s strength? And what is the result? (verse 34-35).
- Why do you think that Gideon was still afraid and ask God for favor? (verse 36-40)
TO DO:
What rhema did you get from your today’s devotion? Are you relying on your own strength or in God’s strength in facing your challenges? Write down your commitment to the rhema you just get and act in faith
SHARE:
Tell your colleague how you experience relying on God in your life
Prayer topic
Pray for the Christians who are still relying on their own strength
Thursday 11/03/2010
GOD IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OVER GIDEON AND ISRAEL
Judges 7:1-14
ACCEPT:
“Do not be God’s counselors but act the Word,” that is quoted from a famous Christian counselor. But sometimes most Christians try to counsel God. God does not need human’s counsel. Apostle Paul said, “ For ‘who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16). If that is so, then what should we do? The answer is to do God’s command. That is what Gideon did, doing God’s command who is his Commander in Chief. When the children of Israel gathered to fight against the Midianites, they gathered thirty thousand men. If we were Gideon or one of the Israelites, surely we are happy with the numbers. But God said, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me’.” (Judges 7:2) So, God wants us to boast on Him, not our own strength because God knows what the best in our life is.
CONTEMPLATE:
- Why did God repeatedly selecting the number of the Israelites? (verse 2-6).
- What kind of guarantee that God gave Gideon? (verse 7-8).
- Why do you think Gideon was still afraid and still need assurance? (verse 9-14).
TO DO:
God is the Lord over your life. He knows what is the best for you. Obey Him and experience His miracle. Write down your commitment
SHARE:
Tell your friends what you experience in encountering God today
Prayer topic:
Pray for the Christians who believe not in the power of God
Friday 12/03/2010
GOD IS GIDEON’S BANNER OF VICTORY
Judges 7:15-8:3
ACCEPT:
Have you been recommended by one respected individual who has high social status in society? What do you feel if that person supports you? Won’t it be overwhelmed joy and amazement? Sometimes, we, as Christians, do not remember this thing that the Great God, mighty and wonderful with nothing can match His deity and honor supports Gideon and the children of Israel. So, they shouted with a loud voice saying, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” That is their banner. God is their banner so that they won the war. Thus, we, as Christians, should realize that our God, Jesus Christ, is our banner of victory over the enemy. Whatever problems you may face, remember that Jesus is our banner of victory and we are more than conquerors because Jesus has won the war on the cross when he said “It is finished.” So, now, we realize that our spirit is greater than what the world has (1 John 4:4). Let’s arise in the name of Jesus.
CONTEMPLATE:
- What is Gideon’s assurance of victory? (verse 15).
- Why did Gideon give such instruction to the three hundred men of Israel? (verse 16-22).
- What kind of victory when they raised the banner of victory? (verse 7:23-8:3).
TO DO:
Meditate on God’s word today. What rhema did you get and what sin has been rebuked through the Word? Write down your commitment
SHARE:
Tell your friends how God spoke to you through His Word.
Prayer topic:
Pray for the Christians to raise up their banner of victory
Saturday 13/03/2010
GOD GAVE VICTORY TO GIDEON
Judges 8:4-21
ACCEPT.
No victory without a fight and no fight without victory. John Mason said, “Being Christian does not mave you from the world and its problems. Conversely, it completes you to live a productive and victorious life in it.” (source: Anda dilahirkan orisinil, jangan mati sebagai salinan, John L. Mason, Harvest Publication House). God promotes. It happened to Gideon. The mock from the people of Succoth and Penuel were thrown to Gideon when he and the three hundred men were pursuing the enemy. Finally, he won the battle. The aphorism says truly that “What differentiate iron and steel is the flame. But the steel tested with the flame is the valuable one.” Whichever your characteristic is, iron or steel, the flame differentiates. The flame made Gideon victorious over the enemy. So, we should walk with God everyday because He is our Imanuel.
CONTEMPLATE.
- Read and muse on verse 4-21. Did Gideon defeat Zebah and Zalmunna because of the mock from the people of Succoth and Penuel?
- Why do you think that Gideon always answer, “If God delivers…” as the act of faith?
- What will you do to your enemy if you are in Gideon’s position?
TO DO.
Have you received the promises of God in your life? Are you longing for that promises? Write down the rhema you get today
SHARE:
Tell your colleague your experience in enjoying the promise of God
Prayer topic
Pray for God’s servants to have a Christ-like mind and feelings for others
Sunday 14/03/2010.
GIDEON WAS NOT CAREFUL OF BAAL
Judges 8:22-35.
ACCEPT.
Have you heard or see traps? Trap is always set up by the enemies to catch their victims. We have followed Gideon’s success story until this sixth day of the devotion. And today, we are longing to see one of the traps that Gideon was not aware of. The deadly trap is Baal that is made by Gideon himself. Before he made an ephod for himself, he actually had a good principle, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” (Judges 8:23) This is a wise answer. But because he was not careful, he had opened gap for the devil. He said, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” (Judges 8:24) This request was warmly welcomed, “We will gladly give them.” (Judges 8:25) With that gold, he made an ephod which later destroys his life. What ephod are you building? Be aware! Don’t let it ruin you!
CONTEMPLATE.
- What did the Israelites request to Gideon and what was his response? (verse 22-23).
- Because he was not careful, what gap that Gideon opened and later become a snare to him? (verse 24-26).
- What made Gideon slip into worshipping the ephod? (verse 27). What was the negative effect that happened to the children of Israel? (verse 33-35).
TO DO.
Are you aware of the traps and your weaknesses? Write it down and take an extra careful act for it.
SHARE:
Tell your friends the blessings you get today
Prayer topic
Pray for the Christians to always be careful for the traps are set by the enemies
Golden verse of the week:
“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”(Hakim-hakim 6:12).
Golden Verse of the Week
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
~ Joshua 1:8, NIV ~
