Day #5: Frolicking Calves

“6 Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
Acts 3:6-10 NIV

From being stuck in a stall to the freedom of the open pasture: freedom. A calf that is stuck in a stall may not know what it is like to be free, perhaps even be content at the current state. Content for just being satisfied since the circumstances are as such one can only accept their lot in life. But the rising sun that comes with healing in his wings bought us freedom. No longer bound, no longer being slaves to sin and death. Like the lame man who was healed, his own frolicking like a calf that has found new freedom leads to becoming a testimony of Jesus’ gospel salvation to all around him. Is there then a more appropriate gate that is called Beautiful because of this salvific event? So let’s pray that there will be even greater experiences of freedom that lead to the greater testifying events of salvation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in you there is true freedom! As the lame man was taken from the very disability that held him down, by your healing he was able to jump and praise God leading to being a witness of wonder and amazement of your gospel. Have your way with us, in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Song: Let’s sing to the Lord the song “Jesus” by Chris Tomlin (click here).

– MK

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Day #4: Healing in His Wings

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
Matt 9:20–22 NIV

“The Hebrew word kanaph is here translated “wings.”… It is also used to refer to the corner or the hem of a garment…Malachi states the sun of righteousness will appear with healing in His garments; that is, His arrival will be associated with the healing and restoring of His people. The sun of righteousness, God Himself, will possess healing in His wings. It was assumed in ancient Israel that the hem of the garment of righteous men contained healing properties. Yet the healing that Malachi refers to in this passage is not merely physical healing, but a spiritual restoration from sin and from separation from the Lord.” [Fries, Micah, Exalting Jesus in Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary), p. 269]

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we acknowledge the great example of the bleeding woman who desperately sought after you with profound faith in you. We believe you for any and every healing whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or relational.  May there be spiritual restoration so that all things in our lives will be directed toward worshiping you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Song: Let’s sing to the Lord the song “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham (click here).

– MK

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Day #3: True Safety

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NIV

“The second thing implied by his being a rising sun is that he brings security where there was danger. When it is dark, there is more danger because you can’t see the path in front of you. You might fall off a cliff or trip over a log or bang your head against a branch.

When the sun finally rises, you can move with security. That’s the way it is with Jesus. He points the way to go again and again. He shows up the danger and the foolishness of many choices before we make them. He guards us from many evil forces that only have power in the dark.” [John Piper’s sermon on Malachi 4]

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that we can walk in the light of your presence, our true place of safety. May our eyes be opened so that we can clearly see your leading. We pray that choices that reflect your glory will be made in each step of our walk with you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Song: Let’s sing to the Lord the song “Way Maker” by Leeland (click here).

– MK

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Day #2: God in the Dock

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:19-21 NIV

“The ancient man approached God (or even the gods) as the accused person approaches his judge. For the modern man, the roles are quite reversed. He is the judge: God is in the dock. He is quite a kindly judge; if God should have a reasonable defense for being the god who permits war, poverty, and disease, he is ready to listen to it. The trial may even end in God’s acquittal. But the important thing is that man is on the bench and God is in the dock.”
[C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics]

Prayer: Lord let your light shine in all aspects of my life. May anything that is offensive and unbiblical be exposed so that only what is of you and what is done for you will remain. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

Song: Let’s sing to the Lord the song “The Awesome God You Are” by Matt Redman (click here).

– MK

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Day #1: The Sun of Righteousness

Let’s read aloud together:

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.
4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
Malachi 4:1-6 NIV

We proclaim Christ. In Christ alone God has fully and finally revealed himself, and through Christ alone God has achieved salvation for the world. We therefore kneel as disciples at the feet of Jesus of Nazareth and say to him with Peter, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,’ and with Thomas, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Though we have not seen him, we love him. And we rejoice with hope as we long for the day of his return when we shall see him as he is. Until that day we join Peter and John in proclaiming that ‘there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.’ [Cape Town Commitment 4. We love God the Son, Section C]

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our sun of righteousness, we proclaim as your people that in you alone is salvation and you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. So we kneel and bow our hearts as disciples sitting at your feet. May there be greater salvation moments as we continue to confess that you are our Lord and our God. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Song: Let’s sing together to the song “How Great is Our God” by Chris Tomlin (click here).

– MK

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Day Five: Mutual Ministry

16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3.16-18)

“Not only did these good people fear God, they also encouraged each other. Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another (16). God has made us for positive relationships with each other, and a vital part of those relationships is mutual encouragement. We need to be encouraged by others, and we need to encourage others as well. Encouragement is a good mixture of personal interest, affirmation of what is good and godly, exhortation to continue, endure and grow, warning of any dangers, and promise of support, interest, love and prayers. It is a mutual ministry to which all are called, and which all need.” (P. Adam, The Message of Malachi)

Let’s pray: Lord, may we seek to encourage one another, to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Empower us through your Spirit to use our gifts to build up the body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Hands to the Heavens” by Kari Jobe (click here).

–JP

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Day Four: Did You Receive My Messenger?

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
               But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness… (Malachi 3.1-3)

“A more specific Messianic focus also appears in Malachi. The prophet predicted that the renewal of God’s people would take place through the work of ‘the messenger of the covenant’ (Mal. 3:1), who would be preceded by ‘the prophet Elijah’ (Mal. 4:5; Mal. cf. 3:1-2). The New Testament specifically identifies Jesus as this messenger and John the Baptist as the one who preceded him and who ministered in the spirit and power of Elijah (Matt. 11:14; 17:10-12; Luke 1:17). Thus Jesus cleansed the Temple (John 2:14-17) as the prophet had predicted (Mal. 3:1, 3) and will utterly purify the people of God and their worship when he returns in glory (Rev. 21:22-27).” (R. Pratt, “Overview of Malachi”, NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible)

Let’s pray: Lord, all glory to God for salvation in Jesus Christ! How great is your love, Lord! All the glory is yours! For ever and ever! All glory to you! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Yours (Glory and Praise)” by Elevation (click here).

–JP

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Day Three: The Means to Open the Floodgates of Heaven

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it… 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,”  says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 3.10, 12)

“It’s because of his love that God wants the whole tithe. Of course, he doesn’t need it… But it’s, from his perspective, the means to open the floodgates of heaven. It’s because when the people are serious with him, then he can pour out blessings with superabundance according to the desires of his love. That’s what comes from this passage. We are no longer under the Law of Moses. We no longer have to pay the tithe in the same way. But the spiritual principle, of engaging seriously with the Lord remains… this desire of the Lord to pour out his blessings on those who walk seriously with him. I believe it’s very clear in this passage.” (H. Blocher, “Introduction to the Prophets: Malachi”, translated from French)

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, we believe it’s out of your love for us that you ask for the whole tithe. We will obey and put our trust in you. Open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessings with superabundance! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Open Heaven (River Wild)” by Hillsong (click here).

–JP

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Day Two: Grapes of Sodom

“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed…” (Malachi 3.6)

“Yet again, God is unchanging in his promises… If I thought that the notes of the bank of England could not be cashed next week, I should decline to take them; and if I thought that God’s promises would never be fulfilled – if I thought that God would see it right to alter some word in his promises – farewell Scriptures! I want immutable things: and I find that I have immutable promises when I turn to the Bible: for, ‘by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,’ he hath signed, confirmed, and sealed every promise of his. The gospel is not ‘yea and nay,’ it is not promising today, and denying tomorrow; but the gospel is ‘yea, yea,’ to the glory of God. Believer! there was a delightful promise which you had yesterday; and this morning when you turned to the Bible the promise was not sweet. Do you know why? Do you think the promise had changed? Ah, no! You changed; that is where the matter lies. You had been eating some of the grapes of Sodom, and your mouth was thereby put out of taste, and you could not detect the sweetness.” (C. Spurgeon, Sermon on “The Immutability of God”)

Let’s pray: Almighty God, you who never change, we are in awe of you. Change us, that we may live into the fulfillment of your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Do It Again” by Elevation (click here).

–JP

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Day One: Trusting in the Unchanging God

Let’s read aloud together the following passage, confession and prayer:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. (The Nicene Creed)

“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed…” (Malachi 3.6)

Lord, you are the same yesterday, today and forever. Your love never fails! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s sing “Unbroken Praise” by Matt Redman (click here).

–JP

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