March 2016

Week 2

Scripture:

“Even before the creation of the world , God loved us and chose us IN CHRIST to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to ADOPT US INTO HIS OWN FAMILY by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ . This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God  for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (Ephesians 1:5-6)

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. (Acts 16:31-34 NASB)

Reflect:

‘The harvest is plenty!’ No one is beyond God’s love. God promises us that if we ask, SEEK (Seek Him) and knock, the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).’  So many times we think we’ve got to reach out to God, but He has tried so many times to reach us, and that was through His Son, Jesus. He came to us. He came looking for me because He saw the desire in my heart and saw that I really wanted to know who He was. From that encounter with God, then we can begin a life-changing crossroad for our whole family.

In our natural family as well as the family of God, Christ is supreme over all.  In the family of God, in His Kingdom, the local church is an expression of the body of Christ.  God is our Father, our Lord and our King and as sons and daughters of the King we have access to Him (his presence, His Holy Spirit), His Kingdom and to all the kindness, power and spiritual gifts that he wants to bestow upon us.

What does it meant to be a part of the body of Christ? Or a part of His Kingdom? And why does the body exist?
As a local church, ICC is the local expression of the body of Christ and we want to be a healthy and fully-functional body.  If we reflect on the human body, every body part and every cell has a function and works best when it is healthy.  If the body is infected,  paralysed or has cancer cells it can cause the body to stop functioning properly and it will become dysfunctional.  Those cells must be cut off or amputated as it can cause decay and even death to the body.  And similarly, in the body of Christ, we want the body to be healthy because as a body we exist to serve others, we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ to Go and Make Disciples.

Prayer

Jesus, I pray for my family, and all the families of Australia, that every family member will come to know You as their Saviour and dearest Friend. I ask that the veil of deception and unbelief would be lifted from their eyes so that they can see the Truth of who You are. I ask you, Holy Spirit, to stir the hearts of the ‘prodigal sons and daughters’ of this nation to return to their loving Heavenly Father. Send out more ‘harvesters,’ Lord! Show me how I can be effective in reaching out to the people in my life who don’t yet know You. 

Prayer Points:

 

  • Pray that the people that God has put on your heart at this time will encounter the Father’s love for them
  • Claim and declare that the promise of Jeremiah 29:12-13 will become reality for those you are praying for: At that time, you will call out for Me, and I will hear. You will pray, and I will listen. You will look for Me intently, and you will find Me (Jeremiah 29:12-13 Voice)
  • Pray that each of us will realise our identity in Christ and the the potential and gifting that God has placed in us to function well in the body of Christ
  • Pray for individuals and families in our church to be healthy emotionally, spiritually and physically
  • Pray for your destiny and shalom peace over our families, city and nation.

Ps Jonathan Mok
Senior Minister

Week 1 -> “STRIKE WITH A BURNING PASSION”

Scripture:
When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried.15 Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. 16 Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands.  17 Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.” 18 Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. 19 But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” (2 Kings 13)ENCOURAGEMENT:
God can give you complete victory!  Elisha commanded King Jehoash to shoot forth an arrow of victory over the Arameans at Aphek – that guaranteed victory over the present battle.  However, the next prophetic act in striking the ground was even more significant because Jehoash had the opportunity to claim a FUTURE complete victory over Aram.  These next 40 days can have a significant impact and influence on your future.  Not only can we believe for complete victory over many battles in life – from sin, addiction, oppression, bondages, but I believe God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than what we can ask or imagine.  As a church, we are believing for a strong momentum and culture of discipleship where people from many nations will be discipled and raised up into leadership to impact nations.  Like King Jehoash, who ruled Israel, we as God’s children and his church have a choice to respond to the call to seek and pursue God in this season with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Let’s make every effort to SEEK Jesus & his presence, not just what he will give us in answers to our requests!  I believe God is waiting us to be full of zeal and burning passion as we seek him and lay hold of his promises in his word. Maybe you haven’t yet decided to pray and fast in this season or you are non-committal about fasting – I want to encourage and exhort you to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to take up the arrows of victory and strike the ground five or six times – dare to believe for more.  Our prayers in this season will not only affect your present situation but also your future – the future of your children and family, our church, our city and our nation!Prayer Points:

  • Our victory comes from God alone – let’s humble ourselves and look to God as our source of strength and power. (2 Kings 13:17, Isaiah 58:5, 2 Chron.7:14)
  • Pray for personal revival – pray that you will have a burning passion and zeal to seek, worship, pray and serve God. (Isa 58:10-12)
  • Pray for complete victory over sin, temptation, addictions and bondages in our lives, family members, church members.  Declare and proclaim freedom for the captives and the breaking of chains that have bound people (Isaiah 58:6)
  • Pray that you and your family members will be enthusiastic about sharing the good news and eternal hope we have in Jesus Christ and look for divine intersections to evangelise.
  • Let us pray for opportunities to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and help those in trouble, including our relatives who need help. Pray also for those in detention centres to be released.  (Isaiah 58:9)
  • Pray for revival in Australia – particularly on the issue of redefining marriage. Pray for righteousness and God’s standard of marriage to be upheld in the plebiscite at the next election.

 

REMINDER:  Hour of Power Prayer is on at 6pm (Wednesday night) & 
the Prayer school will start at 7pm.

 

JOURNALLING EPHESIANS 1:   “IN CHRIST JESUS”
Devotion:
About 10 years after his initial ministry in Ephesus, Paul was a prisoner in Rome writing this letter back to these people that he loved. In his opening comments, Paul talks about the two worlds we all live in as Christians. He says, “to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Notice the two worlds: in Ephesus and in Christ Jesus. Just like the Ephesians, we live in the world, but we’re not of the world. We live in the world, but, more importantly, we’re living in Christ. The phrase “in Christ Jesus” is used 15 times in this letter. You are in Christ. Here’s the picture: As believers in Christ we’re like scuba divers. We live in an alien environment—this world—that is filled with evil. But we have this little tube sticking out of the environment that enables us 13 to breathe. The only source of oxygen for the scuba diver is through that tube, and the only source of real life for us in this world is through Christ. To try to live in the world without being in Christ is like a scuba diver trying to breathe with the tube under the water. Paul begins this letter with a very simple prayer: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He begins most of his letters with a prayer for grace and a prayer for peace. That doesn’t mean you should skip over it; that means it’s important. God says something again and again so that we’ll remember it. Grace and peace: we live our lives in light of his grace, we live our lives in the victory of his peace. That is the place to start as we study the book of Ephesians.

Prayer:
“Thank you, Father, for your grace—your gift of new life and love through Jesus Christ. And thank you for your peace—your gift of freedom from worry and your hope in daily life because of Jesus Christ. I pray that as I journal through Ephesians I will see myself in a new way, and will see the world around me in a new way. I know that this starts when I see you in a new way, so help me to see in a greater way the depth of your love. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Ps Jonathan Mok
Senior Minister