Receiving forgiveness – cleansing (Prayer day 17)

Guilt and shame cause feelings of depression, even physical sickness.  But experiencing the gift of forgiveness brings freedom, a fresh lease on life.

I believe this song by Elevation Worship will greatly enhance your reading and prayer today.

Scripture

Psalm 32:1-5 –  An Instruction of David

1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

5  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Observations and reflections

Explanatory Notes: “imputes no iniquity” is a legal term by which the judge declares you just, meaning the judge finds no wrong in you. “transgression” means the act of breaking a law. “sin” usually refers to “missing the mark / aiming for wrong” in general. “iniquity” means the inherent tendency to doing wrong, such as in alcoholism. “deceit” means pretense or falsehood.  “Redemption” means purchasing freedom, like paying a fine or releasing a slave.  

1. Note the parallelism (two ways of saying the same thing) in verses 1 and 2. What words are used for (a) sin and for (b) forgiveness. What do you learn from this?
2. Describe in your own words effect guilt had on for David. (v3-4)
3. How did David receive freedom from his guilt? (verse 5)
4. What does this Psalm teach about (a) God and (b) our relation to Him?

Personal reflection and Prayer

Guilt is a gift from God – the deep knowing that I have done what is wrong is needed to make right with God.  The feelings of guilt (doing wrong) and shame (being wrong) should not lead us into hiding, because “silence makes our bones waste away (and) strength dry up” (v3-4).  But blurting out all our wrongs before God brings freedom, receive forgiveness and a fresh lease on life. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray “forgive us our sins…”

Let’s pray this prayer of David slowly, by talking to God through the outline of this Psalm.

1. Can you recall a time when you felt heavy under guilt for doing something wrong that you had done? Describe your feelings and behavior. Why did you feel that way? When and how did you receive freedom from that guilt?
2. Can you recall a time when you felt worthless or ashamed because of your tendency to do the wrong thing, even though you wanted to do right? Describe your feelings and behavior. When and how did you receive freedom from that guilt?
3. In the presence of God, do you feel guilty for doing wrong, or shame for being wrong?
4. When and how did you receive freedom from that guilt? Then blurt out your wrongs to God one by one and say these words to him: “In Jesus I have redemption (freedom) through His blood, the forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace, which You lavished upon me” (Ephesians 1:7-8)

Note: Speak to God about your wrongs until you have assurance of forgiveness. Sometimes it helps praying with a friend or councilor.

The Kingdom of God 8 – Good News

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the essence of the Gospel and its promise of liberation.

Scripture

Isaiah 52:1-9

1  Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.  2  Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.  3  For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.”  4  For thus says the Lord GOD: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing.  5  Now therefore what have I here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the LORD, “and continually all the day my name is despised.  6  Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”  7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”  8  The voice of your watchmen–they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.  9  Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Mark 1:14-15

14  After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God.  15  “The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”

Observation and reflection

Consider Isaiah 52:1-9 quoted above:

1. Summarize the message of the prophet shortly.
2. What seems to be the context into which Isaiah prophesies? (v1-5)
3. What is the “good news”?
4. What is implied in the “good news”? (v9c) [hint: consider the context from (b) above]
5. What is the response to the “good news”? (v7-9)

Consider Mark 1:14-15 quoted above:

1. According to this text, what was the core of Jesus’ message?
2. According to Jesus, how would such a person access the Kingdom of God?
3. What similarities do you notice between Jesus’ message and Isaiah’s message quoted above?
4. How do you understand the flow in the message of Jesus? In other words how do the phrases “Good News” + “Kingdom of God is at hand” + “repent and believe” relate to each other?  Rewrite Jesus’ message in your own words.

Application and prayer

The Kingdom of God is always Good News, because in the reign of God always liberates the oppressed and results in righteousness, peace and joy for all!

Consider the deteriorating life of a drug addict, or bulimic, or perfectionist, or procrastinator, or gambler.

1. In which ways are this person enslaved by his or her own passions?
2. In which ways do this person’s life correspond to the Jews oppressed by the Egyptians or Assyrians as noted in Isaiah’s prophesy (quoted above)?
3. How would the Kingdom of God be good news for such a person?
4. Do you know such a person? Pray to God that this person would have faith and grace for repentance.
5. Which aspect of your life is enslaving you, or in danger of enslaving you? Repent of it, and ask for faith that God would reign over this aspect of your life.

The Kingdom of God 8 – Good News

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on the essence of the Gospel and its promise.

Scripture

Isaiah 52:1-9

1  Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.  2  Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.  3  For thus says the LORD: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.”  4  For thus says the Lord GOD: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing.  5  Now therefore what have I here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the LORD, “and continually all the day my name is despised.  6  Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”  7  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”  8  The voice of your watchmen–they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.  9  Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.

Mark 1:14-15

14  After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God.  15  “The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”

 

Observation and reflection

Consider Isaiah 52:1-9 quoted above:

1. Summarize the message of the prophet shortly.
2. What seems to be the context into which Isaiah prophesies? (v1-5)
3. What is the “good news”?
4. What is implied in the “good news”? (v9c) [hint: consider the context from (b) above]
5. What is the response to the “good news”? (v7-9)

Consider Mark 1:14-15 quoted above:

1. According to this text, what was the core of Jesus’ message?
2. According to Jesus, how would such a person access the Kingdom of God?
3. What similarities do you notice between Jesus’ message and Isaiah’s message quoted above?
4. How do you understand the flow in the message of Jesus? In other words how do the phrases “Good News” + “Kingdom of God is at hand” + “repent and believe” relate to each other?
   1. Rewrite Jesus’ message in your own words.

Application and prayer

The Kingdom of God is always Good News, because in the reign of God always liberates the oppressed and results in righteousness, peace and joy for all!

Consider the deteriorating life of a drug addict, or bulimic, or perfectionist, or procrastinator, or gambler.

1. In which ways are this person enslaved by his or her own passions?
2. In which ways do this person’s life correspond to the Jews oppressed by the Egyptians or Assyrians as noted in Isaiah’s prophesy (quoted above)?
3. How would the Kingdom of God be good news for such a person?
4. Do you know such a person? Pray to God that this person would have faith and grace for repentance.
5. Which aspect of your life is enslaving you, or in danger of enslaving you? Repent of it, and ask for faith that God would reign over this aspect of your life.

 

Covenant 3 – The Old and The New

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on Paul’s comparison between the Old and the New Covenant.

Observations

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

6  [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

10  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.  11  For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  12  Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,  13  not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

14  But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.  15  Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  16  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Observations and reflections

Context:  Paul contrasts the New Covenant in Christ to the Old Covenant through Moses.  It is helpful to consider announcements of the two covenants as in these two cases

Exodus 31:18  And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Jeremiah 31:33  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, they my people.

1. Read through 1 Corinthians 3 and make a comparative table

Old Covenant	New Covenant
Letter	?
Kills	?
Ministry of death	?
On stone	?
Temporal glory	?
Ministry of condemnation	?
No glory	?
Shame of fading glory	?

2. What does Paul mean with the phrases “ministry of condemnation” and “ministry of righteousness”?
3. Jeremiah’s prophesy promised “the law within them… [written] on their hearts”? [Jeremiah 31:33] How?
4. What was the basis of the Old Testament? (What was the conditions of the Old Covenant or Pledge?) How was it managed?
5. What is the basis of the New Testament (or the New Covenant) according to this Scripture? How is it managed?
6. What does Paul say about the glory between the Old and New covenants? What does that mean?
7. What is the sign of the New Covenant at work? (v17)

Personal reflection

In which ways can you identify the following in your relationship with God:

A. “condemnation”: a feeling of being in trouble when you are found to behave wrong.

vs “righteousness”: a sense of being tested and approved of, being found acceptable

B. “law on stones”: measuring yourself based on what you are taught in Mosaic Law

vs “law on heart”: testing your motives based on the conviction of the Spirit

C. “ministry of death”: fear of failing God’s standards and threat of hell

vs “ministry of life”: anticipation for Jesus’ return to receive the fullness of our salvation – life with God forever

D. “veiled by Moses”: all you know about God is what he expects through the knowledge of the Law

vs “freedom in the Spirit”: a relational knowledge of God’s heart and will through the Holy Spirit.

Application and prayer

Considering your answers above, pray to God for a revelation of the New Covenant in Christ, assuring God’s satisfaction and our forgiveness and righteousness based on His shed blood.

This worship song will greatly enhance your time of prayer and reflection. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI]