Redemption Parish LP14

Friday 17th June, 2022.

(Psalm 33:12-22).

Topic: Trust In God

The key to winning your battles, according to David, is not to rely on your own strength but to put your trust in God. This goes against the grain, but at the end of the day human strength and power is not enough: ‘No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength. Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone’
(v16–17, ).

Rather, God gives victory to those who trust in him: ‘Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need’ (v18–20,).

Prayer:

Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thursday 16th June , 2022.

(Numbers 9:15-11:3)

Topic : God' Promises To Give You Good Things.

Moses told his father-in-law, ‘The Lord has promised good things’ (10:29). He urged him to come with them, ‘We will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us’ (v.32).

Moses, together with God’s people, had experienced so much of God’s goodness. God had guided them with ‘cloud’ and ‘fire’ – symbolising his presence (9:16). This is but one example of the goodness that is seen throughout the history of the people of God.

Despite God’s goodness to them, his people ‘complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord’ (11:1). On another occasion in the wilderness they also grumbled about their leaders – Moses and Aaron (Exodus 16:2). Sometimes, when we forget the goodness God has shown us, we complain about our situation and can even blame our leaders. But wherever possible, leaders need our support and encouragement.

Remember God’s goodness to you, especially in Christ, who is the ‘high priest of the good things’ God gives (Hebrews 9:11). Complaining keeps you captive, whilst remembering God’s faithfulness sets you free. Praise, thanksgiving and worship are the antidote to complaining and grumbling.

Prayer:

I praise you, God, for all your goodness to me – for the good news of Jesus, for your forgiveness, for your love for me, for the Holy Spirit and the love of God poured into my heart, for the fact that you delight in me and rescue me. Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings, for your provision, freedom, friends, family and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. ‘God is good – all the time.’

Wednesday 15th June, 2022.

(Psalm 35:19-28)

Topic: In All Things God Works For Your Good.

Let’s be honest. Not everyone is good. Some people hate without reason and act maliciously (v.19).

There is a great contrast running through this passage between the difficulties that David is facing from those around him, and the goodness of God. The Message version brings out this contrast by using the word ‘good’ four times, but in very different contexts:

• Beware the ‘no good’ crowd

There will be times in your life and in the life of your community when you come under attack from those who are ‘cooking up gossip’ (v.20,). ‘They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations’
(v.20). David says, ‘No good is going to come from that crowd’ (v.20).

• Having a ‘good time’ is not always good

David speaks of this crowd’s ‘good time’ (v.24,). These people are having ‘a party at [David’s] expense’ (v.19,). They hate him for no reason: ‘winking and rolling their eyes’ (v.19,). They think they are having ‘a good time’ but, actually, what they are doing is not good.

• God works everything for good

‘God is great – everything works together for good for his servant’ (v.27). God takes even the bad things that are done to you and are said about you and uses them for good: ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28).

• Tell the world how good God is

David ends this psalm by celebrating God’s goodness. He writes, ‘I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day’ (Psalm 35:28,).

Prayer:

Lord, help me to remember your goodness and trust in the ‘good things’ that you have stored up for me.

Tuesday 14th July , 2022.

(Proverbs 12:8-17)

Topic: Tell Your Story Authentically

The proverbs for today cover many different subjects, from taking care of animals (v.10) to overlooking insults rather than showing our annoyance at once: ‘Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults’ (v.16,).

There is one proverb that is specifically on today’s theme: ‘A truthful witness gives honest testimony’
(v.17). This, of course, has implications for witnesses in court. But also, all of us are witnesses in the sense that we are all in a position to testify about Jesus.

Whether you are on a night out with friends or speaking at the front of a crowd of people in church or elsewhere, there is something very powerful about a person telling their story truthfully, honestly and from the heart.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to tell my story from my heart, with honesty and authenticity.

Monday 13th June, 2022.

(Psalm 61:1-8)

Topic: Be Led By God

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by all the issues you face in life? David was ‘overwhelmed and fainting’ (v.2,).

He was a leader (‘the King’, v.6). Those who lead others need themselves to be led by God. This prayer is applicable to us all. He cried out to God to listen to his prayer and to lead him (v.1–2).

Above all, this prayer is a prayer for protection. There are times when we want to run and hide. God provides us with ‘a place to get away from it all’
(v.3,). He is a ‘safe-house’ (v.4,). He provides us with physical protection of rock-like strength (v.2), the emotional protection of his arms around us (v.4) and the spiritual protection of ‘your love and faithfulness’ (v.7).

Prayer:
Lord, lead me into your presence today and lead me in all the decisions I make, the conversations I have and the words that I speak.

Sunday 12th June, 2022.

(Psalm 60:1-4)

Topic: Hope Despite Apparent Defeat

Sometimes it appears God’s people are being defeated. While there is a great revival in many parts of the world, such as Asia; in Western Europe, for example, church attendance has been in decline. Churches get closed. Christian faith is marginalised.

There are desperate moments in the history of the people of God. This psalm is a national lament after a conquest by their enemies. The people of God felt rejected. David says, ‘You have shown your people desperate times’ (v.3).

He uses the image of an earthquake to describe the desperation and uncertainty they faced: ‘You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking’ (v.2). The same image is used today to describe turmoil in all spheres of life. The instability of the economy, corporate institutions, marriage and community are all often portrayed as shaking and fractured.

Yet, there is hope. David writes, ‘But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow’ (v.4). The Lord has designated a place where his people may find refuge under his protection and be confident in the Lord – even in desperate times.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that even in desperate times, I can take refuge under your protection.

Saturday 11th June, 2022.

(Psalm 60:5-12)

Topic: Gain The Victory

Compared with God’s help, human help is worthless. ‘With God’, David says, ‘we shall gain the victory’
(v.12). He was speaking about physical battles. The apostle Paul writes that our main battles are not physical. They are not ‘against flesh and blood, but… against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).

David prays, ‘Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered… Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we shall gain the victory’ (Psalm 60:5,11–12).

Prayer:
Lord, thank you that with you I can be confident. In all the battles I am facing, I trust in you today.

Friday 10th June, 2022.

(Psalm 30:8-12)

Topix: Call out to God who turns lives around

God can turn your life right around. God turns ‘wailing into dancing’ (v.11). He removes our ‘sackcloth’ and replaces it with ‘joy’ (v.11). All this happens when you cry ‘mercy’ (v.8,10).

David called out to God, ‘Help me out of this!’ (v.10 ). God did: ‘You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy’ (v.11, )

It is amazing and wonderful to hear story after story of Jesus turning people’s lives around, bringing them out of despair, setting them free from drugs, restoring marriages and changing lives – turning ‘mourning into dancing’ and sackcloth into ‘gladness’.

No wonder David ends this psalm by saying, ‘I can’t thank you enough’ (v.12,).

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that when I cried out to you for help you answered me. Thank you for turning my life right around!

Thursday 9th June, 2022.

(Proverbs 11:29-12:7)

Topic: Fruitfulness

Do you want your life to make a difference? Do you realise that your life can be a source of blessing to other people every day?

‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life’ (11:30). As we look back at Proverbs 11, we can see all the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul describes in Galatians 5:22:

• Love (Proverbs 11:23)

• Joy (v.10)

• Peace (v.8)

• Patience (v.16)

• Kindness (v.17)

• Goodness (v.17)

• Faithfulness (v.6)

• Gentleness (v.2b)

• Self-control (v.12)

The image of a ‘tree of life’ (v.30) is a beautiful depiction of God’s favour. It re-occurs again and again in Scripture, and is also closely linked to the work of the Spirit in your life (see Ezekiel 47:1–12; Revelation 22:1–2). It is the Spirit who enables and helps you to live the kind of righteous life that is described and to enjoy ‘favour from the Lord’ (Proverbs 12:2).

Prayer:

Lord, I pray for more of the fruit of the Spirit in my life today: more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Wednesday 8th June, 2022.

(Psalm 59:1-8)

Topic: Faith and Opposition

God is your strength in times of difficulty. Belief in God is not the recipe for an easy life. In fact, the reverse is the case. You are likely to face all kinds of opposition.

David’s life was under threat. Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. He finds himself surrounded by ‘enemies... mutineers... dirty tricks... hit men... desperadoes... they’re after me, determined to get me’ (v.1–4, ).

Yet, in the midst of this, David prays, ‘Rescue me...’ (v.1–2, ) and has total confidence that the Lord can and will deliver him (v.8). Later in the psalm, twice David calls on God: ‘O my Strength’
(v.9,17).

He is able to say, ‘I did nothing to deserve this, God, crossed no one, wronged no one’ (v.4, ). David was not perfect (see, for example, 2 Samuel 11). However, sometimes you may face difficulties not because you are doing something wrong but because you are doing something right.

Cry out to God for help in times of personal difficulties. ‘Arise to help me; look on my plight’ (Psalm 59:4). You can also cry out to God for help at times of international crisis. The very next sentence is a prayer for the nation (v.5). At whatever level the opposition appears, ask the Lord for his deliverance, help and intervention.

Prayer:
O my Strength, help me to trust you in times of difficulty and opposition. Deliver us from those who oppose your plans.

Tuesday 7th June, 2022.

(Proverbs 11:19-28)

Topic: Enjoy The High-Definition Life

The book of Proverbs sets out two paths: one leads to ‘death’ (v.19); the other leads to ‘life’ (v.19). The path that leads to death is the path of evil (v.19), perversity (v.20), wickedness (v.21), meanness
(v.24), hoarding (v.26) and trusting in wealth (v.28).

The path that leads to life is for those who are righteous (v 19,21). You are ‘righteous’ through your faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).

In this passage we see a description of what this life is like. It is not mere existence. It is high-definition living. It means enjoying God’s delight (Proverbs 11:20). It is a life of freedom (v.21). It ‘ends only in good’ (v.23).

When you are generous, you are ‘enriched’. When you ‘refresh’ others, you are ‘refreshed’ (v.25).

This does not mean that life is without its difficulties, challenges and suffering. But ultimately, you will be crowned with blessing (v.26). You will find goodwill (v.27) and will ‘thrive like a green leaf’ (v.28).

Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you give me the righteousness of Christ by faith and put me on a path that leads to life.

Monday 6th June , 2022.

(Judges 9:1-57)

Topic: Sow Loyalty

I have noticed, over the years, how those who sow loyalty to their leaders reap a high degree of loyalty when they themselves come into positions of leadership. On the other hand, those who refuse to come under another’s leadership and who stir up trouble, invariably reap the same attitude of disloyalty if they themselves come into a position of leadership.

In this passage we see the disastrous consequences of the disloyalty of Abimelech to his father and to his brothers. Abimelech was a passionate leader, a good communicator and a skilled tactician but he was also arrogant and self-promoting. He wanted no rivals. Abimelech sowed violence. ‘He hired some reckless, riffraff soldiers... and killed his half brothers... seventy men!’ (v.4–5,). The youngest managed to hide – the only survivor.

Again, we see this biblical principle at work: we reap what we sow. Abimelech sowed disloyalty and violence. He reaped disloyalty and violence. Initially, he was in cahoots with the citizens of Shechem (v.2 and following). But three years later bad feeling arose between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who had acted treacherously against Abimelech.

Abimelech reaped what he had sown. Shechem’s leaders ‘worked treacherously behind his back. Violence boomeranged: the murderous violence that killed the seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal, was now loose among Abimelech and Shechem’s leaders, who had supported the violence’ (v.23–24,).

Abimelech showed no loyalty to the people of Shechem. He used them when he needed them
(v.2). However, he had no hesitation in wiping them out (v.42–49).

Ultimately, they all reaped what they had sown, and Abimelech himself was ingloriously killed soon after (v.53–54). The writer sums it all up: ‘God avenged the evil Abimelech had done to his father, murdering his seventy brothers. And God brought down on the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil that they had done’ (v.56–57, ).

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be loyal to one another in the church, in the workplace, in our families and in our friendships. Help us as a community to sow truth and justice, generosity and loyalty.