October 5
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Yet God is my king from of old,
Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth.
13 You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
15 You broke open springs and torrents;
You dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have established all the boundaries of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.- Psalm 74:12-17
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Earlier in this psalm, Asaph was lamenting and grieving over the temple destruction. He kept on asking why God allowed such evil to happen to His own place of worship. In these following verses in 12-17, we hear a shift of Asaph’s emotions. From whining he moves to worshiping the Lord.
Verse 12 recalls God as King from ancient times who has done so many acts of deliverance for mankind. God created many things for us to have the life that He wanted us to have. In verse 13, Asaph mentions sea monsters and Leviathan. This creature is a multiheaded sea serpent that is killed by God and given as food to the Hebrews in the wilderness. In Isaiah 27:1, Leviathan is a serpent and a symbol of Israel’s enemies, who will be slain by God. Crushing the heads of Leviathan is representative of God’s crushing the enemy’s head. He delivers us from the evil one.
Asaph enumerates further in verses 15-17 what God has done for His people in the wilderness and how God has created boundaries between day and night and different seasons. Asaph reminds God of all the things that He has done for His people and praises Him for such deeds of deliverance.
We can learn from Asaph humility and a dependence on God. Another thing that was remarkable with him was how much he knows his good God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for believers to run to God for defense and provision?
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WHY ALLOW EVIL, LORD? ILMA’S VLOG
October 4
________________________________________WHY ALLOW EVIL, LORD?
They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.
8 They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.”
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet,
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, will the adversary revile,
And the enemy spurn Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
From within Your bosom, destroy them!- Psalm 74:7-11
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In this psalm of lament, Asaph questions God why He has allowed His sanctuary be burned to the ground. Why was the enemy allowed to do such wicked thing? We hear the pain in Asaph’s heart as he tells the Lord all the remains of a place where they worship the Lord.
One of the questions asked by many unbelievers is this: Why does God allow evil and suffering? It is sad to hear this same question coming from God’s own people, but this is the reality that we need to face. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from the pains and trials in this cruel world. We all need to see the way the Lord looks at what is really going on. Our limited minds cannot fathom why God would allow such painful events to happen. Many of us believers become consumed by what we are going through that we fail to see what lesson God is teaching us from certain painful events in our lives. We get stuck in the question “why?” and fail to ask “What do I need to learn from this event or defeat?” There is always a reason why God allows suffering and evil to momentarily prevail. Maybe God wants us to use such painful events to humble us or to strengthen us for a future purpose He wants us to fulfill.
When Asaph asked God the question why he withdrew His right hands on them, he probably was overcome by grief and defeat. But the act of running to God and asking Him is a very honest humble act of dependence. He wants for God to make him see why such things happened. He knows the Lord well enough to ask why it seems like God has abandoned them. Even Jesus himself asked God “Father, why have you forsaken me?”
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REFLECTION
• Why is honesty about our pain important to God?
LAMENT OVER THE TEMPLE RUINS
October 3
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LAMENT OVER THE TEMPLE RUINS
O God, why have You rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.
3 Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins;
The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.
4 Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their own standards for signs.
5 It seems as if one had lifted up his axe in a forest of trees.
6 And now all its carved work
They smash with hatchet and hammers.- Psalm 74:1-6
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According to enduringword.com website, this psalm is a plea and a prayer in great sorrow from the destruction of the sanctuary. The majority of commentators believe this psalm followed the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. Some argue that it is even later, following the desecration of the temple in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. If these later dates are true, this Asaph who wrote it is not the great singer and musician of David and Solomon’s era, unless Asaph composed this psalm prophetically, which was possible according to 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30.
This psalm is a community lament, a cry of anguish over the destruction of the temple. It recounts God’s mighty deeds in the past, especially the exodus. Asaph grieves over the temple ruins from the enemy’s attack. He declares to God the pain of watching what was left of the holy place of worship. He asks the Lord why He has turned His back on His people and allowed the enemy to desecrate this place.
Doesn’t this psalm remind us of how grieved we can be after losing our spirits in the battle waged by the enemy to destroy us? When we are overcome by sin, there is a cry inside of us to ask God for help. Sometimes, we cannot stop asking God why he allowed such events or loses to happen to us. Even the most faithful servants of God can be grieving over the loss of purity and faithfulness they have lived for that was destroyed by the evil one.
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REFLECTION
• Why is important to run to God when we are grieving over a loss?
TRUSTING IN GOD IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE ILMA’S VLOG
October 2
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TRUSTING IN GOD IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE
As for me, I shall call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur,
And He will hear my voice.
18 He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me,
For they are many who strive with me.19 God will hear and answer them—
Even the one who sits enthroned from of old.
With whom there is no change, and who do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has violated his covenant.21 His speech was smoother than butter,
But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days.
But I will trust in You. – Psalm 55:16-23
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In this psalm, David continues to pray to God’s protection. His enemy mentioned here in verse 21 refers to someone who was very close to him and has betrayed him. The beginning of this part of psalm 55 depicts David’s closeness with God in verse 16. He calls upon God because he knows for sure that God will save him. In verse 22, he declares God’s provision and protection to all who bring their cares and burden to the Lord.
Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who you have deep intimacy with? They know you deeply inside and out. This is how David’s relationship with God is. He knew his Lord since he was a young shepherd tending to his sheep. He played flute and sang for the Lord. He is called the man who seeks God’s own heart. He was obsessed with serving and loving God. He knows his Lord very well and runs to Him often.
Despite the many enemies surrounding David, God was faithful to protect him and David never stopped to depend on Him. In verse 23, we hear David’s confidence in God because he knows God won’t tolerate evil. He is so sure that God will bring them down to the pit of destruction. We see how much David trusts his Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it so easy to blame God or others when we are in trouble? How can we develop a dependence and trust in the Lord as David exhibits in this psalm?
PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM BETRAYALS AND EVIL ILMA’S VLOG
October 1
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PRAYER FOR PROTECTION FROM BETRAYALS AND EVIL
Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And iniquity and mischief are in her midst. 11 Destruction is in her midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.13 But it is you, a man my equal,
My companion and my familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet fellowship together
Walked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death come deceitfully upon them;
Let them go down alive to Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst. – Psalm 55:9-15
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David’s lament continues in this part of the psalm. He opens up his heart to God about the pain of the betrayal from someone very close to him as indicated in verse 13-14. It is unknown who David’s friend is, but it must have been someone whom he was very close with, probably someone who was part of his army and fought battles together and fellowshipped with him in the past.
This psalm is a prayer to God to do something to protect him and God’s people as well. Since David is king, we can understand how he wants to protect his people. In verse 9, David has seen violence and conflict amongst his domain and people. They are relentlessly bringing immorality and harm to his people. The most painful part for David was the fact that this person who betrayed him fellowshipped with him and even walked in the house of God together.
You would think that David could easily take revenge on his own hands. He has had many victories before. He could easily win over them, but once again we witness David’s faithfulness to God in this lament. He pours his heart out to God in pain without blaming God. Instead, he depended on God to protect him and his people and asked God to bring down his friend turned foe. Since God is his protector, he is sure God will protect him.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to run to God instead of taking revenge in your own hands?
DON’T IMITATE WHAT IS EVIL BUT WHAT IS GOOD ILMA’S VLOG
September 28
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DON’T IMITATE WHAT IS EVIL BUT WHAT IS GOOD
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.13 I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
–3 John 11-15
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In this account, we are told what the Lord requires from all those who love Him. God wants them to do only what is good and right. He cautions them all to never have anything to do with evil or go in the way of wickedness. John tells us who are from God and who aren’t. Those who constantly do what is right and follow the Lord’s commands are the ones who belongs to Him. On the other hand, those who choose to sin and do what is evil has not seen and known God.
In this day and age, it is not easy to stay holy and focused on following God’s will. The world is full of corruption and evil. How can we actually avoid being tainted by the wickedness surrounding us? The Holy Spirit is given to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. As soon as one commits to God, they are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that gives them the ability to do what is right and follow God’s commands. They can only desire to please God if they are truly His followers. Those who do not believe in the Lord will never be able to do what is right, they will always follow their flesh. They have no capacity to choose what is good and what the Lord wants.
We are warned again and again to never be yoked with evil or to be involved with anything that will displease God. Tolerating evil or even being exposed to it can make believers contaminated. This is why the Lord wants us to avoid all kinds of wickedness.
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REFLECTION
• How can we avoid being contaminated by the corruption in the world surrounding us?
• Why is it important to be in the word of God?
• What would the world look like if we all keep away from all unrighteousness?
FAITHFUL WITNESSING TO TRUTH ILMA’S VLOG
September 27
________________________________________ FAITHFUL WITNESSING TO TRUTH
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.9 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. – 3 John 1-10
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John writes to a “dear friend” named Gaius. He is commended for his hospitality to traveling preachers of the gospel (verses 5, 6 and 8); for his faithfulness (verse 5); for his love (verse 6); and for his walking in the truth (verse 3). According to tradition this Gaius may be the one whom John appointed as bishop of Pergamum.
John mentions Diotrephes in this account who is described as one who likes to be “Number One.” He had to be the important guy, the one everybody came to for answers to their questions, the one to make the big decisions. He even went so far as to say malicious things against John. He prated against him with malicious words. He spoke down on him. John warns his dear friend of this proud and arrogant person who rejects the believers and puts people out of the church.
In our modern society, we find many people like Diotrephes who brings chaos and confusion to the church. They create division and does not follow humility. We don’t see many believers like Gaius who exudes hospitality to those who work for God’s kingdom and for his devotion to God. Walking in truth and love is one of his greatest Christian hallmarks. We need to follow the example of this faithful servant of God in order to keep our sanctification intact.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers be consistently faithful to witness to truth?
WALK IN LOVE & TRUTH ILMA’S VLOG
September 26
________________________________________WALK IN LOVE & TRUTH
1 The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.12 Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.13 The children of your chosen sister greet you. – 2 John 1-13
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In this account, John advises us to walk in love and in truth. He writes this to the church and all who belongs to God. He reminds all believers to make sure that they follow God’s commands and never turn their backs on God. He warns all Christians to ensure that they do not lose anything that they have already accomplished. He calls our attention about anyone who comes to teach false doctrines. We are asked never participate in any wicked deeds they bring. We need not even show hospitality to these people.
Walking in love means that we follow the command to treat one another with much respect and honor as we would give to God. To walk in truth means that the word of God is actually alive and manifest in our lives.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for Christians to walk in truth and in love?
• What happens when believers don’t follow the command to love?
ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND GOD WILL HEAR YOU ILMA’S VLOG
September 25
________________________________________ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL AND GOD WILL HEAR YOU
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. 18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols. – 1 John 5:13-21
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In this account, John emphasizes one of the promises of God to those who believe in the name of the Son of God. They can ask God anything in His name, provided that it doesn’t go against His will and God will hear their request. As a result of this promise, we become confident that God is there to provide for what His children ask for.
John also mentions the sign of a true believer is that they do not keep on sinning because they know that sin leads to spiritual death and being separate from God. Christians can have more victory over the evil one because God makes sure that they are protected. Because the Son of God has already sacrificed His life for all sinners, believers have power through Jesus Christ. Those who do not believe in Jesus continually lie and they are under the power of the evil one. They constantly choose to follow their pleasure and sin against God. They do not follow the commands of God, they do not care about it.
We are warned to watch ourselves from idols and all things that can hamper us from following God’s commands. To those who know God, they get revelations of God’s wisdom. Truth is given to them but we are constantly asked to guard ourselves from the corruption of the world and keeping yourselves pure.
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REFLECTION
• What can you ask God that He won’t give you? Why won’t He give it to you?
ETERNAL LIFE IS IN JESUS ILMA’S VLOG
September 24
________________________________________ETERNAL LIFE IS IN JESUS
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. – 1 John 5:1-12
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When we believe in Jesus Christ, we become children of God. In this gospel account of John, we learn that faith in Jesus is the only way we can overcome the world. No unbeliever can every be able to have victory over sin and the world system. They do not know how to since the offer of eternal life is only to those who will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. This means that they can never live holy and pure lives because they do not know Christ. In verse 7, we hear that the Spirit, the water and the blood are in agreement. They all testify concerning Christ, the Son of God. Those who do not believe in Jesus are liars according to verse 10. It is only in Jesus Christ that we can have eternal life. As verse 12 says, the Son has life and those who do not believe in Him can never have a life everlasting.
Many people are going to be sorry for not believing in the only one who can give them eternity. The love of the world and the things on it becomes the purpose of those who don’t know Christ. They are already judged by God when they do not believe. What a sad fate it is when they realize what they lost when it is already too late to avoid hell.
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REFLECTION
• How can we ensure our salvation and the promise of eternal life as believers?