Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Reflection

When we are out at our favorite restaurant, we enjoy the aromas that fill the room. Even after we leave, we often still find that aroma clinging to our clothes. When we catch a whiff, we are drawn back to the taste and texture of the things we ate. When we pray genuine prayers for life, we find that prayer fills us and others. Even after our times of prayer as we are doing other things, genuine prayers cling to our bodies, our thoughts, and our actions. The prayer that Paul is sharing with us is a prayer for life, the called life. It is a prayer that is rooted in the Father and reveals to us the extraordinary power available to believers to be able to accomplish far more than we can ordinarily ask or imagine. This comes by the Spirit in the fullness of God. This prayer tells us about God and His salvation and the One who uniquely defines us as we are living out our prayers.

Responding to the Transmission

Let’s declare each sentence in Ephesians 3:14-21 out loud. Unlike the passing of fads, fashion and fame, the prayers declare God’s glory throughout all generations forever and ever. Let’s pray that the truths from Ephesians 3 would endure in our lives.

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NIV)

¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Reflection:

In WWII, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. While in a German prison, he continued to urge the Christian believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of these Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, “Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing.” Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished.”

In this passage, the Apostle Paul also writes from a prison.  He is aware that his final days are drawing near and proclaims an incredible vision of grace for Timothy to also pursue – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Timothy is urged to continue the hard work of forwarding the Gospel to the next generation; and once more, Paul encourages him to endure hardship with patience and careful instruction.  But over this all, Paul reminds Timothy of the Lord, the righteous judge – the one full of grace and mercy – who will vindicate all who set their hearts to trust Him and live and suffer for His kingdom.

Responding to the message:

The Apostle Paul lived with one sole passion of advancing the Gospel, which then motivated him to work hard.  He was absolutely relentless and held onto the Gospel even in the toughest of situations.  Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Spirit’s empowerment for the endurance to fight through even the tough times so that the Gospel will be proclaimed with our lives.

2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NIV)

¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reflection:

“Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc…” permeates every part of today’s society.  Everyone has the freedom to choose how he/she wants to live this life and even the way truth is perceived.  Values and morality are starting to become irrelevant as we watch or read the news each day. Many professing Christians have even compromised the Word of God by adapting this type of thinking and by allowing societal norms to become their own.

Until the day Christ returns, we shouldn’t expect the world to get any better. In fact, Paul is saying that things will get worse, reminding Timothy that Christians will be persecuted. Paul declares to Timothy and to us, “But as for you…” the Spirit in us is one of power and through God’s Word we are transformed. The Word is not just information, it is actually part of the process of the Spirit making us wise, teaching and correcting us, training us in what is good and just, that we may thoroughly live as servants of the Lord.

Responding to Transmission:

The Word of God is the only real truth today.  The Spirit has opened our eyes to this truth and continues to shape our lives through the Scriptures.  Let’s pray for the Spirit’s continued guidance in teaching us and empowering us through God’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:20-22 (NIV)

²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Reflection:

Crafting a high quality sword is a complex process, which requires much expertise and time.  The process requires a combination of many factors including choosing the right steel with the right carbon content, purification of the metal, blade design, and the actual forging process under high heat.  When done properly the result is a beautiful and strong instrument, an instrument ready to be tested in battle.

As Christians, we have been given the wonderful opportunity of becoming useful instruments of the Lord as we join Him in the advancement of His Kingdom.  In this life, we are faced with choices that will lead us down either an honorable or dishonorable path, but we have been called by the Lord to honor him; being prepared to do His good work.  In this passage, Timothy is encouraged to run, to flee from anything that would be dishonorable. Instead, he is to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, together with the community of believers in seeking a pure heart before the Lord.

Responding to the Transmission:

Yes, we have been called for greater things in this life, and as we choose to honor the Lord we will be shaped into useful instruments for the Lord’s service. Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Spirit’s empowering to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace together with the community; seeking a pure heart before the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:9-14 (NIV)

⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

¹³ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Reflection:

Today, we may not suffer the same type of persecution as the Apostle Paul, but we will face hardships in various ways as we live for Christ.  Even during childhood, a simple prayer before lunch at school can be met with opposition and mockery from other children.  As we persevere and choose to live for Christ throughout our various life stages, suffering will likely come in different ways and forms in this world.

Paul reminds Timothy of the Gospel, and of his own loyalty to the Gospel to the point of suffering. But more importantly, Paul reminds Timothy of God’s commitment to guard what he has entrusted to Him until the final day. So through the difficult and challenging times, Paul in turn urges Timothy to keep the Gospel as his pattern of sound teaching with faith and love in Christ, and to stay loyal to the Gospel by the power of the Spirit who lives in him.

Responding to the Transmission:

Even in today’s culture with it’s various types of teaching, the gospel stands as the only pattern of sound teaching.  Let’s spend time in prayer today asking for the Spirit’s empowering to stay loyal to the Gospel.

2 Timothy 1:6-8 (NIV)

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Reflection:

As a young leader of the early church, Timothy likely experienced periods of uncertainty related to his leadership abilities in the face of opposition (i.e. false teachers).  The Apostle Paul pulls no punches here in his encouragement to his young disciple.  Even though there may have been struggles with timidity and apprehension, Paul firmly reminds him that Christian life and leadership is not dependent upon ourselves or what we can do, but upon our reliance on the empowering presence of God- the Holy Spirit within us.

The Holy Spirit sets the stage, the framework by which we live out the called life. He is the Spirit of power, love and self-discipline, therefore there is no room for being fearful, lacking love or living a disorderly, untrained life.  God’s power will help us to take up our part in going through the hardships that comes with living for the Gospel

Responding to the Transmission:

Sometimes we may struggle with uncertainty or timidity when trying to share the Gospel with others.  Let’s spend time in prayer asking for the Spirit’s empowering to take us beyond this and our limited abilities.  Let us fan into flame the gift of God, which is in us, so that we may boldly proclaim the truth!

Deuteronomy 34:9

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

Reflection:

Joshua is mentioned in the last chapter of Deuteronomy, which connects it to the book of Joshua, giving a continuity of God’s care over the community of Israel. Again there is mention of Moses’ imparting the anointing for leadership over Joshua. And one important aspect is how he is filled with the spirit of wisdom. We now understand that in Christ, it is the Holy Spirit who lives in us and gives His wisdom to those who are called.

Response:

Let’s ask for the Spirit given wisdom to live out our calling.  Let’s cry out together and humbly ask God to fill us with His Spirit.

Numbers 27:18-23

18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord . At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

Reflection:

This is a major step in the rising of Joshua’s leadership of Israel. There is a clear imparting of the authority, and the narrative urges the reader to understand that the authority is not necessarily due to ability or popularity, but primarily a delegated authority that comes from God, thus the laying on of hands by Moses and the presence of the assembly. This encourages us to know that it is truly about the calling and the Caller.

Response:

Let’s remember that it’s all about the calling and the Caller.  As we make ourselves available, prepared and transparent before the Lord, it is the Caller who will do what He says.  He is our source. Let’s thank the Lord for His calling and His faithfulness to do as He calls.

Exodus 33:7-11

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Reflection:

Again, this is another very significant moment when Moses is meeting God at the tent of meeting. When the cloud of God comes and settles on the tent, and all Israel is watching, there is Joshua, already inside! And when Moses is finished, Joshua remains in the tent! We can only speculate what he was doing…Praying? Perhaps furiously taking notes about everything that has transpired? Soaking it in? Whatever the possibility, he was becoming more familiar with God’s presence.

Response:

Let’s ask the Lord that we will become more familiar with His presence. May we grow in being close to the Lord, soaking in His presence, and walking in His Spirit.