Setyembre 10 (Sabado): 2 Hari 1-2
Sino ang Makakatakas?
September 11 (Sunday): 2 Kings 3-4
God’s Care
September 5 (Monday): 1 Kings 13-14
Intercession
2 HARI 1:16 Pagdating sa palasyo sinabi
niya sa hari, "Ganito ang ipinapasabi ni
Yahweh: 'Sapagkat nagsugo ka ng mga
tao upang sumangguni kay Baalzebub na
diyos ng Ekron na para bang wala nang
Diyos sa Israel, hindi ka na gagaling.
Mamamatay ka.'"
But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is
there no prophet of the Lord with us? If
there is, we can ask the Lord what to do
through him [2 Kings 3:11].
Then the king said to the man of God,
“Intercede with the Lord your God and pray
for me that my hand may be restored.” So the
man of God interceded with the Lord, and the
king’s hand was restored and became as it
was before [13:6].
Mabigat at masakit ang naging hatol ni propeta Elias
kay Haring Ahazias, ng Israel "Ganito ang ipinapasabi
ni Yahweh: 'Sapagkat nagsugo ka ng mga tao upang
sumangguni kay Baalzebub na diyos ng Ekron na
para bang wala nang Diyos sa Israel, hindi ka na
gagaling. Mamamatay ka.'"
Sa mabigat na parusang ito ay isa lamang ang pagasa ng hari at ‘yan ang awa ng Dios ngunit sa halip
na manalangin, humingi ng tawad at awa ay iniutos
niyang dakpin ang propeta. Maging ang pagkamatay
ng mga sinugo niya dahil sa mahimalang
pagpapaulan nito ng apoy ay hindi siya natinag.
MATIGAS TALAGA!
Marami pa ring Ahazias sa panahon ngayon.
Nagmamatigas sa panawagan ng bibliya Mayabang
at ayaw magsisi. Tinutuya at inaakusahan ang pastor
o sinomang mag-rebuke sa kanila. Oras na sila ay
salungatin ay asal hayop na. Sa halip na magsisi ay
sinisira nila ang kanilang kapwa. Ilan na nga ba ang
napahamak dahilan sa katigasan ng ulo?
Sa mga oras na ito, ano ang panawagan sa iyo ng
Dios? Tinatanggap mo ba ito nang may
pagpapakumbaba at pagsisi? Tandaan wala kahit
sinoman ang nakakatakas sa Kanyang hatol?
Amang Dios na makapangyarihan sa
lahat, sino ang makakatakas sa hatol Mo?
Maging ang hari sa kanyang palasyo ay
inabot nito. Dapat kang katakutan dapat
kang igalang, purihin ka Panginoon,
magpakailanman.
We read here the character of Jehoram, king
of Israel [1-3]; a war with Moab in which
Jehoram’s allies were engaged [4-8]; the
consultation with the man of God, Elisha, and
its results [9-19]; the glorious results [20-25];
the barbaric ways of Moab [26-27].
Jehoshaphat’s decision to seek the help from
the man of God, Elisha, is a good motion. It is
good that he consulted the Lord now but it
would have been better if he did it earlier
before he engaged in the war. It is interesting
that Elisha followed the army and directs it
like the president of council of war. Elisha
was not asked to do it and it is not part in the
office as a priest! I think Elisha received
special instructions from God to do it.
This shows us the goodness of God. God in
His mercy always provides for us more than
we ask for. Jehoshaphat only asked for
counsel but God gave His servant to be with
them! It is like our experience today. God
gave us His counsel [Word] and His servants
[pastors] to make sure we win our battles in
life.
God truly cares, we His people must know;
His love and concern for us is more than we
can ask.
His Word and servants are evidences;
He cares for His people in all respects.
Bulay – Buhay
“Bulay (Tag.) means to meditate.
“Buhay (Tag.)” means life.
Our devotional bulletin implies
the need to meditate for life.
Weekly Devotional Guide
September 5-11, 2011
Devotional Writers
Monday – Pastor Nelly A.
Tuesday – Marilyn S.
Wednesday – Cerela N.
Thursday – Paul T.
Friday – Joy A.
Saturday – Hannah S.
Sunday – Dr. JB A.
Shalom Christian Fellowship
Tokyo, Japan
Webpage: http://scflink.com
E-mail: scf_japan@yahoo.com
Intercession is a prayer asking God to help
someone who is in great need, either spiritual or
physical.
In this story, King Jeroboam made 2 golden
calves and set up an altar – one in Bethel and the
other in Dan. He instituted the festival for the
Israelites to make their offerings to the altars he
built. He also installed priests at the high places
he made. On his own appointed time of worship
he offered sacrifices on the altar he built at
Bethel.
As King Jeroboam was standing by the altar to
make offering, an unnamed prophet of God came
and prophesy against the altar King Jeroboam
had made. When the king heard what the man of
God cried out against the altar he made he was
very furious and stretched out his hand towards
the man of God commanding to seize him. [When
a king ordered to seize a person this means
punishment or death.]
But the hand King Jeroboam stretched out
toward the man of God shriveled up, so that he
could not pull it back, because by doing so the
king went against God Himself.
Now, here is a man who had forsaken God’s
command, and worshipped other gods and yet
received complete healing and restoration
because of God’s prophet’s intercession. God is
really full of grace and mercy.
Our God loves to extend His kindness to all
people. God is always please when we, His
people ask for His mercy not only for ourselves
but also for sinners. Let us intercede for those
who are still in darkness.
Father God, thank you for it pleases you to
extend your grace and mercy to save sinners.
We honor your name in our lives, amen.
Setyembre 6 (Martes): 1 Hari 15-16
Una sa LAHAT!
Setyembre 7 (Miyerkules): 1 Hari 17-18
Pananampalataya
September 8 (Thursday) 1 Kings 19-20
“Times of Refreshing”
September 9 (Friday): 1 Kings 21-22
Humility Attracts Mercy
Si Asa'y nanatiling tapat kay Yahweh
habang buhay. [15:14b]
1 Hari 17:13-16 Sinabi sa kanya ni Elias: “Huwag
kang mag-alala. Humayo ka at gawin mo ang
iyong sinabi. Ngunit ipagluto mo muna ako ng
isang munting tinapay, at pagkatapos magluto ka
ng para sa inyo. Sapagkat ganito ang sabi ni
Yahweh, Diyos ng Israel: Hindi ninyo mauubos ang
harina sa lalagyan. At hindi rin matutuyo yaong
langis sa tapayan. Hanggang hindi sumasapit ang
talagang Takdang araw. Na ang ula’y marapating
papatakin ng Maykapal.” Ginawa nga ng babae
ang utos ni Elias at sila’y kumain - si Elias at silang
mag-ina. At hindi nga naubos ang harina sa
lalagyan, at hindi natuyo ang langis sa sisidlan,
tulad ng pangako ni Yahweh sa pamamagitan ni
Elias.
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came
to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while
he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and
prayed that he might die. “I have had enough,
LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than
my ancestors.” 1kings 19:3-4
Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself
before me? Because he has done this, I will not
do what I promised during his lifetime. It will
happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty [1
Kings 21:29].
Si Asa ang naging hari ng Juda. Naghari siya sa
loob ng apatnapu't isang taon, at sa Jerusalem siya
nanirahan. (10a)
Namuhay nang matuwid sa paningin ni Yahweh,
paris ng kanyang ninunong si David.(11)
Pinalayas at pinaalis niya sa katungkulan ang mga
sumasamba sa diyus-diyusan pati na rin ang
kanyang lolang si Maaca sa pagkainang-reyna.
(12-13)
Magandang tularan natin si Asa sa pagsunod, tapat
na naglingkod kaya naman lahat ng gawin sa buhay
ay tagumpay. Ipinamumuhay niya at sinundan ang
yapak ni David sa pagsunod sa Diyos.
Huwag mabaling sa mga bagay na nakapaglalayo
sa atin sa Panginoon. Isa-isip palagi na bakit tayo
narito ay upang maglingkod sa kanya ng tapat at
walang ibang intensiyon kundi ang mapaligaya
natin ang Diyos.
Paano ba natin mapapaligaya ang Diyos? Una,
huwag tayong lumayo sa kanya. Pangalawa, huwag
natin siyang alisin sa pagka Diyos. Gawin natin na
Siya ang ating atensiyon at sentro ng ating buhay.
Huwag ang mga materyal na bagay. Palagi tayong
makipag usap sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng
panalangin, pagbabasa ng kanyang salita (Biblia),
at sa pagdalo sa gawain ng Diyos; Pagbibigay ng
ating ikapu at kaloob at naglilingkod sa Diyos sa
pamamagitan ng ibang tao. Unahin siya sa lahat ng
bagay at sigurado na ang Diyos ay malulugod sa
atin.
Ama salamat po sa paalala na lagi ka
naming unahin. Salamat sa iyong habag
at awa. Salamat po dahil kami'y inako
mong anak. Salamat sa pagpapala at
katagumpayan sa aming buhay. Mabuhay
ka sa buhay ko! Sa iyo lamang
maglilingkod, amen.
Hindi natin inaasahan ang pagtulong ng Diyos sa
atin. Tinutugon ng Diyos ang ating mga
pangangailangan ng higit pa sa ating ninanais o
inaasahan. Kahit sa anumang kahirapan, pagsubok
o kahit sa kawalan ng pag-asa pa ang sitwasyon,
kailangang hanapin natin ang pag-iingat at
pangangalaga ng Diyos sa atin.
Noong makita ng balo na taga Sarepta si Elias,
naisip ng balo na ito na ang huli niyang
paghahanda ng pagkain. Ngunit sa isang simpleng
pananampalataya nangyari ang himala. Nagtiwala
ang balo kay Elias, ibinigay ng balo kay Elias ang
pagkaing hiling nito.
Ang pananampalataya ay isang paghakbang sa
pagitan ng pangako at kasiguruhan. Ang himala ay
hindi ganun kadaling mangyari o makamit sa isang
maliit na pananampalataya. Ngunit sa bawat
himala, malaki man o maliit, ito’y nagmumula sa
pagsunod o obedience. Hindi natin makikita ang
solusyon o sagot hanggat hindi tayo gagawa ng
hakbang patungo sa pananampalataya.
Ama naming Diyos, kami’y nagtitiwala na hindi mo
kami pababayaan sa anumang kahirapan at
pagsubok na dinaranas namin ngayon. At
nagpapasalamat kami sa patuloy mong pag-iingat,
pagtugon ng aming mga pangangailangan.
Elijah was exhausted and discouraged knowing
that a lot of Baal’s followers want to kill him. He
failed to trust in God and became intimidated by
the threats. He was so afraid and escape because he
does not find any hope and gave up.
But then God told him to "stand on the mountain"-and He would be there. At first, Elijah felt "a great
and strong wind," but God "was not in the wind."
Then the earth shook with a mighty earthquake,
followed by a fire. But God was not in either the
quake or the fire. Then there was "a sound of a
gentle blowing," a "gentle whisper", a "still small
voice" --and that is when Elijah experienced God's
Presence and received His direction and
reassurance. Showing He still was with Elijah, He
sent him back into ministry to complete his
assignment.
This experience of Elijah shows us that even
mature Believers may need turnarounds. All of us
face the weakness of the flesh. At times, we all must
be renewed in our relationship with God, reminded
to depend on Him and not on ourselves. Where do
we find that turnaround? Like Elijah--in quiet times
alone with the Lord, where He can refresh us, teach
us, strengthen us, and guide us.
If you become discouraged, remember to turn to
God. If you feel alone, remember that you're
surrounded by a mighty spiritual army. If you feel
powerless, seek Him and believe Him for the power
that's available to you. And when you face
problems, no matter how serious or small, call on
Him. Let Him turn your life around and meet your
every need.
Father, renew me today. Help me to rely on You.
Thank You that You are always with me. I worship
You and believe You for victory. Thank You! In Jesus'
name. Amen.
King Ahab wanted the vineyard of Naboth. But
Naboth didn’t want to give it to the king no matter
what the king will pay him in exchange. Naboth
was just an ordinary man and King Ahab had
power over all the people in his kingdom. The king
was so upset that Naboth didn’t listen to him. And
to the king’s words the people should listen. The
king gets all he wants! The king’s wife Jezebel
heard about it and she commanded the leaders
and people of Israel to stone Naboth to death [to
kill him]. When Naboth was dead the king took his
vineyard. What a king! I guess that’s one reason
we should follow kings coz they’ll kill us if we
don’t. [These are bad kings though.] And there are
many good kings and leaders too.
When King Ahab humbles himself before God,
God forgave him and erased the disaster that He
was about to bring to Ahab as punishment. You
may think God didn’t erase the curse because He
said He will bring the disaster in the days of Ahab’s
son instead. Now the curse continues to the 2’nd
and 3’rd generation but God’s love continues to
the thousand generations.
God gave His Son Jesus Christ to free us from the
bondage of sin and remove the curse. He died for
our sins and we have new life and eternal life
through Him. A simple humility and repentance
will do. God is a merciful and loving God. He never
fails to forgive.
Lord, thank you for your love and mercy to me.
Thank you for your forgiveness. I repent of all
my sins and I humble myself before you. I pray
for your favor to be upon me forever. I love you,
amen.