Prayer (Book of Job)

1)            Scripture Text:    Job 1:20-22

·         Job’s prayer of thanksgiving

·         Job was an intercessor (v 5)

·         1 Thess 5:16,17 – pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks

o   Prayer is like the bolt that closes your night and opens your day, therefore it is important for us to commune with God without ceasing

 

2)         Scripture Text:   Job 16:17-21

 

·         v 19 – “…my witness is in heaven..”

o   Rev 1:5 – Jesus witnesses our prayer.  When we pray to God with all sincerity and humility, our prayer will arise like a smoke of incense to Him

·         Mark 9:23-24

o   The account o Jesus’s healing on the boy with the evil spirit

o   It is none of business to wonder how God is going to work

o   Be stubborn to devil but be obedient to God (Ps 78:40-42)

o   Isa 45:3; Isa 43:1  – God calls you by your name & you are His

§  Therefore enforce what you believe and tell Satan to back off, the Hand of God and the finger of God is against him

o   Isa 41:21 – present your case with strong reason before God

 

3)             Scripture Text:  Job 14:13, 14

 

·         Those who trust in the Lord makes no haste

·         v 14 – I will wait till my change come, not allowing Satan to confuse me

·         Ps 27:13,14 – wait upon the Lord.  Time of waiting can be a time of refreshing in God’s presence.  (Isa 40:31). 

·         Luke 17:6 – having faith like the mustard seed

 

4)             Scripture Text:  Job 23:3-5

 

·         Present your case before God

·         Habbakuk 2:1-2 – write down that problem or situation and present it before God

 

5)             Scripture Text:  Job 40:3-5; Ps 46:10

 

·         Who is man to question before God, learn to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over our life

 

6)             Scripture Text:  42:1-6; 10

 

·         Job realized that God can do all things

·         Daniel 11:32 – those who know their God shall do great exploits

·         v 10 – God restored Job till he prayed for his enemies.  There is power in prayer

 

Lesson Application:

·         Remember Job 14:14 – all the days of my hard service, I will wait until my change comes

·         Live right and wait upon the Lord – be stubborn to the devil but be obedient to God

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 16.7.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

1)            Scripture Text:    Nehemiah  1:4-11

·         Nehemiah's 1^st prayer of confession and prayer for help.  Because he was the king's cupbearer, he was not supposed to put on a sad countenance when he served the king

 

2)         Scripture Text:   Nehemiah 4:1-6

 

·         Nehemiah prayed for judgement

·         v 6 – the people had a mind to work?

o   Do you have a mind to continue to do what God wants you to do?

o   Do not let yourself be ruled by feeling or sentiments for they can be deceiving

o   Heb 11:5,6 – without faith it is impossible to please God

 

3)             Scripture Text:  Nehemiah 6:9, 14

 

·         Nehemiah asked for God's help

·         Daniel 11:32

 

4)             Scripture Text:  Nehemiah 9:5-10

 

·         Nehemiah confessed what he believed and stood up to bless God

·         He began to proclaim (v 5 – 38) what he knew about God

 

5)            Scripture Text:  Nehemiah 13:14, 22

 

·         He prayed for blessings

·         Gal 6:9-10 – we must seek to do good especially to our own Christian believers

·         Isa 41:21 – to present your case with strong reasons before God in your own private prayer, asking God to remember your good work.

 

6)            Scripture Text:   Nehemiah 13:29-31

 

·         He prayed for judgement

·         Heb 6:10 – God will not forget about your good work

 

7)             Scripture Text:   Nehemiah 13:31;  Ps 84:11;  Ps 108:12-13

 

·         He prayed for blessings.  Ps 84:11 – God is our sun and our shield.   The sun produces heat and God is our shield to protect us from the heat of the sun. God wants to give every good thing to His people, bestowing favor and honor to His people.  Favor of God will bring about favor of man

 

Lesson Application:

·         You are not made great by what you can destroy but by what you can build

·         Walk humbly before God, confess our sins and seek to do good so that we can present our case with strong reasons to God , asking Him in our private prayer to remember our good work

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 9.7.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

1)      Scripture Text:  Ezra 7:27,28

·         Ezra’s prayer of thanksgiving because God had worked in the king’s heart to build God’s temple in Jerusalem

·         (v 10) – the importance of preparing our heart.  Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord

o   When we approach others,  let us talk and speak to others as human being and not as animals

o   Be a builder and not a destroyer; a pillar and not a caterpillar

·         (v 28) – when we are called to serve, what’s our attitudes?

o   Do you serve with your heart or serve with your head knowledge?

o   Honesty – not doing something that will cause you to hide from others

o   Before you do something, ask yourself how does God see you if you do that particular thing?  Will He be pleased?

o   Serving with integrity – when you put in position of power, will you abuse your power?

 

2)         Scripture Text:  Ezra 9:5-15

 

·         After fasting, Ezra confessed their sins, he prayed for forgiveness & health

o   You need to have passion for what you are doing and not do for doing sake

 

3)             Scripture Text:  Ezra 10:1-4 ; Jer 31:7

 

·         God answered Ezra’s prayer

o   (v 1) – the people began to weep bitterly and repented

o   (v 2) – there is hope. Despite of all wrongs you have done, there is hope for you in your life when you repent

o   (v 3 & 4) – the people were supportive of their leaders

o   (v 5) – support given to their leaders.  Likewise, we need to be supportive of the godly leadership God has placed over us

 

Lesson Application:

·         Preparing our heart for service unto God

·         Attitudes of our service – honesty, sincerity and with integrity

·         Supportive of godly leaders whom God has placed over us

 

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 18.6.2010   Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

 

1)      Scripture Text:  1 Chron 4:9, 10

·         Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.  

o   We may not come from reputable background but God is able to pick you up single-handedly.  Question – are you living an honorable life?

·         His mother called him Jabez because she bore him out of pain. 

o   Likewise, when we become children of God, we stop doing things which we used to do when we were unbelievers

·         Whenever we ask for God’s blessings, remember we are Abraham’s seed

o   Gen 15:18-21; Gal 3:28, 29 – God has promised blessings to Abraham’s seed and we who are in Christ, are Abraham’s seed too

 

 

2)         Scripture Text:  1 Chron 29:10-20

 

·         David prayed for Solomon

·         Will we thank God on behalf of others?  Nehemiah when he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the people of God in great distress, he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed.  Do we pray for someone when we know that he/she is in trouble?

·         v 20 – learn to thank God for what He has been to us

 

 

3)         Scripture Text:  2  Chron 14:11, 12

 

·         King Asa of Judah prayed for victory against the Ethiopians

·         He declared in v 11 that God is the One who will help the powerless

 

 

4)         Scripture Text:  2  Chron 20:5-12

 

·         King Jehoshaphat of Judah prayed for victory against the people of Ammon & Moab

·         Heb 4:16 – coming boldly before God that we may obtain mercy and grace in time of our need

·         Daniel 11:32 – those who know their God shall do great exploits

·         Eph 6:10 – be strong in the Lord

·         2 Chron 20:20 – If we believe, we shall be established

·         Prov 1:10-15 – do not flow with the sinners

·         Psalm 1:1-3 – do not  walk in the ways of the sinners

·         James 2:13 – mercy triumph over judgment.  In our judgment, remember mercy

 

Lesson Application:

·         Remembering that we are Abraham’s seed, we need to live an honorable life so that we can come boldly before the throne of God to obtain His grace & mercy in time of our need

·         Pray for those whom we know are going through difficulties in life

 

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 11.6.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

1)      Scripture Text:  2 Kings 6:11-17

·         Background – the king of Syria going against the children of Israel.  In (v 11) – he wanted to find out who betrayed him as his secret strategies were being made known to the king of Israel

·         (v12) – what a powerful testimony coming out from the mouth of an unbeliever who recognized that such knowledge had been revealed to the true servant of God in Israel, Elisah

·         (v15) – when you think you are alone, being out-numbered, do not fear for it is not true, God is with you & there is power in prayer

 

 

2)         Scripture Text:  2 Kings 19:14-19; 35

 

·         Background – the king of Assyria threatened Hezekiah, the king of Israel.  Hezekiah prayed

o   How do we react when we are faced with threat?  Do we cry and feel overwhelmed by all that is happening or do we go to God in prayer?

·         (v20) – what an assuring answer from God in verse 20.   “Because you prayed, I have heard”

·         Isa 54:17 – no weapon formed against us shall prosper

·         2 Chron 19:5-7 – we are not to suppress people or tap on people’s weaknesses nor taking bribes

·         Isa 41:21 – Choose to live right & present our case before God and see what God will do for us.

·         (v35) – God sent his angels and destroyed 185,000 Assyrians over night without the children of Israel doing anything

 

 

3)         Scripture Text:  2 Kings 20:1-6

 

·         King Hezekiah was sick and near death yet he humbled himself and prayed and God answered his prayer by extending his life for another 15 years

o   If we want to our problem to be solved, change our attitude

·         Psalm 50:15 – call upon God in the days of trouble and He will save you

 

Lesson Application:

·         When you think you are alone, it’s not true for God is always with you.  Go to God in prayer.

·         2 Kings 19:20 – because you prayed, God will say to us “I have heard”. 

·         If we want our problem to be solved, change our attitude – humble ourselves in the presence of God and seek His face

 

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 28.5.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

1)      Scripture Text:  1 Kings 3:1-9

·         Solomon prayed to God for wisdom, he was humble

·         Humility is the key to spiritual power

·         We may start well but are we able to end well?  We need to endure and take heed lest we fall

·         We may expect a blessing in serving God if we are enabled to persevere under many discouragements

·         His prayer was answered in (v 10-14) – humility brought about tremendous blessings

·         Eph 3:20 – God is able to give us more than we can ever imagine

 

 2)         Scripture Text:  1 Kings 8:22-53

 

·         Solomon prayed to God for the dedication of the temple he had built

o   Do we dedicate our home to the Lord when we purchase a flat?   When we do that, we are telling the enemy his power be destroyed by the power of God, asking God’s angels to protect and keep us safe

o   Having an attitude of thankfulness.  Contented with what we have but not with where we are

 

3)         Scripture Text:  1 Kings 17:20-24

 

·         Elijah prayed for the resurrection of the boy and God answered his prayer in v 24

·         Ps 50:15 – are you in trouble?  Call upon the Name of the Lord

·         Ps 55:22 – casting all our cares upon the Lord

·         Isa 45:22 – bring whatever your problem to the Lord

o   Do you remember God when you are in trouble?   Prov 3:5,6 (trust in the Lord with all your heart)

o   God wants us to remember what He has done for us but not expecting Him to repeat it.  Moses crossed the Red Sea by using his rod whilst Joshua crossed the River Jordon with the Levites carrying the Ark of God.  River Jordon parted when their feet touched the brim of the River

o   Problem with mankind is revelation from God (Revelation is secret made known).  It takes effort to prevail in prayer & earnestly seeking God for His divine revelation.

 

4)         Scripture Text:  1 Kings 18:36-39

 

·         Elijah called down fire from heaven

o   When God wants to move a mountain, He does not need a dynamic

 

5)         Scripture Text:  1 Kings 19:1-4

 

·         God used Elijah to perform all miracles but he was afraid of Jezebel.  Discouragement kills

o   The Lord will lead us into wilderness but you are the one to decide when to come out of it – 40 days or 40 years?

·         (v5, 6) – God sent an angel for He is always merciful

o   Psalm 118:8 – do not depend on man otherwise you will be finished. 

o   Experience is the best teacher

·         God did not answer Elijah’s prayer in (v4) because it was not God’s plan to kill him

 

 

Lesson Application:

·         Humility is the key to spiritual power

·         The greatest enemy of ourselves is self discouragement

·         Therefore seek God’s face earnestly whenever we are faced with difficulties and not wallow in our own defeat for God is faithful and will grant us the victory when we let Him take full control of our lives

·         The God who watches over us neither sleep nor slumber (Ps 121:4)

 

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 14.5.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

1)      Scripture Text:  2 Sam 2:1-6

·         David prayed and asked God for direction after the death of Saul

o   Do we seek the Lord before we make any decision in our life?

·         He did not rejoice over the death of his enemy (v 5). In fact, he blessed the men of Jabesh Gilead for the kindness they showed in burying Saul

 

2)         Scripture Text:  2 Sam 5:19, 20

 

·         David prayed for revelation… he wanted to be sure if he should go against the Philistines.  He was not working on hypothesis or assumption and in verse 20 – God granted him success at Baal Perazim for our God is a God of breakthrough

 

3)         Scripture Text:  2 Sam 7:18-29

 

·         David prayed to God for a Davidic covenant with God – his thanksgiving to God and that he would continue to extol and praise His Name

 

4)         Scripture Text:  2 Sam 24:10-24

 

·         (v 10) – David confessed his foolishness in sinning against God

·         (v 11) – God’s answer came with judgment.  David was given 3 options to choose (1) seven years of famine in the land  (2) pursuit by his enemies for 3 months or (3) three days of plague in his land  

·         (v 14) – David chose to fall under the Hands of God for he knew that no matter what, God would still be merciful towards him

·         (v17) – David’s sign of humility, asking God to spare His people and let His punishment be upon himself and his household

·         (v 24) – David did not cheat or manipulate his subjects and he would not offer to God sacrifices to God that cost him nothing

 

Lesson Application:

·         Do not rejoice over the downfall of our enemies

·         Seek God for direction whenever we are faced with decision in life

·         Confess our sins and live right in our relationship with God and with man

·         May we not give God our leftovers but rather offer to God the best that we can bring before Him

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during Friday overnight prayer meeting on 7.5.2010     

Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Daniel O.C.

D)    THE  DISCIPLINE  OF  A FAITHFUL  CHRISTIAN

Phil 1:3-11 – single mindedness.  Don’t play games with God, be serious in the things of God

 

Discipline:

o   facilitate obedience, not just hearsay but by discipline as discipline impede sin

o   Discipline in itself does not generate power but taking time to practice the whole range of activities approved by God will help you in the quest to be powerful in the things of God

 

       3   MAJOR  DISCIPLINE  -  DEVOTION / DENIAL / DEDICATION

 

1)      Devotion

o   Scripture interaction – interact with the Word of God

o   1 Peter 2:2-3 – instinct of a new born babe to desire and suck the mother’s milk, containing certain immunities which cannot be fully imitated by any milk powder, likewise we need to desire and feed on the unadulterated Word of God

o   2 Tim 3:16,17 – God’s Word produces all the changes we need

o   Heb 4:12,13 – God’s Word is our positional tool & we need to:

§  Have a consistent church attendance – preaching, proclaiming the truth.  Teaching draws attention to the truth

§  Systematic programme of reading God’s Word

§  Commit ourselves to memorize God’s Word

§  Be diligent in studying God’s Word

o   This will result in:

§  Establishing godly values in your life

§  Give you a divine world view, seeing things from God’s perspective

§  Productive living – changes in your value system & behavior

o   Prayer – acute need to talk to God

o   5 elements of prayer:

§  Adoration

§  Confession

§  Gratefulness

§  Intercession for others

§  Petition for yourself

o   Prayer will change you in your attitudes, emotion, perception in life

o   Silence – alone with God

o   Lamentation 3:27,28

o   God can only drop His mystery to us when we are not distracted

 

 

 

2)      Denial

o   Ability to say NO to thing that hinder your walk with God

o   1 Pet 2:11-12 – abstain from sinful desire amd inclination to do wrong things

o   Gel 5:16-17 – live by the Spirit of God

o   Fasting (sacrifice) – ability to give up what is legitimate

o   1 Peter 5:6, 7 – God gives grace to the humble

 

3)      Dedication

o   We cannot have Christ without having His church (it’s a package deal) – a demonstration in the context of the Body of Christ

o   9 things about dedication:

1)      Church membership is not optional

2)      Ministry dedication – find out what God wants and do it

3)      Church attendance – Heb 10:25,26

4)      Exercise of one spiritual gift ( at most 2) – 1 Peter 4:10

5)      Selflessness, mutual submission – Eph 5:21

6)      Obedience to spiritual authority – Heb 13:17

7)      Financial stewardship

8)      Willing to be trained – Eph 4:11-12

9)      Witness of your faith, be it doing it alone or in a team

 

 

 

SOURCE:   Above sermon notes taken during DLCC Church Camp from 1 to 4 June 2010 at Renaissance Hotel, Malacca.   Speaker:  Rev. Abel Thomas

A)     EVERY  DAY  BUSINESS  OF  BEING  FAITHFUL

·         1 Cor 4:1,2 – faithfulness is not an option but a requirement

·         Rom 14:12 – God will judge on how we live our life

·         A steward is one who is dependable, trustworthy & consistent

 

 

8  THINGS  ABOUT  BEING  A  FAITHFUL  CHRISTIAN

 

      1.            Faithful in the midst of difficulties – James 1:2

o   Joy is not equal to Happiness as Joy depends on our relationship with God while Happiness is dependable on our circumstances

      2.            Faithful in prayer – Luke 18:2;  

o   Pray without ceasing – 1 Thess 5:17

      3.            Faithful in using the gifts God has given to you

o   1 Cor 12 – diverse gifting in the Body of Christ

o   Stir up your gifting & by the grace of God make your gifting effective.  Do not leave it on the shelf

      4.            Faithfulness in showing your concern towards others

o   Matt 10:41, 42 – selfless & unselfishness

      5.            Leadership is a privilege not a demand – servant hood leadership

      6.            Faithful in soul winning

o   Daniel 12:3 (be a shining star for God)

o   Prov 11:30 – he who wins soul is wise

      7.            Faithfulness in giving of your finances

o   Mal 3:10 – giving of our finances – closest to blood sacrifices as God knows what money means to most of us

      8.            Faithfulness in our service to our Master – 1 Cor 15:58

 

 

B)     TEST  OF  A FAITHFUL  CHRISTIAN

1.      Fellowship with Jesus – 1 John 1:3

a)      Integrity – not compromising

b)      Intimacy – spending time with God

c)      Interest – mutual common interest – walking in holiness & with moral purity

2.      Sensitivity to sins – 1 John 1: 9

o   Don’t argue about what God says about sins.  Don’t pretend that we do not sin but deal with it.  God is faithful and just to cleanse us & forgives us of our sins.  He eradicate us from all records of our sins

3.      Obedience to God’s Word  - 1 John 2:3-4; John 14:15

o   Are we living in quiet disobedience?

o   3 common reactions:

o   Ponder over what has been said and soon forget about it

o   Rationale and come up with reasons for disobeying

o   Postpone it  (Your future is coming towards you right now and for a brief moment it enters  into your present and it soon becomes your past)

 

4.      Rejection of this evil world – 1 John 2:15-17

o   The world is defined as an organized system headed by Satan himself that leaves God out and is a rival to Him – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes & pride of life

5.      Anticipation of Christ’s return – 1John 3:2,3

o   Key – to have our hope/ focus fixed on Christ, our lives transformed in Christ’s likeness

6.      A decreasing pattern of sins – 1 John 3:3-9

o   v 3 – purifies ourselves when we continuously allow God to deal with our sins. 

o   Sin – any slight deviation from God’s standard

o   Seed principle – sin will grow gradually.  It’s like a seed planted in fertile soil.  Therefore do not let the seed of sin grows but pull it out because those weeds can grow faster before you ever notice it 

7.      Love for the brethren – 1 John 3:14-18

o   Self-sacrificing, Self-giving & Self initiated love

o   Go beyond your call of duty and do what is pleasing to God

8.      Answered prayer – 1 John 3:12-22

o   If our lives are right, answers to our prayer will not be uncommon or rare

9.      Ministry of the Holy Spirit – 1 John 4:4

o   The Holy Spirit will never leave you nor forsake you but the sense of His presence/His intimacy will leave you if you choose to grief Him.  Treasure Him and don’t make Him feel that He doesn’t belong

10.  Discern between truth and error – 1 John 4:1-6

o   Test every spirit – just like the Berean Christians who searched the Scriptures as they did not have the New Testaments at that point in time.  Therefore it’s important that we take heed of any false teachings like:

o   Knowledge is superior to virtue, living as you please

o   Knowledge overrules your behavior

o   Knowledge is superior to Scriptures

o   Evil in this world preclude that God is a creator

o   Incarnation is impossible, Jesus is not God but just a man

o   No resurrection, no eternal punishment or reward

o   No ethical standard of behavior – no such thing of having a good husband, wife or good upbringing of their children

 

 

C)    THE  PORTRAITS OF  A FAITHFUL  CHRISTIAN

2 Tim 2:1-6 – as a Child / Soldier / Athlete / Farmer

 

1.      As a child

o   A child portrays the nature of his parents

o   Matures at the cost of time.  If you are yielded to God, the process of molding can be shortened

o   A child demonstrates heighten curiosity.  Childishness is foolishness and is unlike Childlikeness with is Christ-likeness

o   Receives instruction from his daddy

o   a)   precepts – eg thou shall not kill; compulsory church attendance

o   b)   principles – you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore we ought to take care of how we live our lives -  some books or movies which we should not be reading or watching, smoking which will destroy our health etc

2.      As a soldier – 2 Tim 2:3,4

o   Engage in warfare – Eph 6:12

o   Suffer extreme condition of hardship, yet they do not throw in their towel

o   Doesn’t entangle himself with the affairs of this life

o   Seek to please his commander, taught to obey.  Today, as Christian, are we enlisted as an army of Christ or taking the Body of Christ as a social club?

 

3.      As an athlete

o   Keep running – 1 Cor 9:27

o   Competes according to the rules, not hindering others – 2 Tim 2:5

o   Competes to win.  As Christian, we all can run and win, plan to win and run this race with a clear goal

o   Exercise self control in all things

o   Run with endurance, up & down the valleys, crossing many obstacles – Heb 12:1

o   Always pay attention to his weak points (nib the mistakes at the butt before it becomes a major issue)

4.      As a farmer – 2 Tim 3:6

o   Busy, industrious, always doing something

o   Plant according to the harvest he wants

 

 

D)    THE  DISCIPLINE  OF  A FAITHFUL  CHRISTIAN

Phil 1:3-11 – single mindedness.  Don’t play games with God, be serious in the things of God

 

Discipline:

o   facilitate obedience, not just hearsay but by discipline as discipline impede sin

o   Discipline in itself does not generate power but taking time to practice the whole range of activities approved by God will help you in the quest to be powerful in the things of God

 

       3   MAJOR  DISCIPLINE  -  DEVOTION / DENIAL / DEDICATION

 

1)      Devotion

o   Scripture interaction – interact with the Word of God

o   1 Peter 2:2-3 – instinct of a new born babe to desire and suck the mother’s milk, containing certain immunities which cannot be fully imitated by any milk powder, likewise we need to desire and feed on the unadulterated Word of God

o   2 Tim 3:16,17 – God’s Word produces all the changes we need

o   Heb 4:12,13 – God’s Word is our positional tool & we need to:

§  Have a consistent church attendance – preaching, proclaiming the truth.  Teaching draws attention to the truth

§  Systematic programme of reading God’s Word

§  Commit ourselves to memorize God’s Word

§  Be diligent in studying God’s Word

o  

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