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To be Holy is to be a Forerunner of the Reign of God, Part 2

To be Holy is to be a Forerunner of the Reign of God, Part 2

Posted on July 12, 2022 Posted By: KBCF Categories: Devotion

Numbers 15:40; Matthew 4:17; 5:6-9; Luke 4:18-19

Day 6

Note: This devotional is taken from the 2022 Midyear Prayer and Fasting Week.

Start to Connect

To be holy is to obey all the commands of the Lord. (Numbers 15:40) Jesus commands us, His followers to be the forerunners of the reign of God. We are those in and through whom the kingdom of God comes (cf. Matthew 28:18-20) – Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.

Truth to Ponder

  1. In the light of the ongoing war in Ukraine which highlights the way of the world that might is right, how did the kingdom of God come in the person of Jesus? (Matthew 5:3-9; As one New Testament scholar puts it, “When the kingdom of God comes, God does not send in the tanks and artilleries, but rather the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, etc.”) Does this make sense in our violent world today? Or is this what it is to be holy (set apart for God), distinct, different from the world?
  2. To hunger and thirst for the righteousness is to hunger and thirst for God’s justice. Is this what is happening to you heart right now in the light of the unjust pain and suffering in the world and in our nation today?

Examine The Word

  1. Read Matthew 5:6-9 prayerfully. What is your reaction to no. 2 above regarding v.6? 
  2. We’ve just had a very contentious election that elicited a lot of animosities across all political colors. What does it mean to be merciful in our dealings with one another? (i.e., at the least, not to judge others.
  3. To be holy is not only a matter of behavior, but is also a matter of the heart according to v.8 (cf. Matthew 5:22, 28) What is your reaction?
  4. At the least we ought to be praying for P______ in Ukraine, according to v.9. Given the very divisive recently-concluded election, what should our stance be for our fellow Filipinos?

Personal Application

  1. John Stott calls the Beatitudes as counter-cultural. To be holy is to be set apart for God, distinct and different from the world, thus, the beatitudes is God’s call to be holy in today’s world. What steps would you be taking to manifest what the Lord desires for His people, His holy nation, today?
  2. Poor in spirit: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
  3. People who mourn:  _____________________________________________________________________________________
  4. Those who are meek: ____________________________________________________________________________________
  5. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness:   _______________________________________________________
  6. Merciful: _________________________________________________________________________________________________
  7. Pure in heart: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
  8. Peacemakers:  ___________________________________________________________________________________________
  9. The common denominator in all of the steps you have listed above is prayer, for yourself and for your brothers and sisters. Read Matthew 5:3-9 again and pray that the Lord will bring about what He promised the kingdom will bring to His people who strive to be holy

Prayer List

 NATION: Government Platform

  1. PRAY for major national concerns like:      
    Infectious Diseases:  The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force Against Covid-19 to continue enhancing government long-term approach to prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
  2. Economic recovery: The National Economic and Development Authority to continue making and implementing measures to address economic recovery after the pandemic and in the midst of economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
 CHURCH/MINISTRIES

Pray that attenders will see the value in becoming a member of the Church, and attend our Baptismal and Membership classes.

 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

God’s covering of safety against infections as face-to-face meetings become closer and more frequent among relatives, loved ones, neighbors; Holy Spirit’s prompting to observe health protocols.

 MISSIONS

Pray for missions organizations, for their sensitivity to God’s leading in their ministries, empowerment as they use their ministry to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples and engage the groups they are reaching out to.

Missions Organizations

  1. ABCCOP (Pastor Chito Ramos)
  2. Asian Theological Seminary (Missionaries Training Ground)
  3. Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches
  4. Values Orientation In Christian Education (Beverly Tenecio)
  5. CBN ASIA (Lucille Talusan)
  6. Back to the Bible (Bishop Ef)
  7. OMF Literature (Yna Reyes)
  8. Philippine Bible Society (Bishop Ef)
  9. FEBIAS College of Bible (Bishop Ef, Dulce Abutal)
  10. Far East Broadcasting Company (Bishop Ef)
  11. World Evangelical Alliance (Bishop Ef, Third Fermin, Jores Dema-ala)

Special Ministries

  1. KKCCS, KBCF Kinder Care Christian School (Chairman-Rey Garrido)
  2. KOPF, KBCF Operation Paglingap Foundation (Chairman- Mon San Pascual)