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To be Holy is to be a Forerunner of the Reign of God, Part 1

To be Holy is to be a Forerunner of the Reign of God, Part 1

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

Numbers 15:40; Matthew 4:17; 5:3-5; Luke 4:18-19

Day 5

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

Start to Connect

To be holy is to obey all of the Lord’s commands (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) – The poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the meek.

Truth to Ponder

  1. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is presented like Moses. As Moses gave the word of God, the Ten Commandments, coming from the top of Mt. Sinai, Jesus gave the “new” commandments in His sermon from the mount (Matthew 5:1-9; New Testament scholars note that, as there are 5 books of the Torah, Jesus in Matthew’s gospel gave 5 sermons/ discourses, Matthew 5-7, 10, 13, 18, and 23). To be holy is to obey the commands of Jesus. (cf. Matthew 28:18-20)
  2. The Beatitudes is part of the continuing proclamation of Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 4:17; New Testament  scholars say that Matthew’s use of the kingdom of heaven is the Jewish way of not mentioning God. Cf. The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:9) Thus, Jesus is not talking about the attitudes that will merit the blessings of the kingdom, but rather is talking about the kinds of people in and through whom the kingdom of God comes. Jesus’ followers are forerunners of the reign/kingdom of God. They are those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, and those who are meek. Are you one?

Examine The Word

  1. Read Matthew 5:3-5 and Luke 4:18-19 prayerfully. Jesus exemplifies what it is to be poor in spirit, what it is to mourn for the pains of the earth, and what it is to be meek. It is in this way that He brings the kingdom of God! What is your reaction?
  2. From what you have read about Jesus in the gospel, how did Jesus exemplify what it is to be poor in spirit? (i.e., John 8:1-11)
    What it is to mourn? (i.e. Luke 7:11-17)
    What it is to be meek? (i.e., Jesus before Pilate, John 18:28-38)
  3. Jesus exemplifies what it is to be holy. (He is the holy one of God, Mark 1:24) Thus, to be holy, as a forerunner of the kingdom of God, we must be poor in spirit, mourn, and be meek. What is your reaction?

Personal Application

  1. Which of these traits – poor in spirit, one who mourns, meek – do you resonate with? Why?
  2. Which of these traits are you far from being one? Why?
    What step(s) would you be taking to have these traits manifest in your life as you pursue holiness?
  3. Take time to pray for yourself to become a forerunner of the kingdom of God as you pursue holiness.

Prayer List

 NATION: Government Platform

Pray national leaders to uphold continuity of long-term government programs, for new administration to consider the past administration’s                                                    
Ten-point Agenda – Numbers 6 to 10
6. Relax requirements for international travel
7. Accelerate digital transformation through legislative measures
8. Provide for enhanced and flexible emergency measures through legislation
9. Shift the focus of decision-making and government reporting to more useful and empowering metrics
10. Medium-term preparation for pandemic resilience

 CHURCH/MINISTRIES

The Lord to provide workers/volunteers to the following committees of Spiritual Care Department.       

a.  Shepherds Care Committee head and other members
– Discipler development – CGLA coordinator; identify and recruit potential disciplers.
 – Monitoring – assist in connecting with disciplers and monitor discipleship frequency
 – CG support – DUA writers

b. Growth Care Committee
– Equipping – coordinator/secretariat for Events and Schedules; assist Growth Care head

 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

God’s wisdom for heads of families on COVID-19 vaccination for children, 3rd and 4th vaccinations for adults; breakthroughs for wisdom on safe means for physical interaction among the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

 MISSIONS

Pray for our missionaries, local and cross-cultural, for their sensitivity to God’s leading in their lives and ministries, strength and good health, protection from the evil one and empowerment as they proclaim the Gospel, make disciples and engage the people groups they are reaching out to.

  1. Pastor Ver and Melody Garrido (Indonesia)
  2. Bishop Ef Tendero (WEA, Global Ambassador)
  3. Glenn and Pia Sebios (Cambodia) 
  4. TM (Kyrgyzstan)
  5. Jong Vital (Cambodia)
  6. MDR (Dubai)