Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9
(MP3)

Pray because God commands us to pray. (Luke 18:1)
Know your God before you pray - Who is God to you? Remember John 15:16.
The Covenant Keeping God - His promises never fails. (Numbers 23:19)
When in need of answered prayers, check yourself before you pray. Align yourself with God first.

• Trust in God (Nahum 1:7; Matt. 21:21; 1 John 5:14-15);
• Delight in God (Psalm 37:4).

Prayerful Life: Spiritual journey of Divine Appointment, Divine Connections and Divine Revelation

• Ask (Divine Appointment) - ASK, and it will be given to you (Matt. 7:7);
• Seek (Divine Connections) - SEEK, and you will find (Matt. 6:31-33);
• Knock (Divine Revelation) - KNOCK, and it will opened to you (Zeph. 1:7).
• This is a spiritual command for a spiritual journey into practicing the Presence of God and experiencing the undivided intimacy with God.

Therefore:
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground.
For it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12).
Remember two things:

1. Romans 8:26-27 - The Spirit of God is your helper; and
2. The Lord your God, your Father, your Maker, your Beginning and End, is waiting for you. Don't keep him waiting.

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Philippians 1:20-2:30
(MP3) (Video)
 
How do you balance doing your job, service for Christ, caring for your family, taking care of yourself, and just enjoying life?
 
Considering the context of Paul's 2nd missionary journey and his house arrest in Rome after his 3rd missionary journey, we see his purpose for the Philippians as  the main thrust of Philippians 1:27-30.
In the midst of our daily concerns, uncertainties and struggles, our call is to live a life worthy of the gospel and to stand firm in the one spirit, well-grounded on the truth.
 
The Right Attitude

• Philippians 2:3-5 encourages a willingness to serve others unselfishly and sacrificially. The stark contrast is the problem of selfishness common everywhere. Our struggle is trying to balance between 'my interests' and 'someone else' interests'. Paul makes the connection between the interests of Christ and those of others.

 
Role-models of sacrificial service for others

1. Paul – put the interests of others ahead of his own. Being imprisoned for the spread of the gospel, he could see the benefits of death, yet he chose to continue in life, in spite of his suffering, for the sake of fruitful service (Phil. 1:20-26).
2. Jesus – humbled himself as a servant, was sent to announce the Gospel and died for it. Paul taught the Philippians to have the same mindset that Jesus did (Phil. 2:5-8).
3. Timothy – "took a genuine interest in the wellbeing" of others and proved it by his action (Phil. 2:19-23). Paul sent him back home to serve the Ephesian church, and now called him to go and serve the Philippian church.
4. Epaphroditus – cared passionately from his heart and proved it by action, in practical services to Paul and his fellow disciples of Christ (Phil. 2:25-30).

 
In the midst of our common daily struggles between competing demands in our life, the real problem is often our own selfishness and bad attitude toward others.
In following those role-models of sacrificial service for others, there is indeed not supposed to be a balance between our selfish cares and our call to selflessly serve others.
We are called to throw ourselves out for the welfare of others.
 
 
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Psalm 23; John 10
(MP3) 
The relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep, described in the passages, are examples about intimacy with God. That intimacy protects us and empowers us in a context of spiritual warfare.
 
The Sheep's View in Psalm 23

• David understands the responsibilities of the shepherd and a king toward his people, but also that he and his people need a spiritual shepherd.
• He knows that only the Lord can provide spiritual security and wellbeing that comes from the presence of the Lord (vv. 3-4).
• The presence of the Lord assures David that he will lack nothing in this life and eternity (v. 6).

 
The Shepherd's View in John 10:1-18

• Jesus is the good shepherd of Psalm 23 (vv. 11, 14).
• The shepherd and the sheep know each other (vv. 3-4, 14). It is not just caring, but intimacy in the relationship between them.
• Jesus has come that the sheep "may have life and have it abundantly" (v. 10).
• The sheep have enemies: thieves, robbers, wolves (vv. 1, 8, 10, 12).
• Jesus has the willingness and the authority from his Father to lay down his life for the sheep and to take up his life again (vv. 11, 15, 18).

 
The War Zone in Ephesians 6:10-20

• Christians are sheep in a war zone, fighting against the schemes of the devil, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (vv. 11-12).
• We are safe in the Lord, whose presence provides all that we need to stand firm in this war zone to which he has called us.
• We are called to take up (not look for) the full armor of God (vv. 14-17).
• In the war zone, the sheep bleat: (v. 18-20)
  • Pray at all times in the Spirit;
  • Keep alert with all perseverance;
  • Pray for the needs of the body;
  • Proclaim the gospel boldly.

 
Summary:

• Christ is our all-sufficient and loving Shepherd.
• He calls us by name and we know his voice.
• He is present with us in every battle.
• So let's bleat… in prayer and proclaiming the Gospel, until the Shepherd calls us to our eternal home.

 
 
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The series of "The Call to Undivided Intimacy"

The 2nd commandment
“Love God as Who He is”
(Exodus 20:4-6)

​In the second commandment, God is saying, “Seek Me and love the real Me, instead of the God you imagined. I am a jealous God. I cannot let you to turn your heart to something that is not Me, believing that is Me.” It’s like, if there is a married couple, a husband or a wife cannot let their spouse turn their heart to someone else. This is the holy call to undivided intimacy from God.
Today, we’ll first look at the context and the reasons why we need this commandment, and then unpack the problems that can happen when we ignore it. And later I’ll talk about how we may apply it in our life.
Read more...

​For LifeNet groups and personal reflection
 
1. Think about the example (in your life if possible) of 1) Man-made image of God that distorts the glory of God, 2) Man-made image of God that misleads people, and 3) a distorted image of God that infects family.
 
2. Why is “being humble” the key to recognize God’s greatness, to accept what we really are, to be loved by God and to love God? How may we think about these, if we are not humble?
 
3. What may be your obstacles 1) to recognize God’s greatness more, 2) to accept what you really are in God’s eyes, 3) to restore image of God in your life, 4) to be love by God more and 5) to love God more? What will you do?

NILF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.