Scripture:
Hebrews 11:32-35
Thu, 4 August 2022

Exploit Faith: Relying on God

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about faith in verses 32 to 35?

Deeper Reflection
MOST OF US KNOW THAT HEBREWS 11 IS ABOUT FAITH. The word “faith” is repeated 24 times in the 40 verses. Hebrews 11 shows three kinds of faith, which can be encapsulated in verse 35: “Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.”The first kind of faith is exploit faith: “women received back their dead by resurrection.” Exploit faith is faith as expressed in this statement made by the great missionary, William Carey: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” It is the faith that sees the dead resurrected, that “conquered kingdoms”, that “performed acts of righteousness”, that “shut the mouths of lions,”, that “quenched the power of fire”, that “escaped from the edge of the sword” and that “became mighty in war, putting foreign armies to flight” (vv.33-35a).In our Christianity, we tend to focus on and emphasise exploit faith. Many of us often prefer to have this kind of faith. When it comes to faith, the first thing that comes to our mind is almost always exploit faith. We like to see great things happen to us, even great things brought about by God. Our presupposition is, the greater our faith is, the greater will be the things that we can do and happen to us, which is not necessarily so. When we pray, “Lord, increase our faith” (Lk 17:5), generally, we are seeking for greater exploit faith. There is nothing wrong about that. However, the faith emphasised in Hebrews is the other two kinds of faith.
Application:

What areas in my life do I need to exercise faith in God and what does that
mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To constantly rely on God
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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