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Devotional for the week – 12 January 2009 Sermon Title: Breakthrough Introduction On D-Day, June 6 1944, over 300,000 allied forces coordinated a land, sea and air attack at 5 locations in Normandy. D-Day was a day of major breakthrough. It struck the decisive blow to the German forces. But even so, the Germans continued to fight furiously and still controlled most of Europe for almost a year before surrendering. If we put our self into the shoes of a French resistance fighter during that period, this means that while we may still have to endure much suffering and hardship for a little while, our suffering is made easier to bear because we have received the news of D-Day which brings us great hope because we know that help has come! The Secret of the Kingdom of God Everyone expected the coming of God’s Kingdom to destroy all evil but it did not. The secret was that the King came quietly. He did not and will not force His rule on anyone. Like the Germans who continued to fight to retain their control over Europe even after D-Day, this world is still in the grip of evil even after the coming of our Lord Jesus. However, wherever God is welcomed as King, you will find the Kingdom of God breaking through. For as John 1:10-12 declares, “He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:14 also states that “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” In other words, God became a human being. Why would God become a human being? Like the rescue workers who risked their lives during the Sichuan earthquake to save others, when God saw all the trouble on earth, He left the comfort and security of heaven to come and help us because of His love for us. The birth of our Lord Jesus was a Major Breakthrough, transforming our lives in one degree or another. We Need His Breakthrough We too need transformation and breakthrough in our lives: These may be some of the areas which we struggle with in a world that is still in the grip of suffering and evil. But we have a hope, even during these times. Because we have heard the good news that God has stepped in and broken through and loosened the grip and that He is patiently rebuilding His new creation of justice and mercy. We Need His Grace God sees all our faults and understands our struggles. Yet He does not reject us when we fail. He has come to rescue us and lead us down the path of true love. Christmas Invitation This Christmas, ask God to be King of your life. Invite Jesus to rule in your heart and mind. Join a community that will keep repeating God’s Word and will help us to do the right thing even when we do not feel like it. For Jesus says in Matthew 10:32 that "Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. Prayer Response Father God, forgive me for having broken your laws and turning from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want Your help in turning away from my past sinful life so that I may live in daily communion with You. I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite you, Lord Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, so that Your will be done in my life. Lord, I place my trust and hope in You and believe that this will be a year of Breakthrough for me. I claim this now in your precious name, Amen.” Devotional based on a message by Rev Dr Norman Wong
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