Day 334 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 30 November 2023 reflections - 5th Day of Advent
Day 334, 30 November 2023
1) Romans 8, Romans 9, Romans 10
Romans 8
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according
to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 (Ac 13:39; 2Co 5:21) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 (Gal 5:16) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit.
5 (1Co 2:14; Gal 5:19-25) For those who live according to the flesh set
their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 (Ro 6:21; 8:13) To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace,
7 (Jas 4:4; 1Co 2:14) for the carnal mind is hostile toward God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be,
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong
to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead
because of sin, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 (Ac 2:24; Ro 8:2) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus
from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit
that lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh.
13 (Gal 6:8) For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
14 (Gal 5:18; Rev 21:7) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are the sons of God.
15 (Mk 14:36; 1Co 2:12) For you have not received the spirit of slavery
again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom
we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 (Eph 1:13; 2Co 1:22) The Spirit Himself bears witness
with our spirits that we are the children of God,
17 (Gal 4:7; 3:29) and if children, then heirs: heirs of God
and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,
that we may also be glorified with Him.
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit
of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after
the flesh.
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The Glory That Is to Be
18 (1Pe 4:13; Col 3:4) For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
to us.
19 (1Jn 3:2; Php 1:20) The eager expectation of the creation waits for
the appearance of the sons of God.
20 (Ge 3:17-19; 5:29) For the creation was subjected to futility,
not willingly, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 (2Pe 3:13; Ac 3:21) that the creation itself also will be set free
from its slavery to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children
of God.
22 (Jer 12:11; 12:4) We know that the whole creation groans
and travails in pain together until now.
23 (Ro 7:24; 8:19) Not only that, but we also, who have the first fruits
of the Spirit, groan within ourselves while eagerly waiting for adoption,
the redemption of our bodies.
24 (1Th 5:8; Heb 11:1) For we are saved through hope, but hope that is
seen is not hope, for why does a man still hope for what he sees?
25 (1Th 1:3) But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it
with patience.
26 (Eph 6:18; Mt 20:22; Zec 12:10) Likewise, the Spirit helps us
in our weaknesses, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 (Ro 8:34; Rev 2:23) He who searches the hearts knows what the mind
of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according
to the will of God.
28 (Gal 1:15; Ge 50:20) We know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 (Ro 11:2; 1Co 15:49; Eph 1:11) For those whom He foreknew, He
predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 (1Co 6:11; Heb 9:15) And those whom He predestined, He also called;
and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified,
He also glorified.
[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.
[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now.
[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a
man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the
Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
The Love of God
31 (Ps 118:6; Ro 4:1) What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 (Jn 3:16; Ro 4:25) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things?
33 (Rev 12:10-11; Isa 50:8-9) Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
34 (Heb 7:25; Mk 16:19; Ro 8:1) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who
died, yes, who is risen, who is also at the right hand of God,
who also intercedes for us.
35 (1Co 4:11) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 (Ps 44:22; 1Co 15:30) As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
we are counted as sheep for the slaughter."(Ps 44:22.)
37 (1Co 15:57; Gal 2:20) No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 (Eph 1:21; 1Pe 3:22) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present
nor things to come,
39 (Ro 5:8) neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9
God's Election of Israel
1 (Gal 1:20; 1Ti 2:7) I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying;
my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.
3 (Ex 32:32; Gal 1:8) For I could wish that I myself were accursed
from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen by race,
4 (Eph 2:12; Ge 17:2; Ex 4:22) who are Israelites, to whom belong
the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law,
the service of God, and the promises,
5 (Ro 1:25; 11:28) to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom,
according to the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God forever blessed. Amen.
6 (Gal 6:16; Nu 23:19) It is not as though the word of God has failed.
For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel,
7 (Ge 21:12; Heb 11:18) nor are they all children because they are
descendants of Abraham, but "In Isaac shall your descendants be called."
(Ge 21:12.)
8 So those who are the children of the flesh are not the children of God,
but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
9 (Ge 18:10; 18:14) For this is the word of promise,
"At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."
(Ex 20:13-15, 17; Dt 5:17-19, 21.)
10 (Ro 5:3) Not only that, but Rebekah also had conceived by one man,
our father Isaac.
11 (Ro 4:17) For before the children had been born, having done
neither evil nor good, so that the purpose of God according
to election might stand, not of works, but through Him who calls,
12 it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger."(Ge 25:23.)
13 (Mal 1:2-3) As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have
hated."(Mal 1:2.)
14 (2Ch 19:7; Dt 32:4) What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid!
15 (Ex 33:19) For He says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."(Ex 33:19.)
16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs,
but of God who shows mercy.
17 (Ex 9:16) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose
I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you,
and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth."
(Ex 9:16.)
18 (Ex 4:21; Dt 2:30) Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills,
and He hardens whom He wills.
[1] I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost,
[2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
[3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my kinsmen according to the flesh:
[4] Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and
the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises;
[5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
[6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not
all Israel, which are of Israel:
[7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:
but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the
children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
[9] For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara
shall have a son.
[10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac;
[11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or
evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of
works, but of him that calleth;)
[12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
[14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
[15] For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and
I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
[16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that sheweth mercy.
[17] For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth.
[18] Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth.
Wrath and Mercy of God
19 (2Ch 20:6; Da 4:35) You will then say to me,
"Why does He yet find fault? For who can resist His will?"
20 (Isa 29:16; Job 33:13) Rather, O man, who are you to answer back
to God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it,
"Why have you made me like this?"
21 (Isa 64:8) Does the potter not have power over the clay to make
from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 (Pr 16:4; 1Pe 2:8) What if God, willing to show His wrath
and to make His power known, endured with much patience
the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 (Ro 2:4; Eph 3:16) in order to make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He previously prepared for glory,
24 even us, whom He has called, not from the Jews only,
but also from the Gentiles?
25 (Hos 2:23; 1Pe 2:10) As indeed He says in Hosea:
"I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,'
and her who was not beloved, 'Beloved,' "(Hos 2:23.)
26 and,
"In the place where it was said to them,
'You are not My people,'
there they shall be called 'sons of the living God.'"(Hos 1:10.)
27 (Isa 10:20-23; Hos 1:10) Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the children of Israel be like the sand of the sea,
a remnant shall be saved.(Isa 10:22.)
28 For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness,
because the Lord will make a quick work upon the earth."(Isa 10:23.)
29 (Isa 1:9; 13:19) And as Isaiah previously said:
"Unless the Lord of Hosts
had left us a seed,
we would have become like Sodom,
and been made like Gomorrah."(Isa 1:9.)
[19] Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath
resisted his will?
[20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
[22] What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
[23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of
mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
[24] Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles?
[25] As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my
people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
[26] And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto
them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the
living God.
[27] Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
[28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because
a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
[29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a
seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Israel and the Gospel
30 (Php 3:9; Heb 11:7) What shall we say then? The Gentiles,
who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness,
even the righteousness which is by faith,
31 (Ro 11:7) but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,
did not attain the law of righteousness.
32 (1Pe 2:8) Why not? Because they did not seek it by faith,
but by the works of the law. For they stumbled over the stumbling stone.
33 (Isa 28:16; Ro 10:11) As it is written:
"Look! I lay in Zion a stumbling stone
and rock of offense,
and whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed." (Isa 8:14; 28:16.)
[30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which
is of faith.
[31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not
attained to the law of righteousness.
[32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
[33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of
offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10
1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel
is that they may be saved.
2 (Ac 21:20) For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God,
but not according to knowledge.
3 (Ro 1:17) For, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking
to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit
to the righteousness of God.
4 (Gal 3:24) Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness
for every one who believes.
[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they
might be saved.
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge.
[3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.
[4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.
Salvation for All
5 (Lev 18:5; Ne 9:29) For Moses writes about the righteousness
which is based on the law: "The man who does those things shall live
by them." (Lev 18:5.)
6 But the righteousness which is based on faith says,
"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' "(Dt 30:12.)
(that is, to bring Christ down),
7 (Heb 13:20) or, 'Who will descend into the deep?' " Dt 30:13.
(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 (Dt 30:14) But what does it say? "The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart."(Dt 30:14.)
This is the word of faith that we preach:
9 (Lk 12:8; Php 2:11) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord,
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved,
10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 (Ro 9:33; Isa 28:16) For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes
in Him will not be ashamed." (Isa 28:16.)
12 (Ro 3:22; 2:4) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,
for the same Lord over all is generous toward all who call upon Him.
13 (Ac 2:21; Joel 2:32) For, "Everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved."(Joel 2:32.)
14 (Titus 1:3) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 (Isa 52:7; Na 1:15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach
the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things!"(Isa 52:7.)
16 (Isa 53:1; Ro 3:3) But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"(Isa 53:1.)
17 (Gal 3:2; 3:5) So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
18 (Ps 19:4; Mt 24:14) But I say, have they not heard?
Yes, indeed: "Their voice went into all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world."(Ps 19:4.)
19 (Dt 32:21; Ro 11:11) But I say, did Israel not know?
First, Moses says:
"I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation,
and by a foolish nation I will anger you."(Dt 32:21.)
20 (Ro 9:30) And Isaiah is very bold and says:
"I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me."(Isa 65:1.)
21 But to Israel He says:
"All day long I have stretched out My hands
to a disobedient and contrary people."(Isa 65:2.)
[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man
which doeth those things shall live by them.
[6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not
in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down
from above:)
[7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again
from the dead.)
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.
[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
[16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who
hath believed our report?
[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
[18] But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all
the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
[19] But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you
to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger
you.
[20] But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me
not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
[21] But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands
unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
2) Our Daily Bread for 30 November 2023 Titled
Trusting God
PSALMS 20
For the Music Director. A Psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
may the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) may He send you help from the sanctuary,
and strengthen you from Zion;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) may He remember all your offerings,
and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) May He grant you according to your own heart,
and fulfill all your counsel.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5)We will rejoice in your salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners;
may the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with the saving strength of His right hand.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 (Job 35:100; Ps 63:6) They are brought down and fallen,
but we arise and stand upright.
9(Ps 38:6; 18:2)Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.
Psalm 20
[1] The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob
defend thee;
[2] Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
[3] Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
[4] Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
[5] We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set
up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
[6] Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his
holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
[7] Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the
name of the LORD our God.
[8] They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
[9] Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
I needed two medications urgently. One was for my mom's allergies and the
other for my niece's eczema. Their discomfort was worsening, but the medicines
were no longer available in pharmacies. Desperate and helpless, I prayed
repeatedly, Lord, please help them.
Weeks later, their conditions became manageable. God seemed to be saying:
"There are times when I use medicines to heal. But medicines don't have the
final say; I do. Don't place your trust in them, but in Me."
In Psalm 20, King David took comfort in God's trustworthiness. The Israelites
had a powerful army, but they knew that their biggest strength came from "the
name of the Lord" (v. 7). They placed their trust in God's name-in who He is,
His unchanging character, and unfailing promises. They held on to the truth
that He who is sovereign and powerful over all situations would hear their
prayers and deliver them from their enemies (v. 6).
While God may use the resources of this world to help us, ultimately, victory
over our problems comes from Him. Whether He gives us a resolution or the
grace to endure, we can trust that He'll be to us all that He says He is. We
don't have to be overwhelmed by our troubles, but we can face them with His
hope and peace.
By: Karen Huang
Reflect & Pray
In your personal battles, where or in what do you place your trust? How might
trusting in God's name change the way you cope with these challenges?
Heavenly Father, give me the courage to trust in You.
Help me to believe that You're all that You promise to be.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave
John 3:16-17
16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9-10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth because we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled against the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.
Application
a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?
b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?
c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 26:5
5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,
the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days
that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long
as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Gift of Salvation
Ps 40:1-3,9-11
PSALMS 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
and established my steps.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,
even praise to our God;
many will see it, and fear,
and will trust in the Lord.
...
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness
in the great congregation;
I have not held back my lips,
O Lord, You know.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness
within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
from the great congregation.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;
may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even
praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the LORD.
...
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,
And thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer
and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 30 of the Month
a) Pray for God's will to be done where you live and throughout
Canadian society, as it is in Heaven
( Matt 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
)
b) Pray that in kindness God will lead many to repentance in your city
or community, and across our nation. (
Rom 2:4
4 (Ex 34:6; Isa 30:18) Do you despise the riches of His goodness,
tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God
leads you to repentance?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance
and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth
thee to repentance?
)
Advent Day 5
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12:24
"In this descent and reascent everyone will recognize
a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world.
It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle
itself into some thing hard, small and deathlike,
it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends.
It is the pattern of all animal generation too." - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 148.)
Dying and Rising
The Gospel writers remind us that the arc of Jesus'
life on earth began at the Incarnation and ended with his death.
The first humbling was his birth in a manger,
but the final humbling was death on a cross.
The pattern that God set into the universe is one of death
and resurrection. The same is true, John writes in today's
Scripture, in the world of plants. It is no surprise that
we see the death of plants every fall and their resurrection
in the spring. Again, we see the "death" of a seed
when it is planted and the "resurrection" of that seed
when it springs forth and produces many other seeds. Why?
Because this is a divine pattern, say Jesus and Lewis,
set into the fabric of the universe, reflecting the nature of God.
Sometimes a person dies, and an organ transplant saves a life.
Lewis calls it "a familiar pattern." The point is that dying and rising,
including Jesus' descent in the Incarnation and his reascent
in the Ascension, are common, so common that we shouldn't
wonder that God redeemed us with dying and rising.
Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
John's Character
Read Luke 1:8-20
8 Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.
And I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their season."
Luke 1:15b ...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
I purposely had us read the same verses from Luke 1:8-17
for three days in a row (including part of today's reading), so that
the angel's message to Zechariah could impact us more deeply with
the good news of God's answer to prayer, the strength of John's
character, and the magnitude of his calling. John was not
a minor person (nor are we!) in God's plan for the salvation
of the world. Indeed, he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Zechariah doubted God's miracle because of his and his wife's ages,
but Gabriel assured him that it was the Lord's determination.
He would experience muteness, not so much as punishment,
but as a sign until the prophecy had been fulfilled.
Has God ever allowed us to endure such a symptom
to be reminded constantly of our call to participate in God's designs?
Perhaps we suffer an aggravating handicap to cue us that
we are commissioned to encourage others to become prepared for,
and know, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
From The AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
FIRST THURSDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMOUR!
Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore.
love is the fulfilling of the law.
Read Romans 13:8-10.
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
ROMANS 13:10 And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Love. or amour (the French word for love). is what Advent
and Christ himself, are all about Love is one four-letter
word that needs to be used and shared over and over again
for all the world to see. to sense and to savour.
One problem with the word love is that it is misused by society
to mean anything we like or are attracted to-from beer
to baseball to brats. As a result it has lost much
of the amorous quality about it.
But not so in the Scriptures! Love is always seen
as a gift from God himself. in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, St. Paul
boldly states. "Owe no one anything. except to love one another"
Wow, now that's amour!
Seek ways today to share health, hope and amour with those around you .
All three go together as God's gifts to you and to others.
As you work at loving your neighbour as yourself, do not forget that
God in Christ is first loving and forgiving you in order that
you have the energies and Easter-power, to he able to love others.
Advent's message's a big AH-HA of amour! Don't you think someone
should write a hymn entitled Amour Makes the World Go Round?
Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen ,.. and AH-HA!
From On Eagle's wings Day 5
Endless Son-shine by Sheryl Dubois (Lutheran) Edson, Alberta
Isaiah 60:20
20 (Isa 35:10; Rev 21:4) Your sun shall no more go down,
nor shall your moon wane;
for the Lord shall be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning shall end.
[20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself:
for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning
shall be ended.
I equate sunshine wiht energy. During the long summer days, I am filled with
energy. I have no difficulty getting up very early and remaining active and
productive well into the long evening. My need for sleep is much less than
it is during the short, dark days of winter.
I helped lead a Bible Camp in Tuktoyaktuk during the season of the midnight
sun - 24 hours of total daylight! Our bust days took their toll on the energy
of us volunteers, and we were very ready for bedtime, but the children of the
community could be heard playing outside our windows all night long. Their
joyous voices did not cease.
Although the mood of the adults in the community was dampened by the recent
suicide of a young man, and the children were no doubt also affected, the joy
and energy of that endless sunlight was evident.
Through this season, we look forward to a time of endless Son-shine, where
the Lord will be our only light, and no sorrows will dim its brilliance.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Salvation is for all humanity and
there is no condemnation because of wht HE did for Salvation.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, give me the courage to trust in You.
Help me to believe that You're all that You promise to be."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord's love to us as sinners.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him in every moment of your life.
Pray to the Lord and pray to declare His Faithfulness and Salvation!
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for God's will to be done where you live and throughout
Canadian society, as it is in Heaven
Pray that in kindness God will lead many to repentance in your city
or community, and across our nation.
Pray: Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
Pray: Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
Pray: Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are in order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen
Pray: Gracious God, thank you for your promise of endless Son-shine. Amen.
Pray that Muslim militants and Communist rebels in the Philippines
will reject violence and instead pursue the peace of Christ.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) Romans 8, Romans 9, Romans 10
Romans 8
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according
to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 (Ac 13:39; 2Co 5:21) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 (Gal 5:16) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit.
5 (1Co 2:14; Gal 5:19-25) For those who live according to the flesh set
their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 (Ro 6:21; 8:13) To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace,
7 (Jas 4:4; 1Co 2:14) for the carnal mind is hostile toward God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be,
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong
to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead
because of sin, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 (Ac 2:24; Ro 8:2) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus
from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit
that lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live
according to the flesh.
13 (Gal 6:8) For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.
14 (Gal 5:18; Rev 21:7) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
these are the sons of God.
15 (Mk 14:36; 1Co 2:12) For you have not received the spirit of slavery
again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom
we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 (Eph 1:13; 2Co 1:22) The Spirit Himself bears witness
with our spirits that we are the children of God,
17 (Gal 4:7; 3:29) and if children, then heirs: heirs of God
and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,
that we may also be glorified with Him.
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit
of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in
you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after
the flesh.
[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the
Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
The Glory That Is to Be
18 (1Pe 4:13; Col 3:4) For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
to us.
19 (1Jn 3:2; Php 1:20) The eager expectation of the creation waits for
the appearance of the sons of God.
20 (Ge 3:17-19; 5:29) For the creation was subjected to futility,
not willingly, but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 (2Pe 3:13; Ac 3:21) that the creation itself also will be set free
from its slavery to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children
of God.
22 (Jer 12:11; 12:4) We know that the whole creation groans
and travails in pain together until now.
23 (Ro 7:24; 8:19) Not only that, but we also, who have the first fruits
of the Spirit, groan within ourselves while eagerly waiting for adoption,
the redemption of our bodies.
24 (1Th 5:8; Heb 11:1) For we are saved through hope, but hope that is
seen is not hope, for why does a man still hope for what he sees?
25 (1Th 1:3) But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it
with patience.
26 (Eph 6:18; Mt 20:22; Zec 12:10) Likewise, the Spirit helps us
in our weaknesses, for we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 (Ro 8:34; Rev 2:23) He who searches the hearts knows what the mind
of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according
to the will of God.
28 (Gal 1:15; Ge 50:20) We know that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 (Ro 11:2; 1Co 15:49; Eph 1:11) For those whom He foreknew, He
predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 (1Co 6:11; Heb 9:15) And those whom He predestined, He also called;
and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified,
He also glorified.
[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God.
[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now.
[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a
man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the
Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
The Love of God
31 (Ps 118:6; Ro 4:1) What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 (Jn 3:16; Ro 4:25) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things?
33 (Rev 12:10-11; Isa 50:8-9) Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
34 (Heb 7:25; Mk 16:19; Ro 8:1) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who
died, yes, who is risen, who is also at the right hand of God,
who also intercedes for us.
35 (1Co 4:11) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 (Ps 44:22; 1Co 15:30) As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
we are counted as sheep for the slaughter."(Ps 44:22.)
37 (1Co 15:57; Gal 2:20) No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 (Eph 1:21; 1Pe 3:22) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present
nor things to come,
39 (Ro 5:8) neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9
God's Election of Israel
1 (Gal 1:20; 1Ti 2:7) I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying;
my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.
3 (Ex 32:32; Gal 1:8) For I could wish that I myself were accursed
from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen by race,
4 (Eph 2:12; Ge 17:2; Ex 4:22) who are Israelites, to whom belong
the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law,
the service of God, and the promises,
5 (Ro 1:25; 11:28) to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom,
according to the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God forever blessed. Amen.
6 (Gal 6:16; Nu 23:19) It is not as though the word of God has failed.
For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel,
7 (Ge 21:12; Heb 11:18) nor are they all children because they are
descendants of Abraham, but "In Isaac shall your descendants be called."
(Ge 21:12.)
8 So those who are the children of the flesh are not the children of God,
but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
9 (Ge 18:10; 18:14) For this is the word of promise,
"At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."
(Ex 20:13-15, 17; Dt 5:17-19, 21.)
10 (Ro 5:3) Not only that, but Rebekah also had conceived by one man,
our father Isaac.
11 (Ro 4:17) For before the children had been born, having done
neither evil nor good, so that the purpose of God according
to election might stand, not of works, but through Him who calls,
12 it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger."(Ge 25:23.)
13 (Mal 1:2-3) As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have
hated."(Mal 1:2.)
14 (2Ch 19:7; Dt 32:4) What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid!
15 (Ex 33:19) For He says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."(Ex 33:19.)
16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs,
but of God who shows mercy.
17 (Ex 9:16) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose
I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you,
and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth."
(Ex 9:16.)
18 (Ex 4:21; Dt 2:30) Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills,
and He hardens whom He wills.
[1] I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me
witness in the Holy Ghost,
[2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
[3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my kinsmen according to the flesh:
[4] Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and
the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises;
[5] Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
[6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not
all Israel, which are of Israel:
[7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:
but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the
children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
[9] For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara
shall have a son.
[10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac;
[11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or
evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of
works, but of him that calleth;)
[12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
[14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
[15] For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and
I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
[16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of
God that sheweth mercy.
[17] For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth.
[18] Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardeneth.
Wrath and Mercy of God
19 (2Ch 20:6; Da 4:35) You will then say to me,
"Why does He yet find fault? For who can resist His will?"
20 (Isa 29:16; Job 33:13) Rather, O man, who are you to answer back
to God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it,
"Why have you made me like this?"
21 (Isa 64:8) Does the potter not have power over the clay to make
from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 (Pr 16:4; 1Pe 2:8) What if God, willing to show His wrath
and to make His power known, endured with much patience
the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 (Ro 2:4; Eph 3:16) in order to make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He previously prepared for glory,
24 even us, whom He has called, not from the Jews only,
but also from the Gentiles?
25 (Hos 2:23; 1Pe 2:10) As indeed He says in Hosea:
"I will call those who were not My people, 'My people,'
and her who was not beloved, 'Beloved,' "(Hos 2:23.)
26 and,
"In the place where it was said to them,
'You are not My people,'
there they shall be called 'sons of the living God.'"(Hos 1:10.)
27 (Isa 10:20-23; Hos 1:10) Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
"Though the number of the children of Israel be like the sand of the sea,
a remnant shall be saved.(Isa 10:22.)
28 For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness,
because the Lord will make a quick work upon the earth."(Isa 10:23.)
29 (Isa 1:9; 13:19) And as Isaiah previously said:
"Unless the Lord of Hosts
had left us a seed,
we would have become like Sodom,
and been made like Gomorrah."(Isa 1:9.)
[19] Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath
resisted his will?
[20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing
formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
[22] What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known,
endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
[23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of
mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
[24] Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles?
[25] As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my
people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
[26] And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto
them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the
living God.
[27] Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
[28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because
a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
[29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a
seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Israel and the Gospel
30 (Php 3:9; Heb 11:7) What shall we say then? The Gentiles,
who did not pursue righteousness, have attained righteousness,
even the righteousness which is by faith,
31 (Ro 11:7) but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,
did not attain the law of righteousness.
32 (1Pe 2:8) Why not? Because they did not seek it by faith,
but by the works of the law. For they stumbled over the stumbling stone.
33 (Isa 28:16; Ro 10:11) As it is written:
"Look! I lay in Zion a stumbling stone
and rock of offense,
and whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed." (Isa 8:14; 28:16.)
[30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which
is of faith.
[31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not
attained to the law of righteousness.
[32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
[33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of
offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10
1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel
is that they may be saved.
2 (Ac 21:20) For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God,
but not according to knowledge.
3 (Ro 1:17) For, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking
to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit
to the righteousness of God.
4 (Gal 3:24) Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness
for every one who believes.
[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they
might be saved.
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge.
[3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.
[4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.
Salvation for All
5 (Lev 18:5; Ne 9:29) For Moses writes about the righteousness
which is based on the law: "The man who does those things shall live
by them." (Lev 18:5.)
6 But the righteousness which is based on faith says,
"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' "(Dt 30:12.)
(that is, to bring Christ down),
7 (Heb 13:20) or, 'Who will descend into the deep?' " Dt 30:13.
(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 (Dt 30:14) But what does it say? "The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart."(Dt 30:14.)
This is the word of faith that we preach:
9 (Lk 12:8; Php 2:11) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord,
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved,
10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 (Ro 9:33; Isa 28:16) For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes
in Him will not be ashamed." (Isa 28:16.)
12 (Ro 3:22; 2:4) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,
for the same Lord over all is generous toward all who call upon Him.
13 (Ac 2:21; Joel 2:32) For, "Everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved."(Joel 2:32.)
14 (Titus 1:3) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 (Isa 52:7; Na 1:15) And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach
the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things!"(Isa 52:7.)
16 (Isa 53:1; Ro 3:3) But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"(Isa 53:1.)
17 (Gal 3:2; 3:5) So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
18 (Ps 19:4; Mt 24:14) But I say, have they not heard?
Yes, indeed: "Their voice went into all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world."(Ps 19:4.)
19 (Dt 32:21; Ro 11:11) But I say, did Israel not know?
First, Moses says:
"I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation,
and by a foolish nation I will anger you."(Dt 32:21.)
20 (Ro 9:30) And Isaiah is very bold and says:
"I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me."(Isa 65:1.)
21 But to Israel He says:
"All day long I have stretched out My hands
to a disobedient and contrary people."(Isa 65:2.)
[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man
which doeth those things shall live by them.
[6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not
in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down
from above:)
[7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again
from the dead.)
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be
ashamed.
[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
[16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who
hath believed our report?
[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
[18] But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all
the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
[19] But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you
to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger
you.
[20] But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me
not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
[21] But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands
unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
2) Our Daily Bread for 30 November 2023 Titled
Trusting God
PSALMS 20
For the Music Director. A Psalm of David.
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
may the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) may He send you help from the sanctuary,
and strengthen you from Zion;
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) may He remember all your offerings,
and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) May He grant you according to your own heart,
and fulfill all your counsel.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5)We will rejoice in your salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners;
may the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with the saving strength of His right hand.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 (Job 35:100; Ps 63:6) They are brought down and fallen,
but we arise and stand upright.
9(Ps 38:6; 18:2)Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.
Psalm 20
[1] The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob
defend thee;
[2] Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
[3] Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
[4] Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
[5] We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set
up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
[6] Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his
holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
[7] Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the
name of the LORD our God.
[8] They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
[9] Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.
I needed two medications urgently. One was for my mom's allergies and the
other for my niece's eczema. Their discomfort was worsening, but the medicines
were no longer available in pharmacies. Desperate and helpless, I prayed
repeatedly, Lord, please help them.
Weeks later, their conditions became manageable. God seemed to be saying:
"There are times when I use medicines to heal. But medicines don't have the
final say; I do. Don't place your trust in them, but in Me."
In Psalm 20, King David took comfort in God's trustworthiness. The Israelites
had a powerful army, but they knew that their biggest strength came from "the
name of the Lord" (v. 7). They placed their trust in God's name-in who He is,
His unchanging character, and unfailing promises. They held on to the truth
that He who is sovereign and powerful over all situations would hear their
prayers and deliver them from their enemies (v. 6).
While God may use the resources of this world to help us, ultimately, victory
over our problems comes from Him. Whether He gives us a resolution or the
grace to endure, we can trust that He'll be to us all that He says He is. We
don't have to be overwhelmed by our troubles, but we can face them with His
hope and peace.
By: Karen Huang
Reflect & Pray
In your personal battles, where or in what do you place your trust? How might
trusting in God's name change the way you cope with these challenges?
Heavenly Father, give me the courage to trust in You.
Help me to believe that You're all that You promise to be.
3) From The Billy Graham Evangelical Ministry Association
Words in Season - Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and Forever - Day 5 - God Loved, So He Gave
John 3:16-17
16 (Ro 5:8; 1Jn 4:9-10; Jn 1:18) "For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17 (1Jn 4:14; Lk 19:10) For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved."
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
Often called "the gospel in a nutshell", John 3:16 is so familiar,
even the unchurched, that it has all but lost its impact for us.
WE cite it by rote, as if it had no more meaning than a SSN (SIN),
and think that we understand the truth because we know the words.
Why did God send Jesus, his only Son, into the world to die?
Because he loved the people he created. God had no reason,
humanly speaking, to love mankind. Throughout history, from
the Garden of Eden forward, people had deliberately turned
against God and tried his patience. Even the nation God chose
for himself, Israel rebelled against the Lord and turned to other gods.
And we, as individuals, have rebelled against him too. WE have tried
to control our own lives; we have denied his reality; or
acknowledged his existence and then systematically ignored him.
We have become our own gods.
Yet Christ, in love, took upon himself the rejection, the humiliation,
the pain we were responsible for. We deserved to be condemned to die,
but he died for us instead. "God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world," John 3:17 says, "but that the world
through Him might be saved."
Often, even after we have committed our lives to Christ, we mistakenly
suppose that God's primary purpose is to condemn us - to catch us in sin
and punish us. But God says that his purpose is to love us and to save us
from sin and ourselves. He loved, and so he gave; he still loves us,
and he still continues to give.
Application
a) What sin in my life put Jesus on the cross?
b) How do I know that my sins has been forgiven?
c) How can these verses help me when I face condemnation and guilt?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 26:5
5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,
the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days
that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long
as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Gift of Salvation
Ps 40:1-3,9-11
PSALMS 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
and established my steps.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,
even praise to our God;
many will see it, and fear,
and will trust in the Lord.
...
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness
in the great congregation;
I have not held back my lips,
O Lord, You know.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness
within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
from the great congregation.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;
may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even
praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the LORD.
...
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,
And thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer
and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...)
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 30 of the Month
a) Pray for God's will to be done where you live and throughout
Canadian society, as it is in Heaven
( Matt 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
)
b) Pray that in kindness God will lead many to repentance in your city
or community, and across our nation. (
Rom 2:4
4 (Ex 34:6; Isa 30:18) Do you despise the riches of His goodness,
tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God
leads you to repentance?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance
and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth
thee to repentance?
)
Advent Day 5
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
But if it dies, it bears much fruit
John 12:24
"In this descent and reascent everyone will recognize
a familiar pattern: a thing written all over the world.
It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle
itself into some thing hard, small and deathlike,
it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends.
It is the pattern of all animal generation too." - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 148.)
Dying and Rising
The Gospel writers remind us that the arc of Jesus'
life on earth began at the Incarnation and ended with his death.
The first humbling was his birth in a manger,
but the final humbling was death on a cross.
The pattern that God set into the universe is one of death
and resurrection. The same is true, John writes in today's
Scripture, in the world of plants. It is no surprise that
we see the death of plants every fall and their resurrection
in the spring. Again, we see the "death" of a seed
when it is planted and the "resurrection" of that seed
when it springs forth and produces many other seeds. Why?
Because this is a divine pattern, say Jesus and Lewis,
set into the fabric of the universe, reflecting the nature of God.
Sometimes a person dies, and an organ transplant saves a life.
Lewis calls it "a familiar pattern." The point is that dying and rising,
including Jesus' descent in the Incarnation and his reascent
in the Ascension, are common, so common that we shouldn't
wonder that God redeemed us with dying and rising.
Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT
John's Character
Read Luke 1:8-20
8 Now while he served as priest before God, when his division was on duty,
9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn
incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer
has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this?
For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.
And I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their season."
Luke 1:15b ...and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even from his mother's womb.
I purposely had us read the same verses from Luke 1:8-17
for three days in a row (including part of today's reading), so that
the angel's message to Zechariah could impact us more deeply with
the good news of God's answer to prayer, the strength of John's
character, and the magnitude of his calling. John was not
a minor person (nor are we!) in God's plan for the salvation
of the world. Indeed, he would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Zechariah doubted God's miracle because of his and his wife's ages,
but Gabriel assured him that it was the Lord's determination.
He would experience muteness, not so much as punishment,
but as a sign until the prophecy had been fulfilled.
Has God ever allowed us to endure such a symptom
to be reminded constantly of our call to participate in God's designs?
Perhaps we suffer an aggravating handicap to cue us that
we are commissioned to encourage others to become prepared for,
and know, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
From The AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
FIRST THURSDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and AMOUR!
Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore.
love is the fulfilling of the law.
Read Romans 13:8-10.
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
ROMANS 13:10 And if Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin,
the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Love. or amour (the French word for love). is what Advent
and Christ himself, are all about Love is one four-letter
word that needs to be used and shared over and over again
for all the world to see. to sense and to savour.
One problem with the word love is that it is misused by society
to mean anything we like or are attracted to-from beer
to baseball to brats. As a result it has lost much
of the amorous quality about it.
But not so in the Scriptures! Love is always seen
as a gift from God himself. in Jesus Christ. In today's reading, St. Paul
boldly states. "Owe no one anything. except to love one another"
Wow, now that's amour!
Seek ways today to share health, hope and amour with those around you .
All three go together as God's gifts to you and to others.
As you work at loving your neighbour as yourself, do not forget that
God in Christ is first loving and forgiving you in order that
you have the energies and Easter-power, to he able to love others.
Advent's message's a big AH-HA of amour! Don't you think someone
should write a hymn entitled Amour Makes the World Go Round?
Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are 1n order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen ,.. and AH-HA!
From On Eagle's wings Day 5
Endless Son-shine by Sheryl Dubois (Lutheran) Edson, Alberta
Isaiah 60:20
20 (Isa 35:10; Rev 21:4) Your sun shall no more go down,
nor shall your moon wane;
for the Lord shall be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning shall end.
[20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself:
for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning
shall be ended.
I equate sunshine wiht energy. During the long summer days, I am filled with
energy. I have no difficulty getting up very early and remaining active and
productive well into the long evening. My need for sleep is much less than
it is during the short, dark days of winter.
I helped lead a Bible Camp in Tuktoyaktuk during the season of the midnight
sun - 24 hours of total daylight! Our bust days took their toll on the energy
of us volunteers, and we were very ready for bedtime, but the children of the
community could be heard playing outside our windows all night long. Their
joyous voices did not cease.
Although the mood of the adults in the community was dampened by the recent
suicide of a young man, and the children were no doubt also affected, the joy
and energy of that endless sunlight was evident.
Through this season, we look forward to a time of endless Son-shine, where
the Lord will be our only light, and no sorrows will dim its brilliance.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Salvation is for all humanity and
there is no condemnation because of wht HE did for Salvation.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, give me the courage to trust in You.
Help me to believe that You're all that You promise to be."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord's love to us as sinners.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him in every moment of your life.
Pray to the Lord and pray to declare His Faithfulness and Salvation!
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray for God's will to be done where you live and throughout
Canadian society, as it is in Heaven
Pray that in kindness God will lead many to repentance in your city
or community, and across our nation.
Pray: Jesus, you came down to us for our salvation.
Thank you for dying and rising for us. Amen.
Pray: Gracious Lord, thank you for including us in your intentions
for the growth of faith. Amen.
Pray: Lord thanks for being Amour to us and for us Help us to love one
another by first knowing that you love us always. Then enable us
to love ourselves for who we are in order to love others
for who they are Thar happens because we know who you are!
In Jesus' name. Amen
Pray: Gracious God, thank you for your promise of endless Son-shine. Amen.
Pray that Muslim militants and Communist rebels in the Philippines
will reject violence and instead pursue the peace of Christ.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
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