Day 9 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 9 January reflections
Day 9, 9 January 2024
1) Job 28-30
Job 28
Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found
1 "Surely there is a mine for the silver,
and a place where they refine gold.
2 (Dt 8:9) Iron is taken out of the earth,
and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 (Ecc 1:13) Man puts an end to darkness,
and searches every extremity
for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from the inhabitants;
in places forgotten by feet
they hang far away from men; and they totter.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread,
and underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 (Ex 24:10) Its stones are the source of sapphires,
and it has dust of gold.
7 There is a path that no bird knows,
and that the vulture's eye has not seen;
8 the lion cubs have not trodden it,
nor has the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He puts forth his hand upon the rock;
he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks,
and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He prevents the floods from overflowing,
and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 (Job 28:28) "But where will wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its price,
nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth says, 'It is not in me,'
and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 (Pr 16:16; 8:10-11) It cannot be bought for gold,
nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 (Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12) It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
with the precious onyx or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it,
and it cannot be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 (Pr 3:15; 31:10) No mention will be made of coral or of pearls,
for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 (Ex 28:17; 39:10) The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it,
nor will it be valued with pure gold.
20 "From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living
and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 (Job 26:6) Destruction and Death say,
'We have heard of its fame with our ears.'
23 (Pr 8:22-31) God understands its way,
and He knows its place.
24 (Pr 15:3; Zec 4:10) For He looks to the ends of the earth,
and sees under the whole heaven,
25 Ps 135:7 to make the weight of the wind,
and He weighs the waters by measure.
26 Job 38:25; 37:3 When He made a decree for the rain,
and a path for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then He saw it and declared it;
He prepared it, yes, and searched it out.
28 (Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7) To man He said:
'Look, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.' "
Job 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver,
And a place for gold where they fine it.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth,
And brass is molten out of the stone.
3 He setteth an end to darkness,
And searcheth out all perfection:
The stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant;
Even the waters forgotten of the foot:
They are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread:
And under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires:
And it hath dust of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth,
And which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it,
Nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock;
He overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks;
And his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing;
And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof;
Neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me:
And the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold,
Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,
With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:
And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls:
For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,
Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living,
And kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and death say,
We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 God understandeth the way thereof,
And he knoweth the place thereof.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth,
And seeth under the whole heaven;
25 To make the weight for the winds;
And he weigheth the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain,
And a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it;
He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And unto man he said,
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.
(Look to the Lord for Wisdom)
Job 29
Job’s Final Defense
1 (Job 27:1) Moreover Job continued his discourse:
2 "Oh, that I were as in months past,
as in the days when God watched over me;
3 (Job 18:6; Ps 18:28) when His lamp shone upon my head,
and when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 (Ps 25:14; Pr 3:32) as I was in the days of my autumn youth,
when the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 (Ps 128:3) when the Almighty was still with me,
when my children were around me;
6 (Job 20:17; Ps 81:16) when my steps were bathed in butter,
and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 "When I went out to the gate of the city,
when I took my seat in the square,
8 the young men saw me and hid themselves,
and the aged arose and stood up.
9 (Job 21:5) The princes refrained from talking,
and put their hand on their mouth.
10 (Ps 137:6; Eze 3:26) The nobles held their peace,
and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me;
and when the eye saw, then it approved me,
12 (Ps 72:12; Pr 21:13) because I delivered the poor who cried,
and the fatherless, and him who had none to help him.
13 (Isa 27:13) The blessing of the perishing man came upon me,
and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 (Ps 132:9; Isa 59:17) I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
my judgment was like a robe and a diadem.
15 (Nu 10:31) I was eyes for the blind,
and I was feet for the lame.
16 (Pr 29:7) I was a father to the poor,
and I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 (Ps 3:7; Pr 30:14) I broke the jaws of the wicked
and plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 "Then I said, 'I will die in my nest,
and I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 (Job 18:16; Jer 17:8) My root was spread out by the waters,
and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 (Ge 49:24; Isa 40:31) My glory was fresh in me,
and my bow was renewed in my hand.'
21 "Men listened to me and waited,
and kept silence for my counsel.
22 (Dt 32:2) After my words they did not speak again,
and my speech settled on them like dew.
23 (Zec 10:1) They waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them and sat as chief,
and lived as a king in the army,
as one who comforts mourners.
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past,
As in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head,
And when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth,
When the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
When my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter,
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city,
When I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves:
And the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking,
And laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace,
And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me;
And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,
And the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me:
And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me:
My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind,
And feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor:
And the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked,
And plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest,
And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters,
And the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me,
And my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,
And kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again;
And my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not;
And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief,
And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 30
1 (Job 12:4) "But now those who are younger than I mock me,
whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yes, how does the strength of their hands profit me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 For want and famine
they gnawed the parched land;
fleeing into the wilderness in former time, desolate and waste.
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes,
and juniper roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men;
they shout after them as after a thief.
6 They had to dwell in the rocky riverbeds,
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 (Job 6:5) Among the bushes they brayed;
under the nettles they were gathered together.
8They were children of fools, yes, children of vile men;
they were scourged from the earth.
9 (Job 17:6; La 3:14) "Now I am their taunting song;
yes, I am their byword.
10 (Nu 12:14; Ps 88:8) They abhor me, they flee far from me;
they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me,
they have cast off the bridle before me.
12 (Job 19:12) At my right hand their brood arises;
they push away my feet,
and they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They tear apart my path,
they promote my calamity;
they have no helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breach, with a crash they came;
in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 (Hos 13:3; Isa 44:22) Terrors are turned on me;
they pursue my dignity like the wind,
and my help passes away as a cloud.
16 (Ps 22:14; 42:4) "Now my soul is poured out within me;
the days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
and my sinews have no rest.
18 (Job 2:7) By the great force of my disease my garment is changed;
it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 (Ge 18:27; Job 42:6) He has cast me into the mire,
and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 (Job 19:7) "I cry unto You, but You do not hear me;
I stand up, and You do not regard me.
21 You have become cruel to me;
with Your strong hand You oppose me.
22 (Job 27:21) You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You dissolve my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
and to the house appointed for all living.
24 "Surely He will not stretch out His hand to the grave,
though they cry when He destroys it.
25 (Ps 35:13-14; Ro 12:15) Did I not weep for him who was in trouble?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (Jer 8:15; Job 3:25-26) When I looked for good, then evil disaster came upon me;
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 (La 2:11) My insides boiled and did not rest;
the days of affliction have met me.
28 (Ps 38:6; 42:9) I went mourning without the sun;
I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 (Mic 1:8; Ps 102:6) I am a brother of jackals
and a companion of owls.
30 (Ps 102:3; La 4:8) My skin is black upon me,
and my bones are burned with fever.
31 (La 5:15) My harp is turned to mourning,
and my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job 30
1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision,
Whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me,
In whom old age was perished?
3 For want and famine they were solitary;
Fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes,
And juniper roots for their meat.
5 They were driven forth from among men,
(They cried after them as after a thief;)
6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys,
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed;
Under the nettles they were gathered together.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men:
They were viler than the earth.
9 And now am I their song,
Yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me,
And spare not to spit in my face.
11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me,
They have also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth;
They push away my feet,
And they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They mar my path,
They set forward my calamity,
They have no helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters:
In the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 Terrors are turned upon me:
They pursue my soul as the wind:
And my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul is poured out upon me;
The days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season:
And my sinews take no rest.
18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed:
It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast me into the mire,
And I am become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me:
I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
21 Thou art become cruel to me:
With thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it,
And dissolvest my substance.
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death,
And to the house appointed for all living.
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave,
Though they cry in his destruction.
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me:
And when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not:
The days of affliction prevented me.
28 I went mourning without the sun:
I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 I am a brother to dragons,
And a companion to owls.
30 My skin is black upon me,
And my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning,
And my organ into the voice of them that weep.
(Not a nice description but still seek the Lord while you in depresssion)
2) Our Daily Bread for 9 January 2024 titled
Love Beyond Counting
Jeremiah 31:1-6
The Exiles Return
1 (Jer 30:22; Ge 17:7-8) At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God
of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
2 (Nu 10:33; Dt 1:33) Thus says the Lord:
The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness,
when I went to give Israel rest.
3 (Hos 11:4; Mal 1:2) The Lord has appeared to him from afar, saying:
Indeed, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
4 (Jer 31:13; 33:7) Again I will build you
and you will be built, O virgin of Israel.
You will again be adorned with your tambourines
and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.
5 (Am 9:14; Dt 28:30) You will yet plant vines
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters will plant
and will enjoy them.
6 (Jer 50:4-5) For there will be a day when the watchmen
on the hills of Ephraim will proclaim,
"Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
to the Lord our God."
[1] At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families
of Israel, and they shall be my people.
[2] Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace
in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
[3] The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee
with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
[4] Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel:
thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the
dances of them that make merry.
[5] Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters
shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
[6] For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall
cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Those words from Elizabeth
Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese are among the best-known poetry
in the English language. She wrote them to Robert Browning before they were
married, and he was so moved that he encouraged her to publish her entire
collection of poems. But because the language of the sonnets was very tender,
out of a desire for personal privacy Barrett published them as if they were
translations from a Portuguese writer.
Sometimes we can feel awkward when we openly express affection for others. But
the Bible, by contrast, doesn't hold back on its presentation of God's love.
Jeremiah recounted God's affection for His people with these tender words:
"I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3). Even though His people had turned from
Him, God promised to restore them and personally draw them near.
“even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” He told them (v. 2).
Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's restorative love, giving peace and
rest to any who turn to Him. From the manger to the cross to the empty tomb,
He's the personification of God's desire to call a wayward world to Himself.
Read the Bible cover to cover and you'll "count the ways" of God's love over
and over; but eternal as they are, you'll never come to their end.
By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the ways God has loved you?
How can you return His love today?
Thank You for loving me so fully and
personally, Jesus! Help me to love You with my life today.
Learn more about the
grand story of the Bible.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 3 - Let the Word Dwell in You
Col 3:16
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Every day, whether we are aware of it or not, our minds are
bombarded by 20th Century values: "Dress for success!" "Get ahead!"
"You deserve a break today ...." Television, radio, and the incessant
voices that surround us distract our attention and keep us from
focusing on what is really important in our lives.
Paul's instruction to the Colossian Church brings us back to God's
value system: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."
When we give attention to the Word of God, we put ourselves in a position
to hear a higher truth the clamour of immediate demands
and the expectations of the world around us. We can experience peace
in the midst of struggle and rest in a restless environment.
God's Word is a powerful force for good in our lives - not merely
an attractive philosophy, but true power to overcome the pressures
of daily life.
Dwelling on the Word of God, and letting it indwell us, takes many forms.
Scripture memory, music, meditation, talking with others about the
goodness of God all help us keep our attention focused on Christ rather
than on the values of the world around us.
We can choose to listen to Christian radio or tapes. We can take time
daily for quiet meditation on his Word. We can commit the Word to memory
and draw on its power during the day. And as we listen to the voice
of the Spirit rather than the noise around us, we can enter into
his peace and live in communion with him.
Application
a) What pressures do I face that tend to distract me from the reality
of Christ's presence?
b) How can I "let the word of Christ dwell richly" in me, so that I
an regain my focus on him?
c) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on Jesus and his word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
1 Cor 13:3
3 If I give all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body to be burned,
and have not love, it profits me nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,
it profiteth me nothing.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Inexhaustible Strength
Ps 18:30-34
30 As for God, His way has integrity;
the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
Or who is a rock besides our God?
32 It is God who clothes me with strength,
and gives my way integrity.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and causes me to stand on my high places.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD?
Or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet,
And setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war,
So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
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?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
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 "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.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- 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, ...) .
9th Day of the Month
a) Pray a prayer of thanksgiving throughout
the day for God's unfailing love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
(
Ps 100
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Know that the Lord, He is God;
it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise;
be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
A Psalm of praise.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise:
Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
And his truth endureth to all generations.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways
to wisely and effectively
respond to pressing social issues
(
1 Chr 12:32
32 (Est 1:13) From the sons of Issachar,
those having understanding of times
and what Israel should do: two hundred of their captains
with all their brothers at their command.
32 And of the children of Issachar,
which were men that had understanding of the times,
to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred;
and all their brethren were at their commandment
)
8 ) Pray and Fast
Day 2 The POWER OF PERSONAL & CORPORATE PRayer
DEVOTION:
Prayer is not just about talking to God but about building a relationship
with Him. Through prayer we seek to draw closer to God and understand
His plan for our lives. It allows us to see and experience His presence
even in the worst situations.
When we gather together in faith, corporate prayer is a powerfultool
that upliftsand unites us. It strengthens the bonds of fellowshipand
allowsus to intercede for others. In the early church, corporate prayer led
to incredible revivalsand the liberation of those held captive.
Jesus taught us the importance of gathering in His name. promising to be
present when two or three are gathered together. This emphasizes the
significanceof communalprayer where the Holy Spirit's presence is
palpable. While individual prayer is essential. there is a unique impact
when we pray together.
In the book of Acts, we observe the early church regularly assembling for
prayer (Acts 2:40-47), demonstrating their commitment to this vital
practice. Their faithfulness was rewarded with divine intervention and
miraculous deeds as God worked among them. Corporate prayer served
as a foundation and a fundamentalprinciple for the early church.
REFLECTION:
Reflect on the power of corporate prayer and the miraclesthat can
unfoldwhen the body of Christ intercedes together. Spend time today
praying for the needs of your church and community.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of prayer. Help us to
grasp the power of unified prayer and its ability to transform situations
ind hearts- May the body of Christ be united in prayer. seeking Your will
and glorifying Your name. When we come together in prayer. Lord, we
expect to see Your mighty hand move in our midst. In Jesus' name,
Amen!
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Matthew 18:19-20
19 (Mt 7:7; Ac 12:5) "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth
about anything they ask, it will be done for them
by My Father who is in heaven.
20 (Mt 28:20; Jn 20:19) For where two or three are assembled in My name,
there I am in their midst."
[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father which is in heaven.
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them.
James 5:14-15
14 (Mk 6:13; 16:18; Ac 14:23) Is anyone sick among you? Let him call
for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 (Isa 33:24; Jas 1:6) And the prayer of faith will save the sick,
and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins,
he will be forgiven.
[14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 (Titus 3:8; Heb 13:1) And let us consider how to spur one another
to love and to good works.
25 (Ac 2:42; Heb 3:13) Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another,
especially as you see the Day approaching.
[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
VERSE OF THE DAY
Acts 4:31
31 (Ac 2:2; 2:4) When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled
together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God with boldness.
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to search His wisdom and comfort.
Pray to the Lord: "Thank You for loving me so fully and
personally, Jesus! Help me to love You with my life today."
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Word to dwell in you richly.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be full of charity.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as Defender and trainer.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving throughout
the day for God's unfailing love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways
to wisely and effectively
respond to pressing social issues
Pray for believers in the Central African Republic who have been beaten
by militants, asking the Lord to minister physical, emotional and
spiritual healing .
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of prayer. Help us to
grasp the power of unified prayer and its ability to transform situations
ind hearts- May the body of Christ be united in prayer. seeking Your will
and glorifying Your name. When we come together in prayer. Lord, we
expect to see Your mighty hand move in our midst. In Jesus' name,
amen!
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) Job 28-30
Job 28
Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found
1 "Surely there is a mine for the silver,
and a place where they refine gold.
2 (Dt 8:9) Iron is taken out of the earth,
and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 (Ecc 1:13) Man puts an end to darkness,
and searches every extremity
for ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from the inhabitants;
in places forgotten by feet
they hang far away from men; and they totter.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread,
and underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 (Ex 24:10) Its stones are the source of sapphires,
and it has dust of gold.
7 There is a path that no bird knows,
and that the vulture's eye has not seen;
8 the lion cubs have not trodden it,
nor has the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He puts forth his hand upon the rock;
he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out rivers among the rocks,
and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He prevents the floods from overflowing,
and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 (Job 28:28) "But where will wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its price,
nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth says, 'It is not in me,'
and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 (Pr 16:16; 8:10-11) It cannot be bought for gold,
nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 (Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12) It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
with the precious onyx or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it,
and it cannot be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 (Pr 3:15; 31:10) No mention will be made of coral or of pearls,
for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 (Ex 28:17; 39:10) The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it,
nor will it be valued with pure gold.
20 "From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living
and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 (Job 26:6) Destruction and Death say,
'We have heard of its fame with our ears.'
23 (Pr 8:22-31) God understands its way,
and He knows its place.
24 (Pr 15:3; Zec 4:10) For He looks to the ends of the earth,
and sees under the whole heaven,
25 Ps 135:7 to make the weight of the wind,
and He weighs the waters by measure.
26 Job 38:25; 37:3 When He made a decree for the rain,
and a path for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then He saw it and declared it;
He prepared it, yes, and searched it out.
28 (Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7) To man He said:
'Look, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.' "
Job 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver,
And a place for gold where they fine it.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth,
And brass is molten out of the stone.
3 He setteth an end to darkness,
And searcheth out all perfection:
The stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant;
Even the waters forgotten of the foot:
They are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread:
And under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires:
And it hath dust of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth,
And which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it,
Nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock;
He overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks;
And his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing;
And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof;
Neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me:
And the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold,
Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,
With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:
And the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls:
For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,
Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living,
And kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and death say,
We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 God understandeth the way thereof,
And he knoweth the place thereof.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth,
And seeth under the whole heaven;
25 To make the weight for the winds;
And he weigheth the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain,
And a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it;
He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And unto man he said,
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.
(Look to the Lord for Wisdom)
Job 29
Job’s Final Defense
1 (Job 27:1) Moreover Job continued his discourse:
2 "Oh, that I were as in months past,
as in the days when God watched over me;
3 (Job 18:6; Ps 18:28) when His lamp shone upon my head,
and when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 (Ps 25:14; Pr 3:32) as I was in the days of my autumn youth,
when the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 (Ps 128:3) when the Almighty was still with me,
when my children were around me;
6 (Job 20:17; Ps 81:16) when my steps were bathed in butter,
and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 "When I went out to the gate of the city,
when I took my seat in the square,
8 the young men saw me and hid themselves,
and the aged arose and stood up.
9 (Job 21:5) The princes refrained from talking,
and put their hand on their mouth.
10 (Ps 137:6; Eze 3:26) The nobles held their peace,
and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me;
and when the eye saw, then it approved me,
12 (Ps 72:12; Pr 21:13) because I delivered the poor who cried,
and the fatherless, and him who had none to help him.
13 (Isa 27:13) The blessing of the perishing man came upon me,
and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 (Ps 132:9; Isa 59:17) I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
my judgment was like a robe and a diadem.
15 (Nu 10:31) I was eyes for the blind,
and I was feet for the lame.
16 (Pr 29:7) I was a father to the poor,
and I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 (Ps 3:7; Pr 30:14) I broke the jaws of the wicked
and plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 "Then I said, 'I will die in my nest,
and I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 (Job 18:16; Jer 17:8) My root was spread out by the waters,
and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 (Ge 49:24; Isa 40:31) My glory was fresh in me,
and my bow was renewed in my hand.'
21 "Men listened to me and waited,
and kept silence for my counsel.
22 (Dt 32:2) After my words they did not speak again,
and my speech settled on them like dew.
23 (Zec 10:1) They waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
and the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them and sat as chief,
and lived as a king in the army,
as one who comforts mourners.
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past,
As in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head,
And when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth,
When the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
When my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter,
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city,
When I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves:
And the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking,
And laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace,
And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me;
And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,
And the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me:
And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me:
My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind,
And feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor:
And the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked,
And plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest,
And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters,
And the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me,
And my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,
And kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again;
And my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not;
And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief,
And dwelt as a king in the army,
As one that comforteth the mourners.
Job 30
1 (Job 12:4) "But now those who are younger than I mock me,
whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yes, how does the strength of their hands profit me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 For want and famine
they gnawed the parched land;
fleeing into the wilderness in former time, desolate and waste.
4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes,
and juniper roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men;
they shout after them as after a thief.
6 They had to dwell in the rocky riverbeds,
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 (Job 6:5) Among the bushes they brayed;
under the nettles they were gathered together.
8They were children of fools, yes, children of vile men;
they were scourged from the earth.
9 (Job 17:6; La 3:14) "Now I am their taunting song;
yes, I am their byword.
10 (Nu 12:14; Ps 88:8) They abhor me, they flee far from me;
they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me,
they have cast off the bridle before me.
12 (Job 19:12) At my right hand their brood arises;
they push away my feet,
and they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They tear apart my path,
they promote my calamity;
they have no helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breach, with a crash they came;
in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 (Hos 13:3; Isa 44:22) Terrors are turned on me;
they pursue my dignity like the wind,
and my help passes away as a cloud.
16 (Ps 22:14; 42:4) "Now my soul is poured out within me;
the days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
and my sinews have no rest.
18 (Job 2:7) By the great force of my disease my garment is changed;
it binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 (Ge 18:27; Job 42:6) He has cast me into the mire,
and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 (Job 19:7) "I cry unto You, but You do not hear me;
I stand up, and You do not regard me.
21 You have become cruel to me;
with Your strong hand You oppose me.
22 (Job 27:21) You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You dissolve my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
and to the house appointed for all living.
24 "Surely He will not stretch out His hand to the grave,
though they cry when He destroys it.
25 (Ps 35:13-14; Ro 12:15) Did I not weep for him who was in trouble?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (Jer 8:15; Job 3:25-26) When I looked for good, then evil disaster came upon me;
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 (La 2:11) My insides boiled and did not rest;
the days of affliction have met me.
28 (Ps 38:6; 42:9) I went mourning without the sun;
I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 (Mic 1:8; Ps 102:6) I am a brother of jackals
and a companion of owls.
30 (Ps 102:3; La 4:8) My skin is black upon me,
and my bones are burned with fever.
31 (La 5:15) My harp is turned to mourning,
and my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job 30
1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision,
Whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me,
In whom old age was perished?
3 For want and famine they were solitary;
Fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes,
And juniper roots for their meat.
5 They were driven forth from among men,
(They cried after them as after a thief;)
6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys,
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed;
Under the nettles they were gathered together.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men:
They were viler than the earth.
9 And now am I their song,
Yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me,
And spare not to spit in my face.
11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me,
They have also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth;
They push away my feet,
And they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They mar my path,
They set forward my calamity,
They have no helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters:
In the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 Terrors are turned upon me:
They pursue my soul as the wind:
And my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul is poured out upon me;
The days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season:
And my sinews take no rest.
18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed:
It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast me into the mire,
And I am become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me:
I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
21 Thou art become cruel to me:
With thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it,
And dissolvest my substance.
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death,
And to the house appointed for all living.
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave,
Though they cry in his destruction.
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble?
Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me:
And when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not:
The days of affliction prevented me.
28 I went mourning without the sun:
I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 I am a brother to dragons,
And a companion to owls.
30 My skin is black upon me,
And my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning,
And my organ into the voice of them that weep.
(Not a nice description but still seek the Lord while you in depresssion)
2) Our Daily Bread for 9 January 2024 titled
Love Beyond Counting
Jeremiah 31:1-6
The Exiles Return
1 (Jer 30:22; Ge 17:7-8) At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God
of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
2 (Nu 10:33; Dt 1:33) Thus says the Lord:
The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness,
when I went to give Israel rest.
3 (Hos 11:4; Mal 1:2) The Lord has appeared to him from afar, saying:
Indeed, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
4 (Jer 31:13; 33:7) Again I will build you
and you will be built, O virgin of Israel.
You will again be adorned with your tambourines
and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.
5 (Am 9:14; Dt 28:30) You will yet plant vines
on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters will plant
and will enjoy them.
6 (Jer 50:4-5) For there will be a day when the watchmen
on the hills of Ephraim will proclaim,
"Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
to the Lord our God."
[1] At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families
of Israel, and they shall be my people.
[2] Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace
in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
[3] The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee
with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
[4] Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel:
thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the
dances of them that make merry.
[5] Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters
shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
[6] For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall
cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." Those words from Elizabeth
Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese are among the best-known poetry
in the English language. She wrote them to Robert Browning before they were
married, and he was so moved that he encouraged her to publish her entire
collection of poems. But because the language of the sonnets was very tender,
out of a desire for personal privacy Barrett published them as if they were
translations from a Portuguese writer.
Sometimes we can feel awkward when we openly express affection for others. But
the Bible, by contrast, doesn't hold back on its presentation of God's love.
Jeremiah recounted God's affection for His people with these tender words:
"I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3). Even though His people had turned from
Him, God promised to restore them and personally draw them near.
“even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.” He told them (v. 2).
Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's restorative love, giving peace and
rest to any who turn to Him. From the manger to the cross to the empty tomb,
He's the personification of God's desire to call a wayward world to Himself.
Read the Bible cover to cover and you'll "count the ways" of God's love over
and over; but eternal as they are, you'll never come to their end.
By: James Banks
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the ways God has loved you?
How can you return His love today?
Thank You for loving me so fully and
personally, Jesus! Help me to love You with my life today.
Learn more about the
grand story of the Bible.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 3 - Let the Word Dwell in You
Col 3:16
16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17) Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Every day, whether we are aware of it or not, our minds are
bombarded by 20th Century values: "Dress for success!" "Get ahead!"
"You deserve a break today ...." Television, radio, and the incessant
voices that surround us distract our attention and keep us from
focusing on what is really important in our lives.
Paul's instruction to the Colossian Church brings us back to God's
value system: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."
When we give attention to the Word of God, we put ourselves in a position
to hear a higher truth the clamour of immediate demands
and the expectations of the world around us. We can experience peace
in the midst of struggle and rest in a restless environment.
God's Word is a powerful force for good in our lives - not merely
an attractive philosophy, but true power to overcome the pressures
of daily life.
Dwelling on the Word of God, and letting it indwell us, takes many forms.
Scripture memory, music, meditation, talking with others about the
goodness of God all help us keep our attention focused on Christ rather
than on the values of the world around us.
We can choose to listen to Christian radio or tapes. We can take time
daily for quiet meditation on his Word. We can commit the Word to memory
and draw on its power during the day. And as we listen to the voice
of the Spirit rather than the noise around us, we can enter into
his peace and live in communion with him.
Application
a) What pressures do I face that tend to distract me from the reality
of Christ's presence?
b) How can I "let the word of Christ dwell richly" in me, so that I
an regain my focus on him?
c) What practical changes can I make in my life to help me focus
my attention on Jesus and his word?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
1 Cor 13:3
3 If I give all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body to be burned,
and have not love, it profits me nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,
it profiteth me nothing.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Inexhaustible Strength
Ps 18:30-34
30 As for God, His way has integrity;
the word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
Or who is a rock besides our God?
32 It is God who clothes me with strength,
and gives my way integrity.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and causes me to stand on my high places.
34 He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the LORD?
Or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength,
And maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet,
And setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war,
So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
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?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
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 "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.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- 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, ...) .
9th Day of the Month
a) Pray a prayer of thanksgiving throughout
the day for God's unfailing love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
(
Ps 100
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth!
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Know that the Lord, He is God;
it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise;
be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For the Lord is good; His mercy endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
A Psalm of praise.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise:
Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
And his truth endureth to all generations.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways
to wisely and effectively
respond to pressing social issues
(
1 Chr 12:32
32 (Est 1:13) From the sons of Issachar,
those having understanding of times
and what Israel should do: two hundred of their captains
with all their brothers at their command.
32 And of the children of Issachar,
which were men that had understanding of the times,
to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred;
and all their brethren were at their commandment
)
8 ) Pray and Fast
Day 2 The POWER OF PERSONAL & CORPORATE PRayer
DEVOTION:
Prayer is not just about talking to God but about building a relationship
with Him. Through prayer we seek to draw closer to God and understand
His plan for our lives. It allows us to see and experience His presence
even in the worst situations.
When we gather together in faith, corporate prayer is a powerfultool
that upliftsand unites us. It strengthens the bonds of fellowshipand
allowsus to intercede for others. In the early church, corporate prayer led
to incredible revivalsand the liberation of those held captive.
Jesus taught us the importance of gathering in His name. promising to be
present when two or three are gathered together. This emphasizes the
significanceof communalprayer where the Holy Spirit's presence is
palpable. While individual prayer is essential. there is a unique impact
when we pray together.
In the book of Acts, we observe the early church regularly assembling for
prayer (Acts 2:40-47), demonstrating their commitment to this vital
practice. Their faithfulness was rewarded with divine intervention and
miraculous deeds as God worked among them. Corporate prayer served
as a foundation and a fundamentalprinciple for the early church.
REFLECTION:
Reflect on the power of corporate prayer and the miraclesthat can
unfoldwhen the body of Christ intercedes together. Spend time today
praying for the needs of your church and community.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of prayer. Help us to
grasp the power of unified prayer and its ability to transform situations
ind hearts- May the body of Christ be united in prayer. seeking Your will
and glorifying Your name. When we come together in prayer. Lord, we
expect to see Your mighty hand move in our midst. In Jesus' name,
Amen!
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
Matthew 18:19-20
19 (Mt 7:7; Ac 12:5) "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth
about anything they ask, it will be done for them
by My Father who is in heaven.
20 (Mt 28:20; Jn 20:19) For where two or three are assembled in My name,
there I am in their midst."
[19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father which is in heaven.
[20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them.
James 5:14-15
14 (Mk 6:13; 16:18; Ac 14:23) Is anyone sick among you? Let him call
for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 (Isa 33:24; Jas 1:6) And the prayer of faith will save the sick,
and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins,
he will be forgiven.
[14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 (Titus 3:8; Heb 13:1) And let us consider how to spur one another
to love and to good works.
25 (Ac 2:42; Heb 3:13) Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another,
especially as you see the Day approaching.
[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
VERSE OF THE DAY
Acts 4:31
31 (Ac 2:2; 2:4) When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled
together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God with boldness.
[31] And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they
spake the word of God with boldness.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to search His wisdom and comfort.
Pray to the Lord: "Thank You for loving me so fully and
personally, Jesus! Help me to love You with my life today."
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Word to dwell in you richly.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be full of charity.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as Defender and trainer.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving throughout
the day for God's unfailing love, Mercy, compassion, faithfulness and provision.
Pray that the Lord will lead the Church in finding ways
to wisely and effectively
respond to pressing social issues
Pray for believers in the Central African Republic who have been beaten
by militants, asking the Lord to minister physical, emotional and
spiritual healing .
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the precious gift of prayer. Help us to
grasp the power of unified prayer and its ability to transform situations
ind hearts- May the body of Christ be united in prayer. seeking Your will
and glorifying Your name. When we come together in prayer. Lord, we
expect to see Your mighty hand move in our midst. In Jesus' name,
amen!
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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