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Day 16 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 16 January reflections

Day 16 , 16 Jan 2024



1)



Genesis 12-15



The Call of Abram

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country,

your family, and your father's house to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make of you a great nation;

I will bless you

and make your name great,

so that you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless them who bless you

and curse him who curses you,

and in you all families of the earth

will be blessed."

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken to him,

and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old

when he departed from Harran.

5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions

that they had accumulated, and the people that they had acquired in Harran,

and they set out for the land of Canaan. They came to the land of Canaan.

6 Then Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem,

to the oak of Moreh.

The Canaanites were in the land at that time.

7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said,a

"To your descendants I will give this land."

So he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

8 From there he continued on to a mountain to the east of Bethel

and pitched his tent,

having Bethel on the west and Ai on the easta

. There he built an altar to the Lord

and called on the name of the Lord.

9 Then Abram continued his journey toward the Negev.

Abram in Egypt

(Ge 20:1 - 18; 26:1 - 11)

10 Now there was a famine in the land,

so Abram went down to Egypt to live there,

for the famine was severe in the land.

11 When he was getting near to Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife,

"I know you are a beautiful woman. 12 Therefore, when the Egyptians see you,

they will say, 'This is his wife.' They will then kill me,

but they will let you live.

13 Say you are my sister so that I may be treated well for your sake.

Then my life will be spared because of you."

14 So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful.

15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her and commended her to Pharaoh,

and she was taken into Pharaoh's house.

16 He treated Abram well for her sake and he had sheep and livestock,

male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

17 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues

because of Abram's wife, Sarai.

18 So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, "What have you done to me?

Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?

I might have taken her as my wife.

Now here is your wife; take her and leave."

20 Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him,

and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.



Genesis 12

[1] Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from

thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

[2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make

thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:

and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

[4] So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with

him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

[5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their

substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in

Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land

of Canaan they came.

[6] And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the

plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

[7] And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give

this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto

him.

[8] And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and

pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there

he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

[9] And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

[10] And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to

sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

[11] And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he

said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to

look upon:

[12] Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,

that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will

save thee alive.

[13] Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for

thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

[14] And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the

Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

[15] The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh:

and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

[16] And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen,

and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

[17] And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because

of Sarai Abram's wife.

[18] And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done

unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

[19] Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to

wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

[20] And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away,

and his wife, and all that he had.



GENESIS 13

Abram and Lot

1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev,

he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him.

2 Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver and in gold.

3 He continued on his journey from the Negev and came to Bethel,

to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,

4 to the place where he first made an altar.

There Abram called on the name of the Lord.

5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 But the land was not able to support them both dwelling together

because their possessions were so great.

7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of

Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock.

The Canaanites and the Perizzites dwelled in the land at that time.

8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife, I ask you,

between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen,

for we are close relatives.

9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me.

If you will go to the left, then I will go to the right,

or if you take the right, then I will go to the left."

10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and looked at all the valley of the Jordan,

that it was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord,

like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.

This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

11 Then Lot chose for himself the entire valley of the Jordan

and journeyed east, and the two of them separated from each other.

12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan,

and Lot dwelled in the cities of the valley

and pitched his tent as far as Sodom.

13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the Lord.

14 After Lot had departed from him, the Lord said to Abram,

"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,

northward and southward and eastward and westward.

15 All the land that you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever.

16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth,

so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,

then your descendants could also be numbered.

17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across

its length and its width, for I will give it to you."

18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre,

which are in Hebron, and built an altar to the Lord there.



Genesis 13

[1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had,

and Lot with him, into the south.

[2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

[3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the

place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

[4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and

there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

[5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

[6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:

for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

[7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the

herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in

the land.

[8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me

and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

[9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from

me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou

depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

[10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it

was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah,

even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto

Zoar.

[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and

they separated themselves the one from the other.

[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of

the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD

exceedingly.

[14] And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,

Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward,

and southward, and eastward, and westward:

[15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy

seed for ever.

[16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can

number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

[17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of

it; for I will give it unto thee.

[18] Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre,

which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.



GENESIS 14



Abram Rescues Lot



1 In the days that Amraphel was king of Shinar,

Arioch king of Ellasar, Ked­orlaomer king of Elam,

and Tidal king of Goyim,

2 they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah,

Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim,

and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

3 All these were joined together in

the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea).

4 For twelve years they had served Kedorlaomer,

but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

5 In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings

who were with him came and defeated the Rephaites

in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham,

and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir,

as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.

7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat

(that is, Kadesh) and conquered all the country

of the Amalekites and also the Amorites

who lived in Hazezon Tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah,

the king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out,

and they joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim

9 against Kedorlaomer, the king of Elam, Tidal king of Goyim,

Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar - four

kings against five.

10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits,

and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled,

some fell in them, and the rest fled to the hill country.

11 Then they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah,

and all their provisions, and departed.

12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son,

who lived in Sodom, and his possessions,

and went their way.

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew,

who was living near the oaks of Mamre the Amorite,

brother of Eshkol and Aner,

and these were allies with Abram.

14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive,

he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants

born in his own house, and pursued them as far as Dan.

15 During the night he divided his men to attack them

and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah,

which is north of Damascus.

16 He brought back all the possessions,

along with his relative Lot and his possessions,

and also the women and the people.







[1] And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king

of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

[2] That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of

Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king

of Bela, which is Zoar.

[3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt

sea.

[4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they

rebelled.

[5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were

with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in

Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

[6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, which is by the

wilderness.

[7] And they returned, and came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote

all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwelt in

Hazezon-tamar.

[8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the

king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is

Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

[9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and

Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

[10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom

and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the

mountain.

[11] And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their

victuals, and went their way.

[12] And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his

goods, and departed.

[13] And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he

dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol, and brother of

Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

[14] And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his

trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and

pursued them unto Dan.

[15] And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and

smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of

Damascus.

[16] And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother

Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.



Melchizedek Blesses Abram



17 After his return from the defeat of Kedorlaomer

and the kings who had joined with him,

the king of Sodom went out to meet him

in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine.

He was the priest of God Most High.

19 And he blessed him and said,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High,

who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram,

"Give me the people and take the goods for yourself."

22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom,

"I have lifted up my hand to the Lord, God Most High,

the Possessor of heaven and earth,

23 that I will take nothing that is yours, not a thread or a sandal strap;

lest you say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

24 I will accept only that which my men have eaten

and the portion that belongs to the men who went

with me, Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."



[17] And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the

slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the

valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was

the priest of the most high God.

[19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,

possessor of heaven and earth:

[20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies

into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take

the goods to thyself.

[22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the

LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

[23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I

will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made

Abram rich:

[24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the

men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their

portion.



GENESIS 15



The Abrahamic Covenant



1 After this the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,

"Do not fear, Abram.

I am your shield,

your exceedingly great reward."

2 But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me,

seeing I am childless and

the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"

3 Abram said, "Since You have not given me any children,

my heir is a servant born in my house."

4 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

"This man will not be your heir,

but a son that is from your own body will be your heir."

5 He brought him outside and said,

"Look up toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them."

And He said to him, "So will your descendants be."

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

7 He also said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out of

Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess it."

8 But Abram said, "Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?"

9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer,

a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram,

a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

10 Then Abram brought all of these to Him and cut them

in two and laid each piece opposite the other,

but he did not cut the birds in half.

11 When the birds of prey came down on the carcasses,

Abram drove them away.

12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram,

and terror and a great darkness fell on him.

13 Then He said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants

will live as strangers in a land that is not theirs,

and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.

14 But I will judge the nation that they serve,

and afterward they will come out with great possessions.

15 As for you, you will go to your fathers in peace

and you will be buried at a good old age.

16 In the fourth generation, your descendants will return here,

for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

17 When the sun went down and it was dark,

a smoking fire pot with a flaming torch passed between these pieces.

18 On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,

"To your descendants I have given this land,

from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River -

19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,

20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites,

21 the Amorites, the Canaanites,

the Girga­shites, and the Jebusites."



Genesis 15

[1] After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision,

saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

[2] And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless,

and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

[3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born

in my house is mine heir.

[4] And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not

be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be

thine heir.

[5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and

tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So

shall thy seed be.

[6] And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

[7] And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the

Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

[8] And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

[9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she

goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and

a young pigeon.

[10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid

each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

[11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

[12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo,

an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

[13] And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a

stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall

afflict them four hundred years;

[14] And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and

afterward shall they come out with great substance.

[15] And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a

good old age.

[16] But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the

iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

[17] And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark,

behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those

pieces.

[18] In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy

seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river,

the river Euphrates:

[19] The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

[20] And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

[21] And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the

Jebusites.



Believe the Lord will bless you and seek his will for success.

Never doubt The Lord!



2) Our Daily Bread for 16 January 2024 titled



Learning from Mistakes




1 Corinthians 10:1-11

Warning Against Idolatry



1 (Ex 14:29; Ps 66:6) I would not want you to be unaware that all our fathers

were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 (Ex 16:35; Dt 8:3) all ate the same spiritual food;

4 (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11) and all drank the same spiritual drink,

for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,

and that Rock was Christ.

5 (Heb 3:17; Jude 1:5) But with many of them God was not well pleased,

and they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 (Nu 11:4; 1Co 10:11) Now these things were our examples to the intent

that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted.

7 (Ex 32:19; 32:4) Neither be idolaters as were some of them.

As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to revel."

(Ex 32:6.)

8 (Nu 25:1-9; 1Co 6:18) Neither let us commit sexual immorality

as some of them committed, when twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

9 (Nu 21:5-6; Ex 17:2) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also

tempted and were destroyed by serpents.

10 (Ex 12:23; Nu 16:41) Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured

and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 (Ro 13:11) Now all these things happened to them for examples.

They are written as an admonition to us, upon whom the end of the ages

has come.



[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all

our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that

spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown

in the wilderness.

[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust

after evil things, as they also lusted.

[7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The

people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

[8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell

in one day three and twenty thousand.

[9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were

destroyed of serpents.

[10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of

the destroyer.

[11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are

written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.



To help avoid future financial mistakes, such as those in 1929 and 2008 that

brought down the world's economy, the Library of Mistakes was founded in

Edinburgh, Scotland. It features a collection of more than two thousand books

that can help educate the next generation of economists. And it serves as a

perfect example of how, according to the library's curators, "smart people

keep doing stupid things." The curators believe that the only way to build

a strong economy is to learn from prior mistakes.



Paul reminded the Corinthians that one way to avoid yielding to temptation and

to have a strong spiritual life is to learn from the mistakes of God's people

in the past. So to make sure they wouldn't become overconfident with their

spiritual privilege, the apostle used ancient Israel's failures as an example

from which to gain wisdom. The Israelites engaged in idolatry, chose to

"commit sexual immorality," grumbled about the plans and purposes of God, and

rebelled against His leaders. Due to their sin, they experienced His

discipline (1 Corinthians 10:7-10). Paul presented these historical

"examples" from Scripture to help believers in Jesus avoid repeating

Israel's mistakes (v. 11).



As God helps us, let's learn from our mistakes and those made by others

so that we might gain a heart of obedience for Him.



By: Marvin Williams



Reflect & Pray



What warning should we recall when tempted to sin?

How can we learn from our mistakes as well as the mistakes of others?



Dear God, please help me learn from failures

so that I might be more obedient to You.





3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 3 - The Remedy



Acts 4:12



12 (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:36) "There is no salvation in any other,

for there is no other name under heaven given among men

by which we must be saved."



12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name

under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.



"You have cancer", the doctor told his patient. "We need to operate

- as soon as possible. It's the only remedy." The patient, not wanting

to undergo surgery unless it was absolutely necessary, sought out a second

opinion, then a third. When the third round of testing came up with the same

results, she returned to the doctor and submitted herself to the treatment.

Often the remedy for the problems in our lives seems worst than the problems

themselves. We don't want to endure the pain of self-examination, of honest

confrontation with our sin and selfishness. We'd rather live in "blissful

ignorance" than face up to ourselves.

But the Bible tells us there is only one remedy for sin: casting ourselves

upon the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. Submitting ourselves to God's

"treatment" for sin is not an easy matter or a simple decision. We have to

give up on ourselves, on our own striving for self-salvation. We have to come

to the agonising realisation of our sin, the depths to which we have fallen.

Acknowledging sin is not a duty simply for "bad" people who have lived in

rebellion against God. "Good" people - Sunday-school kids, moral parents,

and sweet little grandmothers - may have more difficulty coming to Christ

than swindlers and prostitutes, precisely because their sin is not as

visible - sometimes it is even applauded by church and society.

"Good" or "bad", we all have the same problem: sin. And, because

of the Lord's grace, we all have the same remedy: salvation through Christ.

As we look to him, not to others, and see ourselves in light of his holiness,

we can glimpse the seriousness of our own resistance to him and call upon

his name.



Application



a) What other "remedies" have I tried to use in treating my sin?



b) Why is Jesus Christ the only source of salvation?



c) How can this verse help me to see the "salvation"

of Christ in the daily struggles of life?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



2 Chr 31:21



21 And in every deed that he undertook in the service of the house

of God and with the law and commandment to seek out his God,

he did this with all his heart, and he found success.



21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house

of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,

he did it with all his heart, and prospered.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Protection in Times of Trouble



Ps 27:1-6



PSALMS 27



A Psalm of David.



1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom will I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

of whom will I be afraid?

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) When the wicked came against me

to eat my flesh -

my enemies and my foes -

they stumbled and fell.

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Though an army should encamp against me,

my heart will not fear;

though war should rise against me,

in this will I be confident.

4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) One thing I have asked from the Lord,

that will I seek after -

for me to dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to see the beauty of the Lord,

and to inquire in His temple.

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For in the time of trouble

He will hide me in His pavilion;

in the shelter of His tabernacle He will hide me;

He will set me up on a rock.

6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8 - 9) Now my head will be lifted up

above my enemies encircling me;

therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.



1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes,

came upon me to eat up my flesh,

They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:

Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;

he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up,

Above mine enemies round about me:

Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.



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, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



16th Day of the Month



a) Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false

idea that all moral choices are equal and

without consequences

( John 16:7-8



7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away.

For if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send Him to you.

8 When He comes, He will convict the world of sin

and of righteousness and of judgment"



)





b) Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly

of denying God's supremacy



(



John 14:6



6 Jesus said to him,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me."





Rom 3:19-20



19 Now we know that whatever the law says,

it says to those who are under the law,

so that every mouth may be silenced,

and all the world may become accountable to God.

20 Therefore by the works of the law

no flesh will be justified in His sight,

for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.



2 COr 5:10



10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

that each one may receive his recompense in the body,

according to what he has done,

whether it was good or bad.



2 Cor 10:5



5 casting down imaginations and every high thing

that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought into

captivity to the obedience of Christ,



)



8 ) Fast and Pray Day 9



Restoration of Relationships



DEVOTION:

We need to remember to support and pray for our churchleaders

regularly. It is not just during times of controversy, illness, budget

shortfalls, or other troubles that they require our prayers but constantly.

We should make it a habit to regularlypray for our pastors, elders, small

group leaders. and their families. Matthew Henry wisely observed that

the more earnestly we pray for our ministers.the more benefit we can

expect from their ministry. When we fervently pray for our church

leaders. we can anticipatethat God will use our church to make a

meaningful impact with the gospelfor the Kingdom.

Additionally, as members of the body of Christ, we each have a calling to

serve one another and utilise our gifts to build up the church. It is

important to take the time to reflect on how we can be leaders within our

own spheres of influence.Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to

cultivate the necessary qualities of love. integriV. and a heart for God to

shepherd others effectively.

PRAYER:

Dear God, I come to you in my pain over the broken relationship

between _____ and me.I miss ____ and pray for healing. You

understand the issues that caused the rift and have the solution. Please

help us open our hearts and minds to the possibility of a renewed

connection. I pray for reconciliation. However. if they are unwilling to

work on the relationship, grant me the peace to move forward. If __________

chooses to work at mending the relationship, guide us towards the best

path for healing together. Regardless, I choose to forgive myself for my

mistakes and extend forgiveness to ______ . I surrender my pain to You.

trusting Your healing. Let Your love flow through me and my life, always

In Jesus' name. I pray. Amen.



SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:

1 Peter 5:10



10 (2Co 4:17; 2Th 2:17; 1Co 1:9) But after you have suffered a little while,

the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory through Christ

Jesus, will restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.



[10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by

Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,

stablish, strengthen, settle you.



2 Corinthians 13:9-11



9 (2Co 13:11; 1Th 3:10) For we are glad when we are weak, and you are strong.

We wish even your perfection.

10 (2Co 10:8; 2:3) Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being

present I should be sharp, according to the authority which the Lord has

given me for edification and not for destruction.

11 (Ro 15:33; Mk 9:50; Ro 12:16) Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect,

be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace, and the God of love

and peace will be with you.



[9] For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we

wish, even your perfection.

[10] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I

should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to

edification, and not to destruction.

[11] Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one

mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.



VERSE OF THE DAY

Acts 15:39-41





39 (Ac 4:36) Then there arose a sharp contention,

so that they separated from each other.

Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus,

40 (Ac 14:26; 15:22) but Paul chose Silas and departed,

being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41 (Ac 15:23; 15:32) And he went through Syria and Cilicia,

strengthening the churches.



[39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed

asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto

Cyprus;

[40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren

unto the grace of God.

[41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord to seek Him with all your heart and all your mind.



Pray to the Lord and Believe the Lord will bless you

and seek his will for success. Never doubt The Lord!



Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, please help me learn from failures

so that I might be more obedient to You."



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as the only source of Salvation.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek the Lord in all your work.



Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as protector.



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 that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false

idea that all moral choices are equal and

without consequences



Pray that people's hearts would be opened to see the folly

of denying God's supremacy



Pray for Aung Hte and his family from Myanmar (Burma), who were driven from

their home, and surrounding land, after placing their faith in Christ.





Dear God, I come to you in my pain over the broken relationship

between _____ and me.I miss ____ and pray for healing. You

understand the issues that caused the rift and have the solution. Please

help us open our hearts and minds to the possibility of a renewed

connection. I pray for reconciliation. However. if they are unwilling to

work on the relationship, grant me the peace to move forward. If __________

chooses to work at mending the relationship, guide us towards the best

path for healing together. Regardless, I choose to forgive myself for my

mistakes and extend forgiveness to ______ . I surrender my pain to You.

trusting Your healing. Let Your love flow through me and my life, always

In Jesus' name. I pray. 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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