Day 215 - 3 August 2021 reflections
Day 215, 3 August 2021
Nahum
Nahum 1
1 (Isa 13:1; Zep 2:13) An oracle for Nineveh, a writing of the vision
of Nahum, the Elkoshite.
God's Anger With Nineveh
2 (Ex 20:5; Ps 94:1; Zec 8:2) The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord takes vengeance on His enemies,
and He reserves it for His adversaries;
3 (Ex 34:6-7; Ne 9:17) the Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will in no way acquit the guilty.
In gale winds and a storm is His way,
and clouds are the dust of His feet.
4 (Isa 33:9; Ps 106:9) He rebukes and dries up the sea,
and He makes waterless all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither up,
and the sprout of Lebanon wastes away.
5 (Mic 1:4; 2Sa 22:8 )The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the land rises up before Him,
the earth and everything that dwells on it.
6 (Mal 3:2; Jer 10:10) Who can stand before His anger?
Who will rise up before His burning wrath?
His heat is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken up before Him.
7 (Ps 1:6; Jer 33:11) The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of distress;
and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
8 (Isa 8:22; 28:17) As a flood running forth,
He will bring to an end the distress,
and He will pursue His adversaries into darkness.
9 (Na 1:11) Why do you all scheme against the Lord?
He will bring it to an end.
It will not rise up a second time.
10 (Mic 7:4; Mal 4:1) Because they are like interwoven thorns
and as drunkards imbibing,
they are consumed like completely dry stubble.
11 (Na 1:9) Out of you, O Nineveh, comes one,
a worthless counselor,
who devises evil against the Lord.
12 (Isa 37:36) So the Lord says:
"Even though they are full and many,
they will be cut down, and it will pass away.
Even though I have afflicted you,
I will no longer afflict you, O Judah;
13 (Isa 9:4; 10:27) now I will break apart his yoke from over you,
and I will tear apart your bonds."
14 (Ps 109:13; 2Ki 19:37) The Lord has given a command concerning you:
"No longer will your name go forth.
I will cut off the carved image and metal image
from the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
for you are despised."
15 (Isa 52:7; Ro 10:15) Look, on the mountains
come the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Make your feasts, O Judah,
and complete your vows.
For the wicked one will never again pass through your midst;
he is completely cut down.
Nahum 2
The Fall of Nineveh
1 (Jer 51:20-23) He who scatters has come to you.
Guard the fortifications!
Watch the road!
Prepare yourself,
and strengthen yourself!
2 (Ps 80:12-13) For the Lord is restoring the prominence of Jacob,
even the prominence of Israel,
for others have certainly
laid waste their vines.
3 (Eze 23:14-15) The shields of his mighty men are soaked red,
even the mighty men are clad in red.
In the day he prepares the chariots,
they are like a fire of iron.
The cypress spears are ready.
4 (Jer 4:13; Isa 66:15) The chariots run wildly through the streets,
they rush to and fro in the open areas;
their appearance is like torches,
they dash to and fro like lightning.
5 (Jer 46:12) He remembers his officers
as they stumble about on the road;
they hurry on to the wall
as the siege tower is set up.
6 The holding gates are opened wide,
and the palace washes away.
7 (Isa 38:14; 59:11) It is decreed:
She is uncovered and led away captive;
her handmaidens shall lead her as with the voice of doves,
beating their chests.
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose waters run away.
"Halt! Halt!" they cry,
but no one turns back.
9 "Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
There is no limit to the treasure,
or to the wealth of every precious thing."
10 (Ps 22:14; Joel 2:6) She is desolate, empty, and waste!
Hearts melt away, and knees shake;
pain is in all the loins, and all their faces grow pale.
11 (Isa 5:29; Jer 2:15) Where is the den of the lions,
and the feeding place of the young lions,
where the lion and lioness prowl,
and the lion's cub goes, with no one to disturb them?
12 (Jer 51:34) The lion tore enough food for his cubs,
and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he has filled his caves with prey,
and his dens with flesh.
13 (2Ki 19:23; Ps 46:9) I am against you,
says the Lord of Hosts,
and I will burn your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will devour your lions.
I will cut off your prey from the earth,
and the voice of your messengers
will be heard no more.
Nahum 3
Woe to Nineveh
1 (Na 2:12; Hab )2:12 Woe to the bloody city!
It is full of lies
and plunder.
The prey never departs.
2 (Jdg 5:22; Job 39:22-25) The noise of the whip
and the noise of the rattling of the wheels,
galloping horses,
and rushing chariots!
3 (Hab 3:11; Isa 37:36) Horsemen charging
with flashing sword
and glittering spear.
Multitude of slain,
great number of corpses,
dead bodies without end-
they stumble on the corpses-
4 (Isa 47:9; 47:12-13) because of the countless harlotries
of the seductive harlot,
the mistress of sorceries,
who sells nations through her harlotries
and families through her sorceries.
5 (Na 2:13; Jer 13:22) I am against you, says the Lord of Hosts;
I will lift your skirts over your face,
and I will show the nations your nakedness,
and the kingdoms your shame.
6 (Job 9:31; Jer 51:37) I will throw filth on you,
and make you vile,
and make you a spectacle.
7 (Isa 51:19; Jer 15:5) All who look at you will flee from you, and say,
"Nineveh is devastated! Who will lament for her?"
Where shall I seek comforters for you?
8 (Am 6:2; Eze 30:14-16) Are you better than Thebes
that sat by the Nile,
with water around her,
whose rampart was the sea,
and whose wall was the water?
9 (Eze 27:10; 30:5) Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength,
and it was without limit;
Put and Libya were her helpers.
10 (Isa 20:4; Hos 13:16) Yet she went into exile,
she went into captivity;
her young children were dashed to pieces
at the head of every street;
they cast lots for her honorable men,
and all her great men were bound in chains.
11 (Isa 2:10; 49:26) You also will be drunk;
you will go into hiding;
you will seek refuge from the enemy.
12 (Rev 6:13) All your fortresses are like fig trees
with first-ripe figs:
If they are shaken,
they fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 (Jer 51:30; Isa 19:16; Jer 50:37) Your troops
are women in your midst!
The gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire has devoured your bars.
14 (Na 2:1; 2Ch 32:3-4) Draw water for the siege!
Strengthen your forts!
Go into the clay and
tread the mortar!
Take hold of the brick mold!
15 (Joel 1:4; Na 2:13) There the fire will devour you,
the sword will cut you off;
it will eat you up like the locust.
Multiply yourselves-like the locust!
Multiply-like the grasshopper!
16 You have multiplied your merchants
more than the stars of heaven.
The locust plunders
and flies away.
17 (Jer 51:27; Rev 9:7) Your leaders are like grasshoppers,
your commanders like swarms of locusts,
which camp in the hedges on a cold day;
when the sun rises they fly away,
and the place where they are is not known.
18 (1Ki 22:17; Ps 76:5-6 )Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria;
Your nobles lie in the dust.
Your people are scattered on the mountains,
and no one gathers them.
19 (La 2:15; Mic 1:9) There is no healing of your injury,
your wound is grievous.
All who hear news about you
clap their hands over you,
for upon whom has not your wickedness
continually passed?
2) Our Daily Bread for 3 August 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/08/03/everything-that-hinders
entitled TWalking with Jesus
Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight
and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us.
2 (Heb 1:3; Lk 24:26) Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand
of the throne of God.
3 (Gal 6:9; Heb 12:5) For consider Him who endured such hostility
from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.
Lean food rations, waterproof boots, and a map are some of the essentials
carried by hikers on the John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail is a 211-mile path
in the western United States that winds across creeks, around lakes and woods,
and up and over mountains, encompassing 47 000 feet of elevation gain.
Because traversing this trail takes about three weeks, carrying the right amount
of supplies is critical. Too much and you will run out of strength to carry it all;
too little and you won't have what you need for the journey.
Finishing well on our journey as believers in Jesus also requires careful
consideration of what we bring. In Hebrews 12, we’re told to
"throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles."
The author compares our lives to a "race marked out for us,"
one in which we must "not grow weary and lose heart" (vv. 1, 3).
To become overburdened with sin or distracted by things outside
of God's purpose for us is to carry an unnecessary weight.
Just as there are packing lists for the John Muir Trail,
God has provided directions for following Jesus in the Bible.
We can know what habits, dreams, and desires are worth bringing
along by examining them in light of the Scriptures.
When we travel light, we're able to finish well.
By: Karen Pimpo
Reflect & Pray
What's hindering you in following Jesus?
What would it look like to "throw it off"?
Jesus, help me travel lightly according to Your wisdom and to finish well.
Visit ChristianUniversity.org/SF104 to learn more about strengthening your walk with God.
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."
"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 ownstrving for self-salvation. We have to come
to the agonising realisation of our sin, the depths to which we have fallen.
Acknowlegding 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
Joshua 1:5
5 (Dt 7:24; 31:6–8) No man will be able to stand against
you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, I will be with you.
I will not abandon you. I will not leave you.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
1 Cor 10:1-13
1 Corinthians 10
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 23000 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.
12 (Ro 11:20) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed,
lest he fall.
13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken you except what is common
to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted above
what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
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."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
New Brunswick
Total population 753900
Muslim population (est.) 4543
Moncton, followed by Fredericton and Saint John, each have a growing Muslim
population in New Brunswick, In 2007, the buliding that was formerly a Baptist
chruch was converted into Moncton's 1st mosque. The University of Moncton
also has a Muslim studentt association hosting prayer services, fellowship
getherings, and outreaches on campus.
Fredericton also has one mosque and a Muslim student assoication serving the
campusus of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University.
Fredericton's MUslim population consists in 2014 of about 50 families,
and between 300 to 400 university students.
Saint John is home to the 1st Muslim Association for the province,
which also helped foster the Islamic asociations of Fredericton and Moncton.
a 'musalla', or prayer location that is not officially structured as a mosque,
has been established in the Uptown area with the intention of seeing it grow
into a 2nd official place of Muslim worship. Demand for this new location has
been primarily for university students moving into the area.
Pray for Muslims and New Brunswick
- that the eyes of pastors, believers and entire congregations will be opened
to see this growing body of Muslims, and their hearts will be opened
to sharing God's love in JEsus Christ with them
- that intentional ministries to Muslims will grow and flourish in these
areas of concentration
- that cooperative CNNMM Networks will form to really, encourage,
and equip believers to lovingly reach Muslims in this province.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
3rd Day of the Month
a) Pray for the province of Alberta as follows:
I) Pray for the leaders of Alberta, that God's Spirit
would influence then to act justly,
serve with integrity and honour high moral standards.
(
1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
II) Pray for the churches of the province,
that they would be lighthouses beaming
forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
b) Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin
and to draw Canadian to faith in Christ.
( John 16:8 - When He comes,
He will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment: ,
Matthew 9:36 - But when He saw the crowds
, He was moved with compassion for them,
because they fainted and were scattered, like sheep without a shepherd )
Conclusion:
Pray a prayer of humility and obedience.
Pray to the Lord "Jesus, help me travel lightly according to Your wisdom
and to finish well."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being the only sopurce of Salvation.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for not leaving you.
Pray to the Lord and ask Him to seek an escape from temptation
Pray for Muslims in New Brunswick to know Jesus as Saviour.
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.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin
and to draw everyone to faith in Christ.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.