Day 217 - 5 August 2021 reflections
Day 217, 5 August 2021
Zephaniah
Zephaniah 1
1 (2Ch 34:1-33; Jer 1:2) The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah
the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah,
the son of HezÂekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
The Great Day of the Lord
2 (2Ki 22:16-17) I will utterly consume all things
on the face of the earth,
says the Lord;
3 (Eze 7:19; Hos 4:3) I will consume man and beast;
I will consume the birds of the heavens
and the fish of the sea,
and the stumbling blocks with the wicked.
I will cut off man from the face of the land,
says the Lord.
4 (Hos 10:5; 2Ki 23:4-5) I will stretch out my hand against Judah,
and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
I will cut off from this place the remnant of Baal,
and the name of the idolatrous priests along with the priests,
5 (1Ki 11:33; Jer 19:13) and those who bow down on the roofs
to the host of heaven;
those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord
and yet swear by Milcom;
6 (Isa 1:4; Jer 2:13) those who have turned back from following the Lord,
who have not sought the Lord nor inquired of Him.
7 (Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10) Be silent before the Lord God!
For the day of the Lord is at hand;
the Lord has prepared the sacrifice;
He has consecrated His guests.
8 (Isa 24:21) On the day of the Lord's sacrifice,
I will punish the officials
and the king's sons,
and all who clothe themselves
with foreign attire.
9 (1Sa 5:5) On that day I will punish
all who step over the threshold,
who fill their masters’ houses
with violence and deceit.
10 (2Ch 33:14; 2Ki 22:14) On that day, says the Lord,
a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,
a wail from the Second Quarter,
and a loud crash from the hills.
11 (Jas 5:1) Wail, you inhabitants of the Mortar!
For all the merchants are cut down;
all those who weigh out silver are cut off.
12 (Jer 48:11; Eze 8:12) At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
and I will punish the men
who are settled on their lees,
who say in their heart,
"The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil."
13 (Am 5:11; Mic 6:15) Their goods will be plundered,
and their houses laid waste.
Though they build houses,
they will not inhabit them;
though they plant vineyards,
they will not drink from their wine.
The Great Day of the Lord
14 (Joel 2:11; Zep 1:7) The great day of the Lord is near,
near and hastening quickly.
The sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;
the mighty man shall cry out there.
15 (Joel 2:2; Isa 22:5 ) That day is a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of ruin and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
16 (Isa 2:12-15) a day of trumpet and alarms
against the fortified cities
and against the high towers.
17 (Ps 83:10) I will bring distress on men,
so that they will walk like blind men.
Because they have sinned against the Lord,
their blood will be poured out like dust,
and their flesh like dung.
18 (Zep 3:8; Eze 7:19; Zep 1:2-3) Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to deliver them
on the day of the Lord's wrath.
But the whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of His jealousy,
for He will make a sudden end
of all those who dwell on the earth.
Zephaniah 2
Judgment on the Nations
1 (2Ch 20:4; Joel 1:14) Gather together, yes, gather together,
O shameless nation,
2 (Isa 17:13; La 4:11) before the decree takes effect,
before the day passes like chaff,
before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you,
before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you.
3 (Am 5:14-15; Ps 57:1) Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,
who carry out His judgment.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
on the day of the Lord’s anger.
4 (Zec 9:5-7; Am 1:6-8 ) For Gaza will be forsaken,
and Ashkelon a desolation;
Ashdod will be driven out at noon,
and Ekron will be uprooted.
5 (Eze 25:16; Am 3:1) Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
the nation of Kerethites!
The word of the Lord is against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines:
I will destroy you,
so that there will be no inhabitant.
6 The seacoast will be pastures,
with meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 (Zep 3:20; Ex 4:31) The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah,
on which they will feed.
In the houses of Ashkelon
they will lie down at evening.
For the Lord their God will visit them
and restore their fortunes.
8 (Jer 49:1; Am 1:13) I have heard these taunts of Moab,
and the revilings of the Ammonites,
by which they have reproached My people,
and made boasts against their territory.
9 (Dt 29:23; Isa 11:14) Therefore, as I live,
says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel,
surely Moab will be like Sodom,
and the Ammonites like Gomorrah-
a land of weeds and salt pits,
and a perpetual desolation.
The remnant of My people will plunder them,
and the survivors of My nation will possess them.
10 (Isa 16:6; Zep 2:8) This will they have for their pride,
because they taunted and boasted against
the people of the Lord of Hosts.
11 (Ge 10:5; Ps 72:8-11) The Lord will be dreadful to them,
for He will weaken all the gods of the earth;
men will worship Him, every one from his place,
all the lands of the nations.
12 (Isa 18:1-7; 20:4-5) You also, O Ethiopians,
will be slain by My sword.
13 (Na 3:7; Isa 10:12) And He will stretch out His hand against the north
and destroy Assyria;
and He will make Nineveh a desolation,
and dry like the desert.
14 (Jer 22:14) Herds will lie down in her midst,
beasts of every kind;
the cormorant and the bittern
will lodge on her pillars.
Their voice will sing in the windows;
desolation will be on the threshold;
for He will lay bare the cedar work.
15 (Eze 28:2; Na 3:19) This is the rejoicing city
that dwelt securely,
that said in her heart,
"I am, and there is no one besides me."
How has she become a desolation,
a place for beasts to lie down!
Everyone who passes by her will hiss
and shake his fist.
Zephaniah 3
Woe to Jerusalem
1 (Jer 6:6) Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city.
2 (Jer 5:3; Ps 78:22) She obeys no voice,
she receives no correction;
she does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
3 (Hab 1:8; Jer 5:6) Her princes within her are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
who leave nothing until the morning.
4 (Eze 22:26; Hos 9:7) Her prophets are reckless,
treacherous men;
her priests have profaned the sanctuary
and done violence to the law.
5 (Dt 32:4; Zep 3:15 ) The Lord is righteous in her midst;
He does no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He does not fail,
but the unjust knows no shame.
6 I have cut off nations,
their strongholds are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
with no one passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
there is no man, no inhabitant.
7 (Hos 9:9; Jer 7:7) I said,
"Surely you will fear Me;
and you will receive correction."
So her dwelling will not be cut off,
according to all that I have appointed against her.
But they were more eager
to corrupt all their deeds.
The Conversion of the Nations
8(Joel 3:2; Zep 1:18) Therefore wait for Me, declares the Lord,
until the day when I rise up to seize the plunder;
for My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour on them My indignation,
all My fierce anger;
for all the earth will be devoured
with the fire of My jealousy.
9 (Isa 19:18; Ps 22:27) For then I will restore to the peoples a pure speech
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord,
to serve Him with one accord.
10 (Ps 68:31; Isa 11:11) From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshippers, the daughter of My dispersed ones,
will bring My offering.
11 (Isa 54:4; Joel 2:26-27) On that day you will not be ashamed
for all your deeds by which you have transgressed against Me;
for then I will remove from your midst
those who rejoice in your pride,
and you will no longer be haughty
in My holy mountain.
12 (Isa 14:32; Na 1:7) But I will leave in your midst
a meek and humble people,
and they will trust in the name of the Lord.
13 (Zep 2:7; Rev 14:5) The remnant of Israel will do no unrighteousness,
nor speak lies;
nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
for they will feed and lie down,
and no one will make them afraid.
Israel's Song of Joy
14 (Isa 12:6; 54:1) Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 (Isa 51:22; Zep 3:5) The Lord has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you will see evil no more.
16 (Heb 12:12; Isa 35:3-4) On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands be slack.
17 (Jer 32:41; Zep 3:15) The Lord your God is in your midst,
a Mighty One, who will save.
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will renew you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
18 (Ps 42:2-4; La 1:4) I will gather those who grieve
for the appointed festival,
which is a reproach and burden on you.
19 (Isa 60:14; Eze 34:16) At that time I will deal
with all who oppress you;
I will save the lame
and gather the outcast;
I will give them praise and fame
in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 (Jer 29:14; Joel 3:1) At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,
says the Lord.
2) Our Daily Bread for 5 August 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/08/05/greatness
entitled Greatness
Mark 9:33-37
Who Is the Greatest?
Mt 18:1-5; Lk 9:46-48
33 (Mt 17:24) He came to Capernaum. And being in the house, He asked them,
"What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?"
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had disputed among
themselves who was the greatest.
35 (Lk 22:26) He sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them,
"If anyone desires to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."
36 (Mk 10:16) He took a child and set him in their midst. And when He had
taken him in His arms, He said to them,
37 (Lk 10:16) "Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives
Me. And whoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him who sent Me."
Cuthbert is a much-loved figure in northern England. Responsible
for evangelizing much of the area in the seventh century, Cuthbert counseled
monarchs and influenced state affairs; and after his death, the city of Durham
was built in his honour. But Cuthbert's legacy is great in more ways than these.
After a plague ravaged the region, Cuthbert once toured affected towns
offering solace. Readying to leave one village, he checked if there was anyone
left to pray for. There was-a woman, clutching a child. She had already
lost one son, and the child she held was nearing death too. Cuthbert took
the fevered boy in his arms, prayed for him, and kissed his forehead.
"Do not fear," he told her, "for no one else of your household will die."
The boy reportedly lived.
Jesus once took a small boy into his arms to give a lesson on greatness,
saying, "Whoever receives one of these children in My name receives
Me." (Mark 9:37). To "welcome" someone in Jewish culture meant
to serve them, the way a host welcomes a guest. Since children were
to serve adults and not be served, the idea must've been shocking.
Jesus' point? True greatness resides in serving the smallest
and lowliest (v. 35).
A counselor to monarchs. An influencer of history. A city built
in his honor. But perhaps heaven records Cuthbert's legacy more like this:
A mother noticed. A forehead kissed. A humble life reflecting his Master.
By: Sheridan Voysey
Reflect & Pray
When you think of a "great" person in history, what image comes to mind?
How can you pursue Jesus' kind of greatness today?
Dear God, help me to humbly serve others.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 5 - Starting Over
2 Cor 5:17
17 (Jn 3:3; Ro 16:7) Therefore, if any man is in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things have passed away.
Look, all things have become new.
"The trouble with turning over a new leaf," Gordon sighed,
"is that once you've done it twice, you're right back where
you started." Gordon, in his mid-fifties, had his job
"canceled" by a company wanting to cut back on retirement payments.
Out of work, with few prospects, he said wistfully,
"I wish I had the chance to start over again."
Many of us would echo Gordon's sentiments. Whether we have lost a job,
gone through a divorce, moved to another part of the country, or
experienced some lesser crisis, we often long for the chance to
begin again, fresh, without the shadow of past mistakes following us.
God's word offers just such an opportunity. Anyone who is in Christ,
Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, is a "new creation". For the Christian, the past
is truly past - "all things are become new". In the forgiveness
and restoration of God's grace we can leave the past behind,
with all its mistakes, and enter into new life.
And the promise is not just for the newly saved. Those of us who
have been Christians for years need to hear the truth of 2 Cor 5:17 again,
for we accumulated some "new mistakes" since we came to Christ. Anyone who
is in Christ is a new creation; the freedom of forgiveness, of
"starting over" is available to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We cannot every really "start over" simply by establishing New Year's
resolutions or turning over a new leaf. Only God gives us that opportunity;
his grace allows us to clear away the rubble of the past and begin again.
Everything becomes new in God's loving forgiveness.
Application
a) What "resolutions" have I made in an attempt to "start over"
in some area of struggle or failure in my life? Did my resolutions work?
b) What does 2 Cor 5:17 mean for me at this point in my Crhsitian Life?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17
2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1–3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,
in silver and in gold.
5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.
6 (Ge 36:6–7) But the land was not able to support them
both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.
14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) 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 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you
and to your descendants forever.
16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) 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."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Generous Provision
Ps 145:13b-21
13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all people bless His holy name
forever and ever.
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
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples, that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1: John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and thank him for He is in control.
Pray to the Lord "Dear God, help me to humbly serve others."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being a new creature in Him.
Pray to the Lord and thank him forHis Promises
Pray to the Lord and speak of His praises.
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 First Nation peoples of your nation,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself
Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness.
Pray that the government of Indonesia will control rebels who incite social
unrest, especially against Christians.
Pray for tribal Christians of Cameroon in the north whose villages
are routinely attacked.
Pray for Gada and her daughter in Egypt,
who had to flee because of their fatih.
Pray for believers who are persecuted by Ortodox Christians in
Northern Ethiopia.
Pary the more Christian workers in the Maldives will choose to minister
in this restricted nation.
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.