Day 289 - 16 October 2021 reflections
Day 289, 16 October 2021
John 6
John 6
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17
1 After these things Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee,
which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great crowd followed Him, because they saw His signs which He did
for the sick.
3 Then Jesus went up on a mountain, and He sat there with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming to Him, He said to Philip,
"Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?"
6 He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient
for each of them to receive but a little."
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish.
But what are they among so many?"
10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.†Now there was much grass
in the place. So the men sat down, numbering about five thousand.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks,
He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who
were sitting down; and likewise, they distributed the fish,
as much as they wanted.
12 When they were filled, He told His disciples, "Collect the fragments
that remain, that nothing may be lost."
13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the fragments
of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 When those men saw the sign which He had done, they then said,
"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
15 Therefore, knowing that they would come and take Him by force
to make Him king, Jesus departed again to a mountain by Himself alone.
Walking on the Water
Mt 14:22-27; Mk 6:45-52
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea.
17 They got into a boat and went across the sea toward Capernaum.
It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus
walking on the sea and coming near the boat. And they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid."
21 Then they gladly received Him into the boat,
and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Jesus the Bread of Life
22 The following day the people who stood on the other side of the sea saw
that there was no other boat there, except the one which His disciples
had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples,
but that His disciples had gone away alone.
23 However, other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they ate
bread when the Lord had given thanks.
24 When the people therefore saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were
there, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.
25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him,
"Rabbi, when did You come here?"
26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say to you, you seek Me not because
you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures
to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For God the Father has set His seal on Him."
28 Then they asked Him, "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?"
29 Jesus answered them,
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
30 Therefore they said to Him, "What sign do You show then,
that we may see and believe You? What work will You perform?
31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert. As it is written,
'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Then Jesus said, "Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you
the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world."
34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes
in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I told you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
37 All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me
I will never cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who has sent Me, that of all whom
He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
at the last day.
40 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son
and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up
on the last day."
41 The Jews then murmured about Him, because He said,
"I am the bread which came down from heaven."
42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'? "
43 Jesus therefore answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draws him.
And I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets, 'They shall all be taught by God.'
Therefore everyone who has heard and has learned of the Father comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God.
He has seen the Father.
47 Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it
and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats
of this bread, he will live forever. The bread which I shall give
for the life of the world is My flesh."
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"
53 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood,
you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.
And I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father,
so whoever feeds on Me also will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers
ate manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."
59 He said these things in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life
60 When they heard this, many of His disciples said,
"This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?"
61 Knowing in Himself that His disciples murmured about it,
Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe."
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe,
and who it was who would betray Him.
65 Then He said, "For this reason I have said to you that no one can
come to Me unless it were given him by My Father."
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 Simon Peter answered Him,
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God."
70 Jesus answered them, "Have I not chosen you, the twelve,
and yet one of you is a devil?"
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
For it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
2) Our Daily Bread for 16 October 2021
https://odb.org/us/2021/10/16/living-well
Entitled Living Well
Ecclesiastes 7
The Value of Wisdom
1 (Pr 22:1; Ecc 4:2) A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 (Ps 90:12) It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind;
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Grief is better than laughter,
for with a downcast face the heart considers the good.
4 The heart of those who are wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of those who are foolish in the house of feasting.
Free funerals for the living. That’s the service offered by an establishment
in South Korea. Since it opened in 2012, more than 25 000 people-from
teenagers to retirees—have participated in mass "living funeral" services,
hoping to improve their lives by considering their deaths. Officials say
"the simulated death ceremonies are meant to give the participant
a truthful sense of their lives, inspire gratitude,
and aid in forgiveness and reconnection among family and friends."
These words echo the wisdom given by the teacher who wrote Ecclesiastes.
"Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to
heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Death reminds us of the brevity of life
and that we only have a certain amount of time to live and love well.
It loosens our grip on some of God's good gifts-such as money,
relationships, and pleasure-and frees us to enjoy them in the here
and now as we store up "treasures in heaven, where moths
and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
As we remember that death may come knocking anytime, perhaps it'll compel
us to not postpone that visit with our parents, delay our decision
to serve God in a particular way, or compromise our time with our children
for our work. With God's help, we can learn to live wisely.
By: Poh Fang Chia
Reflect & Pray
What changes will you make in your life today as you think about death?
How can you be more conscious about death amid the hustle and bustle of life?
Loving God, help me to remember the brevity
of life and to live well today.
To learn more about what happens after death
at https://odbu.org/courses/ca204/ .
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 7 God's Bulldozer - Luke 3:5-6
5 (Isa 40:4; 42:16) Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
and the crooked shall be made straight
and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 (Isa 40:5; 52:10) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
When a new highway is being constructed, the roads crew work hard
in preparing for the new surface to be laid. Giant bulldozers cut through
the hillsides, moving earth, leveling, filling, evening the path out where
the roadway will run. When the work is first begun, if often looks like chaos:
and even after the highway begins to take shape, the land is still ugly,
scarred by the unslighty gashes cut through the landscape. Yet after
the work is completed and the grass and trees are replanted, we forget
the temporary upheaval and see only the
beauty of the land and the convenience of the new roadway.
In Luke 3:5-6, John the Baptist presents a prophecy of the coming of Christ,
a prophecy quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5 . The prohecy speaks of the preparation
of the world for the coming Messiah, but ia also applies to the preparation
of the individual heart to receive him.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit must do major work in our hearts to prepare us for
the coming of Christ into our live. Like a bulldozer, he brings down the
cmountains of pride in our lives. He fille the empty places , corrects
the crooked, grades down the rough edges of our hearts.
Often this is not pleasant work. We prefer to maintain the rugged landscape
of Self, and we do not like the ugly scars that are left after the bulldozer
has done its job.
But if we submit to the Sprit's "Construction work" in us, the way will be
paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and others will see in us,
the way be paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and other will see
in us the glory and salvation of our God.
Application
a) What "construction work" has to Holy Spirit done in me?
b) What restoration has taken place because of that work?
c) How do today's verses help me put in prespetive the work
God still want to do in me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:21
21 "So is he who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
James 5:7-11
Patience and Prayer
7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.
Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth
and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned.
Look, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job
and have seen the purpose of the Lord,
that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.
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?)
Prince Edward Island
Total population 146300
Muslim population (est.) 1127
Charlottetown does not currently (fall 2014) have a local CNMM network.
Pray with us for God's people to come together in reaching Muslims
cooperatively across denominational and organisational lines.
More than 200 attended the Eid festival at the end of Ramadan, the Islamic
month of fasting during daylight hours and the reading of the Qur'an, at
the Dar as-Salam mosque in 2014. This second mosque established
in Charlottetown, the other being the Muslims Assoication of PEI.
As of mid-2014,there are between 250 to 300 families, mostly in Charlottetown.
The Muslims of Charlottetown see their community as symbolically important
for this nation since this is known as the "birthplace of Canada". Yet we were
established as the "Dominion of Canada" with an appeal not only to
monarchial authority, but even more to God's higher Biblical authority as
shown in Psalm 72:8, "May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth."
Let us intercede togther for:
- the growing Muslim population of Charlottetown and spreading
outward through PEI to encounter the Prince of PEace.
- believers to have faith and vision to reach out to the Muslim Community
in contextual waysto sahre the Gosepl
- churches and ministries to rise up in wisdom, knowledge and understanding,
giving and training, coaching and encouragement to believers reaching
out to Muslims locally.
- a prayer movement to be established, feeding a growing move of Yahweh's
Spirit in His churches and poeple , and an awakening an openness
and spiritual hunger in Muslims for realtionship with the Father
through the Son.
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
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 poeple'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,
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and focus on Him and not the circumstances around you.
Pray to the Lord "Loving God, help me to remember the brevity
of life and to live well today."
Pray to the Lord and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to store treasure in Heaven.
Pray to the Lord and pray for patience and endurance.
Pray for Prince Edward Island and Let us intercede togther for:
- the growing Muslim population of Charlottetown and spreading
outward through PEI to encounter the Prince of PEace.
- believers to have faith and vision to reach out to the Muslim Community
in contextual ways to share the Gosepl
- churches and ministries to rise up in wisdom, knowledge and understanding,
giving and training, coaching and encouragement to believers reaching
out to Muslims locally.
- a prayer movement to be established, feeding a growing move of Yahweh's
Spirit in His churches and poeple , and an awakening an openness
and spiritual hunger in Muslims for realtionship with the Father
through the Son.
Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false
idea that all moral choices are equal and without consequences
Pray that poeple's hearts would be opened to see the folly
of denying God's supremacy
Pray that Christians in remote ares of the Central African Republic
wil have acces to Bibles .
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.
John 6
John 6
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17
1 After these things Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee,
which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great crowd followed Him, because they saw His signs which He did
for the sick.
3 Then Jesus went up on a mountain, and He sat there with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming to Him, He said to Philip,
"Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?"
6 He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient
for each of them to receive but a little."
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish.
But what are they among so many?"
10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.†Now there was much grass
in the place. So the men sat down, numbering about five thousand.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks,
He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who
were sitting down; and likewise, they distributed the fish,
as much as they wanted.
12 When they were filled, He told His disciples, "Collect the fragments
that remain, that nothing may be lost."
13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the fragments
of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
14 When those men saw the sign which He had done, they then said,
"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
15 Therefore, knowing that they would come and take Him by force
to make Him king, Jesus departed again to a mountain by Himself alone.
Walking on the Water
Mt 14:22-27; Mk 6:45-52
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea.
17 They got into a boat and went across the sea toward Capernaum.
It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus
walking on the sea and coming near the boat. And they were afraid.
20 But He said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid."
21 Then they gladly received Him into the boat,
and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Jesus the Bread of Life
22 The following day the people who stood on the other side of the sea saw
that there was no other boat there, except the one which His disciples
had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples,
but that His disciples had gone away alone.
23 However, other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they ate
bread when the Lord had given thanks.
24 When the people therefore saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were
there, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.
25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him,
"Rabbi, when did You come here?"
26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say to you, you seek Me not because
you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures
to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For God the Father has set His seal on Him."
28 Then they asked Him, "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?"
29 Jesus answered them,
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
30 Therefore they said to Him, "What sign do You show then,
that we may see and believe You? What work will You perform?
31 Our fathers ate manna in the desert. As it is written,
'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
32 Then Jesus said, "Truly, truly I say to you, Moses did not give you
the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world."
34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always."
35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes
in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I told you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
37 All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me
I will never cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who has sent Me, that of all whom
He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
at the last day.
40 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son
and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up
on the last day."
41 The Jews then murmured about Him, because He said,
"I am the bread which came down from heaven."
42 They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'? "
43 Jesus therefore answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draws him.
And I will raise him up on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets, 'They shall all be taught by God.'
Therefore everyone who has heard and has learned of the Father comes to Me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God.
He has seen the Father.
47 Truly, truly I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life.
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it
and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats
of this bread, he will live forever. The bread which I shall give
for the life of the world is My flesh."
52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"
53 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood,
you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.
And I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father,
so whoever feeds on Me also will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers
ate manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."
59 He said these things in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life
60 When they heard this, many of His disciples said,
"This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?"
61 Knowing in Himself that His disciples murmured about it,
Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe."
For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe,
and who it was who would betray Him.
65 Then He said, "For this reason I have said to you that no one can
come to Me unless it were given him by My Father."
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 Simon Peter answered Him,
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God."
70 Jesus answered them, "Have I not chosen you, the twelve,
and yet one of you is a devil?"
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
For it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
2) Our Daily Bread for 16 October 2021
https://odb.org/us/2021/10/16/living-well
Entitled Living Well
Ecclesiastes 7
The Value of Wisdom
1 (Pr 22:1; Ecc 4:2) A good name is better than precious ointment,
and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 (Ps 90:12) It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for this is the end of all mankind;
and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Grief is better than laughter,
for with a downcast face the heart considers the good.
4 The heart of those who are wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of those who are foolish in the house of feasting.
Free funerals for the living. That’s the service offered by an establishment
in South Korea. Since it opened in 2012, more than 25 000 people-from
teenagers to retirees—have participated in mass "living funeral" services,
hoping to improve their lives by considering their deaths. Officials say
"the simulated death ceremonies are meant to give the participant
a truthful sense of their lives, inspire gratitude,
and aid in forgiveness and reconnection among family and friends."
These words echo the wisdom given by the teacher who wrote Ecclesiastes.
"Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to
heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Death reminds us of the brevity of life
and that we only have a certain amount of time to live and love well.
It loosens our grip on some of God's good gifts-such as money,
relationships, and pleasure-and frees us to enjoy them in the here
and now as we store up "treasures in heaven, where moths
and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
As we remember that death may come knocking anytime, perhaps it'll compel
us to not postpone that visit with our parents, delay our decision
to serve God in a particular way, or compromise our time with our children
for our work. With God's help, we can learn to live wisely.
By: Poh Fang Chia
Reflect & Pray
What changes will you make in your life today as you think about death?
How can you be more conscious about death amid the hustle and bustle of life?
Loving God, help me to remember the brevity
of life and to live well today.
To learn more about what happens after death
at https://odbu.org/courses/ca204/ .
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 7 God's Bulldozer - Luke 3:5-6
5 (Isa 40:4; 42:16) Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
and the crooked shall be made straight
and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
6 (Isa 40:5; 52:10) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
When a new highway is being constructed, the roads crew work hard
in preparing for the new surface to be laid. Giant bulldozers cut through
the hillsides, moving earth, leveling, filling, evening the path out where
the roadway will run. When the work is first begun, if often looks like chaos:
and even after the highway begins to take shape, the land is still ugly,
scarred by the unslighty gashes cut through the landscape. Yet after
the work is completed and the grass and trees are replanted, we forget
the temporary upheaval and see only the
beauty of the land and the convenience of the new roadway.
In Luke 3:5-6, John the Baptist presents a prophecy of the coming of Christ,
a prophecy quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5 . The prohecy speaks of the preparation
of the world for the coming Messiah, but ia also applies to the preparation
of the individual heart to receive him.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit must do major work in our hearts to prepare us for
the coming of Christ into our live. Like a bulldozer, he brings down the
cmountains of pride in our lives. He fille the empty places , corrects
the crooked, grades down the rough edges of our hearts.
Often this is not pleasant work. We prefer to maintain the rugged landscape
of Self, and we do not like the ugly scars that are left after the bulldozer
has done its job.
But if we submit to the Sprit's "Construction work" in us, the way will be
paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and others will see in us,
the way be paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and other will see
in us the glory and salvation of our God.
Application
a) What "construction work" has to Holy Spirit done in me?
b) What restoration has taken place because of that work?
c) How do today's verses help me put in prespetive the work
God still want to do in me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:21
21 "So is he who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
James 5:7-11
Patience and Prayer
7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.
Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth
and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned.
Look, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job
and have seen the purpose of the Lord,
that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.
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?)
Prince Edward Island
Total population 146300
Muslim population (est.) 1127
Charlottetown does not currently (fall 2014) have a local CNMM network.
Pray with us for God's people to come together in reaching Muslims
cooperatively across denominational and organisational lines.
More than 200 attended the Eid festival at the end of Ramadan, the Islamic
month of fasting during daylight hours and the reading of the Qur'an, at
the Dar as-Salam mosque in 2014. This second mosque established
in Charlottetown, the other being the Muslims Assoication of PEI.
As of mid-2014,there are between 250 to 300 families, mostly in Charlottetown.
The Muslims of Charlottetown see their community as symbolically important
for this nation since this is known as the "birthplace of Canada". Yet we were
established as the "Dominion of Canada" with an appeal not only to
monarchial authority, but even more to God's higher Biblical authority as
shown in Psalm 72:8, "May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth."
Let us intercede togther for:
- the growing Muslim population of Charlottetown and spreading
outward through PEI to encounter the Prince of PEace.
- believers to have faith and vision to reach out to the Muslim Community
in contextual waysto sahre the Gosepl
- churches and ministries to rise up in wisdom, knowledge and understanding,
giving and training, coaching and encouragement to believers reaching
out to Muslims locally.
- a prayer movement to be established, feeding a growing move of Yahweh's
Spirit in His churches and poeple , and an awakening an openness
and spiritual hunger in Muslims for realtionship with the Father
through the Son.
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
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 poeple'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,
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and focus on Him and not the circumstances around you.
Pray to the Lord "Loving God, help me to remember the brevity
of life and to live well today."
Pray to the Lord and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to store treasure in Heaven.
Pray to the Lord and pray for patience and endurance.
Pray for Prince Edward Island and Let us intercede togther for:
- the growing Muslim population of Charlottetown and spreading
outward through PEI to encounter the Prince of PEace.
- believers to have faith and vision to reach out to the Muslim Community
in contextual ways to share the Gosepl
- churches and ministries to rise up in wisdom, knowledge and understanding,
giving and training, coaching and encouragement to believers reaching
out to Muslims locally.
- a prayer movement to be established, feeding a growing move of Yahweh's
Spirit in His churches and poeple , and an awakening an openness
and spiritual hunger in Muslims for realtionship with the Father
through the Son.
Pray that God will convict the hearts of Canadians of the false
idea that all moral choices are equal and without consequences
Pray that poeple's hearts would be opened to see the folly
of denying God's supremacy
Pray that Christians in remote ares of the Central African Republic
wil have acces to Bibles .
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.