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Day 293 - 20 October 2021 reflections

Day 293, 20 October 2021



Matthew 18



Matthew 18



The Greatest in the Kingdom

Mk 9:33-37; Lk 9:46-48



1 (Mk 9:33-37; Lk 9:46-48) At that time the disciples came to ­Jes­us,

saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst,

3 (1Pe 2:2; 1Co 14:20) and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are

converted and become like little children, you will not enter

the kingdom of heaven.

4 (Mt 23:11-12) Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child

is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 (Mt 25:40) And whoever receives one such

little child in My name receives Me.



Temptations to Sin

Mk 9:42-48; Lk 17:1-2



6 (Mk 9:42) "But whoever misleads one of these little ones who believe in Me,

it would be better for him to have a millstone hung about his neck a

nd to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 (Lk 17:1; 1Co 11:19) Woe to the world because of temptations! For it must

be that temptations come, but woe to that man by whom the ­temptation comes!

8 (Mt 5:29-30; 25:41) Therefore if your hand or your foot causes you to sin,

cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life lame

or maimed than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire.

9 (Mt 5:22; 5:29) And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out

and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than

having two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell.



The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Lk 15:5-7



10 (Lk 1:19; Heb 1:14) "See that you do not despise one of these little ones.

For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face

of My Father who is in heaven.

11 (Lk 19:10) For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 (Lk 15:4-7; Mt 21:28) "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep

and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills

and go in search for the one which went astray?

13 And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep

than over the ninety-nine which never went astray.

14 (Jn 17:12) So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one

of these little ones should perish.



The Brother Who Sins

Lk 17:3



15 (Lev 19:17; 1Co 9:19-21) "Now if your brother sins against you,

go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

16 (Dt 19:15; Jn 8:17) But if he does not listen, then take with you one

or two others, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word

may be established. (Ps 8:2.)

17 (2Th 3:6; Mt 5:46) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.

But if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as

a Gentile and a tax collector.

18 (Mt 16:19; Jn 20:23) "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will

be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 (Mt 7:7; Ac 12:5) "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth

about anything they ask, it will be done for them

by My Father who is in heaven.

20 (Mt 28:20; Jn 20:19) For where two or three are assembled in My name,

there I am in their midst."



The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant



21 (Mt 18:15; Lk 17:3-4) Then Peter came to Him and said,

"Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me?

Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times,

but up to seventy times seven.

23 (Mt 13:24) "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king

who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 When he began to settle the accounts, one was brought to him who owed

him ten thousand talents.(Several million pounds.)

25 (Lev 25:39; 2Ki 4:1) But since he was not able to pay, his master ordered

that he be sold with his wife, their children, and all that he had,

and payment to be made.

26 (Mt 8:2) "So the servant fell on his knees, pleading with him, saying,

'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion,

released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 (Mt 20:2) "But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow

servants who owed him a hundred denarii.(A few pounds.)

He laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying,

'Pay me what you owe.'

29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and entreated him,

saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

30 "But he would not and went and threw him in prison

until he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellow servants saw what took place, they were very sorry

and went and told their master all that had taken place.

32 "Then his master, after he had summoned him, said to him,

'O you wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt

because you pleaded with me.

33 (Col 3:13) Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,

even as I had pity on you?'

34 (Mt 5:25-26) His master was angry and delivered him to the jailers

until he should pay all his debt.

35 (Pr 21:13; Mt 6:14-15) "So also My heavenly Father will do to each of you,

if from your heart you do not forgive your brother for his trespasses."



2) Our Daily Bread for 20 October 2021

https://odb.org/us/2021/10/20/look-within

Crumbled from Within



Psalms 32

A Psalm of David. A Contemplative Maskil.

1 Blessed is he

whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Blessed is the man

against whom the Lord does not count iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) When I kept silent,

my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) For day and night

Your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was changed

into the drought of summer. Selah

5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) I acknowledged my sin to You,

and my iniquity I did not conceal.

I said, "I will confess

my transgressions to the Lord,"

and You forgave

the iniquity of my sin. Selah



Matthew 7:1



1 (Lk 6:37; Jas 4:11–12) “Judge not, that you be not judged. "



When I was a teenager, my mom painted a mural on our living room wall,

which stayed there for several years. It showed an ancient Greek scene

of a ruined temple with white columns lying on their sides,

a crumbling fountain, and a broken statue. As I looked at the Hellenistic

architecture that had once held great beauty, I tried to imagine

what had destroyed it. I was curious, especially when I began studying

about the tragedy of once great and thriving civilizations

that had decayed and crumbled from within.



The sinful depravity and wanton destruction we see around us today can be

troubling. It’s natural for us to try to explain it by pointing to people

and nations that have rejected God. But shouldn’t we be casting our gaze

inwardly as well? Scripture warns us about being hypocrites when we call

out others to turn from their sinful ways without also taking a

deeper look inside our own hearts (Matthew 7:1-5).



Psalm 32 challenges us to see and confess our own sin.

It's only when we recognize and confess our personal sin that we can

experience freedom from guilt and the joy of true repentance (vv. 1–5).

And as we rejoice in knowing that God offers us complete forgiveness,

we can share that hope with others who are also struggling with sin.



By: Cindy Hess Kasper



Reflect & Pray



What's the first step in identifying sin in your life?

Why is it vital that you confess your sin to God?



Father God, I thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness

that eliminates the guilt of my sin. Help me to first examine

my own heart before I concern myself with the sins of others.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 4 Under the Mercy



Ps 13:5-6



5 I for my part confide in Your kindness;

may my heart exult in Your salvation!

6 I will sing to the Lord,

because He has dealt bountifully with me.



In Sheldon Vanauken's book "A Severe Mercy", Vanauken faced the "severe mercy"

of the untimely death of his wife. His friend C. S. Lewis , who had endured a

similar grief , comforted him through letters,

encouraging him with the exhotation, "Go under the Mercy".

While God's grace deals with sin and forgiveness,

God's mercy deals with the pain pf human existence. We all experience pain

- sometimes as a natural result of wrongs we have done, sometimes unfairly

as a consequence of living in a fallen world.

But for all who hurt, God provides

mercy - respite from pain, and the assurance of a Lord who cares.

David , in Psalm 13 says " I trust in your mercy, your unfailing love."

God's love never fail us, no matter how much we may have failed him.

David knew the consequences of sin; he knew what it meant to fail God,

to rebel against God's faithfulness. Yet David trusted in God's Goodness

rather than depending upon his own; he focused his attention upon the

mercy of the Lord.

We need, like David, to "Go under the mercy" , even when it is a "severe mercy."

Even when circumstances seem bad; even when things seem out of control; even

when we think God has forsaken us, yet his mercy is at work to bring us

fulfillment and cause us to turn to him

with a song of praise on our lips.



Application



a) How have I experienced the mercy of God?



b) How can these verses help me focus on God's

merciful intervention in my life even when circumstances seem

out of control?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Hebr 11:6



6 (1Ch 28:9; Jer 29:13-14) And without faith it is impossible to please God,

for he who comes to God must believe that He exists

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.



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



When you are Burdened by Doubt



Matt 7:7-11



Ask, Seek, Knock



Lk 11:9-13



7(Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24)"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

9 "What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread,

will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake?

11 (Ge 6:5; 8:21) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts

to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give

good things to those who ask Him!





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



20th Day of the Month



a) Pray for the children of Canada, that they would come to know

Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.



(



Matthew 19:14



14 (Mt 18:3; Lk 18:16–17)

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,

and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."



)



b) Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not

against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.



(



Eph 6:12



12 (Eph 1:3; 1:21) For our fight is not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers

of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces

of evil in the heavenly places.



)









Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray for forgiveness of sins and the sins others

committed against you and to lead children to the Lord.



Pray to the Lord "Father God, I thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness

that eliminates the guilt of my sin. Help me to first examine

my own heart before I concern myself with the sins of others."



Pray to the Lord and thank Him for His mercies.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him in faith always.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek him persistently.



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 for the children of Canada, that they would come to know

Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.



Pray that Christians will recognise that our struggle is not

against the natural world but against invisible spiritual forces.



Pray that Chinese Christians will bring the love and truth of Christ to

a spiritually needy world.



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.