Day 342 - 8 December 2021 reflections
Day 342, 8 December 2021
1)
Romans 11 - 13
Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
1 (1Sa 12:22; 2Co 11:22) I say then, has God rejected His people?
God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 (1Pe 1:2) God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah?
How he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and destroyed Your altars.
I alone am left, and they seek my life"?(1Ki 19:10. 41Ki 19:18)
But what is the divine reply to him?
"I have kept for Myself seven thousand men,
who have not bowed the knee to Baal."(1Ki 19:18. 5Ro 9:27)
So then at this present time there is a remnant according
to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace
would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer
by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work.
7 (Ro 9:18; 2Co 3:14) What then? Israel has not obtained what it was
seeking. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
8 (Dt 29:4; Isa 29:10) As it is written:
"God has given them a spirit of slumber,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
to this very day."(Isa 29:10.)
9 (Ps 69:22-23) And David says:
"Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 (Ps 69:23) Let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see,
and always bow down their backs." (Ps 69:22-23.)
The Salvation of the Gentiles
11 (Ro 10:19; 11:14) I say then, have they stumbled that
they should fall? God forbid! But through their transgression salvation
has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12 (Ro 11:25) Now if their transgression means riches for the world,
and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will
their fullness mean?
13 (Ac 9:15) For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 (1Co 7:16; Ro 9:3; 1Ti 4:16) if somehow I may make my kinsmen
jealous and may save some of them.
15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
16 (Eze 44:30; Lev 23:10) If the first portion of the dough is holy,
the batch is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 (Jer 11:16; Eph 2:11-13) But if some of the branches were broken
off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them
and became a partaker with them of the root
and richness of the olive tree,
18 do not boast against the branches. If you boast,
remember you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
19 You will say then, "The branches were broken off, so that I might
be grafted in."
20 (Ro 12:16; 1Co 10:12) This is correct. They were broken off
because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant,
but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will
He spare you.
22 (Jn 15:2; 1Co 15:2) Therefore consider the goodness and severity
of God-severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you,
if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 (2Co 3:16) And these also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will
be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree,
how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted
into their own olive tree?
The Restoration of Israel
25 (Lk 21:24; Ro 12:16; 16:25) For I do not want you to be ignorant
of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in your own estimation,
for a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness
of the Gentiles has come in.
26 (Isa 59:20; Ps 14:7) And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
and He will remove ungodliness from Jacob";(Isa 59:20.)
27 (Isa 27:9; 59:21) "for this is My covenant with them,
when I shall take away their sins."(Isa 59:20-21; Jer 31:31-34.)
28 (Dt 10:15; Ro 9:5) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies
for your sake, but as regarding the election, they are beloved
for the sake of the patriarchs.
29 (Ro 8:28) For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.
30 (Col 3:7) For just as you once were disobedient to God,
but have now received mercy through their disobedience,
31 so these also have now been disobedient, that they also may
receive mercy by the mercy shown to you.
32 (Ro 3:9; Gal 3:22) For God has imprisoned them all in disobedience,
so that He might be merciful to all.
33 (Ro 2:4; Eph 3:10) O the depth of the riches and wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and unfathomable are His ways!
34 (Isa 40:13; 1Co 2:16) "For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?"(Isa 40:13.)
35 (Job 35:7; 41:11) "Or who has first given to Him,
and it shall be repaid to him?" (Job 35:7; 41:11.)
36 (Ro 16:27; 1Co 8:6) For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be glory forever! Amen.
Romans 12
The New Life in Christ
1 (1Pe 2:5; Ro 6:13; 6:16) I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy,
and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.
2 (Ro 12:1; 1Pe 1:14) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 (Ro 1:5; 11:20) For I say, through the grace given to me,
to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think, but to think with sound judgment, according to the measure
of faith God has distributed to every man.
4 (1Co 12:12-14) For just as we have many parts in one body,
and not all parts have the same function,
5 (1Co 10:17; 12:20) so we, being many, are one body in Christ,
and all are parts of one another.
6 (Ac 13:1; 1Co 13:2) We have diverse gifts according to the grace
that is given to us: if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith;
7 (Ac 13:1; Eph 4:11) if service, in serving; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 (2Co 9:7; 1Co 12:28) he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives,
with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy,
with cheerfulness.
Rules of the Christian Life
9 (1Ti 1:5; 2Co 6:6)Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil.
Cleave to what is good.
10 (Php 2:3; Heb 13:1) Be devoted to one another with brotherly love;
prefer one another in honor,
11 (Ac 18:25) do not be lazy in diligence, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord,
12 (Heb 10:36; Ac 1:14) rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering,
persevere in prayer,
13 (2Co 9:1; 1Ti 3:2) contribute to the needs of the saints,
practice hospitality.
14 (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:28) Bless those who persecute you; bless,
and do not curse.
15 (Heb 13:3; Job 30:25) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep.
16 (Ro 11:25; 15:5) Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Do not pretend to be wiser than you are.
17 (Pr 20:22; Mt 5:39) Repay no one evil for evil. Commend what is
honest in the sight of all men.
18 (Mk 9:50; Ro 14:19; Mt 5:9) If it is possible, as much as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 (Dt 32:35; Pr 24:29) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves,
but rather give place to God's wrath, for it is written:
"Vengeance is Mine. I will repay,"(Dt 32:35.) says the Lord.
20 (Pr 25:21-22; Mt 5:44) Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head."(Pr 25:21-22.)
21 (1Pe 3:9) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13
Subjection to Authorities
1 (Da 2:21; Jn 19:11) Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that
exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore Âwhoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed,
and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil works. Do you wish
to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have
praise from him,
4 (2Ch 19:6; Ro 12:19) for he is the servant of God for your good.
But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword
in vain, for he is the servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath
upon him who practices evil.
5 (Ecc 8:2; 1Pe 2:19) So it is necessary to be in subjection, not only
because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are God's servants,
devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 (Mt 17:25; 22:21) Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes
are due, respect to whom respect is due, fear to whom fear is due,
and honor to whom honor is due.
Brotherly Love
8 (Ro 13:10; Mt 7:12) Owe no one anything, except to love one another,
for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 (Lev 19:18; Mt 19:18-19; Ex 20:12-17) For the commandments,
"You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal,
You shall not give false testimony, You shall not covet,"
(Ex 20:13–15, 17; Dt 5:17–19, 21.) and if there are any other commandments,
are summed up in this saying,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."(Ps 18:49.)
10 (Ro 13:8) Love works no evil to a neighbor. Therefore love is
the fulfillment of the law.
The Approach of the Day of Christ
11 (Eph 5:14; 1Co 15:34) Furthermore, knowing the time, now is the moment
to awake from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
12 (Eph 5:11; 2Co 6:7) The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor
of light.
13 (Gal 5:21; Lk 21:34; Eph 5:18) Let us behave properly, as in the day,
not in carousing and drunkenness, not in immorality and wickedness,
not in strife and envy.
14 (Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
2) Our Daily Bread for 8 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/08/stay-together
entitled Stay Together
Eph 4:1-6
Ephesians 4
Unity of the Body
1 (Eph 3:1; Col 1:10) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you
to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called.
2 (Col 3:12-13; Ac 20:19) With all humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another in love,
3 be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 (Eph 1:18; 2:16) There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were
called in one hope of your calling,
5 (1Co 8:6; Mt 28:19) one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 (Ro 11:36; 1Co 12:6) one God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all.
Dewberry Baptist Church split in the 1800s over a chicken leg.
Various versions of the story exist, but the account told by
a current member was that two men fought over the last drumstick
at a church potluck. One man said God wanted him to have it.
The other replied God didn't care, and he really wanted it.
The men became so furious that one moved a couple kilometers
down the road and started Dewberry Baptist Church #2. Thankfully,
the churches have settled their differences, and everyone concedes
the reason for their split was ridiculous.
Jesus agrees. The night before His death Jesus prayed for His followers.
May they "be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."
May they "be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know
that you sent me" (John 17:21-23).
Paul agrees. He urges us to "make every effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one
Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3-4), and these cannot be divided.
We who weep for Christ's body broken for our sin must not tear apart
His body, the church, with our anger, gossip, and cliques. Better
to let ourselves be wronged than be guilty of the scandal of church
division. Give the other guy the chicken leg-and some pie too!
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
What have you done to contribute to the unity of your church?
What else might you do?
Heavenly Father, help me do the best I can
to be at peace with others.
May I never separate what You’ve joined.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 4 - freedom from Fear
Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
Marcy was afraid of the dark. As a child she slept with a nightlight on,
and even she matured, she still had a fear of dark places.
When she was at home alone, she kept all the lights on,
and a small lamp at her bedside glowed through the night.
The psalmist David reflects that common fear of darkness when he says
"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"
David does not say, "The Lord brings light," but "The Lord is my light".
God is the source of understanding and security in our lives.
He is the One who can expose and deal with our fears.
When we are afraid - afraid of losing a job or a loved one,
afraid of making mistakes, afraid of being hurt, afraid of what others may
say about us - we can turn to the Lord who can handle our fears.
He is a "stronghold", a fortress of protection around us,
and in him we are safe.
Often we turn to other places for our security - to the bank account,
to a spouse or loved one, to the approval of the world.
We mistakenly think that these sources can provide a foundation of defence
against uncertainty of life. But when we find that people disappoint us, money
loses its value, and the praise of others is fleeting,
we must turn again to the true source of security, God alone.
Application
a) What sources of security have I trusted in besides God?
What was the result of that trust?
b) In what ways have I depended upon God for my security?
c) What spiritual truths can I see now that I could not see
when I lived in darkness?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:15
15 Then He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness.
For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.â€
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
Ps 37:3-9
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land, and practice faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret because of those who prosper in their way,
because of those who make wicked schemes.
8 Let go of anger, and forsake wrath;
do not fret—it surely leads to evil deeds.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the earth.
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?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far Northern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
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
8th Day of the Month
a) Pray that the Church will deepen its commitment
to prayer and never cease to call upon God
(
Is 62:6
6 (Isa 52:8; Ps 74:2) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,
who shall never hold their peace day nor night.
You who remind the Lord,
do not keep silent;
Ps 5:3
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) O Lord, in the morning You will hear my voice;
in the morning I will direct my prayer to You,
and I will watch expectantly.
Ps 55:17
17 Evening and morning and at noon,
I will make my complaint and murmur,
and He will hear my voice.
)
b) Pray for the province of Manitoba
I) Pray for the leaders of Manitoba, 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 Saviour,
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
Advent Day 11
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
"We cannot conceive how the Divine Spirit dwelled
within the created and human spirit of Jesus....
What we can understand... is that our own... existence is...
but a faint image of the Divine Incarnation itself
- the same theme in a very minor key."
- C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 147.)
Like Father, Like Son
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." We've read those words from John's Gospel earlier in these devotions. Jesus came from the Father. Jesus came to do the will of the Father. The Father knows him, and he knows the Father. He and the Father are one. He will return to the Father. Truly, like Father, like Son.
Have you ever wondered why the image of a newborn baby, lying in a manger, tugs at our hearts? Some of us love that image because we are parents, and we recall those early days of parentage. But there is far more to this picture. Part of God came to us and has been with us since the original creation, when God made us in his image. And, as Lewis writes, in us and in our children there is "a faint image of the Divine Incarnation itself." The image may be faint, "the same theme in a very minor key," but it's there.
And then, Jesus comes to live in us as we believe in him. Paul says it this way: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). He is there in us, in the image of God, and he is there in us by faith when we believe, making us like him.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making us in your image, for showing us the Father, for living in us and for making us like you. Amen.
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. - John 14:9
From follow the story by Marva J. Dawn
WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Receptivity
Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. ..."
-Luke 1:38a
As was said in yesterday's meditation, Mary's consent was as striking a
wonder as other great works of God. That she was willing to go through
the gossip-causing pregnancy and the cruel agony of being the Christ's
mother was truly phenomenal. How highly we should honor her!
Mary also is a notable model for us. She was thoroughly obedient to
whatever God had in mind for her as she responded, "Let it be with me
according to your word."
Are we as willing to acquiesce in whatever God knows is best for us (in eternal perspective) and most conducive for his purposes for the world?
I must confess that I don't receive all God's intentions for me with alacrity or fervor. Some events in our lives probably seem too arduous
for us. I'm not saying that the evil forces don't cause us handicaps,
trials and much unpleasantness, but God has promised that all things
will work together (eventually) for good.
Can we encounter whatever God allows with thanksgiving?
Prayer
God Almighty, may we willingly endorse, as Mary did, your
outline for our lives. Amen.
Read Luke 1:26-38.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured.
The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered
in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God.
31 Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son
and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
And of His kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a an?"
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.
Therefore the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age.
And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according
to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler
SECOND WEDNESDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANNOUNCEMENTS!
1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand." MATTHEW 3:1-2
Today's Gospel lesson announces to us that John the Baptist was one of
the best "announcers" of all time . . . even better than Ed McMahon or Ryan
Seacrest! He captured people's attention( wouldn't anyone wearing camel's
hair and eating locusts?). he knew his "product,' he was proud to be a
spokesperson, and he articulated his "mission statement" quite well:
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near... prepare the way of the Lord!"
And so it is with us AH-Ha people of Advent! We are announcers for
the Lord in all that we do, say and think. John's mission was to introduce
Christ and point people to the Lord. So is ours. How are we doing?
A little girl was playing the role of the head angel in the Christmas pageant
She took control, as head angels do, and made sure all the junior angels
stayed in their places. But all the energy arid excitement were too much
for them as they scurried in front of the manger scene. blocking out Mary,
Joseph and even Baby Jesus. It became too much for the head angel to
handle and she shouted to the overly eager angels, "Get out of the ways
Nobody can see Jesus"!
Sometimes l block people from seeing Jesus also. l get caught up in
telling my story, and I fail to tell his story. Sometimes I do not take the time to
introduce people to the Lord. Sometimes my winging it doesn't help either.
And yet, the Lord continues to woo us all back to being announcers of
his story of love and forgiveness. What an announcement--from the Lord
himself! Enjoy being an AH-HA of Advent as we announce that Christ is
coming, is here now and will come again. But ... maybe drop the locust idea!
Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what
we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for
continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby
called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
Mk 1:1-8; Lk 3:1-9, 15-17; Jn 1:19-28
1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand."
3 (Isa 40:3; Lk 1:76) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah,
saying:
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
make His paths straight.' " [Isa 40:3].
4 (Lev 11:22; 2Ki 1:8) This same John had clothing made of camel's hair,
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 (Mk 1:5) Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region
around the Jordan went out to him,
6 (Ac 19:18; Mt 3:11) and were baptized by him in the Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7 (Mt 12:34; 23:33) But when he saw many of the Pharisees
and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them,
"O generation of vipers, who has warned you to escape from the wrath to ome?
8 (Ac 26:20; Jer 36:3) Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance,
9 (Lk 3:8; 16:24) and do not think to say within yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father,' for I say to you that God is able
from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 (Mt 7:19; Jn 15:2) Even now the axe is put to the tree roots.
Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.
11 (Ac 1:5; Lk 3:16; Isa 4:4) "I indeed baptize you with water to repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy
to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 (Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30) His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly
clean His floor and gather His wheat into the granary,
but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Conclusion:
Pray to The Lord and pray to be a loving witness.
Pray to the Lord "Heavenly Father, help me do the best I can
to be at peace with others.
May I never separate what You’ve joined."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being the Light.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to be covetous.
Pray to the Lord and to trust in Him and do good.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray that the Church will deepen its commitment
to prayer and never cease to call upon God
Pray Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making us in your image, for showing us
the Father, for living in us and for making us like you. Amen.
Pray: God Almighty, may we willingly endorse, as Mary did, your
outline for our lives. Amen.
Pray: Lord, we pray today:"Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what
we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for
continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby
called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!"
Pray that Christians in Mali will be spiritually
strengthened amid persecution.
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.
1)
Romans 11 - 13
Romans 11
The Remnant of Israel
1 (1Sa 12:22; 2Co 11:22) I say then, has God rejected His people?
God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,
of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 (1Pe 1:2) God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.
Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah?
How he pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and destroyed Your altars.
I alone am left, and they seek my life"?(1Ki 19:10. 41Ki 19:18)
But what is the divine reply to him?
"I have kept for Myself seven thousand men,
who have not bowed the knee to Baal."(1Ki 19:18. 5Ro 9:27)
So then at this present time there is a remnant according
to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace
would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer
by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work.
7 (Ro 9:18; 2Co 3:14) What then? Israel has not obtained what it was
seeking. But the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened.
8 (Dt 29:4; Isa 29:10) As it is written:
"God has given them a spirit of slumber,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
to this very day."(Isa 29:10.)
9 (Ps 69:22-23) And David says:
"Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 (Ps 69:23) Let their eyes be darkened, so that they may not see,
and always bow down their backs." (Ps 69:22-23.)
The Salvation of the Gentiles
11 (Ro 10:19; 11:14) I say then, have they stumbled that
they should fall? God forbid! But through their transgression salvation
has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12 (Ro 11:25) Now if their transgression means riches for the world,
and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will
their fullness mean?
13 (Ac 9:15) For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 (1Co 7:16; Ro 9:3; 1Ti 4:16) if somehow I may make my kinsmen
jealous and may save some of them.
15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
16 (Eze 44:30; Lev 23:10) If the first portion of the dough is holy,
the batch is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 (Jer 11:16; Eph 2:11-13) But if some of the branches were broken
off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them
and became a partaker with them of the root
and richness of the olive tree,
18 do not boast against the branches. If you boast,
remember you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.
19 You will say then, "The branches were broken off, so that I might
be grafted in."
20 (Ro 12:16; 1Co 10:12) This is correct. They were broken off
because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant,
but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will
He spare you.
22 (Jn 15:2; 1Co 15:2) Therefore consider the goodness and severity
of God-severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you,
if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 (2Co 3:16) And these also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will
be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature,
and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree,
how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted
into their own olive tree?
The Restoration of Israel
25 (Lk 21:24; Ro 12:16; 16:25) For I do not want you to be ignorant
of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in your own estimation,
for a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness
of the Gentiles has come in.
26 (Isa 59:20; Ps 14:7) And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
and He will remove ungodliness from Jacob";(Isa 59:20.)
27 (Isa 27:9; 59:21) "for this is My covenant with them,
when I shall take away their sins."(Isa 59:20-21; Jer 31:31-34.)
28 (Dt 10:15; Ro 9:5) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies
for your sake, but as regarding the election, they are beloved
for the sake of the patriarchs.
29 (Ro 8:28) For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.
30 (Col 3:7) For just as you once were disobedient to God,
but have now received mercy through their disobedience,
31 so these also have now been disobedient, that they also may
receive mercy by the mercy shown to you.
32 (Ro 3:9; Gal 3:22) For God has imprisoned them all in disobedience,
so that He might be merciful to all.
33 (Ro 2:4; Eph 3:10) O the depth of the riches and wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and unfathomable are His ways!
34 (Isa 40:13; 1Co 2:16) "For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?"(Isa 40:13.)
35 (Job 35:7; 41:11) "Or who has first given to Him,
and it shall be repaid to him?" (Job 35:7; 41:11.)
36 (Ro 16:27; 1Co 8:6) For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be glory forever! Amen.
Romans 12
The New Life in Christ
1 (1Pe 2:5; Ro 6:13; 6:16) I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy,
and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.
2 (Ro 12:1; 1Pe 1:14) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 (Ro 1:5; 11:20) For I say, through the grace given to me,
to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think, but to think with sound judgment, according to the measure
of faith God has distributed to every man.
4 (1Co 12:12-14) For just as we have many parts in one body,
and not all parts have the same function,
5 (1Co 10:17; 12:20) so we, being many, are one body in Christ,
and all are parts of one another.
6 (Ac 13:1; 1Co 13:2) We have diverse gifts according to the grace
that is given to us: if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith;
7 (Ac 13:1; Eph 4:11) if service, in serving; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 (2Co 9:7; 1Co 12:28) he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives,
with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy,
with cheerfulness.
Rules of the Christian Life
9 (1Ti 1:5; 2Co 6:6)Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil.
Cleave to what is good.
10 (Php 2:3; Heb 13:1) Be devoted to one another with brotherly love;
prefer one another in honor,
11 (Ac 18:25) do not be lazy in diligence, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord,
12 (Heb 10:36; Ac 1:14) rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering,
persevere in prayer,
13 (2Co 9:1; 1Ti 3:2) contribute to the needs of the saints,
practice hospitality.
14 (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:28) Bless those who persecute you; bless,
and do not curse.
15 (Heb 13:3; Job 30:25) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep.
16 (Ro 11:25; 15:5) Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Do not pretend to be wiser than you are.
17 (Pr 20:22; Mt 5:39) Repay no one evil for evil. Commend what is
honest in the sight of all men.
18 (Mk 9:50; Ro 14:19; Mt 5:9) If it is possible, as much as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 (Dt 32:35; Pr 24:29) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves,
but rather give place to God's wrath, for it is written:
"Vengeance is Mine. I will repay,"(Dt 32:35.) says the Lord.
20 (Pr 25:21-22; Mt 5:44) Therefore
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head."(Pr 25:21-22.)
21 (1Pe 3:9) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13
Subjection to Authorities
1 (Da 2:21; Jn 19:11) Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that
exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore Âwhoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed,
and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil works. Do you wish
to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have
praise from him,
4 (2Ch 19:6; Ro 12:19) for he is the servant of God for your good.
But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword
in vain, for he is the servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath
upon him who practices evil.
5 (Ecc 8:2; 1Pe 2:19) So it is necessary to be in subjection, not only
because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are God's servants,
devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 (Mt 17:25; 22:21) Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes
are due, respect to whom respect is due, fear to whom fear is due,
and honor to whom honor is due.
Brotherly Love
8 (Ro 13:10; Mt 7:12) Owe no one anything, except to love one another,
for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 (Lev 19:18; Mt 19:18-19; Ex 20:12-17) For the commandments,
"You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal,
You shall not give false testimony, You shall not covet,"
(Ex 20:13–15, 17; Dt 5:17–19, 21.) and if there are any other commandments,
are summed up in this saying,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."(Ps 18:49.)
10 (Ro 13:8) Love works no evil to a neighbor. Therefore love is
the fulfillment of the law.
The Approach of the Day of Christ
11 (Eph 5:14; 1Co 15:34) Furthermore, knowing the time, now is the moment
to awake from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.
12 (Eph 5:11; 2Co 6:7) The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor
of light.
13 (Gal 5:21; Lk 21:34; Eph 5:18) Let us behave properly, as in the day,
not in carousing and drunkenness, not in immorality and wickedness,
not in strife and envy.
14 (Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
2) Our Daily Bread for 8 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/08/stay-together
entitled Stay Together
Eph 4:1-6
Ephesians 4
Unity of the Body
1 (Eph 3:1; Col 1:10) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you
to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called.
2 (Col 3:12-13; Ac 20:19) With all humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another in love,
3 be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 (Eph 1:18; 2:16) There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were
called in one hope of your calling,
5 (1Co 8:6; Mt 28:19) one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 (Ro 11:36; 1Co 12:6) one God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all.
Dewberry Baptist Church split in the 1800s over a chicken leg.
Various versions of the story exist, but the account told by
a current member was that two men fought over the last drumstick
at a church potluck. One man said God wanted him to have it.
The other replied God didn't care, and he really wanted it.
The men became so furious that one moved a couple kilometers
down the road and started Dewberry Baptist Church #2. Thankfully,
the churches have settled their differences, and everyone concedes
the reason for their split was ridiculous.
Jesus agrees. The night before His death Jesus prayed for His followers.
May they "be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."
May they "be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know
that you sent me" (John 17:21-23).
Paul agrees. He urges us to "make every effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one
Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3-4), and these cannot be divided.
We who weep for Christ's body broken for our sin must not tear apart
His body, the church, with our anger, gossip, and cliques. Better
to let ourselves be wronged than be guilty of the scandal of church
division. Give the other guy the chicken leg-and some pie too!
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
What have you done to contribute to the unity of your church?
What else might you do?
Heavenly Father, help me do the best I can
to be at peace with others.
May I never separate what You’ve joined.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 4 - freedom from Fear
Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom will I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom will I be afraid?
Marcy was afraid of the dark. As a child she slept with a nightlight on,
and even she matured, she still had a fear of dark places.
When she was at home alone, she kept all the lights on,
and a small lamp at her bedside glowed through the night.
The psalmist David reflects that common fear of darkness when he says
"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"
David does not say, "The Lord brings light," but "The Lord is my light".
God is the source of understanding and security in our lives.
He is the One who can expose and deal with our fears.
When we are afraid - afraid of losing a job or a loved one,
afraid of making mistakes, afraid of being hurt, afraid of what others may
say about us - we can turn to the Lord who can handle our fears.
He is a "stronghold", a fortress of protection around us,
and in him we are safe.
Often we turn to other places for our security - to the bank account,
to a spouse or loved one, to the approval of the world.
We mistakenly think that these sources can provide a foundation of defence
against uncertainty of life. But when we find that people disappoint us, money
loses its value, and the praise of others is fleeting,
we must turn again to the true source of security, God alone.
Application
a) What sources of security have I trusted in besides God?
What was the result of that trust?
b) In what ways have I depended upon God for my security?
c) What spiritual truths can I see now that I could not see
when I lived in darkness?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:15
15 Then He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness.
For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.â€
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
Ps 37:3-9
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land, and practice faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret because of those who prosper in their way,
because of those who make wicked schemes.
8 Let go of anger, and forsake wrath;
do not fret—it surely leads to evil deeds.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the earth.
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?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far Northern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
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
8th Day of the Month
a) Pray that the Church will deepen its commitment
to prayer and never cease to call upon God
(
Is 62:6
6 (Isa 52:8; Ps 74:2) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,
who shall never hold their peace day nor night.
You who remind the Lord,
do not keep silent;
Ps 5:3
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) O Lord, in the morning You will hear my voice;
in the morning I will direct my prayer to You,
and I will watch expectantly.
Ps 55:17
17 Evening and morning and at noon,
I will make my complaint and murmur,
and He will hear my voice.
)
b) Pray for the province of Manitoba
I) Pray for the leaders of Manitoba, 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 Saviour,
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
Advent Day 11
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
"We cannot conceive how the Divine Spirit dwelled
within the created and human spirit of Jesus....
What we can understand... is that our own... existence is...
but a faint image of the Divine Incarnation itself
- the same theme in a very minor key."
- C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in Miracles, p. 147.)
Like Father, Like Son
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." We've read those words from John's Gospel earlier in these devotions. Jesus came from the Father. Jesus came to do the will of the Father. The Father knows him, and he knows the Father. He and the Father are one. He will return to the Father. Truly, like Father, like Son.
Have you ever wondered why the image of a newborn baby, lying in a manger, tugs at our hearts? Some of us love that image because we are parents, and we recall those early days of parentage. But there is far more to this picture. Part of God came to us and has been with us since the original creation, when God made us in his image. And, as Lewis writes, in us and in our children there is "a faint image of the Divine Incarnation itself." The image may be faint, "the same theme in a very minor key," but it's there.
And then, Jesus comes to live in us as we believe in him. Paul says it this way: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). He is there in us, in the image of God, and he is there in us by faith when we believe, making us like him.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making us in your image, for showing us the Father, for living in us and for making us like you. Amen.
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. - John 14:9
From follow the story by Marva J. Dawn
WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Receptivity
Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. ..."
-Luke 1:38a
As was said in yesterday's meditation, Mary's consent was as striking a
wonder as other great works of God. That she was willing to go through
the gossip-causing pregnancy and the cruel agony of being the Christ's
mother was truly phenomenal. How highly we should honor her!
Mary also is a notable model for us. She was thoroughly obedient to
whatever God had in mind for her as she responded, "Let it be with me
according to your word."
Are we as willing to acquiesce in whatever God knows is best for us (in eternal perspective) and most conducive for his purposes for the world?
I must confess that I don't receive all God's intentions for me with alacrity or fervor. Some events in our lives probably seem too arduous
for us. I'm not saying that the evil forces don't cause us handicaps,
trials and much unpleasantness, but God has promised that all things
will work together (eventually) for good.
Can we encounter whatever God allows with thanksgiving?
Prayer
God Almighty, may we willingly endorse, as Mary did, your
outline for our lives. Amen.
Read Luke 1:26-38.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured.
The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered
in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God.
31 Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son
and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
And of His kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a an?"
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.
Therefore the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age.
And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren.
37 For with God nothing will be impossible."
38 Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according
to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler
SECOND WEDNESDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANNOUNCEMENTS!
1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand." MATTHEW 3:1-2
Today's Gospel lesson announces to us that John the Baptist was one of
the best "announcers" of all time . . . even better than Ed McMahon or Ryan
Seacrest! He captured people's attention( wouldn't anyone wearing camel's
hair and eating locusts?). he knew his "product,' he was proud to be a
spokesperson, and he articulated his "mission statement" quite well:
"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near... prepare the way of the Lord!"
And so it is with us AH-Ha people of Advent! We are announcers for
the Lord in all that we do, say and think. John's mission was to introduce
Christ and point people to the Lord. So is ours. How are we doing?
A little girl was playing the role of the head angel in the Christmas pageant
She took control, as head angels do, and made sure all the junior angels
stayed in their places. But all the energy arid excitement were too much
for them as they scurried in front of the manger scene. blocking out Mary,
Joseph and even Baby Jesus. It became too much for the head angel to
handle and she shouted to the overly eager angels, "Get out of the ways
Nobody can see Jesus"!
Sometimes l block people from seeing Jesus also. l get caught up in
telling my story, and I fail to tell his story. Sometimes I do not take the time to
introduce people to the Lord. Sometimes my winging it doesn't help either.
And yet, the Lord continues to woo us all back to being announcers of
his story of love and forgiveness. What an announcement--from the Lord
himself! Enjoy being an AH-HA of Advent as we announce that Christ is
coming, is here now and will come again. But ... maybe drop the locust idea!
Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what
we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for
continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby
called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 3
The Preaching of John the Baptist
Mk 1:1-8; Lk 3:1-9, 15-17; Jn 1:19-28
1 (Mt 11:11; 16:14) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching
in the wilderness of Judea,
2 (Mt 4:17; Da 2:44; Mt 6:10) and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
is at hand."
3 (Isa 40:3; Lk 1:76) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah,
saying:
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
make His paths straight.' " [Isa 40:3].
4 (Lev 11:22; 2Ki 1:8) This same John had clothing made of camel's hair,
a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 (Mk 1:5) Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region
around the Jordan went out to him,
6 (Ac 19:18; Mt 3:11) and were baptized by him in the Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7 (Mt 12:34; 23:33) But when he saw many of the Pharisees
and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them,
"O generation of vipers, who has warned you to escape from the wrath to ome?
8 (Ac 26:20; Jer 36:3) Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance,
9 (Lk 3:8; 16:24) and do not think to say within yourselves,
'We have Abraham as our father,' for I say to you that God is able
from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 (Mt 7:19; Jn 15:2) Even now the axe is put to the tree roots.
Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.
11 (Ac 1:5; Lk 3:16; Isa 4:4) "I indeed baptize you with water to repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy
to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 (Mal 4:1; Mt 13:30) His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly
clean His floor and gather His wheat into the granary,
but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Conclusion:
Pray to The Lord and pray to be a loving witness.
Pray to the Lord "Heavenly Father, help me do the best I can
to be at peace with others.
May I never separate what You’ve joined."
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for being the Light.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to be covetous.
Pray to the Lord and to trust in Him and do good.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray that the Church will deepen its commitment
to prayer and never cease to call upon God
Pray Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making us in your image, for showing us
the Father, for living in us and for making us like you. Amen.
Pray: God Almighty, may we willingly endorse, as Mary did, your
outline for our lives. Amen.
Pray: Lord, we pray today:"Lord, forgive us when we do not allow Jesus to be seen through what
we say and do. Forgive us when our story is not your story. Thanks for
continuing to cal us as your announcers of the best story of all--a baby
called Jesus ... in a manger ... foe us! In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!"
Pray that Christians in Mali will be spiritually
strengthened amid persecution.
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.