Day 352, 18 December 2022
Today at
Calvary Community
Church , Pastor Doug addressed Majesty in A manger based on Phillippians
2:5-6, 9-11 .
Isaiah 7:14
14 (Isa 8:8; Mt 1:23; Isa 9:6) Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you
a sign: The virgin [Heb. young woman.] shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.Or God with us.
[14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Phillippians 2:5-6
5 (Mt 11:29; Ro 15:3) Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ
Jesus,
6 (Jn 5:18; 10:33) who, being in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God:
being means eternally existed and form means unchangeable character or
nature.
Characterics of Jesus can be found with such apologists as J. Vernon McGee,
John McDowell and Bart Larson.
Phillippians 2:9-11
9 (Heb 2:9; Mt 28:18) Therefore God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name which is above every name,
10 (Mt 28:18) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 (Jn 13:13; Ro 14:9) and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
From eternity, what vantage point will you acnkowledge Christ?
1) Hebrews 11 - 12
Hebrews 11
Faith
1 (2Co 4:18; 5:7) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old obtained a good report.
3 (Jn 1:3; Ro 4:17) By faith we understand that the universe was framed
by the word of God, so that things that are seen were not made
out of things which are visible.
4 (Mt 23:35; Heb 12:24) By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain offered. Through this he was approved as righteous,
with God testifying concerning his gifts. He still speaks through his
faith, though he is dead.
5 (2Ki 2:11; Jude 1:14) By faith Enoch was taken to heaven so that
he would not see death. He was not found, because God took him away.
For before he was taken, he had this commendation, that he pleased God.
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.
7 (1Pe 3:20; Eze 14:14) By faith Noah, being divinely warned about things
not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to save his family,
by which he condemned the world
and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 (Ge 12:1-4; 12:7) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out
into a place which he would later receive as an inheritance. He went out
not knowing where he was going.
9 (Ge 12:8; 18:9) By faith he dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign
land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise,
10 (Heb 12:22; 13:14) for he was looking for a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God.
11 (Ge 18:11-14; Heb 10:23) By faith Sarah herself also received the ability
to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age,
because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 (Ge 22:17; 15:5; 32:12) Therefore from one man, who was as good as dead,
sprang so many, a multitude as the stars of the sky and innumerable
as the sand by the seashore.
13 (Ge 23:4; Ps 39:12) These all died in faith not having received
the promises, but having seen them from afar were assured of them,
embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth.
14 Those who say such things declare plainly that they are looking
for a homeland.
15 (Ge 24:6-8) And certainly, if they had been thinking of the country
out of which they came, they might have had the opportunity to return.
16 (Ex 3:6; 3:15) But they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared
a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.
18 (Ge 21:12; Ro 9:7) Of him God said,
"Through Isaac shall your seed be named."(Ge 21:12.)
19 (Ro 4:17-21) He reasoned that God was able to raise him up,
even from the dead, from which he indeed received him in a figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph
and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff.
22 (Ex 13:19; Ge 50:24-25) By faith Joseph, when he was dying, mentioned the
exodus of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 (Ex 1:16; 1:22) By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden by his
parents for three months, because they saw he was a beautiful child,
and they were not afraid of the king's command.
24 (Ex 2:10-11) By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called
the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 (Job 36:21; Ps 84:10) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people
of God than to enjoy thepleasures of sin for a time.
26 (Heb 2:2; 10:35) He esteemed the reproach of Christ as greater riches than
the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward.
27 (Heb 11:13; Ex 2:14-15) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath
of the king. He endured by looking to Him who is invisible.
28 (Ex 12:21-30) By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood,
lest the one who destroys the firstborn touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land,
which the Egyptians attempted to do, but were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled
for seven days.
31 (Jas 2:25; Jos 6:22-25; Mt 1:5) By faith the prostitute Rahab,
when she received the spies with peace, did not perish with
those who did not believe.
32 (1Sa 1:20; 16:1) And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to
tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 (Jdg 14:5-6) who through faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 (Jdg 15:8; 1Ki 19:3) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge
of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fighting,
and turned the armies of foreign enemies to flight.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured
and did not accept deliverance,
so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 (Jer 20:2; Ge 39:20; 1Ki 22:27) Still others had trials of mocking
and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 (1Ki 19:10; 2Ch 24:21) They were stoned, they were sawn in two,
were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered around
in sheepskins and goatskins, while destitute, afflicted, and tormented.
38 (1Ki 18:4; 19:9) The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts
and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 (Heb 11:13; 11:2; 1Pe 1:12) These all have obtained a good report through
faith, but they did not receive the promise.
40 (Rev 6:11) For God provided something better for us, so that with us they
would be made perfect.
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
[2] For by it the elders obtained a good report.
[3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
[4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his
gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
[5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
[7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned
the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
[8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went.
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise:
[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God.
[11] Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and
was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him
faithful who had promised.
[12] Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as
the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore
innumerable.
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
[15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
[16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a
city.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
[18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
[19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from
whence also he received him in a figure.
[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[21] By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;
and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
[22] By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the
children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the
king's commandment.
[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
[28] Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest
he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
[29] By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed
about seven days.
[31] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace.
[32] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of the prophets:
[33] Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
[34] Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens.
[35] Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of
bonds and imprisonment:
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with
the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented;
[38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
[39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received
not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12
The Discipline of the Lord
1 Therefore, since we are encompassed with such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
2 (Heb 1:3; Lk 24:26) Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 (Gal 6:9; Heb 12:5) For consider Him who endured such hostility
from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and your hearts give up.
4 (Heb 10:32-34) You have not yet resisted to bloodshed while striving
against sin.
5 (Pr 3:11-12) And you have forgotten the exhortation addressed
to you as sons:
"My son, do not despise the discipline from the Lord,
nor grow weary when you are rebuked by Him;
6 (Rev 3:19; Ps 119:75; Pr 3:12) for whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
and scourges every son whom He receives."
7 (Pr 13:24; 19:18) Endure discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons.
For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
8 If you are without discipline, of which everyone has partaken,
then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 (Nu 16:22; 27:16) Furthermore, we have had human fathers,
and they corrected us, and we gave them reverence.
Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 (2Pe 1:4) For they indeed disciplined us for a short time according
to their own judgment, but He does so for our profit, that we may partake
of His holiness.
11 (Isa 32:17; Jas 3:17-18) Now no discipline seems to be joyful at the time,
but grievous. Yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
in those who have been trained by it.
12 (Isa 35:3; Job 4:3-4) Therefore lift up your tired hands,
and strengthen your weak knees.
13 (Gal 6:1; Pr 4:26-27) Make straight paths for your feet,
lest that which is lame go out of joint, but rather be healed.
[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto
children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint
when thou art rebuked of him:
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.
[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son
is he whom the father chasteneth not?
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are
ye bastards, and not sons.
[9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we
gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the
Father of spirits, and live?
[10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto
them which are exercised thereby.
[12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
[13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be
turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Warning Against Rejecting God's Grace
14 (Ro 14:19; 2Co 7:1) Pursue peace with all men, and the holiness
without which no one will see the Lord,
15 (Gal 5:4; Heb 3:12; Dt 29:18) watching diligently so that no one falls
short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up
to cause trouble, and many become defiled by it,
16 (Heb 13:4; Ge 25:31-34) lest there be any sexually immoral
or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing,
he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, though he sought
it diligently with tears.
18 (Dt 4:11; Ex 20:18) You have not come to a mountain that can be touched
and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and storm,
19 (Dt 18:16; 4:12) and to the sound of a trumpet and to a voice speaking
words, such that those who heard them begged that the word not be spoken
to them anymore.
20 (Ex 19:12-13) For they could not endure that which was commanded:
"If so much as a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned
or thrust through with a spear."(Ex 19:12-13.)
21 (Ex 19:16) So terrible was the sight that Moses said,
"I am terrified and trembling."(Dt 9:19.)
22 (Gal 4:26; Ps 48:2) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels;
23 (Lk 10:20; Ge 18:25) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
who are enrolled in heaven; to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits
of the righteous ones made perfect;
24 (Ge 4:10; Heb 11:4; 8:6) and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant;
and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than that of Abel.
25 (Heb 8:5; 11:7) See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they
did not escape when they refused Him who spoke on earth,
much less shall we escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.
26 (Ex 19:18) At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has given us
a promise, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth
but also heaven." (Hag 2:6.)
27 And this statement, "Yet once more," signifies the removal of those things
that can be shaken, things that are created, so that only those things
that cannot be shaken will remain.
28 (Da 2:44; Heb 13:15) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom
that cannot be moved, let us be gracious, by which we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 (Dt 4:24; 9:3) For our God is a consuming fire.
[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see
the Lord:
[15] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root
of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
[16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one
morsel of meat sold his birthright.
[17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears.
[18] For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that
burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
[19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they
that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
[20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as
a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart:
[21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and
quake:)
[22] But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
[23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written
in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made
perfect,
[24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
[25] See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who
refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn
away from him that speaketh from heaven:
[26] Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet
once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
[27] And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things
that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot
be shaken may remain.
[28] Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
[29] For our God is a consuming fire.
2) Our Daily Bread for 18 December 2022
Entitled "The Miracle of Christmas"
Romans 8:1-10
Romans 8
Life in the Spirit
1 (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:17) There is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according
to the Spirit.
2 (1Co 15:45; Ro 6:18; Jn 8:32) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 (Ac 13:39; 2Co 5:21) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 (Gal 5:16) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh
but according to the Spirit.
5 (1Co 2:14; Gal 5:19-25) For those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according
to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 (Ro 6:21; 8:13) To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace,
7 (Jas 4:4; 1Co 2:14) for the carnal mind is hostile toward God,
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be,
8 (Ro 7:5) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 (Gal 4:6; 1Co 6:19; 3:16) You, however, are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong
to Him.
10 (Eph 3:17; Col 1:27) And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead
because of sin, the Spirit is alive because of righteousness.
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit
of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness.
At a garage sale, I found a nativity set in a beat-up cardboard box. As I
picked up the baby Jesus, I noticed the finely sculpted details of the
infant's body. This newborn wasn't cocooned in a blanket with closed eyes-he
was awake and partially unwrapped with outstretched arms, open hands, and
fingers extended. "I'm here!" he seemed to say.
The figurine illustrated the miracle of Christmas-that God sent His Son to
earth in a human body. As Jesus' infant body matured, His little hands played
with toys, eventually held the Torah, and then fashioned furniture before His
ministry began. His feet, once plump and perfect at birth, grew to carry Him
from place to place to teach and heal. At the end of His life, these human
hands and feet would be pierced with nails to hold His body on the cross.
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:" Romans 8:3 says. If we accept Jesus' sacrifice
as payment for all our wrongs and submit our lives to Him, we'll find relief
from sin's bondage. Because the Son of God was born to us as a real,
wiggling, kicking infant, there's a way to have peace with God and the
assurance of an eternity with Him.
By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Reflect & Pray
What's the difference between celebrating Jesus
at Christmas and celebrating the season of Christmas?
Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to earth
as a human baby to free me from the bondage of sin and death.
For further study, read The God Who Is with Us.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 1 - Sin Universal
Romans 3:23-24
23 (Ro 3:9) For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
24 (Ro 4:16; Col 1:14) being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus:
A distinguished middle-aged man stood trembling before his church
to give his testimony. Years before, in the grip of a mental illness
that nearly destroyed his life, he had taken the life of his own daughter
and tried to kill himself. But he did not die; tried and convicted, he
spent years in prison, and even longer in the prison of his own guilt.
After the service, a young woman walked up to him and simply said,
"Thank you for sharing. I've sinned, too."
We've all sinned, too - lest we forget or rationalise, the Bible reminds
us in no uncertain terms. And the writer of these verses was no stranger
to sin: he was the Pharisee, the holier-than-thou religious leader
who officiated at the stoning death of Stephen. He was the Jew who had
scattered and killed the followers of this heretic called Christ. He
thought he was righteous while he murdered God's people.
Christians tends to establish a "hierarchy" of sin - sexual sin is "worse"
than pride: murder is "more horrible" than slander. Yet the Bible gives
no indication that god acknowledges our hierarchy. Sin is sin; all have
sinned, and if we are guilty at one point, we are guilty of all.
Rather than rationalise our individual sins as being "less bad"
than someone else's, we need to openly confess our dilemma as sinners
and turn to God for his remedy. We cannot and do not need to earn or
deserve that grace - it is a gift from God.
Application
a) Have I ever compared my sin with someone else's in order
to make myself fell like a better person? Why is such
comparison not a valid remedy for sin?
b) Why do I need to acknowledge my sin honestly before I can
receive justification?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Ecclesiates 11:1
1 (Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42; Heb 6:10) Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Facing Pain and Suffering
Romans 8:31-39
The Love of God
31 (Ps 118:6; Ro 4:1) What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 (Jn 3:16; Ro 4:25) He who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 (Rev 12:10-11; Isa 50:8-9) Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies.
34 (Heb 7:25; Mk 16:19; Ro 8:1) Who is he who condemns?
It is Christ who died, yes, who is risen, who is also
at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 (1Co 4:11) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 (Ps 44:22; 1Co 15:30)As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
we are counted as sheep for the slaughter." (Ps 44:22.)
37 (1Co 15:57; Gal 2:20) No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 (Eph 1:21; 1Pe 3:22) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present
nor things to come,
39 (Ro 5:8) neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
More than Conquerors
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2023 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
18th Day of the Month
a) Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
( Jer 31:25
25 For I satiate the weary souls and I replenish every languishing soul.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul,
and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
( Ps 34:7
7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,
And delivereth them.
)
Advent day 22
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
"Most of my books are evangelistic, addressed to [those outside the faith]. It would have been inept to preach forgiveness and a Savior to those who did not know they were in need of either." - C. S. Lewis
(From "Rejoinder to Dr. Pittenger," God in the Dock, p. 181.)
The Saviour
The name Jesus means "Yahweh saves." His name is his mission. He has come to save us. To say that he is Jesus is to say that he is the Savior, the Evangel, the Good News. Other characters in sacred history carried this name before Jesus of Nazareth, although in a different form, like Joshua, Hosea and Hoshea.
Lewis was very much concerned about the Good News. He once wrote, "Most of my books are evangelistic." The word "evangelistic" contains within it the word "evangel," which means, literally, "good news." In another place, Lewis stated that the best work he could do was to explain the Christian faith to those on the outside. He compared his work to that of a translator, a person who takes words in one language and translates them into another language. Lewis tried to translate biblical ideas into the language of the ordinary person. Some of his books translated the good news, others smuggled that news under the cover of fantasy. Still other writings of his spoke very directly. That you are reading these words is a testimony to his success.
More important than Lewis' success and fame, however, is the success of his evangelistic purpose. When we trust in this Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, we have what he came to give-eternal life.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me. And give me your Spirit to speak that same word to others. Amen.
"She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS,
for He will save His people from their sins."
Matt. 1:21
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The Covenant Promise
to perform the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember His holy covenant,
-Luke 1:72
How pertinent it is that on this last Sunday of Advent we read the beautiful song of Zechariah, in which he
proclaims the marvelous news about God raising up a Savior
and predicts that his son John will be a prophet of the Most High. We will highlight the first component today and the second tomorrow.
How grateful we are that God fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to others that he would save them from their enemies!
Not only does Zechariah review those covenant pledges, but he proceeds to encourage all of us who note this completion that now we can serve our God "without fear" and "in holiness and righteousness" for the rest of our lives.
What a freedom God's mercy and holy covenant bestow upon us! No matter what "enemies" hate us, our Mighty Savior liberates us in his celestial purity to advance what God is doing.
Prayer
Thank you, God, that the coming of the Promised One enables
us to serve you in holiness. Amen.
Read Luke 1:67-79.
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for He has visited and redeemed His people,
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of His servant David,
70 as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of long ago,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember His holy covenant,
73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,
74 to grant us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
might serve Him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to His people
by the remission of their sins,
78 through the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise from on high has visited us;
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."
From The Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ANXIETIES!
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
and be lifted up, you everlasting doors,
that the King of glory may enter. PSALM 24:7
Today's Scripture reminds me again that Advent is an ongoing journey
of UH-OHs and AH-HAs in our lives. Someone once quipped that
'If you like bungee-jumping, you'll love Advent!" How true. how true!
Psalm 24 brings out the anxieties of life. but only if we read it as
something that we got to do rather than something that we get to do.
We are asked, 'Who will the Lord come to lift up, to save ?" And we are told.
"Those who have clear hands and pure hearts." Well, that leaves me out.
Wow. what an UH-OH moment!
But there's more ... lots more. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said. 'A prison
cell, in which one waits, hopes and is completely depended on the fact
that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad
picture of Advent!" And that's what the psalmist is talking about!
Lift up our heads, we are told, because the King of Glory. Jesus Christ
himself, is coming! The door to life has been opened . .. from the outside
And so we do lift up our heads, as we also lift up other people.
Once again, today. the UH-OH anxieties of life have been overcome
by the AH-HAs of Advent! The prison door is open . . . come and see
the Empty Tomb!
Lord, continue to lift us up in the midst of our own anxieties
Send your Spirit to calm us, cleanse us and cuddle us in your Word.
And as you do, empower us to lift others up as well.
In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Psalm 24
Psalms 24
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth belongs to the Lord, and its fullness,
the world, and those who dwell in it.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) For He has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the floods.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) He who has clean hands and a pure heart;
who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) He will receive the blessing from the Lord,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face. Selah
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Lift up your heads, O you gates;
and be lifted up, you everlasting doors,
that the King of glory may enter.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift up, you everlasting doors,
that the King of glory may enter.
10) Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) Who is He-this King of glory?
The Lord of Hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
Conclusion:
Pray to know The Lord in eternity.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to be strong in your Faith.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to earth
as a human baby to free me from the bondage of sin and death."
Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for his Gift of Salvation.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him and give him your risks.
Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for His gift of community.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Yellowknife to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
- 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!
Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
Pray: Thank you, God, that the coming of the Promised One enables
us to serve you in holiness. Amen.
Pray: Lord, continue to lift us up in the midst of our own anxieties
Send your Spirit to calm us, cleanse us and cuddle us in your Word.
And as you do, empower us to lift others up as well.
In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Pray for successful Bible distribution efforts in the Central African
Republic, especially those taking place in remote areas .
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.