Day 353, 19 December 2022
1) Hebrews 13 . 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2:1-3
Hebrews 13
Service That Pleases God
1 (1Pe 1:22; 2:17) Let brotherly love continue.
2 (Mt 25:35; 1Pe 4:9) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for thereby some
have entertained angels unknowingly.
3 (Mt 25:36; Col 4:18) Remember those who are in chains, as if imprisoned
with them, and those who are ill treated, since you are also in the body.
4 (1Co 6:9; Gal 5:19) Marriage is to be honored among everyone,
and the bed undefiled. But God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
5 (Jos 1:5; Dt 31:6) Let your lives be without love of money,
and be content with the things you have. For He has said:
"I will never leave you,
nor forsake you."(Dt 31:6, 8; Jos 1:5.)
6 (Ps 56:4) So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"(Ps 118:6.)
7 (Heb 13:17; 6:12; 13:24) Remember those who rule over you, who have
proclaimed to you the word of God. Follow their faith, considering
the results it has produced in their lives.
8 (Heb 1:12; Mal 3:6) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today,
and forever.
9 (Eph 4:14; 2Co 1:21) Do not be carried away
with diverse and strange doctrines. It is a good thing that the heart
be strengthened with grace, not with foods, which have not profited
those who have been occupied with them.
10 (1Co 9:13) We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle
have no right to eat.
11 (Ex 29:14; Lev 16:27) For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood
is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest on account of sin,
are burned outside the camp.
12 (Ac 7:58; Eph 5:26) Therefore Jesus also, so that He might sanctify
the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 (Heb 11:26) Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp,
bearing the reproach that He bore.
14 (Heb 12:22; Mic 2:10) For here we have no continuing city,
but we seek one to come.
15 (Hos 14:2; Lev 7:12) Through Him, then, let us continually offer
to God the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name.
16 (Ro 12:13; Php 4:18) But do not forget to do good and to share.
For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 (Ac 20:28; Heb 13:7) Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch
over your souls as those who must give an account. Let them do this with joy
and not complaining, for that would not be profitable to you.
18 (1Th 5:25; Ac 23:1) Pray for us. For we trust that we have a good
conscience and in all things are willing to live honestly.
19 (Phm 1:22) But I implore you to pray,
that I may be restored to you very soon.
[1] Let brotherly love continue.
[2] Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares.
[3] Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which
suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
[4] Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers
and adulterers God will judge.
[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee.
[6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me.
[7] Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the
word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
[9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good
thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have
not profited them that have been occupied therein.
[10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the
tabernacle.
[11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
[12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own
blood, suffered without the gate.
[13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach.
[14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
[15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
[16] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices
God is well pleased.
[17] Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
[18] Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things
willing to live honestly.
[19] But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you
the sooner.
Benediction and Final Greetings
20 (Zec 9:11; Jn 10:11) Now may the God of peace, who through the blood
of the eternal covenant brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the Great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 (Php 2:13; 2Th 2:17) make you perfect in every good work to do His will,
working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 (1Pe 5:12; Heb 3:1) I implore you, brothers, to heed this word
of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
23 (1Th 3:2) Know that our brother Timothy has been set free,
with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.
24 (Heb 13:7; 13:17) Greet all those who rule over you and all the saints.
Those from Italy greet you.
25 (Col 4:18) Grace be with you all. Amen.
[20] Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant,
[21] Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that
which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
[22] And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have
written a letter unto you in few words.
[23] Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he
come shortly, I will see you.
[24] Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They
of Italy salute you.
[25] Grace be with you all. Amen.
1 Peter
1 Peter Intro
The apostle Peter was one of the twelve disciples Jesus appointed
and taught during his time on earth. Peter spent the final years
of his life and ministry-in the early 60s AD-as a leader of the church
in Rome. When he learned that churches in other Roman provinces
(all located in what is now Turkey) were experiencing persecution,
he wrote to urge them to remain faithful to Jesus. Peter's letter was
delivered by Silas, a man who also worked with the apostle Paul
(see Acts 15:22-17:15). Peter introduces Silas and explains
that he helped to compose the letter.
After the opening, the letter has three main sections:
: Peter first tells his readers to be holy in all you do.
As Gentiles they once lived in ignorance (they did not know
the ways of God). But they are now a holy nation,
part of God's own people, and are called to a new way of life.
: Peter then explains how this way of life will impress those
who might accuse and persecute them without just cause.
: Finally, Peter acknowledges that his readers are suffering
for their faith, but he explains that this is only to be expected.
The Messiah himself suffered, and believers all over the world
are facing the same challenge. The followers of Jesus are waiting
for the day God will visit them,
and even in their suffering they can show they belong to God.
1 Peter 1
Salutation
1 (Ac 16:6-7; Jas 1:1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the refugees scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia,
2 (Ro 11:2; 2Th 2:13; Heb 12:24) elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit,
for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout
Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
[2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
A Living Hope
3 (1Co 15:20; 2Co 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8) to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does
not fade away, kept in heaven for you,
5 (Eph 2:8) who are protected by the power of God through faith for
a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 (Jas 1:2; Isa 61:3; Ro 5:2) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now,
if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials,
7 (Job 23:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10) in order that the genuineness of your faith,
which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire,
may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ,
8 (Jn 20:29; Heb 11:27) whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though
you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory,
9 (Ro 6:22) receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls.
10 (Mt 13:17; Lk 10:24) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied
of the grace that should come to you have inquired and searched diligently,
11 (2Pe 1:21; Isa 52:13-14) seeking the events and time the Spirit of Christ,
who was within them, signified when He foretold the sufferings of Christ
and the glories to follow.
12 (Jn 15:26; Da 8:13) It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, concerning the things which are now reported to you by
those who have preached the gospel to you through the Holy Spirit, who was
sent from heaven-things into which the angels desire to look.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
[4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you,
[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
[6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are
in heaviness through manifold temptations:
[7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
[8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
[9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
[10] Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
[11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ,
and the glory that should follow.
[12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they
did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
which things the angels desire to look into.
A Call to Holy Living
13 (1Pe 4:7; 5:8) Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 (Ro 12:2; Ac 17:30) As obedient children do not conduct yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance.
15 (2Co 7:1; Heb 12:14) But as He who has called you is holy, so be holy
in all your conduct,
16 (Lev 11:44; 19:2) because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
(Lev 11:44; 19:2; 20:7.)
17 (Mt 6:9; 2Co 7:1) And if you address as Father the One who impartially
judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the
time of your sojourning.
18 (1Co 6:20) For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way
of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver
or gold,
19 (Jn 1:29; Ex 12:5) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot.
20 (Eph 1:4; Col 1:26) He was foreordained before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for you.
21 (Heb 2:9; Jn 12:44) Through Him you believe in God who raised Him up
from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be
in God.
22 (Heb 13:1; Jas 4:8) Since your souls have been purified by obedience to
the truth through the Spirit unto a genuine brotherly love, love one another
deeply with a pure heart,
23 (Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:3) for you have been born again, not from perishable seed,
but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
24 (Isa 40:6-8; Jas 1:10-11) For
"All flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
25 (Isa 40:8) but the word of the Lord endures forever."
This is the word that was preached to you.
[13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ;
[14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance:
[15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation;
[16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
[17] And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in
fear:
[18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,
as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from
your fathers;
[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot:
[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
[21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and
gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
[22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of
grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which
by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter 2:1-3
The Living Stone and the Holy Nation
1 (Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11; 1:21) Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.
2 (Mt 18:3; Eph 4:15)As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word,
that by it you may grow,
3 if it is true that you have experienced that the Lord is good.
[1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and
envies, and all evil speakings,
[2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:
[3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 December 2022
Entitled "Standing Firm by Faith"
Isaiah 7:1-9
Isaiah Reassures King Ahaz
1 (2Ki 15:37; 16:1) And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham,
the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram,
and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem
to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
2 (Isa 7:13; 8:12) It was said to the house of David, "Aram is allied
with Ephraim." Then his heart trembled and the heart of his people,
as the trees of the wood tremble with the wind.
3 (2Ki 18:17; Isa 36:2) Then the Lord said to Isaiah: Go out now to meet Ahaz,
you, and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool
in the highway of the fuller's field,
4 (Dt 20:3; Isa 30:15) and say to him, Take heed, and be quiet. Do not fear
nor be fainthearted because of the two tails of these smoking firebrands,
because of the fierce anger of Rezin with Aram and of the son of Remaliah,
5 because Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have taken evil counsel
against you, saying,
6 Let us go up against Judah, and trouble it, and let us make a breach there
for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel.
7 (Isa 8:10) Thus says the Lord God:
It shall not stand,
nor shall it come to pass.
8 (Isa 17:1-3; Ge 14:15) For the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
Now within 65 years
Ephraim shall be broken so that it is not a people.
9 (2Ch 20:20) The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
If you will not believe,
surely you shall not be established.
[1] And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of
Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of
Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but
could not prevail against it.
[2] And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with
Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees
of the wood are moved with the wind.
[3] Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and
Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the
highway of the fuller's field;
[4] And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be
fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce
anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
[5] Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil
counsel against thee, saying,
[6] Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein
for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
[7] Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to
pass.
[8] For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin;
and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be
not
a people.
[9] And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is
Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Nokia became the world's best-selling mobile phone company in 1998 and saw
profits rise to nearly four billion dollars in 1999. But by 2011, sales were
diminishing and soon the failing phone brand was acquired by Microsoft. One
factor in Nokia's mobile division failure was a fear-based work culture that
led to disastrous decisions. Managers were reluctant to tell the truth about
the Nokia phone's inferior operating system and other design problems for fear
of being fired.
King Ahaz of Judah and his people were fearful-"as the trees
of the wood are moved with the wind." (Isaiah 7:2). They knew that the kings
of Israel and Aram (Syria) had allied, and their combined armies were marching
to Judah to take it over (vv. 5-6). Although God used Isaiah to encourage Ahaz by telling him his enemies' hostile plans would "come to pass" (v. 7), the
foolish leader fearfully chose to ally with Assyria and submit to the
superpower's king (2 Kings 16:7-8). He didn't trust in God, who declared,
"If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established." (Isaiah 7:9).
The writer of Hebrews helps us consider what it looks like to stand firm in
faith today: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who
promised is faithful" (10:23). May we press on and not "shrink back" (v. 39)
as the Holy Spirit empowers us to trust in Jesus.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced a challenge to your faith?
How has God encouraged you to stand firm?
Father, please help me stand firm as You provide the faith I need.
Learn more about
walking faithfully with God.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 2 - Saved by Grace - Day 2 - Earning Death
Romans 6:23
23 (Ro 5:12; Ge 2:17; Ro 2:7) For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
"I only want my rights," declares the belligerent Big Ghost, one of the
characters in C. S. Lewis's classic, The Great Divorce. "I'm not asking
for anybody's bleeding charity."
"Then do. At once," his angelic friend Len urges. "Ask for the Bleeding
Charity. Everything is here for the asking and nothing can be bought."
Often we are much like the Ghost in Lewis's tale of heaven and hell.
We want "What we deserve," and being blind to our own sin, we think
we deserve praise, or al least mercy. But Paul is very clear on what
we have coming: "The wages of sin is death".
We work for our wages - we've earned our paycheque, and we deserve it.
We don't have to thank anyone for paying us - it's our due, not a gift.
Similarly, the paycheque issued to us in renumeration for our sin is
what we deserve: death.
Yet, if we are willing to lay aside our pride and accept God's gift,
we can live. "The gift of God is eternal life." Nothing we can do or say
can make us worthy of the gift of life. We are sinners by nature and we
rebel against God in our choices. Yet God, in Christ, offers grace to us,
freedom from sin, liberty from the burden of trying to earn his favour.
Ironically, freedom and peace in the Christian life come not through
justifying ourselves and making ourselves look good, but through
acknowledging the depth of our sin ad our ability to do anything about it.
When we realise that we are trapped in out sinful selves and only
Christ can free us, then we are ready to journey toward grace and freedom.
Application
a) In what way's have I tried to "earn" the gift of eternal life?
b) What can I do to focus on God's grace and realise
that I cannot accomplish my own salvation?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
3 John 2
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be
in good health, even as your soul is well.
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Inexhaustible Strength
Is 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my justice escapes the notice of my God"?
28 (Ps 147:5; Ge 21:33; Isa 57:15) Have you not known?
Have you not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not faint, nor is He weary?
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 (Isa 41:10) He gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 (Isa 9:17) Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 (2Co 4:16; Ps 103:5; Ex 19:4) but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.
27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid
from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God,
the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not,
neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might
he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall
utterly fall:
31 but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
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
19th Day of the Month
a) Pray the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
(
1 Tim 2:1-2
)
b) Pray for the province of Prince Edward Island
I) Pray for the leaders of Prince Edward Island,
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 Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto 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 23
From C.S. Lewis A Grand Miracle by Joel Heck
Monday,Fourth Week of Advent
"There! They're at it again. 'Ark, the errol hygel sings'....
Boxing Day [December 26] is only two and a half weeks ahead;
then perhaps we shall have a little quiet in which to remember
the birth of Christ." C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in "Delinquents in the Snow," God in the Dock, p. 310.)
A Little Quiet
The day on which the English give their gifts is Boxing Day, a public holiday
that falls on the first weekday after Christmas. In the past, the English
exchanged gifts among equals on Christmas Day, and gave gifts to those
"socially inferior" on the day after,
probably wrapped in boxes; hence, the name "Boxing Day."
It is also known in England as St. Stephen's Day, named after the first Christian martyr.
As a result, Lewis was not expecting the Prince of Peace to bring him peace
until after Boxing Day, a day after Christmas Day itself,
after gifts had been given. While peace in the biblical sense means
far more than the absence of stress, Lewis was here thinking of the
peace and quiet that a busy man, a famous and popular man, too seldom enjoyed.
From the time of his BBC radio broadcasts in 1941, Lewis received many
letters, probably a half-dozen to a dozen each day. As a result, he spent
a lot of time answering those letters, and they seemed to come
in greater numbers during the Christmas holidays. We don't have to be famous
to appreciate Lewis' desire for a little quiet.
In the midst of the busyness of the Advent season, we need to remember that
God sent a child, a son, the Prince of Peace.
He came to announce, "Peace on earth" (Luke 2:14) for everyone who believes.
Prince of Peace, give us peace of heart and mind,
peace in the midst of busyness, and peace
in the midst of quiet. Amen.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...
And he will be called...Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
From Follow the Story by Marva J. Dawn
MONDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT
Tender Mercy
through the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise from on high has visited us;
-Luke 1:78
What an attractive image, the "dawn from on high"!
It is an expression for the morning's light, but in its ambiguity
the figure could also refer to the Christ whose coming we anticipate.
This is one benefit that comes from God's "tender mercy." Another is John,
the Most High's Prophet and the Lord's Forerunner, who dispersed
to people knowledge of God's salvation
by the pardoning of their transgressions.
Those upon whom the dawn from on high burst were able
to move out of both their darkness and death's shadow
and into the way of peace. That is still true today. As we prepare
to hail the coming of the Christ Child, we honor him by participating
in his gift of bringing peace to the world. In his name and character,
we become reconcilers and harmonisers, helping people to allay their fears
and eliminate their quarrels. What tranquility might be brought to the nations!
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, propel us to communicate your peace. Amen.
Read Luke 1:68-79.
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
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ACCEPTANCE!
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,"
MATTHEW 1:20
Joseph is often the "odd man out" in the Christmas story. We hear
so much about the Baby Jesus (and rightly so!), and about Mary,
the shepherds, the angels and even those smelly sheep .. - but not
a lot about Joseph
The Ah-Has of acceptance is all about Joseph. Today's lesson shows
good old Joe in a tough situation But, through the Holy Spirit, he accepted
the responsibilities that were given to him. And notice the phrase that
the angel brought to Joseph's dream: "Do not be afraid!" These are the
same Gospel words that we hear from the Lord as we go about accepting
the responsibilities that he gives to us each day.
The beauty and irony of Advent is that as we prepare for his coming.
the Lord has already prepared us for life in him! His acceptance of us
enables us to accept the many tasks and challenges he gives to us ...
with no exceptions! It's like the button that states, "God loves you ...
of course - he loves everyone!" And it's true, because of Emmanuel,
"God with us."
Lord, thanks for accepting us as your children, with no exceptions.
Because of your birth, death and resurrection: we are yours forever!
Forgive us when we do not accept that truth. Forgive us when we fail
to hear and see you in our lives . Keep whispering bands (and shouting) to us,
"Do not be afraid! " In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Matthew 1:18-25
18 (Ge 3:15) Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way:
After His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 (Dt 22:21-24; 24:1-4 )Then Joseph her husband, being a just man
and not willing to make her a public example, had in mind to divorce
her privately.
20 (Mt 1:18; 2:13) But while he thought on these things, the angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying,
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,
for He who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 (Lk 1:31; Ac 4:12) She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS,
for He will save His people from their sins."
22 (Mt 2:15; 2:23) Now all this occurred to fulfill what the Lord
had spoken through the prophet, saying,
23 (Isa 7:14; 9:6–7; Mt 28:20) "A virgin shall be with child,
and will bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,"
[Isa 7:14.] which is interpreted, "God with us."
24 Then Joseph, being awakened from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord
had commanded him, and remained with his wife,
25 (Mt 1:21; Lk 2:7) and did not know her until she had given birth
to her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to know His Purity
and how to walk in His Ways.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, please help me stand firm as
You provide the faith I need.."
Pray to the Lord and pray to thank Him for his Gift of Salvation
for we are all sinners.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him to be in Good Spiritual health.
Pray to the Lord and pray for Him to strengthen you.
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 the the Holy Spirit will influence our governmental leaders
as they make vital decisions that shape Canadian Society
Prince of Peace, give us peace of heart and mind,
peace in the midst of busyness, and peace in the midst of quiet. Amen.
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, propel us to communicate your peace. Amen.
Pray: Lord, thanks for accepting us as your children, with no exceptions.
Because of your birth, death and resurrection: we are yours forever!
Forgive us when we do not accept that truth. Forgive us when we fail
to hear and see you in our lives . Keep whispering bands (and shouting) to us,
"Do not be afraid! " In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Pray for those ministering to the unreached in remote and difficult-to-reach
areas of Northern Nepal.
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.