Skip to content

Day 7 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 7 January 2023 reflections

Day 7, 7 January 2023



1) Job 20-23





Job 20



Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer



1 (Job 2:11)Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

2 "Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer,

and for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the rebuke that disgraces me,

and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

4 "Do you not know this of old,

since man was placed upon earth,

5 (Ps 37:35-36) that the triumphing of the wicked is short,

and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

6 ( Isa 14:13-14; Ob 1:3-4) Though his loftiness extends to the heavens,

and his head reaches to the clouds,

7 (1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 9:37) yet he will perish forever like his own excrement;

those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

8 (Ps 73:20; 90:5) He will fly away like a dream and will not be found;

yes, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 (Job 7:8; 7:10) The eye that saw him will see him no more;

nor will his place behold him anymore.

10 (Job 20:18) His children will seek favor from the poor,

and his hands will give back his wealth.

11 (Job 13:26; 21:26) His bones are full of his youthful vigor,

but it will lie down with him in the dust.

12 (Job 15:16; Ps 10:7) "Though evil is sweet in his mouth,

and he hides it under his tongue,

13 though he spares it and does not forsake it,

but keeps it in his mouth,

14 yet his food in his stomach turns sour;

it becomes the venom of cobras within him.

15 He has swallowed down riches,

and he will vomit them up again;

God will cast them out of his belly.

16He will suck the poison of cobras;

the viper's tongue will slay him.

17 (Dt 32:13-14; Job 29:6) He will not see the streams, the rivers,

the brooks of honey and butter.

18 (Job 20:10; 20:15) He will give back the produce of labor and will not swallow it down.

According to his wealth the restitution will be, and he will not rejoice in it;

19 (Job 35:9) because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor.

He has violently taken away a house that he did not build.

20 (Ecc 5:13-14) "Because he knows no quietness in his belly,

he will not save anything he desired.

21 Nothing is left for him to eat;

therefore his prosperity will not endure.

22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress;

every hand of misery will come upon him.

23 (Ps 78:30-31; Nu 11:33) When he is about to fill his belly,

God will cast the fury of His wrath on him

and will rain it on him while he is eating.

24 (Isa 24:18; Am 5:19) He will flee from the iron weapon;

a bronze bow will pierce him through.

25 (Job 16:13; 18:11) It is drawn and comes out of the body;

yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall.

Terrors are upon him.

26 (Ps 21:9) Total darkness is stored up for his treasures.

An unfanned fire will consume him;

what is left in his tent will be consumed.

27 (Job 16:18; Isa 26:21) The heavens will reveal his iniquity,

and the earth will rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house will depart,

and his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

29 (Job 27:13; 31:2-3) This is the wicked man's portion from God,

and the inheritance appointed to him by God."



(God will punish the wicked)



Job 20



Zophar's Speech



1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer,

And for this I make haste.

3 I have heard the check of my reproach,

And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

4 Knowest thou not this of old,

Since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short,

And the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens,

And his head reach unto the clouds;

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung:

They which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found:

Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more;

Neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall seek to please the poor,

And his hands shall restore their goods.

11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth,

Which shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth,

Though he hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not;

But keep it still within his mouth:

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned,

It is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again:

God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps:

The viper's tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not see the rivers,

The floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore,

And shall not swallow it down:

According to his substance shall the restitution be,

and he shall not rejoice therein.

19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor;

Because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly,

He shall not save of that which he desired.

21 There shall none of his meat be left;

Therefore shall no man look for his goods.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits:

Every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly,

God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him,

And shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon,

And the bow of steel shall strike him through.

25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body;

Yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall:

Terrors are upon him.

26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places:

A fire not blown shall consume him;

It shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity;

And the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart,

And his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God,

And the heritage appointed unto him by God.



Job 21

Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper

1 But Job answered:

2 "Listen carefully to my speech,

and let this be your consolation.

3 (Job 16:10; 17:2) Bear with me that I may speak,

and after I have spoken, mock on.

4 "As for me, is my complaint against man?

And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5 (Jdg 18:19; Job 29:9) Look at me and be astonished,

and put your hand over your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am afraid,

and trembling takes hold of my body.

7 (Job 12:6; Ps 37:35) Why do the wicked live and become old;

yes, become mighty in power?

8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight,

and their offspring before their eyes.

9 (Job 9:34; Ps 73:5) Their houses are safe from fear,

nor is the rod of God upon them.

10 (Ex 23:26) Their bull breeds without failure;

their cow gives calves without miscarriage.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock,

and their children dance.

12 (Ge 4:21) They take up the tambourine and harp

and rejoice at the sound of the flute.

13 (Job 36:11) They spend their days in wealth,

and in a moment go down to Sheol.

14 (Job 22:17; Pr 1:29) Therefore they say to God, 'Depart from us,

for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

15 (Job 34:9; Ex 5:2) Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him?

And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?'

16 (Job 22:18; Ps 1:1) Indeed, their prosperity is not in their hand.

The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 (Job 18:5-6) How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?

How often does their destruction come upon them,

the sorrows God distributes in His anger?

18 (Job 13:25; Ps 1:4) They are like straw before the wind,

and like chaff that a storm carries away.

19 (Ex 20:5) God stores up their iniquity for their children;

let Him reward the people themselves, and they will know it.

20 (Isa 51:17; Rev 14:10) Let their eyes see their own destruction,

and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 (Job 14:5) For what do they care about their households after them,

when the number of their months is cut off?

22 (Ro 11:34; Isa 40:13-14) 'Can anyone teach God knowledge,

since He judges those who are on high?

23 One dies in his full strength,

being wholly at ease and secure.

24 (Pr 3:8) His pails are full of milk,

and the marrow of his bones is moist.

25 (Job 7:11) Another dies in the bitterness of his soul,

never having eaten with pleasure.

26 (Ecc 9:2; Isa 14:11) They will lie down alike in the dust,

and worms will cover them.

27 "Behold, I know your thoughts,

and the schemes with which you would wrong me.

28 (Job 8:22; 20:7) For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince?

And where are the dwelling places of the wicked?'

29 Have you not asked them who travel the road?

And do you not know their signs?

30 (Pr 16:4; Job 20:28) For the wicked are reserved for the day of destruction;

they will be brought forth on the day of wrath.

31 (Dt 7:10; Gal 2:11) Who will declare his way to his face?

And who will repay him for what he has done?

32 Yet will he be brought to the grave

and will remain in the tomb.

33 (Job 30:23; Heb 9:27) The clods of the valley will be sweet unto him;

and everyone will follow him,

as countless have gone before.

34 (Job 16:2) 'How then can you comfort me with emptiness,

since deceit remains in your answers?' "



Job's Reply

1 But Job answered and said,

2 Hear diligently my speech,

And let this be your consolations.

3 Suffer me that I may speak;

And after that I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint to man?

And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5 Mark me, and be astonished,

And lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am afraid,

And trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

7 Wherefore do the wicked live,

Become old, yea, are mighty in power?

8 Their seed is established in their sight with them,

And their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear,

Neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not;

Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock,

And their children dance.

12 They take the timbrel and harp,

And rejoice at the sound of the organ.

13 They spend their days in wealth,

And in a moment go down to the grave.

14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us;

For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?

And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16 Lo, their good is not in their hand:

The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out!

And how oft cometh their destruction upon them!

God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

18 They are as stubble before the wind,

And as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children:

He rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

20 His eyes shall see his destruction,

And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him,

When the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 Shall any teach God knowledge?

Seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23 One dieth in his full strength,

Being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 His breasts are full of milk,

And his bones are moistened with marrow.

25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul,

And never eateth with pleasure.

26 They shall lie down alike in the dust,

And the worms shall cover them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts,

And the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince?

And where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way?

And do ye not know their tokens,

30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction?

They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

31 Who shall declare his way to his face?

And who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave,

And shall remain in the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him,

And every man shall draw after him,

As there are innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me in vain,

Seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?



(The Lord destroys the Wicked)



Job 22

Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great



1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

2 (Lk 17:10) "Can a man be profitable to God,

as he who is wise may be profitable to himself?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?

Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?

4 (Job 14:3; Ps 143:2) "Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you,

and enters into judgment with you?

5 Is not your wickedness great,

and your iniquity infinite?

6 (Ex 22:26; Eze 18:16) For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing,

and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 (Job 31:17; Isa 58:7) You have not given water to the weary to drink,

and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

8 (Isa 9:15) But as for the mighty man, he possessed the earth,

and the honorable man lived in it.

9 (Job 24:3; 24:21) You have sent widows away empty,

and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

10 (Job 18:8 -10) Therefore snares are all around you,

and sudden fear troubles you,

11 (La 3:54; Ps 69:1-2) or darkness, so that you cannot see;

and an abundance of waters covers you.

12 (Job 11:8) "Is not God in the height of heaven?

And see the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 (Ps 10:11; Eze 8:12) And you say, 'What does God know?

Can He judge through the dark cloud?

14 (Ps 139:11-12) Thick clouds are His covering, so He cannot see;

and He walks above the circle of heaven.'

15 Will you keep to the old way,

that wicked men have trod?

16 (Job 15:32) They were cut down before their time;

their foundations were swept away by a flood.

17 (Job 21:14-15; Ps 4:6) They said to God, 'Depart from us,'

and, 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

18 (Job 21:16; 12:6) Yet He filled their houses with good things;

but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 (Ps 52:6; 58:10) "The righteous see it and are glad,

and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

20 (Job 1:16) 'Surely our adversaries are cut down,

and the fire consumes their remnant.'

21 "Now acquaint yourself with Him and be at peace;

thereby good will come to you.

22 (Job 23:12; Ps 119:11) Receive, I pray, the teaching from His mouth,

and lay up His words in your heart.

23 (Job 11:13-14; Zec 1:3) If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;

you will put away iniquity far from your tents.

24 (1Ki 9:28) Then you will lay up gold as dust,

and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 (Isa 33:6) Yes, the Almighty will be your gold

and your precious silver;

26 (Job 27:10; Isa 58:14) for then you will delight yourself in the Almighty,

and will lift up your face unto God.

27 (Isa 58:9; Job 33:26) You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you,

and you will pay your vows.

28 (Ps 112:4; Pr 4:18) You will also declare a matter, and it will be established unto you;

and the light will shine upon your ways.

29 (1Pe 5:5; Jas 4:6) When men are cast down, and you say, 'There is a time of exaltation!'

then He will save the humble person.

30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent;

he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.'



Job 22

Eliphaz Speaks

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 Can a man be profitable unto God,

As he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?

Or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee?

Will he enter with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great?

And thine iniquities infinite?

6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought,

And stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink,

And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth;

And the honourable man dwelt in it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty,

And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee,

And sudden fear troubleth thee;

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see;

And abundance of waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven?

And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, How doth God know?

Can he judge through the dark cloud?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not;

And he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Hast thou marked the old way

Which wicked men have trodden?

16 Which were cut down out of time,

Whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

17 Which said unto God, Depart from us:

And what can the Almighty do for them?

18 Yet he filled their houses with good things:

But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad:

And the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20 Whereas our substance is not cut down,

But the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace:

Thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth,

And lay up his words in thine heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up,

Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust,

And the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence,

And thou shalt have plenty of silver.

26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty,

And shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee,

And thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee:

And the light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up;

And he shall save the humble person.

30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent:

And it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.



(Have to done this in your life?)



Job 23

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Grievous



1 Then Job answered:

2 (Job 10:1) "Today also my complaint is bitter;

my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

3 (Job 13:3; 16:21) Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,

that I might come even to His seat!

4 (Job 13:18) I would present my case before Him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words that He would answer me

and understand what He would say to me.

6 (Job 13:21) Will He plead against me with His great power?

No! But He would take note of me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with Him;

so would I be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 (Job 9:11) "Look, I go forward, but He is not there,

and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

9 when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;

He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.

10 (Ps 66:10; 1Pe 1:7) But He knows the way that I take;

when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 (Ps 44:18; 17:5) My foot has held fast to His steps;

I have kept His way and have not turned aside.

12 (Jn 4:32; 4:34) I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;

I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

13 (Ps 115:3; Job 12:14) "But He is resolute, and who can turn Him?

And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

14 (1Th 3:3) For He performs what is appointed forme,

and many such things are with Him.

15 Therefore I am troubled at His presence;

when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

16 (Job 27:2; Ps 22:14) For God makes my heart soft,

and the Almighty troubles me;

17 (Job 19:8) because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness,

nor has He covered the darkness from my face.



Job 23

Job's Reply

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter:

My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!

That I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him,

And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me,

And understand what he would say unto me.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power?

No; but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him;

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:

He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take:

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

His way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me:

And many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence:

When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft,

And the Almighty troubleth me:

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness,

Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.



(always give your burdens to the Lord)



2) Our Daily Bread for 7 January 2023 Entitled



entitled Who Are You, Lord?




Acts 9:1-9



1 (Ac 8:3; Ps 27:12) Saul, still breathing out threats and murder

against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

2 (Ac 19:9; 19:23) and requested letters from him to the synagogues

of Damascus, so that if he found any there of the Way, either men or women,

he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 (1Co 15:8; Ac 22:6) As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light

from heaven shone around him.

4 (Isa 63:9; Zec 2:8) He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"

5 He said, "Who are You, Lord?"

The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you

to kick against the goads."

6 Trembling and astonished, he said, "Lord, what will You have me do?"

The Lord said to him, "Rise up and go into the city,

and you will be told what you must do."

7 (Ac 22:9; Da 10:7; Jn 12:29) The men traveling with him stood speechless,

hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

8 (Ac 22:11; 9:18) Saul rose up from the ground.

And when his eyes were opened,

he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 (Est 4:16) For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.



[1] And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the

disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

[2] And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he

found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them

bound unto Jerusalem.

[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined

round about him a light from heaven:

[4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul,

why persecutest thou me?

[5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou

persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

[6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to

do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be

told thee what thou must do.

[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice,

but seeing no man.

[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no

man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

[9] And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.



At age sixteen, Luis Rodriguez had already been in jail for selling crack.

But now, arrested for attempted murder, he was in prison again-looking at

a life sentence. But God spoke into his guilty circumstances. Behind bars,

young Luis remembered his early years when his mother had faithfully taken

him to church. He now felt God tugging at his heart. Luis eventually

repented of his sins and came to Jesus.



In the book of Acts, we meet a zealous Jewish man named Saul, who was also

called Paul. He was guilty of aggravated assault on believers in Jesus and

had murder in his heart (Acts 9:1). There's evidence he was a kind of gang

leader, and part of the mob at the execution of Stephen (7:58). But God spoke

into Saul's guilty circumstances-literally. On the street leading into

Damascus, Saul was blinded by a light, and Jesus said to him, "why persecutest

thou me?" (9:4). Saul asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" (v. 5), and that was

the beginning of his new life. He came to Jesus.



Luis Rodriguez served time but eventually was granted parole. Since then,

he's served God, devoting his life to prison ministry in the United States a

nd Central America.



God specializes in redeeming the worst of us. He tugs at our hearts

and speaks into our guilt-drenched lives. Maybe it's time we repent

of our sins and come to Jesus.



By: Kenneth Petersen



Reflect & Pray



What guilt are you experiencing or have experienced?

How do you sense God is calling or has called you back to Himself? 



Jesus, I've strayed from You,

but I feel You tugging at my heart.

Forgive me of my sins, I pray.





For further study, read The Forgiveness of God.




3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 7 God's Bulldozer - Luke 3:5-6



5 (Isa 40:4; 42:16) Every valley shall be filled

and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;

and the crooked shall be made straight

and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 (Isa 40:5; 52:10) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.



5 Every valley shall be filled,

And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;

And the crooked shall be made straight,

And the rough ways shall be made smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.



When a new highway is being constructed, the roads crew work hard

in preparing for the new surface to be laid. Giant bulldozers cut through

the hillsides, moving earth, leveling, filling, evening the path out where

the roadway will run. When the work is first begun, if often looks like chaos:

and even after the highway begins to take shape, the land is still ugly,

scarred by the unsightly gashes cut through the landscape. Yet after

the work is completed and the grass and trees are replanted, we forget

the temporary upheaval and see only the

beauty of the land and the convenience of the new roadway.

In Luke 3:5-6, John the Baptist presents a prophecy of the coming of Christ,

a prophecy quoted from Isaiah 40:3-5 . The prophecy speaks of the preparation

of the world for the coming Messiah, but is also applies to the preparation

of the individual heart to receive him.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit must do major work in our hearts to prepare us for

the coming of Christ into our live. Like a bulldozer, he brings down the

mountains of pride in our lives. He fill the empty places , corrects

the crooked, grades down the rough edges of our hearts.

Often this is not pleasant work. We prefer to maintain the rugged landscape

of Self, and we do not like the ugly scars that are left after the bulldozer

has done its job.

But if we submit to the Spirit's "Construction work" in us, the way will be

paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and others will see in us,

the way be paved for the Lord to enter into our lives, and other will see

in us the glory and salvation of our God.



Application



a) What "construction work" has to Holy Spirit done in me?



b) What restoration has taken place because of that work?



c) How do today's verses help me put in perspective the work

God still want to do in me?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Joshua 1:5



5 (Dt 7:24; 31:6-8) No man will be able to stand against

you all the days of your life.

As I was with Moses, I will be with you.

I will not abandon you. I will not leave you.



5 There shall not any man be able to stand before

thee all the days of thy life:

as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee:

I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.



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



God's Help in Times of Temptation



1 Cor 10:1-13



1 Corinthians 10



Warning Against Idolatry



1 (Ex 14:29; Ps 66:6) I would not want you to be unaware that

all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 (Ex 16:35; Dt 8:3) all ate the same spiritual food;

4 (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11) and all drank the same spiritual drink,

for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,

and that Rock was Christ.

5 (Heb 3:17; Jude 1:5) But with many of them God was not well pleased,

and they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 (Nu 11:4; 1Co 10:11) Now these things were our examples to the intent

that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted.

7 (Ex 32:19; 32:4) Neither be idolaters as were some of them.

As it is written,

"The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to revel." (Ex 32:6. )

8 (Nu 25:1-9; 1Co 6:18) Neither let us commit sexual immorality as some

of them committed, when 23000 fell in one day.

9 (Nu 21:5-6; Ex 17:2) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them

also tempted and were destroyed by serpents.

10 (Ex 12:23; Nu 16:41) Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured

and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 (Ro 13:11) Now all these things happened to them for examples.

They are written as an admonition to us,

upon whom the end of the ages has come.

12 (Ro 11:20) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed,

lest he fall.

13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken you except what is common

to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted above

what you can endure, but will with the temptation also make a way

to escape, that you may be able to bear it.



1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all

our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 and did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that

spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased:

for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust

after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written,

The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed,

and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,

and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured,

and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:

and they are written for our admonition,

upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also

make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.



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 2021 edition?)



2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493



British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.

Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver

and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations

in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are

between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all

other nationalities.



Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant

and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,

Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this

region is about 200000.

Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,

more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small

numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.

We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.

A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,

for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that



- the church will catch a vision to pray,

and a burden to train outreach to Muslims

- the church will press in to participate in effective

discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.



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 "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.

18 Even on My menservants and maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,

and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]



Footnotes

Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.

- 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, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



7th Day of the Month



a) Pray that the Lord will be close to the brokenhearted in our society

and be their help



(

Ps 34:18 - The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,

and saves the contrite of spirit.



18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.



Ps 145: 14 - 16



14 The Lord upholds all who fall,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon You,

and You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.







)



b) Pray for the staff and volunteers that serve in local churches in your

city or community, that the Lord will anoint them for effective service.

(



Romans 12:4-8



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.



4 For as we have many members in one body,

and all members have not the same office:

5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ,

and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that

is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according

to the proportion of faith;

7 or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth,

on teaching;

8 or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let

him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence;

he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.



Col 3:17



17(1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20)And whatever you do in word or deed,

do all in the name

of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.



17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name

of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.



)



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and thank Him for He is redeemer and He will

punish the wicked and give him your burdens.



Pray to the Lord

"Jesus, I've strayed from You,

but I feel You tugging at my heart.

Forgive me of my sins, I pray."



Pray to the Lord and pray for Him to do the work He needs to do for you

to be right in Him.



Pray to the Lord and pray to remember He will not leave you.



Pray to the Lord and remember to give Him all your temptations.



Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,

and a burden to train outreach to Muslims

Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective

discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.



Pray that the Lord will be close to the brokenhearted in our society

and be their help



Pray for the staff and volunteers that serve in local churches in your

city or community, that the Lord will anoint them for effective service.



Pray that many new Kyrgyz believers will be added to God's Kingdom.



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.

Does the Bible really say that Jesus is God? Eternal





God



Psalm 102:26-27



26 They shall perish, but You shall endure;

indeed, all of them shall wear out like a garment;

like a robe You shall change them,

and they shall pass away,

27 but You are the same,

and Your years shall have no end.



[26] They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax

old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be

changed:

[27] But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.



Habakkuk 3:6



6 (Ge 49:26; Dt 33:15) He stood and measured the earth;

He looked and shook the nations.

The eternal mountains were scattered,

the perpetual hills bowed.

His ways are everlasting.



[6] He stood, and measured the earth:

He beheld, and drove asunder the nations;

And the everlasting mountains were scattered,

The perpetual hills did bow:

His ways are everlasting.



Jesus



Isaiah 9:6



6 (Isa 7:14; Mt 28:18; Lk 2:11) For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given,

and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

And his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.



[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government

shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,

Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.



Micah 5:2



2 (Zec 9:9; Mt 2:6) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

although you are small among the tribes of Judah,

from you will come forth for Me

one who will be ruler over Israel.

His origins are from of old,

from ancient days.



[2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands

of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in

Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.



John 8:58



John 8:58



58 (Ex 3:14; Jn 17:5; 17:24) Jesus said to them,

"Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM."



[58] Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham

was, I am.