Day 76 of the 3rd Bible Study Journey - 17 March 2023 reflections
Day 76, 17 Mar 2023
1) Detueronomy 21-23
DEUTERONOMY 21
Atonement for Unsolved Murders
1 If someone is found slain in the land which the Lord your God
is giving you to possess, lying in the field, and it is not known
who has slain him,
2 then your elders and your judges are to come forth,
and they must measure how far it is to the cities which are around him
who was slain.
3 (Nu 19:2) And it must be, that the city which is closest to the slain man,
that is, the elders of that city shall take a heifer
which has not been worked, that has never pulled in yoke,
4 and the elders of that city must bring down the heifer to a valley
with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall
break the heifer's neck there in the valley.
5 (1Ch 23:13; Dt 10:8) Then the priests, the sons of Levi, must come near,
for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him,
and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every
controversy and every assault will be settled.
6 (Ps 26:6; 73:13) And all the elders of that city, which is nearest
to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose
neck was broken in the valley.
7 Then they must answer and say, "Our hands have not shed this blood,
and our eyes have not seen it.
8 (Jnh 1:14) Be merciful, O Lord, to Your people Israel, whom You have
redeemed, and lay not innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel."
And the blood guilt will be forgiven them.
9 In this way you are to remove the guilt of innocent blood from among
you when you do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 21
[1] If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to
possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:
[2] Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure
unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:
[3] And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even
the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought
with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
[4] And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough
valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's
neck there in the valley:
[5] And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy
God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD;
and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:
[6] And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall
wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
[7] And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood,
neither have our eyes seen it.
[8] Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed,
and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood
shall be forgiven them.
[9] So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when
thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
Marrying Female Captives
10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God
has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,
11 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire
for her to have her as your wife,
12 then you are to bring her home to your house, and she is to shave
her head and trim her nails.
13 She must also discard the clothing of her captivity and shall remain
in your house, and mourn her father and her mother for a full month.
After that you may have relations with her, and be her husband,
and she will be your wife.
14 (Ge 34:2; Dt 22:19) It will be, if you are not pleased with her, then you
must let her go wherever she pleases, but you may not sell her at all for
money, nor are you to make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her.
The Right of the Firstborn
15 (Ge 29:33; 1Sa 1:4-5) If a man has two wives, one beloved
and another unloved, and both have borne him children,
both the loved one and the unloved one,
and if the firstborn son is hers that is unloved,
16 (1Ch 26:10; 5:2) then it must be, when he gives his sons the inheritance
which he has, that he may not make the firstborn son of the loved come
before the son of the unloved, who was indeed the firstborn.
17 (Ge 49:3; 25:31-34) On the contrary, he must acknowledge
the son of the unloved for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion
of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength.
The right of the firstborn is his.
Dealing With a Rebellious Son
18 (Ex 20:12; Lev 19:3) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son,
who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother,
and who, when they have disciplined him, will not listen to them,
19 then his father and his mother are to lay hold of him and bring him
out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.
20 (Pr 20:1) They shall say to the elders of his city,
"This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not listen to us.
He is a glutton and a drunkard."
21 (Lev 24:16; Dt 13:5) Then all the men of his city must stone him
with stones, until he dies. In this way you are to remove the evil
from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.
Various Laws
22 (Dt 22:26; Ac 23:29) If a man has committed a sin worthy of death
and is executed, and you hang him on a tree,
23 (Gal 3:13; Lev 18:25) then his body must not remain all night on the tree,
but you must bury him that day (for he that is hanged is accursed of God)
so that your land may not be defiled, which the Lord your God is giving
you for an inheritance.
[10] When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy
God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
[11] And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto
her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
[12] Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her
head, and pare her nails;
[13] And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall
remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month:
and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall
be thy wife.
[14] And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let
her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou
shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
[15] If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have
born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son
be hers that was hated:
[16] Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he
hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son
of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
[17] But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by
giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of
his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
[18] If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the
voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have
chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
[19] Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out
unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
[20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is
stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a
drunkard.
[21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die:
so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and
fear.
[22] And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put
to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
[23] His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in
any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that
thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an
inheritance.
DEUTERONOMY 22
1 (Ex 23:4-5; Dt 22:3-4) You must not see your brother's ox or his sheep
go astray and hide yourself from them. You must certainly bring them
back to your brother.
2 If your brother is not near you or if you do not know him, then you are
to bring it to your own house, and it will be with you until your brother
seeks after it. Then you must return it to him.
3 In the same way, you must do so with his donkey, with his clothing,
and with anything lost by your brother which he has lost and you have found.
You must not hide yourself from him.
4 You are not to see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down by the way
and hide yourself from them. You certainly must help him to lift them up.
5 (Dt 18:12) A woman must not wear man's clothing, nor is a man to put
on a woman's clothing. For all that do so are abominations
to the Lord your God.
6 (Lev 22:28) If you happen to notice a bird's nest along the way,
in any tree or on the ground, whether they be young ones or eggs,
and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, you are not
to take the mother from the young.
7 (Dt 4:40) You must certainly let the mother go, but you may take
the young for yourself, so that it may be well with you,
and that you may prolong your days.
8 (Ex 22:6) When you build a new house, you must make a guard
rail for your roof so that you bring no blood guilt on your house,
should anyone fall from there.
9 (Lev 19:19) You must not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seeds,
or the fruit of your seed which you have sown and the fruit of your
vineyard will be defiled.
10 (2Co 6:14-16) You must not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
11 (Lev 19:19) You must not wear clothing made of a material of wool
and linen together.
12 (Mt 23:5) You must make tassels on the four quarters of your clothing
with which you cover yourself.
Laws About Marriage
13 (Ge 29:2) 1If any man takes a wife and has sexual relations with her
and then rejects her,
14 and accuses her of impropriety and publicly
defames her, saying, "I married this woman, but when I had sexual
relations with her, I found her not to be a virgin,"
15 then the father and mother of the girl must produce evidence of the girl's
virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
16 The girl's father must say to the elders,
"I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and he has rejected her.
17 What is more, he has accused her of impropriety, saying,
'I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.' However, this is the evidence
of my daughter's virginity."
And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
18 The elders of that city must take that man and punish him,
19 (Dt 22:29; Mt 19:8-9) and they must fine him a hundred shekels
{About 2 1/2 pounds, or 1.2 kilograms. } of silver and give them
to the father of the girl, because he has publicly humiliated
a virgin of Israel. Then she is to remain his wife. He may not divorce
her all his days.
20 But if the accusation is true, and the evidence of virginity
does not exist for the girl,
21 (Ge 34:7; Dt 13:5) then they shall bring the girl out to the door of
her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones
until she dies, because she has brought disgrace into Israel,
to act like a whore in her father's house.
In this way you may purge the evil from among you.
22 (Lev 20:10; Heb 13:4) If a man is discovered lying with a married woman,
then both of them must die, both the man that lay with the woman,
and the woman. In this way you may purge the evil from Israel.
23 (Mt 1:18-19) If a girl who is a virgin is engaged to a man,
and another man finds her in the city and has sexual relations with her,
24 (Dt 21:14; 22:21-22) then you must bring them both out to the gate
of that city and you must stone them with stones until they die,
the girl because she did not cry out even though in the city,
and the man because he has violated his neighbor's wife.
In this way you may purge the evil from among you.
25 But if a man finds an engaged girl in the field,
and the man forces her and rapes her, then only the man
that raped her shall die.
26 (Dt 21:22) However, you are to do nothing to the girl.
There is no sin worthy of death in the girl, for just as
when a man rises against his neighbor and murders him,
so is this matter.
27 For he found her in the field, the engaged girl cried out,
but there was no one to save her.
28 (Ex 22:16-17) If a man finds a girl who is a virgin who is not engaged
and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered,
29 (Dt 21:14; 22:19) then the man who lay with her must give fifty shekels
{About 1 1/4 pounds, or 575 grams.} of silver to the girl's father,
and she shall be his wife because he has violated her.
He may not divorce her all his days.
30 (Lev 18:8; Dt 27:20) A man must not marry his father's wife and
in this way dishonor his father.
Deuteronomy 22
[1] Thou shalt not see the brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide
thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.
[2] And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then
thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until
thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.
[3] In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his
raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and
thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.
[4] Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and
hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
[5] The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall
a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the
LORD thy God.
[6] If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on
the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon
the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
[7] But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee;
that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
[8] When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for
thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from
thence.
[9] Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy
seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.
[10] Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
[11] Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen
together.
[12] Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture,
wherewith thou coverest thyself.
[13] If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
[14] And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name
upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her
not a maid:
[15] Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring
forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in
the gate:
[16] And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter
unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
[17] And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found
not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's
virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
[18] And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
[19] And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give
them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name
upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away
all his days.
[20] But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for
the damsel:
[21] Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house,
and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because
she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house:
so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
[22] If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they
shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman:
so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
[23] If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man
find her in the city, and lie with her;
[24] Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye
shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried
not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's
wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.
[25] But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force
her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
[26] But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no
sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and
slayeth him, even so is this matter:
[27] For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and
there was none to save her.
[28] If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and
lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
[29] Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father
fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled
her, he may not put her away all his days.
[30] A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's
skirt.
DEUTERONOMY 23
Exclusion From the Assembly
1 No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off
may enter the assembly of the Lord.
2 (Zec 9:6) No one of illegitimate birth may enter the assembly
of the Lord. Even to his tenth generation no one related to him
may enter the assembly of the Lord.
3 (Ne 13:1-2) No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly
of the Lord. Even to their tenth generation they may not enter
the assembly of the Lord forever,
4 (Ne 13:2; 2Pe 2:15) because they refused you bread and water
on the way, when you came from out of Egypt and because
they hired Balaam, the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia,
against you to curse you.
5 Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam.
Instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing
on you because the Lord your God loves you.
6 (Ezr 9:12) You are not ever to seek their peace nor their prosperity
all your days.
7 (Ex 22:21; Dt 10:19; Ex 23:9) You are not to abhor an Edomite,
for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian,
because you were a foreigner in his land.
8 The children who are born of them may enter the assembly
of the Lord in their third generation.
Uncleanness in the Camp
9 When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself
from every wicked thing.
10 (Lev 15:16) If there be among you any man who is not clean because
of a nocturnal emission, then he must leave the camp. He may not re-enter
the camp.
11 (Lev 14:9; 15:5) And it must be that when evening comes, he must wash
himself with water, and at sunset he may re-enter the camp.
12 You must also have a place outside the camp where one may go outside.
13 You must have a spade among your equipment, and it must be,
when you relieve yourself outside, you must dig there
and turn and cover up your excrement.
14 (Lev 26:12) For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp,
to deliver you, and to defeat your enemies before you. Therefore,
your camp must be holy, so that He does not see any indecent thing
among you, and turn away from you.
Various Laws
15 (1Sa 30:15) You must not deliver back to his master a slave
who has escaped from his master to you.
16 (Ex 22:21) He is to dwell with you, even among you,
in a place which he shall choose in one of your towns, where he prefers.
You must not oppress him.
17 (Lev 19:29; 2Ki 23:7) There must never be a cult prostitute among
the daughters of Israel nor a cult prostitute among the sons of Israel.
18 (Dt 23:21) You must never bring the wage of a prostitute
or the wage of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any vow,
for both of these are abominations to the Lord your God.
19 (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Ps 15:5) You must not charge interest
on a loan to your brother: interest on money, interest on food,
or on anything that may be lent with interest.
20 (Dt 15:10; 15:3) You may charge interest to a foreigner,
but to your brother you may not lend with interest
so that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which
you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
21 (Ecc 5:4-5; Dt 23:18) When you make a vow to the Lord your God,
you must not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will surely
require it of you, and it would be a sin to you.
22 But if you refrain from making a vow, it will not be a sin to you.
23 That which goes out of your lips you must keep and do,
even a freewill offering, just as you have vowed to the Lord your God,
what you have promised with your mouth.
24 When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat grapes
to your fill at your own pleasure, but you may not put any in your basket.
25 (Mk 2:23) When you enter into the standing grain of your neighbor,
you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you may not use a sickle
on your neighbor's standing grain.
Deuteronomy 23
[1] He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off,
shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
[2] A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his
tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
[3] An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the
LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the
congregation of the LORD for ever:
[4] Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye
came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son
of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
[5] Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the
LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD
thy God loved thee.
[6] Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for
ever.
[7] Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not
abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
[8] The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation
of the LORD in their third generation.
[9] When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from
every wicked thing.
[10] If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of
uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the
camp, he shall not come within the camp:
[11] But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with
water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
[12] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go
forth abroad:
[13] And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when
thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back
and cover that which cometh from thee:
[14] For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee,
and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy:
that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.
[15] Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped
from his master unto thee:
[16] He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall
choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress
him.
[17] There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of
the sons of Israel.
[18] Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into
the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
[19] Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of
victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
[20] Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou
shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that
thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
[21] When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack
to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would
be sin in thee.
[22] But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
[23] That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a
freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which
thou hast promised with thy mouth.
[24] When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat
grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy
vessel.
[25] When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou
mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto
thy neighbour's standing corn.
2) Our Daily Bread for 17 March 2023 titled
We're Not Alone
Revelation 3:14-22
The Message to Laodicea
14 (Rev 1:5; 3:7) "To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:
"The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation
of God, says these things:
15 (Rev 3:1) I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spit you out of My mouth. (I feel that way about lukewarm water as well)
17 (Hos 12:8; Zec 11:5) For you say, 'I am rich, and have stored up goods,
and have need of nothing,' yet do not realise that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 (Rev 16:15; Isa 55:1; Mt 13:44) I counsel you to buy from Me gold
refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments,
that you may be dressed, that the shame of your nakedness
may not appear, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 (Rev 2:5; Jer 31:18) "Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.
Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 (Mt 19:28; Jn 16:33) "To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me
on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 (Rev 2:7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches."
[14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God;
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need
of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked:
[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
In Fredric Brown's short story thriller "Knock," he wrote, "The last man on
Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door." Yikes! Who could
that be, and what do they want? What mysterious being has come for him?
The man is not alone.
Neither are we.
The church in Laodicea heard a knock on their door (Revelation 3:20). What
supernatural Being had come for them? His name was Jesus, "the First and the
Last . . . the Living One" (1:17-18). His eyes blazed like fire, and His
face "like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (v. 16). When His best
friend, John, caught a glimpse of His glory, he "fell at his feet as though
dead" (v. 17). Faith in Christ begins with the fear of God.
We're not alone, and this is also comforting. Jesus "is the radiance of
God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things
by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3). Yet Christ uses His strength not to
slay us but to love us. Hear His invitation, "If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they
with me" (Revelation 3:20). Our faith begins with fear-Who is at the door?
-and it ends in a welcome and strong embrace. Jesus promises to always stay
with us, even if we're the last person on earth. Thank God, we're not alone.
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
Why can't we separate Christ's power from His love?
Why are both vitally important?
Dear Jesus, I welcome You into my heart and life.
For further study, read Unknown Caller: Recognizing Jesus and the Kingdom.
( Laodicean churches or "Liberal" churches like The united church of Canada ,
The Presbyterians, the Congressationalists, the Methodists in North America.
Very Laodecian. Verse 20 is quoted out context. Why ? You need to understand
vv. 17-19 why the Lord is knocking on your Heart)
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 6 Reconciliation
2 Cor 5:18-19
18 All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ
and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins
against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.
When Paul writes in 2 Cor 5:17 that we become a "new creation" in Christ
Jesus, the story does not end there. The verses following give us direction
for tht new life in Christ. "All This", Paul says, referring to the miracle of
new life in Christ, "is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reconciliation means to bring back together what was once separated. Man was
separated from God by sin, and God took the initiative to reconcile man to
himself. Our "ministry of reconciliation" as Christians is twofold: to draw
others to the Lord and to work for reconciliation between individuals.
Reconciliation is the ultimate goal of forgiveness. God, through his grace ,
extends forgiveness to us when we are still sinners, unrepentant,
undeserving. When we respond, we come into reconciliation with him
and are brought back into oneness. Likewise, when we extend the grace
of forgiveness to another, we are set free by the act of forgiving, but we
hope that the ultimate outcome will be reconciliation.
God shows us the pattern: he is the wronged party, yet he does not wait for
the offender to come to him, hat in hand. He takes a bold initiative, offering
forgiveness freely with out regard to merit. The pattern applies to us;
as the new life in Christ takes hold of us, we must reach out, and reach,
and keep on reaching, breaking down the barriers, taking the risk of
rejection so that we may come to reconciliation.
Application
a) What barriers stand between me and reconciliation with another person?
b) How can I take a risk and reach out to offer forgiveness and
reconciliation to them?
c) What kind of attitude do I need to be a "minister of reconciliation"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:21
21 "So is he who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God."
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
James 5:7-11
Patience and Prayer
7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.
Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth
and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned.
Look, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job
and have seen the purpose of the Lord,
that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,
the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long
patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned:
behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience
of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful,
and of tender mercy.
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?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an ISlamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women who were wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to ISlam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
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
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7 Peace be within thy walls,
And prosperity within thy palaces.)
b) Pray for the province of Ontario
I) Pray for the leaders of Ontario,
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.
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
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be in obedience with the Lord
pure and unrebellious.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, I welcome You into my heart and life."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a minister of reconciliation.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to trapped by worldly riches.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be patient.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
Pray that Muslims who persecute Christian familiy members in Jordan
will be touched by the love of Jesus Chrsit.
1) Detueronomy 21-23
DEUTERONOMY 21
Atonement for Unsolved Murders
1 If someone is found slain in the land which the Lord your God
is giving you to possess, lying in the field, and it is not known
who has slain him,
2 then your elders and your judges are to come forth,
and they must measure how far it is to the cities which are around him
who was slain.
3 (Nu 19:2) And it must be, that the city which is closest to the slain man,
that is, the elders of that city shall take a heifer
which has not been worked, that has never pulled in yoke,
4 and the elders of that city must bring down the heifer to a valley
with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall
break the heifer's neck there in the valley.
5 (1Ch 23:13; Dt 10:8) Then the priests, the sons of Levi, must come near,
for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister to Him,
and to bless in the name of the Lord, and by their word every
controversy and every assault will be settled.
6 (Ps 26:6; 73:13) And all the elders of that city, which is nearest
to the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose
neck was broken in the valley.
7 Then they must answer and say, "Our hands have not shed this blood,
and our eyes have not seen it.
8 (Jnh 1:14) Be merciful, O Lord, to Your people Israel, whom You have
redeemed, and lay not innocent blood in the midst of Your people Israel."
And the blood guilt will be forgiven them.
9 In this way you are to remove the guilt of innocent blood from among
you when you do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 21
[1] If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to
possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:
[2] Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure
unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:
[3] And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even
the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought
with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;
[4] And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough
valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's
neck there in the valley:
[5] And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy
God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD;
and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:
[6] And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall
wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:
[7] And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood,
neither have our eyes seen it.
[8] Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed,
and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood
shall be forgiven them.
[9] So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when
thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
Marrying Female Captives
10 When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God
has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive,
11 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire
for her to have her as your wife,
12 then you are to bring her home to your house, and she is to shave
her head and trim her nails.
13 She must also discard the clothing of her captivity and shall remain
in your house, and mourn her father and her mother for a full month.
After that you may have relations with her, and be her husband,
and she will be your wife.
14 (Ge 34:2; Dt 22:19) It will be, if you are not pleased with her, then you
must let her go wherever she pleases, but you may not sell her at all for
money, nor are you to make merchandise of her, because you have humbled her.
The Right of the Firstborn
15 (Ge 29:33; 1Sa 1:4-5) If a man has two wives, one beloved
and another unloved, and both have borne him children,
both the loved one and the unloved one,
and if the firstborn son is hers that is unloved,
16 (1Ch 26:10; 5:2) then it must be, when he gives his sons the inheritance
which he has, that he may not make the firstborn son of the loved come
before the son of the unloved, who was indeed the firstborn.
17 (Ge 49:3; 25:31-34) On the contrary, he must acknowledge
the son of the unloved for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion
of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength.
The right of the firstborn is his.
Dealing With a Rebellious Son
18 (Ex 20:12; Lev 19:3) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son,
who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother,
and who, when they have disciplined him, will not listen to them,
19 then his father and his mother are to lay hold of him and bring him
out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.
20 (Pr 20:1) They shall say to the elders of his city,
"This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not listen to us.
He is a glutton and a drunkard."
21 (Lev 24:16; Dt 13:5) Then all the men of his city must stone him
with stones, until he dies. In this way you are to remove the evil
from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.
Various Laws
22 (Dt 22:26; Ac 23:29) If a man has committed a sin worthy of death
and is executed, and you hang him on a tree,
23 (Gal 3:13; Lev 18:25) then his body must not remain all night on the tree,
but you must bury him that day (for he that is hanged is accursed of God)
so that your land may not be defiled, which the Lord your God is giving
you for an inheritance.
[10] When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy
God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,
[11] And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto
her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
[12] Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her
head, and pare her nails;
[13] And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall
remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month:
and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall
be thy wife.
[14] And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let
her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou
shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
[15] If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have
born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son
be hers that was hated:
[16] Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he
hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son
of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
[17] But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by
giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of
his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
[18] If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the
voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have
chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
[19] Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out
unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
[20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is
stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a
drunkard.
[21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die:
so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and
fear.
[22] And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put
to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
[23] His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in
any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that
thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an
inheritance.
DEUTERONOMY 22
1 (Ex 23:4-5; Dt 22:3-4) You must not see your brother's ox or his sheep
go astray and hide yourself from them. You must certainly bring them
back to your brother.
2 If your brother is not near you or if you do not know him, then you are
to bring it to your own house, and it will be with you until your brother
seeks after it. Then you must return it to him.
3 In the same way, you must do so with his donkey, with his clothing,
and with anything lost by your brother which he has lost and you have found.
You must not hide yourself from him.
4 You are not to see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down by the way
and hide yourself from them. You certainly must help him to lift them up.
5 (Dt 18:12) A woman must not wear man's clothing, nor is a man to put
on a woman's clothing. For all that do so are abominations
to the Lord your God.
6 (Lev 22:28) If you happen to notice a bird's nest along the way,
in any tree or on the ground, whether they be young ones or eggs,
and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, you are not
to take the mother from the young.
7 (Dt 4:40) You must certainly let the mother go, but you may take
the young for yourself, so that it may be well with you,
and that you may prolong your days.
8 (Ex 22:6) When you build a new house, you must make a guard
rail for your roof so that you bring no blood guilt on your house,
should anyone fall from there.
9 (Lev 19:19) You must not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seeds,
or the fruit of your seed which you have sown and the fruit of your
vineyard will be defiled.
10 (2Co 6:14-16) You must not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
11 (Lev 19:19) You must not wear clothing made of a material of wool
and linen together.
12 (Mt 23:5) You must make tassels on the four quarters of your clothing
with which you cover yourself.
Laws About Marriage
13 (Ge 29:2) 1If any man takes a wife and has sexual relations with her
and then rejects her,
14 and accuses her of impropriety and publicly
defames her, saying, "I married this woman, but when I had sexual
relations with her, I found her not to be a virgin,"
15 then the father and mother of the girl must produce evidence of the girl's
virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
16 The girl's father must say to the elders,
"I gave my daughter to this man to wife, and he has rejected her.
17 What is more, he has accused her of impropriety, saying,
'I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.' However, this is the evidence
of my daughter's virginity."
And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
18 The elders of that city must take that man and punish him,
19 (Dt 22:29; Mt 19:8-9) and they must fine him a hundred shekels
{About 2 1/2 pounds, or 1.2 kilograms. } of silver and give them
to the father of the girl, because he has publicly humiliated
a virgin of Israel. Then she is to remain his wife. He may not divorce
her all his days.
20 But if the accusation is true, and the evidence of virginity
does not exist for the girl,
21 (Ge 34:7; Dt 13:5) then they shall bring the girl out to the door of
her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones
until she dies, because she has brought disgrace into Israel,
to act like a whore in her father's house.
In this way you may purge the evil from among you.
22 (Lev 20:10; Heb 13:4) If a man is discovered lying with a married woman,
then both of them must die, both the man that lay with the woman,
and the woman. In this way you may purge the evil from Israel.
23 (Mt 1:18-19) If a girl who is a virgin is engaged to a man,
and another man finds her in the city and has sexual relations with her,
24 (Dt 21:14; 22:21-22) then you must bring them both out to the gate
of that city and you must stone them with stones until they die,
the girl because she did not cry out even though in the city,
and the man because he has violated his neighbor's wife.
In this way you may purge the evil from among you.
25 But if a man finds an engaged girl in the field,
and the man forces her and rapes her, then only the man
that raped her shall die.
26 (Dt 21:22) However, you are to do nothing to the girl.
There is no sin worthy of death in the girl, for just as
when a man rises against his neighbor and murders him,
so is this matter.
27 For he found her in the field, the engaged girl cried out,
but there was no one to save her.
28 (Ex 22:16-17) If a man finds a girl who is a virgin who is not engaged
and seizes her and lies with her and they are discovered,
29 (Dt 21:14; 22:19) then the man who lay with her must give fifty shekels
{About 1 1/4 pounds, or 575 grams.} of silver to the girl's father,
and she shall be his wife because he has violated her.
He may not divorce her all his days.
30 (Lev 18:8; Dt 27:20) A man must not marry his father's wife and
in this way dishonor his father.
Deuteronomy 22
[1] Thou shalt not see the brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide
thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.
[2] And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then
thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until
thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.
[3] In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his
raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and
thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.
[4] Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and
hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
[5] The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall
a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the
LORD thy God.
[6] If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on
the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon
the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
[7] But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee;
that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
[8] When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for
thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from
thence.
[9] Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy
seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.
[10] Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
[11] Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen
together.
[12] Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture,
wherewith thou coverest thyself.
[13] If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,
[14] And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name
upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her
not a maid:
[15] Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring
forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in
the gate:
[16] And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter
unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;
[17] And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found
not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's
virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
[18] And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;
[19] And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give
them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name
upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away
all his days.
[20] But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for
the damsel:
[21] Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house,
and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because
she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house:
so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
[22] If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they
shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman:
so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
[23] If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man
find her in the city, and lie with her;
[24] Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye
shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried
not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's
wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.
[25] But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force
her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
[26] But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no
sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and
slayeth him, even so is this matter:
[27] For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and
there was none to save her.
[28] If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and
lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
[29] Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father
fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled
her, he may not put her away all his days.
[30] A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's
skirt.
DEUTERONOMY 23
Exclusion From the Assembly
1 No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off
may enter the assembly of the Lord.
2 (Zec 9:6) No one of illegitimate birth may enter the assembly
of the Lord. Even to his tenth generation no one related to him
may enter the assembly of the Lord.
3 (Ne 13:1-2) No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly
of the Lord. Even to their tenth generation they may not enter
the assembly of the Lord forever,
4 (Ne 13:2; 2Pe 2:15) because they refused you bread and water
on the way, when you came from out of Egypt and because
they hired Balaam, the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia,
against you to curse you.
5 Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam.
Instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing
on you because the Lord your God loves you.
6 (Ezr 9:12) You are not ever to seek their peace nor their prosperity
all your days.
7 (Ex 22:21; Dt 10:19; Ex 23:9) You are not to abhor an Edomite,
for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian,
because you were a foreigner in his land.
8 The children who are born of them may enter the assembly
of the Lord in their third generation.
Uncleanness in the Camp
9 When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself
from every wicked thing.
10 (Lev 15:16) If there be among you any man who is not clean because
of a nocturnal emission, then he must leave the camp. He may not re-enter
the camp.
11 (Lev 14:9; 15:5) And it must be that when evening comes, he must wash
himself with water, and at sunset he may re-enter the camp.
12 You must also have a place outside the camp where one may go outside.
13 You must have a spade among your equipment, and it must be,
when you relieve yourself outside, you must dig there
and turn and cover up your excrement.
14 (Lev 26:12) For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp,
to deliver you, and to defeat your enemies before you. Therefore,
your camp must be holy, so that He does not see any indecent thing
among you, and turn away from you.
Various Laws
15 (1Sa 30:15) You must not deliver back to his master a slave
who has escaped from his master to you.
16 (Ex 22:21) He is to dwell with you, even among you,
in a place which he shall choose in one of your towns, where he prefers.
You must not oppress him.
17 (Lev 19:29; 2Ki 23:7) There must never be a cult prostitute among
the daughters of Israel nor a cult prostitute among the sons of Israel.
18 (Dt 23:21) You must never bring the wage of a prostitute
or the wage of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any vow,
for both of these are abominations to the Lord your God.
19 (Ex 22:25; Lev 25:35-37; Ps 15:5) You must not charge interest
on a loan to your brother: interest on money, interest on food,
or on anything that may be lent with interest.
20 (Dt 15:10; 15:3) You may charge interest to a foreigner,
but to your brother you may not lend with interest
so that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which
you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.
21 (Ecc 5:4-5; Dt 23:18) When you make a vow to the Lord your God,
you must not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will surely
require it of you, and it would be a sin to you.
22 But if you refrain from making a vow, it will not be a sin to you.
23 That which goes out of your lips you must keep and do,
even a freewill offering, just as you have vowed to the Lord your God,
what you have promised with your mouth.
24 When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat grapes
to your fill at your own pleasure, but you may not put any in your basket.
25 (Mk 2:23) When you enter into the standing grain of your neighbor,
you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you may not use a sickle
on your neighbor's standing grain.
Deuteronomy 23
[1] He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off,
shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
[2] A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his
tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
[3] An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the
LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the
congregation of the LORD for ever:
[4] Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye
came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son
of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
[5] Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the
LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD
thy God loved thee.
[6] Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for
ever.
[7] Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not
abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
[8] The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation
of the LORD in their third generation.
[9] When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from
every wicked thing.
[10] If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of
uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the
camp, he shall not come within the camp:
[11] But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with
water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
[12] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go
forth abroad:
[13] And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when
thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back
and cover that which cometh from thee:
[14] For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee,
and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy:
that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.
[15] Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped
from his master unto thee:
[16] He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall
choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress
him.
[17] There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of
the sons of Israel.
[18] Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into
the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
[19] Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of
victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
[20] Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou
shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that
thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
[21] When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack
to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would
be sin in thee.
[22] But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
[23] That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a
freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which
thou hast promised with thy mouth.
[24] When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat
grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy
vessel.
[25] When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou
mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto
thy neighbour's standing corn.
2) Our Daily Bread for 17 March 2023 titled
We're Not Alone
Revelation 3:14-22
The Message to Laodicea
14 (Rev 1:5; 3:7) "To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write:
"The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation
of God, says these things:
15 (Rev 3:1) I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spit you out of My mouth. (I feel that way about lukewarm water as well)
17 (Hos 12:8; Zec 11:5) For you say, 'I am rich, and have stored up goods,
and have need of nothing,' yet do not realise that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
18 (Rev 16:15; Isa 55:1; Mt 13:44) I counsel you to buy from Me gold
refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments,
that you may be dressed, that the shame of your nakedness
may not appear, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 (Rev 2:5; Jer 31:18) "Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline.
Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 (Mt 19:28; Jn 16:33) "To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me
on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 (Rev 2:7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches."
[14] And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God;
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need
of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked:
[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.
[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
[21] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even
as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
In Fredric Brown's short story thriller "Knock," he wrote, "The last man on
Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door." Yikes! Who could
that be, and what do they want? What mysterious being has come for him?
The man is not alone.
Neither are we.
The church in Laodicea heard a knock on their door (Revelation 3:20). What
supernatural Being had come for them? His name was Jesus, "the First and the
Last . . . the Living One" (1:17-18). His eyes blazed like fire, and His
face "like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (v. 16). When His best
friend, John, caught a glimpse of His glory, he "fell at his feet as though
dead" (v. 17). Faith in Christ begins with the fear of God.
We're not alone, and this is also comforting. Jesus "is the radiance of
God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things
by his powerful word" (Hebrews 1:3). Yet Christ uses His strength not to
slay us but to love us. Hear His invitation, "If anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they
with me" (Revelation 3:20). Our faith begins with fear-Who is at the door?
-and it ends in a welcome and strong embrace. Jesus promises to always stay
with us, even if we're the last person on earth. Thank God, we're not alone.
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
Why can't we separate Christ's power from His love?
Why are both vitally important?
Dear Jesus, I welcome You into my heart and life.
For further study, read Unknown Caller: Recognizing Jesus and the Kingdom.
( Laodicean churches or "Liberal" churches like The united church of Canada ,
The Presbyterians, the Congressationalists, the Methodists in North America.
Very Laodecian. Verse 20 is quoted out context. Why ? You need to understand
vv. 17-19 why the Lord is knocking on your Heart)
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 6 Reconciliation
2 Cor 5:18-19
18 All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ
and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins
against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.
When Paul writes in 2 Cor 5:17 that we become a "new creation" in Christ
Jesus, the story does not end there. The verses following give us direction
for tht new life in Christ. "All This", Paul says, referring to the miracle of
new life in Christ, "is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reconciliation means to bring back together what was once separated. Man was
separated from God by sin, and God took the initiative to reconcile man to
himself. Our "ministry of reconciliation" as Christians is twofold: to draw
others to the Lord and to work for reconciliation between individuals.
Reconciliation is the ultimate goal of forgiveness. God, through his grace ,
extends forgiveness to us when we are still sinners, unrepentant,
undeserving. When we respond, we come into reconciliation with him
and are brought back into oneness. Likewise, when we extend the grace
of forgiveness to another, we are set free by the act of forgiving, but we
hope that the ultimate outcome will be reconciliation.
God shows us the pattern: he is the wronged party, yet he does not wait for
the offender to come to him, hat in hand. He takes a bold initiative, offering
forgiveness freely with out regard to merit. The pattern applies to us;
as the new life in Christ takes hold of us, we must reach out, and reach,
and keep on reaching, breaking down the barriers, taking the risk of
rejection so that we may come to reconciliation.
Application
a) What barriers stand between me and reconciliation with another person?
b) How can I take a risk and reach out to offer forgiveness and
reconciliation to them?
c) What kind of attitude do I need to be a "minister of reconciliation"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Luke 12:21
21 "So is he who stores up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God."
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Impatient
James 5:7-11
Patience and Prayer
7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.
Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth
and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned.
Look, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job
and have seen the purpose of the Lord,
that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,
the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long
patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned:
behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience
of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful,
and of tender mercy.
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?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an ISlamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women who were wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to ISlam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
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
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7 Peace be within thy walls,
And prosperity within thy palaces.)
b) Pray for the province of Ontario
I) Pray for the leaders of Ontario,
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.
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
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be in obedience with the Lord
pure and unrebellious.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, I welcome You into my heart and life."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a minister of reconciliation.
Pray to the Lord and pray not to trapped by worldly riches.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be patient.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
Pray that Muslims who persecute Christian familiy members in Jordan
will be touched by the love of Jesus Chrsit.