Day 89 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 29 March 2024 - Good Friday reflections
Day 89, 29 March 2024 Good Friday
Today at
Calvary Community Church , Pastor Doug Zieber
spoke Something Greater - God's Just Injustice
Acts 13:27-28
27 (Ac 3:17; Lk 24:20) Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers,
did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices
of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath.
28 (Mt 27:22-25) Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death,
yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
[27] For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew
him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath
day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
[28] And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate
that he should be slain.
1) Judges 1 - 2
JUDGES 1
Israel Fights Remaining Canaanites
1 (Nu 27:21; Jdg 20:18) After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel
inquired of the Lord, "Who should go up against the Canaanites first,
in order to wage war against them?"
2 The Lord said, "Judah shall go up.
Indeed, I have given the land into their hands."
3 (Jdg 1:17) Then the men of Judah said to Simeon,
their brothers, "Come up with us into our allotted territory.
We will wage war against the Canaanites. Likewise we will go
with you into your allotted territory." So Simeon went with them.
4 (1 Sa 11:8) Then Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites
and Perizzites into their hands. They struck down ten thousand men in Bezek.
5 They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek and fought against him.
They struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites.
6 Yet Adoni-Bezek fled, and they chased after him, seized him,
and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7 (1Sa 15:33) Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings whose thumbs
and big toes were cut off once collected scraps of food
under my table. Just as I have done, so God has repaid me."
They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 (Jos 15:63; Jdg 1:21) Then Judah waged war against Jerusalem.
They captured it, struck it with the edge of the sword,
and sent the city up in flames.
9 Afterwards, Judah went down to wage war against the Canaanites
living in the hill country, the Negev, and the lowlands.
10 (Nu 13:22; Jos 14:15) Judah went against the Canaanites living
in Hebron (previously the name of Hebron was Kiriath Arba)
and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 (Jos 15:15) From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir
(previously the name of Debir was Kiriath Sepher).
12 Caleb said, "He who attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it,
I will give him my daughter Aksah as wife."
13 (Jdg 3:9) Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb,
captured it. So Caleb gave him Aksah his daughter in marriage.
14 When she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father
for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her,
"What can I do for you?"
15 She answered, "Please give me a special gift.
Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water."
So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
16 (Nu 10:29-32; 21:1; Dt 34:3) The descendants of Moses' father-in-law,
the Kenite, went up with the descendants of Judah from the City of Palms
to the Negev near Arad. Then they went and lived with the people.
17 (Nu 21:3) But Judah went with his brother Simeon
and struck down the Canaanites living in Zephath and utterly destroyed it.
So now they call the city Hormah.
18 (Jos 11:22; Jdg 3:3) Then Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron,
and the territory belonging to each of these cities.
19 (Jdg 1:2) The Lord was with Judah, and they took the hill country
but could not drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain,
for they had iron chariots.
20 (Jdg 1:10; Jos 15:13-14) They gave Hebron to Caleb,
as Moses had said, and he drove out the three sons of Anak.
21 (Jos 15:63) However, the tribe of Benjamin did not drive out
the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live
with the tribe of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22 (Jdg 1:19) The descendants of Joseph went up against Bethel,
and the Lord was with them.
23 (Ge 28:19; 35:6) The descendants of Joseph sent spies into Bethel
(the former name of the city was Luz).
24 The spies saw a man coming out of the city and said to him,
"Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will deal kindly with you."
25 So he showed them an entrance to the city. They struck the city with the
edge of the sword, but they let the man and his extended family go.
26 The man went to the land of the Hittites. He built a city
and named it Luz, and that is its name to this day.
27 (Jos 17:11-13) Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants
of Beth Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, or their daughter villages,
for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.
28 When the children of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites
to hard labor as slaves, but they did not actually drive them out.
29 (Jos 16:10; 1Ki 9:16) Ephraim did not drive out the inhabitants
of Gezer, so the Canaanites lived among them in Gezer.
30 (Jos 19:15) Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron
and Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them and became
slave laborers.
31 (Jos 19:24-30) Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko,
Sidon, Ahlab, Akzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob.
32 Asher lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land,
for they did not drive them out.
33 (Jos 19:32-38) Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh
or Beth Anath, so they live among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land.
The Canaanites of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became slave laborers for them.
34 (Jos 19:47) The Amorites pushed the tribe of Dan into the hill country,
for they would not let them come down to the coastal plain.
35 (Jos 19:42) The Amorites were determined to live in Mount Heres, Aijalon,
and Shaalbim, but the hand of the descendants of Joseph was heavy on them,
and they became slave laborers.
36 (Nu 34:4) The border of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim
to Sela and beyond.
Judges 1
[1] Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of
Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites
first, to fight against them?
[2] And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land
into his hand.
[3] And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot,
that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee
into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
[4] And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the
Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
[5] And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and
they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
[6] But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and
cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
[7] And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and
their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have
done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there
he died.
[8] Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken
it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
[9] And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the
Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
[10] And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the
name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman,
and Talmai.
[11] And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name
of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher:
[12] And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him
will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
[13] And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he
gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
[14] And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of
her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto
her, What wilt thou?
[15] And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a
south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper
springs and the nether springs.
[16] And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of
the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of
Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the
people.
[17] And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites
that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city
was called Hormah.
[18] Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast
thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
[19] And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the
mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because
they had chariots of iron.
[20] And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence
the three sons of Anak.
[21] And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that
inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin
in Jerusalem unto this day.
[22] And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD
was with them.
[23] And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the
city before was Luz.)
[24] And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto
him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew
thee mercy.
[25] And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city
with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
[26] And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and
called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
[27] Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her
towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns,
nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo
and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
[28] And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the
Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
[29] Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but
the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
[30] Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the
inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became
tributaries.
[31] Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the
inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of
Aphik, nor of Rehob:
[32] But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the
land: for they did not drive them out.
[33] Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the
inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the
inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of
Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.
[34] And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they
would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
[35] But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in
Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became
tributaries.
[36] And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from
the rock, and upward.
JUDGES 2
The Angel of the Lord at Bokim
1 (Ge 17:7-8; Ex 20:2) The angelAt times the Lord speaks directly through
an angel (cf. the story of the burning bush in Ex 3:2-4). of the Lord went up
from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up from Egypt and brought
you into the land that I promised your fathers. I said, 'I will never break
My covenant with you,
2 (Dt 7:2-4) but you must not make a pact with the inhabitants of this land,
and you must tear down their altars.' Yet you have not obeyed Me.
What is this you have done?
3 (Nu 33:55; Jos 23:13; Dt 7:16) So now I say, 'I will not drive them out
before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will
be a snare to you.' "
4 When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel,
the people raised their voices and wept aloud.
5 They named that place Bokim and sacrificed to the Lord there.
[1] And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made
you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware
unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
[2] And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall
throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done
this?
[3] Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but
they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto
you.
[4] And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto
all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
[5] And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there
unto the LORD.
The Death of Joshua
6 (Jos 24:28-31) When Joshua dismissed the people,
each Israelite went to his inheritance to possess the land.
7 (Jos 24:31) So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua,
and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen
all the great works that the Lord had done for Israel.
8 Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 .
9 (Jos 19:50) They buried him in the territory of his inheritance
in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10 (Ex 5:2; 1Sa 2:12) That entire generation passed away,
and after them grew up a generation who did not know the Lord
or the deeds that He had done for Israel.
[6] And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every
man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
[7] And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days
of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the
LORD, that he did for Israel.
[8] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an
hundred and ten years old.
[9] And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres,
in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
[10] And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and
there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet
the works which he had done for Israel.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
11 (Jdg 3:7; 4:1) The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord
and served the Baals.
12 (Ex 20:5) They abandoned the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them
out of the land of Egypt. They followed after other gods,
the gods of the peoples around them. They worshipped them
and provoked the Lord to anger.
13 (Jdg 10:6; 3:7) They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14 (Dt 32:30; Lev 26:37) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel,
and He gave them into the hands of those who plundered them;
and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them,
so that they were no longer able to stand against their enemies.
15 (Dt 28:15-68) Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord
was against them to bring disaster, as the Lord had said
and as He had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
16 (Ac 13:20; Jdg 3:15) Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered
them from the hand of those who plundered them.
17 (Jdg 2:7; Dt 9:12) Yet they would not listen to their judges,
for they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshipped them.
They quickly turned aside from the path their fathers had walked,
who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord.
They did not do as their fathers had done.
18 (Dt 32:36; Jos 1:5) When the Lord raised up judges for them,
the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies
all the days of the judge; for their groaning before their oppressors
and tormentors grieved the Lord.
19 (Jdg 4:1; 8:33) When the judge died, the people turned back
and acted more wickedly than their fathers, pursuing other gods
to serve and worship them. They would not give up their practices
and obstinate ways.
20 (Jdg 2:14; Jos 23:16) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel,
and He said, "Because this nation has violated My covenant that
I commanded their fathers and has not heeded My voice,
21 (Jos 23:13; Jdg 2:3) I will no longer drive out from before them any
of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 (Dt 8:2; 8:16; 13:3) so that through them I may test Israel
and see whether or not they will keep the ways of the Lord,
to walk in them as their fathers did."
23 So the Lord left those nations, not hurrying to drive them out;
and He did not deliver them into the hand of Joshua.
[11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baalim:
[12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out
of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people
that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the
LORD to anger.
[13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
[14] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them
into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the
hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand
before their enemies.
[15] Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for
evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they
were greatly distressed.
[16] Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the
hand of those that spoiled them.
[17] And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a
whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned
quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the
commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
[18] And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the
judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of
the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of
them that oppressed them and vexed them.
[19] And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and
corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to
serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own
doings, nor from their stubborn way.
[20] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because
that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their
fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
[21] I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the
nations which Joshua left when he died:
[22] That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of
the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
[23] Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out
hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
2) Our Daily Bread for 29 March 2024 titled
>
Jesus, Our Substitute
1 Peter 3:13-18
13 (Pr 16:7) Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?
14 (1Pe 2:19-20; Isa 8:12-13) But even if you suffer for the sake
of righteousness, you are blessed. "Do not be afraid of their terror,
do not be troubled."(Isa 8:12.)
15 (Col 4:6; Isa 29:23) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for
a reason for the hope that is in you, with
gentleness and fear.
16 (Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12) Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak
evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 (1Pe 2:20; 4:19) For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you
suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 (1Pe 4:1; Heb 9:26; Ro 4:25) For Christ also has once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,
[13] And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is
good?
[14] But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not
afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:
[16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in
Christ.
[17] For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well
doing, than for evil doing.
[18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:
A wealthy twenty-year-old was drag-racing with his friends when he struck
and killed a pedestrian. Although the young man received a three-year
prison sentence, some believe that the man who appeared in court
(and who subsequently served a prison sentence) was a hired surrogate
for the driver who committed the crime. This type of thing has been known
to occur in some countries where people hire body doubles to avoid paying
for their crimes.
This may sound scandalous and outrageous, but more than two thousand years
ago, Jesus became our substitute and "suffered once for [our] sins,
the righteous for the unrighteous" (1 Peter 3:18). As God's sinless sacrifice,
Christ suffered and died once and for all (Hebrews 10:10), for all who believe
in Him. He took the penalty for all our sins in His own body on the cross.
Unlike a person today who chooses to be a substitute for a criminal to get
some cash, Christ's substitutionary death on the cross provided "hope" for us
as He freely, willingly gave His life for us (1 Peter 3:15, 18; John 10:15).
He did so to bridge the chasm between us and God.
May we rejoice and find comfort and confidence in this profound truth:
Only by the substitutionary death of Jesus can we-sinners in need-have
a relationship with and complete spiritual access to our loving God.
By: Marvin Williams
Reflect & Pray
How has Christ's substitutionary death changed your life?
What does it mean for you to have access to God and eternal
life because of Jesus' death on the cross?
Dear Jesus, thank You for dying in my place
so that I might have access to God.
Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 -The Blessings of Grace Day 6 - A Reasonable Alternative
Isaiah 1:18
18 (Ps 51:7; Rev 7:14) "Come now, and let us reason together, "
says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
"Is Christianity Reasonable?" Linda Wanted to Know. "I've heard all my life
that faith is a crutch, an invention of weak minds to assure them
of some order in the world."
Linda was not alone in her objection; thinking people for generations
have been asking themselves the same question.
God is not intimidated by our questions; in fact, he confronts the issue
head-on in the Scriptures. "Let us reason together," the Lord invites.
Even according to the most basic of human reasoning,
faith is a reasonable alternative , a rational choice for a thinking person.
God indicates in his Word that confession and forgiveness are "reasonable".
"Think!" God says. "You sin, and you know it. You are not even able to be
true to your own principles. You cannot deal with your sin by will power
or effort. But I can deal with it! I can forgive it - and I will"
We cannot come to faith in God through Christ by intellect alone, of course.
Our spirits much reach out in faith, beyond what we can see. But intellect
supports faith; trusting in Christ is an eminently rational decision.
In Deut 30:1-20 , God set before the people a choice: Life or Death, blessing
or cursing. "Choose Life!" he tells them. We have the same choice.
The ultimate decision is thus simplified, the 'rational' alternative becomes
clear. We can choose death, by attempting to control our own destinies ,
or life, by giving ourselves fully into the hand of the Master.
Application
a) Why is the choice to acknowledge my sin and receive forgiveness a
'Rational choice'?
b) What are the alternatives to such a decision?
c) What other aspects of God's word
and work in my life seem 'reasonable' to me?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 8:18
18 But you must remember the Lord your God,
for it is He who gives you the ability to get wealth,
so that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers,
as it is today.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth
thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant
which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
PSALMS 25:15-21
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for He will lead my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me,
for I am isolated and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 Look on my pain and misery,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many,
and they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Watch over my life, and deliver me!
Let me not suffer shame,
for I seek refuge in You.
21 Truth and integrity will preserve me
while I wait for You.
Ain
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD;
For he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Pe
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;
For I am desolate and afflicted.
Zade
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged:
O bring thou me out of my distresses.
(Qoph)
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain;
And forgive all my sins.
Resh
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Shin
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me:
Let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Taw
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;
For I wait on thee.
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
Pray for Iranians in Europe
Ephesians 2:9
9 (2Ti 1:9; Ro 3:20) not of works, so that no one should boast.
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Mahmoud, an Iranian refugee in Europe, regularly visited a local church,
with the hope that they would support him in his refugee status. While
he was there, he learned about Christian ways of worship, including
the different ways that Christians fast. As a heavy drinker, Mahmoud
was inspired to abstain from alcohol for 40 days. On day 39, he was
overcome by temptation and bought a bottle of alcohol. As Mahmoud
took the first sip, he cried out to the Lord:
"Jesus, if you are real, help me stop drinking!"
Mahmoud's friends and family witnessed his astounding transformation
through Christ, who set him free from his addiction. Mahmoud's profound
testimony and transformed life became an inspiration to others.
In recent years, a significant number of Iranians, like Mahmoud, have
sought refuge in Europe, driven by factors like social injustice, political
issues, and persecution based on their faith and beliefs. Many embark on the
journey to Europe with the hopes of attaining safety, security, a place to
call home, freedom, and a promising future. But as well as this, many Iranians
are searching for truth, hope and spiritual refuge.
Jesus can be the answer to their search. Throughout history, he has shown
compassion and met people at the point of their deepest needs and struggles.
Similarly, in Europe today, Jesus continues to manifest His presence among
Iranians and others who are seeking refuge. He reaches out to them in their
moments of greatest suffering, offering comfort, healing, freedom, salvation,
and hope.
Pray More: Learn more about Iranians at PersianWorld.org
How to Pray
Pray that God will use the needs and challenges faced
by Iranians in Europe to draw them closer to Himself.
Ask God that Iranian Muslims will encounter the person
of Jesus Christ as they seek assistance and find true
refuge and solace in Him.
Pray that Christian churches will be open to Iranians,
offering care, fellowship and security.
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
Day 29 of the Month
a) Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion (
Ps 139:13-16
13 You brought my inner parts into being;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;
marvelous are Your works,
and You know me completely.
15 My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me unformed,
yet in Your book
all my days were written,
before any of them came into being.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee,
When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought
in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
And in thy book all my members were written,
Which in continuance were fashioned,
When as yet there was none of them.
)
b) Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight (
Gal 2:10
10 (Ac 24:17) Only they requested that we should remember the poor,
which I also was eager to do.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor;
the same which I also was forward to do.
)
Conclusion:
Pray for True Justice in the World.
Pray to the Lord and pray that the Lord will let Godly people rise and rule.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, thank You for dying in my place
so that I might have access to God."
Pray to the Lord and Pray to hand over all your sins to Jesus.
Pray to the Lord and pray to honour his covenant.
Pray to the Lord and pray for integrity and uprightness to uphold you.
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 that God will use the needs and challenges faced
by Iranians in Europe to draw them closer to Himself.
Ask God that Iranian Muslims will encounter the person
of Jesus Christ as they seek assistance and find true
refuge and solace in Him.
Pray that Christian churches will be open to Iranians,
offering care, fellowship and security.
Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion.
Pray that the Church will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight.
Pray for Christian converts in Iraq Christian converts from Islam dealing with
opposition from Family members, the govrnment and extremist groups.
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
Today at
Calvary Community Church , Pastor Doug Zieber
spoke Something Greater - God's Just Injustice
Acts 13:27-28
27 (Ac 3:17; Lk 24:20) Because those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers,
did not know Him, in condemning Him they have fulfilled the voices
of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath.
28 (Mt 27:22-25) Though they found in Him no cause worthy of death,
yet they asked Pilate to have Him killed.
[27] For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew
him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath
day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
[28] And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate
that he should be slain.
1) Judges 1 - 2
JUDGES 1
Israel Fights Remaining Canaanites
1 (Nu 27:21; Jdg 20:18) After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel
inquired of the Lord, "Who should go up against the Canaanites first,
in order to wage war against them?"
2 The Lord said, "Judah shall go up.
Indeed, I have given the land into their hands."
3 (Jdg 1:17) Then the men of Judah said to Simeon,
their brothers, "Come up with us into our allotted territory.
We will wage war against the Canaanites. Likewise we will go
with you into your allotted territory." So Simeon went with them.
4 (1 Sa 11:8) Then Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites
and Perizzites into their hands. They struck down ten thousand men in Bezek.
5 They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek and fought against him.
They struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites.
6 Yet Adoni-Bezek fled, and they chased after him, seized him,
and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7 (1Sa 15:33) Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings whose thumbs
and big toes were cut off once collected scraps of food
under my table. Just as I have done, so God has repaid me."
They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 (Jos 15:63; Jdg 1:21) Then Judah waged war against Jerusalem.
They captured it, struck it with the edge of the sword,
and sent the city up in flames.
9 Afterwards, Judah went down to wage war against the Canaanites
living in the hill country, the Negev, and the lowlands.
10 (Nu 13:22; Jos 14:15) Judah went against the Canaanites living
in Hebron (previously the name of Hebron was Kiriath Arba)
and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 (Jos 15:15) From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir
(previously the name of Debir was Kiriath Sepher).
12 Caleb said, "He who attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it,
I will give him my daughter Aksah as wife."
13 (Jdg 3:9) Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb,
captured it. So Caleb gave him Aksah his daughter in marriage.
14 When she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father
for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her,
"What can I do for you?"
15 She answered, "Please give me a special gift.
Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water."
So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
16 (Nu 10:29-32; 21:1; Dt 34:3) The descendants of Moses' father-in-law,
the Kenite, went up with the descendants of Judah from the City of Palms
to the Negev near Arad. Then they went and lived with the people.
17 (Nu 21:3) But Judah went with his brother Simeon
and struck down the Canaanites living in Zephath and utterly destroyed it.
So now they call the city Hormah.
18 (Jos 11:22; Jdg 3:3) Then Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron,
and the territory belonging to each of these cities.
19 (Jdg 1:2) The Lord was with Judah, and they took the hill country
but could not drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain,
for they had iron chariots.
20 (Jdg 1:10; Jos 15:13-14) They gave Hebron to Caleb,
as Moses had said, and he drove out the three sons of Anak.
21 (Jos 15:63) However, the tribe of Benjamin did not drive out
the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live
with the tribe of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22 (Jdg 1:19) The descendants of Joseph went up against Bethel,
and the Lord was with them.
23 (Ge 28:19; 35:6) The descendants of Joseph sent spies into Bethel
(the former name of the city was Luz).
24 The spies saw a man coming out of the city and said to him,
"Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will deal kindly with you."
25 So he showed them an entrance to the city. They struck the city with the
edge of the sword, but they let the man and his extended family go.
26 The man went to the land of the Hittites. He built a city
and named it Luz, and that is its name to this day.
27 (Jos 17:11-13) Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants
of Beth Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, or their daughter villages,
for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.
28 When the children of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites
to hard labor as slaves, but they did not actually drive them out.
29 (Jos 16:10; 1Ki 9:16) Ephraim did not drive out the inhabitants
of Gezer, so the Canaanites lived among them in Gezer.
30 (Jos 19:15) Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron
and Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them and became
slave laborers.
31 (Jos 19:24-30) Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko,
Sidon, Ahlab, Akzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob.
32 Asher lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land,
for they did not drive them out.
33 (Jos 19:32-38) Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh
or Beth Anath, so they live among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land.
The Canaanites of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became slave laborers for them.
34 (Jos 19:47) The Amorites pushed the tribe of Dan into the hill country,
for they would not let them come down to the coastal plain.
35 (Jos 19:42) The Amorites were determined to live in Mount Heres, Aijalon,
and Shaalbim, but the hand of the descendants of Joseph was heavy on them,
and they became slave laborers.
36 (Nu 34:4) The border of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim
to Sela and beyond.
Judges 1
[1] Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of
Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites
first, to fight against them?
[2] And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land
into his hand.
[3] And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot,
that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee
into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
[4] And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the
Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
[5] And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and
they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
[6] But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and
cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
[7] And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and
their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have
done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there
he died.
[8] Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken
it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
[9] And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the
Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
[10] And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the
name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman,
and Talmai.
[11] And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name
of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher:
[12] And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him
will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
[13] And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he
gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
[14] And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of
her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto
her, What wilt thou?
[15] And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a
south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper
springs and the nether springs.
[16] And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of
the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of
Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the
people.
[17] And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites
that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city
was called Hormah.
[18] Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast
thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
[19] And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the
mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because
they had chariots of iron.
[20] And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence
the three sons of Anak.
[21] And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that
inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin
in Jerusalem unto this day.
[22] And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD
was with them.
[23] And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the
city before was Luz.)
[24] And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto
him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew
thee mercy.
[25] And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city
with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
[26] And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and
called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
[27] Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her
towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns,
nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo
and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
[28] And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the
Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
[29] Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but
the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
[30] Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the
inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became
tributaries.
[31] Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the
inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of
Aphik, nor of Rehob:
[32] But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the
land: for they did not drive them out.
[33] Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the
inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the
inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of
Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.
[34] And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they
would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
[35] But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in
Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became
tributaries.
[36] And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from
the rock, and upward.
JUDGES 2
The Angel of the Lord at Bokim
1 (Ge 17:7-8; Ex 20:2) The angelAt times the Lord speaks directly through
an angel (cf. the story of the burning bush in Ex 3:2-4). of the Lord went up
from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up from Egypt and brought
you into the land that I promised your fathers. I said, 'I will never break
My covenant with you,
2 (Dt 7:2-4) but you must not make a pact with the inhabitants of this land,
and you must tear down their altars.' Yet you have not obeyed Me.
What is this you have done?
3 (Nu 33:55; Jos 23:13; Dt 7:16) So now I say, 'I will not drive them out
before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will
be a snare to you.' "
4 When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel,
the people raised their voices and wept aloud.
5 They named that place Bokim and sacrificed to the Lord there.
[1] And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made
you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware
unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
[2] And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall
throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done
this?
[3] Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but
they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto
you.
[4] And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto
all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
[5] And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there
unto the LORD.
The Death of Joshua
6 (Jos 24:28-31) When Joshua dismissed the people,
each Israelite went to his inheritance to possess the land.
7 (Jos 24:31) So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua,
and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen
all the great works that the Lord had done for Israel.
8 Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 .
9 (Jos 19:50) They buried him in the territory of his inheritance
in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10 (Ex 5:2; 1Sa 2:12) That entire generation passed away,
and after them grew up a generation who did not know the Lord
or the deeds that He had done for Israel.
[6] And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every
man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
[7] And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days
of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the
LORD, that he did for Israel.
[8] And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an
hundred and ten years old.
[9] And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres,
in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
[10] And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and
there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet
the works which he had done for Israel.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
11 (Jdg 3:7; 4:1) The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord
and served the Baals.
12 (Ex 20:5) They abandoned the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them
out of the land of Egypt. They followed after other gods,
the gods of the peoples around them. They worshipped them
and provoked the Lord to anger.
13 (Jdg 10:6; 3:7) They abandoned the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
14 (Dt 32:30; Lev 26:37) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel,
and He gave them into the hands of those who plundered them;
and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them,
so that they were no longer able to stand against their enemies.
15 (Dt 28:15-68) Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord
was against them to bring disaster, as the Lord had said
and as He had sworn to them. They were in great distress.
16 (Ac 13:20; Jdg 3:15) Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered
them from the hand of those who plundered them.
17 (Jdg 2:7; Dt 9:12) Yet they would not listen to their judges,
for they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshipped them.
They quickly turned aside from the path their fathers had walked,
who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord.
They did not do as their fathers had done.
18 (Dt 32:36; Jos 1:5) When the Lord raised up judges for them,
the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies
all the days of the judge; for their groaning before their oppressors
and tormentors grieved the Lord.
19 (Jdg 4:1; 8:33) When the judge died, the people turned back
and acted more wickedly than their fathers, pursuing other gods
to serve and worship them. They would not give up their practices
and obstinate ways.
20 (Jdg 2:14; Jos 23:16) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel,
and He said, "Because this nation has violated My covenant that
I commanded their fathers and has not heeded My voice,
21 (Jos 23:13; Jdg 2:3) I will no longer drive out from before them any
of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 (Dt 8:2; 8:16; 13:3) so that through them I may test Israel
and see whether or not they will keep the ways of the Lord,
to walk in them as their fathers did."
23 So the Lord left those nations, not hurrying to drive them out;
and He did not deliver them into the hand of Joshua.
[11] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baalim:
[12] And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out
of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people
that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the
LORD to anger.
[13] And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
[14] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them
into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the
hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand
before their enemies.
[15] Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for
evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they
were greatly distressed.
[16] Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the
hand of those that spoiled them.
[17] And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a
whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned
quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the
commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
[18] And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the
judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of
the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of
them that oppressed them and vexed them.
[19] And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and
corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to
serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own
doings, nor from their stubborn way.
[20] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because
that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their
fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
[21] I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the
nations which Joshua left when he died:
[22] That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of
the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
[23] Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out
hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
2) Our Daily Bread for 29 March 2024 titled
>
Jesus, Our Substitute
1 Peter 3:13-18
13 (Pr 16:7) Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?
14 (1Pe 2:19-20; Isa 8:12-13) But even if you suffer for the sake
of righteousness, you are blessed. "Do not be afraid of their terror,
do not be troubled."(Isa 8:12.)
15 (Col 4:6; Isa 29:23) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for
a reason for the hope that is in you, with
gentleness and fear.
16 (Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12) Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak
evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 (1Pe 2:20; 4:19) For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you
suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 (1Pe 4:1; Heb 9:26; Ro 4:25) For Christ also has once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,
[13] And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is
good?
[14] But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not
afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:
[16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in
Christ.
[17] For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well
doing, than for evil doing.
[18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:
A wealthy twenty-year-old was drag-racing with his friends when he struck
and killed a pedestrian. Although the young man received a three-year
prison sentence, some believe that the man who appeared in court
(and who subsequently served a prison sentence) was a hired surrogate
for the driver who committed the crime. This type of thing has been known
to occur in some countries where people hire body doubles to avoid paying
for their crimes.
This may sound scandalous and outrageous, but more than two thousand years
ago, Jesus became our substitute and "suffered once for [our] sins,
the righteous for the unrighteous" (1 Peter 3:18). As God's sinless sacrifice,
Christ suffered and died once and for all (Hebrews 10:10), for all who believe
in Him. He took the penalty for all our sins in His own body on the cross.
Unlike a person today who chooses to be a substitute for a criminal to get
some cash, Christ's substitutionary death on the cross provided "hope" for us
as He freely, willingly gave His life for us (1 Peter 3:15, 18; John 10:15).
He did so to bridge the chasm between us and God.
May we rejoice and find comfort and confidence in this profound truth:
Only by the substitutionary death of Jesus can we-sinners in need-have
a relationship with and complete spiritual access to our loving God.
By: Marvin Williams
Reflect & Pray
How has Christ's substitutionary death changed your life?
What does it mean for you to have access to God and eternal
life because of Jesus' death on the cross?
Dear Jesus, thank You for dying in my place
so that I might have access to God.
Learn more about having a personal relationship with God.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 -The Blessings of Grace Day 6 - A Reasonable Alternative
Isaiah 1:18
18 (Ps 51:7; Rev 7:14) "Come now, and let us reason together, "
says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
"Is Christianity Reasonable?" Linda Wanted to Know. "I've heard all my life
that faith is a crutch, an invention of weak minds to assure them
of some order in the world."
Linda was not alone in her objection; thinking people for generations
have been asking themselves the same question.
God is not intimidated by our questions; in fact, he confronts the issue
head-on in the Scriptures. "Let us reason together," the Lord invites.
Even according to the most basic of human reasoning,
faith is a reasonable alternative , a rational choice for a thinking person.
God indicates in his Word that confession and forgiveness are "reasonable".
"Think!" God says. "You sin, and you know it. You are not even able to be
true to your own principles. You cannot deal with your sin by will power
or effort. But I can deal with it! I can forgive it - and I will"
We cannot come to faith in God through Christ by intellect alone, of course.
Our spirits much reach out in faith, beyond what we can see. But intellect
supports faith; trusting in Christ is an eminently rational decision.
In Deut 30:1-20 , God set before the people a choice: Life or Death, blessing
or cursing. "Choose Life!" he tells them. We have the same choice.
The ultimate decision is thus simplified, the 'rational' alternative becomes
clear. We can choose death, by attempting to control our own destinies ,
or life, by giving ourselves fully into the hand of the Master.
Application
a) Why is the choice to acknowledge my sin and receive forgiveness a
'Rational choice'?
b) What are the alternatives to such a decision?
c) What other aspects of God's word
and work in my life seem 'reasonable' to me?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Deut 8:18
18 But you must remember the Lord your God,
for it is He who gives you the ability to get wealth,
so that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers,
as it is today.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth
thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant
which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are lonely
PSALMS 25:15-21
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for He will lead my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me, and be gracious to me,
for I am isolated and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
18 Look on my pain and misery,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many,
and they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Watch over my life, and deliver me!
Let me not suffer shame,
for I seek refuge in You.
21 Truth and integrity will preserve me
while I wait for You.
Ain
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD;
For he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Pe
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;
For I am desolate and afflicted.
Zade
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged:
O bring thou me out of my distresses.
(Qoph)
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain;
And forgive all my sins.
Resh
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Shin
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me:
Let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Taw
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me;
For I wait on thee.
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
Pray for Iranians in Europe
Ephesians 2:9
9 (2Ti 1:9; Ro 3:20) not of works, so that no one should boast.
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Mahmoud, an Iranian refugee in Europe, regularly visited a local church,
with the hope that they would support him in his refugee status. While
he was there, he learned about Christian ways of worship, including
the different ways that Christians fast. As a heavy drinker, Mahmoud
was inspired to abstain from alcohol for 40 days. On day 39, he was
overcome by temptation and bought a bottle of alcohol. As Mahmoud
took the first sip, he cried out to the Lord:
"Jesus, if you are real, help me stop drinking!"
Mahmoud's friends and family witnessed his astounding transformation
through Christ, who set him free from his addiction. Mahmoud's profound
testimony and transformed life became an inspiration to others.
In recent years, a significant number of Iranians, like Mahmoud, have
sought refuge in Europe, driven by factors like social injustice, political
issues, and persecution based on their faith and beliefs. Many embark on the
journey to Europe with the hopes of attaining safety, security, a place to
call home, freedom, and a promising future. But as well as this, many Iranians
are searching for truth, hope and spiritual refuge.
Jesus can be the answer to their search. Throughout history, he has shown
compassion and met people at the point of their deepest needs and struggles.
Similarly, in Europe today, Jesus continues to manifest His presence among
Iranians and others who are seeking refuge. He reaches out to them in their
moments of greatest suffering, offering comfort, healing, freedom, salvation,
and hope.
Pray More: Learn more about Iranians at PersianWorld.org
How to Pray
Pray that God will use the needs and challenges faced
by Iranians in Europe to draw them closer to Himself.
Ask God that Iranian Muslims will encounter the person
of Jesus Christ as they seek assistance and find true
refuge and solace in Him.
Pray that Christian churches will be open to Iranians,
offering care, fellowship and security.
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
Day 29 of the Month
a) Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion (
Ps 139:13-16
13 You brought my inner parts into being;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;
marvelous are Your works,
and You know me completely.
15 My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me unformed,
yet in Your book
all my days were written,
before any of them came into being.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee,
When I was made in secret, and curiously wrought
in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
And in thy book all my members were written,
Which in continuance were fashioned,
When as yet there was none of them.
)
b) Pray that the Church in Canada will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight (
Gal 2:10
10 (Ac 24:17) Only they requested that we should remember the poor,
which I also was eager to do.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor;
the same which I also was forward to do.
)
Conclusion:
Pray for True Justice in the World.
Pray to the Lord and pray that the Lord will let Godly people rise and rule.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, thank You for dying in my place
so that I might have access to God."
Pray to the Lord and Pray to hand over all your sins to Jesus.
Pray to the Lord and pray to honour his covenant.
Pray to the Lord and pray for integrity and uprightness to uphold you.
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 that God will use the needs and challenges faced
by Iranians in Europe to draw them closer to Himself.
Ask God that Iranian Muslims will encounter the person
of Jesus Christ as they seek assistance and find true
refuge and solace in Him.
Pray that Christian churches will be open to Iranians,
offering care, fellowship and security.
Pray that God will enlighten those in medicine and health care
to acknowledge the sanctity of life and server with true
integrity and compassion.
Pray that the Church will remember the poor
and compassionately respond to their plight.
Pray for Christian converts in Iraq Christian converts from Islam dealing with
opposition from Family members, the govrnment and extremist groups.
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