Day 322 - 18 November 2021 reflections
Day 322, 18 November 2021
1)
Acts 11-12
Acts 11
Peter's Report to the Church in Jerusalem
1 The apostles and the brothers throughÂout Judea heard that the Gentiles
also had received the word of God.
2 (Ac 10:45) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised
disputed with him,
3 (Ac 10:28; Lk 15:2) saying, "You went in and ate with uncircumcised men!"
4 (Lk 1:3) Peter began explaining it to them in order, saying,
5 (Ac 10:9-32) "I was in the city of Joppa praying. And in a trance
I saw a vision: A vessel like a great sheet was descending, let down
from heaven by four corners, and it came to me.
6 I considered what I had observed and saw four-footed creatures
and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air.
7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8 (Ro 14:14) "I said, 'Not at all, Lord. For nothing common
or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.'
9 "The voice answered from heaven a second time,
'What God has cleansed, do not call common.'
10 This happened three times. And again everything was taken up into heaven.
11 "And immediately three men sent from Caesarea to me came to the house
where I was.
12 (Ac 8:29; 10:23) The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation.
Moreover these six brothers came with me, and we entered the man's house.
13 He told us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said
to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter.
14 (Ac 16:15; 10:22) He will speak words to you by which you
and all your household will be saved.'
15 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them,
as He fell on us at the beginning.
16 (Ac 1:5; Mt 3:11) Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said,
'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptised
with the Holy Spirit.' (Am 9:11; Jer 12:15.)
17 (Ac 10:47) If then God gave them the same gift as He gave us
when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I to be able to hinder God?"
18 (Ro 10:12-13; 2Co 7:10) When they heard these things, they were silent.
And they glorified God, saying, "Then God has granted to the Gentiles
also repentance unto life."
The Church in Antioch
19 (Ac 4:36; 15:3) Now those who were scattered by the persecution
that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one except Jews.
20 (Mt 27:32; Ac 13:1) Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene,
who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists,
preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 (Lk 1:66; Ac 2:47) The hand of the Lord was with them,
and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of these things came to the ears of the church which was
in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 (Ac 13:43; 14:22) When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and exhorted them all to remain with the Lord with a loyal heart.
24 (Ac 5:14; 11:21) For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith. And many people were added to the Lord.
25 (Ac 9:11; 9:30) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26 (Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16) When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd.
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 (Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:28; Ac 2:17) In these days prophets came down
from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 (Ac 21:10; 18:2) One of them, named Agabus, stood up and prophesied
by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout all the world,
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then every disciple, according to his ability, determined to send relief
to the brothers who lived in Judea.
30 (Ac 12:25; 14:23) Indeed they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 12
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1 About that time King Herod extended his hands
to harm certain ones from the church.
2 (Mt 20:23; Heb 11:37) He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 (Ex 23:15; Ac 24:27) Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further
to arrest Peter also. This happened during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 (Lk 21:12) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him
over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him
before the people after the Passover.
5 (2Co 1:11) So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed to God
without ceasing for him.
Peter Delivered From Prison
6 (Ac 21:33) The very night when Herod would have brought him out,
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains.
And the guards before the door were securing the prison.
7 (Ac 16:26; 5:19) And suddenly an angel of the Lord approached him,
and a light shone in the prison. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up,
saying, "Rise up, quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put your sandals on."
And he did so. Then he said to him,
"Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."
9 (Ps 126:1) He went out and followed him, and did not know that what
was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 (Ac 5:19; 16:26) When they had passed the first and the second guards,
they came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened to them
by itself. And they went out and went forward one street.
And immediately the angel left him.
11 (Da 3:28; 6:22) When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I certainly
know that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12 (Ac 12:5; 12:25) Realizing this, he came to the house of Mary,
the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered
together praying.
13 As Peter knocked at the door of the porch,
a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 (Lk 24:41) When she recognized Peter's voice, from joy she did not
open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the door.
15 (Mt 18:10) They said to her, "You are insane."
But she insisted that it was really so. So they said, "It is his angel."
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him,
they were astonished.
17 (Ac 13:16; 15:13) Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet,
he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison.
And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brothers."
Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was a great disturbance among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter.
19 (Ac 16:27) When Herod had searched for him and did not find him,
he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
Then he went down from Judea to CaesaÂrea, and stayed there.
The Death of Herod
20 (Eze 27:17; Ezr 3:7) Now Herod was very angry with the people
of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him in unity, and having made Blastus,
the king's personal servant, their friend, they asked for peace,
because their country was fed by the king's country.
21 On an appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal apparel,
sat on his throne and gave a public speech to them.
22 The mob shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
23 (1Sa 25:38; 2Sa 24:16-17) Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him,
because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24 (Ac 6:7; 19:20) But the word of God spread and increased.
25 (Ac 12:12; 4:36) When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their ministry,
they returned from Jerusalem and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
2) Our Daily Bread for 18 November 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/11/18/its-broken
entitled God Heals Our Brokenness
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 2
From Death to Life
1 (Col 2:13; Lk 15:24) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 (Jn 12:31; Eph 6:12; 2:3) in which you formerly walked according
to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 (Gal 2:15-16; Ps 51:5) among them we all also once lived in the lusts
of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
and we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 (Ro 2:4; Eph 1:7) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us,
5 (Eph 2:1; Ac 15:11; Eph 2:8) even when we were dead in sins,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 Eph 1:3and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus,
7 (Titus 3:4; Eph 2:4) so that in the coming ages He might show
the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 (Eph 2:5; Mk 16:16) For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God,
9 (2Ti 1:9; Ro 3:20) not of works, so that no one should boast.
10 (Eph 4:24; 2Co 5:17; Eph 1:4) For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
so that we should walk in them.
Collin and his wife, Jordan, wandered through the craft store,
looking for a picture to hang in their home. Collin thought he'd found
just the right piece and called Jordan over to see it. On the right side
of the ceramic artwork was the word grace. But the left side held two long
cracks. "Well, it's broken!" Jordan said as she started looking
for an unbroken one on the shelf. But then Collin said, "No.
That's the point. We're broken and then grace comes in-period.â€
They decided to purchase the one with the cracks. When they got
to the checkout, the clerk exclaimed, "Oh, no, it’s broken!"
"Yes, so are we," Jordan whispered.
What does it mean to be a "broken" person? Someone defined it this way:
A growing awareness that no matter how hard we try, our ability to make
life work gets worse instead of better. It's a recognition of our need
for God and His intervention in our lives.
The apostle Paul talked about our brokenness in terms of being
"dead in [our] transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
The answer to our need to be forgiven and changed comes in verses 4 and 5:
"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive . . . . [It] is by grace [we] have been saved."
God is willing to heal our brokenness with His grace
when we admit, "I'm broken."
By: Anne Cetas
Reflect & Pray
What brought you to your need to ask God to heal your brokenness?
How do you need Him today?
God, thank You for being rich in mercy toward me!
May I boast in You and Your gift of salvation through grace by faith.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 5 - Learning by Heart
Ps 119:9,11
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) How shall a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You.
"His heart is not just in it," a gifted musician commented about the
pianist onstage. "He's here at the Orchestra Hall, playing for
thousands of poeple, an his technique is flawless, but something
is missing - his heart is just not in it."
The psalmist , in Psalm 119, draws a similar parallel. We "Keep our
way pure" through obedience of his Word, by ordering our lives according
to the commands of the Scriptures. But outward behaviour is not the only
essential factor in purity of life. The changes in our behaviour need to
come from the heart, from the inside out. Our "technique" for living
the Christian life may be flawless, but our obediance is founded
in heart motivation, something is certainly missing.
"I seek you with all my heart," the psalmist declares in verse 10.
Thus he can say in verse 11, "I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you"
Often we refer to memorisation as "learning by heart" - and indeed
"by heart" is the biblical mandate for assimilating God's truth
into our daily lives. "By rote" or "By Mind" leaves us
intellectually overstuffed, yet spiritually starving.
When we try to apply the Word outwardly to our behaviour,
we end up in a tangle of legalism, a log "do list" by which
we hope to please God. But when we set our hearts toward God first,
then changes in our behaviour grow out of love for God and a deep
desire to serve him. Then we are truly loving and obeying God with
our whole hearts.
Application
a) In what ways have I tried to apply God's word to my behaviour
without having the truth firmly in my heart? What was the result?
b) How can I set my heart toward God and give myself more fully
to his Word?
c) What areas of my life need "purifying"? How can these verses
help me to "make my way pure"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Mark 4:20-25
20 (Mk 4:8; Jn 15:4–5) "Still others are seed sown on good ground,
those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit:
thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much."
A Light Under a Basket
Lk 8:16–18
21 (Mt 5:15; Lk 8:16) He said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put
under a basket or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 (Lk 8:17) For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed;
neither is anything kept secret except to be proclaimed.
23 (Mk 4:9; Mt 11:15)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 (Mt 7:2) He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.
The measure you give will be measured for you,
and to you who hear will more be given.
25 (Mt 13:12; Lk 8:18) For to him who has will more be given.
And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 (Heb 6:20; 1:2–3) Since then we have a great High Priest
Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to our confession.
15 (2Co 5:21; Jn 8:46) For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses,
but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
16 (Eph 3:12; Php 4:6–7) Let us then come with confidence
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
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."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
18th Day of the Month
a) Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
( Jer 31:25
25 For I satiate the weary souls and I replenish every languishing soul.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
( Ps 34:7
7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and give Him all the Glory.
Pray to the Lord "God, thank You for being rich in mercy toward me!
May I boast in You and Your gift of salvation through grace by faith."
Pray to the Lord and pray to hide God's Word in your heart.
Pray to the Lord and pray the His Word will be fruitful to thise around you.
Pray to the Lord and confess all your sins.
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
Pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between
the Dogon and Fulani peoples in Mali/
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.
1)
Acts 11-12
Acts 11
Peter's Report to the Church in Jerusalem
1 The apostles and the brothers throughÂout Judea heard that the Gentiles
also had received the word of God.
2 (Ac 10:45) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised
disputed with him,
3 (Ac 10:28; Lk 15:2) saying, "You went in and ate with uncircumcised men!"
4 (Lk 1:3) Peter began explaining it to them in order, saying,
5 (Ac 10:9-32) "I was in the city of Joppa praying. And in a trance
I saw a vision: A vessel like a great sheet was descending, let down
from heaven by four corners, and it came to me.
6 I considered what I had observed and saw four-footed creatures
and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air.
7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8 (Ro 14:14) "I said, 'Not at all, Lord. For nothing common
or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.'
9 "The voice answered from heaven a second time,
'What God has cleansed, do not call common.'
10 This happened three times. And again everything was taken up into heaven.
11 "And immediately three men sent from Caesarea to me came to the house
where I was.
12 (Ac 8:29; 10:23) The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation.
Moreover these six brothers came with me, and we entered the man's house.
13 He told us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said
to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter.
14 (Ac 16:15; 10:22) He will speak words to you by which you
and all your household will be saved.'
15 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them,
as He fell on us at the beginning.
16 (Ac 1:5; Mt 3:11) Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said,
'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptised
with the Holy Spirit.' (Am 9:11; Jer 12:15.)
17 (Ac 10:47) If then God gave them the same gift as He gave us
when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I to be able to hinder God?"
18 (Ro 10:12-13; 2Co 7:10) When they heard these things, they were silent.
And they glorified God, saying, "Then God has granted to the Gentiles
also repentance unto life."
The Church in Antioch
19 (Ac 4:36; 15:3) Now those who were scattered by the persecution
that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch,
preaching the word to no one except Jews.
20 (Mt 27:32; Ac 13:1) Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene,
who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists,
preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 (Lk 1:66; Ac 2:47) The hand of the Lord was with them,
and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of these things came to the ears of the church which was
in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 (Ac 13:43; 14:22) When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and exhorted them all to remain with the Lord with a loyal heart.
24 (Ac 5:14; 11:21) For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith. And many people were added to the Lord.
25 (Ac 9:11; 9:30) Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26 (Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16) When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd.
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 (Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:28; Ac 2:17) In these days prophets came down
from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 (Ac 21:10; 18:2) One of them, named Agabus, stood up and prophesied
by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout all the world,
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then every disciple, according to his ability, determined to send relief
to the brothers who lived in Judea.
30 (Ac 12:25; 14:23) Indeed they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 12
James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1 About that time King Herod extended his hands
to harm certain ones from the church.
2 (Mt 20:23; Heb 11:37) He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 (Ex 23:15; Ac 24:27) Seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further
to arrest Peter also. This happened during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 (Lk 21:12) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him
over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him
before the people after the Passover.
5 (2Co 1:11) So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed to God
without ceasing for him.
Peter Delivered From Prison
6 (Ac 21:33) The very night when Herod would have brought him out,
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains.
And the guards before the door were securing the prison.
7 (Ac 16:26; 5:19) And suddenly an angel of the Lord approached him,
and a light shone in the prison. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up,
saying, "Rise up, quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put your sandals on."
And he did so. Then he said to him,
"Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."
9 (Ps 126:1) He went out and followed him, and did not know that what
was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 (Ac 5:19; 16:26) When they had passed the first and the second guards,
they came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened to them
by itself. And they went out and went forward one street.
And immediately the angel left him.
11 (Da 3:28; 6:22) When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I certainly
know that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
12 (Ac 12:5; 12:25) Realizing this, he came to the house of Mary,
the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered
together praying.
13 As Peter knocked at the door of the porch,
a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 (Lk 24:41) When she recognized Peter's voice, from joy she did not
open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the door.
15 (Mt 18:10) They said to her, "You are insane."
But she insisted that it was really so. So they said, "It is his angel."
16 But Peter continued knocking. And when they opened the door and saw him,
they were astonished.
17 (Ac 13:16; 15:13) Motioning to them with his hand to be quiet,
he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison.
And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brothers."
Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was a great disturbance among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter.
19 (Ac 16:27) When Herod had searched for him and did not find him,
he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
Then he went down from Judea to CaesaÂrea, and stayed there.
The Death of Herod
20 (Eze 27:17; Ezr 3:7) Now Herod was very angry with the people
of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him in unity, and having made Blastus,
the king's personal servant, their friend, they asked for peace,
because their country was fed by the king's country.
21 On an appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal apparel,
sat on his throne and gave a public speech to them.
22 The mob shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
23 (1Sa 25:38; 2Sa 24:16-17) Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him,
because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24 (Ac 6:7; 19:20) But the word of God spread and increased.
25 (Ac 12:12; 4:36) When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their ministry,
they returned from Jerusalem and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
2) Our Daily Bread for 18 November 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/11/18/its-broken
entitled God Heals Our Brokenness
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 2
From Death to Life
1 (Col 2:13; Lk 15:24) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 (Jn 12:31; Eph 6:12; 2:3) in which you formerly walked according
to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 (Gal 2:15-16; Ps 51:5) among them we all also once lived in the lusts
of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
and we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 (Ro 2:4; Eph 1:7) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us,
5 (Eph 2:1; Ac 15:11; Eph 2:8) even when we were dead in sins,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 Eph 1:3and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus,
7 (Titus 3:4; Eph 2:4) so that in the coming ages He might show
the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 (Eph 2:5; Mk 16:16) For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God,
9 (2Ti 1:9; Ro 3:20) not of works, so that no one should boast.
10 (Eph 4:24; 2Co 5:17; Eph 1:4) For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
so that we should walk in them.
Collin and his wife, Jordan, wandered through the craft store,
looking for a picture to hang in their home. Collin thought he'd found
just the right piece and called Jordan over to see it. On the right side
of the ceramic artwork was the word grace. But the left side held two long
cracks. "Well, it's broken!" Jordan said as she started looking
for an unbroken one on the shelf. But then Collin said, "No.
That's the point. We're broken and then grace comes in-period.â€
They decided to purchase the one with the cracks. When they got
to the checkout, the clerk exclaimed, "Oh, no, it’s broken!"
"Yes, so are we," Jordan whispered.
What does it mean to be a "broken" person? Someone defined it this way:
A growing awareness that no matter how hard we try, our ability to make
life work gets worse instead of better. It's a recognition of our need
for God and His intervention in our lives.
The apostle Paul talked about our brokenness in terms of being
"dead in [our] transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).
The answer to our need to be forgiven and changed comes in verses 4 and 5:
"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive . . . . [It] is by grace [we] have been saved."
God is willing to heal our brokenness with His grace
when we admit, "I'm broken."
By: Anne Cetas
Reflect & Pray
What brought you to your need to ask God to heal your brokenness?
How do you need Him today?
God, thank You for being rich in mercy toward me!
May I boast in You and Your gift of salvation through grace by faith.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 5 - Learning by Heart
Ps 119:9,11
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) How shall a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You.
"His heart is not just in it," a gifted musician commented about the
pianist onstage. "He's here at the Orchestra Hall, playing for
thousands of poeple, an his technique is flawless, but something
is missing - his heart is just not in it."
The psalmist , in Psalm 119, draws a similar parallel. We "Keep our
way pure" through obedience of his Word, by ordering our lives according
to the commands of the Scriptures. But outward behaviour is not the only
essential factor in purity of life. The changes in our behaviour need to
come from the heart, from the inside out. Our "technique" for living
the Christian life may be flawless, but our obediance is founded
in heart motivation, something is certainly missing.
"I seek you with all my heart," the psalmist declares in verse 10.
Thus he can say in verse 11, "I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you"
Often we refer to memorisation as "learning by heart" - and indeed
"by heart" is the biblical mandate for assimilating God's truth
into our daily lives. "By rote" or "By Mind" leaves us
intellectually overstuffed, yet spiritually starving.
When we try to apply the Word outwardly to our behaviour,
we end up in a tangle of legalism, a log "do list" by which
we hope to please God. But when we set our hearts toward God first,
then changes in our behaviour grow out of love for God and a deep
desire to serve him. Then we are truly loving and obeying God with
our whole hearts.
Application
a) In what ways have I tried to apply God's word to my behaviour
without having the truth firmly in my heart? What was the result?
b) How can I set my heart toward God and give myself more fully
to his Word?
c) What areas of my life need "purifying"? How can these verses
help me to "make my way pure"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Mark 4:20-25
20 (Mk 4:8; Jn 15:4–5) "Still others are seed sown on good ground,
those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit:
thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much."
A Light Under a Basket
Lk 8:16–18
21 (Mt 5:15; Lk 8:16) He said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put
under a basket or under a bed and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 (Lk 8:17) For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed;
neither is anything kept secret except to be proclaimed.
23 (Mk 4:9; Mt 11:15)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
24 (Mt 7:2) He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.
The measure you give will be measured for you,
and to you who hear will more be given.
25 (Mt 13:12; Lk 8:18) For to him who has will more be given.
And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has."
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 (Heb 6:20; 1:2–3) Since then we have a great High Priest
Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to our confession.
15 (2Co 5:21; Jn 8:46) For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses,
but One who was in every sense tempted like we are, yet without sin.
16 (Eph 3:12; Php 4:6–7) Let us then come with confidence
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
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."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Total population 527000
Muslim population (est.) 2065
As of Autumn 2014, St. John's does not have a local CNMM network. Pray with us
for God's people to come together in prayer and cooperative efforts to reach Muslims with the Good News.
St. John's has one mosque and 2 more musallas , or prayer locations, which
may grow into mosques of their own. The mosque is called Masjid an Noor,
The Mosque of the Light, and mosque historical documents record a trip in 1986
to Saudi Arabia to raise funds for the land purchase and construction costs.
A small number of Muslim families had come prior to 1964, but moved on to
other places after a short time. After this date, a small community began
to remain and grow , reaching about 25 families in the 1980s. A number
of international students also join the community annually
ranging from 25 to 60.
In 2014 the mosque website reports the community is made up of some 200
families and many university students attending Memorial University. A
small number of native Newfoundlanders have also converted to the Islamic
faith, one saying of this religion in Newfoundland, "Islam is a growing face".
With the growth of the community, the current challenge is lack of space
in the mosque, which they are now looking at expanding.
Pray for
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
18th Day of the Month
a) Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
( Jer 31:25
25 For I satiate the weary souls and I replenish every languishing soul.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
( Ps 34:7
7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and give Him all the Glory.
Pray to the Lord "God, thank You for being rich in mercy toward me!
May I boast in You and Your gift of salvation through grace by faith."
Pray to the Lord and pray to hide God's Word in your heart.
Pray to the Lord and pray the His Word will be fruitful to thise around you.
Pray to the Lord and confess all your sins.
Pray for in Newfoundland and Labrador
- The true Light of life, Jesus Christ, to be revealed to Muslims
in Newfoundland through the word, dreams, visions and answers to prayer.
- Christians to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" regarding
Islam and reaching out in loving witness to Muslims in St. John's.
- for a dedicated, intentional witness to the growing number of Muslim
students on the university, college and trade school campuses.
Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
Pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between
the Dogon and Fulani peoples in Mali/
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.
Trackbacks
No Trackbacks
Comments
Display comments as Linear | Threaded