Day 339 - 5 December 2021 reflections
Day 339, 5 December 2021
Today at https://www.calvarycommunity.ca/ , we addressed
The Characters of Christmas : The Shpeherds - Unexpected Guests
in the Christmas Story.
The Unlinkey but Remarkable People God Uses.
Luke 2:1 -7
1 (Lk 3:1; Mt 24:14) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the entire inhabited earth should be taxed.
2 (Lk 3:1) This taxation was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to his own city to be taxed.
4 (Jn 7:42; 1Sa 16:1) So Joseph also departed from the city of Nazareth
in Galilee to the City of David which is called Bethlehem, in Judea,
because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be taxed with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
6 So while they were there, the day came for her to give birth.
7 (Mt 1:25; Lk 2:11-12) And she gave birth to her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Isaiah 55:8
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways,
says the Lord.
Micah 4:8
8 (Zec 9:10) As for you, watchtower of the flock,
citadel of the daughter of Zion,
to you it will come, the former dominion will come,
kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:17-18
17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word
which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
Ezekiel 34:12-16
12 (Eze 30:3; Jer 13:16) As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day
that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out My sheep
and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered
in a cloudy and dark day.
13 (Eze 11:17) I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them
from the countries, and bring them to their own land, and feed them upon
the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places
of the country.
14 (Jn 10:9; Jer 31:12-14) I will feed them in a good pasture,
and upon the high mountains of Israel their grazing ground shall be.
There they shall lie on good grazing ground, and in a rich pasture
they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord
God.
16 (Isa 10:16; 49:26) I will seek that which was lost and bring back
that which was driven away and bind up that which was broken
and will strengthen that which was sick.
But I will destroy the fat and the strong.
I will feed them with judgment.
Philippians 2:3-9
3 (Ro 12:10; Gal 5:26) Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit,
but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself.
4 (Ro 15:1) Let each of you look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
5 (Mt 11:29; Ro 15:3) Let this mind be in you all,
which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 (Jn 5:18; 10:33) who, being in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
7 (Mt 20:28; Jn 1:14) But He emptied Himself,
taking upon Himself the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.
8 (Heb 12:2; Mt 26:39; Jn 10:18) And being found in the form of a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
9 (Heb 2:9; Mt 28:18) Therefore God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name which is above every name,
James 2:1-9
James 2
Warning Against Partiality
1 (1Co 2:8; Lev 19:15) My brothers, have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, without partiality.
2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly,
and also a poor man in ragged clothing comes in,
3 and you have respect for him who wears the fine clothing and say to him,
"Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there,"
or "Sit here under my footstool,"
4 (Jn 7:24) have you not then become partial among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 (Mt 5:3; Lk 6:20; 12:21) Listen, my beloved brothers.
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
6 (1Co 11:22; Ac 8:3) But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men
oppress you and drag you before the judgment seats?
7 (Ac 11:26) Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?
8 (Lev 19:18) If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"(Lev 19:18.) you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin
and are convicted by the law as sinners.
2 pointers from this Sermon
i) Shepherds were the religious and soical outcasts and misfits of Jewish
society. The nature of their work kept them from normal religious functions,
and they were a filthy bunch, also.
If you have studied the life of Jesus, you know that he gravitated toward
the people who spent their time at the margins of society. ... God opposes
the proud and give grace to the humble.
ii) Jesus ... is the friend of sinners and outcasts and so there
is hope for the least of us.
1)
Romans 1 - 3
Romans 1
Salutation
1 (Ro 15:16; 1Co 1:1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
2 (Ro 3:21; Titus 1:2) which He promised beforehand through
His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 (Gal 4:4; Mt 1:1; Jn 1:14) concerning His Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh
4 (2Co 13:4) and declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 (Ac 6:7; 1:25) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship
for the obedience of faith among all nations for His name,
6 (Rev 17:14) among whom you also are called by Jesus Christ:
7 (Col 1:2; 2Co 13:14) To all who are in Rome, beloved of God,
called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's Desire to Visit Rome
8 (Ro 16:19; 6:17) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,
because your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 (2Ti 1:3; Ro 9:1; 2Co 1:23) For God is my witness, whom I serve
with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing,
I mention you always in my prayers,
10 (Ac 18:21) making request if, by any means, now at last I might
find a way in the will of God to come to you.
11 (Ro 15:23) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some
spiritual gift, so that you may be strengthened.
12 (2Pe 1:1) This is so that I may be encouraged together
with you by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
13 (Jn 4:36; Ac 19:21) Now I would not have you unaware, brothers,
that I often intended to come to you (but was prevented until now),
that I might have a harvest among you also, even as among the other Gentiles.
14 I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians,
both to the wise and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel
to you also who are in Rome.
The Definition of the Gospel
16 (Ro 2:9; Mk 8:38) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Ro 3:21) For in it the righteousness of God
is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written,
"The just shall live by faith." Hab 2:4.
The Guilt of Mankind
18 (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6) The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth
through unrighteousness.
19 (Ro 1:20) For what may be known about God is clear to them since
God has shown it to them.
20 (1Ti 1:17; Ps 19:1-6) The invisible things about Him-His eternal power
and deity-have been clearly seen since the creation of the world
and are understood by the things that are made, so that they are
without excuse.
21 (Jer 2:5; 2Ki 17:15) Because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God,
but became futile in their imaginations,
and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 (Jer 10:14) Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
23 (Ps 106:20; Jer 2:11) They changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts,
and creeping things.
24 (1Th 4:4) Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves.
25 (Isa 44:20; Ro 9:5) They turned the truth of God into a lie
and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 (Ro 1:24; Ge 19:5) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable
passions. Their women exchanged the natural function for what is against
nature.
27 (Lev 18:22; 20:13) Likewise the men, leaving the natural function
of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men
doing that which is shameful, and receiving in themselves
the due penalty of their error.
[A warning for homosexuals and lesbians from the lord about
their ungodly lifestyle]
28 (Jer 6:30; Ro 1:24) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not proper.
29 (2Co 12:20) They were filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit. They are gossips,
30 (2Ti 3:2) slanderers, God-haters, insolent, proud, boastful, inventors
of evil things, and disobedient toward parents,
31 (2Ti 3:3) without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, calloused, and unmerciful,
32 (Ro 6:21; Ps 50:18) who know the righteous requirement of God,
that those who commit such things are worthy of death.
They not only do them, but also give hearty approval
to those who practice them.
Romans 2
The Righteous Judgment of God
1 (2Sa 12:5-7; Ro 2:3) Therefore you are without excuse, Oman,
whoever you are who judges, for when you judge another,
you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is Âaccording to truth
against those who commit such things.
3 (Lk 12:14) Do you think, O man, who judges those who do such things,
and who does the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 (Ex 34:6; Isa 30:18) Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance,
and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 (Dt 32:34; Jas 5:3) But because of your hardness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up treasures of wrath against yourself on the day of wrath
when the righteous judgment of God will be revealed,
6 (Ps 62:12; Mt 16:27) and He "will render to every man according
to his deeds."(Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12.)
7 (Lk 8:15; 2Ti 1:10) To those who by patiently doing good seek for glory
and honor and immortality will be eternal life.
8 But to those who are contentious and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath,
9 (1Pe 4:17; Ac 3:26) will be tribulation and anguish, upon every
soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.
10 (Isa 32:17; 57:19) But glory, honor, and peace will be to every man
who does good work-to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile,
11 (Ac 10:34; Dt 10:17; 2Ch 19:7) for there is no partiality with God.
12 (1Co 9:21) As many as have sinned without the law will also perish
without the law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged
by the law,
13 for the hearers of the law are not justified before God, but the doers
of the law will be justified.
14 (Ro 2:12) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature
the things contained in the law, these, not having the law, are a law
unto themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing witness, while their conflicting thoughts accuse
or even excuse them,
16 (Ro 16:25; Ac 10:42; 1Ti 1:11) in the day when, according to my gospel,
God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.
The Jews and the Law
17 (Mic 3:11; Ro 2:23) Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest in the law,
and make your boast in God.
18 (Php 1:10) You know His will and approve the things that are more
excellent, because you are instructed in the law.
19 (Mt 15:14; Jn 9:40-41) You are confident that you are a guide
to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 (2Ti 1:13; 3:5) an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of babes,
who have the full content of knowledge and truth in the law:
21 (Ps 50:16-21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach
yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?
22 (Mal 3:8; Ac 19:37) You who say not to commit adultery,
do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 (Ro 2:17; Jn 5:45) You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God
through breaking the law?
24 (Isa 52:5; 2Sa 12:14) As it is written, "The name of God
is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."(Isa 52:5; Eze 36:22.)
25 (Jer 4:4) Circumcision indeed has merit, if you keep the law,
but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision becomes
uncircumcision.
26 (Ro 8:4) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteousness
of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 (Mt 12:41-42; Ro 2:29) Will the uncircumcised one who is righteous
by nature, if he fulfills the law, not judge you who,
by the letter of the law and circumcision, violate the law?
28 (Gal 6:15; Mt 3:9) He is not a Jew who is one outwardly,
nor is circumcision that which is external in the flesh.
29 (1Pe 3:4; Php 3:3; 2Co 10:18) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly.
And circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, and not by the letter.
His praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 3
1 What advantage then does the Jew have?
Or what profit is there in circumcision?
2 (Ac 7:38; Ps 147:19-20) Much in every way!
Chiefly because the oracles of God were entrusted to them.
3 (Heb 4:2; Ro 10:16) What if some did not believe?
Would their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 (Ps 51:4; 116:11) God forbid! Let God be true, and every man a liar.
As it is written:
"That You may be justified in Your words,
and may prevail in Your judging."(Ps 51:4.)
5 (Ro 6:19; Gal 3:15) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates
the righteousness of God, what shall we say?
Is God unrighteous in taking vengeance? (I am speaking in human terms.)
6 (Ge 18:25; Job 8:3) God forbid! For then how could God judge the world?
7 If through my lie the truth of God has abounded more to His glory,
why am I still being judged as a sinner?
8 (Ro 6:1; 6:15) Why not rather say, "Let us do evil that good may come,"
as we are slanderously accused and as some claim that we say?
Their condemnation is just.
There Is None Righteous
9 (Gal 3:22; Ro 3:19) What then? Are we better than they? No, not at all.
For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.
10 (Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3) As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one; (Ps 14:1; 53:1.)
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks after God.(Ps 14:2; 53:2.)
12 (Ps 14:3) They have all turned aside;
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one."(Ps 14:3; 53:3.)
13 (Ps 5:9; 140:3; Jer 5:16) "Their throats are an open grave;
with their tongues they have used deceit";
"the poison of vipers is under their lips";(Ps 5:9; 140:3.)
14 (Ps 10:7) "their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."(Ps 10:7.)
15 (Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7-8) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7.)
16 destruction and misery are in their paths;(Isa 59:7.)
17 (Lk 1:79) and they do not know the way of peace."(Isa 59:8.)
18 (Ps 36:1) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."(Ps 36:1.)
19 (Ro 3:9; Job 5:16) Now we know that whatever the law says,
it says to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced,
and all the world may become accountable to God.
20 (Ac 13:39; Gal 2:16) Therefore by the works of the law NO flesh
will be justified in His sight, for through the law comes
the knowledge of sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 (Ac 10:43; Ro 1:17) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness
of God is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.
22 (Ro 10:12; Gal 3:28) This righteousness of God comes through faith
in ÂJesus Christ (Or through the faith of Jesus Christ.) to all
and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction.
23 (Ro 3:9) For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
24 (Ro 4:16; Col 1:14) being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Christ ÂJesus,
25 (Ac 17:30; 1Jn 2:2) whom God has set forth to be a propitiation
through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness,
because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously
committed,
26 to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might
be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27 (Ro 2:17; 2:23) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?
Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the works of the law.
29 Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles?
Yes, of the Gentiles also,
30 (Gal 3:8; 3:20) seeing it is one God, who shall justify the circumcised
by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 (Mt 5:17; Ro 8:4) Do we then make the law void through faith? God forbid!
Instead, we establish the law.
2) Our Daily Bread for 5 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/05/illustrating-scripture
entitled Illustrating Scripture
Psalms 78
A Contemplative Maskil of Asaph.
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For He established a rule in Jacob,
and appointed a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
that they should make them known to their children,
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) that the generation to come might know them,
even the children who are not yet born,
who will arise and declare them to their children:
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) that they might set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep His commandments,
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) and they might not be as their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that did not set their heart steadfast,
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Decorative blue and white ceramic tiles commonly found in Dutch households
were originally made in the city of Delft. They often depict familiar scenes
of the Netherlands: beautiful landscapes, ubiquitous windmills, and people
working and playing.
In the nineteenth century, Charles Dickens wrote in his book A Christmas Carol
how these tiles were used to illustrate the Scriptures. He described an old
fireplace built by a Dutchman paved with these quaint Delft tiles:
"There were Cains and Abels, Pharaohs' daughters, Queens of Sheba,
. . . [and] Apostles putting off to sea." Many households used these tiles
as a teaching tool as the family gathered around the warmth of a fire
and shared the stories of the Bible. They learned about God's
character-His justice, compassion, and mercy.
The truths of the Bible continue to be relevant today. Psalm 78 encourages
us to teach the "...my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
3 which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us." (vv. 2–3 nlt). It goes on to instruct us to
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) that the generation to come might know them,
even the children who are not yet born,
who will arise and declare them to their children: (vv. 4, 6).
With God's help, we can find creative and effective ways to illustrate
the truths of Scripture to each generation as we strive to give
God the full honor and praise He deserves.
By: Cindy Hess Kasper
Reflect & Pray
What ways have you found effective in illustrating the truths
of the Bible to someone who's new to Scripture?
Who needs to know about the "praiseworthy deeds of the Lord"?
Loving God, show me ways to illustrate what I've learned
from Scripture so others may know of Your wonders.
Learn more about the central meaning of the Bible.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 1 - The Joy of Confessing Christ
Romans 10:9-10
9 (Lk 12:8; Php 2:11)that if you confess with your mouth
Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved,
10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Teena, a college freshman, has just committed her life to Christ,
but she was apprehensive about telling anyone - until Bill appeared
on the scene. He plunked his coffee cup down on the table and smiled.
"I heard something exciting happened to you yesterday, Teena"
"Yeah", Teena paused and looked around, as if seeking an escape route.
"I , uh, well, I did it"
"Did what?"
"Well, I, ah, gave my life to God."
"That's wonderful!" Bill exclaimed.
He was still talking with Teena and encouraging he in her decision
when Maria walked by.
"Maria!" Bill called. "Teena wants to tell you something!"
Teena gasped , open-mouthed, then stammered,
" I - I committed my life to Christ."
Maria , similarly enthuasiatic, encouraged Teena in her commitment,
and within half an hour Teena was stopping her friends to tell them,
"Guess what? I've become a Christian! I belng to Jesus now!"
Teena had already surrendered her heart to Christ.
But when she confessed her decision aloud to others,
the truth of that transformation was confirmed by her.
Many of us have been raised to believe that 'faith is a private matter',
not to be discussed in polite company. Yet Paul makes clear the connection
between heart commitment and verbal confession. Just as my love for family
and friends deepens as I tell them I love them, so a person's love
for Christ is confirmed and stabilised by speaking of that commitment to others.
Application
a) Have I been reluctant to tell others of my faith in Christ? Why?
b) What happens within me when I do tell others of my love for the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich ,and He adds no sorrow with it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Saddened by Loss
1 Cor 15:35-38,51-57
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up?
With what body do they come?"
36 You fool! What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 When you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but a bare kernel,
perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
38 Then God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,
for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For tis corruptible will put on incorruption,
and this mortal will put on immortality.
54 When this corruptible will have put on incorruption,
and this mortal will have put on immortality,
then the saying that is written shall come to pass:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ!
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?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far nothern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life ,
reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
)
Advent Day 8
From C. S. Lewis A Grand Miracle Joel Heck
"When the year dies in preparation for the birth/Of other seasons, not the same, on the same earth,
Then saving and calamity together make/The Advent gospel, telling how the heart will break....
Therefore it was in Advent that the Quest began; in wail of wind the flower of the Britons all/Went out, and desolation was in Arthur's hall." - C. S. Lewis
(From C. S. Lewis' "Launcelot," in Narrative Poems, p. 95.)
The Quest
The quest for the Holy Grail in the King Arthur story has captiÂvated millions of people over the centuries. Launcelot, the Christ figure of the Arthurian legend, is the noble knight who begins a search for the cup that Christ used at the Last Supper. This cup has appeared in many places in literature, theater, and the movies. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, for example, Indiana Jones finds his way down a passageway and comes into a room full of chalices. He must select one and drink from it. If he selects the wrong cup, he dies. An ancient figure in the room tells him, "Choose wisely."
Legend has it that the cup was carried by Joseph of Arimathea to a castle in Great Britain. The court of King Arthur believed that the Grail would be rediscovered by a descendant of Joseph. Of the Knights of the Round Table, only Galahad, Lancelot's son, was able to find and enter the castle with the Grail. When he finally gazed upon the cup, the story goes, grail and man were lifted up to heaven together.
What's the point of this story for us? Lancelot's quest began in Advent, and our quest, our preparation for Christmas, likewise begins in Advent. And like the Wise Men preparing for their quest, we need to set out to find our King, the Christ Child. When we begin our Advent season with Scripture and seek the Holy Christ rather than the Holy Grail, we are choosing wisely.
God, grant us wisdom to choose thoughtfully our preparation for your coming in Jesus. Amen.
Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
Matthew 2:2
From Follow the Story Marva J. Dawn
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
-Luke 1:32a
It is fitting that on this second Sunday of Advent we have before us
the actual words of annunciation for Mary. I was going to entitle this
meditation "The Annunciation to Mary," but was prevented by the actual
content of the angel's message. Conspicuously, Gabriel's words are much
more about Jesus than about practical matters for Mary. She is a servant,
absolutely, but the child that will be born of her is so great that all
consideration should be placed upon him.
Not only will he be great, but he will be called the Son of the Most High.
The LORD God (which uses the two most prominent names in the Hebrew
Scriptures, Yahweh and Elohim) will give him the throne over all of lsrael,
which his ancestor David once ruled, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Unquestionably, this is the child for which all lsrael has been waiting.
prayer
LORD God, how can we ever thank you for sending us, Jesus,
the Son of the Most High? Amen.
Read Luke 1:25-33.
25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me,
to take away my reproach among men."
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favuored.
The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered
in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God.
31 Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son
and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
And of His kingdom there will be no end."
From the AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ACTION!
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
PSALM 72:18
The AH-HAs of Advent orovide us a time to reflect, refocus and remember who we are in Jesus Christ So, enjoy refreshing yourself through his Word and hrs people. And as we find time to enjoy the "power of pause" we can also recall that the Lord provide us opportunities to not only be his people but also the chance to do a his people
Psalm 72 helps us to focus on being both be-ers and do-ers in the world The good news in Christ is that we are motivated to be active in serving others, not because we "gotta do it" but because we ·get to do it"! Today's Psalm
is an affirmatiion of God at work in the world-our world. right here and now-through us!
Isn't it great that one of the books ot the Bible istitled the Acts of the Apostles instead of the Resolutions of the Apostles' There must be a message there somewhere!
So, what are you going to do today to show the glory, might and love of the Lord? For starters pause to remember the promise of your Baptism. Then look around you at your needs and your gifts, take a deep breath. and announce your action plan at least to yourself). Do not worry about getting everything correct today or doing everything you want to do.
Just "Get ready! Fire!"... and then aim later when you rethink all of the possibilities for a ministry of action!
Look out world, here I come!
Lord thanks for being activein the world both in little and big ways. Help me today to be active in big ways and little ways as well,
not because I "gotta do it" but because I" want to do it."
In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Psalm 72·1-7. 18-19
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor with justice.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) May the mountains bring well-being to the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) May he judge the poor of the people,
may he save the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) May they fear You as long as the sun endures,
and the moon, throughout all generations.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) May he descend like rain on the mown grass,
as showers dripping on the earth.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) In his days may the righteous flourish,
and abundance of peace until the moon is no more.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
19 Blessed be His glorious name forever;
and may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.
Conclusion:
Pray to The Lord to help a person or people on the margins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him for forgiveness of sins
for none are righteous.
Pray to the Lord "Loving God, show me ways to illustrate what I've learned
from Scripture so others may know of Your wonders."
Pray to the Lord and confess the Jesus is Lord.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for his rich blessings.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for His Victory
and the coming rapture of the Church.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself
Pray for the Lord to search your life ,
reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
Prayer : God, grant us wisdom to choose thoughtfully our preparation for your coming in Jesus. Amen.
Pray: LORD God, how can we ever thank you for sending us, Jesus,
the Son of the Most High? Amen.
Pray: Lord, calm us, settle us and point us
to the hope and the future that you have
provided for us, through Jesus' birth, death and resurrection.
You have our attention Lord In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
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 https://www.calvarycommunity.ca/ , we addressed
The Characters of Christmas : The Shpeherds - Unexpected Guests
in the Christmas Story.
The Unlinkey but Remarkable People God Uses.
Luke 2:1 -7
1 (Lk 3:1; Mt 24:14) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the entire inhabited earth should be taxed.
2 (Lk 3:1) This taxation was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And everyone went to his own city to be taxed.
4 (Jn 7:42; 1Sa 16:1) So Joseph also departed from the city of Nazareth
in Galilee to the City of David which is called Bethlehem, in Judea,
because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be taxed with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
6 So while they were there, the day came for her to give birth.
7 (Mt 1:25; Lk 2:11-12) And she gave birth to her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Isaiah 55:8
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways,
says the Lord.
Micah 4:8
8 (Zec 9:10) As for you, watchtower of the flock,
citadel of the daughter of Zion,
to you it will come, the former dominion will come,
kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:17-18
17 When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word
which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
Ezekiel 34:12-16
12 (Eze 30:3; Jer 13:16) As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day
that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so I will seek out My sheep
and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered
in a cloudy and dark day.
13 (Eze 11:17) I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them
from the countries, and bring them to their own land, and feed them upon
the mountains of Israel by the rivers and in all the inhabited places
of the country.
14 (Jn 10:9; Jer 31:12-14) I will feed them in a good pasture,
and upon the high mountains of Israel their grazing ground shall be.
There they shall lie on good grazing ground, and in a rich pasture
they shall feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord
God.
16 (Isa 10:16; 49:26) I will seek that which was lost and bring back
that which was driven away and bind up that which was broken
and will strengthen that which was sick.
But I will destroy the fat and the strong.
I will feed them with judgment.
Philippians 2:3-9
3 (Ro 12:10; Gal 5:26) Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit,
but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself.
4 (Ro 15:1) Let each of you look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
5 (Mt 11:29; Ro 15:3) Let this mind be in you all,
which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 (Jn 5:18; 10:33) who, being in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
7 (Mt 20:28; Jn 1:14) But He emptied Himself,
taking upon Himself the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.
8 (Heb 12:2; Mt 26:39; Jn 10:18) And being found in the form of a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
9 (Heb 2:9; Mt 28:18) Therefore God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name which is above every name,
James 2:1-9
James 2
Warning Against Partiality
1 (1Co 2:8; Lev 19:15) My brothers, have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord of glory, without partiality.
2 For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly,
and also a poor man in ragged clothing comes in,
3 and you have respect for him who wears the fine clothing and say to him,
"Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there,"
or "Sit here under my footstool,"
4 (Jn 7:24) have you not then become partial among yourselves
and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 (Mt 5:3; Lk 6:20; 12:21) Listen, my beloved brothers.
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
6 (1Co 11:22; Ac 8:3) But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men
oppress you and drag you before the judgment seats?
7 (Ac 11:26) Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?
8 (Lev 19:18) If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"(Lev 19:18.) you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin
and are convicted by the law as sinners.
2 pointers from this Sermon
i) Shepherds were the religious and soical outcasts and misfits of Jewish
society. The nature of their work kept them from normal religious functions,
and they were a filthy bunch, also.
If you have studied the life of Jesus, you know that he gravitated toward
the people who spent their time at the margins of society. ... God opposes
the proud and give grace to the humble.
ii) Jesus ... is the friend of sinners and outcasts and so there
is hope for the least of us.
1)
Romans 1 - 3
Romans 1
Salutation
1 (Ro 15:16; 1Co 1:1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
2 (Ro 3:21; Titus 1:2) which He promised beforehand through
His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 (Gal 4:4; Mt 1:1; Jn 1:14) concerning His Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh
4 (2Co 13:4) and declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 (Ac 6:7; 1:25) Through Him we have received grace and apostleship
for the obedience of faith among all nations for His name,
6 (Rev 17:14) among whom you also are called by Jesus Christ:
7 (Col 1:2; 2Co 13:14) To all who are in Rome, beloved of God,
called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul's Desire to Visit Rome
8 (Ro 16:19; 6:17) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,
because your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 (2Ti 1:3; Ro 9:1; 2Co 1:23) For God is my witness, whom I serve
with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing,
I mention you always in my prayers,
10 (Ac 18:21) making request if, by any means, now at last I might
find a way in the will of God to come to you.
11 (Ro 15:23) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some
spiritual gift, so that you may be strengthened.
12 (2Pe 1:1) This is so that I may be encouraged together
with you by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
13 (Jn 4:36; Ac 19:21) Now I would not have you unaware, brothers,
that I often intended to come to you (but was prevented until now),
that I might have a harvest among you also, even as among the other Gentiles.
14 I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians,
both to the wise and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel
to you also who are in Rome.
The Definition of the Gospel
16 (Ro 2:9; Mk 8:38) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Ro 3:21) For in it the righteousness of God
is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written,
"The just shall live by faith." Hab 2:4.
The Guilt of Mankind
18 (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6) The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth
through unrighteousness.
19 (Ro 1:20) For what may be known about God is clear to them since
God has shown it to them.
20 (1Ti 1:17; Ps 19:1-6) The invisible things about Him-His eternal power
and deity-have been clearly seen since the creation of the world
and are understood by the things that are made, so that they are
without excuse.
21 (Jer 2:5; 2Ki 17:15) Because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him or give thanks to Him as God,
but became futile in their imaginations,
and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 (Jer 10:14) Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
23 (Ps 106:20; Jer 2:11) They changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed beasts,
and creeping things.
24 (1Th 4:4) Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts
of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves.
25 (Isa 44:20; Ro 9:5) They turned the truth of God into a lie
and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 (Ro 1:24; Ge 19:5) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable
passions. Their women exchanged the natural function for what is against
nature.
27 (Lev 18:22; 20:13) Likewise the men, leaving the natural function
of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men
doing that which is shameful, and receiving in themselves
the due penalty of their error.
[A warning for homosexuals and lesbians from the lord about
their ungodly lifestyle]
28 (Jer 6:30; Ro 1:24) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not proper.
29 (2Co 12:20) They were filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife,
deceit. They are gossips,
30 (2Ti 3:2) slanderers, God-haters, insolent, proud, boastful, inventors
of evil things, and disobedient toward parents,
31 (2Ti 3:3) without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, calloused, and unmerciful,
32 (Ro 6:21; Ps 50:18) who know the righteous requirement of God,
that those who commit such things are worthy of death.
They not only do them, but also give hearty approval
to those who practice them.
Romans 2
The Righteous Judgment of God
1 (2Sa 12:5-7; Ro 2:3) Therefore you are without excuse, Oman,
whoever you are who judges, for when you judge another,
you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is Âaccording to truth
against those who commit such things.
3 (Lk 12:14) Do you think, O man, who judges those who do such things,
and who does the same thing, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 (Ex 34:6; Isa 30:18) Do you despise the riches of His goodness, tolerance,
and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 (Dt 32:34; Jas 5:3) But because of your hardness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up treasures of wrath against yourself on the day of wrath
when the righteous judgment of God will be revealed,
6 (Ps 62:12; Mt 16:27) and He "will render to every man according
to his deeds."(Ps 62:12; Pr 24:12.)
7 (Lk 8:15; 2Ti 1:10) To those who by patiently doing good seek for glory
and honor and immortality will be eternal life.
8 But to those who are contentious and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath,
9 (1Pe 4:17; Ac 3:26) will be tribulation and anguish, upon every
soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.
10 (Isa 32:17; 57:19) But glory, honor, and peace will be to every man
who does good work-to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile,
11 (Ac 10:34; Dt 10:17; 2Ch 19:7) for there is no partiality with God.
12 (1Co 9:21) As many as have sinned without the law will also perish
without the law, and as many as have sinned under the law will be judged
by the law,
13 for the hearers of the law are not justified before God, but the doers
of the law will be justified.
14 (Ro 2:12) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature
the things contained in the law, these, not having the law, are a law
unto themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing witness, while their conflicting thoughts accuse
or even excuse them,
16 (Ro 16:25; Ac 10:42; 1Ti 1:11) in the day when, according to my gospel,
God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ.
The Jews and the Law
17 (Mic 3:11; Ro 2:23) Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest in the law,
and make your boast in God.
18 (Php 1:10) You know His will and approve the things that are more
excellent, because you are instructed in the law.
19 (Mt 15:14; Jn 9:40-41) You are confident that you are a guide
to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 (2Ti 1:13; 3:5) an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of babes,
who have the full content of knowledge and truth in the law:
21 (Ps 50:16-21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach
yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?
22 (Mal 3:8; Ac 19:37) You who say not to commit adultery,
do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 (Ro 2:17; Jn 5:45) You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God
through breaking the law?
24 (Isa 52:5; 2Sa 12:14) As it is written, "The name of God
is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."(Isa 52:5; Eze 36:22.)
25 (Jer 4:4) Circumcision indeed has merit, if you keep the law,
but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision becomes
uncircumcision.
26 (Ro 8:4) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteousness
of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 (Mt 12:41-42; Ro 2:29) Will the uncircumcised one who is righteous
by nature, if he fulfills the law, not judge you who,
by the letter of the law and circumcision, violate the law?
28 (Gal 6:15; Mt 3:9) He is not a Jew who is one outwardly,
nor is circumcision that which is external in the flesh.
29 (1Pe 3:4; Php 3:3; 2Co 10:18) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly.
And circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, and not by the letter.
His praise is not from men, but from God.
Romans 3
1 What advantage then does the Jew have?
Or what profit is there in circumcision?
2 (Ac 7:38; Ps 147:19-20) Much in every way!
Chiefly because the oracles of God were entrusted to them.
3 (Heb 4:2; Ro 10:16) What if some did not believe?
Would their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 (Ps 51:4; 116:11) God forbid! Let God be true, and every man a liar.
As it is written:
"That You may be justified in Your words,
and may prevail in Your judging."(Ps 51:4.)
5 (Ro 6:19; Gal 3:15) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates
the righteousness of God, what shall we say?
Is God unrighteous in taking vengeance? (I am speaking in human terms.)
6 (Ge 18:25; Job 8:3) God forbid! For then how could God judge the world?
7 If through my lie the truth of God has abounded more to His glory,
why am I still being judged as a sinner?
8 (Ro 6:1; 6:15) Why not rather say, "Let us do evil that good may come,"
as we are slanderously accused and as some claim that we say?
Their condemnation is just.
There Is None Righteous
9 (Gal 3:22; Ro 3:19) What then? Are we better than they? No, not at all.
For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.
10 (Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3) As it is written:
"There is none righteous, no, not one; (Ps 14:1; 53:1.)
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks after God.(Ps 14:2; 53:2.)
12 (Ps 14:3) They have all turned aside;
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one."(Ps 14:3; 53:3.)
13 (Ps 5:9; 140:3; Jer 5:16) "Their throats are an open grave;
with their tongues they have used deceit";
"the poison of vipers is under their lips";(Ps 5:9; 140:3.)
14 (Ps 10:7) "their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."(Ps 10:7.)
15 (Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7-8) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7.)
16 destruction and misery are in their paths;(Isa 59:7.)
17 (Lk 1:79) and they do not know the way of peace."(Isa 59:8.)
18 (Ps 36:1) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."(Ps 36:1.)
19 (Ro 3:9; Job 5:16) Now we know that whatever the law says,
it says to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced,
and all the world may become accountable to God.
20 (Ac 13:39; Gal 2:16) Therefore by the works of the law NO flesh
will be justified in His sight, for through the law comes
the knowledge of sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 (Ac 10:43; Ro 1:17) But now, apart from the law, the righteousness
of God is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.
22 (Ro 10:12; Gal 3:28) This righteousness of God comes through faith
in ÂJesus Christ (Or through the faith of Jesus Christ.) to all
and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction.
23 (Ro 3:9) For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,
24 (Ro 4:16; Col 1:14) being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Christ ÂJesus,
25 (Ac 17:30; 1Jn 2:2) whom God has set forth to be a propitiation
through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness,
because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously
committed,
26 to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might
be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27 (Ro 2:17; 2:23) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?
Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the works of the law.
29 Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles?
Yes, of the Gentiles also,
30 (Gal 3:8; 3:20) seeing it is one God, who shall justify the circumcised
by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 (Mt 5:17; Ro 8:4) Do we then make the law void through faith? God forbid!
Instead, we establish the law.
2) Our Daily Bread for 5 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/05/illustrating-scripture
entitled Illustrating Scripture
Psalms 78
A Contemplative Maskil of Asaph.
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For He established a rule in Jacob,
and appointed a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
that they should make them known to their children,
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) that the generation to come might know them,
even the children who are not yet born,
who will arise and declare them to their children:
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) that they might set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep His commandments,
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) and they might not be as their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that did not set their heart steadfast,
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Decorative blue and white ceramic tiles commonly found in Dutch households
were originally made in the city of Delft. They often depict familiar scenes
of the Netherlands: beautiful landscapes, ubiquitous windmills, and people
working and playing.
In the nineteenth century, Charles Dickens wrote in his book A Christmas Carol
how these tiles were used to illustrate the Scriptures. He described an old
fireplace built by a Dutchman paved with these quaint Delft tiles:
"There were Cains and Abels, Pharaohs' daughters, Queens of Sheba,
. . . [and] Apostles putting off to sea." Many households used these tiles
as a teaching tool as the family gathered around the warmth of a fire
and shared the stories of the Bible. They learned about God's
character-His justice, compassion, and mercy.
The truths of the Bible continue to be relevant today. Psalm 78 encourages
us to teach the "...my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
3 which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us." (vv. 2–3 nlt). It goes on to instruct us to
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) that the generation to come might know them,
even the children who are not yet born,
who will arise and declare them to their children: (vv. 4, 6).
With God's help, we can find creative and effective ways to illustrate
the truths of Scripture to each generation as we strive to give
God the full honor and praise He deserves.
By: Cindy Hess Kasper
Reflect & Pray
What ways have you found effective in illustrating the truths
of the Bible to someone who's new to Scripture?
Who needs to know about the "praiseworthy deeds of the Lord"?
Loving God, show me ways to illustrate what I've learned
from Scripture so others may know of Your wonders.
Learn more about the central meaning of the Bible.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 - The Blessings of Grace Day 1 - The Joy of Confessing Christ
Romans 10:9-10
9 (Lk 12:8; Php 2:11)that if you confess with your mouth
Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved,
10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Teena, a college freshman, has just committed her life to Christ,
but she was apprehensive about telling anyone - until Bill appeared
on the scene. He plunked his coffee cup down on the table and smiled.
"I heard something exciting happened to you yesterday, Teena"
"Yeah", Teena paused and looked around, as if seeking an escape route.
"I , uh, well, I did it"
"Did what?"
"Well, I, ah, gave my life to God."
"That's wonderful!" Bill exclaimed.
He was still talking with Teena and encouraging he in her decision
when Maria walked by.
"Maria!" Bill called. "Teena wants to tell you something!"
Teena gasped , open-mouthed, then stammered,
" I - I committed my life to Christ."
Maria , similarly enthuasiatic, encouraged Teena in her commitment,
and within half an hour Teena was stopping her friends to tell them,
"Guess what? I've become a Christian! I belng to Jesus now!"
Teena had already surrendered her heart to Christ.
But when she confessed her decision aloud to others,
the truth of that transformation was confirmed by her.
Many of us have been raised to believe that 'faith is a private matter',
not to be discussed in polite company. Yet Paul makes clear the connection
between heart commitment and verbal confession. Just as my love for family
and friends deepens as I tell them I love them, so a person's love
for Christ is confirmed and stabilised by speaking of that commitment to others.
Application
a) Have I been reluctant to tell others of my faith in Christ? Why?
b) What happens within me when I do tell others of my love for the Lord?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich ,and He adds no sorrow with it.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Saddened by Loss
1 Cor 15:35-38,51-57
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up?
With what body do they come?"
36 You fool! What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37 When you sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but a bare kernel,
perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
38 Then God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,
for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For tis corruptible will put on incorruption,
and this mortal will put on immortality.
54 When this corruptible will have put on incorruption,
and this mortal will have put on immortality,
then the saying that is written shall come to pass:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
55 "O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ!
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?)
The Northern Territories of Canada
Yukon
Yukon Total population (2015) 36500 Muslim (est) 69
In Whitehorse the Muslim population grew from 2 families
in 2001 to more than 60 people in 2014. Originally meeting in a church,
they now meet for prayer service in a former office space.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse to come together,
and for MUslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
NWT population (2015) 43600 Muslim (est) 473
The Muslim community of Yellowknife has grown from 275 to 330 un the past year.
To replace their inadequate facility, they are planning a C$2 to C$2.5 million
Islamic Centre.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Nunavut (NU)
NU total population (2015) 36600 Muslim (est) 86
The Islamic Centre of Iqaluit now claim about 100 Muslims and have surpassed
80 % of their funding goal to building the first mosque in this territory.
Their stated goal is "To spread the message of Islam
in the far nothern reaches of Canada."
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life ,
reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
)
Advent Day 8
From C. S. Lewis A Grand Miracle Joel Heck
"When the year dies in preparation for the birth/Of other seasons, not the same, on the same earth,
Then saving and calamity together make/The Advent gospel, telling how the heart will break....
Therefore it was in Advent that the Quest began; in wail of wind the flower of the Britons all/Went out, and desolation was in Arthur's hall." - C. S. Lewis
(From C. S. Lewis' "Launcelot," in Narrative Poems, p. 95.)
The Quest
The quest for the Holy Grail in the King Arthur story has captiÂvated millions of people over the centuries. Launcelot, the Christ figure of the Arthurian legend, is the noble knight who begins a search for the cup that Christ used at the Last Supper. This cup has appeared in many places in literature, theater, and the movies. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, for example, Indiana Jones finds his way down a passageway and comes into a room full of chalices. He must select one and drink from it. If he selects the wrong cup, he dies. An ancient figure in the room tells him, "Choose wisely."
Legend has it that the cup was carried by Joseph of Arimathea to a castle in Great Britain. The court of King Arthur believed that the Grail would be rediscovered by a descendant of Joseph. Of the Knights of the Round Table, only Galahad, Lancelot's son, was able to find and enter the castle with the Grail. When he finally gazed upon the cup, the story goes, grail and man were lifted up to heaven together.
What's the point of this story for us? Lancelot's quest began in Advent, and our quest, our preparation for Christmas, likewise begins in Advent. And like the Wise Men preparing for their quest, we need to set out to find our King, the Christ Child. When we begin our Advent season with Scripture and seek the Holy Christ rather than the Holy Grail, we are choosing wisely.
God, grant us wisdom to choose thoughtfully our preparation for your coming in Jesus. Amen.
Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
Matthew 2:2
From Follow the Story Marva J. Dawn
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
-Luke 1:32a
It is fitting that on this second Sunday of Advent we have before us
the actual words of annunciation for Mary. I was going to entitle this
meditation "The Annunciation to Mary," but was prevented by the actual
content of the angel's message. Conspicuously, Gabriel's words are much
more about Jesus than about practical matters for Mary. She is a servant,
absolutely, but the child that will be born of her is so great that all
consideration should be placed upon him.
Not only will he be great, but he will be called the Son of the Most High.
The LORD God (which uses the two most prominent names in the Hebrew
Scriptures, Yahweh and Elohim) will give him the throne over all of lsrael,
which his ancestor David once ruled, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Unquestionably, this is the child for which all lsrael has been waiting.
prayer
LORD God, how can we ever thank you for sending us, Jesus,
the Son of the Most High? Amen.
Read Luke 1:25-33.
25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me,
to take away my reproach among men."
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favuored.
The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."
29 When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered
in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favour with God.
31 Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son
and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.
And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
And of His kingdom there will be no end."
From the AH-HAs of Advent by Rich Bimler
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ACTION!
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
PSALM 72:18
The AH-HAs of Advent orovide us a time to reflect, refocus and remember who we are in Jesus Christ So, enjoy refreshing yourself through his Word and hrs people. And as we find time to enjoy the "power of pause" we can also recall that the Lord provide us opportunities to not only be his people but also the chance to do a his people
Psalm 72 helps us to focus on being both be-ers and do-ers in the world The good news in Christ is that we are motivated to be active in serving others, not because we "gotta do it" but because we ·get to do it"! Today's Psalm
is an affirmatiion of God at work in the world-our world. right here and now-through us!
Isn't it great that one of the books ot the Bible istitled the Acts of the Apostles instead of the Resolutions of the Apostles' There must be a message there somewhere!
So, what are you going to do today to show the glory, might and love of the Lord? For starters pause to remember the promise of your Baptism. Then look around you at your needs and your gifts, take a deep breath. and announce your action plan at least to yourself). Do not worry about getting everything correct today or doing everything you want to do.
Just "Get ready! Fire!"... and then aim later when you rethink all of the possibilities for a ministry of action!
Look out world, here I come!
Lord thanks for being activein the world both in little and big ways. Help me today to be active in big ways and little ways as well,
not because I "gotta do it" but because I" want to do it."
In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Psalm 72·1-7. 18-19
1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor with justice.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) May the mountains bring well-being to the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) May he judge the poor of the people,
may he save the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) May they fear You as long as the sun endures,
and the moon, throughout all generations.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) May he descend like rain on the mown grass,
as showers dripping on the earth.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) In his days may the righteous flourish,
and abundance of peace until the moon is no more.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
19 Blessed be His glorious name forever;
and may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.
Conclusion:
Pray to The Lord to help a person or people on the margins.
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him for forgiveness of sins
for none are righteous.
Pray to the Lord "Loving God, show me ways to illustrate what I've learned
from Scripture so others may know of Your wonders."
Pray to the Lord and confess the Jesus is Lord.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for his rich blessings.
Pray to the Lord and thank Him for His Victory
and the coming rapture of the Church.
Pray for Muslims and believers in Whitehorse and the Yukon to come together,
and for Muslims to find faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Muslims in Yellowknife and all of the NWT will awaken to
spiritual hunger and be open to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in Iqaluit take up Jesus' command to love and reach
their Muslim neighbours with the Gospel.
Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself
Pray for the Lord to search your life ,
reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
Prayer : God, grant us wisdom to choose thoughtfully our preparation for your coming in Jesus. Amen.
Pray: LORD God, how can we ever thank you for sending us, Jesus,
the Son of the Most High? Amen.
Pray: Lord, calm us, settle us and point us
to the hope and the future that you have
provided for us, through Jesus' birth, death and resurrection.
You have our attention Lord In Jesus' name. Amen ... and AH-HA!
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.
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