Day 352 - 18 December 2021 reflections
Day 352, 18 December 2021
1)
1 Peter
1 Peter Intro
The apostle Peter was one of the twelve disciples Jesus appointed
and taught during his time on earth. Peter spent the final years
of his life and ministry-in the early 60s AD-as a leader of the church
in Rome. When he learned that churches in other Roman provinces
(all located in what is now Turkey) were experiencing persecution,
he wrote to urge them to remain faithful to Jesus. Peter's letter was
delivered by Silas, a man who also worked with the apostle Paul
(see Acts 15:22-17:15). Peter introduces Silas and explains
that he helped to compose the letter.
After the opening, the letter has three main sections:
: Peter first tells his readers to be holy in all you do.
As Gentiles they once lived in ignorance (they did not know
the ways of God). But they are now a holy nation,
part of God's own people, and are called to a new way of life.
: Peter then explains how this way of life will impress those
who might accuse and persecute them without just cause.
: Finally, Peter acknowledges that his readers are suffering
for their faith, but he explains that this is only to be expected.
The Messiah himself suffered, and believers all over the world
are facing the same challenge. The followers of Jesus are waiting
for the day God will visit them,
and even in their suffering they can show they belong to God.
1 Peter 1
Salutation
1 (Ac 16:6-7; Jas 1:1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the refugees scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia,
2 (Ro 11:2; 2Th 2:13; Heb 12:24) elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit,
for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Living Hope
3 (1Co 15:20; 2Co 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8) to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does
not fade away, kept in heaven for you,
5 (Eph 2:8) who are protected by the power of God through faith for
a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 (Jas 1:2; Isa 61:3; Ro 5:2) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now,
if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials,
7 (Job 23:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10) in order that the genuineness of your faith,
which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire,
may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ,
8 (Jn 20:29; Heb 11:27) whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though
you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory,
9 (Ro 6:22) receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls.
10 (Mt 13:17; Lk 10:24) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied
of the grace that should come to you have inquired and searched diligently,
11 (2Pe 1:21; Isa 52:13-14) seeking the events and time the Spirit of Christ,
who was within them, signified when He foretold the sufferings of Christ
and the glories to follow.
12 (Jn 15:26; Da 8:13) It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, concerning the things which are now reported to you by
those who have preached the gospel to you through the Holy Spirit, who was
sent from heaven-things into which the angels desire to look.
A Call to Holy Living
13 (1Pe 4:7; 5:8) Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 (Ro 12:2; Ac 17:30) As obedient children do not conduct yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance.
15 (2Co 7:1; Heb 12:14) But as He who has called you is holy, so be holy
in all your conduct,
16 (Lev 11:44; 19:2) because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
(Lev 11:44; 19:2; 20:7.)
17 (Mt 6:9; 2Co 7:1) And if you address as Father the One who impartially
judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the
time of your sojourning.
18 (1Co 6:20) For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way
of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver
or gold,
19 (Jn 1:29; Ex 12:5) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot.
20 (Eph 1:4; Col 1:26) He was foreordained before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for you.
21 (Heb 2:9; Jn 12:44) Through Him you believe in God who raised Him up
from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be
in God.
22 (Heb 13:1; Jas 4:8) Since your souls have been purified by obedience to
the truth through the Spirit unto a genuine brotherly love, love one another
deeply with a pure heart,
23 (Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:3) for you have been born again, not from perishable seed,
but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
24 (Isa 40:6-8; Jas 1:10-11) For
"All flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
25 (Isa 40:8) but the word of the Lord endures forever."
This is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 2
The Living Stone and the Holy Nation
1 (Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11; 1:21) Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.
2 (Mt 18:3; Eph 4:15)As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word,
that by it you may grow,
3 if it is true that you have experienced that the Lord is good.
4 (1Pe 2:7) Coming to Him as to a living stone who is rejected by men,
but chosen by God and precious,
5 (Php 4:18; 1Pe 2:9; Isa 61:6) you also, as living stones, are being built
up into a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 (Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20) For also it is contained in the Scripture,
"Look! I lay in Zion
a chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
and he who believes in Him
shall never be put to shame." (Isa 28:16.)
7 (Mt 21:42; 2Co 2:16) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious.
But to those who are disobedient,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,"(Ps 118:22.)
8 (Isa 8:14; Ro 9:22) and,
"A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense."(Isa 8:14.)
They stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
to which also they were appointed.
9 (Dt 7:6; 10:15) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the
goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10 (Hos 1:9-10; 2:23) In times past, you were not a people, but now you are
the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.
Live as Servants of God
11 (Jas 4:1; Lev 25:23) Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
12 (Mt 5:16; 1Pe 3:16) Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that
though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works
and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 (Titus 3:1) Submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord's sake,
whether it be to the king, as supreme,
14 (Ro 13:3-4) or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers
and to praise those who do right.
15 (1Pe 2:12) For it is the will of God that by doing right you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 (Ro 6:22; 1Co 7:22) As free people, do not use your liberty as a covering
for evil, but live as servants of God.
17 (Ro 13:7; Pr 24:21; Ro 12:10) Honor all people. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.
The Example of Christ's Suffering
18 (Jas 3:17) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 (Ro 13:5) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God
a person endures grief, suffering unjustly.
20 (1Pe 2:19; 3:17) For what credit is it if when you are being beaten
for your sins you patiently endure? But if when doing good and suffering
for it, you patiently endure, this is favorable before God.
21 (Ac 14:22; Mt 16:24) For to this you were called, because Christ suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 (Isa 53:9; 2Co 5:21) "He committed no sin,
nor was deceit found in His mouth."(Isa 53:9.)
23 (Isa 53:7; Lk 23:46) When He was reviled, He did not revile back; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but He entrusted Himself to Him who judges
righteously.
24 (Ro 6:2; 6:11) He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.
"By His wounds you were healed."(Isa 53:5. 25Isa 53:6; Ps 119:176)
For you were as sheep going astray, but now have been returned
to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 3
Wives and Husbands
1 (1Co 7:16; Col 3:18) Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands,
so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the
conduct of their wives,
2 as they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 (Isa 3:18-24) Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning
of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing.
4 (Ro 7:22; Ps 149:4) But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which
is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
very precious in the sight of God.
5 (1Ti 5:5) For in this manner, in the old times, the holy women, who trusted
in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 (Ge 18:12) even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her
children as long as you do right and are not afraid with any terror.
7 (Col 3:19; 1Th 4:4) Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with
your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,
since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers
will not be hindered.
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 (Mt 18:33; Ro 12:10) Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward
one another, be gracious, and be kind.
9 (Ro 12:17; 12:14; 1Th 5:15) Do not repay evil for evil, or curse for curse,
but on the contrary, bless, knowing that to this you are called, so that you
may receive a blessing.
10 (Ps 34:12-16) For
"He who would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil,
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (Ps 34:14; Mt 5:9) Let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 (Pr 16:7) Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?
14 (1Pe 2:19-20; Isa 8:12-13) But even if you suffer for the sake
of righteousness, you are blessed. "Do not be afraid of their terror,
do not be troubled."(Isa 8:12.)
15 (Col 4:6; Isa 29:23) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for
a reason for the hope that is in you, with
gentleness and fear.
16 (Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12) Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak
evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 (1Pe 2:20; 4:19) For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you
suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 (1Pe 4:1; Heb 9:26; Ro 4:25) For Christ also has once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,
19 (1Pe 4:6) by whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 (Ge 6:3; 6:5) who in times past were disobedient, when God waited patiently
in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is,
eight souls, were saved through water.
21 (1Pe 1:3; Mk 16:16) Figuratively this is like baptism, which also saves us
now. It is not washing off the dirt from the body, but a response to God from
a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 (Ro 8:38; Mk 16:19) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand
of God, with angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.
1 Peter 4
Good Stewards of God's Grace
1 (Ro 6:7; 6:2) Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 (Mk 3:35; Ro 6:11) so that he no longer should live the rest of his time
in the flesh serving human desires, but the will of God.
3 (Isa 28:7; Eze 44:6) For in earlier times of our lives it may have
sufficed us to do what the Gentiles like to do, when we walked in immorality:
lusts, drunkenness, carousing, debauchery, and abominable idolatries.
4 (1Pe 3:16; 2:12) They are surprised that you do not join them in the same
excess of wild living, and so they speak evil of you.
5 (Ac 10:42; 2Ti 4:1) They will give account to Him who is ready to judge
the living and the dead.
6 (1Pe 3:19) For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who
are dead, so that even though they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, they might live according to God in the spirit.
7 (1Pe 1:13; Lk 21:36) The end of all things is near.
Therefore be solemn and sober so you can pray.
8 (Pr 10:12; Jas 5:20) Above all things, have unfailing love for one another,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
9 (Php 2:14; 1Ti 3:2) Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
10 (1Co 4:1-2; Lk 12:42) As everyone has received a gift, even so serve one
another with it, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 (Ac 7:38; 1Co 10:31) If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone serves, let him serve with the strength that God supplies, so that
God in all things may be glorified through ÂJesus Christ,
to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place
among you to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you.
13 (Ro 8:17; Php 3:10) But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ's sufferings, so that you may rejoice and be glad also in the revelation
of His glory.
14 (Mt 5:11; 1Pe 3:16) If you are reproached because of the name of Christ,
you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 (1Th 4:11; 2Th 3:11) Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief,
or an evildoer, or even as a busybody.
16 (Ac 5:41; 26:28) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed, but let him glorify God because of it.
17 (Jer 25:29; 2Th 1:8) For the time has come for judgment to begin
at the house of God, and if it begins first with us, what shall the end
be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 (Pr 11:31; Lk 23:31) And
"If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"(Pr 11:31.)
19 (Ps 31:5; Lk 23:46) So then, let those who suffer according to the will
of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator, while continuing
to do good.
1 Peter 5
Tending the Flock of God
1 (Lk 24:48; Ac 11:30) I exhort the elders who are among you,
as one who is also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ
as well as a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 (1Ti 3:8; 3:3) Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, take care
of them, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain,
but eagerly.
3 (Eze 34:4; Php 3:17) Do not lord over those in your charge,
but be examples to the flock.
4 (1Co 9:25; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:4) And when the chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.
5 (Jas 4:6; Eph 5:21) Likewise you younger ones, submit yourselves
to the elders. Yes, all of you be submissive one to another
and clothe yourselves with humility, because
"God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble."(Pr 3:34.)
6 (Jas 4:10; Mt 23:12) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time.
7 (Ps 55:22; 37:5) Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.
8 (Job 2:2; Eph 6:11) Be sober and watchful, because your adversary
the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 (Ac 14:22; Jas 4:7) Resist him firmly in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
10 (2Co 4:17; 2Th 2:17; 1Co 1:9) But after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory through Christ
Jesus, will restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
11 (1Pe 4:11) To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12 (Heb 13:22; 2Co 1:19; Ac 20:24) With the help of Silas, whom I consider
to be a faithful brother to you, I have written briefly, exhorting you
and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 (Ac 12:12; 12:25) The church that is at Babylon, elect together with you,
greets you, and so does Mark, my son.
14 (Ro 16:16; Eph 6:23) Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be with all you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2) Our Daily Bread for 18 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/18/well-done
entitled Well Done!
2 Timothy 4:1-8
2 Timothy 4
1 (Ac 10:42; 1Ti 5:21) I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom:
2 (Titus 1:13; 2:15) Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season,
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
3 (1Ti 1:10) For the time will come when people will not endure sound
doctrine, but they will gather to themselves teachers in accordance
with their own desires, having itching ears,
4 (1Ti 1:4; 4:7) and they will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn to myths.
5 (Ac 21:8; 2Ti 1:8) But be self-controlled in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, and prove your ministry.
6 (Php 1:23; 2:17) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,
and the time of my departure has come.
7 (Ac 20:24; 1Ti 6:12) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,
and I have kept the faith.
8 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 1:12) From now on a crown of righteousness is laid up for me,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The school where my son Brian coaches football lost the state title game
in a hard-fought battle. Their opponent was undefeated over the past two
years. I sent Brian a text to commiserate with him and received a terse
reply: "Kids battled!"
No coach shamed the players after the game. No one shouted at them
for their mishaps or bad decisions along the way. No, the coaches
showered the young players with praise for what could be praised.
Along the same vein, it’s good to know that believers in Jesus will
not hear harsh words of condemnation from Him. When Christ comes
and we stand before Him, He won't shame us. He'll see what we've done
as we've followed Him (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8). I think He'll
say something like, "You battled! Well done!" The apostle Paul testified
that he had "fought the good fight" and looked forward to being welcomed
by God (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Life is a relentless struggle with a fierce, unyielding foe devoted to our
destruction. He will resist every effort we make to be like Jesus and to love
others. There'll be a few good wins and some heartbreaking losses-God knows-
but there will be no eternal condemnation for those in Jesus (Romans 8:1).
If we stand before Him in the merits of God's Son, each one will "receive
[his] praise†from God (1 Corinthians 4:5).
By: David H. Roper
Reflect & Pray
Does the thought of standing before God fill
you with dread or delight?
What would make the difference?
Thank You, God, for the promise that because
I have Jesus as my Saviour, I'll never be condemned.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace – Day 7 Break up Your Fallow Ground
Hosea 10:12
12 Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy,
break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord,
until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.
When a farmer prepares to plant his crop, a great deal of preparation
is necessary before the seen can be sown. He has to plow up the ground,
turning under the stubble from the previous harvest, harrow the field to
break up the clods, and fertilise- readying the soil for optimum growth.
A fallow field, one that was not planted the previous season, must be
broken and worked so that the seed can find root in the ground.
The Bible likens spiritual growth to raising crops. God is the one
who brings rain and gives growth, but the success or failure
of the seed - both in initial salvation and in ongoing maturity -
is often linked to how well the soil has been prepared.
That preparation isn't always a pleasant or rewarding process.
We may resist the plowing or harrowing that comes through
the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin. We may need to dig up boulders
of bitterness and thistles of anger; we may have to plow under the
stubble of the last crop of lessons, working that mulch deep into our lives.
But the final outcome is worth the effort - even the pain - that
preparation brings. Broken up, harrowed, readied for the seed of God's Word,
we are rich and fertile ground, and the seed of righteousness produces
an abundant crop in us.
Application
a) In what ways have I been "broken up" and "harrowed" by the Holy
Spirit to prepare me for God's work in me?
b) How can I apply these verses to myself? How can I
"sow in righteousness," "reap in mercy,"
"break up my fallow ground"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Malachi 3:10-12
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in
My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not
open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing,
that there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 I will rebuke the devourer
for your sakes, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
and the vines in your field will not fail to bear fruit,
says the Lord of Hosts.
12 Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be
a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Worried Over Money
Matt 6:19-21
Treasures in Heaven
Lk 12:33–34
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth
and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy
and where thieves do not break in nor steal, 21 for where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
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 in 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 Northern 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
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.
)
Advent Day 21
From C. S. Lewis A Grand Miracle
[The Queen of Narnia] "'isn't a real queen at all,' answered Lucy.
'She is a horrible White Witch She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas.'
'I wonder if there's any point in going on,' said Susan....
'What about just going home?'" - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, p. 56.)
Always Winter and Never Christmas
Always winter and never Christmas. Nothing could be more depressing. Continual anticipation of celebration, gift-giving, and wonderful music, but never arriving at the promise. Advent is exciting, but a perpetual Advent season would drag on. In Narnia, it had been winter for a hundred years, but Christmas never arrived. The white witch had bound Narnia in ice and snow. The winter weather contained the promise, but not the reality of Christmas. Without the breaking of her enchantment, Christmas would never come.
Lucy had been the first to enter Narnia. Her words from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe repeat what she has heard: always winter and never Christmas. But in that phrase there lies a promise. Some day it will be Christmas! Asian is on the move! The lion is coming. He will defeat the witch. The wardrobe will prove to be a gateway to the fulfillment of a promise. Evil has its limits. One day we will celebrate. And so Asian came, and the ice and snow began to melt. Eventually, the witch's power melted as surely as the ice and snow had.
Since the first promise of a Savior and the first declaration of a final Day of the Lord, much time has passed. The promise remains valid, because "a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" with the Lord (2 Peter 3:8). He has come, and he is coming again.
God, give us the patience to trust your promises. Amen.
8 (Ps 90:4) But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing,
that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day.
9 (1Ti 2:4; Hab 2:3; Heb 10:37) The Lord is not slow concerning His promise,
as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want
any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9
From Follow The Story by Marva J. Dawn
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
The Lord God
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,...
-Luke 1:68a
I have taken the liberty of capitalizing the entire name LORD
(here and in earlier meditations) because it seems most likely
that the speakers utilized the Aramaic version of the original
Hebrew word we translate "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." In English we employ
the all-capitalized word rather than Lord, which renders the Hebrew
name Adonai or "Sovereign One." LORD means the "Covenant One,"
so you might want to watch for its occurrences in the First Testament
and note each time the choice of that assuring/fulfilling name.
Here Zechariah blesses Israel's Promising God because he had scrutinised
his people positively and reclaimed them after all the times in their
history they had gone astray.
Zechariah's son John would have a great part in a future restoration
(Luke 1:15b-16).
Do we need a more favourable view of the First
(rather than "Old" or, as some think, "Outdated") Testament?
To see all the grace that is implied by LORD might
be an excellent starting point.
Prayer
The immensity of your grace, LORD, dazzles us! Amen.
Read Luke 1:67-68.
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for He has visited and redeemed His people,
From the Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler
THIRD SATURDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ATTRIBUTES!
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"ISAIAH 52:7
Today's Scripture outlines some of the Advent AH-HAs of attributes
of those who share the good news of Christmas . .. and beyond. How
beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring peace and hope to
a troubled world! And then we are even encouraged to "break forth in
singing," another great attribute given to us to use to glorify the Lords
Think of some of the AH-HA attributes that you are sharing with others. Go
ahead. no need to be a "shucks, I don't have much" kind of person. We
all have been blessed with so many gifts, and I do not mean those lying
under your tree.
As an experiment, try this; Write down or think of six words you would use
to describe your Advent journey of faith. This idea evolved from a book
entitled Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers
Famous card Obscure in which people summed up their lives in six
words. One comic wrote, "Well,l thought it was funny." Ernest Hemingway
wrote, "For sale, baby shoes, never worn." Folks from Chicago might write,
'Cubbies--just wait until next year!" A former math teacher of mine would
have said. "l never could count well!'
Some quick attributes of Advent for me an: "He came to give us life."o r
Everything in the name of Jesus." or "The Word Made Flesh among us.'
Share your attributes as gifts to others.
Lord. thanks for giving us gifts to announce your birth, death
and resurrection to others. Keep us creative, constant, consistent
and Christ-like. In Jesus' name, Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Isaiah 52:7-10.
7 (Isa 40:9; Na 1:15; Ps 93:1) How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
8 (Isa 62:6; 1Co 13:12) Your watchmen lift up their voices;
they sing joyfully together;
for they shall see with their own eyes
when the Lord brings Zion back.
9 (Isa 51:3; 48:20) Break forth into joy, sing together,
you waste places of Jerusalem.
For the Lord has comforted His people;
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 (Isa 51:9; Lk 3:6) The Lord has bared His holy arm
in the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to resist the Evil One
and put all your cares to Jesus.
Pray to the Lord "Thank You, God, for the promise that because
I have Jesus as my Saviour, I'll never be condemned."
Pray to the Lord and Let Him Prepare you for work.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a joyful giver.
Pray to the Lord and pray to store treasure in Heaven.
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 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
God, give us the patience to trust your promises. Amen.
Pray: The immensity of your grace, LORD, dazzles us! Amen.
Pray: Lord. thanks for giving us gifts to announce your birth, death
and resurrection to others. Keep us creative, constant, consistent
and Christ-like. In Jesus' name, Amen ... and AH-HA!
Pray for Believers in Yemen who have been forced from their homes
and have nowhere to go.
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)
1 Peter
1 Peter Intro
The apostle Peter was one of the twelve disciples Jesus appointed
and taught during his time on earth. Peter spent the final years
of his life and ministry-in the early 60s AD-as a leader of the church
in Rome. When he learned that churches in other Roman provinces
(all located in what is now Turkey) were experiencing persecution,
he wrote to urge them to remain faithful to Jesus. Peter's letter was
delivered by Silas, a man who also worked with the apostle Paul
(see Acts 15:22-17:15). Peter introduces Silas and explains
that he helped to compose the letter.
After the opening, the letter has three main sections:
: Peter first tells his readers to be holy in all you do.
As Gentiles they once lived in ignorance (they did not know
the ways of God). But they are now a holy nation,
part of God's own people, and are called to a new way of life.
: Peter then explains how this way of life will impress those
who might accuse and persecute them without just cause.
: Finally, Peter acknowledges that his readers are suffering
for their faith, but he explains that this is only to be expected.
The Messiah himself suffered, and believers all over the world
are facing the same challenge. The followers of Jesus are waiting
for the day God will visit them,
and even in their suffering they can show they belong to God.
1 Peter 1
Salutation
1 (Ac 16:6-7; Jas 1:1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the refugees scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia,
2 (Ro 11:2; 2Th 2:13; Heb 12:24) elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit,
for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Living Hope
3 (1Co 15:20; 2Co 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8) to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does
not fade away, kept in heaven for you,
5 (Eph 2:8) who are protected by the power of God through faith for
a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 (Jas 1:2; Isa 61:3; Ro 5:2) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now,
if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials,
7 (Job 23:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10) in order that the genuineness of your faith,
which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire,
may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ,
8 (Jn 20:29; Heb 11:27) whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though
you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and
full of glory,
9 (Ro 6:22) receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls.
10 (Mt 13:17; Lk 10:24) Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied
of the grace that should come to you have inquired and searched diligently,
11 (2Pe 1:21; Isa 52:13-14) seeking the events and time the Spirit of Christ,
who was within them, signified when He foretold the sufferings of Christ
and the glories to follow.
12 (Jn 15:26; Da 8:13) It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves but you, concerning the things which are now reported to you by
those who have preached the gospel to you through the Holy Spirit, who was
sent from heaven-things into which the angels desire to look.
A Call to Holy Living
13 (1Pe 4:7; 5:8) Therefore guard your minds, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 (Ro 12:2; Ac 17:30) As obedient children do not conduct yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance.
15 (2Co 7:1; Heb 12:14) But as He who has called you is holy, so be holy
in all your conduct,
16 (Lev 11:44; 19:2) because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
(Lev 11:44; 19:2; 20:7.)
17 (Mt 6:9; 2Co 7:1) And if you address as Father the One who impartially
judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the
time of your sojourning.
18 (1Co 6:20) For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way
of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver
or gold,
19 (Jn 1:29; Ex 12:5) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot.
20 (Eph 1:4; Col 1:26) He was foreordained before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for you.
21 (Heb 2:9; Jn 12:44) Through Him you believe in God who raised Him up
from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be
in God.
22 (Heb 13:1; Jas 4:8) Since your souls have been purified by obedience to
the truth through the Spirit unto a genuine brotherly love, love one another
deeply with a pure heart,
23 (Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:3) for you have been born again, not from perishable seed,
but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
24 (Isa 40:6-8; Jas 1:10-11) For
"All flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
25 (Isa 40:8) but the word of the Lord endures forever."
This is the word that was preached to you.
1 Peter 2
The Living Stone and the Holy Nation
1 (Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11; 1:21) Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.
2 (Mt 18:3; Eph 4:15)As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word,
that by it you may grow,
3 if it is true that you have experienced that the Lord is good.
4 (1Pe 2:7) Coming to Him as to a living stone who is rejected by men,
but chosen by God and precious,
5 (Php 4:18; 1Pe 2:9; Isa 61:6) you also, as living stones, are being built
up into a spiritual house as a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 (Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20) For also it is contained in the Scripture,
"Look! I lay in Zion
a chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
and he who believes in Him
shall never be put to shame." (Isa 28:16.)
7 (Mt 21:42; 2Co 2:16) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious.
But to those who are disobedient,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,"(Ps 118:22.)
8 (Isa 8:14; Ro 9:22) and,
"A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense."(Isa 8:14.)
They stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
to which also they were appointed.
9 (Dt 7:6; 10:15) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the
goodness of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
10 (Hos 1:9-10; 2:23) In times past, you were not a people, but now you are
the people of God. You had not received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.
Live as Servants of God
11 (Jas 4:1; Lev 25:23) Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
12 (Mt 5:16; 1Pe 3:16) Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that
though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works
and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 (Titus 3:1) Submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord's sake,
whether it be to the king, as supreme,
14 (Ro 13:3-4) or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers
and to praise those who do right.
15 (1Pe 2:12) For it is the will of God that by doing right you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 (Ro 6:22; 1Co 7:22) As free people, do not use your liberty as a covering
for evil, but live as servants of God.
17 (Ro 13:7; Pr 24:21; Ro 12:10) Honor all people. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the king.
The Example of Christ's Suffering
18 (Jas 3:17) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 (Ro 13:5) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God
a person endures grief, suffering unjustly.
20 (1Pe 2:19; 3:17) For what credit is it if when you are being beaten
for your sins you patiently endure? But if when doing good and suffering
for it, you patiently endure, this is favorable before God.
21 (Ac 14:22; Mt 16:24) For to this you were called, because Christ suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 (Isa 53:9; 2Co 5:21) "He committed no sin,
nor was deceit found in His mouth."(Isa 53:9.)
23 (Isa 53:7; Lk 23:46) When He was reviled, He did not revile back; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but He entrusted Himself to Him who judges
righteously.
24 (Ro 6:2; 6:11) He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.
"By His wounds you were healed."(Isa 53:5. 25Isa 53:6; Ps 119:176)
For you were as sheep going astray, but now have been returned
to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 3
Wives and Husbands
1 (1Co 7:16; Col 3:18) Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands,
so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the
conduct of their wives,
2 as they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
3 (Isa 3:18-24) Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning
of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing.
4 (Ro 7:22; Ps 149:4) But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which
is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
very precious in the sight of God.
5 (1Ti 5:5) For in this manner, in the old times, the holy women, who trusted
in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 (Ge 18:12) even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her
children as long as you do right and are not afraid with any terror.
7 (Col 3:19; 1Th 4:4) Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with
your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,
since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers
will not be hindered.
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
8 (Mt 18:33; Ro 12:10) Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward
one another, be gracious, and be kind.
9 (Ro 12:17; 12:14; 1Th 5:15) Do not repay evil for evil, or curse for curse,
but on the contrary, bless, knowing that to this you are called, so that you
may receive a blessing.
10 (Ps 34:12-16) For
"He who would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil,
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 (Ps 34:14; Mt 5:9) Let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13 (Pr 16:7) Who is he who will harm you if you follow that which is good?
14 (1Pe 2:19-20; Isa 8:12-13) But even if you suffer for the sake
of righteousness, you are blessed. "Do not be afraid of their terror,
do not be troubled."(Isa 8:12.)
15 (Col 4:6; Isa 29:23) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks you for
a reason for the hope that is in you, with
gentleness and fear.
16 (Heb 13:18; 1Pe 2:12) Have a good conscience so that evildoers who speak
evil of you and falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 (1Pe 2:20; 4:19) For it is better, if it is the will of God, that you
suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
18 (1Pe 4:1; Heb 9:26; Ro 4:25) For Christ also has once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, being put to death
in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit,
19 (1Pe 4:6) by whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 (Ge 6:3; 6:5) who in times past were disobedient, when God waited patiently
in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is,
eight souls, were saved through water.
21 (1Pe 1:3; Mk 16:16) Figuratively this is like baptism, which also saves us
now. It is not washing off the dirt from the body, but a response to God from
a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 (Ro 8:38; Mk 16:19) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand
of God, with angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.
1 Peter 4
Good Stewards of God's Grace
1 (Ro 6:7; 6:2) Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 (Mk 3:35; Ro 6:11) so that he no longer should live the rest of his time
in the flesh serving human desires, but the will of God.
3 (Isa 28:7; Eze 44:6) For in earlier times of our lives it may have
sufficed us to do what the Gentiles like to do, when we walked in immorality:
lusts, drunkenness, carousing, debauchery, and abominable idolatries.
4 (1Pe 3:16; 2:12) They are surprised that you do not join them in the same
excess of wild living, and so they speak evil of you.
5 (Ac 10:42; 2Ti 4:1) They will give account to Him who is ready to judge
the living and the dead.
6 (1Pe 3:19) For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who
are dead, so that even though they might be judged according to men
in the flesh, they might live according to God in the spirit.
7 (1Pe 1:13; Lk 21:36) The end of all things is near.
Therefore be solemn and sober so you can pray.
8 (Pr 10:12; Jas 5:20) Above all things, have unfailing love for one another,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
9 (Php 2:14; 1Ti 3:2) Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
10 (1Co 4:1-2; Lk 12:42) As everyone has received a gift, even so serve one
another with it, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 (Ac 7:38; 1Co 10:31) If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.
If anyone serves, let him serve with the strength that God supplies, so that
God in all things may be glorified through ÂJesus Christ,
to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place
among you to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you.
13 (Ro 8:17; Php 3:10) But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ's sufferings, so that you may rejoice and be glad also in the revelation
of His glory.
14 (Mt 5:11; 1Pe 3:16) If you are reproached because of the name of Christ,
you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 (1Th 4:11; 2Th 3:11) Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief,
or an evildoer, or even as a busybody.
16 (Ac 5:41; 26:28) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed, but let him glorify God because of it.
17 (Jer 25:29; 2Th 1:8) For the time has come for judgment to begin
at the house of God, and if it begins first with us, what shall the end
be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 (Pr 11:31; Lk 23:31) And
"If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"(Pr 11:31.)
19 (Ps 31:5; Lk 23:46) So then, let those who suffer according to the will
of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator, while continuing
to do good.
1 Peter 5
Tending the Flock of God
1 (Lk 24:48; Ac 11:30) I exhort the elders who are among you,
as one who is also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ
as well as a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 (1Ti 3:8; 3:3) Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, take care
of them, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain,
but eagerly.
3 (Eze 34:4; Php 3:17) Do not lord over those in your charge,
but be examples to the flock.
4 (1Co 9:25; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:4) And when the chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.
5 (Jas 4:6; Eph 5:21) Likewise you younger ones, submit yourselves
to the elders. Yes, all of you be submissive one to another
and clothe yourselves with humility, because
"God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble."(Pr 3:34.)
6 (Jas 4:10; Mt 23:12) Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time.
7 (Ps 55:22; 37:5) Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.
8 (Job 2:2; Eph 6:11) Be sober and watchful, because your adversary
the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 (Ac 14:22; Jas 4:7) Resist him firmly in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
10 (2Co 4:17; 2Th 2:17; 1Co 1:9) But after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory through Christ
Jesus, will restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
11 (1Pe 4:11) To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12 (Heb 13:22; 2Co 1:19; Ac 20:24) With the help of Silas, whom I consider
to be a faithful brother to you, I have written briefly, exhorting you
and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 (Ac 12:12; 12:25) The church that is at Babylon, elect together with you,
greets you, and so does Mark, my son.
14 (Ro 16:16; Eph 6:23) Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be with all you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2) Our Daily Bread for 18 December 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/12/18/well-done
entitled Well Done!
2 Timothy 4:1-8
2 Timothy 4
1 (Ac 10:42; 1Ti 5:21) I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom:
2 (Titus 1:13; 2:15) Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season,
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
3 (1Ti 1:10) For the time will come when people will not endure sound
doctrine, but they will gather to themselves teachers in accordance
with their own desires, having itching ears,
4 (1Ti 1:4; 4:7) and they will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn to myths.
5 (Ac 21:8; 2Ti 1:8) But be self-controlled in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, and prove your ministry.
6 (Php 1:23; 2:17) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,
and the time of my departure has come.
7 (Ac 20:24; 1Ti 6:12) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,
and I have kept the faith.
8 (Col 1:5; 2Ti 1:12) From now on a crown of righteousness is laid up for me,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The school where my son Brian coaches football lost the state title game
in a hard-fought battle. Their opponent was undefeated over the past two
years. I sent Brian a text to commiserate with him and received a terse
reply: "Kids battled!"
No coach shamed the players after the game. No one shouted at them
for their mishaps or bad decisions along the way. No, the coaches
showered the young players with praise for what could be praised.
Along the same vein, it’s good to know that believers in Jesus will
not hear harsh words of condemnation from Him. When Christ comes
and we stand before Him, He won't shame us. He'll see what we've done
as we've followed Him (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8). I think He'll
say something like, "You battled! Well done!" The apostle Paul testified
that he had "fought the good fight" and looked forward to being welcomed
by God (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Life is a relentless struggle with a fierce, unyielding foe devoted to our
destruction. He will resist every effort we make to be like Jesus and to love
others. There'll be a few good wins and some heartbreaking losses-God knows-
but there will be no eternal condemnation for those in Jesus (Romans 8:1).
If we stand before Him in the merits of God's Son, each one will "receive
[his] praise†from God (1 Corinthians 4:5).
By: David H. Roper
Reflect & Pray
Does the thought of standing before God fill
you with dread or delight?
What would make the difference?
Thank You, God, for the promise that because
I have Jesus as my Saviour, I'll never be condemned.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 5 Rejoice in Grace – Day 7 Break up Your Fallow Ground
Hosea 10:12
12 Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy,
break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord,
until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.
When a farmer prepares to plant his crop, a great deal of preparation
is necessary before the seen can be sown. He has to plow up the ground,
turning under the stubble from the previous harvest, harrow the field to
break up the clods, and fertilise- readying the soil for optimum growth.
A fallow field, one that was not planted the previous season, must be
broken and worked so that the seed can find root in the ground.
The Bible likens spiritual growth to raising crops. God is the one
who brings rain and gives growth, but the success or failure
of the seed - both in initial salvation and in ongoing maturity -
is often linked to how well the soil has been prepared.
That preparation isn't always a pleasant or rewarding process.
We may resist the plowing or harrowing that comes through
the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin. We may need to dig up boulders
of bitterness and thistles of anger; we may have to plow under the
stubble of the last crop of lessons, working that mulch deep into our lives.
But the final outcome is worth the effort - even the pain - that
preparation brings. Broken up, harrowed, readied for the seed of God's Word,
we are rich and fertile ground, and the seed of righteousness produces
an abundant crop in us.
Application
a) In what ways have I been "broken up" and "harrowed" by the Holy
Spirit to prepare me for God's work in me?
b) How can I apply these verses to myself? How can I
"sow in righteousness," "reap in mercy,"
"break up my fallow ground"?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Malachi 3:10-12
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in
My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not
open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing,
that there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 I will rebuke the devourer
for your sakes, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
and the vines in your field will not fail to bear fruit,
says the Lord of Hosts.
12 Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be
a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are Worried Over Money
Matt 6:19-21
Treasures in Heaven
Lk 12:33–34
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth
and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy
and where thieves do not break in nor steal, 21 for where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
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 in 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 Northern 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
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.
)
Advent Day 21
From C. S. Lewis A Grand Miracle
[The Queen of Narnia] "'isn't a real queen at all,' answered Lucy.
'She is a horrible White Witch She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas.'
'I wonder if there's any point in going on,' said Susan....
'What about just going home?'" - C. S. Lewis
(Read this and more in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, p. 56.)
Always Winter and Never Christmas
Always winter and never Christmas. Nothing could be more depressing. Continual anticipation of celebration, gift-giving, and wonderful music, but never arriving at the promise. Advent is exciting, but a perpetual Advent season would drag on. In Narnia, it had been winter for a hundred years, but Christmas never arrived. The white witch had bound Narnia in ice and snow. The winter weather contained the promise, but not the reality of Christmas. Without the breaking of her enchantment, Christmas would never come.
Lucy had been the first to enter Narnia. Her words from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe repeat what she has heard: always winter and never Christmas. But in that phrase there lies a promise. Some day it will be Christmas! Asian is on the move! The lion is coming. He will defeat the witch. The wardrobe will prove to be a gateway to the fulfillment of a promise. Evil has its limits. One day we will celebrate. And so Asian came, and the ice and snow began to melt. Eventually, the witch's power melted as surely as the ice and snow had.
Since the first promise of a Savior and the first declaration of a final Day of the Lord, much time has passed. The promise remains valid, because "a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" with the Lord (2 Peter 3:8). He has come, and he is coming again.
God, give us the patience to trust your promises. Amen.
8 (Ps 90:4) But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing,
that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
as one day.
9 (1Ti 2:4; Hab 2:3; Heb 10:37) The Lord is not slow concerning His promise,
as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want
any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:8-9
From Follow The Story by Marva J. Dawn
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT
The Lord God
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,...
-Luke 1:68a
I have taken the liberty of capitalizing the entire name LORD
(here and in earlier meditations) because it seems most likely
that the speakers utilized the Aramaic version of the original
Hebrew word we translate "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." In English we employ
the all-capitalized word rather than Lord, which renders the Hebrew
name Adonai or "Sovereign One." LORD means the "Covenant One,"
so you might want to watch for its occurrences in the First Testament
and note each time the choice of that assuring/fulfilling name.
Here Zechariah blesses Israel's Promising God because he had scrutinised
his people positively and reclaimed them after all the times in their
history they had gone astray.
Zechariah's son John would have a great part in a future restoration
(Luke 1:15b-16).
Do we need a more favourable view of the First
(rather than "Old" or, as some think, "Outdated") Testament?
To see all the grace that is implied by LORD might
be an excellent starting point.
Prayer
The immensity of your grace, LORD, dazzles us! Amen.
Read Luke 1:67-68.
67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit
and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for He has visited and redeemed His people,
From the Ah-Has of Advent by Rich Bimler
THIRD SATURDAY
AH-HA! Ambassadors of Health, Hope and ATTRIBUTES!
How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"ISAIAH 52:7
Today's Scripture outlines some of the Advent AH-HAs of attributes
of those who share the good news of Christmas . .. and beyond. How
beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring peace and hope to
a troubled world! And then we are even encouraged to "break forth in
singing," another great attribute given to us to use to glorify the Lords
Think of some of the AH-HA attributes that you are sharing with others. Go
ahead. no need to be a "shucks, I don't have much" kind of person. We
all have been blessed with so many gifts, and I do not mean those lying
under your tree.
As an experiment, try this; Write down or think of six words you would use
to describe your Advent journey of faith. This idea evolved from a book
entitled Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers
Famous card Obscure in which people summed up their lives in six
words. One comic wrote, "Well,l thought it was funny." Ernest Hemingway
wrote, "For sale, baby shoes, never worn." Folks from Chicago might write,
'Cubbies--just wait until next year!" A former math teacher of mine would
have said. "l never could count well!'
Some quick attributes of Advent for me an: "He came to give us life."o r
Everything in the name of Jesus." or "The Word Made Flesh among us.'
Share your attributes as gifts to others.
Lord. thanks for giving us gifts to announce your birth, death
and resurrection to others. Keep us creative, constant, consistent
and Christ-like. In Jesus' name, Amen ... and AH-HA!
Read Isaiah 52:7-10.
7 (Isa 40:9; Na 1:15; Ps 93:1) How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace,
who brings good news of happiness,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
8 (Isa 62:6; 1Co 13:12) Your watchmen lift up their voices;
they sing joyfully together;
for they shall see with their own eyes
when the Lord brings Zion back.
9 (Isa 51:3; 48:20) Break forth into joy, sing together,
you waste places of Jerusalem.
For the Lord has comforted His people;
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 (Isa 51:9; Lk 3:6) The Lord has bared His holy arm
in the eyes of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to resist the Evil One
and put all your cares to Jesus.
Pray to the Lord "Thank You, God, for the promise that because
I have Jesus as my Saviour, I'll never be condemned."
Pray to the Lord and Let Him Prepare you for work.
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a joyful giver.
Pray to the Lord and pray to store treasure in Heaven.
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 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
God, give us the patience to trust your promises. Amen.
Pray: The immensity of your grace, LORD, dazzles us! Amen.
Pray: Lord. thanks for giving us gifts to announce your birth, death
and resurrection to others. Keep us creative, constant, consistent
and Christ-like. In Jesus' name, Amen ... and AH-HA!
Pray for Believers in Yemen who have been forced from their homes
and have nowhere to go.
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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