Day 210 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 28 July 2024 reflections
Day 210, 28 July 2024
Today at
Calvary Community Church Pastor Barry Regier spoke on
Empowered in Opposition
Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
1 (Ac 18:4; 13:46) At Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together
and so spoke that a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks believed.
[1] And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the
synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews
and also of the Greeks believed.
A) The Power of God
1 Corinthians 4:2,5-7
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
5 (Ro 2:16; 2:1; 2:29) Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time
until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness
and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. Then everyone will have
commendation from God.
6 (1Co 1:12; 13:4) Brothers, I have figuratively applied these things
to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, so that you may learn from us
not to think of men above that which is written, and that not one of you
would be arrogant for one against another.
7 (Jn 3:27; Ro 12:6) For who makes you differ from another?
And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you received it,
why do you boast as if you had not received it?
[2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
[5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both
will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
[6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and
to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men
above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against
another.
[7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if
thou hadst not received it?
Romans 1:16
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.
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek.
B) Strategies of the Enemy
i) Rejection and social pressure
Acts 14:2
2 (Ac 13:50; 13:45) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles
and embittered their minds against the brothers.
[2] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds
evil affected against the brethren.
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 (Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:21) For to those who are perishing,
the preaching of the cross is foolishness,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 (Isa 29:14; Job 5:12-13) For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (Isa 29:14.)
20 (Ro 1:22; Job 12:17) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom
of this world foolish?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom
did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching
to save those who believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.
23 (Gal 5:11; Lk 2:34) But we preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.
24 (1Co 1:30; 1:18) But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
we preach Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this
world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and
unto the Greeks foolishness;
[24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God.
Acts 14:3
3 (Heb 2:4; Ac 20:32) So they continued there a long time, speaking boldly
for the Lord, who bore witness to His gracious word, granting signs
and wonders to be done by their hands.
[3] Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave
testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be
done by their hands.
Acts 14:8-10
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra
8 (Ac 3:2) In Lystra there sat a man, crippled in his feet, who had never
walked and was lame from birth.
9 (Mt 9:28-29; Ac 3:4) He heard Paul speaking, who looked intently at him
and perceived that he had faith to be healed
10 (Isa 35:6) and said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."
And he jumped up and walked.
[8] And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a
cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
[9] The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving
that he had faith to be healed,
[10] Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and
walked.
ii) Physical persecution
4 (Ac 28:24; 14:14) But the people of the city were divided.
Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
5 (Ac 14:19) When an assault was planned by both Gentiles and Jews,
with their leaders, to attack them and to stone them,
6 (Mt 10:23; 2Ti 3:11) they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe,
cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.
7 (Ac 14:21) And there they preached the gospel.
[4] But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews,
and part with the apostles.
[5] And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the
Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
[6] They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
[7] And there they preached the gospel.
iii) Praise of People
11 (Ac 8:10; 28:6) When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up
their voices, saying in Lycaonian,
"The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
12 (Ac 19:35) Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes,
because he was the main speaker.
13 (Da 2:46) The priest of Zeus, who was in front of the city,
brought bulls and garlands to the gates to offer sacrifices with the crowds.
14 (Mt 26:65; Ac 14:4) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this,
they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
15 (1Sa 12:21; Jer 14:22) "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men,
of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things
to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea,
and everything that is in them,
16 (Ac 17:30; Ps 81:12) who in times past allowed all nations to walk
in their own ways.
17 (Dt 11:14; Job 5:10) Yet He did not leave Himself without witness,
for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons,
satisfying our hearts with food and gladness."
18 With these words they scarcely restrained the crowds
from sacrificing to them.
19 (Ac 13:45; 2Co 11:25) Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there
and persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing he was dead.
20 (Ac 14:6) But as the disciples gathered around him, he rose up
and went into the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.
[11] And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their
voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in
the likeness of men.
[12] And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was
the chief speaker.
[13] Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen
and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
[14] Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their
clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
[15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like
passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
all things that are therein:
[16] Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
[17] Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good,
and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with
food and gladness.
[18] And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had
not done sacrifice unto them.
[19] And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,
supposing he had been dead.
[20] Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came
into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 (Ac 13:51; 14:19) When they had preached the gospel to that city
and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra
and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22 (Jn 16:33; 2Ti 3:12) strengthening the minds of the disciples
and exhorting them to continue in the faith, to go through many afflictions
and thus enter the kingdom of God.
23 (Titus 1:5; Ac 11:30; 20:32) When they had appointed elders for them
in every church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord
in whom they believed.
24 (Ac 13:13-14) Then they passed throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia,
25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.
26 (Ac 15:40; 11:19) From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been
commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 (Ac 15:12; 1Co 16:9) When they arrived and had assembled the church,
they reported what God had done through them and how He had opened
the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 (Ac 11:26) And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.
[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught
many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
[22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue
in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God.
[23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
[24] And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
[25] And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into
Attalia:
[26] And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to
the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
[27] And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of
faith unto the Gentiles.
[28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Further Study
1 Corinthians 1:17
17 (1Co 2:1; 2:13) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach
the gospel, not with eloquent words, lest the cross of Christ should be made
of no effect.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
John 15:18
18 (1Jn 3:13; Jn 7:7) "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me
before it hated you. "
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Acts 12:22
22 The mob shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
[22] And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not
of a man.
1) Isaiah 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
Isaiah 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
Isaiah 59
The Consequence of Sin
1 (Nu 11:23; Isa 50:2) Certainly, the hand of the Lord is not
so short that it cannot save,
nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.
2 (Isa 50:1; Jer 5:25) But your iniquities have made a separation between
you and your God,
and your sins have hidden His face from you
so that He will not hear.
3 (Isa 1:15; 1:21) For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies,
your tongue has muttered perverseness.
4 (Job 15:35; Isa 30:12) No one calls for justice,
nor does anyone plead for truth.
They trust in vanity and speak lies;
they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
5 They hatch adders' eggs
and weave the spider's web;
he who eats of their eggs dies,
and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
6 (Isa 57:12; Jer 6:7) Their webs shall not become garments,
nor shall they cover themselves with their works;
their works are works of iniquity,
and an act of violence is in their hands.
7 (Pr 1:16; 6:17) Their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed innocent blood;
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
devastation and destruction are in their paths.
8 (Lk 1:79; Isa 48:22) The way of peace they do not know,
and there is no justice in their ways;
they have made their paths crooked;
whoever walks in them does not know peace.
[1] Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
[2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
[3] For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
[4] None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in
vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
[5] They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth
of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
[6] Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover
themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act
of violence is in their hands.
[7] Their feet run to evil, and they make hast to shed innocent blood: their
thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
[8] The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their
goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not
know peace.
The Confession of Sin
9 (Isa 5:30) Therefore, justice is far from us,
nor does righteousness overtake us;
we wait for light, but there is darkness,
for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 (Dt 28:29; Job 5:14) We grope along the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes;
we stumble at noonday as in the night;
among those who are vigorous, we are as dead men.
11 (Isa 38:14; Eze 7:16) We all roar like bears
and mourn sadly like doves;
we look for justice, but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us.
12 (Ezr 9:6; Jer 14:7) For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
and our sins testify against us;
for our transgressions are with us.
And as for our iniquities, we know them:
13 (Mk 7:21-22) transgressing, and lying against the Lord,
and departing away from our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 (Hab 1:4 )Justice is turned backward,
and righteousness stands far off;
for truth is fallen in the street,
and equity cannot enter.
15 Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Redeemer of Zion
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
that there was no justice.
16 (Ps 98:1; Isa 52:10) He saw that there was no man
and was astonished that there was no intercessor;
therefore, His own arm brought salvation to Him,
and His righteousness sustained Him.
17 (Isa 9:7; Eph 6:14 ) For He put on righteousness as a breastplate
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing
and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 (Isa 63:6; Job 34:11) According to their deeds,
accordingly He will repay:
fury to His adversaries,
recompense to His enemies;
to the islands He will make recompense.
19 (Ps 113:3; Isa 49:12) So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west
and His glory from the rising of the sun;
when the enemy shall come in like a flood,
the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
20 (Ro 11:26-27; Eze 18:30-31) The Redeemer shall come to Zion
and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,
says the Lord.
21 (Isa 51:16; Jer 31:31-34) As for Me, this is My covenant with them,
says the Lord: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have
put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth,
nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth
of your descendants' descendants, says the Lord,
from this time forth and forever.
[9] Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we
wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in
darkness.
[10] We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no
eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as
dead men.
[11] We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for
judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
[12] For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify
against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities,
we know them;
[13] In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from
our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the
heart words of falsehood.
[14] And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off:
for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
[15] Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a
prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no
judgment.
[16] And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his
righteousness, it sustained him.
[17] For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of
salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for
clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
[18] According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his
adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay
recompence.
[19] So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory
from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the
Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
[20] And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from
transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
[21] As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit
that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 (Eph 5:8; 5:14) Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For the darkness shall cover the earth
and deep darkness the peoples;
but the Lord shall rise upon you,
and His glory shall be seen upon you.
3 (Isa 49:23; 45:14; Rev 21:24) The nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 (Isa 49:18; 49:20-22) Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather themselves together; they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried at your side.
5 (Isa 61:6; 23:18) Then you shall see and be radiant,
and your heart shall thrill and rejoice
because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 (Ps 72:10; Mt 2:11) The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come;
they shall bring gold and incense
and shall bear good news of the praises of the Lord.
7 (Ge 25:13; Isa 56:7) All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together
to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on My altar,
and I will glorify My glorious house.
8 Who are these who fly as a cloud
and as the doves to their roosts?
9 (Isa 2:16; 55:5) Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me,
and the ships of Tarshish shall come first,
to bring your sons from afar,
their silver and their gold with them,
to the name of the Lord your God
and to the Holy One of Israel
because He has glorified you.
10 (Isa 49:23; Zec 6:15) The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in My wrath I struck you,
but in My favor I have had mercy on you.
11 (Isa 60:5; Rev 21:25-26) Therefore, your gates shall be open continually;
they shall not be shut day nor night,
so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
and that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish,
and those nations shall be utterly destroyed.
13 (Isa 35:2; 1Ch 28:2) The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together,
to beautify the place of My sanctuary;
and I will make the place of My feet glorious.
14 (Isa 49:23; Rev 3:9) The sons also of those who afflicted you shall come
bowing before you,
and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down
at the soles of your feet;
and they shall call you, The City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 (Isa 65:18; Jer 30:17) Whereas you have been forsaken
and hated so that no man went through you,
I will make you an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
16 (Isa 49:23; 66:11-12) You shall also suck the milk of the nations
and suck the breast of kings;
then you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
and instead of wood, bronze;
and instead of stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace
and your exactors righteousness.
18 (Isa 26:1; 11:9) Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
but you shall call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.
19 (Rev 21:23; 22:5) The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
but the Lord shall be an everlasting light to you
and your God for your glory.
20 (Isa 35:10; Rev 21:4) Your sun shall no more go down,
nor shall your moon wane;
for the Lord shall be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning shall end.
21 (Ps 37:11; 37:22) Then all your people shall be righteous;
they shall inherit the land forever,
the branch of My planting,
the work of My hands,
that I may be glorified.
22 (Hab 2:3) A little one shall become a thousand,
and a small one a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.
Isaiah 60
[1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen
upon thee.
[2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen
upon thee.
[3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of
thy rising.
[4] Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves
together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters
shall be nursed at thy side.
[5] Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and
be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee,
the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
[6] The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and
Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense;
and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
[7] All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams
of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on
mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
[8] Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
[9] Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to
bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the
name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath
glorified thee.
[10] And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings
shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour
have I had mercy on thee.
[11] Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut
day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and
that their kings may be brought.
[12] For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea,
those nations shall be utterly wasted.
[13] The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree,
and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make
the place of my feet glorious.
[14] The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee;
and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of
thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the
Holy One of Israel.
[15] Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through
thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
[16] Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the
breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy
Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
[17] For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for
wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and
thine exactors righteousness.
[18] Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction
within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates
Praise.
[19] The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall
the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an
everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
[20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself:
for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning
shall be ended.
[21] Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for
ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
glorified.
[22] A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation:
I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 61
The Lord's Favour
1 (Ps 45:7; Isa 42:7) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 (Isa 34:8; 57:18) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,
3 (Ps 45:7; 23:5) to preserve those who mourn in Zion,
to give to them beauty
for ashes,
the oil of joy
for mourning,
the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord,
that He might be glorified.
4 (Isa 58:12) They shall build the old ruins;
they shall raise up the former desolations,
and they shall repair the waste cities,
the desolations of many generations.
5 (Isa 14:1-2) Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 (Ex 19:6; Isa 66:21) But you shall be named the priests of the Lord;
men shall call you the ministers of our God.
You shall eat the riches of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7 (Isa 40:2; Zec 9:12) Instead of your shame
you shall have double honor,
and instead of humiliation
they shall rejoice over their portion.
Therefore, in their land they shall possess a double portion;
everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8 (Isa 55:3; Ps 11:7) For I, the Lord, love justice,
I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
and I will faithfully give them their recompense
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 (Isa 44:3) Their descendants shall be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them shall acknowledge them
because they are the descendants whom the Lord has blessed.
10 (Rev 21:2; Isa 49:18; 52:1) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 (Ps 85:11; Isa 60:18) For as the earth brings forth her buds,
and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61
[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of
our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of
the LORD, that he might be glorified.
[4] And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former
desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many
generations.
[5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the
alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
[6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the
Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their
glory shall ye boast yourselves.
[7] For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall
rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the
double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
[8] For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I
will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant
with them.
[9] And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring
among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are
the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
[11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the
things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause
righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 62
The Salvation of Zion
1 (Pr 4:18; Isa 62:6-7) For the sake of Zion I will not keep silent,
and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not rest
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness
and her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 (Isa 62:4; 62:12) The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory.
And you shall be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3 (Zec 9:16; 1Th 2:19) You shall also be a crown of glory
in the hand of the Lord
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 (Jer 32:41; Zep 3:17) You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
nor shall your land be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is In Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 (Isa 65:19) For as a young man marries a virgin,
so your sons shall marry you;
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so your God shall rejoice over you.
6 (Isa 52:8; Ps 74:2) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,
who shall never hold their peace day nor night.
You who remind the Lord,
do not keep silent;
7 (Jer 33:9; Zep 3:19-20 ) give Him no rest until He establishes
and makes Jerusalem a glory in the earth.
8 (Dt 28:33; Jer 5:17) The Lord has sworn by His right hand
and by His strong arm:
Surely I will no longer give your grain
as food for your enemies;
and the sons of the foreigners shall not drink your wine
for which you have labored.
9 (Dt 12:12) But those who have gathered it shall eat it
and praise the Lord;
and those who have brought it shall drink it
in the courts of My sanctuary.
10 (Isa 57:14; 49:22) Go through, go through the gates.
Prepare the way of the people;
build up, build up the highway.
Remove the stones;
lift up a standard over the peoples.
11 (Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5; Rev 22:12) The Lord has proclaimed
to the ends of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
see, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense before Him."
12 (Isa 62:4; 35:9) They shall call them The Holy People,
the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
a City Not Forsaken.
Isaiah 62
[1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I
will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and
the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
[2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory:
and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall
name.
[3] Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal
diadem in the hand of thy God.
[4] Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more
be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land
Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
[5] For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and
as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over
thee.
[6] I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold
their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not
silence,
[7] And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a
praise in the earth.
[8] The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength,
Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the
sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast
laboured:
[9] But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and
they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my
holiness.
[10] Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people;
cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for
the people.
[11] Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to
the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is
with him, and his work before him.
[12] And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD:
and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Isaiah 63
The Revenge of God
1 (Ps 137:7; Isa 34:5-6) "Who is this who comes from Edom
with dyed garments from Bozrah?
This one who is glorious in His apparel,
traveling in the greatness of His strength?"
"It is I who speak in righteousness,
mighty to save."
2 "Why is Your apparel red,
and Your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?"
3 (Mic 7:10) "I have trodden the winepress alone;
and from the peoples there was no one with Me.
For I will tread them in My anger,
and trample them in My fury,
and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments,
and I will stain all My raiment.
4 (Isa 34:8; 35:4) For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
and My year of redemption has come.
5 (Ps 44:3; 98:1) I looked and there was no one to help,
and I was astonished, and there was no one to uphold;
therefore, My own arm brought salvation to Me;
and My fury upheld Me.
6 (Isa 49:26) I will tread down the peoples in My anger
and make them drunk in My fury,
and I will pour out their lifeblood on the earth."
[1] Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this
that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his
strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
[2] Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the winefat?
[3] I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none
with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury;
and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my
raiment.
[4] For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed
is come.
[5] And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was
none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my
fury, it upheld me.
[6] And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in
my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
The Mercy of God Remembered
7 (Ps 51:1; Eph 2:4 ) I will mention the steadfast love of the Lord
and the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us,
and the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
which He has bestowed on them
according to His mercy,
and according to the multitude of His kindnesses.
8 (Ex 6:7; Isa 12:2) For He said, "Surely they are My people,
sons who will not lie."
So He became their Savior.
9 (Dt 7:7-8; Ex 33:14) In all their affliction He was afflicted,
and the angel of His presence saved them;
in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them;
and He lifted them and carried them
all the days of old.
10 (Ps 78:40; Ac 7:51) But they rebelled
and grieved His Holy Spirit;
therefore, He turned Himself to be their enemy,
and He fought against them.
11 (Nu 11:17; Ex 14:30) Then His people remembered the days of old,
of Moses, saying:
Where is He who brought them up out of the sea
with the shepherds of His flock?
Where is He who put
His Holy Spirit in their midst,
12 (Ex 15:16; Jos 3:16) who led them with His glorious arm
by the right hand of Moses,
dividing the water before them,
to make Himself an everlasting name,
13 who led them through the deep,
as a horse in the wilderness,
that they should not stumble?
14 (Jos 23:1; Isa 63:12) As the cattle which go down into the valley,
the Spirit of the Lord caused them to rest,
so You led Your people,
to make Yourself a glorious name.
[7] I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the
LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great
goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them
according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his
lovingkindnesses.
[8] For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so
he was their Saviour.
[9] In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them,
and carried them all the days of old.
[10] But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned
to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
[11] Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying,
Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his
flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
[12] That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm,
dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
[13] That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that
they should not stumble?
[14] As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused
him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious
name.
A Prayer of Penitence
15 (Dt 26:15; Ps 80:14) Look down from heaven and see,
from Your holy and glorious habitation.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength?
The stirrings of Your heart and Your mercies toward me are restrained.
16 (Isa 44:6; Dt 32:6) For You are our Father,
though Abraham is ignorant of us
and Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer;
Your name is from everlasting.
17 (Nu 10:36; Ps 90:13) O Lord, why have You made us to err from Your ways
and hardened our heart from fearing You?
Return for Your servants' sake,
the tribes of Your inheritance.
18 (Ps 74:3-7) Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while;
our adversaries have trodden it down.
19 We have become
as those over whom You have never ruled,
as those who were not called by Your name.
[15] Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness
and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy
bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
[16] Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and
Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy
name is from everlasting.
[17] O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our
heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine
inheritance.
[18] The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our
adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
[19] We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by
thy name.
2) Our Daily Bread for 28 July 2024 Transforming Worship
Psalms 30
A Psalm of David. A Song at the dedication of the temple.
1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up,
and have not caused my foes to rejoice over me.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) O Lord my God, I cried to You,
and You healed me.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) O Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For His anger endures but a moment,
in His favor is life;
weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) In my prosperity I said,
"I will never be moved."
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Lord, by Your favor
You had set me strong as a mountain;
You hid Your face,
and I was terrified.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) I cried to You, O Lord,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) "What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust give You thanks?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
Lord, be my helper."
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) For You have turned my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 so that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30
[1] I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made
my foes to rejoice over me.
[2] O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
[3] O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me
alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
[4] Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the
remembrance of his holiness.
[5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may
endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
[6] And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
[7] LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou
didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
[8] I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the
dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
[10] Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my
sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
[12] To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O
LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Susy wept as she sat outside the hospital's intensive care unit-waves of
paralysing fear sweeping over her. The tiny lungs of her two-month-old baby
were filled with fluid, and doctors said they were doing their best to save
him but gave no guarantees. At that moment she says she "felt the sweet,
gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit reminding [her] to worship God." With no
strength to sing, she played praise songs on her phone over the next three
days in the hospital. As she worshiped, she found hope and peace. Today,
she says the experience taught her that "worship doesn't change God,
but it definitely changes you."
Facing desperate circumstances, David called out to God in prayer and praise
(Psalm 30:8). One commentator notes that the psalmist prayed "for grace issued
in praise and transformation." God turned David's "wailing into dancing" and
he declared that he would "praise [God] forever"-in all circumstances
(vv. 11-12). While it can be hard to praise God during painful times, it can
lead to transformation. From despair to hope, from fear to faith. And He can
use our example to encourage and transform others (vv. 4-5).
Susy’s baby boy was restored to health by God's grace. While not all challenges
in life will end as we hope they will, He can transform us and fill us with
renewed joy (v. 11) as we worship Him even in our pain.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
How might worshiping God as you endure pain affect you?
How might your example affect others?
Dear God, please transform me even as
I worship You in my pain and difficulties.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 1 - Forgiving as God Forgave
Col 3:13
13 Bear with one another and forgive one another. If anyone
has a quarrel against anyone, even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
"No!" Brett slammed his hand against the desk to punctuate his point.
"My wife's infidelity is completely unforgivable. She just wants to make things
look good, to have me condone her new relationship.
I won't do it. I won't forgive her."
Brett was a man in pain, and his perspective on forgiving
his wife is understandable. But unfortunately, many of us are
the victims of "unforgivable" offenses; many of us, as well,
are the perpetrators of such offenses, and we desperately need
to be forgiven.
Brett ultimately came to understand that forgiving and "unforgivable"
hurt is not based on the worthiness of the recipient of forgiveness,
but on the worthiness of Christ himself. The Bible teaches that we are bound
to forgiveness for one simple reason:
because God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ.
"Forgive as the Lord forgave", Paul commands in Col 3:13 . How did Christ
forgive? Freely, completely, without basing his forgiveness on our merit. He
forgave us unilaterally, offering forgiveness before we asked,
before we were aware of our sin and the pain it caused him,
before we came to him in repentance.
Forgiveness does more that release the perpetrator for the bondage of
his wrongdoing. It releases the victim as well. Forgiveness frees
the forgiver from the bondage of anger and bitterness that keeps him distant
from the love of God. We can forgive the most "unforgivable" of offenses
against us when we focus our attention not on the offender, but on Christ,
who forgave us.
Application
a) Have I ever harboured unforgiveness toward another person?
What was the result in my spiritual/emotional life?
b) Is there someone in my life who has hurt me, who I need to forgive?
How can this verse help me extend the forgiveness to that person?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Haggai 2:7-9
7 (1Ki 8:11; Isa 60:7) And I will shake all the nations,
and they will come with the wealth of all nations,
and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts.
8 (Isa 60:17) The silver is mine, and the gold is Mine,
says the Lord of Hosts.
9 (Isa 9:6-7) The glory of this latter house will be greater
than the former, says the Lord of Hosts. And in this place
I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts.
7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater
than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place
will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
James 1:12-18
Trial and Temptation
12 (Jas 2:5; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8) Blessed is the man who endures temptation,
for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life,
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God,"
for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone.
14 But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15 (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14) Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin;
and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
16 (Jas 1:19; 2:5) Do not err, my beloved brothers.
17 (Mal 3:6; Nu 23:19; Jn 3:27) Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no change or shadow of turning.
18 (1Pe 1:23; Jn 1:13; Rev 14:4) Of His own will He brought us forth with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,
and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 28 of the Month
a) Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
(
John 5:24
24 (Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:14; Jn 3:36) "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever
hears My word and believes in Him who sent
Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation,
but has passed from death into life."
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word,
and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
)
b) Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today . (
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. "
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be effective in spite of opposition.
Pray to the Lord and pray for repentance
and confession to come to your country.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, please transform me even as
I worship You in my pain and difficulties."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a forgiving person.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as creator of wealth.
Pray to the Lord and pray to endure temptation through Him.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- 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!
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today .
Pray that Christians who have Islam in Djibouti will stand firm when
encountering persecution from their family members.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
Today at
Calvary Community Church Pastor Barry Regier spoke on
Empowered in Opposition
Acts 14
Paul and Barnabas in Iconium
1 (Ac 18:4; 13:46) At Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together
and so spoke that a great crowd of both Jews and Greeks believed.
[1] And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the
synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews
and also of the Greeks believed.
A) The Power of God
1 Corinthians 4:2,5-7
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
5 (Ro 2:16; 2:1; 2:29) Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time
until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness
and will reveal the purposes of the hearts. Then everyone will have
commendation from God.
6 (1Co 1:12; 13:4) Brothers, I have figuratively applied these things
to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, so that you may learn from us
not to think of men above that which is written, and that not one of you
would be arrogant for one against another.
7 (Jn 3:27; Ro 12:6) For who makes you differ from another?
And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you received it,
why do you boast as if you had not received it?
[2] Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
[5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both
will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
[6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and
to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men
above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against
another.
[7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if
thou hadst not received it?
Romans 1:16
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.
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek.
B) Strategies of the Enemy
i) Rejection and social pressure
Acts 14:2
2 (Ac 13:50; 13:45) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles
and embittered their minds against the brothers.
[2] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds
evil affected against the brethren.
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 (Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:21) For to those who are perishing,
the preaching of the cross is foolishness,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 (Isa 29:14; Job 5:12-13) For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (Isa 29:14.)
20 (Ro 1:22; Job 12:17) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom
of this world foolish?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom
did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching
to save those who believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.
23 (Gal 5:11; Lk 2:34) But we preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.
24 (1Co 1:30; 1:18) But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,
we preach Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this
world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and
unto the Greeks foolishness;
[24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God.
Acts 14:3
3 (Heb 2:4; Ac 20:32) So they continued there a long time, speaking boldly
for the Lord, who bore witness to His gracious word, granting signs
and wonders to be done by their hands.
[3] Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave
testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be
done by their hands.
Acts 14:8-10
Paul and Barnabas in Lystra
8 (Ac 3:2) In Lystra there sat a man, crippled in his feet, who had never
walked and was lame from birth.
9 (Mt 9:28-29; Ac 3:4) He heard Paul speaking, who looked intently at him
and perceived that he had faith to be healed
10 (Isa 35:6) and said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."
And he jumped up and walked.
[8] And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a
cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
[9] The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving
that he had faith to be healed,
[10] Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and
walked.
ii) Physical persecution
4 (Ac 28:24; 14:14) But the people of the city were divided.
Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
5 (Ac 14:19) When an assault was planned by both Gentiles and Jews,
with their leaders, to attack them and to stone them,
6 (Mt 10:23; 2Ti 3:11) they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe,
cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.
7 (Ac 14:21) And there they preached the gospel.
[4] But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews,
and part with the apostles.
[5] And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the
Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
[6] They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
[7] And there they preached the gospel.
iii) Praise of People
11 (Ac 8:10; 28:6) When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up
their voices, saying in Lycaonian,
"The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
12 (Ac 19:35) Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes,
because he was the main speaker.
13 (Da 2:46) The priest of Zeus, who was in front of the city,
brought bulls and garlands to the gates to offer sacrifices with the crowds.
14 (Mt 26:65; Ac 14:4) But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this,
they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
15 (1Sa 12:21; Jer 14:22) "Men, why are you doing this? We also are men,
of like nature with you, preaching to you to turn from these vain things
to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea,
and everything that is in them,
16 (Ac 17:30; Ps 81:12) who in times past allowed all nations to walk
in their own ways.
17 (Dt 11:14; Job 5:10) Yet He did not leave Himself without witness,
for He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons,
satisfying our hearts with food and gladness."
18 With these words they scarcely restrained the crowds
from sacrificing to them.
19 (Ac 13:45; 2Co 11:25) Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there
and persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing he was dead.
20 (Ac 14:6) But as the disciples gathered around him, he rose up
and went into the city. The next day he departed with Barnabas for Derbe.
[11] And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their
voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in
the likeness of men.
[12] And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was
the chief speaker.
[13] Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen
and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
[14] Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their
clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
[15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like
passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
all things that are therein:
[16] Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
[17] Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good,
and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with
food and gladness.
[18] And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had
not done sacrifice unto them.
[19] And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city,
supposing he had been dead.
[20] Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came
into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 (Ac 13:51; 14:19) When they had preached the gospel to that city
and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra
and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22 (Jn 16:33; 2Ti 3:12) strengthening the minds of the disciples
and exhorting them to continue in the faith, to go through many afflictions
and thus enter the kingdom of God.
23 (Titus 1:5; Ac 11:30; 20:32) When they had appointed elders for them
in every church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord
in whom they believed.
24 (Ac 13:13-14) Then they passed throughout Pisidia and came to Pamphylia,
25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia.
26 (Ac 15:40; 11:19) From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been
commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
27 (Ac 15:12; 1Co 16:9) When they arrived and had assembled the church,
they reported what God had done through them and how He had opened
the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 (Ac 11:26) And there they stayed a long time with the disciples.
[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught
many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
[22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue
in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the
kingdom of God.
[23] And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
[24] And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
[25] And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into
Attalia:
[26] And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to
the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
[27] And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of
faith unto the Gentiles.
[28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.
Further Study
1 Corinthians 1:17
17 (1Co 2:1; 2:13) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach
the gospel, not with eloquent words, lest the cross of Christ should be made
of no effect.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
John 15:18
18 (1Jn 3:13; Jn 7:7) "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me
before it hated you. "
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Acts 12:22
22 The mob shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!"
[22] And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not
of a man.
1) Isaiah 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
Isaiah 59, 60, 61, 62, 63
Isaiah 59
The Consequence of Sin
1 (Nu 11:23; Isa 50:2) Certainly, the hand of the Lord is not
so short that it cannot save,
nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.
2 (Isa 50:1; Jer 5:25) But your iniquities have made a separation between
you and your God,
and your sins have hidden His face from you
so that He will not hear.
3 (Isa 1:15; 1:21) For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies,
your tongue has muttered perverseness.
4 (Job 15:35; Isa 30:12) No one calls for justice,
nor does anyone plead for truth.
They trust in vanity and speak lies;
they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
5 They hatch adders' eggs
and weave the spider's web;
he who eats of their eggs dies,
and that which is crushed breaks out into a viper.
6 (Isa 57:12; Jer 6:7) Their webs shall not become garments,
nor shall they cover themselves with their works;
their works are works of iniquity,
and an act of violence is in their hands.
7 (Pr 1:16; 6:17) Their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed innocent blood;
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
devastation and destruction are in their paths.
8 (Lk 1:79; Isa 48:22) The way of peace they do not know,
and there is no justice in their ways;
they have made their paths crooked;
whoever walks in them does not know peace.
[1] Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither
his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
[2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
[3] For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
[4] None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in
vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
[5] They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth
of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
[6] Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover
themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act
of violence is in their hands.
[7] Their feet run to evil, and they make hast to shed innocent blood: their
thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
[8] The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their
goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not
know peace.
The Confession of Sin
9 (Isa 5:30) Therefore, justice is far from us,
nor does righteousness overtake us;
we wait for light, but there is darkness,
for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10 (Dt 28:29; Job 5:14) We grope along the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes;
we stumble at noonday as in the night;
among those who are vigorous, we are as dead men.
11 (Isa 38:14; Eze 7:16) We all roar like bears
and mourn sadly like doves;
we look for justice, but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us.
12 (Ezr 9:6; Jer 14:7) For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
and our sins testify against us;
for our transgressions are with us.
And as for our iniquities, we know them:
13 (Mk 7:21-22) transgressing, and lying against the Lord,
and departing away from our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14 (Hab 1:4 )Justice is turned backward,
and righteousness stands far off;
for truth is fallen in the street,
and equity cannot enter.
15 Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Redeemer of Zion
Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him
that there was no justice.
16 (Ps 98:1; Isa 52:10) He saw that there was no man
and was astonished that there was no intercessor;
therefore, His own arm brought salvation to Him,
and His righteousness sustained Him.
17 (Isa 9:7; Eph 6:14 ) For He put on righteousness as a breastplate
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing
and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 (Isa 63:6; Job 34:11) According to their deeds,
accordingly He will repay:
fury to His adversaries,
recompense to His enemies;
to the islands He will make recompense.
19 (Ps 113:3; Isa 49:12) So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west
and His glory from the rising of the sun;
when the enemy shall come in like a flood,
the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
20 (Ro 11:26-27; Eze 18:30-31) The Redeemer shall come to Zion
and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,
says the Lord.
21 (Isa 51:16; Jer 31:31-34) As for Me, this is My covenant with them,
says the Lord: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have
put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth,
nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth
of your descendants' descendants, says the Lord,
from this time forth and forever.
[9] Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we
wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in
darkness.
[10] We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no
eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as
dead men.
[11] We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for
judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
[12] For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify
against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities,
we know them;
[13] In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from
our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the
heart words of falsehood.
[14] And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off:
for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
[15] Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a
prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no
judgment.
[16] And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his
righteousness, it sustained him.
[17] For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of
salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for
clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
[18] According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his
adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay
recompence.
[19] So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory
from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the
Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
[20] And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from
transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
[21] As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit
that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the
mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
Isaiah 60
The Glory of Zion
1 (Eph 5:8; 5:14) Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For the darkness shall cover the earth
and deep darkness the peoples;
but the Lord shall rise upon you,
and His glory shall be seen upon you.
3 (Isa 49:23; 45:14; Rev 21:24) The nations shall come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 (Isa 49:18; 49:20-22) Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather themselves together; they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
and your daughters shall be carried at your side.
5 (Isa 61:6; 23:18) Then you shall see and be radiant,
and your heart shall thrill and rejoice
because the abundance of the sea shall be converted to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 (Ps 72:10; Mt 2:11) The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come;
they shall bring gold and incense
and shall bear good news of the praises of the Lord.
7 (Ge 25:13; Isa 56:7) All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together
to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
they shall come up with acceptance on My altar,
and I will glorify My glorious house.
8 Who are these who fly as a cloud
and as the doves to their roosts?
9 (Isa 2:16; 55:5) Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me,
and the ships of Tarshish shall come first,
to bring your sons from afar,
their silver and their gold with them,
to the name of the Lord your God
and to the Holy One of Israel
because He has glorified you.
10 (Isa 49:23; Zec 6:15) The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
and their kings shall minister to you;
for in My wrath I struck you,
but in My favor I have had mercy on you.
11 (Isa 60:5; Rev 21:25-26) Therefore, your gates shall be open continually;
they shall not be shut day nor night,
so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
and that their kings may be brought.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish,
and those nations shall be utterly destroyed.
13 (Isa 35:2; 1Ch 28:2) The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together,
to beautify the place of My sanctuary;
and I will make the place of My feet glorious.
14 (Isa 49:23; Rev 3:9) The sons also of those who afflicted you shall come
bowing before you,
and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down
at the soles of your feet;
and they shall call you, The City of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 (Isa 65:18; Jer 30:17) Whereas you have been forsaken
and hated so that no man went through you,
I will make you an eternal excellency,
a joy of many generations.
16 (Isa 49:23; 66:11-12) You shall also suck the milk of the nations
and suck the breast of kings;
then you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
and instead of wood, bronze;
and instead of stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace
and your exactors righteousness.
18 (Isa 26:1; 11:9) Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
but you shall call your walls Salvation
and your gates Praise.
19 (Rev 21:23; 22:5) The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
but the Lord shall be an everlasting light to you
and your God for your glory.
20 (Isa 35:10; Rev 21:4) Your sun shall no more go down,
nor shall your moon wane;
for the Lord shall be your everlasting light,
and the days of your mourning shall end.
21 (Ps 37:11; 37:22) Then all your people shall be righteous;
they shall inherit the land forever,
the branch of My planting,
the work of My hands,
that I may be glorified.
22 (Hab 2:3) A little one shall become a thousand,
and a small one a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.
Isaiah 60
[1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen
upon thee.
[2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen
upon thee.
[3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of
thy rising.
[4] Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves
together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters
shall be nursed at thy side.
[5] Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and
be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee,
the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
[6] The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and
Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense;
and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
[7] All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams
of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on
mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
[8] Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
[9] Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to
bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the
name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath
glorified thee.
[10] And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings
shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour
have I had mercy on thee.
[11] Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut
day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and
that their kings may be brought.
[12] For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea,
those nations shall be utterly wasted.
[13] The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree,
and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make
the place of my feet glorious.
[14] The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee;
and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of
thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the
Holy One of Israel.
[15] Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through
thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
[16] Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the
breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy
Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
[17] For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for
wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and
thine exactors righteousness.
[18] Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction
within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates
Praise.
[19] The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall
the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an
everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
[20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself:
for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning
shall be ended.
[21] Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for
ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be
glorified.
[22] A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation:
I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 61
The Lord's Favour
1 (Ps 45:7; Isa 42:7) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor;
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 (Isa 34:8; 57:18) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn,
3 (Ps 45:7; 23:5) to preserve those who mourn in Zion,
to give to them beauty
for ashes,
the oil of joy
for mourning,
the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord,
that He might be glorified.
4 (Isa 58:12) They shall build the old ruins;
they shall raise up the former desolations,
and they shall repair the waste cities,
the desolations of many generations.
5 (Isa 14:1-2) Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks,
and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 (Ex 19:6; Isa 66:21) But you shall be named the priests of the Lord;
men shall call you the ministers of our God.
You shall eat the riches of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7 (Isa 40:2; Zec 9:12) Instead of your shame
you shall have double honor,
and instead of humiliation
they shall rejoice over their portion.
Therefore, in their land they shall possess a double portion;
everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8 (Isa 55:3; Ps 11:7) For I, the Lord, love justice,
I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
and I will faithfully give them their recompense
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 (Isa 44:3) Their descendants shall be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them shall acknowledge them
because they are the descendants whom the Lord has blessed.
10 (Rev 21:2; Isa 49:18; 52:1) I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 (Ps 85:11; Isa 60:18) For as the earth brings forth her buds,
and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61
[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of
our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of
the LORD, that he might be glorified.
[4] And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former
desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many
generations.
[5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the
alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
[6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the
Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their
glory shall ye boast yourselves.
[7] For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall
rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the
double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
[8] For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I
will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant
with them.
[9] And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring
among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are
the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
[11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the
things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause
righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 62
The Salvation of Zion
1 (Pr 4:18; Isa 62:6-7) For the sake of Zion I will not keep silent,
and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not rest
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness
and her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 (Isa 62:4; 62:12) The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all kings your glory.
And you shall be called by a new name,
which the mouth of the Lord shall name.
3 (Zec 9:16; 1Th 2:19) You shall also be a crown of glory
in the hand of the Lord
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 (Jer 32:41; Zep 3:17) You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
nor shall your land be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is In Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
5 (Isa 65:19) For as a young man marries a virgin,
so your sons shall marry you;
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so your God shall rejoice over you.
6 (Isa 52:8; Ps 74:2) I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,
who shall never hold their peace day nor night.
You who remind the Lord,
do not keep silent;
7 (Jer 33:9; Zep 3:19-20 ) give Him no rest until He establishes
and makes Jerusalem a glory in the earth.
8 (Dt 28:33; Jer 5:17) The Lord has sworn by His right hand
and by His strong arm:
Surely I will no longer give your grain
as food for your enemies;
and the sons of the foreigners shall not drink your wine
for which you have labored.
9 (Dt 12:12) But those who have gathered it shall eat it
and praise the Lord;
and those who have brought it shall drink it
in the courts of My sanctuary.
10 (Isa 57:14; 49:22) Go through, go through the gates.
Prepare the way of the people;
build up, build up the highway.
Remove the stones;
lift up a standard over the peoples.
11 (Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5; Rev 22:12) The Lord has proclaimed
to the ends of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
see, His reward is with Him,
and His recompense before Him."
12 (Isa 62:4; 35:9) They shall call them The Holy People,
the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
a City Not Forsaken.
Isaiah 62
[1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I
will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and
the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
[2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory:
and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall
name.
[3] Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal
diadem in the hand of thy God.
[4] Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more
be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land
Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
[5] For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and
as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over
thee.
[6] I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold
their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not
silence,
[7] And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a
praise in the earth.
[8] The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength,
Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the
sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast
laboured:
[9] But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and
they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my
holiness.
[10] Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people;
cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for
the people.
[11] Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to
the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is
with him, and his work before him.
[12] And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD:
and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Isaiah 63
The Revenge of God
1 (Ps 137:7; Isa 34:5-6) "Who is this who comes from Edom
with dyed garments from Bozrah?
This one who is glorious in His apparel,
traveling in the greatness of His strength?"
"It is I who speak in righteousness,
mighty to save."
2 "Why is Your apparel red,
and Your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?"
3 (Mic 7:10) "I have trodden the winepress alone;
and from the peoples there was no one with Me.
For I will tread them in My anger,
and trample them in My fury,
and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments,
and I will stain all My raiment.
4 (Isa 34:8; 35:4) For the day of vengeance is in My heart,
and My year of redemption has come.
5 (Ps 44:3; 98:1) I looked and there was no one to help,
and I was astonished, and there was no one to uphold;
therefore, My own arm brought salvation to Me;
and My fury upheld Me.
6 (Isa 49:26) I will tread down the peoples in My anger
and make them drunk in My fury,
and I will pour out their lifeblood on the earth."
[1] Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this
that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his
strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
[2] Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the winefat?
[3] I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none
with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury;
and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my
raiment.
[4] For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed
is come.
[5] And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was
none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my
fury, it upheld me.
[6] And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in
my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
The Mercy of God Remembered
7 (Ps 51:1; Eph 2:4 ) I will mention the steadfast love of the Lord
and the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us,
and the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
which He has bestowed on them
according to His mercy,
and according to the multitude of His kindnesses.
8 (Ex 6:7; Isa 12:2) For He said, "Surely they are My people,
sons who will not lie."
So He became their Savior.
9 (Dt 7:7-8; Ex 33:14) In all their affliction He was afflicted,
and the angel of His presence saved them;
in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them;
and He lifted them and carried them
all the days of old.
10 (Ps 78:40; Ac 7:51) But they rebelled
and grieved His Holy Spirit;
therefore, He turned Himself to be their enemy,
and He fought against them.
11 (Nu 11:17; Ex 14:30) Then His people remembered the days of old,
of Moses, saying:
Where is He who brought them up out of the sea
with the shepherds of His flock?
Where is He who put
His Holy Spirit in their midst,
12 (Ex 15:16; Jos 3:16) who led them with His glorious arm
by the right hand of Moses,
dividing the water before them,
to make Himself an everlasting name,
13 who led them through the deep,
as a horse in the wilderness,
that they should not stumble?
14 (Jos 23:1; Isa 63:12) As the cattle which go down into the valley,
the Spirit of the Lord caused them to rest,
so You led Your people,
to make Yourself a glorious name.
[7] I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the
LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great
goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them
according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his
lovingkindnesses.
[8] For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so
he was their Saviour.
[9] In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them,
and carried them all the days of old.
[10] But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned
to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
[11] Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying,
Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his
flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
[12] That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm,
dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
[13] That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that
they should not stumble?
[14] As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused
him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious
name.
A Prayer of Penitence
15 (Dt 26:15; Ps 80:14) Look down from heaven and see,
from Your holy and glorious habitation.
Where are Your zeal and Your strength?
The stirrings of Your heart and Your mercies toward me are restrained.
16 (Isa 44:6; Dt 32:6) For You are our Father,
though Abraham is ignorant of us
and Israel does not recognize us.
You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer;
Your name is from everlasting.
17 (Nu 10:36; Ps 90:13) O Lord, why have You made us to err from Your ways
and hardened our heart from fearing You?
Return for Your servants' sake,
the tribes of Your inheritance.
18 (Ps 74:3-7) Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while;
our adversaries have trodden it down.
19 We have become
as those over whom You have never ruled,
as those who were not called by Your name.
[15] Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness
and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy
bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
[16] Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and
Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy
name is from everlasting.
[17] O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our
heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine
inheritance.
[18] The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our
adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
[19] We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by
thy name.
2) Our Daily Bread for 28 July 2024 Transforming Worship
Psalms 30
A Psalm of David. A Song at the dedication of the temple.
1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have drawn me up,
and have not caused my foes to rejoice over me.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) O Lord my God, I cried to You,
and You healed me.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) O Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His,
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) For His anger endures but a moment,
in His favor is life;
weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) In my prosperity I said,
"I will never be moved."
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Lord, by Your favor
You had set me strong as a mountain;
You hid Your face,
and I was terrified.
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) I cried to You, O Lord,
and to the Lord I made supplication:
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) "What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust give You thanks?
Will it declare Your truth?
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
Lord, be my helper."
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) For You have turned my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
12 so that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30
[1] I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made
my foes to rejoice over me.
[2] O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
[3] O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me
alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
[4] Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the
remembrance of his holiness.
[5] For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may
endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
[6] And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
[7] LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou
didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
[8] I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
[9] What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the
dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
[10] Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
[11] Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my
sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
[12] To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O
LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Susy wept as she sat outside the hospital's intensive care unit-waves of
paralysing fear sweeping over her. The tiny lungs of her two-month-old baby
were filled with fluid, and doctors said they were doing their best to save
him but gave no guarantees. At that moment she says she "felt the sweet,
gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit reminding [her] to worship God." With no
strength to sing, she played praise songs on her phone over the next three
days in the hospital. As she worshiped, she found hope and peace. Today,
she says the experience taught her that "worship doesn't change God,
but it definitely changes you."
Facing desperate circumstances, David called out to God in prayer and praise
(Psalm 30:8). One commentator notes that the psalmist prayed "for grace issued
in praise and transformation." God turned David's "wailing into dancing" and
he declared that he would "praise [God] forever"-in all circumstances
(vv. 11-12). While it can be hard to praise God during painful times, it can
lead to transformation. From despair to hope, from fear to faith. And He can
use our example to encourage and transform others (vv. 4-5).
Susy’s baby boy was restored to health by God's grace. While not all challenges
in life will end as we hope they will, He can transform us and fill us with
renewed joy (v. 11) as we worship Him even in our pain.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
How might worshiping God as you endure pain affect you?
How might your example affect others?
Dear God, please transform me even as
I worship You in my pain and difficulties.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 1 - Forgiving as God Forgave
Col 3:13
13 Bear with one another and forgive one another. If anyone
has a quarrel against anyone, even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
"No!" Brett slammed his hand against the desk to punctuate his point.
"My wife's infidelity is completely unforgivable. She just wants to make things
look good, to have me condone her new relationship.
I won't do it. I won't forgive her."
Brett was a man in pain, and his perspective on forgiving
his wife is understandable. But unfortunately, many of us are
the victims of "unforgivable" offenses; many of us, as well,
are the perpetrators of such offenses, and we desperately need
to be forgiven.
Brett ultimately came to understand that forgiving and "unforgivable"
hurt is not based on the worthiness of the recipient of forgiveness,
but on the worthiness of Christ himself. The Bible teaches that we are bound
to forgiveness for one simple reason:
because God has forgiven us in Jesus Christ.
"Forgive as the Lord forgave", Paul commands in Col 3:13 . How did Christ
forgive? Freely, completely, without basing his forgiveness on our merit. He
forgave us unilaterally, offering forgiveness before we asked,
before we were aware of our sin and the pain it caused him,
before we came to him in repentance.
Forgiveness does more that release the perpetrator for the bondage of
his wrongdoing. It releases the victim as well. Forgiveness frees
the forgiver from the bondage of anger and bitterness that keeps him distant
from the love of God. We can forgive the most "unforgivable" of offenses
against us when we focus our attention not on the offender, but on Christ,
who forgave us.
Application
a) Have I ever harboured unforgiveness toward another person?
What was the result in my spiritual/emotional life?
b) Is there someone in my life who has hurt me, who I need to forgive?
How can this verse help me extend the forgiveness to that person?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Haggai 2:7-9
7 (1Ki 8:11; Isa 60:7) And I will shake all the nations,
and they will come with the wealth of all nations,
and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of Hosts.
8 (Isa 60:17) The silver is mine, and the gold is Mine,
says the Lord of Hosts.
9 (Isa 9:6-7) The glory of this latter house will be greater
than the former, says the Lord of Hosts. And in this place
I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts.
7 and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations
shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater
than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place
will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Help in Times of Temptation
James 1:12-18
Trial and Temptation
12 (Jas 2:5; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8) Blessed is the man who endures temptation,
for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life,
which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God,"
for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone.
14 But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.
15 (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14) Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin;
and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
16 (Jas 1:19; 2:5) Do not err, my beloved brothers.
17 (Mal 3:6; Nu 23:19; Jn 3:27) Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no change or shadow of turning.
18 (1Pe 1:23; Jn 1:13; Rev 14:4) Of His own will He brought us forth with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried,
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:
for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,
and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:
and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 28 of the Month
a) Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
(
John 5:24
24 (Jn 3:18; 1Jn 3:14; Jn 3:36) "Truly, truly I say to you, whoever
hears My word and believes in Him who sent
Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation,
but has passed from death into life."
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word,
and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
)
b) Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today . (
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. "
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray to be effective in spite of opposition.
Pray to the Lord and pray for repentance
and confession to come to your country.
Pray to the Lord: "Dear God, please transform me even as
I worship You in my pain and difficulties."
Pray to the Lord and pray to be a forgiving person.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as creator of wealth.
Pray to the Lord and pray to endure temptation through Him.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- 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!
Pray for new Canadians, that they will have opportunity to hear
and respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for God's kingdom to come in the life of someone you
know today .
Pray that Christians who have Islam in Djibouti will stand firm when
encountering persecution from their family members.
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.