Awesome

Humility  – Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)  “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 

“If I see alright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament.  It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity.  The old cross slew men, the new cross entertains them.  The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses.  The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.”  A. W. Tozer, 1897-1963

——://///

+++

A history of these Daily Devotions along with other valuable Resources can be found at: lylebrennan.com. 

This daily devotion contains, sequentially: Memory Verse (#1 above),  Daily Quote (#2 above): and, below: Daily Devotion from “Thoughts From The Diary of A Desperate Man” by Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”), Scripture Reading  (read the entire Bible in 1 year), and Prayer Requests. 

+++

———/://///

Out of Control

Day Two Hundred Sixteen

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.”‘ Isaiah 46:9-10

Let me ask you a series or rhetorical questions: Did you determine the date of your birth?  Your parents?  The color of your skin and eyes?  Your sex?  The height of your stature?  The era of history in which you were born?  Your gifts and abilities or the lack thereof?  Your genetic defects?  The socio-economic environment in which you were born?  The circumstances that flow through your life?  I used the word “rhetorical” for the answer to all of these is no.  These areas are merely illustrative of a myriad of things you did not decide.  That which you control is quite limited.

You may well ask why God created you and your world in such a manner.  With so little control, note what a mess humans have made of things.  Oppression, injustice, greed, avarice, war, all of these are the product of man’s will.  God maintains control as an expression of His grace.

You will frequently find people resisting the gospel message for fear of losing control of their lives; they don’t want to submit to God.   In truth, they are not in control now, and never will be.  The good news is, the One who is in control loves them and desires their best.

———/://///

Psalm 66-67 Romans 7 (New King James Version)

Psalm 66-67

Praise to God for His Awesome Works

To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm.

66 

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

2 

Sing out the honor of His name;

Make His praise glorious.

3 

Say to God,

“How awesome are Your works!

Through the greatness of Your power

Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.

4 

All the earth shall worship You

And sing praises to You;

They shall sing praises toYour name.” Selah

5 

Come and see the works of God;

He isawesome in Hisdoing toward the sons of men.

6 

He turned the sea into dry land;

They went through the river on foot.

There we will rejoice in Him.

7 

He rules by His power forever;

His eyes observe the nations;

Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

9 

Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to [a]be moved.

10 

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

11 

You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

12 

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to [b]rich fulfillment.

13 

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;

I will pay You my [c]vows,

14 

Which my lips have uttered

And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.

15 

I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,

With the sweet aroma of rams;

I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

16 

Come andhear, all you who fear God,

And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

17 

I cried to Him with my mouth,

And He was [d]extolled with my tongue.

18 

If I regard iniquity in my heart,

The Lord will not hear.

19 

Butcertainly God has heard me;

He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 

Blessed beGod,

Who has not turned away my prayer,

Nor His mercy from me!

An Invocation and a Doxology

To the Chief Musician. On [e]stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

67 

God be merciful to us and bless us,

Andcause His face to shine upon us, Selah

2 

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

3 

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

4 

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!

For You shall judge the people righteously,

And govern the nations on earth. Selah

5 

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

6 

Thenthe earth shall [f]yield her increase;

God, our own God, shall bless us.

7 

God shall bless us,

And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Footnotes:

• Psalm 66:9 slip
• Psalm 66:12 abundance
• Psalm 66:13 Promised deeds
• Psalm 66:17 praised
• Psalm 67:1 Heb. neginoth
• Psalm 67:6 give her produce

Romans 7

Freed from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law [a]has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to herhusband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of herhusband. 3 So then if, while herhusband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not inthe oldness of the letter.

Sin’s Advantage in the Law

7 What shall we say then? Isthe law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evildesire. For apart from the law sin wasdead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which wasto bringlife, I found to bringdeath. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.12 Therefore the law isholy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Law Cannot Save from Sin

13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it isgood. 17 But now, it isno longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but howto perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do,I do not do; but the evil I will not to do,that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do,it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Footnotes:

• Romans 7:1 rules

———/://///

PRAYER REQUESTS 

Please continue to Pray for Geo, a banker, who was deployed by the military to the Mideast. Pray God would keep him safe and that God would bring Geo closer to Him; and, that Geo would share God with all his company and those who come in contact with him. 

+++

UPDATE: I’ve been told by one Geo’s co-workers, Lorraine Flores, who says she considers Geo a son, that the day Geo was deployed to the Mideast, his girlfriend delivered his new baby. Please Pray Geo would Walk in God’s Light and be a Godly husband and father. And, please Pray for Geo’s family. (Also, please Pray for both Lorraine Flores and her biological son that was deployed the same day as Geo, but to Africa.)

Please continue to Pray for Brother David Porter’s friend’s son, Giovanni (18yrs old). He was checked into an inpatient behavioral health facility last night. He is on suicide watch. Pray against the demon and lie of Suicide and Satan’s attacks on his life. Please Pray for God’s Strength, Healing, and Peace.

Please continue to Prayer for Sister Kay’s Granddaughter, and Sister Diana’s daughter, Alyssa, who is on medical mission in Spain. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother Mark Pedder, a missionary in the Philippines. Please Pray for Mark, Mark’s wife for strength in their trials, tribulations and persecution. 

Please Pray for Brother David Porter’s sponsoring “Refuge for Women” an upcoming “Refuge Uniting In Prayer” meeting scheduled for August 14th. Pray for the for those involved in assisting women, the women who are victims and those warring with the sex trafficking industry in Las Vegas. 

Please continue to Pray for Gemma that she be delivered from evil and receive Jesus as her Savior. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother Walt to be reconciled with his son and his son’s family. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother John LaPorte’s roommate, Brother Freddy, whose commitment to Christ caused his wife to separate from him for 6 years. The couple have 2 daughters and stayed single all this time. Within the recent past, it appears his wife, Arlene, has been Saved and the couple are beginning the reconciliation process. They are planning to reunite the family again under one roof in the next few months.  Please Pray for their total reconciliation with God at their helm. 

Please continue Pray for our President and ALL our government leaders of both parties. Pray they would submit their authority to His Authority and ask for His Wisdom in directing the affairs of our nation.  Please Pray that God would open their eyes and they would be obedient to His Will. 

Please continue to Pray for a group of well-known Southern Nevada commercial real estate brokers and associates recently in a one-car accident. The occupants had all been drinking alcohol.  One passenger died leaving 3 young daughters, one suffered serious head trauma, two had mild trauma, and the driver has been charged.  Please Pray for the driver and all those effected by this tragedy …that God would direct their eyes to Him, The King of Mercy, Grace and Salvation. 

Please  continue to Pray for Brother Frank Sun, a Taiwanese, that owns several businesses in China and Taiwan.  He recently preached the Gospel in his Taiwan company inviting his employees to accept salvation. He says that half of his Taiwan staff are now Christians. Please Pray Frank will continue to be bold in his sharing Christ in all his companies and that he will be faithful to disciple the new Believers. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother Walt and His Friday Bible Study.

Please continue to Pray for the Women’s Resources ministry in Las Vegas that they would lead women to the Lord and save babies. 

Please continue to Pray for Dave Ubank and his family. They are ministering and rescuing children and families in Syria directly affected by  Isis – Pray for their protection and their ministry.  For a short 2 minute video about Ubanks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_htIgIvgDM[/embedyt

Please continue to Pray for Jim Nelson and family ministering in China. 

Please continue to Pray for our Brothers’ and Sisters’ struggling with various addictions. Pray that God would reveal Himself to them that all things are possible through Him… He can Cure any addiction … He is our Great Creator, He is our Savior, He is our Healer …He is our All and All!  

Please continue to Pray for Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico. And, please continue to Pray for her church caught up in the tragedies surrounding the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children.

Please continue to Pray for Alejandro Corral, his son Alejandro Jr., and his aunt Josefina. 

Please continue to Pray for Brother Steve Venable dealing with ALS. 

Please continue to Pray for our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters and their families that are suffering and giving their lives for our Faith.  10 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN FAMILY.. Pray our brothers and sisters will:

1. Sense God’s presence (Heb. 13:5) 

2. Know we are praying for them (2 Tim. 1:3) 

3. Experience God’s comfort (2 Thess. 2:16–17) 

4. See God open doors to evangelism (Col. 4:3) 

5. Boldly share the gospel (Acts 4:29) 

6. Mature in their faith (Col. 1:28–29) 

7. Be granted wisdom in covert ministry work (Acts 9:23–25) 

8. Remain joyful amid suffering (Acts 5:41) 

9. Forgive and love their persecutors (Matt. 5:44) 

10. Be rooted in God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17)

+++

Stand with your Brothers and Sisters in Prayer and Support. (See: The Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com)

Please continue to pray for Biblical “headship” in families.

Please continue to Pray for all our children. 

Please continue to Pray that there would be a resurgence of Biblical “Fear of the Lord” in the church and in each of us… “to fear the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.”

Please continue to Pray for our nation that God would open all our eyes to the sin that is drowning us. Abortion, sex outside of marriage, hatred & divisiveness, greed, pride, only to name a few.  Please Pray and Fast for our nation to turn from this evil that is enveloping us.   

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Please continue to Pray for Brother Ron Brink’s son who had 3+ military tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and who is now suffering brain damage and PTSD.  Pray for God’s Healing Power to fall upon Johnathon. (Ron is a 20 plus year missionary in Mexico with Touch Baja… for info on Touch Baja and how to touch the Mexican people for Christ, see http://www.touchbaja.com.)

Please continue to Pray for the Sharon India Foundation (“SIF”) to assisting the poor of India.  Through SIF: Widows have received medical treatment and been given quality sewing machines and training on how to use them to make a living. Orphans have been given free education in their neighborhood slum areas.  After natural disasters relief has been provided in the nature of medical, food items, blankets, clothing and building materials.  Bore wells have been successfully dug to provide fresh water to affected areas.  Water purification systems have also been given out on a limited basis. Special shoes have been purchased for lepers with ulcerated feet.  Thousands of books have been translated to assist in the ever growing discipleship outreach of E-Squared (Evangelism and Edification/Disciples).  Sharon India Foundation has no administrative costs and 100% of all donations go directly to the Indian pastors and their ministries. (Let’s reach India and beyond for Christ…see how you can help: https://sharonindia.org.)