Heart

Day 1/8/2020 – A Heart For Obedience

January 8, 2020 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3-5

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

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man

by Walter Henrichsen

A Heart For Obedience

Day Eight

“But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” II Chronicles 15:17.

Asa is an illustration of a man who had a perfect heart towards God, but did not take the Bible seriously. He obeyed God, at least for the most part: “And …Asa heard these words, and …took courage, and put away the abominable idols out

of all the land of Judah and Benjamin…”13 But God wanted the abolition of the high places, which were an occasion for Israel to fall into idolatry. Evidently Asa didn’t consider them all that important, for his obedience was incomplete.

Evangelical Christianity is replete with Asas. Their hearts are perfect toward God, but they don’t take seriously God’s commandments. For example, they don’t see the need to execute discipline against those who break the

commandments of God and refuse to repent.14 It is also possible to have a perfect heart toward God while considering biblical commands as cultural or non essential. By definition commands are essential. Asa had a good heart, but was only partially obedient.

You may feel that because your heart does not condemn you that God is well pleased with your life; your heart may not condemn you, but that does not mean you are acquitted. For example, the magistrate does not care how you feel about following the law, but rather whether or not you broke it. The standard of evaluation is not your feelings, but Scripture. Asa demonstrates that a perfect heart is not necessarily an obedient heart. In the day of judgment, God will call you to account, not on the basis of how you feel, but on the basis of your walking in obedience to His commandments.

13 II Chronicles 15:8

14 cf. Matthew 18:15-19 & I Corinthians 5

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Genesis 20-22 Matthew 6:19-34 (New King James Version)

Genesis 20-22

Abraham and Abimelech

20 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is [a]a man’s wife.”

4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the [b]integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”

6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who areyours.”

8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid. 9 And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I [c]offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.” 10 Then Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?”

11 And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife. 12 But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This isyour kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

14 Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this [d]vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was [e]rebuked.

17 So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; 18 for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Isaac Is Born

21 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac.[f] 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has [g]made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Hagar and Ishmael Depart

8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.

9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.[h] 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very [i]displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your [j]seed.”

14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and [k]a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

A Covenant with Abimelech

22 And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, swear[l] to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”

24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a [m]covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”

30 And he said, “You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well.” 31 Therefore he called that place [n]Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.

Abraham’s Faith Confirmed

22 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the [o]lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the [p]lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

So he said, “Here I am.”

12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, [q]The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

The Family of Nahor

20 Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 And Bethuel begot [r]Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

Footnotes:

Genesis 20:3 Lit. married to a husband
Genesis 20:5 innocence
Genesis 20:9 sinned against
Genesis 20:16 Lit. is a covering of the eyes for you to all
Genesis 20:16 Or justified
Genesis 21:3 Lit. Laughter
Genesis 21:6 Lit. made laughter for me
Genesis 21:9 Lit. laughing
Genesis 21:11 distressing
Genesis 21:13 descendant
Genesis 21:14 A water bottle made of skins
Genesis 21:23 take an oath
Genesis 21:27 treaty
Genesis 21:31 Lit. Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven
Genesis 22:5 Or young man
Genesis 22:7 Or goat
Genesis 22:14 Heb. YHWH Yireh
Genesis 22:23 Rebecca, Rom. 9:10

Matthew 6:19-34

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [a]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

You Cannot Serve God and Riches

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [c]mammon.

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [d]cubit to his [e]stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [f]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Footnotes:

Matthew 6:22 Clear, or healthy
Matthew 6:23 Evil, or unhealthy
Matthew 6:24 Lit., in Aram., riches
Matthew 6:27 About 18 inches
Matthew 6:27 height
Matthew 6:29 dressed

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for:

Our President and ALL our government leaders of both parties. Pray they would submit their authority to God’s 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.

Conor, a college student, who is experiencing deep depression. Pray Conor would trust God and know He is in control. When we worry, the Bible calls it sin; and this sin, snowballs into depression. We have to give all of our concerns over to Him and trust that He wants what’s best for us. (Do you really believe what you say you believe is real?)

God to reveal any lukewarmness that may exist within us that we might repent and “be all-in with Him”.

Revelation‬ ‭3:14-16 “…These things says the‬ ‭ Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.””

Tyler Martin, Rod Martin’s son, who had a terrible freak accident … he went through a plate glass window and suffered multiple severe injuries.

Brother Walt’s granddaughter, Kale’a, and his prodigal son, Elijah.

Sister Kristen and her 2 young daughters.

God to wakeup Rodel who says he is a Christian, but has left his wife and 2 children to move in with another woman.

Miguel’s salvation, a confessed murderer and drug dealer, who lives in Mexico.

Abortion clinics, Pray God sends Godly women to the clinics daily to be available to minister to the women going in and out of those clinics daily.

The salvation of Brother David Frear’s parents.

Brad and Regena Mitton and their family. Regina has been diagnosed with cancer and Brad has put his landscape business on hold to be with his wife. Pray God will move in the Mittons lives and that He will be glorified.

Jeff from Oregon that has cirrhosis of the liver and has been given only days to live. He is unsure of his faith and trying to fill in his remaining days traveling. Please Pray God awakens Jeff’s spirit to His Salvation. (Like Jeff, we are all terminal…“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬)

Larry who has leukemia. Pray God would bring Larry and his love ones closer to Him and His Blessed Hope of Glory.

Lisa Long and her family. Lisa has had for eye surgeries that have failed and she remains blind. Pray for God to direct her path for His glory.

Darrell Blalock who has Parkinson’s disease. Pray for Darrell to have a meaningful and closer walk with the Lord.

John LaPorte and other Brothers and Sisters who are doing ministry at UNLV.

A UNLV student named Tyler who is propaganda machine for the enemy. Pray God will radically save Tyler and that our God will use Tyler to bring many to Christ.

Remington, another UNLV student, says he is a new catholic… Pray God reveals His Truth, His Salvation to Remington.

That our families and Brothers and Sisters in Christ will gather together to Pray… Jesus says in Matthew 18:20 (NKJV) “… For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Our unSaved family members and those around us that we have relationships with. Or, is that you? … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098.

Family members and those relationships around you who say they are Saved, but their lives don’t show it. And, if that’s happens to be you, the Holy Spirit can change you into a New Creation, Christ in you… but, you must totally surrender everything to Him. (As long as you think you can do it on your own, He’ll let you; and, you will fail.) … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098.

Our nation that God would open all our eyes to the sins that are drowning us. Lukewarmness, abortion, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, hatred & divisiveness, greed, pride, rebellion, covetousness, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. 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.”

… AND YET, God is Sovereign and has called us to live in such a time as this and to be His Light in the darkness… to give Hope to some. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico in our Prayers. This Sister and her family, in a short time period, have been hit with inconceivable tragedies (persecutions) … I think more than most of us have experienced in our entire life… the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children. And, her modest home (a shack by any American standard) was burnt to the ground. … Although her modest home (shelter) has been rebuilt, please Pray for God’s Holy touch on Fabiola and her family. And, although the above sounds so tragic, we have hope in God’s Word that says, in His wisdom, Fabiola as a Believer has some Special Blessings accrued to her account, whether they are here or in eternity. Praise Him!

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.

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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.)

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

Gemma that she be delivered from evil and receive Jesus as her Savior.

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. Both parents has stayed single all this time of separation… Within the recent past, it appears his wife, Arlene, has been Saved and the couple are beginning their 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.

Scott’s salvation and healing. Scott is a commercial real estate broker.

Brother Frank Sun, a Taiwanese, that owns several businesses in China and Taiwan. Please Pray Frank will be bold in his sharing Christ in his companies and that he will be faithful to disciple the new Believers.

AND, let each of us use Frank’s example and share the Love and Salvation of Jesus to our coworkers, employees, family, friends and acquaintances … Invest in the Eternal!

Women’s Pro-Life ministries in Las Vegas and throughout the world …that they would lead women to the Lord and continue to assist in saving babies’ lives.

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

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!

Alejandro Corral, his son Alejandro Jr.

Brother Steve Venable dealing with ALS.

Persecuted Brothers and Sisters and their families that are suffering and giving their lives for our Faith.

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

Biblical “headship” in families.

All the children.

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.”

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 and heads up Touch Baja.)

Touch Baja ministry. Touch Baja is a Christian ministry based in Mexico touching the saved and unsaved lives of the Mexican people focused on real discipleship; truly changing lives through Christ. From church planting discipleship ministries to half-way houses for the Mexican youth, Touch Baja needs our Prayers, support and physical involvement. One person can make a difference… whether an individual or a group, if you are interested in seeking an international missionary opportunity that’s not that far from home, here it is… you are needed and welcome. Please check out Touch Baja and consider becoming a real partner and getting involved: http://www.touchbaja.com. (I am personally available to share with you about the ministry… I have 20+ years of stories and history.)

Makers Way ministry feeds poor families in NLV. Check it out and if you are lead to help or give, contact Mike at (702) 596-9103 or give online at:

http://ccmeadowmesa.com

As it’s that time again when candidates for Congress and other government offices are making their rounds drumming up support to make a run to get elected. Please Pray for God to position Real Deal Christian men and women in those races that would honor Him above anyone or anything else. If those elected honor Him, they will honor us. (If you or someone you know is running for an office, please let us know so we can Pray for you or them. As the upcoming elections come closer, please Pray for the CANDIDATES:

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Please Pray for Dan Rodimer who is running for the US Congress in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Dan is a conservative. He is married with 5 children. Dan says he is a catholic. Please Pray for his salvation and that God would would be made known in Dan’s life in such a way that those that encounter Dan would see Jesus in his life. (https://danrodimer.com)

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Please Pray for FL Congressman Ross Spano. Brother Ed Taney’s daughter Cameron is going to be interning for him starting in January. Pray for wisdom and clear direction from God for him and his staff, and for him to pursue and honor God.

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Please Pray for Andy Matthews, former President of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, current a Republican candidate running for Nevada State Assembly District 37.

Day 12/22 – Swearing to your Hurt

December 22, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Salvation Not by Works – Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

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“Your faith has to have a basis. When you commit either to the unseen or a future promise, you must have a good reason for doing so; otherwise it is nothing more than wishful thinking. Personal experience plays a strategic role in the Christian life. … You must have your own encounter with God that attests to the validity of the Scriptural promises upon which your faith is based. Evidence of Christ’s work in your life, therefore, is foundational to faith. If you don’t experience change, you will question the work of God in your life.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt H”)

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

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man

by Walter Henrichsen

Swearing to your Hurt

Day Three Hundred Fifty-six

“0 Lord, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He swears to his own hurt, and does not change” Psalm 15:1, 2, 4

David analyzes those ingredients of godliness that qualify a person to fellowship with God. He says that one characteristic is, “He swears to his own hurt, and does not change.” Have you ever made a promise to someone and later regretted it? Maybe it was to take your child on an outing, only to learn that your boss wanted you to work that weekend. Or maybe you committed to sell an asset for a certain amount and then discovered that it was worth much more. Fulfilling your promise appeared to hurt your present condition.

These are moments of truth in people’s lives -a time of testing when they learn the value of their promises. God ensures that these moments of truth appear in each person’s life. Is your God big enough to make up whatever loss you incur as a result of your keeping your word? According to your value system, what is more important, temporal gain at the expense of your promise, or meeting the expectations of God?

Each generation muses over bygone days when ostensibly people honored their word, while lamenting the lack of integrity of people’s oaths in their own day. Whether such a day ever existed, or whether there exists a dearth of such people today begs the question. What the Lord wants to know is, are you willing to

swear to your own hurt and not change?

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Micah 6-7 Revelation 13 (New King James Version)

Micah 6-7

God Pleads with Israel

6 Hear now what the Lord says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

And let the hills hear your voice.

Hear, O you mountains, the Lord’s complaint,

And you strong foundations of the earth;

For the Lord has a complaint against His people,

And He will [a]contend with Israel.

“O My people, what have I done to you?

And how have I wearied you?

Testify against Me.

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,

I redeemed you from the house of bondage;

And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

O My people, remember now

What Balak king of Moab counseled,

And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,

From [b]Acacia Grove to Gilgal,

That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

With what shall I come before the Lord,

And bow myself before the High God?

Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,

With calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

Ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

[c]The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love [d]mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Punishment of Israel’s Injustice

The Lord’s voice cries to the city—

Wisdom shall see Your name:

“Hear the rod!

Who has appointed it?

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness

In the house of the wicked,

And the short measure that is an abomination?

Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales,

And with the bag of deceitful weights?

For her rich men are full of violence,

Her inhabitants have spoken lies,

And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

“Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you,

By making you desolate because of your sins.

You shall eat, but not be satisfied;

[e]Hunger shall be in your midst.

You may carry some away,[f] but shall not save them;

And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.

“You shall sow, but not reap;

You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;

And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.

For the statutes of Omri are kept;

All the works of Ahab’s house are done;

And you walk in their counsels,

That I may make you a [g]desolation,

And your inhabitants a hissing.

Therefore you shall bear the reproach of [h]My people.”

Sorrow for Israel’s Sins

Woe is me!

For I am like those who gather summer fruits,

Like those who glean vintage grapes;

There is no cluster to eat

Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.

The faithful[i] man has perished from the earth,

And there is no one upright among men.

They all lie in wait for blood;

Every man hunts his brother with a net.

That they may successfully do evil with both hands—

The prince asks for gifts,

The judge seeks a bribe,

And the great man utters his evil desire;

So they scheme together.

The best of them is like a brier;

The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge;

The day of your watchman and your punishment comes;

Now shall be their perplexity.

Do not trust in a friend;

Do not put your confidence in a companion;

Guard the doors of your mouth

From her who lies in your bosom.

For son dishonors father,

Daughter rises against her mother,

Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

Therefore I will look to the Lord;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

My God will hear me.

Israel’s Confession and Comfort

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;

When I fall, I will arise;

When I sit in darkness,

The Lord will be a light to me.

I will bear the indignation of the Lord,

Because I have sinned against Him,

Until He pleads my case

And executes justice for me.

He will bring me forth to the light;

I will see His righteousness.

Then she who is my enemy will see,

And shame will cover her who said to me,

“Where is the Lord your God?”

My eyes will see her;

Now she will be trampled down

Like mud in the streets.

In the day when your walls are to be built,

In that day [j]the decree shall go far and wide.

In that day they[k] shall come to you

From Assyria and the [l]fortified cities,

From the [m]fortress to [n]the River,

From sea to sea,

And mountain to mountain.

Yet the land shall be desolate

Because of those who dwell in it,

And for the fruit of their deeds.

God Will Forgive Israel

Shepherd Your people with Your staff,

The flock of Your heritage,

Who dwell [o]solitarily in a woodland,

In the midst of Carmel;

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,

As in days of old.

“As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,

I will show [p]them wonders.”

The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;

They shall put their hand over their mouth;

Their ears shall be deaf.

They shall lick the dust like a serpent;

They shall crawl from their holes like [q]snakes of the earth.

They shall be afraid of the Lord our God,

And shall fear because of You.

Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity

And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.[r]

He will again have compassion on us,

And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all [s]our sins

Into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And [t]mercy to Abraham,

Which You have sworn to our fathers

From days of old.

Footnotes:

Micah 6:2 bring charges against
Micah 6:5 Heb. Shittim, Num. 25:1; Josh. 2:1; 3:1
Micah 6:7 My own child
Micah 6:8 Or lovingkindness
Micah 6:14 Or Emptiness or Humiliation
Micah 6:14 Tg., Vg. You shall take hold
Micah 6:16 Or object of horror
Micah 6:16 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX nations
Micah 7:2 Or loyal
Micah 7:11 Or the boundary shall be extended
Micah 7:12 Lit. he, collective of the captives
Micah 7:12 Heb. arey mazor, possibly cities of Egypt
Micah 7:12 Heb. mazor, possibly Egypt
Micah 7:12 The Euphrates
Micah 7:14 Alone
Micah 7:15 Lit. him, collective for the captives
Micah 7:17 Lit. crawlers
Micah 7:18 Or lovingkindness
Micah 7:19 Lit. their
Micah 7:20 Or lovingkindness

Revelation 13

The Beast from the Sea

13 Then [a]I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having [b]seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to [c]continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every [d]tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the [e]patience and the faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives [f]those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted powerto give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has [g]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Footnotes:

Revelation 13:1 NU he
Revelation 13:1 NU, M ten horns and seven heads
Revelation 13:5 M make war
Revelation 13:7 NU, M add and people
Revelation 13:10 perseverance
Revelation 13:14 M my own people
Revelation 13:17 NU, M the mark, the name

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for:

Tyler Martin, Rod Martin’s son who had a terrible freak accident … he went through a plate glass window and suffered multiple severe injuries.

Please Pray for Brother Walt’s granddaughter, Kale’a, and his prodigal son, Elijah.

Please Pray for Tavia’s family. Tavia received a call fro

Her mom letting her know her uncle didnt survive a heart attack in Wisconsin. Please keep her family in your Prayers. Her uncle’s name was Tony Nelson, his wife is Kerri, and his kids are Tera, Kerissa and Alex.

Sister Kristen and husband for God to intervene and heal their marriage. Additionally, please Pray for their 2 young daughters.

Miguel’s salvation, a confessed murderer and drug dealer, who lives in Mexico.

A Las Vegas woman that currently is working in an abortion clinic who is very discouraged with what she is doing and seeking counseling as to what to do. Pray God opens her eyes and saves her. Also, regarding the same abortion clinic, Pray God sends Godly women to that clinic daily to be available to minister to the women going in and out of that clinic daily.

The salvation of Brother David Frear’s parents.

Jeff from Oregon that has cirrhosis of the liver and has been given only five months to live. He is unsure of his faith and trying to fill in his remaining days traveling. Please Pray God awakens Jeff’s spirit to His Salvation. (Like Jeff, we are all terminal…“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬)

Larry who has leukemia. Pray God would bring Larry and his love ones closer to Him and His Blessed Hope of Glory.

Lisa Long and her family. Lisa has had for eye surgeries that have failed and she remains blind. Pray for God to direct her path for His glory.

Darrell Blalock who has Parkinson’s disease. Pray for Darrell to have a meaningful and closer walk with the Lord.

John LaPorte and other Brothers and Sisters who are doing ministry at UNLV.

A UNLV student named Tyler who is propaganda machine for the enemy. Pray God will radically save Tyler and that our God will use Tyler to bring many to Christ.

Remington, another UNLV student, says he is a new catholic… not a Believer, yet, but says he is a seeker. Pray God reveals His Truth, His Salvation to Remington.

Our unSaved family members and those around us that we have relationships with. Or, is that you? … Have questions &/or need Prayer?… If yes, please reply or call (702) 592-4098.

Our nation that God would open all our eyes to the sins that are drowning us. Lukewarmness, abortion, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, hatred & divisiveness, greed, pride, rebellion, covetousness, etc. Please Pray and Fast for our nation to turn from this evil that is enveloping us.

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico in our Prayers. This Sister and her family, in a short time period, have been hit with a more tragedies (persecutions) than most of us have in our entire life time… the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children. And, recently, her modest home (a shack by any American standard) was burnt to the ground. …Her neighbor’s house caught fire and due to the closeness of her home, it caught fire, too. Brothers & Sisters, please Pray for God’s Holy touch on Fabiola and her family.

+++

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

Gemma that she be delivered from evil and receive Jesus as her Savior.

Scott’s salvation and healing. Scott is a commercial real estate broker.

AND, let each of us use Frank’s example and share the Love and Salvation of Jesus to our coworkers, employees, family, friends and acquaintances … Invest in the Eternal!

Women’s Pro-Life ministries in Las Vegas and throughout the world …that they would lead women to the Lord and continue to assist in saving babies’ lives.

Alejandro Corral, his son Alejandro Jr.

Brother Steve Venable dealing with ALS.

Persecuted Brothers and Sisters and their families that are suffering and giving their lives for our Faith.

+++

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

Biblical “headship” in families.

All the children.

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.”

Makers Way ministry feeds poor families in NLV. Check it out and if you are lead to help or give, contact Mike at (702) 596-9103 or give online at:

http://ccmeadowmesa.com

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Day 11/27 – Law and Request III

November 27, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Ministry is the Believer’s privilege & responsibility – II Timothy‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” II Timothy 4:2

“Where is your line across which you refuse to go? You do well to draw it before your time of testing.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt H”)

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

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Law and Request III

Day Three Hundred Thirty-one

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:10-11

The Laws of God differ from the law of man in that with man, his law often seeks the interest of the lawgiver, while with God, His Law always has both His the believer’s best in mind. With the certainty that God seeks our best, we hide God’s Word in our hearts, knowing that it helps keep us from danger.

Nevertheless, the presence of law indicates the presence of sin. A request becomes a law simply because people rebel. When you make a law it indicates a breakdown in the relationship. Law is the last line of defense in a deteriorating relationship; after you play the trump card of law, you are through. For example, you ask your child not date a certain person. The child refuses to reason with you, leaving you with no option but to make a law. If the child violates the law, the only remaining option you have is consequences.

For this reason no sane couple would have a pre-nuptial agreement, even though there is nothing biblically wrong with such an arrangement. Why would anyone want to enter a marriage based on law? If they lack trust and an eagerness to please, why marry? Love implies an eagerness to please; a request is enough.

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Ezekiel 30-32 1 Peter 4 (New King James Version)

Ezekiel 30-32

Egypt and Her Allies Will Fall

30 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’

For the day is near,

Even the day of the Lord is near;

It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.

The sword shall come upon Egypt,

And great anguish shall be in [a]Ethiopia,

When the slain fall in Egypt,

And they take away her wealth,

And her foundations are broken down.

5 “Ethiopia, [b]Libya, [c]Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”

6 ‘Thus says the Lord:

“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall,

And the pride of her power shall come down.

From [d]Migdol to Syene

Those within her shall fall by the sword,”

Says the Lord God.

“They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries,

And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste.

Then they will know that I am the Lord,

When I have set a fire in Egypt

And all her helpers are destroyed.

On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships

To make the [e]careless Ethiopians afraid,

And great anguish shall come upon them,

As on the day of Egypt;

For indeed it is coming!”

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease

By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations,

Shall be brought to destroy the land;

They shall draw their swords against Egypt,

And fill the land with the slain.

I will make the rivers dry,

And sell the land into the hand of the wicked;

I will make the land waste, and all that is in it,

By the hand of aliens.

I, the Lord, have spoken.”

13 ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“I will also destroy the idols,

And cause the images to cease from [f]Noph;

There shall no longer be princes from the land of Egypt;

I will put fear in the land of Egypt.

I will make Pathros desolate,

Set fire to Zoan,

And execute judgments in [g]No.

I will pour My fury on [h]Sin, the strength of Egypt;

I will cut off the multitude of [i]No,

And set a fire in Egypt;

Sin shall have great pain,

No shall be split open,

And Noph shall be in distress daily.

The young men of [j]Aven and Pi Beseth shall fall by the sword,

And these cities shall go into captivity.

At [k]Tehaphnehes the day shall also be [l]darkened,

When I break the yokes of Egypt there.

And her arrogant strength shall cease in her;

As for her, a cloud shall cover her,

And her daughters shall go into captivity.

Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt,

Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

Proclamation Against Pharaoh

20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a [m]splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong one and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them throughout the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him with the groanings of a mortally wounded man. 25 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Egypt Cut Down Like a Great Tree

31 Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:

‘Whom are you like in your greatness?

Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,

With fine branches that shaded the forest,

And of high stature;

And its top was among the thick boughs.

The waters made it grow;

Underground waters gave it height,

With their rivers running around the place where it was planted,

And sent out [n]rivulets to all the trees of the field.

‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field;

Its boughs were multiplied,

And its branches became long because of the abundance of water,

As it sent them out.

All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs;

Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young;

And in its shadow all great nations [o]made their home.

‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches,

Because its roots reached to abundant waters.

The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it;

The fir trees were not like its boughs,

And the [p]chestnut trees were not like its branches;

No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.

I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches,

So that all the trees of Eden envied it,

That were in the garden of God.’

10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was [q]lifted up in its height, 11 therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness. 12 And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.

‘On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens,

And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches—

14 So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them.

‘For they have all been delivered to death,

To the depths of the earth,

Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.’

15 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to [r]hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to [s]mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to [t]hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth. 17 They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.

18 ‘To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,’ says the Lord God.”

Lamentation for Pharaoh and Egypt

32 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him:

‘You are like a young lion among the nations,

And you are like a monster in the seas,

Bursting forth in your rivers,

Troubling the waters with your feet,

And fouling their rivers.

3 ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“I will therefore spread My net over you with a company of many people,

And they will draw you up in My net.

Then I will leave you on the land;

I will cast you out on the open fields,

And cause to [u]settle on you all the birds of the heavens.

And with you I will fill the beasts of the whole earth.

I will lay your flesh on the mountains,

And fill the valleys with your carcass.

“I will also water the land with the flow of your blood,

Even to the mountains;

And the riverbeds will be full of you.

When I put out your light,

I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark;

I will cover the sun with a cloud,

And the moon shall not give her light.

All the [v]bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you,

And bring darkness upon your land,”

Says the Lord God.

9 ‘I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries which you have not known. 10 Yes, I will make many peoples astonished at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they shall tremble every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.

11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.

“They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt,

And all its multitude shall be destroyed.

Also I will destroy all its animals

From beside its great waters;

The foot of man shall muddy them no more,

Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them.

Then I will make their waters [w]clear,

And make their rivers run like oil,”

Says the Lord God.

“When I make the land of Egypt desolate,

And the country is destitute of all that once filled it,

When I strike all who dwell in it,

Then they shall know that I am the Lord.

“This is the lamentation

With which they shall lament her;

The daughters of the nations shall lament her;

They shall lament for her, for Egypt,

And for all her multitude,”

Says the Lord God.’ ”

Egypt and Others Consigned to the Pit

17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

“Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt,

And cast them down to the depths of the earth,

Her and the daughters of the famous nations,

With those who go down to the Pit:

‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?

Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’

“They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword;

She is delivered to the sword,

Drawing her and all her multitudes.

The strong among the mighty

Shall speak to him out of the midst of hell

With those who help him:

‘They have gone down,

They lie with the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’

“Assyria is there, and all her company,

With their graves all around her,

All of them slain, fallen by the sword.

Her graves are set in the recesses of the Pit,

And her company is all around her grave,

All of them slain, fallen by the sword,

Who caused terror in the land of the living.

“There is Elam and all her multitude,

All around her grave,

All of them slain, fallen by the sword,

Who have gone down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth,

Who caused their terror in the land of the living;

Now they bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.

They have set her bed in the midst of the slain,

With all her multitude,

With her graves all around it,

All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword;

Though their terror was caused

In the land of the living,

Yet they bear their shame

With those who go down to the Pit;

It was put in the midst of the slain.

“There are Meshech and Tubal and all their multitudes,

With all their graves around it,

All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword,

Though they caused their terror in the land of the living.

They do not lie with the mighty

Who are fallen of the uncircumcised,

Who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war;

They have laid their swords under their heads,

But their iniquities will be on their bones,

Because of the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

Yes, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised,

And lie with those slain by the sword.

“There is Edom,

Her kings and all her princes,

Who despite their might

Are laid beside those slain by the sword;

They shall lie with the uncircumcised,

And with those who go down to the Pit.

There are the princes of the north,

All of them, and all the Sidonians,

Who have gone down with the slain

In shame at the terror which they caused by their might;

They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword,

And bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.

“Pharaoh will see them

And be comforted over all his multitude,

Pharaoh and all his army,

Slain by the sword,”

Says the Lord God.

“For I have caused My terror in the land of the living;

And he shall be placed in the midst of the uncircumcised

With those slain by the sword,

Pharaoh and all his multitude,”

Says the Lord God.

Footnotes:

Ezekiel 30:4 Heb. Cush
Ezekiel 30:5 Heb. Put
Ezekiel 30:5 Heb. Lud
Ezekiel 30:6 Or the tower
Ezekiel 30:9 Or secure
Ezekiel 30:13 Ancient Memphis
Ezekiel 30:14 Ancient Thebes
Ezekiel 30:15 Ancient Pelusium
Ezekiel 30:15 Ancient Thebes
Ezekiel 30:17 Ancient On, Heliopolis
Ezekiel 30:18 Tahpanhes, Jer. 43:7
Ezekiel 30:18 So with many Heb. mss., Bg., LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT refrained
Ezekiel 30:21 Lit. bandage
Ezekiel 31:4 Or channels
Ezekiel 31:6 Lit. dwelled
Ezekiel 31:8 Or plane, Heb. armon
Ezekiel 31:10 Proud
Ezekiel 31:15 Or Sheol
Ezekiel 31:15 Lit. be darkened
Ezekiel 31:16 Or Sheol
Ezekiel 32:4 Lit. sit or dwell
Ezekiel 32:8 Or shining
Ezekiel 32:14 Lit. sink; settle, grow clear

1 Peter 4

Christ’s Example to Be Followed

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [c]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [d]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [e]reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [f]On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [g]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [h]matter.

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,

Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Footnotes:

1 Peter 4:1 NU omits for us
1 Peter 4:3 NU time
1 Peter 4:11 utterances
1 Peter 4:11 sovereignty
1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.
1 Peter 4:15 meddler
1 Peter 4:16 NU name

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for:

Sister Kristen and husband for God to intervene and heal their marriage. Additionally, please Pray for their 2 young daughters.

Bryce, a student at UNLV who recently gave his life to our Savior. Pastor Rich is baptizing him this Saturday at his apartment complex near UNLV.

Brother John Laporte’s cousin, Jeff, who is recovering from having parts of his foot amputated due to diabetes and who does not know the Lord. Pray Jeff will hear and receive the gospel that John is sharing with him.