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Day 8/11 – Confrontation

August 11, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Faith – Romans 4:20-21 (ESV) “No unbelief made Him waver concerning the promise of God, but He grew strong in his faith as He gave glory to God,fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.” Romans 4:20-21

“What is fruit? Galatians 5:22 defines it as love — love which is joy, love which is peace, love which is longsuffering, love which is gentle, good, faithful, meek, and temperate. If we truly love people, we will have authority to give direction to them because they will see the fruitfulness of the Lord’s love blossoming in us.” Jon Courson

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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.

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Confrontation

Day Two Hundred Twenty-three

“I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them.” 2 Corinthians 13:2

For the most part men love competition and hate confrontation. A man may love a hard game of tennis, but send a subordinate to fire a problem employee. Confrontation plays an important role in the Christian life. Biblical confrontation seeks what is best for the one being confronted. You do not confront others out of anger or a vindictive spirit, as though you seek revenge. “Vengeance is mine,

I will repay, says the Lord.”291 You confront because you seek to help the one being confronted. You confront others for the same reason the Lord confronts

you.

Confrontation is one of the highest expressions of love. When done in love and compassion, confrontation is one the kindest things you can do for another person. A refusal to confront when needed, is one of the most selfish things you can do. The parent who says, “I love my child too much to discipline him,” says in reality, “I love myself too much to discipline, confrontation is too distasteful for me.”

When Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,”292 He did not have this type of confrontation in mind. Rather, He warned against the censorious spirit. Confrontation is not criticizing another; it is helping that person so that he will not be further hurt by his behavior.

291 Romans 12:19

292 Matthew 7:1

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Psalm 81-83 Romans 11:19-36 (New King James Version)

Psalm 81-83

An Appeal for Israel’s Repentance

To the Chief Musician. On[a] an instrument of Gath. A Psalmof Asaph.

Sing aloud to God our strength;

Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

Raise a song and strike the timbrel,

The pleasant harp with the lute.

Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,

At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

For this isa statute for Israel,

A law of the God of Jacob.

This He established in Joseph asa testimony,

When He went throughout the land of Egypt,

WhereI heard a language I did not understand.

“I removed his shoulder from the burden;

His hands were freed from the baskets.

You called in trouble, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of [b]Meribah. Selah

“Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!

O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

There shall be no foreign god among you;

Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

I amthe Lord your God,

Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

“But My people would not heed My voice,

And Israel would havenone of Me.

So I gave them over to [c]their own stubborn heart,

To walk in their own counsels.

“Oh, that My people would listen to Me,

That Israel would walk in My ways!

I would soon subdue their enemies,

And turn My hand against their adversaries.

The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,

But their [d]fate would endure forever.

He would have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;

And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

A Plea for Justice

A Psalm of Asaph.

God stands in the congregation of [f]the mighty;

He judges among the [g]gods.

How long will you judge unjustly,

And show partiality to the wicked? Selah

[h]Defend the poor and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy;

Free themfrom the hand of the wicked.

They do not know, nor do they understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are [i]unstable.

I said, “You are[j]gods,

And all of you arechildren of the Most High.

But you shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

For You shall inherit all nations.

Prayer to Frustrate Conspiracy Against Israel

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.

Do not keep silent, O God!

Do not hold Your peace,

And do not be still, O God!

For behold, Your enemies make a [k]tumult;

And those who hate You have [l]lifted up their head.

They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,

And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.

They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from beinga nation,

That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

For they have consulted together with one [m]consent;

They [n]form a confederacy against You:

The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;

Moab and the Hagrites;

Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;

Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Assyria also has joined with them;

They have helped the children of Lot. Selah

Deal with them as withMidian,

As withSisera,

As withJabin at the Brook Kishon,

Who perished at En Dor,

Whobecame asrefuse on the earth.

Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,

Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

Who said, “Let us take for ourselves

The pastures of God for a possession.”

O my God, make them like the whirling dust,

Like the chaff before the wind!

As the fire burns the woods,

And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,

So pursue them with Your tempest,

And frighten them with Your storm.

Fill their faces with shame,

That they may seek Your name, O Lord.

Let them be [o]confounded and dismayed forever;

Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,

That they may know that You, whose name alone isthe Lord,

Arethe Most High over all the earth.

Footnotes:

Psalm 81:1 Heb. Al Gittith
Psalm 81:7 Lit. Strifeor Contention
Psalm 81:12 the dictates of their heart
Psalm 81:15 Lit. time
Psalm 81:16 Lit. fat of wheat
Psalm 82:1 Heb. El,lit. God
Psalm 82:1 Judges; Heb. elohim,lit. mighty onesor gods
Psalm 82:3 Vindicate
Psalm 82:5 moved
Psalm 82:6 Judges; Heb. elohim,lit. mighty onesor gods
Psalm 83:2 uproar
Psalm 83:2 Exalted themselves
Psalm 83:5 Lit. heart
Psalm 83:5 Lit. cut a covenant
Psalm 83:17 ashamed

Romans 11:19-36

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said.Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, [a]goodness, if you continue in Hisgoodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who arenatural branches,be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own [b]opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be [c]saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

For this isMy covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the gospel they areenemies for your sake, but concerning the election they arebeloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God areirrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has [d]committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable areHis judgments and His ways past finding out!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

“Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him areall things, to whom beglory forever. Amen.

Footnotes:

Romans 11:22 NU adds of God
Romans 11:25 estimation
Romans 11:26 Or delivered
Romans 11:32 shut them all up in

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for Mark H. He has a blood clot in his leg and is suffering terrible pain. Pray for God’s Healing and undeniable Touch on Mark’s life.

UPDATE: You can’t make this stuff up… Sounds like a script for a movie…

As you may know, we have kept Sister Fabiola and her children in Mexico on our Prayer Request list for quite a while now. This Sister and her family, in a short time period, has been hit with a more tragedies(persecution) than most of us in an entire life time… the murder of her husband, x-husband and one of her children. 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. Although we, His Children, are closely monitoring what assistance the Family of God might be able to provide the family through our Brother Ron Brink, in Mexico… our Prayers are essential. Please don’t relent!

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.

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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.)

Praise Report: Please continue to Pray for Brother David Porter’s friend’s son, Giovanni (18yrs old). He has checked out of inpatient behavioral health facility and is doing better. You will remember, he was sent to the facility and was on suicide watch. Please continue to Pray for God’s Salvation, Strength, Healing, and Peace in Giovanni.

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. 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.

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 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 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.

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. Brothers and Sisters, let’s take advantage of our God given opportunities, invest in the Eternal!

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 Jim Nelson and family ministering in China.

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 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 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.

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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)

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.)

Day 6/28 – Finding God

June 28, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Sin’s Penalty – Romans 6:23 (ESV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“God interrupt whatever we are doing so that we can join You in what You’re doing” Francis Chan

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A history of these Daily Devotions can be found at: lylebrennan.com.

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Finding God

Day One Hundred Seventy-nine

“‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”‘ Romans 3:10, 11, 18.

Paul opens his epistle to the Romans with a critique of the human race, showing that man, in his rebellion against God, is alienated from his Creator. A universal problem requires a universal solution. In the last eleven verses of Romans 3 Paul presents the solution in the propitious death of Christ. Just before introducing the work of Christ, he notes that four things are true of all those alienated from God: none are righteous, no one understands, none seek God, and none fear God.

Earlier in his letter Paul says that God revealed Himself to the world through His creation and man’s conscience. But in his summary of man’s problem in Romans 3, you note that such revelation is insufficient for a person to find God. During the days of the Reformation the theologians called this “Total Depravity.” By this they did not mean that man is as sinful as possible, but rather than his sin deprives him of his ability to understand his lostness and alienation from God. Whenever you meet a person who begins to understand, fear God, or seek God, you know that it is a gracious work of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot know what you do not know unless God reveals it to you. Scripture is not enough to believe; it never has been and can never be. Unless the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the spiritually blind they cannot see. Never become frustrated with the non-Christian’s inability to understand spiritual truth. Unless God touches him, he will remain spiritually dead.

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Job 11-13 Acts 9:1-21 (New King James Version)

Job 11-13

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

“Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should [a]a man full of talk be vindicated?

Should your empty talk make men [b]hold their peace?

And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

For you have said,

‘My doctrine ispure,

And I am clean in your eyes.’

But oh, that God would speak,

And open His lips against you,

That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For they woulddouble yourprudence.

Know therefore that God [c]exacts from you

Lessthan your iniquity deserves.

“Can you search out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

They arehigher than heaven—what can you do?

Deeper than [d]Sheol—what can you know?

Their measure islonger than the earth

And broader than the sea.

“If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,

Then who can [e]hinder Him?

For He knows deceitful men;

He sees wickedness also.

Will He not then consider it?

For an empty-headed man will be wise,

When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

“If you would prepare your heart,

And stretch out your hands toward Him;

If iniquity werein your hand, and youput it far away,

And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;

Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

Because you would forget yourmisery,

And remember itas waters that havepassed away,

And yourlife would be brighter than noonday.

Thoughyou were dark, you would be like the morning.

And you would be secure, because there is hope;

Yes, you would dig around you, andtake your rest in safety.

You would also lie down, and no one would make youafraid;

Yes,many would court your favor.

But the eyes of the wicked will fail,

And they shall not escape,

And their hope—[f]loss of life!”

Job Answers His Critics

12 Then Job answered and said:

“No doubt you arethe people,

And wisdom will die with you!

But I have [g]understanding as well as you;

I amnot inferior to you.

Indeed, who does not knowsuch things as these?

“I am one mocked by his friends,

Who called on God, and He answered him,

The just and blameless who isridiculed.

A [h]lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;

It ismade ready for those whose feet slip.

The tents of robbers prosper,

And those who provoke God are secure—

In what God provides by His hand.

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;

And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

Who among all these does not know

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

In whose hand isthe [i]life of every living thing,

And the breath of [j]all mankind?

Does not the ear test words

And the [k]mouth taste its food?

Wisdom iswith aged men,

And with [l]length of days, understanding.

“With Him arewisdom and strength,

He has counsel and understanding.

If He breaks a thingdown, it cannot be rebuilt;

IfHe imprisons a man, there can be no release.

If He withholds the waters, they dry up;

IfHe sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.

With Him arestrength and prudence.

The deceived and the deceiver areHis.

He leads counselors away plundered,

And makes fools of the judges.

He loosens the bonds of kings,

And binds their waist with a belt.

He leads [m]princes away plundered,

And overthrows the mighty.

He deprives the trusted ones of speech,

And takes away the discernment of the elders.

He pours contempt on princes,

And [n]disarms the mighty.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness,

And brings the shadow of death to light.

He makes nations great, and destroys them;

He [o]enlarges nations, and guides them.

He takes away the [p]understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,

And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.

They grope in the dark without light,

And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Job Defends Himself

“Behold, my eye has seen all this,

My ear has heard and understood it.

What you know, I also know;

I amnot inferior to you.

But I would speak to the Almighty,

And I desire to reason with God.

But you forgers of lies,

You areall worthless physicians.

Oh, that you would be silent,

And it would be your wisdom!

Now hear my reasoning,

And heed the pleadings of my lips.

Will you speak [q]wickedly for God,

And talk deceitfully for Him?

Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

Will it be well when He searches you out?

Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

He will surely rebuke you

If you secretly show partiality.

Will not His [r]excellence make you afraid,

And the dread of Him fall upon you?

Your platitudes areproverbs of ashes,

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

“Hold[s] your peace with me, and let me speak,

Then let come on me what may!

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,

And put my life in my hands?

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

He also shallbe my salvation,

For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

Listen carefully to my speech,

And to my declaration with your ears.

See now, I have prepared mycase,

I know that I shall be vindicated.

Who ishe whowill contend with me?

If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

“Only two thingsdo not do to me,

Then I will not hide myself from You:

Withdraw Your hand far from me,

And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

Then call, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

How many aremy iniquities and sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

Why do You hide Your face,

And regard me as Your enemy?

Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?

And will You pursue dry stubble?

For You write bitter things against me,

And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

You put my feet in the stocks,

And watch closely all my paths.

You [t]set a limit for the [u]soles of my feet.

“Man[v] decays like a rotten thing,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes:

Job 11:2 Lit. a man of lips
Job 11:3 be silent
Job 11:6 Lit. forgets some of your iniquity for you
Job 11:8 The abode of the dead
Job 11:10 restrain
Job 11:20 Lit. the breathing out of life
Job 12:3 Lit. a heart
Job 12:5 Or disaster
Job 12:10 Or soul
Job 12:10 Lit. all flesh of men
Job 12:11 palate
Job 12:12 Long life
Job 12:19 Lit. priests,but not in a technical sense
Job 12:21 loosens the belt of
Job 12:23 Lit. spreads out
Job 12:24 Lit. heart
Job 13:7 unrighteously
Job 13:11 Lit. exaltation
Job 13:13 Be silent
Job 13:27 Lit. inscribe a print
Job 13:27 Lit. roots
Job 13:28 Lit. He

Acts 9:1-21

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It ishard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord saidto him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought himinto Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord saidto him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for onecalled Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting hishand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much [b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children[c] of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [d]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes somethinglike scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

20 Immediately he preached [e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

Footnotes:

Acts 9:5 NU, M omit the rest of v. 5and begin v. 6with But arise and go
Acts 9:13 bad things
Acts 9:15 Lit. sons
Acts 9:17 M omits Jesus
Acts 9:20 NU Jesus

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for Brother Mark P, a missionary in the Philippines.

He said they have an unfolding issue with a senior leader, who has had a significant, long term sin revealed. This person was second under Mark over the entire ministry. Once the sin was revealed, it seems the sin runs deeper and farther than anyone could imagine. Mark says, for him personally, this is big one. “This is the last person I would ever have expected, a true friend, someone both myself and my wife genuinely love, our longest standing national in leadership.” Currently, “they have resigned from ministry and have start the blame and slander game to keep the focus off themselves.” A lot of pain going around right now. Mark asks for Prayer, specifically, in 2 areas:

1 – That Marks keeps his own heart and hands clean; and

2 – … Repentance needs to come from this individual.

I would like to add to Mark’s Prayer Request… we need to Pray

for Mark, Mark’s wife and this individual caught in the web sin. … And Note: We can only look to One Perfect Example in our lives… Jesus. (People will let us down, but He will never let us down.) And, from God’s Word, we read and need to mediate on:

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10 – As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

James 4:11-12 – Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. …

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:12-14 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; …

James 1:19-20 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: …

Luke 6:31 – And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Romans 2:1-4 – Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. …

Ephesians 4:26 – Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Romans 2:6-8 – Who will render to every man according to his deeds: …

Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Please continue to Pray for Sister Sonia’s x-husband, Raymond, he has prostrate cancer. His prognosis seems positive, but please Pray for him.

Sister Diane’s grandson, Logan, is scheduled for eye surgery 7/15/2019. Please continue to Pray for Logan and his surgeon.

Please continue to Pray for Brother David Frear’s father-law, Juan. His recovery from 2 transplants and added health issues since the transplants have him very sick.

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.

Brother Rick Pavlat wife, Ollie, recently had a stroke. She is doing better but her left side has been affected. She is going to need rehabilitation and we would greatly appreciate Prayer. Additionally, as Rick and Ollie are semi-retired missionaries, they have no insurance and request your Prayers for cover the cost of care resulting from the stroke.

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 Jim Nelson and family ministering in China.

Please continue to Pray for Sister Diana who is witnessing to young persons with confused doctrine. Pray God would speak through her and provide His Holy Clarity directly these young people.

Please continue to Pray for the healing of baby Caden (Kevin Odor’s grandson) – born with Agenesis of the corpus callosum (rare neurological birth defect).

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.

We continue to ask for Prayers and Gods Grace and Mercy for Baby Grace and her parents, Lisa and Darren.

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)

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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.”

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Day 6/5 – Don’t Hesitate to Ask

June 5, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

God of all and over everything – Luke 1:‬37 NKJV “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:‬37

“Here then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.” R C Sproul

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A history of these Daily Devotions can be found at: lylebrennan.com.

This email contains, sequentially: Memory Verse (above), 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.

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Don’t Hesitate to Ask

Day One Hundred Fifty-six

“Then he said, Go outside, borrow vessels of all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.” 2 Kings 4:3

A widow with two sons asks the prophet Elisha for help, for all she had was one pot of oil. Elisha instructed her to gather from her neighbors many vessels, urging her to borrow as many as she could. How many would have been too many? At what point would the prophet say, “Gather no more, for you are being greedy.” We do not know for the text does not say.

The apostle James says, “You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”233 You are better served asking God for what you want than taking it from another. Having asked God, He may not give it if He determines that you “ask amiss.” So on the one hand you do not want to ask for too little, and on the other hand you often do not know your motives well enough to know if you ask amiss.

The best way to resolve this tension is to agree with God that if He does not want you to have it, you do not want Him to give it. Be content when He says “no.” Then when you see something you want, ask your heavenly Father, for “you do not have because you do not ask.” Your Father will never become angry with you for asking for too much, provided you agree with Him before the fact that you want Him to say “no” to you if it is not in your best interest.

233 James 4:2-3

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2 Chronicles 23-24 John 15 (New King James Version)

2 Chronicles 23-24

Joash Crowned King of Judah

23 In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made acovenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. 2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David. 4 This iswhat you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall bekeeping watch over the doors; 5 one-third shall beat the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall bein the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they areholy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off dutyon the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions. 9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belongedto King David, that werein the temple of God. 10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king. 11 And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave himthe [a]Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “Longlive the king!”

Death of Athaliah

12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people inthe temple of the Lord. 13 Whenshe looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters wereby the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!”

14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not kill her in the house of the Lord.”

15 So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate intothe king’s house, and they killed her there.

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the [b]temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it iswritten in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was establishedby David. 19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who wasin any way unclean should enter.

20 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

Joash Repairs the Temple

24 Joash wasseven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name wasZibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what wasright in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.

4 Now it happened after this thatJoash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord. 5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.”

However the Levites did not do it quickly. 6 So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest,and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandmentof Moses the servant of the Lord and of the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord to the Baals.

8 Then at the king’s command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the collection thatMoses the servant of God had imposedon Israel in the wilderness. 10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put theminto the chest until all had given. 11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king’s official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there wasmuch money, that the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the Lord. 13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the Lord, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Apostasy of Joash

15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he wasone hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God [c]came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his [d]father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it,and repay!”

Death of Joash

23 So it happened in the spring of the year thatthe army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their [e]spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [f]sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 These are the ones who conspired against him: [g]Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of [h]Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerninghis sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they arewritten in the [i]annals of the book of the kings. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

Footnotes:

2 Chronicles 23:11 Law, Ex. 25:16, 21; 31:18
2 Chronicles 23:17 Lit. house
2 Chronicles 24:20 Lit. clothed
2 Chronicles 24:22 Foster father
2 Chronicles 24:23 plunder
2 Chronicles 24:25 LXX, Vg. sonand vv. 20–22
2 Chronicles 24:26 Jozachar,2 Kin. 12:21
2 Chronicles 24:26 Shomer,2 Kin. 12:21
2 Chronicles 24:27 Or commentary,Heb. midrash

John 15

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes away; and every branchthat bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you arethe branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw theminto the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Love and Joy Perfected

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and thatyour joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and thatyour fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The World’s Hatred

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hatedyou. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happenedthat the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

The Coming Rejection

26 “But when the [c]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Footnotes:

John 15:2 Or lifts up
John 15:7 NU omits you will
John 15:26 Comforter,Gr. Parakletos

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PRAYER REQUESTS

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

Please Pray for a group of well known Southern Nevada commercial real estate brokers and associates recently in an auto accident. There were 5 individuals in this one car accident. It is our understanding, all had been drinking alcohol and the one driving was sited as driving under the influence of alcohol… one passenger was killed and one passenger is in a comma. We understand the others had minor injuries, but for sure, we know all involved, along with their families, need Prayer.

Please 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 Christian. 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 Kevin Parkinson’s daughter, Amber Lee, who had been a meth addict for many years…She recently had a massive stroke and has came out of a comma. Please Pray for Kevin and his family; and that Amber receives Jesus.

Please continue to Pray for Brother K and his family. The enemy is working overtime on this Brother and his family. He and his wife have children from two different marriages including their own. The children are manipulating each other and the parents; and, trying to put a wedge between the Brother and his wife.

Please Pray for Sister Anna who is now home in El Salvador taking care of her mother.

Please 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 Simon, Sister Sonia’s friend, he needs heart and kidney transplant; and, above all needs to receive Jesus.

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

Please continue to Pray for Sister Diana who is witnessing to young persons with confused doctrine. Pray God would speak through her and provide His Holy Clarity directly these young people.

Please continue to Pray for the healing of baby Caden (Kevin Odor’s grandson) – born with Agenesis of the corpus callosum (rare neurological birth defect).

Please continue to Pray for the Salvation of Hagen who is HIV positive and is deathly ill.

We continue to ask for Prayers and Gods Grace and Mercy for Baby Grace and her parents, Lisa and Darren.

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.

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)

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

Please continue Pray for our President & government leaders that they will would seek God and Walk in His Ways.

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.”

II Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Day 1/1 – Happy New Year! — Knowing the Ways of God

January 1, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4:1-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” ‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4:1-5

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‘Ministry is the Believer’s privilege & responsibility’ Memory Verse: 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 ‭NKJV

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Knowing the Ways of God

Day One

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Colossians 3:16

Christians use the Bible in three legitimate ways: First, as a book of devotions. Scripture affords an ideal environment in which to commune with Christ. Through reading and meditating on the Word they feed their souls and experience the presence of the Lord.

Second, to provide guidance and direction in difficulties. In this the Bible is invaluable. The believer has a problem and turns to Scripture for help. How does God want me to respond to my problem? How do I live in a godly manner submerged in the complexities of life? The Word of God affords the Christian significant help. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 1

Third, as a means of knowing the mind of Christ. In Exodus 33:13 Moses prayed, “show me Thy ways.” Psalm 103:7 tells us that God answered his prayer: “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” During the Exodus, Israel was able to see the acts of God; Moses understood His ways. Using the Bible to gain the mind of Christ is a process whereby His followers learn to think biblically, to “be transformed by the renewing of the mind.”2

Of the three, the last is by far the most difficult to attain and thus the least pursued. Total mastery is impossible, and it requires years and years of disciplined study and meditation to even make progress. For this reason the believer often neglects this third use. However, to the degree that he does make progress, gaining the mind of Christ, he moves away from using Scripture to solve problems because he is able to respond to difficulties with Christ’s mind. Thus, as a serious disciple, you should be undaunted in this pursuit; it is a key component in your reason for being on earth. To have the mind of Christ, to see the world from His point of view, this is the essence of godliness, the heart of your devotion to Christ.

1 Psalm 119:105

2 Romans 12:2

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Day 1

Genesis 1-3 Matthew 1 (New King James Version)

Genesis 1-3

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. [b]So the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be a [c]firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great [d]lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living [e]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the [f]firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is [i]life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The Garden of Eden

2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

4 This is the [j]history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Life in God’s Garden

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel;[k] it is the one which goes toward the east of [l]Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 Then the Lord God took [m]the man and put him in the garden of Eden to [n]tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[o] shall surely die.”

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to [p]Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He [q]made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

23 And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called [r]Woman,

Because she was taken out of [s]Man.”

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be[t] joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

The Temptation and Fall of Man

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was [u]pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves [v]coverings.

8 And they heard the [w]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the [x]cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this,

You are cursed more than all cattle,

And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly you shall go,

And you shall eat dust

All the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel.”

16 To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;

In pain you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be [y]for your husband,

And he shall rule over you.”

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;

In toil you shall eat of it

All the days of your life.

18 Both thorns and thistles it shall [z]bring forth for you,

And you shall eat the herb of the field.

19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread

Till you return to the ground,

For out of it you were taken;

For dust you are,

And to dust you shall return.”

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve,[aa] because she was the mother of all living.

21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Footnotes:

Genesis 1:2 Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Genesis 1:5 Lit. And evening was, and morning was, a day, one.

Genesis 1:6 expanse

Genesis 1:16 luminaries

Genesis 1:20 souls

Genesis 1:20 expanse

Genesis 1:26 Syr. all the wild animals of

Genesis 1:28 moves about on

Genesis 1:30 a living soul

Genesis 2:4 Heb. toledoth, lit. generations

Genesis 2:14 Or Tigris

Genesis 2:14 Heb. Ashshur

Genesis 2:15 Or Adam

Genesis 2:15 cultivate

Genesis 2:17 Lit. dying you shall die

Genesis 2:19 Or the man

Genesis 2:22 Lit. built

Genesis 2:23 Heb. Ishshah

Genesis 2:23 Heb. Ish

Genesis 2:24 Lit. cling

Genesis 3:6 Lit. a desirable thing

Genesis 3:7 girding coverings

Genesis 3:8 Or voice

Genesis 3:8 Or wind, breeze

Genesis 3:16 Lit. toward

Genesis 3:18 cause to grow

Genesis 3:20 Lit. Life or Living

Matthew 1

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy[a] of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her [b]who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot [c]Asa. 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot [d]Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11 Josiah begot [e]Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Christ Born of Mary

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being [f]a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is [g]conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name [h]Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and [i]did not know her till she had brought forth her[j] firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Footnotes:

Matthew 1:1 Lit. generation

Matthew 1:6 Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Greek.

Matthew 1:7 NU Asaph

Matthew 1:10 NU Amos

Matthew 1:11 Or Coniah or Jehoiachin

Matthew 1:19 an upright

Matthew 1:20 Lit. begotten

Matthew 1:21 Lit. Savior

Matthew 1:25 Kept her a virgin

Matthew 1:25 NU a Son

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“You cannot know until after you believe and speak; that is the order: believe, speak, know.” Walt

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please continue to Pray for Brother Wayde Yeley’s mother has been approved for a heart valve replacement surgery which may evolve to open heart surgery on January 7th.

Please continue to Pray for:

1) Healing for baby Caden (Kevin Odor’s grandson) – born with Agenesis of the corpus callosum (rare neurological birth defect); and

2) Peace and healing for Marlene Webb – 84-year-old who Prayed a few days ago to receive Christ as her Savior; Pray for her to truly embrace God’s Peace and Plan for her remaining time on earth. (She is very sick with congenital heart failure. Thanks )

Please continue to Pray for Brother Juan, David Frear’s father in law. He is recovering from a liver AND kidney transplant.

Michelle continues to request Prayer for her husband and herself (Michelle and Jesus Arredondo) as they are wanting to start a family.

Please continue to Pray for Micheal Bolognini and his father, Louis Bolognini. Louis was released from hospital and taken off cancer medication and went into hospice care. Pray they will experience God’s Presence and Hope in Jesus.

Please Pray for the Salvation of Hagen who is HIV positive and is deathly ill.

We continue to ask for Prayers and Gods Grace and Mercy for Baby Grace and her parents, Lisa and Darren.

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.

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)

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

Please continue Pray for our President & government leaders that they will would seek God and Walk in His Ways.

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.”