Struggle

Day 8/31 – The Importance of a Vow

August 31, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Bear Fruit, a Qualification – John 15:4 NKJV “Abide in Me, and I (Jesus) in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

John 8:36 says: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” “This is the freedom known by Paul and the only true freedom possible for anyone.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”)

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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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The Importance of a Vow

Day Two Hundred Forty-three

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:3, 4, 5

Solomon talks about the folly of empty words. You are better served being a listener rather than a speaker. He warns, “be not rash with your mouth.” Reaction produces rashness. Your supervisor asks you why you have not performed according to company expectation. Not knowing what to say, you say the wrong thing and end up promising what you do not intend to fulfill. A rash commitment can be troublesome in any circumstance, but especially in your relationship with God. God is not quick in calling people “fools,” but the person who vows something to God and does not fulfill the vow; God calls him a fool.

When you vow and do not pay you do damage to your character. Guard against allowing promises to become a way of shirking responsibility or placating a tension or struggle with someone else. When you came to Christ, He asked only that you surrender, not that you make Him any promise. When you rashly promise something, it is you, rather than Christ in you, speaking. When you refrain from hasty speech you reverence Christ. Listen rather than speak, and when you do speak, make your promises few.

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Psalm 132-134 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (New King James Version)

Psalm 132-134

The Eternal Dwelling of God in Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132

Lord, remember David

Andall his afflictions;

How he swore to the Lord,

Andvowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:

“Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,

Or go up to the comfort of my bed;

I will not give sleep to my eyes

Orslumber to my eyelids,

Until I find a place for the Lord,

A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

We found it in the fields of [a]the woods.

Let us go into His tabernacle;

Let us worship at His footstool.

Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place,

You and the ark of Your strength.

Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,

And let Your saints shout for joy.

For Your servant David’s sake,

Do not turn away the face of Your [b]Anointed.

The Lord has sworn intruth to David;

He will not turn from it:

“I will set upon your throne the [c]fruit of your body.

If your sons will keep My covenant

And My testimony which I shall teach them,

Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.”

For the Lord has chosen Zion;

He has desired itfor His [d]dwelling place:

“This isMy resting place forever;

Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

I will abundantly bless her [e]provision;

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will also clothe her priests with salvation,

And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

There I will make the [f]horn of David grow;

I will prepare a lamp for My [g]Anointed.

His enemies I will clothe with shame,

But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

Blessed Unity of the People of God

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

It islike the precious oil upon the head,

Running down on the beard,

The beard of Aaron,

Running down on the edge of his garments.

It islike the dew of Hermon,

Descending upon the mountains of Zion;

For there the Lord commanded the blessing—

Life forevermore.

Praising the Lord in His House at Night

A Song of Ascents.

134

Behold, bless the Lord,

All youservants of the Lord,

Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands inthe sanctuary,

And bless the Lord.

The Lord who made heaven and earth

Bless you from Zion!

Footnotes:

Psalm 132:6 Heb. Jaar,lit. Woods
Psalm 132:10 Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
Psalm 132:11 offspring
Psalm 132:13 home
Psalm 132:15 supply of food
Psalm 132:17 Government
Psalm 132:17 Heb. Messiah

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you,since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be [a]recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others;and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame [b]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the samenight in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke itand said, [c]“Take, eat; this is My body which is [d]broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner Healso tookthe cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it,in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Examine Yourself

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks thiscup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and [e]blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks [f]in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the [g]Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many areweak and sick among you, and many [h]sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 11:19 Lit. manifest, evident
1 Corinthians 11:22 The poor
1 Corinthians 11:24 NU omits Take, eat
1 Corinthians 11:24 NU omits broken
1 Corinthians 11:27 NU, M the blood
1 Corinthians 11:29 NU omits in an unworthy manner
1 Corinthians 11:29 NU omits Lord’s
1 Corinthians 11:30 Are dead

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please continue to Pray for our granddaughter, Everleigh Hartt. She is having intermittent fevers.

Please Pray for Brother Robert. Robert says He has a Calling to establish a Church. His Prayer request is “… that God puts together a really amazing ministry team. I see it in the Scriptures. There were ministers, elders, deacons. Those seem to be three different categories of the people serving the body. It seems like that was the simple order they had set up. But it was a spiritual thing that would function through the power of the Holy Spirit. My prayer request would be that the Lord puts together the ministry team in what I feel Him asking me to be a part of.”

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.

Please continue to keep 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.

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

Please continue to Pray for Brother David Porter’s friend’s son, Giovanni (18yrs old). 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 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. 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!

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 continue to assist in saving babies’ lives.

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.

Praise a Report: Brother Alejandro’s aunt Josefina is doing well. Thank you for your Prayers.

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 7/31 – Manipulation — II

July 31, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Develop A World Vision – Acts 1:8 (ESV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“You struggle in your faith simply because it is faith. Dying to self is a painful process. If you care about your life, surrender is impossible without lamenting. When you lose something precious it hurts, and it is both natural and biblical to complain to God.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”)

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

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Manipulation — II

Day Two Hundred Twelve

Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods. Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding Jacob laid the rods in the runnels before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the rods, but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.” Genesis 30:37, 41-42

You would have thought that Jacob learned the stupidity of manipulation by the incident with his brother. But during his years with Laban, because he felt cheated, he manipulated the care of the flocks in such a way that he got the stronger and Laban the weaker. (I have no idea how it worked). The results were predictable. Jacob and Laban parted angry with one another, having been in business together for 20 years. As far as one can tell, they never saw one another again. Leah and Rachael never saw their parents again, nor did the children see their grandparents.

On his return to Canaan, Jacob and Essau again meet. Because of a life of manipulation, Jacob had no confidence that God was with him in his relationship with his brother. Earlier, when Laban was pursuing Jacob, God met Laban in a dream warning him not to harm Jacob. Laban told this to Jacob when they met. Evidently this did little to quiet the heart of Jacob when next he met Essau. When you live in sin, the past experience of God’s deliverance does not help in building confidence during current crises.

Yielding to the temptation to manipulate will cause you great harm. When you find that manipulation works, you tend to do it often. Although it sometimes produces what appears to be a positive response, the result is always negative. Being a manipulator causes you to suspect others. You doubt their sincerity and honesty, thinking that they are trying to do to you what you do to them. Most importantly, manipulation angers God; it is a manifestation of not trusting Him.

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Psalm 54-56 Romans 3 (New King James Version)

Psalm 54-56

Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries

To the Chief Musician. With [a]stringed instruments. A [b]Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”

Save me, O God, by Your name,

And vindicate me by Your strength.

Hear my prayer, O God;

Give ear to the words of my mouth.

For strangers have risen up against me,

And oppressors have sought after my life;

They have not set God before them. Selah

Behold, God ismy helper;

The Lord iswith those who [c]uphold my life.

He will repay my enemies for their evil.

[d]Cut them off in Your [e]truth.

I will freely sacrifice to You;

I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it isgood.

For He has delivered me out of all trouble;

And my eye has seen its desireupon my enemies.

Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends

To the Chief Musician. With [f]stringed instruments. A [g]Contemplation of David.

Give ear to my prayer, O God,

And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

Attend to me, and hear me;

I am[h] restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

Because of the voice of the enemy,

Because of the oppression of the wicked;

For they bring down trouble upon me,

And in wrath they hate me.

My heart is severely pained within me,

And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,

And horror has overwhelmed me.

So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest.

Indeed, I would wander far off,

Andremain in the wilderness. Selah

I would hasten my escape

From the windy storm andtempest.”

Destroy, O Lord, anddivide their [i]tongues,

For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Day and night they go around it on its walls;

Iniquity and trouble arealso in the midst of it.

Destruction isin its midst;

Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

For it isnot an enemy whoreproaches me;

Then I could bear it.

Nor is itone whohates me who has exalted himselfagainst me;

Then I could hide from him.

But it wasyou, a man my equal,

My companion and my acquaintance.

We took sweet counsel together,

Andwalked to the house of God in the throng.

Let death seize them;

Let them go down alive into [j]hell,

For wickedness isin their dwellings andamong them.

As for me, I will call upon God,

And the Lord shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that wasagainst me,

For there were many against me.

God will hear, and afflict them,

Even He who abides from of old. Selah

Because they do not change,

Therefore they do not fear God.

He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;

He has broken his [k]covenant.

The wordsof his mouth were smoother than butter,

But war wasin his heart;

His words were softer than oil,

Yet they weredrawn swords.

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be [l]moved.

But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;

Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;

But I will trust in You.

Prayer for Relief from Tormentors

To the Chief Musician. Set to [m]“The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;

Fighting all day he oppresses me.

My enemies would hound meall day,

For there aremany who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

In God (I will praise His word),

In God I have put my trust;

I will not fear.

What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words;

All their thoughts areagainst me for evil.

They gather together,

They hide, they mark my steps,

When they lie in wait for my life.

Shall they escape by iniquity?

In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are theynot in Your book?

When I cry out to You,

Then my enemies will turn back;

This I know, because God isfor me.

In God (I will praise Hisword),

In the Lord (I will praise Hisword),

In God I have put my trust;

I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

Vows madeto You are bindingupon me, O God;

I will render praises to You,

For You have delivered my soul from death.

Have Younot keptmy feet from falling,

That I may walk before God

In the light of the living?

Footnotes:

Psalm 54:1 Heb. neginoth
Psalm 54:1 Heb. Maschil
Psalm 54:4 sustain my soul
Psalm 54:5 Destroy them
Psalm 54:5 Or faithfulness
Psalm 55:1 Heb. neginoth
Psalm 55:1 Heb. Maschil
Psalm 55:2 wander
Psalm 55:9 speech,their counsel
Psalm 55:15 Or Sheol
Psalm 55:20 treaty
Psalm 55:22 shaken
Psalm 56:1 Heb. Jonath Elem Rechokim

Romans 3

God’s Judgment Defended

3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what isthe profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the [a]oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be [b]true but every man a liar. As it is written:

“That You may be justified in Your words,

And may overcome when You are judged.”

5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? IsGod unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?

7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And whynot say,“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their [c]condemnation is just.

All Have Sinned

9 What then? Are we better than they?Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

10 As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”

“Their throat isan open [d]tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;

“The poison of asps isunder their lips”;

“Whose mouth isfull of cursing and bitterness.”

“Their feet areswift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery arein their ways;

And the way of peace they have not known.”

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law isthe knowledge of sin.

God’s Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [f]and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [g]freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth asa [h]propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

27 Where isboasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is [i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is Hethe God of the Jews only? Is Henot also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there isone God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Footnotes:

Romans 3:2 sayings,Scriptures
Romans 3:4 Found true
Romans 3:8 Lit. judgment
Romans 3:13 grave
Romans 3:19 accountable
Romans 3:22 NU omits and on all
Romans 3:24 without any cost
Romans 3:25 mercy seat
Romans 3:28 declared righteous

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PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray for Geo, a banker, who was deployed by the military to the mid-east. 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.

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.

Praise Report: Sister Diane’s grandson, Logan, had eye surgery and is full of giggles and smiles. As they will not know the results from the surgery for some time, please continue to Pray for Logan.

Please Pray for Brother Walt’s son, Elijah, Emilia, Elijah’s girl friend, and their new baby. Pray that Walt be reunited with his son and family.

Please Pray for Brother John LaPorte’s friend and Sister in the Lord, Rachael, who has received her counceling degree and is looking for a job. Pray she uses the Bible as her only counceling Guide to lead her clients to the Lord.

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

Please continue to Pray for Brother Mark P, a missionary in the Philippines. He said they have an issue with a senior leader who was living another life unknown to them, in deep sin. This leader was second under Mark over the entire ministry. Mark asks for Prayer, specifically, in 2 areas:

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

2 – … that this individual needs to Repent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Sense God’s presence (Heb. 13:5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 2/4 – All Things in Common

February 4, 2019 By Lyle Brennan Leave a Comment

Assurance of Salvation – John 5:24 (ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

“…obedience without struggle reveals little of your true submission to Christ. Only when you don’t want to do it, but do it anyway, do you find your commitment (to Him) confirmed.” Walter A. Henrichsen (“Walt”)

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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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All Things in Common

Day Thirty-five

“…For all things are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours.”

I Corinthians 3:21-22.

“All things are yours,” is a comment applicable in the union of marriage, but what does it look like in the life of the church? Is Paul arguing for some form of socialism, or the practice of the believers in the Jerusalem church? (“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”)56

Scripture differs from socialism in that with socialism the individual relinquishes control of his assets, to be allocated by the state. Paul’s teaching deals with an attitude whereby you view all you are and have to be at the disposal of Christ and His people, but you maintain responsibility for stewarding your assets. In determining the access people have to you and yours, you must factor in two things: Is it in the best interest of the individual to give him his request? (You do not give a loaded gun to a child to play with.) Does the relinquishing of your asset fit with your biblical priorities? The good news is that God gives to you alone the task of stewarding your resources. The bad news is, you must answer to God for your decision.

Faithfulness in stewarding your assets will, in part, determine your reward in heaven. The world says that I do you a favor if I serve you. God says that you do me a favor by allowing me to serve you. “All things are yours.” If we must compete let it be in trying to out-give each other, for you gain when you help another.

56 Acts 4:32

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Exodus 34-35 Matthew 22:23-46 (New King James Version)

Exodus 34-35

Moses Makes New Tablets

34 And the Lord said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones,and I will write on thesetablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke. 2 So be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself to Me there on the top of the mountain. 3 And no man shall come up with you, and let no man be seen throughout all the mountain; let neither flocks nor herds feed before that mountain.”

4 So he cut two tablets of stone like the first ones.Then Moses rose early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him; and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.

5 Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty,visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

8 So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9 Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we area stiff-necked[a] people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”

The Covenant Renewed

10 And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do [b]marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you areshall see the work of the Lord. For it isan awesome thing that I will do with you. 11 Observe what I command you this day. Behold, I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. 13 But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacredpillars, and cut down their wooden images 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name isJealous, isa jealous God), 15 lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of theminvites you and you eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you take of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and make your sons play the harlot with their gods.

17 “You shall make no molded gods for yourselves.

18 “The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, in the appointed time of the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.

19 “All [c]that open the womb areMine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whetherox or sheep. 20 But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him,then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem.

“And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.

21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

22 “And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end.

23 “Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the Lord God of Israel. 24 For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.

25 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, nor shall the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover be left until morning.

26 “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for according to the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the [d]Ten Commandments.

The Shining Face of Moses

29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony werein Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. 35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

Sabbath Regulations

35 Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These arethe words which the Lord has commanded youto do: 2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. 3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Offerings for the Tabernacle

4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This isthe thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever isof a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread,fine linen, and goats’ hair;7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

Articles of the Tabernacle

10 ‘All who aregifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, withthe mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; 13 the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; 14 also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, andthe laver and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; 19 the [e]garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’ ”

The Tabernacle Offerings Presented

20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 Then everyone came whose heart [f]was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, andthey brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, andbrought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who madean offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread,fine linen, and goats’ hair,red skins of rams, and [g]badger skins, brought them.24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.25 All the women who weregifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, andscarlet, and fine linen. 26 And all the women whose hearts [h]stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair.27 The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, 28 and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring materialfor all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.

The Artisans Called by God

30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, 32 to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.

34 “And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, inhim and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread,and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works.

Footnotes:

Exodus 34:9 stubborn
Exodus 34:10 wonderful acts
Exodus 34:19 the firstborn
Exodus 34:28 Lit. Ten Words
Exodus 35:19 Or woven garments
Exodus 35:21 Lit. lifted him up
Exodus 35:23 Or dolphin
Exodus 35:26 Lit. lifted them up

Matthew 22:23-46

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are [a]mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels [b]of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this,they were astonished at His teaching.

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question,testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which isthe great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is thefirst and great commandment. 39 And thesecond islike it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

They said to Him, “TheSonof David.”

43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Footnotes:

Matthew 22:29 deceived
Matthew 22:30 NU omits of God

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

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for Brother Johnnie who has gout and sciatic nerve problems. Johnnie is an emergency room doctor.

Please continue to Pray for Albert Chong, Lee Yih’s son in law; please Pray for Albert‘s wife Christy and their children. Albert had a massive heart attack and was put in an induced coma; now awake and recovering. Praise God as the family has witnessed many miracles with Albert and those around him. Please continue to Pray:

– For healing of the scars on Albert’s scalp

– For wisdom and patience in when he will be discharged

– For perseverance and patience with the rehab, submitting to it without shortchanging it

– For our eyes to be fixed on the prize, not a temporal one, but a far greater eternal reward”

(I have attached the CaringBridgelink where Albert’s wife, Christie, writes any updates. You can click on the link, sign up and read all the journals and send a note if you wish. https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/albertchong/journal/view/id/5c4672e7aed4c2be1ef7e7b2 )

Pease Pray for Brother Bob Summers that he have complete healing after his surgery for a blood clot in his brain.

Please Pray for Sister Diana who is witnessing to a young person with confused doctrine. Pray God would speak through her and provide His Holy Clarity directly this young person to Him.

Please Pray for Jamie to accept the Lord into her life and the Peace only He can give her. Jamie recently lost her man that she had been with for over the 30 years to suicide.

Please Pray for Sister Lynn having excruciating back pain problems.

Please Pray for Sister Courtney who is pregnant and due any day now. Please Pray for her and the baby. And, Courtney was recently diagnosed with a basil cell carcinoma very close to one of her eyes and has scheduled surgery later this month to remove it after newborn has arrived.

Please 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 and only scratches the surface. One recent and heinous example on how this evil tide is moving is in the state of New York, where law makers declare a new law wherein every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion up to term. “Convicted criminals aren’t subjected to the death penalty in New York state, but now children up until the ninth month of pregnancy can be given lethal injections and poisoned to death,” said Live Action founder and president Lila Rose. “This is no different than infanticide.” Please Pray and Fast for our nation to turn from this evil that is enveloping us all.

‭‭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 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 Kathy, Brother Walt’s dear friend’s wife. Kathy was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition known as dermatomyositischaracterized by skin rash and muscle weakness, and which had a rapid onset about six weeks ago. There is no known cure. Treatment is chemotherapy to kill the immune system, which is attacking her skin and muscle cells, and prednisone to reduce the inflammatory response. Please Pray for her husband and their three children; that the entire family, and all looking on, will see the Mighty Hand of our Loving God and Savor on each of their lives.

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 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 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.”